Best of Anime 2023 – Random Curiosity

Pancakes: Any number of cutie pies, hotheads, or otherwise seasonal waifus are more than capable of taking this category during a given year, but out of all of them the one deserving it most in 2023 has to be Nezuko. Since the start of Kimetsu no Yaiba she’s always been a stupidly strong combination of cute and capable, whether it be famous chibi dash through the forest or, as in the case of the second season, showing that she has the power needed to protect Tanjiro when required. This season however really upped the ante for Nezuko’s character, both between the fighting she engaged in for the sake of her brother and in highlighting the potential she now has going forward courtesy of season finale speaking and standing in the sunlight – oh yes, this girl will be topping the charts going forward just for the familial love she can now better express for big brother. Must give a runner up shoutout to Dark Gathering’s Yayoi though; when it comes to kuudere tendencies with unique character design (the shoes I swear) you can find no better example in 2023. And hey, she even comes with the complementary yandere in Eiko for spice!

Winner: Kamado Nezuko – Kimetsu no Yaiba

Honorable Mentions: Houzuki Yayoi – Dark Gathering

Pancakes: While easy to hand any number of series the win for design, among all the fantasy and school uniform trappings the one which stood out the most was Uma Musume. A little counterintuitive maybe given the overarching franchise, but this series has always had an eye for interesting costumes which don’t tread too far into the usual idol insanity. Bright and varied colours are matched with the just right amount of frill, while the outfits themselves don’t go so overboard as to completely affect suspension of disbelief coming from them being worn by anthropomorphized horses in literal horse races. Couple it with some effort placed on matching costume design to the origins and backstories of each character and it made for some nifty variation in overall visuals. Just further proof that even the most niche of shows can at times hit above their weight.

Winner: Uma Musume

Pancakes: Per tradition action was quite plentiful over the past year, with major series in the likes of Boku no Hero Academia, the latest yearly Kimetsu no Yaiba continuation, and new shounen powerhouse in Jujutsu Kaisen all showing just what they’re made of. In the end though the prize must go to Shingeki no Kyojin because oh boy you cannot leave a series off on a better note. Whatever one’s impressions of its plot and ending, the last two TV specials showcased everything making the franchise so damn popular, from the monster mash of Titan battles to the always impressive maneuver gear set pieces up to and including the pulp melodrama giving a reason for it all. Couple it with the usual lavish spending such productions acquire and the visuals definitely improved what was already a wickedly fun experience. Given how long SnK has been an anime fixture (over a decade!), there’s no more fitting way to leave off its last great hurrah.

Winner: Shingeki no Kyojin

Honorable Mentions: Jujutsu Kaisen, Kimetsu no Yaiba

Choya: The English title is “My Happy Marriage”, but the titular happiness is so impactful because of the adversity that both Saimori Miyo and Kudou Kiyoka must contend with to protect and preserve the joy they’ve found together. With Miyo’s arranged marriage to Kudou working out more perfectly than expected, there are swathes of rivals, families, and sorcerers determined to split them up for their ulterior motives. But the magic of romance comes from the passion and dedication that one has for your partner and yourself, and Watashi no Shiawase na Kekkon knows how to push Miyo to pull out all of the stops and harness this magic.

Through her constant endurance of some of the most unfair, cruel, and malicious circumstances, Miyo is tasked with overcoming self-doubt and self-loathing to trust in her abilities, no matter how dormant they may be, to fight for her love. Likewise, Kudou fosters a positive space for Miyo to find the confidence she can to know exactly what she wants now that she no longer has to live with the constant abuse she’s dealt with for years on end. Watashi no Shiawase na Kekkon captures the enduring spirit of love in its many forms, whether it be the unconditional emotions felt in a lover’s embrace or the compassion that you share with yourself.

Winner: Watashi no Shiawase na Kekkon

Pancakes: If sci-fi struggled with two equal competitors this past year, drama too wasn’t immune courtesy of dual juggernauts Vinland Saga and Oshi no Ko. Both of these shows honestly deserve the win: they’re both blunt, psychological affairs with a dash of moralism (more so in Vinland’s case), raise tough questions regarding their targeted area/industry, and feature some very nice characters and overall character development. The only reason Oshi no Ko ekes out the victory is because its drama is, well, very dramatic, with a brutal and visceral prologue later accompanied by some choice reflection on the state of the entertainment industry and how its participants navigate the waters. It’s imperfect, it’s shallow at times, but Oshi no Ko’s flair for the theatrical (no pun intended) gives it that little bit extra leg up over Vinland Saga’s more slow burning, historically centered efforts. Don’t think you shouldn’t give both of these ones some attention though; if there ever was a category this year deserving of a shared award, this one would be it.

Winner: Oshi no Ko

Honorable Mentions: Vinland Saga

Princess Usagi: There are many different ways a historical setting can go- for one, there’s the solid traditional route that plays events as they unfolded as pure drama. The other is the full throttle speedway with bombastic characters and events that scream out larger than life. Golden Kamuy certainly took the cake there with many fabulous “is this actually happening on screen right now??” moments, interspersed with random obscure historical tidbits. Undead Girl Murder Farce also brilliantly exploded down this path, pulling in a hodgepodge of who’s who among Victorian literary characters in a wild goose chase around 19th century Europe.

On the other end of the outlandish spectrum, we had Vinland Saga, which followed the immense character growth of Thorfinn while poignantly exploring the painful realities of war, slavery, and loss against the backdrop of the medieval viking conquests. And let’s not forget Oooku, which did a fairly good job of immersing us in the alternate reality of a female-run shogunate-era Japan, taking an interesting dive into the politics of the time as well as the gender dynamics that underlie much of history.

As fantastic as each of these series were in their own rights, the one that stands at the pinnacle of the 2023 historical genre is Rurouni Kenshin. I felt that the reboot really drew out the historical themes central to the source material around adjusting to a new age and the sense of loss in grappling with the outcomes of the causes that were supported during the Meiji Revolution. The threads between Kenshin’s own personal demons and the recurring battles he faces within and outside of him were elegantly tied to the concurrent sense of displacement with that of boldly forging a new, better era in a way that was deeply introspective of the crazy times surrounding the Meiji Era.

Winner: Rurouni Kenshin

Pancakes: Be honest, you knew this one was coming the moment summer rolled around. Although true horror and thriller series are often few and far between, when the likes of Dark Gathering appear it quickly makes up for all the down time. This show encapsulated everything which makes the genre so chaotic and addicting: visual horror and gore, psychological tension and drama, and an intensely character-driven plot fueled by the best twists and turns which only anime can ever offer. While the show over time evolved into something more akin to a shounen than proper horror, the willingness of Dark Gathering to keep up the suspense, double down on the insanity (particularly as it related to Eiko’s and Keitarou’s relationship), and maintain solid visuals throughout ensured that each week never lacked for pulpy, over the top fun. Considering just how gloriously ridiculous some horror shows can be, could you really ask for more?

Winner: Dark Gathering

Pancakes: For the same reasons Pluto just narrowly lost the sci-fi award are the same reasons it hands down takes this one: a very good, slow-burn, mystery focused story. While Urasawa Naoki has an innate knack for plots like this (courtesy of his earlier experience writing Monster), Pluto’s adaptation perfected the source material experience, weaving a tale which never once stumbled or rushed through its material. Mysteries after all demand that questions both be asked and (usually) answered, and this show never let up in drip feeding the resolutions to its central conflict while raising larger, more philosophical questions to its greater world. Much like Summertime Render last year had you glued to the screen, Pluto’s execution too nailed the desire for “just one more episode” and had at least me binge watch far more of it in one sitting than I likely should have. When a mystery leaves you immediately wanting more you know you have something special on your hands.

Winner: Pluto

Honorable Mentions: Tengoku Daimakyo, Undead Girl Murder Farce

Pancakes: Last year proved quite fruitful for supernatural series, whether that be the thriller-infused chaos of Dark Gathering (itself already a winner in horror), the fluffy slice-of-life fun of Shinigami Bocchan to Kuro Maid, or even the genre insanity of Undead Unluck. All of them, however, have to take a backseat to Jigokuraku because if any 2023 show nailed the otherworldly trappings the category demands it was this one. Besides featuring an eclectic, historical setting with some very interesting enemy and monster designs, Jigokuraku melded a neat mix of shounen-inspired action and decent mystery to yield a story as much about its central premise of finding the elixir of life as figuring out just what its world is all about. No matter its occasional stumble in terms of production or pacing, Jigokuraku helps to show that the supernatural often works best when fused with other genres and taken to the extreme and definitely deserves standing first on this year’s podium.

Winner: Jigokuraku

Honorable Mentions: Dark Gathering, Shinigami Bocchan to Kuro Maid, Mononogatari

Pancakes: Sci-fi thankfully saw a bit of a resurgence the past year with at least six shows vying for the top stop, though much like isekai in the end it was only a race between Tengoku Daimakyo and Pluto. Both are broadly similar, with mystery-heavy plots buoyed by character-driven development, psychological tension, and questions on the meaning of existence. While Tengoku Daimakyo played more towards gritty post-apocalypse with a very human flair,Pluto was more above board and focused on the definition of humanity, generally aiming for a feel which AI no Idenshi (or even Casshern Sins) also tried to perfect. Both honestly deserve top spot given how they turned out (particularly for how well they roped their audiences in), but if pressed Tengoku Daimakyo just squeaks out the victory for its story as well as its execution. For all its production values Pluto experienced a few of the ubiquitous adaptation stumbling blocks (e.g. 3DCGI), the sort of thing which Tengoku Daimakyo largely managed to avoid. If anything, however, having two acclaimed neck and neck series like this shows that the future of anime sci-fi isn’t all that bleak and that there’s room for optimism heading into a new year.

Winner: Tengoku Daimakyo

Honorable Mentions: Ai no Idenshi, Pluto

Pancakes: Mecha is always a fun category to look back on because there’s either absolutely nothing or absolutely everything to mull over. While the former was more apparent this year – Megaton-kyuu Musashi and Bullbuster struggled making the grade – given Gundam’s latest original in Witch from Mercury carried over into spring it made things relatively simple. Not that Witch from Mercury is undeserving of first place mind you: it was typical Gundam with larger than life characters (with the first female protagonist to boot), an interesting sci-fi setting and Gundam system effectively building on what Iron Blooded Orphans featured, and the usual feast of neat mecha designs Bandai wasted little time in making model kits for. Couple it with a solid story and the usual theatrical and dramatic flair common to the franchise and no wonder it easily claimed the prize. Sure, Witch from Mercury may be no OG One Year War competitor (or even one to SEED for that matter), but it certainly ticks off all the boxes for a mecha winner – and a good one at that!

Winner: Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury

Pancakes: With Sousou no Frieren already a lock for 2024 in this category (the continual pain of fall-winter straddling shows) it left some noticeable room for another contender this year. There’s a few suspects, from the always reliable Megumin explosions in Kono Subarashii Sekai ni Bakuen wo to Ousama Ranking’s follow up “side-cour”, the literal age-spanning tale Fumetsu no Anata e, and even the surprisingly entertaining Eiyuuou way back in January. In the end though there’s only one decent winner for true force of effort: Danmachi. The fourth season in this franchise was arguably the Danmachi redemption arc, playing hard to its underlying strengths in Bell’s personal struggles and fleshing out the backstory of Ryuu in a very satisfying way. I wouldn’t go as far as saying it completely paved over Danmachi cheesy moments or its very light novel developments (plenty of those still remain), but it did wonders for showcasing just what makes this series fun and why many fans hold it in high stead. With how widely variable fantasy can be – particularly in the era of isekai – any adaptation managing to accomplish that fully deserves the praise it receives.

Winner: Dungeon ni Deai wo Motomeru no wa Machigatteiru Darou ka

Honorable Mentions: Fumetsu no Anata e

Pancakes: At this point isekai is as isekai does: it remains the current anime zeitgeist with dozens of series in a given year to work through and 2023 was no exception – even if the competition for first place was surprisingly less intense than thought. In the end the choice came down to Kage no Jitsuryokusha ni Naritakute and Mushoku Tensei, with the latter just edging it out courtesy of tight storytelling and some strong (and welcome) character development on the part of Rudeus. This season was the culmination for a lot of Mushoku Tensei’s earlier buildup, helping spread the series’ wings and giving some better direction for Rudeus’ underlying goal of finding his family. While the usual light novel/power fantasy criticisms remain, given this season continued the existing series trend of good worldbuilding, decent pacing, and some very excellent production values, it’s full deserving of all the kudos coming its way. No matter the warts Mushoku Tensei bears, this franchise always nails just what it means to truly be isekai. Just have to hope the next season can keep the torch going strong.

Winner: Mushoku Tensei: Isekai Ittara Honki Dasu

Honorable Mentions: Kage no Jitsuryokusha ni Naritakute

Choya: It’s tempting not to throw this into the Category Defining category for its disturbing thriller elements and emotional family drama, but Migi to Dali is easily the funniest anime of the year for all of its surreal, over-the-top sense of humor. As newly adopted twins who methodically plan out their every move together, Migi and Dali are forced to keep up the illusion of being the precocious, open-minded Hitori no matter the cost. It’s through these costs that the brothers are put through the wringer as they have to contend with making new friends with unsettling hobbies, performing acrobatics to share time with their foster parents, and enduring some of the most cringe-worthy parties in town.

It doesn’t help that the brothers are still getting adjusted to their new life as Migi’s naivety and Dali’s lack of social cues cause them to have to think fast if they want to blend in. It’s not a comedy for the faint of heart since it steers into some pretty creepy territory, especially as the brothers learn more about the dark secrets behind the Ichijou family’s stability. But if you’re able to roll with the show’s serious turns, then you’ll have a great time with the off-kilter, campy comedy of Migi to Dali.

Winner: Migi to Dali

Pancakes: Romcoms are always a plentiful staple in anime, and much like earlier years we had a huge number to pick through, whether that be the teasing antics of Nagatoro-san and Kubo-san, the transfer student shenanigans from Skip to Loafer, or the tomboy fun of Tomo-chan. All of those however just cannot match the sheer staying power of Boku no Kokoro no Yabai Yatsu for absolutely nailing both the romance and comedy aspects. Latter of course is easy: Anna is a continual source of hilarity, with bubbly personality and scatterbrained mind bouncing fantastically off of Kyoutarou’s moody (yet internally sweet) mentality. It’s the romance between the two which makes things overall though, as the slow boil, organic growth of Kyoutarou’s and Anna’s relationship and their gradual realization of interest in one another creates some very charming, wonderfully adorable scenes with minimal teenage melodrama. This one is an excellent example of romcom done right, and if the second season can match what the first had on tap, 2024 might already have its winner determined.

Winner: Boku no Kokoro no Yabai Yatsu

Honorable Mentions: Skip to Loafer, Tomo-chan wa Onnanoko

Pancakes: Probably shows the staying power of isekai these days when most slice-of-life wound up being alternate world flavour in one variety or another, yet there were a few “proper” examples which happened to fall through the cracks, particularly Yuzuki-san Chi no Yonkyoudai. This one was a remarkably sweet story, focusing not just on family life between siblings with no parents present, but also one where they are all boys. The handling of this premise was particularly impressive, as the slow yet methodical unfolding of Yuzuki-san’s story alongside its intensely character-driven focus quickly made for some very enjoyable – and emotional – moments. Coupled with the show keeping its drama mostly realistic and having some pretty good animation at key moments throughout makes this one without a doubt one of 2023’s diamonds in the rough. Just goes to show that not all slice of life needs a café or club to make things work.

Winner: Yuzuki-san Chi no Yonkyoudai

Honorable Mentions: Edomae Elf

Princess Usagi: While the quality sports anime this year were rather sparse, the two that did grace our screens made for a tough decision when working on this write-up. One of the highlights in this genre for 2023 was Mix. Any of Adachi’s works is legend (though Cross Game is Rurouni Kenshin is his best). The way he used Mix to expand upon the universe of Touch while delivering thrilling matches and insight into family was compelling (though frustrating at times when he beat around the bush so many times there was almost no bush left). The real champ for 2023, however, was Overtake!. Skeptical at first with it being an anime original, the deft touch carried by the writing almost every week, the loveable characters, and the gripping races hit hard where it counts, overtaking any other competition. While I am not terribly knowledgeable of F4 racing, the series’ portrayal of the sport certainly drew me in, made me feel the excitement of the race. If that weren’t enough, it completely nailed the ending in a way that many anime originals fail to do, allowing the show to speak for itself and showcasing the talents of the staff who worked on this.

Winner: Overtake!

Pancakes: As far as years go 2023 wasn’t lacking for off the wall as Oniichan wa Oshimai, Migi to Dali, Rokudou no Onna-tachi, and Kaminaki Sekai no Kamisama Katsudou show. I remain firmly adamant the last two are so bad they’re great (especially Kamikatsu *laughs in rotoscoping*), but if being wholly objective Zom 100 has to take the award. This one really came out of nowhere, meshing bucket list fulfillment with a world of zombies (bet you never heard that combination before), pairing the crazy idea fusion with some ridiculously good cinematography, and letting the whole thing go on top of a comedy-powered engine. In a sense it’s a Japanese Shaun of the Dead, replete with parody, satire, and far too many fun times watching Akira try and fulfill his various bucket list items. I wouldn’t go as far as saying it’s a show for everyone (suspension of disbelief is a must), but for a truly “anime” experience in 2023 Zom 100 is without a doubt it.

Winner: Zom 100: Zombie ni Naru made ni Shitai 100 no Koto

Honorable Mentions: Migi to Dali

Pancakes: With how hard Dark Gathering dominated the paranormal side of things it can be easy overlooking the rest of the field which frankly would be a major disservice, particularly when it comes to Mononogatari. This one is a solid second tier show: it doesn’t tread new ground (it’s a battle shounen at heart), its visuals are middling (but not egregious), and the overall story and characters are nothing to really write home about. Yet Mononogatari does what it does well, never stumbling, rushing too hard, or otherwise flying off the cliff like many similar adaptations have a habit of doing. Having two seasons helped as well, giving plenty of time for Hyouma to learn and grow, come to terms with his past, and spread his figurative wings vis a vis his relationship with Botan. As a binge watch it was a great time, and while it’ll never top the rankings, anyone with a need for some simple, solid, spirit-side fun (alliterations go boo) would do well to give it a shot. I dare say you might be pleasantly surprised.

Winner: Kotarou wa Hitorigurashi

Pancakes: It’s kind of funny in hindsight seeing how well the big name shows went this year as they’re usually the bread and butter for disappointments. SPY X FAMILY? Nailed the sequel. Tokyo Revengers? Doing what it does best. Rurouni Kenshin? A good second round adaptation. Hell even Jujutsu Kaisen, for all the studio woes, made a very impressive second season. All that leaves are the shows which could’ve been, and of those arguably the biggest letdown was SHY. Being a superhero story in the era of Boku no Hero Academia is already a major hurdle after all, and while SHY had the benefit of focusing more on interpersonal dynamics and coming to grips with living up to expectations (read: good anime-esque exploration being a superhero), it wound up stepping on a lot of its own rakes. For one a lot of key details in the manga were cut and development of key protagonists and antagonists both wound up proving superficial. The titular Shy in particular felt disjointed in her growth, which combined with the fleeting world building left a largely listless story. A second season is set for 2024 so hopefully it can make up for the first, but as it stands SHY is a show which just couldn’t quite stick the landing when push came to shove and arguably shows how expectations can be as a big a downfall as execution.

Winner: SHY

Pancakes: Seemingly deciding 2022 didn’t have enough trainwrecks 2023 decided to go all out and offer up even more examples. Whether it be the emotional letdown of Maou Gakuin’s sequel, the absolutely chaotic conclusion for Masamune-kun, or Yoko Taro increasingly proving that Nier was lightning in a bottle with Kamierabi, many shows decided cliff diving was an appropriate production choice. Nevertheless the one which really stuck hard was Kaminaki Sekai no Kamisama Katsudou for simply having the most beautiful wreckage. This one truly had it all: crazy isekai-meets-reincarnation plot (those who watched will understand), overtly ecchi shenanigans, the best of comedic light novel developments, and a ridiculously skimpy production budget which left us such animation masterpieces like this. The combination of all these elements made for one hell of a ride, and while objectively Kamikatsu will be a prime example of what not to do for your isekai adaptation, it goes to show that sometimes the most vivid (and entertaining) anime experiences are those shows which break every rule in the book.

Winner: Kaminaki Sekai no Kamisama Katsudou

Honorable Mentions: Kamierabi

Pancakes: Might seem weird having a mobile game adaptation wind up taking this category (aren’t they all terrible?), but considering where Arknights was starting from it’s a well-deserved award. This is honestly how such productions should go – especially adaptation sequels – where a suitable budget is met with a self-contained and appropriately paced story. Far too many related mobage franchises take the slice and dice approach after all, leaving very bad aftertastes courtesy of cheap animation and rapid-fire episodes testing even the ability of game fans to make sense of. While Arknights isn’t without some of the usual stumbling blocks (it does assume game familiarity for one), its tight execution, especially in the latter half with Faust and Mephisto, made it a very enjoyable experience akin to the halcyon days of Shingeki no Bahamut and I for one hope it translates into further seasons in the future. Given how most of these adaptations go there is no higher praise.

Winner: Arknights

Honorable Mentions: Hikari no Ou

Pancakes: I swear it gets harder every year picking the ultimate winner. From surefire staples to the surprise fall dark horse, something inevitably comes up taking obvious victors out the running and throwing everything else for a loop. Oshi no Ko for example would be the easy pick, but it was arguably frontloaded and more superficial than it would like you think. Jujutsu Kaisen? Tragically plagued by production troubles. And the slate of stupidly good 2023 romcoms are their own tempest in a teapot. No, if going for the strongest overall show the winner must be Vinland Saga for giving one of anime’s best historical fictions to date.

While slow and brooding, Vinland Saga’s second cour was jampacked with moral and philosophical musings, exploring the struggles of Thorfinn and Canute as both came to terms with an uncaring world and how they should interact with it to see appreciable change. It was a drama in the truest sense of the word, a story exploring the very personal highs and lows for key characters, and showing how even the greatest depths of tragedy can yield happiness (or at least a path forward). Sure, the action many were used to in the first season may have been lacking, but the latter half of this one arguably made up for it given its bluntness, moral exploration, and raw emotion, particularly once Thorfinn and Canute finally came face to face. Add on MAPPA really giving its all in terms of animation and artwork and the product we got was as much an ode to the setting which it takes place as an example of the boundless potential such historical works have. When it comes to showing just what anime is capable of, Vinland Saga more than any work production in 2023 showed it best.

Winner: Vinland Saga

Pancakes: Probably no major shocker after all the praise Pluto received earlier on that it would win up ultimately claiming 2023’s OVA/Movie AOTY award. While Shingeki no Kyojin technically was an OVA this time around, Evangelion made another return, and even SAO Progressive received its second (subbed) installment, none of them taken as a whole could really match the package Pluto was providing. Whether that be the murder mystery premise pulling you in, the underlying philosophical questions permeating and underpinning the entire story, or the show simply being a very good adaptation for Urasawa Naoki’s original work, Pluto as a whole wound up being far greater than the base sum of its parts. Hell let’s not also forget this was a Netflix production at heart – considering how hit and miss the company can be these days getting a show like Pluto is no small feat. Just have to hope its success can encourage the greenlighting of similar series, because if there’s one thing anime can never have enough of it’s brooding and inquisitive sci-fi.

Winner: Pluto

The Top 5:
Oshi no Ko – 7.25%
Vinland Saga Season 2 – 5.81%
Jujutsu Kaisen Season 2 – 5.76%
Tengoku Daimakyo – 4.83%
Kage no Jitsuryokusha ni Naritakute! – 4.55%
Here are the full results.

The Top 5:
Pluto – 9.75%
EVANGELION:3.0+1.11 THRICE UPON A TIME – 9.57%
Shingeki no Kyojin: The Final Season – Kanketsu-hen – 8.08%
Kaguya-sama wa Kokurasetai: First Kiss wa Owaranai – 5.97%
Suzume no Tojimari – 5.62%
Here are the full results.