The 7 New Anime of Spring 2023 You Should Be Watching
Spring has sprung! Leaves on the trees, birds chirping, patio season impending… but you don’t care about any of that. There’s anime to watch! Luckily, your always-intrepid AniTAY community has you covered with a list of the seven shows of the Spring 2023 season that we think are worth your time and attention.
We’ve got otaku nonsense (even more than usual, believe it or not), wholesome middle-school romances, a Totally Normal Idol Show, and even more! On a personal note, this collab article marks one year since I took over running the collab, and what a year it’s been! Thanks for all the support, and let’s keep the good vibes rolling.
As always, here are some things to remember before you start reading:
1)We have omitted continuing shows and sequels. This list is only for new anime this season. Check out our Spring 2023 sequel guide for that information:
2) Only shows available for legal streaming are considered. Streaming services have complicated what this means, but limited-availability shows like Netflix originals are fair game for our list.
3) Each entry contains a “where to watch” section, but keep in mind that we base our listings on United States availability.
Without further ado, here is your list of shows that you should definitely consider from the Spring 2023 anime season!
The Dangers in My Heart
Written by: Marquan
Genres: Romance, Comedy, Slife of Life
Where to Watch: HIDIVE
Spoiler-Free Synopsis: The Dangers in My Heart is a sweet, wholesome romantic comedy centered around Kyotaro, an awkward, antisocial kid who develops a crush on Anna, a popular, snack-loving classmate. Kyotaro is fascinated by the macabre, and constantly envisions murdering Anna, but we all know what those thoughts actually mean.
Why You Should Be Watching: The Danger in My Heart perfectly encapsulates that awkward first love. Kyotaro has no idea that his feelings and fascination aren’t actually a desire for murder, but a desire for romance. Anna, on the other hand, is a loveable airhead who would rather spend her time chowing down on various snacks than focus on romance. Seriously, the way she cherishes her treats is comically close to how you would treat a loved one.
However, that’s not to say Anna’s heart is closed off to everything but snacks. The more time that passes, the more obvious it becomes that she and Kyotaro are drawing closer to one another. Every week, you get a shot of dopamine from the interactions they share, and they both continue to learn more about each other, little by little. The progression in their relationship already places this cute romcom above its slow-as-molasses brethren, and what more do you need from a romcom? Steady progression on the main relationship, character growth from both our leads, and lovely art to look at every week. Check this one out for sure.
Recommended by: Doctorkev, Marquan, Requiem, TheMamaLuigi
Heavenly Delusion
Written by: TGRIP
Genre(s): Post-apocalyptic sci-fi thriller
Where to Watch: Hulu &/or Disney+ depending on your country of residence
Spoiler-free Synopsis: 15 years ago, an unprecedented disaster wiped out nearly all civilization. In the ruins of modern Japan, two nearly identical teenage children live completely separate lives: Tokio, a girl who lives in an isolated facility safe from the hellish outside world, and Maru, a boy trekking in search of a so-called “heaven.” While Maru’s life isn’t easy, he and his bodyguard Kiruko make the most of traveling between communities and dodging monsters on their path to finding safety. Tokio, meanwhile, despite living a relatively carefree lifestyle, slowly learns that the facility she lives in with other suspiciously gifted children is not all that it seems: there is something beyond the walls she calls home…
Why You Should Be Watching: Although this was already an eagerly awaited adaptation of a well renowned manga, it is Production IG’s god-tier… er, production, that makes Heavenly Delusion a legitimate anime-of-the-year contender. It should surprise no one that IG has once again made a great-looking show, but this one feels like it’s on an even higher level compared to what they usually do. Outstanding direction and pacing, solid voice acting in both the sub and dub, sound design that perfectly goes with this show’s surprisingly wide range of tones. This show looks and feels so great that it almost overshadows the writing, which feels nearly impossible considering the story and characters here alone would make this a standout of the season. But pair that with some of the best animation I’ve seen in years, with little details that you’ll blink and miss on your first viewing, and Heavenly Delusion is already something I’m looking forward to rewatching to catch all the stuff I’m missing on my first go through.
“Okay, it’s a feast for the eyes, but what about the actual plot?” As it happens, this is kind of Delusion’s trickiest aspect, as it is stuff we’re familiar with (the premise is effectively Promised Neverland and Girl’s Last Tour stitched together, albeit in a noticeably more fun and comedic package), while also varying enough in tone that I’m not quite sure exactly what it wants to “be”. This is not to say that the writing isn’t good; it’s just that I’m not fully sure what path Delusion wants to go down or commit to. That said, what it is now is very enjoyable: you’ve got thriller-based action with some inventive fight scenes, a sense of humor and touch of fun that goes a long way to making its more heart-wrenching moments land all the much harder, and a constant sense of discovery. Both of the two main character groups (and consequently the audience) are constantly learning about the world around them, and while it can be incredibly depressing, learning about how humanity’s carried on since the world ended, along with other more mysterious machinations, make this a show you want to stick with. And of course, the tried and true coming-of-age storyline about kids being forced to grow up in a harsh world while seriously pondering personal life issues and how they feel about each other… Heavenly Delusion (or “Tengoku Daimakyo” if you’re having trouble finding it on certain streaming services) is probably the most overall “complete” show currently airing.
Recommended by: Alistair Hyde, Dark Aether, Doctorkev, Marquan, Nomad, Requiem, Tenshigami, TGRIP, TheMamaLuigi
Hell’s Paradise
Written by: DJNiipah
Genre(s): Shounen, Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Horror
Where to Watch: Crunchyroll
Spoiler-free Synopsis: Convinced that he deserves the death sentence issued to him, ninja Gabimaru impassively survives a multitude of execution attempts that all mystifyingly fail. An executioner from a famous clan, Sagiri, arrives to document the ninja’s story and complete the job. However, she instead offers Gabimaru an ultimatum: help her complete an expedition to an island shrouded in horrific mystery in search of an “Elixir of Life.” In return, he receives a pardon for his sentence and a chance to redeem a life he realizes he needed and lost.
Why You Should Be Watching: Hell’s Paradise has a lot to love, and there are many elements working in favor of making this a memorable experience. The anime wastes no time setting itself up by delivering a pilot that’s arguably one of the more unforgettable in recent memory. The chilling atmosphere of a treacherously beautiful island enveloped in fog is fully imagined by stunning animation from studio MAPPA. Furthermore, the writing provides considerable depth to its characters, convincing resolve for their growth, and deep-hitting moments of absolution that follow.
From its onset, Hell’s Paradise has the benefit of being adapted from a completed source material (its manga finished early 2021). While this might be taken for granted, there is an undeniably clear and deliberate sense of direction each episode carries itself with. Indeed, the pacing of the show flows so well and time ends up passing by so quickly that the ending theme’s arrival almost feels like a surprise. Hell’s Paradise having a fully drawn-out roadmap start-to-finish feels like a rare bird for a popular, modern story featured in Shounen Jump.
Executioners utilizing criminals in pursuit of a grail of sorts might sound a bit stale as a premise; however, the narrative ends up becoming quite entertaining. Several characters face the uncertainty of death by discovering their true reasons for living. This exploration into the souls and hearts of these individuals purveys a lovely contrast between the finiteness of life versus the alluring prospect of an elixir of eternity. Ultimately, Hell’s Paradise is a winsomely crafted anime: a satisfying union of impressive animation, writing, direction, characters, and action well worth a try, even if just for its remarkably effective first episode.
Recommended by: Dark Aether, DJNiipah, Doctorkev, Marquan, Nomad, Requiem, Reikaze, Tenshigami
Magical Destroyers
Written by: Requiem
Genre(s): Action, Comedy, Lunacy, Punk
Where to Watch: Crunchyroll
Synopsis: One day, like a sudden storm, an agency called the SSC declared war on otaku culture in Japan. In less than a week, it shut down stores, arrested otaku for their “protection”, confiscated all their sweet, sweet merch, and bombed Akihabara to hell. Twas a dark day, indeed.
However, one man — known only as Otaku Hero — would not allow the culture of fandom to die so quickly. Along with three Magical Girls, he led a rebellion and seized the devastated Akihabara, declaring it a free zone for all those who wished to like what they like, as much as they like. But after 3 years, the revolutionary fervor has waned. It’s up to Otaku Hero and the girls to relight the fires and secure a future for all otaku. VIVA LA REVOLUTION!
Why You Should Be Watching: Sometimes when putting together one of these for a show, it’s pretty easy to describe what the series is about, what genre it falls into, and other aspects.
Then there are shows like Magical Destroyers. By its very nature, it defies easy classification. It feels like a show studio GONZO would’ve done in the 90s. It’s a rush of color and madness and goofball, off-the-wall humor, both a love letter to and a critique of otaku subcultures. Sometimes, it seems like it’s got something to say and other times it’s just screwing around,being weird for the sake of being weird. And you know what? It rocks.
The adventures of Otaku Hero and his three Magical Girl compatriots — Blue-chan, the somewhat unsettling masochist and fetishist; Pink-chan, the drugs enthusiast who always wears a gas mask and only communicates by saying “gobo-gobo”; and…Anarchy-chan, the punk rock magical girl of awesomeness — include everything from climbing a building that inexplicably descends into a snowy wasteland to settling a dispute with some obstinate middle-aged otaku (that one hit a bit close to home) via the crucible of a swim meet to experiencing a shared mental landscape via powerful hallucinogenic drugs. They fight a war against the organization of weird, smiley-faced masked soldiers of the organization determined to wipe out all traces of them. Why does this organization hate otaku? Why do the magical girls have powers? Who is the weird dude with a TV for a head that runs the evil SSC? We don’t really know! The show doesn’t always provide answers to those kinds of questions, and when it does they don’t necessarily make any goddamn sense. You can try to analyze it, or you can strap in and enjoy the ride.
The show has a great, scratchy, punk rock aesthetic with a wild color palette, fun character designs, and real gift for depicting weirdness. The soundtrack is just aces — the OP and ED both perfectly encapsulate Magical Destroyers: they’re weird, loud, intense, and they rock so hard you can’t quite take your eyes off them. Frankly, there’s no better way to describe this show than that: weirdly, somewhat inexplicably enthralling.
So turn on an episode, lean back, maybe indulge in some mood-altering substances — we don’t judge, we’re not your Dad — and don’t watch this show…experience it.
Gobo-gobo-gobo!
Recommended by: Requiem, Tenshigami
My Home Hero
Written by: Alistair Hyde
Genres: Drama, Suspense, Crime
Where to Watch: Crunchyroll
Spoiler-Free Synopsis: During a dinner in a family restaurant, familyman Tetsuo discovers that his daughter has bruises all over her face and tries to find out the cause of it, which leads him to discover that Matori, her boyfriend, has been physically abusing her. Afterwards, he learns that Matori belongs to a criminal gang and plans to extort money from Reika’s wealthy grandparents; therefore, a simple question remains: what will Tetsuo do?
Why You Should Be Watching: My Home Hero is a great mystery-suspense story with a slice-of-life take on what it means to when a normal family finds themselves mixed up with the wrong crowd, the criminals like roaches infesting their home.
Regarding the cast, I found it hard to believe that an abusive douchebag like Matori could be as relevant for a criminal organization that disposes of bodies as they do with their personnel. However, the huge reveals during each episode provide enough shock factor and entertainment to keep engaged with the mystery until the season’s end. The plot’s development delivers tangible tension to the audience because the only certain thing for the main cast is death.
It develops the plot by taking itself completely seriously without unrealistic or over-the-top situations, letting us see how a real family tries to get out of Tetsuo’s inciting crime. The lack of implausible elements plays in the show by getting the attention of the audience through wits and a little bit of luck.
The fact that an entire crime syndicate is out to get his family provides a variety of circumstances to keep viewers engaged to know if they will outsmart the criminals or just make things worse for themselves. The creative output of Tetsuo comes from his work and nothing else; he is just a regular salary man that works in a toy store and writes mystery novels, living with one foot in the normal world and the other in the underworld. Although, I have to admit he has a very sinister imagination.
From a world-building perspective, the depiction of the criminal underworld and the way it blends with the normal world work magnificently. In addition, the reactions from the gang members when they encounter issues of their own while executing the orders provided by their boss are engaging. This provides credibility to the world around them by taking inspiration from real-life gang violence. It fits perfectly with the fact that the more Tetsuo tries to get out, the deeper he ends up being, like a fly in a spider’s web.
Recommended by: Alistair Hyde, Marquan
Oshi no Ko
Written by: Reikaze
Genre(s): Idol, Drama, Mystery, Supernatural
Where to Watch: HIDIVE
Spoiler-free Synopsis: Thanks to his patient Sarina Tendouji, doctor Gorou Amemiya ends up becoming the idol Ai Hoshino’s biggest fan, who shines brighter than anyone else. However, after a series of unfortunate events, Gorou ends up closer to Ai than he ever thought possible. Given a new lease on life, Gorou is determined to right the wrongs of the past as he’s thrust into the treacherous entertainment industry and all its challenges from acting to needing to make connections to achieve his goals.
Why You Should Be Watching: Oshi no Ko is a lot of things: a show about idols and the entertainment industry, a mystery revenge story, a tale about the nature of family and lies, and more. But most importantly, Oshi no Ko is a show crafted with love.
We can see this from the very start with its feature-length first episode. The first episode acts as a prequel of sorts to the rest of the show and is a compelling standalone story that I would recommend watching even if you don’t continue afterwards. It’s a thrilling narrative: focused in all the right ways with great acting, moving character moments, and an incredibly compelling climax. Most importantly, though, having it as a movie-length special was an incredible decision: experiencing it all at once makes it incredibly impactful.
There are so many moments in Oshi no Ko where the directing stood out to me. Akane’s scene in episode six is the best example of that, but a smaller one I would like to note is the end of episode seven: it’s a small reveal, but the way they executed it blew my mind. The voice acting, the facial expressions, the timing of the transition to the ED, all of it was just incredible and very impactful. Melt’s acting, lightstick babies: there’s at least one every episode.
All of Oshi no Ko’s characters are likable in some way, and the show does an especially great job getting you invested in them. Everyone has unique and strong personalities, they have compelling interactions with each other, and the show works to build the cast up whenever it can. You’re sure to find a favorite character, and when you have a cast as loaded as this, it makes watching week by week very enjoyable.
Other things about Oshi no Ko that I think are incredible: both the OP and ED are absolute bangers, . I love how it handles its themes, never feeling overbearing with them but bringing it up for great effect when needed while building the strong mystery the show founds itself on. Oshi no Ko is my favorite anime of the season, and comes highly recommended
Recommended by: Alistair Hyde, DJNiipah, Doctorkev, Marquan, Nomad, Reikaze, Tenshigami, TheMamaLuigi
Skip and Loafer
Written by: Doctorkev
Genre(s): High School Slice of Life, Drama, Comedy, Romance
Where to Watch: Crunchyroll
Spoiler-free Synopsis: Sheltered country girl Mitsumi leaves the comfort of her small village home, family, and tight-knit friend group to attend high school in Tokyo. Upbeat and confident yet sensitive and anxious, Mitsumi tentatively sets out to make new friends and encounter new experiences.
Why You Should Be Watching: Delightful main character Mitsumi absolutely makes this show for me, in that when I was a kid I was Mitsumi. Uprooted from my rural home and thrust into a big, new, and confusing city, I was similarly lost and adrift. It’s hard to fit in when you don’t dress in apparently fashionable designer labels you’ve never heard of, speak a different dialect to everyone else, the other kids make fun of your “weird” accent, and you don’t comprehend their unfamiliar non-verbal cues.
Thankfully, Mitsumi doesn’t have as difficult a time as I had, though in the first episode she does, unfortunately, in an anxiety-induced (and anxiety-inducing) mishap, vomit on a horrified teacher! This isn’t merely a simple re-run of the recent Bocchi the Rock’s anxiety-fuelled comedy, though — Skip and Loafer evokes a much gentler vibe.
Her short-lived infamy as “vomit-girl” soon behind her, the irrepressible Mitsumi charms a small group of classmates into becoming her friends, and each one is an efficient and convincing portrayal of adolescent bluster, angst, and obfuscation. Every character has flaws they feel compelled to either hide or accentuate, to be perceived in a certain way. Unflinchingly straightforward Mitsumi unwittingly blows past the pretension of others to befriend the real people beneath the fragile facades.
It’s a gently humorous show with real heart, and a slow-burning background romance between Mitsumi and multi-layered male friend Sosuke. Primarily, it’s a slice-of-life piece with multiple opportunities to witness Mitsumi’s adorably exaggerated reaction-faces. Shout out to the spectacularly cute opening sequence where Mitsumi and Sosuke dance together, and to the super-chilled nostalgia-inducing vibe of the closing song. Skip and Loafer puts me in such a good mood, I love it.
Recommended by: Dark Aether, DJNiipah, Doctorkev, Marquan, Nomad, Requiem, TheMamaLuigi
Our seasonal recommendations articles are the results of weeks of collaboration and discussion by many members of the AniTAY community. Some wrote part of the article, and many took part in the voting and discussion to bring this list to life.
Contributors in Alphabetical Order:
- Alistair Hyde
- Dark Aether
- DJNiipah
- Doctorkev
- Gugsy
- Marquan
- Nomad
- Reikaze
- Requiem
- Viking
- Yohan
First time experiencing our seasonal recommendation list? Check out last season’s here!
You’re reading AniTAY, a reader-run blog whose writers love everything anime related. To join in on the fun, check out our website, visit our official subreddit, follow us on Twitter, or give us a like on our Facebook page.
