Pre-Airing Impressions: Spring 2019 Anime Season

As Winter has come and gone, so too has the Winter 2019 Anime Season and the Spring Season is already upon us, with the first few shows having already aired their premiere episodes.

So as usual, here’s my Pre-Airing thoughts on the upcoming season.

And yes, I’m well aware that the season has already started. I’m a few days late with this. But I haven’t watched anything yet, so… Here we go!

Note: As usual, I’m not covering movies or specials in this post. Aside from one or two notable exceptions that are sequels to existing shows. This list is going to be long enough without them.

One Punch Man 2nd Season – *sigh* Oh… What could have been…

I feel like I’ve been repeating this a lot lately, but unfortunately I need to say it again. I don’t like One Punch Man. I’d honestly go as far as saying I strong dislike it. The animation was spectacular, and really made the otherwise simple fight scenes far better than they had any right to be, but aside from that the show really had nothing going for it for me.

The shows central joke, and gimmick, got old after one episode, the characters were kind of boring and uninteresting and the fight scenes, while impressive on a technical level, had no real emotional weight or stakes behind them and were weakly choreographed underneath that beautifully animated exterior.

So I can’t say I’ve been all that excited for this long awaited and highly anticipated second season. But I’d been at least looking forward to seeing some really nice sakuga moments thanks to Madh-

Oh wait… This second season is being produced by J.C Staff! And judging from the trailers, it looks like, from a presentation standpoint, it’s going to be a far cry from what Madhouse delivered in 2016.

So, in my eyes, this second season really has nothing going for it at all for me. Unless things really change up narratively, which I can’t see happening at all, I really don’t see me enjoying this one all that much. But we’ll see. I won’t knock it ’til I’ve tried it.

Attack on Titan Season 3 Part 2 – Attack on Titan Season 3 was one of the best shows from last year and, in my opinion, more than made up for the slow paced, uneven second season by getting straight to the point within the first episode and never slowing down. That, and the show choosing to shift it’s focus from giant killing to political intrigue and corruption was both unexpected and interesting, making for a more human centric story than we’d come to expect from what was originally a franchise about angry teenagers killing giant flesh gundams.

And this second part of the third season will be picking things up right from where part 1 left off, and having read the original Manga, I’m really excited to see how this adaptation handles things.

And I’m hoping we get a fourth season too. That’d be nice.

Isekai Quartet – The characters of Re:Zero, Konosuba, Overlord and Youju Senki…? (Why this one?) come together in a collaborative project about… Something…?

There’s honestly not an awful lot of information out there about this one, but as a huge fan of isekai and 3 of the 4 shows involved, I’m pretty damn excited to see what comes of this and how these different characters from different franchises all interact with one another.

I kind of wish Sword Art Online was involved in some way though…

Kimetsu no Yaiba – I’ve heard really good things about the Manga for this one from friends who’s opinions I trust, and given that it’s being animated by ufotable, there’s a good chance this could be one of the best shows of the season.

It looks like ufotable might finally no longer be the Fate Factory, which is a hugely positive change in my book. Really looking forward to this one.

Fruits Basket (2019) – Wow, it’s a readaptation of Fruits Basket! This really takes me back, as Fruits Basket was one of the first Anime I ever watched back when I was first getting into the medium. And although I’ve never revisited it since, I have some very fond memories of the original series.

Apparently this remake is going to be giving the series the Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood treatment and will be aiming to adapt the Manga far more faithfully than the original series did, and that excites me quite a bit.

That being said, I hope this doesn’t turn people away from the original series because of that. Much like the original Fullmetal Alchemist, the original Fruits Basket is a classic. That’s what makes this readaptation so exciting!

Bungou Stray Dogs 3rd Season – Bungou Stray Dogs is one of my all time favourite Anime series and is one of the more creative fighting Shounen series to come out in recent years. It’s always had some of the best character designs I’ve ever seen in an Anime series, along with having a genuinely gripping story with really creative superpowers that draw from a variety of Japanese and Western literature. As someone with a big interest in the source materials this show pulls a lot of influence from, the series has always been for me, and given where the second season left things off, I’ve been eager to see where the story would go from there.

I’m really, really excited to see how this third seasons goes, and I have high hopes for it. This could be my Anime of the Season!

Fairy Gone – I’ve been seeing a lot of hype for this one, particularly from some of my mutuals on Twitter, but given that it’s a new P.A Works show and I’ve never really been on board with anything they’ve done, outside of Charlotte which ironically everyone hated, I’m not sure if I’ll be as sold on it as everyone else.

It definitely sounds interesting. But like most P.A Works shows, I have a feeling it might fail to fully deliver on that interesting premise. But we’ll see. Here’s hoping!

Kenja no Mago – This one sounds like a pretty interesting take on the isekai genre, with the protagonist dying and being reborn in another world, but this time as a baby and he actually grows up in that world and learns about it and stuff!

I actually really like the sound of this and as a fan of isekai I’m likely going to be eating this up no matter how good, or bad, it ends up being. Looking forward to this one!

Bokutachi wa Benkyou ga Dekinai – Wow, BokuBen is getting an Anime? I had no idea! I’ve read the Manga for this one and it’s pretty fun. It’s your average harem comedy, but it’s really charming and funny and does what it does really well.

If you like that kind of stuff, you’ll probably really like this one. Provided the Anime adapts the Manga well.

Nande Koko ni Sensei ga!? – An “erotic comedy” about a student and his teacher and the everyday mishaps they find themselves involved in? Hey, the girls look cute, so count me in!

Ao-chan Can’t Study! – A girl is the daughter of an erotic novelist and she wants to get into university and a guy confesses his love to her? Again, the girl looks cute, and it’s an ecchi so… I’ll watch it…

Carole & Tuesday – A Bones original Anime about two girls from different backgrounds that want to be musicians and decide to chase their dream together. All in a futuristic setting on Mars! I’m always down for a wholesome series about characters wanting to pursue their passion for music, and having that kind of story in this kind of setting only has me more excited. This sounds like it could be great!

Senryuu Shoujo – A girl who doesn’t speak communicates only through writing haikus? I love haikus, so this could be really charming.

Hitoribocchi no Marumaru Seikatsu – Apparently a comedy about a girl with social anxiety. As someone who has social anxiety myself, this could either be really funny or really offensive. I’m hoping it’s the former.

Sewayaki Kitsune no Senko-san – Cute fox girl spirit takes care of overworked and exploited salaryman. Could be fun. Hopefully romantic.

Shoumetsu Toshi – This sounds like a really interesting and unique mystery series about a city that’s completely vanished and the sole survivor teaming up with the man who’s been sent out to investigate it. There’s not an awful lot about this one, and that “Game” source tag has me a little worried, but I’m really excited to see this one.

Kono Yo no Hate de Koi wo Utau Shoujo YU-NO – Oh no. It’s a Visual Novel. Next!

Kono Oto Tomare! – A show about students and their everyday activities as they attend their music club. Could be nice.

Sarazanmai – Cute boy is turned into a Kappa and has to defend the Kappa Kingdom from Kappa Zombies? wat

Gunjou no Magmel – Looks like it could be a cool adventure/shounen series. I’m down for this.

Nobunaga-sensei no Osanazuma – A guy called Nobunaga meets woman who is transported from the Sengoku era and who mistakes him for the legendary figure of the same name. Could be funny.

Joshikausei – Apparently this is based on a “silent Manga”, meaning the original Manga had no dialogue. Which means this won’t either. Sounds… Interesting…?

Ace of Diamond: Act II – I’ve never seen any of Ace of Diamond, and given that each of the previous seasons, and this one, are over 50 episodes long, I don’t think I’ll be starting any time soon.

Mayonaka no Occult Koumuin – Seems like the run-of-the-mill occult/exorcism show we seem to be getting every couple of seasons. I always have fun with these, so I’m sure this’ll be fine.

Araiya-san!: Ore to Aitsu ga Onnayu de!? – Looks like a hentai. I’ll probably watch it for science or something.

RobiHachi – Looks like a fun Sci-Fi series. I’ll probably watch it.

Strike Witches: 501 Butai Hasshin Shimasu! – A spin-off of that Strike Witches show that I’ve never watched.

Hangyakusei Million Arthur 2nd Season – MILLION ARTHUR got a second season?! I’ve seen it all now…

Mix: Meisei Story – Cute brothers play cute baseball.

Bakumatsu: Crisis – A sequel to last year’s Bakumatsu which I did not watch. Was Bakumatsu any good?

Hachigatsu no Cinderella Nine – Cute girls play cute baseball.

Chou Kadou Girl ⅙: Amazing Stranger – A 2D-sexual otaku’s figure comes to life and he ends up in a relationship with her? Okaaaaay…

Namu Amida Butsu!: Rendai Utena – Something about Buddhas?

Yatogame-chan Kansatsu Nikki – Cute students taking part in a cute photography club.

Cinderella Girls Gekijou: Climax Season – Wow, after 10000000000001 seasons Cinderella Girls has finally reached it’s “climax season”?! I can’t believe it’s coming to an end. Maybe I’ll watch them all now.

Jimoto ga Japan – A guy called Tokio moves to Tokyo and he meets a Japanese obsessed kid who loves martial arts. Hmm…

Aikatsu Friends!: Kagayaki no Jewel – A sequel to that Aikatsu Friends! show that I never watched. Was that show any good?

Cinderella Girls Gekijou: Kayou Cinderella Theater 4th Season – Shorts for the above Climax Season of Cinderella Girls…? It’ll never end…

Cardfight!! Vanguard: Zoku Koukousei-hen – I’m not sure if this is a follow up to the reboot, another sequel in the original series or something else. Too. Much. Vanguard!

Beyblade Burst Gachi – That’s BEYYYYYYYBLAAAAAADEEEEEEEE! (We really do get one of these a season now, don’t we?)

Kiratto Pri☆chan 2nd Season – Didn’t watch the first season.

Duel Masters!! – Duel Masters (2017) is getting a sequel. I guess this franchise is still going strong too then?

Shounen Ashibe: Go! Go! Goma-chan 4 – Fourth seas-

B Rappers Street – “The story follows Youhei, a boy who raps to the beat of his farts.”

I’m fucking dead! That’s the funniest sentence I’ve read all day!

Kedama no Gonjirou – It’s about a kendama? Or something?

TV Yarou Nanaana: Wakuwaku Doukutsu Land – IT’S ABOUT JAPANESE BANANA MEN? WHAT THE FUCK IS THIS INSANE LOOKING SHIT?!

Ultraman (ONA) – This looks great and I’ve heard good things about it already.

Fate/Kaleid Liner Prisma☆Illya: Prisma☆Phantasm (OVA) – Yet another entry in the Fate/Kaleid series. One day…

Seishun Buta Yarou wa Yumemiru Shoujo no Yume wo Minai (Movie) – Bunny Girl Senpai is getting a sequel movie, and given that it was one of the best Anime of last year, I’m really excited for this to get released like 2 years later because nobody subtitles movies. Fuck.

Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress Movie 3 – lol fuck off.

And that’s everything. I’m sure. I’m positive. 99% certain. Let me know if I missed anything and I’ll add it here.

Honestly, this season is a bit of an unknown one for me at the moment. There’s some great looking shows in here, some of which I’ve been looking forward to for a while, but a lot of the really hyped shows don’t seem to be my cup of tea this time around. I have plenty to be watching despite that though, and there’s a lot of shows I have no idea about, and hey, anything can happen!

As always, I look forward to seeing how things go this season and what ends up coming out on top for me.

And stay tuned for some First Impressions posts for any of the shows I decide to write about. I don’t really do these any more, but I might give it a shot again. We’ll see.

Regardless, an overall First Impressions post will be out once the season is fully underway. So keep an eye out for that!

What are you looking forward to this season? Let me know!