2021 Anime Review (Old Show Edition)
Here are my thoughts on some of the anime I watched this year that didn't premiere in 2021.
Attack on Titan Junior High: Comedy anime tend to be my favorites, and this was no exception. All of the characters were fun to watch, whether they were playing dodgeball or selling cheeseburgers.
Death Parade: Flyers is one of the best OPs of all time. The premise itself was very interesting. I think there's potential for a second season, but it would have to focus on different characters.
How Heavy are the Dumbbells You Lift?: This was one a friend from the anime club recommended, but I wasn't able to watch it until this year when I finally subscribed to Funimation. I found it to be quite funny. I just wish it motivated me to work out more, though that's more on me.
Sleepy Princess in the Demon Castle: This was another recommendation from the same friend (Doga Kobo is his favorite studio). I almost listed this show in the previous post, but chose to keep it here since all 12 episodes aired in 2020. I found this even funnier than Dumbbells. I love how the demons developed Lima Syndrome and actually understand that the princess does not like her annoying hero fiance.
Higurashi: When They Cry: I actually watched the first two episodes many years ago, but with the airing of a supposed remake that turned out to be a sequel (and a divisive one at that), I knew I had to go back and finish it. The animation got really bad at times, but it was definitely worth watching. I was amazed at how fast each episode felt. I tend to pause a lot with anime I watch to move to other tabs, but I barely did that with Higurashi. Maybe I shouldn't have read people's negative comments on the sequel before finishing the original, but watching the original only convinced me they were right about the sequel.
Cromartie High School: How did I not watch this one sooner? This is easily one of the funniest anime I've ever seen. I've read that the English version is just as hilarious, but I went with the Japanese version because I found out Takahiro Sakurai was in it. I think this was for the best, since Norio Wakamoto voices Mechazawa, one of my two favorite characters. The other favorite is Freddie; I've recommended the show to bushidogirl for this reason. The ED is interesting as it sounds like three different songs, but it isn't.
Magical Circle Guru Guru: I remember seeing a promotional image in the November 2017 issue of Animedia (which I bought because the legendary sextuplets were on the cover). I thought it looked like a cute little fantasy worth a look; finding out it was an RPG parody made me even more invested. Normally I'm not much of a fan of toilet humor, but I didn't mind it here.
Kaguya-sama: Love is War: There are many romantic comedy anime in which the leads cannot confess to each other for various, occasionally contrived reasons, but this is the only one in which they refuse to confess out of pride. Both leads are entertaining, but Chika is definitely my favorite character. I only just started the second season because I didn't realize it was on Funimation.
Beastars: So far, I've only watched the first season, but what a season it was! The animation is amazing, capturing even subtle movements well. Legoshi is such a good noodle, which you wouldn't expect from a gray wolf (I guess that's the point).
The Disastrous Life of Saiki K: I knew I had to watch this show when I found out Hiroshi Kamiya was in it (he's my favorite voice actor). I was even more interested when a character voiced by his best friend Daisuke Ono was introduced. This is another hilarious show that I recommend.
Himouto! Umaru-chan R: I watch this one with my sister, who considers Umaru her spirit animal. Yes, the Doga Kobo-loving friend introduced us to the series (we joke that we're part of an Umaru cult). My favorite characters are Ebina and Sylphyn.
Thus Spoke Kishibe Rohan: All four episodes were amazing. My favorite was the fourth one, "The Run". That one was pure insanity and I loved every minute of it.
Attack on Titan Junior High: Comedy anime tend to be my favorites, and this was no exception. All of the characters were fun to watch, whether they were playing dodgeball or selling cheeseburgers.
Death Parade: Flyers is one of the best OPs of all time. The premise itself was very interesting. I think there's potential for a second season, but it would have to focus on different characters.
How Heavy are the Dumbbells You Lift?: This was one a friend from the anime club recommended, but I wasn't able to watch it until this year when I finally subscribed to Funimation. I found it to be quite funny. I just wish it motivated me to work out more, though that's more on me.
Sleepy Princess in the Demon Castle: This was another recommendation from the same friend (Doga Kobo is his favorite studio). I almost listed this show in the previous post, but chose to keep it here since all 12 episodes aired in 2020. I found this even funnier than Dumbbells. I love how the demons developed Lima Syndrome and actually understand that the princess does not like her annoying hero fiance.
Higurashi: When They Cry: I actually watched the first two episodes many years ago, but with the airing of a supposed remake that turned out to be a sequel (and a divisive one at that), I knew I had to go back and finish it. The animation got really bad at times, but it was definitely worth watching. I was amazed at how fast each episode felt. I tend to pause a lot with anime I watch to move to other tabs, but I barely did that with Higurashi. Maybe I shouldn't have read people's negative comments on the sequel before finishing the original, but watching the original only convinced me they were right about the sequel.
Cromartie High School: How did I not watch this one sooner? This is easily one of the funniest anime I've ever seen. I've read that the English version is just as hilarious, but I went with the Japanese version because I found out Takahiro Sakurai was in it. I think this was for the best, since Norio Wakamoto voices Mechazawa, one of my two favorite characters. The other favorite is Freddie; I've recommended the show to bushidogirl for this reason. The ED is interesting as it sounds like three different songs, but it isn't.
Magical Circle Guru Guru: I remember seeing a promotional image in the November 2017 issue of Animedia (which I bought because the legendary sextuplets were on the cover). I thought it looked like a cute little fantasy worth a look; finding out it was an RPG parody made me even more invested. Normally I'm not much of a fan of toilet humor, but I didn't mind it here.
Kaguya-sama: Love is War: There are many romantic comedy anime in which the leads cannot confess to each other for various, occasionally contrived reasons, but this is the only one in which they refuse to confess out of pride. Both leads are entertaining, but Chika is definitely my favorite character. I only just started the second season because I didn't realize it was on Funimation.
Beastars: So far, I've only watched the first season, but what a season it was! The animation is amazing, capturing even subtle movements well. Legoshi is such a good noodle, which you wouldn't expect from a gray wolf (I guess that's the point).
The Disastrous Life of Saiki K: I knew I had to watch this show when I found out Hiroshi Kamiya was in it (he's my favorite voice actor). I was even more interested when a character voiced by his best friend Daisuke Ono was introduced. This is another hilarious show that I recommend.
Himouto! Umaru-chan R: I watch this one with my sister, who considers Umaru her spirit animal. Yes, the Doga Kobo-loving friend introduced us to the series (we joke that we're part of an Umaru cult). My favorite characters are Ebina and Sylphyn.
Thus Spoke Kishibe Rohan: All four episodes were amazing. My favorite was the fourth one, "The Run". That one was pure insanity and I loved every minute of it.