TheSpring 2023 anime seasonis almost at an end. Unlike the fantasy-laden Winter 2023 or the battle shonen-heavy Fall 2022, Spring 2023 casts a wider net when it comes to genres and demographics. There should be a show for just about everyone, and that includes sequels, spin-offs, and new properties.
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As is tradition, more than 40 anime have been featured during the season. Tempting as it can be to try and keep up with everything the season has to offer, the sheer volume of content makes that an exhausting task. Consequently, if someone is not sure where to begin, they can just start with some of thebest Spring 2023 animeand then go from there.
The ranking is updated on a weekly basis, with the current cutoff date for episodes beingJune 30, 2023. Only anime that started airing in Spring 2023 will be considered, which eliminates shows likeOne PieceandVinland Saga 2.
Where to Stream
Crunchyroll
Every season has a few shows that take a while to find their footing, and Spring 2023 arguably has more slow-starters than usual.
Yuri is My Job!is the season’s poster child of “It gets good, eventually!“The anime follows Hime, a habitual liar who pretends to be perfect and innocent. One day, she is essentially blackmailed into working at a themed café where the female employees pretend to be students at an academy. Obviously, they play up their yuri dynamic. Almost immediately, Hime gets on the wrong side of Yano, her senpai, which is only one of the show’s many complicated relationships.
A full-blown drama,Yuri is My Job!’s characters are deeply flawed in a way that is not designed to be cute or to justify their behavior. Consequently, they can be rather detestable, particularly during the first few episodes before the anime dives into their backstories. The show does an admirable job of realistically showcasing adolescent insecurity and emotional turmoil.
Out of all theSpring 2023 anime, none have been as surprisingly good asKamiKatsu. Born into a cult, Yukito is drowned by his father who states their deity, Mitama, will rescue his son. The goddess opts against making the save, and in his dying breath, Yukito wishes to be reborn in a world with no concept of religion. Naturally, this is exactly what happens, although he quickly realizes that such a society comes with its own issues. Long story short, Yukito prays to Mitama, who shows up and turns this world on its head.
KamiKatsuunapologetically embraces chaos and stupidity with every fiber of its being. The characters, including Yukito, are more than willing to manipulate others in pursuit of their own goals, and even the all-powerful Mitama is regularly reduced to a punchline. Although not fully apparent in its opening episode, this anime is a dark comedy packed to the brim with irreverent humor. Not every joke lands, but the ones that do are laugh-out-loud funny. Studio Palette also makes clever use ofKamiKatsu’s presumably limited budget to create visual gags, and they regularly hit the mark.
Spring 2023 has a number of shows revolving around the performing arts or the entertainment industry, and they are all wildly different from each other. The latest entry in a long-running multimedia franchise,The IDOLM@STER Cinderella Girls: U149is conventional by most metrics, and it revolves around a group of children as they take their first steps toward becoming idols. Popular as the genre is with its audience, most idol anime tend to be ignored by the uninitiated, and that is likely to extend toCinderella Girls.
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All that being said, thisidol animeis one of the genre’s more accessible releasesin a while, and someone does not need to be familiar with the previousCinderella Girlsprojects to enjoyU149. Tonally, the show is lighthearted and wholesome, almost to the point that it slips into slice of life territory at times. However,U149is relatively grounded and has done a good job of exploring its characters.
In a season overflowing with non-sequelromance anime,My Love Story with Yamada-kun at Lv999became one of the most popular, and the show’s success is easy to understand. Akane and Yamada are both likable and well-written leads who complement each other, and they are supported by a few endearing characters like Eita and Takezou. Despite leaving a terrible first impression and being the instigator behind the anime’s worst episode, even Runa develops a nice rapport with Akane once they become friends.
Madhouse’s animation is unsurprisingly pleasant; in fact, that adjective can be used to describe most ofMy Love Story with Yamada-kun at Lv999. The anime is simply pleasant. The characters are harmlessly funny, while the main potential romance culminates in a satisfying finale that hits most of the right notes. Ultimately,My Love Story with Yamada-kun at Lv999gets very little wrong, but the story’s predictable nature means it might not have the staying power of some other Spring 2023 romance anime.
World Dai Starhas flown by largely unnoticed so far, which is to be expected since the anime is not based on a popular source and tackles a niche topic (theater acting). Kokona Ootori dreams of joining Sirius, a famous troupe known for producing World Dai Stars. Although her audition goes well in the grand scheme of things, she seems to lack something known as “Sense,” which is essentially a manifestation of a unique talent. She also does not get along with her roommate/co-star/rival, an ambitious performer named Kathrina.
Although the story has a magical component that might become more pronounced as the season continues,World Dai Startakes its subject extremely seriously, and that goes beyond just its passionate (and sometimes unlikable) characters. Whenever focusing on an “acting” sequence, the show knocks it out of the park, delivering some of the most expressive facial animation of theSpring 2023 anime season.
Spring loves a good laugh as the season is packed with comedy shows. Although still too early to definitely say,Mashlehas the potential to blossom into one of 2023’s funniest series, especially if the anime manages to maintain the quality of its third episode. In a world ruled by magic, the powerless are sentenced to death. Under the guidance of his guardian, the wandless Mash leads a quiet life in the wilderness, where he spends his days eating pastries and lifting weights. However, when this peace is threatened, Mash enrolls in a magic school in order to acquire its most coveted accolade, which would make him untouchable.
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MashleparodiesHarry Potterand shonen anime by following a protagonist made up of 70% brawn, 20% cream puffs, and 10% brain. Mash’s antics are hilariously over-the-top, and they are heightened by the fact they are performed by a stoic and fairly honest person. The anime’s supporting characters are nothing that special so far, but they work well as foils for Mash.
Spring 2023 improves upon Winter’s lineup in nearly every area, but isekai seems to be an exception. That said, the season is not completely lacking in world-swapping goodness.Dead Mount Death Playis shaping up to be an enjoyable reverse isekai,Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear Punch!is serviceable fluff, andKamiKatsu: Working for God in a Godless Worldis stupid but entertaining trash.
So far,Spring 2023’s best isekai animehas beenThe Reason Why Raeliana Ended up at the Duke’s Mansion, which is based on a manhwa. The story follows a woman who is murdered and awakens as a character in a novel. The interesting twist is that Raeliana is not the heroine nor the villainess, but rather a plot-device character destined to be killed off as the story’s inciting incident. As she is familiar with the book, Raeliana sets out to change her fate by striking a deal with Noah Wynknight, a charming but cunning Duke who is not to be trifled with.
A spin-off based on a popular property is a double-edged sword. On the one hand, it can tap into a pre-existing fanbase that is already acquainted and enamored with the overall universe and some of the characters; conversely, this familiarity breeds expectations that a fresh story would not need to contend with.An Explosion On This Wonderful World!is aKonoSubaprequelrevolving around Megumin, arguably the most popular girl of the isekai series.KonoSubais generally rated as one of the funniest isekai anime on the market, a reputation the spin-off has struggled to live up to.
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That’s not to sayAn Explosion On This Wonderful World!is bad or lacking in funny moments, just that it generally settles for amusement rather than outright hilarity. As likable as ever, Megumin works reasonably well as a protagonist, with her drive to master Explosion magic producing most of the season’s peak scenes. Megumin shares the spotlight with Yunyun, who plays the straight-man role to pretty much all the other characters in the anime. Although not terrible, she is the show’s weakest link since she just is not all that interesting as a comedic foil.
For better or worse,Tonikawa: Over The Moon For You Season 2is the definition of “more of the same.” Despite focusing exclusively on a couple, the anime’s pacing, tone, and structure are closer to that of a slice of life than a typical romance story. Each episode simply follows Nasa and Tsukasa as they lead their everyday lives as a newly married couple who were basically strangers before they tied the knot.
In the grand scheme of things, they have undergone very little significant progress and seem to mainly repeat the same beats ad nauseam. However, they are still experiencing minor things like going to a bathhouse together for the first time. It might not sound like much, but these seemingly minor events are precious in their own way. Although repetitive to an extent,Tonikawaworks simply due to Nasa and Tsukasa, who are both endearing as individuals and as a unit.
In Spring 2022,Birdie Wingtook a while to pick up momentum since the show is the anime embodiment of “don’t judge a book by its cover (or title)”. On the surface, a golfing story sounds not only niche but also a touch boring, at least for those who are not interested in the sport. WhileBirdie Wingcan be described as many things, “boring” is certainly not among them; however, it could be defined as hilarious, epic, over-the-top, emotional, silly, and exciting.
An anime original,Birdie Wingfollows the friendly rivalry between Evangeline and Aoi, two young super golfers who are closer to battle shonen protagonists than anything resembling reality. Basically a parody of sports stories, the anime features the mafia, life-or-death situations, illnesses that crop up exactly when the plot needs a shot of tension, and a scheme involving eugenics. Yes,Birdie Wingis still ultimately about golf.
Season 1 was a delightful surprise, and its successor largely continues down the same path. Even though it lacks the novelty of the 2022 cour, the Spring 2023 season is overall much stronger, particularly in its depiction of Aoi. Although always endearing, she plays second fiddle to Eva throughout most of the first season, to the point that Aoi can come across like a plot device at times. That is no longer the case, and she has grown into a fantastic co-lead.
