I’m not going to mince words here: winter 2021 will be a blast. With so many sequels packed inside one season, and Attack on Titan still going on strong, this is likely the first ever season that I’m really looking forward to. But before that, let’s recap some of the anime in Fall 2020. This time around, I’ll try to add an adjective to encapsulate each watched show.

Watched:

Akudama Drive: I did not plan to watch this, but I’m glad I did. It’s a show where no one really has a name to be attached with, filled with gory scenes, pumped with actions and binds itself with twists after twists. Only at the very end, it lets the tranquility and a sense of lost seeps in, concluding the story in a captivating way. (gratifying)

Haikyuu!!: To the Top 2nd Season: An intense, satisfying conclusion to the match between Karasuno and Inarizaki High. Also a great development arc for Hinata, Kageyama and Ryuunosuke, the baldy. (artistic)

I’m standing on 1,000,000 lives.: I enjoy the insights given to each characters that justify their action, how they tie these strangers up, and fuel their motivation in the other world. The art is a bit below average but the ending song was great, and beautiful. As for the plot—it’s intriguing, with some saying that the manga is actually better. So… there’s that. (ambivalent)

Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? III: In short, the interaction and portrayal between monsters and humans in this season managed to temporarily wipe the harem element away. Bell Cranel, the fool, has certainly redeemed himself to more than just a protagonist that goes with the flow. (heroic)

Our Last Crusade or the Rise of a New World: I enjoyed each three of the show that Silver Link. made following the last three season (BOFURI, My Next Life as a Villainess, Demon Academy). Not this one. The female protagonist is cute, the fighting animation is fluid, the art is captivating—these are pretty much everything. The plot jumps around, majority of characters are just there, for the sake of it. And these make it… (hollow)

Wandering Witch: The Journey of Elaina: To be honest, I was looking for a light-hearted adventure; I was wrong. The first few episodes changed and drastically shifted the tone of the show deep into the darkness, before slowly emerging it to the light and fun part again. Then, it dives down and up for multiple times, literally giving the entire show a sense of being inside a roller coaster of emotions. (playful)

Talentless Nana: The psychological-thriller suspense was fun, to a certain degree before the story gets more and more unbearable. But overall, it’s… (enthralling)

The Day I Became a God: “I strived to make The Day I Became a God the most heart-breaking anime of all time.” – Jun Maeda (underwhelming)

Watching:

Jujutsu Kaisen: The blend of gory horror and incredible action sequences are just on point; I really enjoy it thus far. Not to mention the opening, and ending theme which are just amazing.

Attack on Titan Final Season: Eren has met Reiner for the first time, at the post-credit scenes of episode 4, when this is written. It was chiling. Also, the potato scene that frightened Reiner’s family was damn good.

Plan to Watch:

The Promised Neverland 2nd Season: Beyond the wall… lies hope or despair?

Dr. Stone: Stone Wars: Yes. YES! Brute force vs intelligence! Strategy vs technology!

That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime Season 2: Reincarnated as a Slime always has this light mood around it in the exploration of its fantasical world, and its fun ensemble cast of characters. It’s entertaining and is for me, one of the greatest isekai of worldbuilding out there.

Log Horizon 3rd Season: The greatest isekai worldbuilding that I can think of is Log Horizon. Most of the characters are well-developed, the conflicts are well-established, and the setting, system of the world are well-defined. All in all, I’m just amazed by the adaptation done from a light novel. And hopefully this season will bring Log Horizon to new heights.

Re:Zero 2nd Season Part 2: Part 1 of this season leaped beyond my expectation, especially with the episodes tittled “Parent and Child” and “The Value of Life” that really gives meaning to the main protagonist’s reincarnation in another world, and adds depth to his character. It’s well done. Truly.

Cells at Work! 2nd Season: A fun, educational anime.

Yuru Camp△ Season 2: Outdoor camping has never been this exciting.

Non Non Biyori Nonstop: Another SoL I’m adding to my list this season.

Bungou Stray Dogs Wan!: A gag, miniature version of the deadly, gory, thrilling Bungou Stray Dogs is always welcomed.

Airing Dates:

  • January 6: ReZero 2nd Season
  • January 7: Yuru Camp△ Season 2
  • January 8: The Promised Neverland 2nd Season
  • January 9: Cells at Work! 2nd Season
  • January 11: Non Non Biyori Nonstop
  • January 12: That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime Season 2
  • January 13: Bungou Stray Dogs Wan!, Log Horizon 3rd Season
  • January 14: Dr Stone: Stone Wars

Wraping up:

Thank you Winter 2021 for all these amazing sequels. It’s been one tough year, but we’ve all managed to grind through it together. So, with my fingers crossed, here’s hoping that the unknown 2021 will treat us better. This will be my last post in 2020; I’ll see you all next year!