Fall anime update
Want to find out which animes we’ve kept an eye on? Read on!
A new season of anime is about to kick off. But with the countless new adaptations, new seasons, and other brand-new shows, knowing what to watch can be a daunting task. The Carillon is here with some recommendations for new, returning, and even some downright weird series kicking off this October.
First, some new adaptations are hitting the scene that have a boatload of hype behind them. Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End is one such series. This story follows an elf, the titular Frieren, and her hero party going their separate ways after defeating the demon king. Her companions, however, are not elves and slowly but surely begin passing away. Might sound a bit sad just from that, but Frieren soon embarks on a new journey with a fresh young apprentice by her side, helping the elf form new bonds and develop newfound appreciation for her former companions. Presenting a different angle to the typical hero’s journey in a fantasy world, Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End is definitely going to be worth a try.
Another new adaptation coming from a popular light novel and manga is The Apothecary Diaries. Set in a certain Eastern country, a peculiar girl called Maomao is kidnapped to work as a servant in the Imperial Court. She is not overly bothered by her situation but harbours a deep interest in medicine that helps her secretly save the lives of the emperor’s ill infant children and concubines. Content to move on anonymously, her efforts are in vain after Jinshi, an important staffer of the inner court, takes an interest in her talents. The themes of mystery and the antics of the ever-eccentric Maomao are sure to draw viewers in.
Plenty of beloved anime are also getting new seasons this fall. The popular Tokyo Revengers is receiving its third season. Following a regret-riddled man named Takemichi Hanagaki, he stumbles (quite literally) 12 years into the past, landing him back in high school. He’s still dating Hinata, a girl who, in his time, had just been killed by the Tokyo Manji Gang. He joins the ranks of that same gang in an attempt to rewrite the future and save Hinata, with the help of her younger brother. Time travel often brings an interesting story to the table and Tokyo Revengers so far has definitely fit the bill.
Spy x Family is heading into its second season of the Forgers’ fake-family chaos. After all, when a spy, an assassin, and a young telepath band together for each of their own goals, what else could ensue? A fan favourite, it was only a matter of time before this second season would hit the airwaves. On a mission to prevent all-out war, the spy Twilight, now under the codename Loid Forger, takes in telepath Anya to attend a prestigious school to get in contact with his target. But unsuspecting heteronormative families also need a mother, bringing the assassin Yor into the fray. Each has their own, secret goals for becoming the Forger family, but the first season alone is a true comedic delight.
Dr. Stone is also airing the second part of its third season following a brief hiatus. Why it isn’t simply a fourth season, who’s to say, but this sci-fi series is a true crowd-pleaser from its action to its depictions of science of all types. After humanity has been petrified for thousands of years, the Earth has been taken back by nature. However, young scientist Senkuu breaks free of his petrification and immediately sets out to restore humanity’s most important scientific achievements. In this stone world, however, he must start from the very beginning to build the world back up with his abundance of scientific knowledge alone. It’s even educational in a Bill Nye the Science Guy kind of way! Truly an amazingly fun series that is definitely worth getting into.
Rounding these recommendations out, however, are some… oddballs to say the very least. With anime, weird shows are bound to show up, some better than others. But with weirdness often comes something different to check out for those who want something a bit more out there.
Hypnosis Mic: Division Rap Battle: Rhyme Anima is one of those strange but oddly enjoyable series that is receiving a second season this fall. Following a Third World War, the Japanese government is overthrown by the Party of Words, a group whose political leaning could best be described as a matriarchal dictatorship. Under their rule, weapons are banned and replaced by Hypnosis Mics, microphones with the ability to turn raps into weapons for those still seeking a fight.
Originally based on a multimedia franchise with music, drama tracks, stage shows, manga, and even a cellphone game, the series follows six rap groups composed of three members each, representing distinct regions in Japan. A wild concept, yes, but a lot of the music to come out of this series are absolute bangers from all different genres, not just hip-hop. While the first season’s animation was… not the best, the budget has seemingly been increased for this second season, making it something worth trying out.
Finally, another oddball worth checking out is I’m in Love with the Villainess. This zany spin on the usual isekai story has a woman reincarnate into her favourite otome game – a type of game with a typically all-male cast of characters to romance – however, our protagonist is far more interested in romancing the villainess, Claire Francois. And honestly, what’s not to enjoy about a lesbian freely pursuing her ladylove and snubbing the men she was “supposed” to go for?
This article could go on for days, but we’ll end off here with some last-minute titles getting new seasons or adaptations to check out this fall anime season: Dead Mount Death Play, The Saint’s Magic Power is Omnipotent, The Ancient Magus’ Bride, Undead Unluck, and finally Ragna Crimson.
