We have arrived in summer, but before we move on to the hot air and cooling water, we first need to give our acknowledgments and awards to the best anime series aired during the spring season. Spring was labeled as the season of legends as many great shows and sequels were aired at the same time and it was hard not to take note of all the shows.
To note, we will only be taking into consideration series that have already aired their last episode and does not include series that are midway through their airtime. Shows like Boku no Hero Academia Season 3 and Steins;Gate 0 are forerunners but will not be in this list. So in descending order, here are my Best Anime of Spring 2018!
Honorable Mentions
Darling in the Franxx
During the early days of the show, it was prophesied that Trigger will save anime once again but alas, that did not happen. Whether it was because they did not have more control over the series or for other reasons, they were unable to mark their stamp on it. The first half of the series showed real promise and quality as the story was top notch and it was supposed to hit the next gear but that sadly did not happen.
The second half of the series, specifically the last few episodes went on a downward spiral that would make a lot of people question why there are no plans for a second season. There were a lot of core issues that did not allow Darling to be in the Top 10 but it was worth mentioning as it was a show that was heavily trending during its time.
Full Metal Panic: Invisible Victory
Older viewers will remember Full Metal Panic: The Second Raid as one of the most polished mecha series that was aired during that time. After more than 10 years, a sequel has appeared and we were greeted with how a war show should be like. It still retains the comedic charm from the previous series and some of the characters make really the series alive.
The problem with the show is that it has been such a long time since its prequel was aired and there were no recap episodes for newer or older viewers to catch up on the series. It also had some jarring production issues but they still maintained the overall quality of the series. Overall, it was a great series that I feel is super underrated.
Top Ten of Spring 2018
10. Uma Musume Pretty Derby
The series depicts horse girls who race against each other to be the best in the country and at the same time try to become top idols? There are a lot of things going on within the series but all it comes down to are cute horse girls trying their best to beat the competition.
It is the sport of horse-racing but instead of regular horses its cute horse girls. The story and the drama for the series may be typical but it makes up for it with the animation and the cast of strong characters that make the story interesting.
9. Card Captor Sakura: Clear Card-hen
Card Captor Sakura has always been one of our favourite mahou shoujo (magical girl) series of all time and for the series to get a sequel made a lot of fans happy. Even if you are a first-time watcher of the series, it was okay for the new watchers as the show made Sakura start back from scratch as part of the narrative.
This show had a huge nostalgic feeling for older viewers which was needed to bring in the views for the series. It still followed the typical monster or element-of-the-week formula, but it did a really good job of executing it.
8. Toji no Miko
Toji no Miko follows the story of young samurai priestesses who must protect humans from the Aradama (demons) from invading the world. Although the animation is not one of its strong points, it makes up for its shortcomings with the depth in story and characters.
The six main characters are all deeply developed as the story goes on and you can’t help but feel empathy for their cause. The series also ties-in with their own mobile game as some characters that originate from there appear in the series. Overall it was a surprisingly good show.
7. Comic Girls
A series that flew under our radar at first, Comic Girls tell the tales of up-and-coming female mangakas living together inside a dormitory. The series highlights and educates viewers not just about the seriousness of being a mangaka but also bring in a comedic aspect into the series.
Even the characters portrayed here are all likable with strong hints of yuri within the show. The art direction of the show is also very appealing with great character reactions which are impressive, coming from a studio that has not shown a lot of work before this.
6. Golden Kamuy
Golden Kamuy had so much hype right before the series premiered and it did not disappoint. The story of a soldier going gold hunting against human and nature can make a thrilling experience. Apart from the really bad CGI animal scene, the animation and art direction kept getting better as the series moved forward. Not only are the characters well made, but the soundtrack and music overall created the sensation of how a survival series should be done. Expect more when the 2nd Cour starts sometime soon.
5. Legend of the Galactic Heroes – Die Neue These – Kaikou
The original Legend of the Galactic Heroes is one of the most iconic space operas within the anime industry that is highly acclaimed. This new remake of the older series brings back nearly the same zest and zeal from the past. The story centers around the conflict between the monarchic Galactic Empire and the democratic Free Planets Alliance where young prodigy Reinhard von Lohengramm faces off against brilliant tactician Yang Wen-li as both states fight in a never-ending war.
This story spans the galaxy with its geopolitical intrigue and large masterful space battles with real-world tactics, making the series such an enjoyable watch, and even the music was such a joy to hear. Here’s hoping that the sequel movies will carry on the majesty of the series.
4. Wotaku ni Koi wa Muzukashii
A series about a gaming-crazy otaku and a hardcore fujoshi getting together, what else could go wrong? Not much but good wholesome comedy with really nice character interactions amongst the couples and also their hobbies that they spend time on. The overall production quality and art direction of the show is simply astounding. This is one of those series that paints otakuism in a positive light and its light-hearted funny moments make it one of the best comedy series of the season… only losing out to the next one.
3. Hinamatsuri
The comedy series of the season makes a strong case for anime of the season at the same time. This is a story of a member of a yakuza who receives a young girl with supernatural powers and they make such a strange couple. The revolving stories among the characters and their interactions with each other are part of the series charm and also their biggest asset. Each character plot point connects to one another, making the story even more compelling as hilarity ensues. Another season of Hinamatsuri would definitely make this one of the best comedies in recent years.
2. Megalo Box
Megalo Box is made in commemoration with the 50th anniversary of Ashita no Joe and what a series it was. Watching this series brings back a lot of 80s nostalgia as the production quality of this series was superbly done. The battle animations felt impactful as if you were there getting hit by an uppercut.
Being a sports series, there will always be drama within the series and it does not disappoint as we get to see Joe in all sorts of situations and always fighting with his back against the wall. With a strong cast of characters, a great story and amazing battle sequences, it is no wonder the series is rated high up for the spring season.
1. Sword Art Online Alternative: Gun Gale Online
This show takes the icing on top of the cake as the best of the season. Having a series without the power couple Kirito and Asuna and having a loli character instead in a battle royale setting was a real gamechanger. That’s not all: with fun, charming and lovable characters, great plot, beautiful art style and good direction, the series really went a long way. With the battle royale setting at an all-time high, it made it more enjoyable to watch. Another season of Llenn causing havoc on the field and killing everyone would be a great treat to watch.
What are your tops of this past spring season? Let us know in the comments down below!
