Temperatures are rising lately, at least in the Netherlands, which means Summer is upon us. The perfect moment to take it easy and watch something new. Given the current COVID-19 pandemic why not watch some anime series online with your friends, or at a safe distance on a big screen? Here’s our top ten anime recommendations for this summer.
We wish all of you good health and hope you enjoy our picks.
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The God of High School (ゴッド・オブ・ハイスクール)
Type: Anime
Studio: MAPPA
Genres: Action, Sci-Fi, Adventure, Comedy, Supernatural, Martial Arts, Fantasy
Starts Airing: 6th of July
Number of Episodes: Unknown
Mori Jin, a high school Taekwondo specialist, enters a fighting tournament for high school students in Korea. However, as the tournament goes on, it seems there is something more going on behind the scenes.
Recommended by AlexD:
One of the titles in the ongoing Crunchyroll produced Webtoons anime, when I saw the trailer for God of High School it really stuck out to me. The art is vibrant works to make the animation more dynamic. Already it is shaping up as a fun adrenaline filled ride.
Deca-Dence (デカダンス)
Type: Anime
Studio: Nut
Genres: Action, Sci-Fi, Adventure
Starts airing: 8th of July
Number of episodes: Unknown
Many years have passed since humanity was driven to the brink of extinction by the sudden emergence of the unknown life forms Gadoll. Those humans that survived now dwell in a 3000m-high mobile fortress Deca-dence built to protect themselves from the Gadoll threat. The people living in Deca-dence fall into two categories: warriors and non-warriors, with the names Gears and Tankers. Natsume, a girl, falls in the Tanker category and wants to become a Gear.
Recommended by Fran:
This anime series is directed by Yuzuru Tachikawa, who also directed Death Parade, Mob Psycho 100 and Death Billiards, the character design is done by Shinichi Kurita, who also worked together with the director on Death Parade and Deca-Dance is also an original series. If this does not spark any interest, maybe the mecha and action aspect in the series might be interesting.
Re:Zero kara Hajimeru Isekai Seikatsu 2nd Season (Re：ゼロから始める異世界生活)
Type: Anime
Studio: White Fox
Genres: Drama, Fantasy, Psychological, Thriller
Starts airing: 8th of July
Number of episodes: Split cour, around 25 episodes
Re:Zero Season 2 should be loosely based on the events of Arc 4 which corresponds to light novel Volumes 10 through 15. The new 2019 trailer gives a hint about the bloodbath that will begin Re: Season 2. The story begins in a flashback with Rem and Crusch riding in a wagon toward the capital city. Rem is concerned about Subaru, but Crusch soothes her worries by pointing out that Lord Roswaal Mathers has a plan.
Recommended by Natsumi:
It was scheduled to premiere in April 2020, but was delayed to July 2020 due to production complications caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The season will be split cour with the first half premiering on July 8, 2020 with the second half airing in January 2021. Rumoured to be 10-13 episodes per cour, we’ve got a lot of exciting content to look forward to!
Japan Sinks 2020 (日本沈没2020, Nihon Chinbotsu)
Type: ONA
Studio: Science SARU
Genres: Sci-Fi, Drama
Based on the eponymous novel by Sakyo Komatsu.
Starts airing: 9th of July
Number of episodes: 10
We are in the year 2020, the Tokyo Olympics just ended. An ordinary family is put to the test as a series of massive earthquakes throw Japan into total mayhem.
Recommended by Fran:
The anime is described as an ONA, which is an abbreviation for original net animation. This means that the anime will be directly released onto the Internet. In this case, you will be able to watch it on Netflix. If you find the real-life version of 2020 not overwhelming enough, this anime might be of interest for you. I have the feeling that this anime series might get a lot of attention or maybe will get buried under the current news. But it might still be worth mentioning as this novel was published in 1973. Komatsu took nine years to complete the work. The novel has a sequel, a film, a television show in 1975 and a remake in 2006 and now we are waiting for the 2020 version of Japan Sinks.
Kanojo, Okarishimasu ( 彼女, お借りします)
Type: Anime
Studio: TMS Entertainment
Genres: Comedy, School, Romance, Shounen
Based on the eponymous manga by Rei Miyajima.
Starts Airing: 11th of July
Number of Episodes: 12
20-year-old Kinoshita Kazuya, an indecisive and failing college student living in Tokyo, has been dumped by his girlfriend. Deciding that he doesn’t want to go through that feeling again, he chooses instead to go to a certain place and use a certain service. He will hire a girl to become his girlfriend.
“You are Kazuya aren’t you?” …
Mizuhara Chizuru is the beautiful, stylish girl with long black hair who tries to fulfil his dream…
From this one-time rental, something real is born…
Recommended by PHX:
These kind of romantic comedy series always have the potential to deliver a lot of laughs and heartfelt emotions in equal measure. Expect a lot of awkward situations as the pair share their journey together. If the adaptation is done well, it could certainly be a popular show during this summer.
Gibiate (ジビエート)
Type: Anime
Studio: Studio Elle en l-a-unch・BOX
Genres: Action, Fantasy, Horror, Martial Arts, Samurai
Starts airing: 15th of July
Number of episodes: Unknown
A virus has infected the world in 2039. This virus has changed humans into various kinds of monsters, depending on their age, sex and race. The virus is named “Gibia”.
A Samurai and a Ninja travelled both from the early Endo era to fight during their search for a cure for Gibia. Hereby they get help from a doctor. Confrontated with ceaseless attacks from Gibia’s and bandits who attack travelers for food, they start the dangerous journey.
Recommended by Hageshi:
Seeing the current situation with the Covid-virus, I thought this would be a very appropiate anime. I have never heard from these two studio’s before, but the project also in collaboration with musicians and voice actors which they have promises something good. Also the art-style seems interesting and I am mainly curious about how they will portray all kinds of Gibia.
Koi to Producer: EVOL×LOVE (恋とプロデューサー~EVOL×LOVE~)
Type: Anime
Studio: MAPPA
Genres: Music, Romance, Shoujo, Slice of Life
Based on the eponymous Otome Game by Papergames.
Starts airing: 16th of July
Number of episodes: Unknown
The story of this anime series follows a girl who inherits a company of her late father. The company is almost bankrupt and since it is lacking the funds, she needs to become the producer to save it. Then she meets four boys and gets involved in some mysteries and conspiracies.
Recommended by Fran:
Despite the fact that this was already announced a while back, the starting date stayed unknown for a long while. In the Spring a promotional video got shared on the YouTube channel of MAPPA and it gives a feeling like it is a combination of an idol series and action series with a touch of romance. This is from someone who has not played the Otome game, but most of us might know what the goal is in this kind of games and the title of this series gives it away a little bit, too. The game was initially released in China in 2017 for iOS and Android, game publisher Elex localised the game in English in 2019 under the title Mr Love: Queen’s Choice, a few months later it got launches in Japan.
Umibe no Étranger (海辺のエトランゼ)
Type: Movie
Studio: Studio Hibari
Genres: Slice of Life, Romance, Shounen Ai
Based on the eponymous manga by Kanna Kii.
Starts airing: 11th of September
This story revolves around Shun Hashimoto, a gay aspiring novelist, and Mio Chibana. When they first meet Mio is a sombre high school student. Shun makes the first move and start to flirt with Mio. Day by day the two grow closer, until Mio suddenly chooses to leave Okinawa, the island they both live on.
After three years the two meet again. Mio proclaims to Shun: “I’ve thought about it for the past three years. I like you, Shun, even if you’re a guy.” But will Shun be able to commit to Mio after all this time?
Recommended by Yuki:
When I saw the artwork for this movie I was enthusiastic about it, but once I’d read the general storyline I was sold. I wanted to watch this movie. The style itself, to me, looks adorable and playful. Once I watched the trailer I realised the style didn’t entirely represent that of the released artwork, but I still look forward to watching this movie. If you’re a fan of shounen ai, this might be a nice movie for you to watch as well.
Shika no Ou (鹿の王)
Type: Movie
Studio: Production I.G
Genres: Adventure, Drama, Fantasy
Based on the eponymous novel published by Kadokawa.
Starts Airing: 18th of September
Number of episodes: 1, runtime unknown
The novels center on Van, the head of a group of soldiers who expected to die fighting for their lands against a large empire looking to incorporate their home into its kingdom. Instead of dying, however, Van is taken as a slave and thrown into a salt mine. One night, a pack of strange dogs attacks the salt mine, and a mysterious illness breaks out. During the attack, Van takes the opportunity to escape, and he meets a young girl. Elsewhere, rumor is spreading that only immigrants are coming down with this mysterious illness. The medical scientist Hossal risks his life to search for a cure. Doctors also study a father and child who seem to have survived the illness. The novels tell the interconnecting stories and bonds of those who fight against a cruel fate.
The novels won the Japan Booksellers’ Award and won the fourth “Japan Medical Novel Award” in 2015.
Recommended by MetalHachiko:
What not to recommend about this anime adaptation? The movie is based on a novel by the famous writer Nahoko Uehashi, who is known for Moribito amongst other titles, one that also got an anime adaptation that is highly praised throughout the community. The novel itself was already a huge success, with a story that went on winning an award back in 2015. If that on its own doesn’t sell it, consider it being directed by director and character designer Masashi Andou, who worked on Ghibli titles such as Spirited away, Mononoke Hime, and other works like Paprika and Kimi no Na wa. This movie, even without even having a trailer, has enough to make you anticipate it just on description alone.
Kud Wafter (クドわふたー)
Type: Movie
Studio: J.C.Staff
Genres: Comedy, Romance, School
Based on the eponymous visual novel by Key.
Starts airing: September
This love story revolves around the relationship between Riki Naoe and Kudryavka Noumi from the game Little Busters! It was made to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Little Busters! There isn’t a lot of information on this particular movie available, but the game was also turned into an anime series previously. Baseball plays a prominent role in the Little Busters! anime and probably does as well in this movie, as it is also visible in the trailer.
Recommended by Yuki:
Although I haven’t played the Little Busters! game or seen the previous anime, this does seem like a cute movie to me. The trailer showed some cute scenes and an art style that I thought was nice. Apart from that I’ve watched a lot of romance anime in the past and this one is also a comedy, so I’m sure there’ll be some adorable and funny moments to look forward to.
Which serie(s) are you going to watch?
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