Temperatures are rising and it’s the perfect moment to cool down a little. So why not grab a nice cold drink and watch some anime? Here are our top ten picks for this summer. We wish all of you good health and lots of viewing pleasure!
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Rhapsody (ラプソディ)
Type: Movie
Studio: P.A. Works
Genres: Music
Starts airing: July
”..Rock is a story of grief and hope” is how this project started. In this movie, we see various bands under the label Rhapsody and we follow their stories. We meet Pink Flag a four-member rock band with personal trauma, the high school students Haru no Jūjika (Spring Cross) who are a loud rock band, Blue Bird, a folk unit consisting of childhood friends and the EDM brother duo System of Romance (SOR).
Recommended by Hageshi:
I really like music and that is why this movie got my attention. Through YouTube, they released various trailers and sneak-peaks about the bands which at some point even made me feel like a true label revealing their bands instead of it just being a movie. So I am hoping they are able to reflect this feeling through the whole movie as well.
Uchi no Kaisha no Chiisai Senpai no Hanashi (うちの会社の小さい先輩の話)
Type: Anime
Studio: Project No.9
Genres: Comedy, Romance
Based on the eponymous manga by Saisou.
Starts airing: July 2nd
Number of Episodes: Unknown
Following the life of office worker Kazuma Shinozaki as he is spending his days being supported and helped by the loving, kind and very small Shiori, who is superior at work. As their days together go by, will her motivations be revealed…
Recommended by PHX:
The new anime from Project No.9 who have also been behind 2 anime I really enjoyed, The angel next door spoils me rotten and My stepmom’s daughter is my ex. Both of those anime had a great story with a well-balanced mix of romance and comedy. Hopefully this one will, as the plot seems to suggest, provide a similar result.
Suki na Ko ga Megane wo Wasureta (好きな子がめがねを忘れた)
Type: Anime
Studio: GoHands
Genres: Comedy
Based on the eponymous manga by Koume Fujichika.
Starts airing: July 4th
Number of Episodes: Unknown
Ai Mie has very bad eyesight and has a bad habit of forgetting to have her glasses with her, which makes her daily life challenging at times. Having feelings for Ai, her classmate, Kaede, is happy to help her get through each day while longing for a day when she will see him. Likewise, Ai begins to hope the day will come when she sees the face of her dependable person.
Recommended by PHX:
Thinking of the possible situations the pair could face on a day-to-day basis I think there is potential for a lot of laughs in this one, but also an air of will they/wont they around the romantic side of their relationship. One to provide some smiles and warm feelings during the heat of summer.
Jidou Hanbaiki ni Umarekawatta Ore wa Meikyuu wo Samayou (自動販売機に生まれ変わった俺は迷宮を彷徨う)
Type: Anime
Studio: Studio Gokumi, AXsiZ
Genres: Comedy, Fantasy, Isekai
Based on the eponymous light novel by Itsuwa Katou and Hiru Kuma.
Starts airing: July 5th
Number of Episodes: Unknown
One fateful day, a Vending Machine enthusiast is crushed by a vending machine. Next thing he knows, he is now a Vending machine in a fantasy world. Not able to move and only being able to speak through pre-recorded messages, the dungeon is filled with monsters whilst he needs coins to keep stocked, gain skills and to also keep powered. Luckily found by a young woman, he is brought back to a human settlement where he tries to help others with his limited capabilities as a Vending Machine.
Recommended by AlexD:
I’ll be honest, the title alone drew me in. Just when you thought the isekai genre got ridiculous enough, this series came along. Be interesting to see how the sentient Vending Machine will be animated, this will be a fun but very weird watch.
Watashi no Shiawase na Kekkon (わたしの幸せな結婚)
Type: Anime
Studio: Kinema Citrus
Genres: Fantasy, Romance
Based on the eponymous manga by Akumi Agitogi.
Starts airing: July 5th
Number of Episodes: Unknown
Miyo is a child born to parents, who are bound by a loveless, arranged marriage. After her mother passed away, her father’s lover and her child move in. Miyo’s life gets worse from this point on, she is reduced to a mere servent. Given that she also has no inherited psychic abilities, she has no value.
Her time at home teaches her to obey and hide her pain. Before long she’s arranged to be married to a military captain. Rumour has it he’s so cruel that he’s driven away all other potential wives so far. But, to Miyo’s surprise, her new husband is nothing like the rumours suggest. Kiyoka Kudou is in fact a kind-hearted man. Will they be able to have a marriage filled with love and happiness?
Recommended by Yuki:
This sounds like a good setup for a cute love story. I’m curious to see how their relationship will develop and whether her family play any role in the story once she’s married or not.
Jujutsu Kaisen 2nd Season (呪術廻戦)
Type: Anime
Studio: MAPPA
Genres: Action, Fantasy
Based on the eponymous manga by Gege Akutami.
Starts airing: July 6th
Number of Episodes: Unknown
Season 2 is going to start with a flashback of Gojo in high school, exploring the key event which leads to him becoming the strongest Jujutsu Sorcerer of the modern age. Then move back to the current time to pick up where season 1 finished.
Recommended by AlexD:
Season 1 blew me away, which I have also reviewed on this website previously. Having read ahead in the manga, there are some incredible moments coming which I can’t wait to be animated, particularly by MAPPA who did such a great job on season 1 and the prequel film. This season is seriously going to break the internet.
Rurouni Kenshin: Meiji Kenkaku Romantan (2023) (るろうに剣心 -明治剣客浪漫譚-)
Type: Anime
Studio: LIDENFILMS
Genres: Action, Romance
Based on the eponymous manga by Nobuhiro Watsuki.
Starts airing: July 7th
Number of Episodes: Unknown
Kenshin Himura, once known as Hitokiri Battousai, was once feared as the most ruthless killer around. Now he has sworn to never kill again and is trying to turn his life around.
He wanders around and eventually ends up in Tokyo, in the 11th year of Meiji, where he meets Kaoru Kamiya, a woman who owns a dojo. A man, claiming to be Battousai, has been commiting murders in the name of her dojo. Kenshin decided to stay and help her clear both their names. But it won’t be long before his dark past comes back to haunt him.
Recommended by Yuki:
When I saw there was going to be a new Rurouni Kenshin series I was instantly intrigued. Years ago I watched the anime movies, which were filled with tragedy, and part of the previous anime series. I preferred the movies at the time, because I remember thinking the anime was too slow-paced when it came to the romance portion. I look forward to seeing Kenshin and Kaoru again and watch their relationship grow.
AI no Idenshi (AIの遺電子)
Type: Anime
Studio: Madhouse
Genres: Drama, Sci-Fi, Suspense
Based on the eponymous manga by Kyuuri Yamada.
Starts airing: July 8th
Number of Episodes: Unknown
Dr. Sudo Hikaru specializes in robot and humanoid medical treatments. When he goes undercover to commit unethical acts, he goes by the alias Moggadeet. Will he be able to account for his illegal actions, or will he be the source of many more problems in the system? How stable is a quick fix solution in a world where you must backup your memories?
Recommended by Natsu:
I love a good psychological series that makes you think twice about the footprint and decisions that you are able to put into this world. This anime is set in the near future and I can really see this happening. Take it with a grain of salt but always enjoy fresh perspectives!
Liar Liar (ライアー・ライアー)
Type: Anime
Studio: Geek Toys
Genres: Ecchi, School Life, Strategy Game
Based on the eponymous manga by konomi and Haruki Kuou.
Starts airing: July 8th
Number of Episodes: Unknown
Hiroto is a transfer student who has recently arrived in Academy Island, where everyone and everything revolves around achieving the Seven Stars rank.
To obtain this, you must engage in dangerous activities involving mind games and deception. He appears to get a lucky start, but can he maintain it?
Recommended by Natsu:
I haven’t watched many strategy game animes recently, but they often spark my curiosity; I enjoy seeing tense situations build and mind tricks being played on each other. It always keeps you guessing what their next move might be.
Kimitachi wa Dou Ikiru ka (君たちはどう生きるか)
Type: Movie
Studio: Studio Ghibli
Genres: Drama
Based on the eponymous novel by Genzaburou Yoshino.
Starts airing: July 14th
A story about a boy named Junichi Honda, nicknamed Koperu, and his uncle, As Koperu gains experience in being human, his uncle helps him and gives him support and advice. His uncle collects the stories and makes a diary of them, so that he will eventually be able to give it to Koperu with things ‘from his point of view’ and advice.
Recommended by Hageshi:
Studio Ghibli is a well-known studio with very good, and often emotional, anime and movies, so I kind of expect this to be the same. As I researched about the story, I found out the ending directs towards the reader, so it might be possible that this story will touch us personal and makes us think.
Which serie(s) are you going to watch?
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