Top 13 Anime 2018 recommendations
This will be the list of my top anime that have aired or started airing in 2018. There is no order as most of these are just what stood out to me and been worth watching. Most of the description I wrote using the synopsis found on MyAnimeList, which is also the source for the photos used. The list doesn't include sequels. In the end, I'll also mention series that didn't make it to the list because I didn't finish watching or some other reason.
1. Violet Evergarden
Genres: Fantasy, Drama, Slice of Life
Episodes: 13
For sure the most beautiful animation I've seen in 2018. The story follows Violet, an "auto memory doll" that writes letters for others, as she learns how to understand and express emotions throughout her journey as a doll. Violet and her interaction with clients and other characters teaches Violet more about herself and changes the lives of those she meets. The art is amazing, with the attention to detail and colourful art style makes the animation truly captivating. For sure the most pleasant eye candy 2018.
2. Gakuen Babysitters
Genres: Comedy, School, Shoujo, Slice of Life
Episodes: 12
Anyone who loves adorable kids will die watching this. The Protagonist Ryuuichi Kashima has to take care of his little brother Kotarou by himself ends up becoming part of the school's babysitter club. These two and their daily lives are both very entertaining and heartwarming to watch. To anyone that enjoys similar anime where the main character also has to take care of or spends time with kid characters, I would recommend "Amaama to Inazuma", "Barakamon" or " Udon no Kuni no Kiniro Kemari".
3. Miira no Kaikata
Genres: Comedy, Slice of Life, Supernatural
Episodes: 12
To enter the more supernatural realm we get introduced to a tiny mummy now lives with and is taken care of by the high school boy, Sora Kashiwagi. Similar to Gakuen babysitters as a slice of life with some comedy, but the main character takes care of a mummy instead of a child. We get to learn more about this little mummy along with coming across other supernatural beings.
4. Wotaku ni Koi was Muzukashi
Genres: Comedy, Romance, Slice of Life
Episodes: 11
I very refreshing show that instead of being another rather cliche shoujo this love story takes place in the working space where the childhood friends Narumi Momose and Hirotaka Nifuji work at the same office. Narumi struggles as she tries to keep the fact that she is an otaku secret but she and Hirotaka, also an otaku, start dating. A romance begins and we also get to see their coworkers.
5. Hinamatsuri
Genres: Comedy, Sci-Fi, Seinen, Slice of Life, Supernatural
Episodes: 12
One of my favourite comedies this year. The Yakuza member, Yoshifumi Nitta has to become the caregiver for the girl with supernatural powers, Hina that one day appears in a capsule out of nowhere into his living room. The duo's daily life becomes very funny as Hina has to control her powers and learns how to live together with Nitta.
6. Piano no Mori
7. Hatarakou Saibou
Genres: Comedy, Shounen
Episodes: 13
Is quite an odd one in the bunch as it instead is about the working cells in the human body, being more on the educational side than usual. We follow a red blood cell that carries oxygen and carbon dioxide through the blood vessels in the body where she most of the times ends up getting caught up in situations where the body is attacked by bacteria and is saved by a white blood cell. With a very accurate explanation of the body's functions and bacteria and the depiction and characterization of the different cells in the body, the show becomes both fun and interesting.
8. Grand blue
Genres: Comedy, Seinen, Slice of Life
Episodes: 12
Iori Kitahara moves into his uncle scuba diving shop in a seaside town excited to live his dream college life. He ends up joining his naked upperclassmen in drinking parties and becomes part of the diving club despite being afraid of water. This college life is not really what he expected but either way, the show is very funny.
9. Devilman crybaby
Genres: Action, Dementia, Demons, Horror, Supernatural
Episodes: 10
I went into this with low expectations since Netflix that does not really have a good reputation for adapting anime or manga (specifically referring to live-action Death note). This show kept me on the edge of my seat. The weak cry baby Akira Fudou meets with his childhood friend Ryou Asuka, he asks Akira to help him uncover the existence of demons. Ryou brings Akira to a party where demons have possessed the people now turning their bodies into monsters. In the middle of all this Akira end up becoming a Devilman after having to merge with the devil Amon. From this Akira gains a lot of power and continues to work with Ryou to fight again the devils.
10. Tensei Shitara Slime Datta Ken
Genres: Fantasy, Shounen
Episodes: 25 (still airing)
If you think you'll go into this series expecting the generic isekai where the main characters enter an RPG like fantasy world only to adventure and surrounded by girls fawning over him (at least that the impression I got) then that's not what you'll get. Rather than that, you'll instead get a former human, now an overpowered slime that gets by in this world with a following and actually building a new society as he encounters new obstacles. The slime that also goes by Rimaru easily solves situations by using logic and reasoning.
11. Karakuri Circus
Genres: Adventure, Mystery, Shounen
Episodes: 36 (still airing)
A show I started watching recently that I had no expectations about but turned out to be a lot more interesting than I thought. Masaru, has just inherited a big fortune after the death of his father. People are after the inheritance by any means. Narumi saves Masaru and finds out that the kidnappers are wooden puppets used for fighting. Narumi and Masaru are driven into a corner when Shirogane arrives with the puppet Arlequin. It's not a very happy-go-lucky shounen and the story progresses faster than usual of which is what I like about it. The action and journey of the main characters slightly reminds me of "Hunter x Hunter" in the sense that both are shounens are a bit darker and not so generic.
12. Tsurune: Kazenai Koukou Kyuudoubu
Genres: Sports, Drama, School
Episodes: 13
Minato Narumiya quit archery after an incident in a middle school competition. In high school, he faces archery once again and along with his club member they aim to win in the prefectural tournament. Tsurune really shows the journey of playing sports, the dedication, love, passion for the sport and the ups and downs of playing.
13. B the beginning
Mentions
Banana Fish Darling in the Franxx Sirius Kaze ga tsuyuku Fauite iru
Banana fish is really unique in a good way where we follow Ash a gang leader in New York and how he ends up getting involved with a drug called "Banana fish". Franxx is one of the better Mecha animes that I've seen lately, the relationship between Zero two and Hiro and the battle against the Klaxosaurs kept me interested. Sirius is a pretty generic supernatural and action anime, following the main character that is seeking revenge upon the vampires after losing his family to them, but is still a nice watch. Kaze ga tsuyuku Fauite iru, also a sports anime that to me a is a bit slow but thoroughly develops the characters since the university running team is made up of the tenants of a boarding house where the majority of them aren't experienced in competitive running.
That's my list of an odd number of animes I've enjoyed watching and would recommend from 2018.
1. Violet Evergarden
Episodes: 13
For sure the most beautiful animation I've seen in 2018. The story follows Violet, an "auto memory doll" that writes letters for others, as she learns how to understand and express emotions throughout her journey as a doll. Violet and her interaction with clients and other characters teaches Violet more about herself and changes the lives of those she meets. The art is amazing, with the attention to detail and colourful art style makes the animation truly captivating. For sure the most pleasant eye candy 2018.
2. Gakuen Babysitters
Episodes: 12
Anyone who loves adorable kids will die watching this. The Protagonist Ryuuichi Kashima has to take care of his little brother Kotarou by himself ends up becoming part of the school's babysitter club. These two and their daily lives are both very entertaining and heartwarming to watch. To anyone that enjoys similar anime where the main character also has to take care of or spends time with kid characters, I would recommend "Amaama to Inazuma", "Barakamon" or " Udon no Kuni no Kiniro Kemari".
3. Miira no Kaikata
Episodes: 12
To enter the more supernatural realm we get introduced to a tiny mummy now lives with and is taken care of by the high school boy, Sora Kashiwagi. Similar to Gakuen babysitters as a slice of life with some comedy, but the main character takes care of a mummy instead of a child. We get to learn more about this little mummy along with coming across other supernatural beings.
4. Wotaku ni Koi was Muzukashi
Episodes: 11
I very refreshing show that instead of being another rather cliche shoujo this love story takes place in the working space where the childhood friends Narumi Momose and Hirotaka Nifuji work at the same office. Narumi struggles as she tries to keep the fact that she is an otaku secret but she and Hirotaka, also an otaku, start dating. A romance begins and we also get to see their coworkers.
5. Hinamatsuri
Episodes: 12
One of my favourite comedies this year. The Yakuza member, Yoshifumi Nitta has to become the caregiver for the girl with supernatural powers, Hina that one day appears in a capsule out of nowhere into his living room. The duo's daily life becomes very funny as Hina has to control her powers and learns how to live together with Nitta.
6. Piano no Mori
Genres: Adventure, Music, Comedy, Drama, School, Seinen
Episodes: 12
The two boys Kai who's only played the broken piano in the forest and Shuuhei who's been raised to be a pianist. Majority of the anime follows their childhood from where they meet and later on they meet again in the world of competition in piano. The story mostly revolves around Kai and follows his relationship with the piano from the broken piano to becoming a pianist learning from former world-class pianist Ajino. I really recommend this for those who like anime following main characters that pursue music. Similar animes I would recommend would be "Nodame Cantabile" and "Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso".7. Hatarakou Saibou
Episodes: 13
Is quite an odd one in the bunch as it instead is about the working cells in the human body, being more on the educational side than usual. We follow a red blood cell that carries oxygen and carbon dioxide through the blood vessels in the body where she most of the times ends up getting caught up in situations where the body is attacked by bacteria and is saved by a white blood cell. With a very accurate explanation of the body's functions and bacteria and the depiction and characterization of the different cells in the body, the show becomes both fun and interesting.
8. Grand blue
Episodes: 12
Iori Kitahara moves into his uncle scuba diving shop in a seaside town excited to live his dream college life. He ends up joining his naked upperclassmen in drinking parties and becomes part of the diving club despite being afraid of water. This college life is not really what he expected but either way, the show is very funny.
9. Devilman crybaby
Episodes: 10
I went into this with low expectations since Netflix that does not really have a good reputation for adapting anime or manga (specifically referring to live-action Death note). This show kept me on the edge of my seat. The weak cry baby Akira Fudou meets with his childhood friend Ryou Asuka, he asks Akira to help him uncover the existence of demons. Ryou brings Akira to a party where demons have possessed the people now turning their bodies into monsters. In the middle of all this Akira end up becoming a Devilman after having to merge with the devil Amon. From this Akira gains a lot of power and continues to work with Ryou to fight again the devils.
10. Tensei Shitara Slime Datta Ken
Episodes: 25 (still airing)
If you think you'll go into this series expecting the generic isekai where the main characters enter an RPG like fantasy world only to adventure and surrounded by girls fawning over him (at least that the impression I got) then that's not what you'll get. Rather than that, you'll instead get a former human, now an overpowered slime that gets by in this world with a following and actually building a new society as he encounters new obstacles. The slime that also goes by Rimaru easily solves situations by using logic and reasoning.
11. Karakuri Circus
Episodes: 36 (still airing)
A show I started watching recently that I had no expectations about but turned out to be a lot more interesting than I thought. Masaru, has just inherited a big fortune after the death of his father. People are after the inheritance by any means. Narumi saves Masaru and finds out that the kidnappers are wooden puppets used for fighting. Narumi and Masaru are driven into a corner when Shirogane arrives with the puppet Arlequin. It's not a very happy-go-lucky shounen and the story progresses faster than usual of which is what I like about it. The action and journey of the main characters slightly reminds me of "Hunter x Hunter" in the sense that both are shounens are a bit darker and not so generic.
12. Tsurune: Kazenai Koukou Kyuudoubu
Episodes: 13
Minato Narumiya quit archery after an incident in a middle school competition. In high school, he faces archery once again and along with his club member they aim to win in the prefectural tournament. Tsurune really shows the journey of playing sports, the dedication, love, passion for the sport and the ups and downs of playing.
13. B the beginning
Genres:
Episodes: 12
Gives me some "Psycho-pass" vibes as it follows the police force's investigation most of the time. The show kind of follows different parallel stories of Koku the Protagonist, Keith the legendary investigator and the pursuit of the serial killer, Killer B. The mysteries unfolds as more crimes are committed by a criminal organization.
Mentions
Banana Fish Darling in the Franxx Sirius Kaze ga tsuyuku Fauite iru
Banana fish is really unique in a good way where we follow Ash a gang leader in New York and how he ends up getting involved with a drug called "Banana fish". Franxx is one of the better Mecha animes that I've seen lately, the relationship between Zero two and Hiro and the battle against the Klaxosaurs kept me interested. Sirius is a pretty generic supernatural and action anime, following the main character that is seeking revenge upon the vampires after losing his family to them, but is still a nice watch. Kaze ga tsuyuku Fauite iru, also a sports anime that to me a is a bit slow but thoroughly develops the characters since the university running team is made up of the tenants of a boarding house where the majority of them aren't experienced in competitive running.
That's my list of an odd number of animes I've enjoyed watching and would recommend from 2018.
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