It’s getting colder and in some places, there’s even been some snow already. The perfect time to snuggle up inside with a blanket and watch some anime. So grab some hot chocolate and get ready for the next season of anime series with our top ten picks!
We wish all of you good health, happy holidays, a happy 2023 and lots of viewing pleasure!
Are you missing a series you’re looking forward to? Become a writer for AVO Magazine and give us your two cents’ worth!
Koori Zokusei Danshi to Cool na Douryou Joshi (氷属性男子とクールな同僚女子)
Type: Anime
Studio: Zero-G & Liber
Genres: Comedy, Fantasy, Romance
Based on the eponymous web manga by Miyuki Tonogaya.
Starts airing: January 4th
Number of Episodes: Unknown
Imagine working in an office with a coworker whose supernatural powers cause a snowstorm, inside, every time he’s deeply concentrated or his emotions build up. That’s what Himuro’s colleagues have to deal with every day. Himuro’s affection for Fuyutsuki, a calm woman who’s good at helping him with his unique problems, definitely doesn’t help. The more he grows to like her, the colder the office gets. Will he be able to capture her heart? And what’ll happen to the people around him if he does?
Recommended by Yuki:
This definitely seems like a fun show with plenty of sweet and hilarious moments. I look forward to seeing their romance develop and I also wonder what other people with supernatural powers might turn up.
Revenger (リベンジャー)
Type: Anime
Studio: Ajia-Do
Genres: Mystery
Starts airing: January 5th
Number of Episodes: Unknown
The Satsuma, the grand samurai clan, face a lot of assassinations on their members and master assassin Usui Yuen investigates them. He meets Kurima Raizo, who survived one of those assassinations. Together they discover why those assassinations started and it’s about something bigger then stolen resources. Will they get their revenge?
Recommended by Hageshi:
This anime is produced by Shochiku and that is actually how I came to this one. They produced a few other works I watched like Oda Cinnamon Nobunaga and Violet Evergarden: The Movie. And in combination with Nitro Plus, known for the Psycho-Pass movies among others, I feel this might be a very good production. And that together with how they designed the characters, I surely look forward to it.
Tomo-chan wa Onnanoko! (トモちゃんは女の子！)
Type: Anime
Studio: Lay-duce
Genres: Comedy, Romance
Based on the eponymous web manga by Fumita Yanagida.
Starts airing: January 5th
Number of Episodes: Unknown
Tomo Aizawa and Junichirou “Jun” Kubota are inseparable childhood friends, who have a playful relationship just like brothers. Whisking away any hint or confession that Tomo drops his way, how will Tomo convince Jun to drop the bro-zone act and accept her as a potential lover now that they go to the same school?
Recommended by Natsu:
Tomo is such a cute character who’s really in the midst of self-exploration in this storyline while Jun is very oblivious. I’ve read a little and there are so many funny, sweet and bittersweet moments in the manga I can’t wait to see how they will portray this in the anime.
Sugar Apple Fairy Tale (シュガーアップル・フェアリーテイル)
Type: Anime
Studio: J.C.Staff
Genres: Adventure, Fantasy, Romance
Based on the eponymous light novel by Aki and Miri Mikawa.
Starts airing: January 6th
Number of Episodes: Unknown
Trying to follow in her late mother’s footsteps, a candy crafter named Ann Halford finds herself purchasing a fairy named Shall to protect her along the way. To realize her dream of becoming a Silver Sugar Master she needs to win a sugar sculpture festival, judged by the royal family. Along the way Ann finds herself torn between setting her handsome but foul-mouthed fairy free, but also needing him as her bodyguard.
Recommended by Yuki:
The style of this anime is what attracted me to it initially. I don’t think it’ll be a very complicated storyline, when it comes to the romance bit, but looking at the style and setting it will probably still be a nice show to watch.
Hyouken no Majutsushi ga Sekai wo Suberu (冰剣の魔術師が世界を統べる)
Type: Anime
Studio: Cloud Hearts
Genres: Action, Fantasy
Based on the eponymous light novel by Riko Korie and Nana Mikoshiba.
Starts airing: January 6th
Number of Episodes: Unknown
Ray White is ready for his very normal commoner lifestyle at Arnold Academy while he keeps a big part of his identity a secret from his classmates. What can he do to keep the rumours from spreading about a very powerful soldier named Iceblade Magician joining this elite Arnold Academy while he goes undercover to stop a daunting spy with unclear motives?
Recommended by Natsu:
I’ve always loved stories where someone goes undercover, it calls for very exciting moments all while he’ll have to protect his new friends from the still ongoing great battles that he has to face. What will he learn, earn and lose from this big sacrifice? What goes around comes around after all.
Buddy Daddies
Type: Anime
Studio: P.A. Works
Genres: Comedy
Start uitzending: 7 Januari
Aantal afleveringen: Onbekend
Starts airing: January 7th
Number of Episodes: Unknown
Two Assassin-buddies face their most formidable opponent so far.. a little girl?!
Recommended by Hageshi:
Personally I just like the studio their work. I know P.A. Works from anime like Another, Fairy Gone and Angel Beats. In my opinion they are unique and memorable. So I hope they are able to give that feeling through Buddy Daddies as well. Even though so little has been released for this anime so far, I imagine it being a funny anime with a lot of shenanigans. It sounds like it will be a good laugh!
Benriya Saitou-san, Isekai ni Iku (便利屋斎藤さん、異世界に行く)
Type: Anime
Studio: C2C
Genres: Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy
Based on the eponymous 4-koma manga by Kazutomo Ichitomo.
Starts airing: January 8th
Number of Episodes: Unknown
Saitou is an everyday handyman, until one fateful day he is transported to another world. In this new world, Saitou’s skills are found to be incredibly useful and he starts to fully understand what it is to be needed by others.
Recommended by AlexD:
Just when you think isekai anime is out of ideas, another crazy premise sneaks in. This one seems like a nice easy watch on those cold winter nights.
Kubo-san wa Mob wo Yurusanai (久保さんは僕を許さない)
Type: Anime
Studio: Pine Jam
Genres: Comedy, Romance
Based on the eponymous manga by Nene Yukimori.
Starts airing: January 10th
Number of Episodes: Unknown
Junta Shiraishi, a high-school boy so average that others around him fail to notice his presence. To the extent it has become an urban myth that if you spot Shiraishi you will be blessed with good luck. The only person to notice him is Nagisa Kubo, who likes to tease him and put Shiraishi in nerve wracking situations. Although, this is helping Shiraishi reach his goal of having a fulfilling youth.
Recommended by AlexD:
Feeling like a reverse Komi Can’t Communicate, it is sure to be a much needed laugh. Alongside this is a soft art style with bright colours, it is the opposite of the plain protagonist. Kubo is going to be a nice casual watch to wind down with after a long day.
Hikari no Ou (火狩りの王)
Type: Anime
Studio: Signal.MD
Genres: Fantasy
Based on the eponymous novel by Rieko Hinata and Akihiro Yamada.
Starts airing: January 14th
Number of Episodes: Unknown
In a world covered in a black forest after humanity’s last war, a strange new disease has emerged causing people to burst into flame in the presence of natural fire. Flame Spirits, a beast hiding deep in the forest, are the only safe source of fire. The story follows Touko and Koushi, a pair whose paths should have never crossed but their fate will change the world.
Recommended by AlexD:
I blame the pandemic for my interest in post-apocalyptic stories, this one with the added element of disease (feels somewhat inspired by Promare). Reflecting some real world themes, I’m interested to see how it is reflected. Production I.G involved, it will be a visual spectacle to behold.
Junji Ito Maniac: Japanese Tales of the Macabre (伊藤潤二『マニアック』)
Type: ONA
Studio: Studio Deen
Genres: Horror, Supernatural
Based on the manga stories by Junji Ito.
Starts airing: January 19th
Number of Episodes: Unknown
20 stories by Japan’s most successful horror manga author Junji Ito will be adapted into an anime series. The stories are filled with Ito’s unique worldview and fascinating characters drawn in his distinctive style. Titles that will be included are his debut story Tomie, Souichi, and Kubitsuri Kikyuu (The Hanging Balloons). If you are not familiar with the work of Junji Ito, then you might want to start picking out a manga series to get an idea of his work.
Recommended by Francisca:
What better way to start the new year: dark, surreal, terrifying and macabre? The anime project was announced in the summer, so fans who are looking forward to this have been waking for 6 months already. Hope it turns out to be a huge success.
Which serie(s) are you going to watch?
If you’d like to see the anime you’re looking forward to most in next seasons’ list, become a writer for AVO Magazine!
