As we move farther into the season, I have finally been able to start forming opinions on newly introduced series. Winter 2021 offered some new titles that I highly anticipated as well as new seasons for popular series such as The Promised Neverland, Dr. Stone, and Beastars.
As a college student, I don’t have the time to watch every series nor is anime the only thing I watch, so I can’t cover everything that has come out. These top 6 are simply a reflection of the series I have seen thus far and my own personal opinions.
Wonder Egg Priority
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If anything can be taken from this list, it is that everyone should see this masterpiece in the making. This anime is the quintessential representation of the missed opportunities within animation here in the west. In Hollywood, animation is usually represented on two ends of a spectrum: kid’s entertainment or adult, sometimes raunchy, comedy shows (e.g. Family Guy, King of the Hill). There is seldom exploration of the medium outside these two categories which is quite a shame because it leads to a one-dimensional view of animation. It makes people miss titles like this that offer a brutal representation of life. Wonder Egg Priority explores themes and topics of bullying, sexual harassment, suicide, and depression. It invokes realism and fantasy and blends both beautifully to give a jarring portrayal on the many aspects of adolescence and social issues. In many ways, to me, it’s approach feels very much like an art-house film. A heart-breaking entry, that offers substance with visual beauty
The story revolves around Ohto Ai, a 14-year girl, who is dealing with the aftermath of her best friend’s suicide. One night she hears voices that lead her to buying a “wonder egg,” that soon leads her into a new world, where she is given the opportunity to save others and potentially her friend.
2. Jujutsu Kaisen
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Ok fine. Jujutsu Kaisen is not technically a winter 2021 anime. However, I didn’t make a fall 2020 anime list and I HAD to include it as we’re in the second half of the first season. Not only does it include two great openings that are hard to skip, even for any hardcore anime fan, it has one of the best ending sequences courtesy of Ali’s Lost in Paradise (ft. AKLO).
The story revolves around Itadori Yuji, a high school student, who meets Fushiguro Megumi, a jujutsu sorcerer. He is thrown into the world of curses (creatures formed from negative human emotions) and soon acts as a vessel to stopping the most powerful curse, Sukuna.
It offers an array of top notch heroes with big personalities who are fun to root for and watch. The fight scenes are well choreographed and enhanced with the brilliant animation style. It’s a great anime and one I would personally recommend to anyone: from people who have never seen an anime before to hardcore fans.
3. Attack on Titan: The Final Season
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I tried to make this list about anime that have just premiered; however, I could not have made this list without including the final season of Attack on Titan. It is one of the best written anime and manga I have ever picked up. It is a classic in the making, surely to be in the same sphere as the likes of Dragon Ball and One Piece.
Not only does it hit heavy topics, it has given the genre one of the most complex protagonist/anti-hero in Eren Jaeger. It blurs the line between good and evil in a nuance way that is not explored enough in anime. This is an anime that will surely go down in history.
4. Horimiya
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Horimiya is a light hearted anime about two classmates who discover different sides of each other—drastically different images from the ones they portray to their classmates and friends. There is Hori, a popular girl, who has to take care of her household due to her mother’s demanding job, and Miyamura, an unkempt quiet kid who everyone believes is a nerdy otaku, but in reality uses his appearance to hide his more punk style and multiple piercings and tattoos.
Self identity is not uncommon theme to explore in the romance genre; however, Horimiya still offers a light-hearted approach to it. It has two protagonists that are fun to watch and endearing. It’s a character driven anime with side characters that are just as interesting as the main couple. Neither the content nor approach are revolutionary in any sense, but something doesn’t have to be revolutionary to be charming or good for that matter.
5. SK8 the Infinity
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I heard someone call this “Tokyo Drift meets skateboarding” and all I can say is that I wholeheartedly agree. It is a visual aesthetic with an amazing soundtrack that accentuates the scenes quite nicely.
It follows a group of skateboarders in Okinawa who participate in “S,” a secretive skating competition that takes place in an abandoned mine. In all honesty, it is filled with cliches, and it is quite predictable at times. I still enjoy the visuals; however, I am a bit disappointed in the plot. It is fast-paced, but not very realistic when it comes to accurately portraying skateboarding. However, there are only five episodes so far (at the time of writing this article), so I see much potential for improvement. I can’t wait to see where it goes, hopefully for the better. The visuals and soundtrack are really what catapulted it into my top 5.
6. 2.43 Seiin High School Boys Volleyball
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Undoubtedly this anime will draw comparisons to Haikyuu. Even when promotional videos came out, the comments were riddled with these comparisons. Though unfair, it is expected. Not only is it one of the most popular shows in the sports-anime genre, it is also one of the best-selling manga. It is my personal favorite as well. So, as the biggest Haikyuu fan, I was very interested in seeing another volleyball anime. I was not disappointed.
Seiin follows a different approach with more bittersweet moments. In short, it offers a more mature version of the underdog aspect of the sports genre. It follows two childhood friends as it explores the dynamic of their relationship. Haijima Kimichika moves back to his hometown from Tokyo and reconnects with his friend through volleyball. It portrays the dynamics of life and how people and places change with the passage of time. I can’t say whether I truly like this anime yet, but I am very interested in seeing where it leads.
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