Tag Archives: OSHI NO KO

Mid-Winter 2026 Anime Ranking

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This is a heavy season for us. So many great shows! Also a lot of content from my favourite seiyuu Umehara Yuuichirou, and a quite a few rock music OPs too. I’ll list some of the ones that caught my attention below.

01. [OSHI NO KO] Season 3 (Ep. 1-10)

OP: “TEST ME” by CHANMINA

(Streaming at HIDIVE and Crunchyroll)

02. Tamon’s B-Side (Tamon-kun Ima Docchi!?) (Ep. 1-11)

(Streaming at Crunchyroll)

03. Journal with Witch (Ikoku Nikki) (Ep. 1-11)

(Streaming at Crunchyroll)

04. Blue Miburo: Serizawa Assassination Arc (Ao no Miburo: Serizawa Ansatsu-hen) (Season 2, Ep. 1-12) – I’m so glad I didn’t drop this after the mediocre first season. Now that the set up is done, we can focus on the grown up members of the Miburo instead of the kids, and it is so much better!

Episode 5, “Firefly Glow,” featuring Okiku, was really powerful. It artfully humanized Serizawa and showed what kind of person he is, for better and for worse.

I do have some doubts and disbelief at the actions of some of the characters, namely Niimi and Hijikata, and ultimately I’m not sure if those are character problems or writing problems. But I appreciate that the show really makes me think about their motivations.

OP: “Blue Noise” by Ryōsuke Yamada

(Streaming at Crunchyroll)

05. Isekai Office Worker: The Other World’s Books Depend on the Bean Counter (Isekai no Sata wa Shachiku Shidai) (Ep. 1-11) – Kondou is a workaholic with substance abuse tendencies. He wasn’t supposed to have been summoned to this other world, but since he’s here, he might as well balance their books, try to fix their miasma problem, and maybe find love!

This is isekai as I haven’t seen before. It’s BL. It actually has well-written characters and a well-rounded story line. Pretty impressive.

(Streaming at Crunchyroll)

06. You and I Are Polar Opposites (Seihantai na Kimi to Boku) (Ep. 1-10)

(Streaming at Crunchyroll)

07. TRIGUN STARGAZE (Season 2 of TRIGUN STAMPEDE, Ep. 13-22)

(Streaming at Crunchyroll)

08. Hana-Kimi (Hanazakari no Kimitachi e) (Ep. 1-11) – I was watching this show just casually, not caring much about Mizuki pretending to be a boy, or whether Sano would high jump again. But at some point, I realized how much I like Nanba-senpai! He’s got the looks, the voice, and he cracks me up!

I bumped this classic shoujo title up quite a few notches, more than it deserves, because I actually found myself looking forward to watching it.

(Streaming at Crunchyroll)

09. Love Through a Prism (PRISM RONDO) (Ep. 1-11)

(Streaming at Netflix)

10. DARK MOON: THE BLOOD ALTAR (DARK MOON: Tsuki no Saidan) (Ep. 1-9)

OP: “One In A Billion（Japanese Ver.)” by ENHYPEN

ED2: “Fatal Trouble” by ENHYPEN

(Streaming at Crunchyroll)

11. Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End (Sousou no Frieren) Season 2 (Ep. 1-8)

(Streaming at Crunchyroll and Netflix)

12. In the Clear Moonlit Dusk (Uruwashi no Yoi no Tsuki) (Ep. 1-10)

(Streaming at Crunchyroll)

13. A Gentle Noble’s Vacation Recommendation (Odayaka Kizoku no Kyuuka no Susume.) (Ep. 1-10) – The way almost everyone who encounters Lizel becomes obsessed with him is admittedly amusing, but other than that, this show is about nothing?

(Streaming at Crunchyroll)

14. Chained Soldier (Mato Seihei no Slave) Season 2 (Ep. 1-11) – Still a fun show, don’t get me wrong. But whereas last season they took great pains to justify the sex and nudity through actual plot, this time around it is more graphic, largely gratuitous, and occasionally crosses the line into assault.

OP: “Hikari yo, Boku ni.” by Akari Kitō

(Streaming at HIDIVE)

15. The Villiainess Is Adored by the Crown Prince of the Neighboring Kingdom (Akuyaku Reijou wa Ringoku no Outaishi ni Dekiai sareru) (Ep. 1-10) – Both of the leads are sweet, sure, but maybe too sweet? Over time, Tiara’s voice and face started to get on my nerves. And just in case you thought I automatically love every character that Ume gives voice to, it isn’t true; Aqua here, is way too bland to inspire feelings of any kind.

(Streaming at Crunchyroll)

16. Oedo Fire Slayer -The Legend of Phoenix- (Hikuidori: Ushuu Boro Tobi-gumi) (Ep. 1-8) – I came warned that the CG animation was atrocious, but I think that was an exaggeration. Mostly they just stand around talking, and that looks passable. What’s really lacking is the unimaginative action/firefighting scenes, where they’re still just standing around talking. This ain’t no Firefighter Daigo!

I want to know what tools and equipment were available to them in those times. When there was a fire, they literally just took off running? How did they transport their equipment, get their water? It seems like their main tactic to contain a fire was to tear down the nearby buildings. What support was given to the people who were left homeless? The one guy who complained was knocked down a peg or two, but he had a valid point? And what about that time they broke into a private storehouse for materials to put out a blaze – that was somehow okay?

Seriously, about the only thing this has in common with Firefighter Daigo is how preachy it is!

OP: “Hamidashi Gomen” by Porno Graffitti

(Streaming at Crunchyroll)

Mid-Summer 2024 Anime Ranking

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01. [OSHI NO KO] (Ep. 12-22)

(Streaming at HIDIVE)

02. YATAGARASU: The Raven Does Not Choose Its Master (Karasu wa Aruji wo Erabanai) (Ep. 14-19)

(Streaming at Crunchyroll)

03. Suicide Squad ISEKAI (Ep. 1-10 complete)

(Streaming at Hulu)

04. Senpai is an Otokonoko (Senpai wa Otokonoko) (Ep. 1-11)

(Streaming at Crunchyroll)

05. Twilight Out of Focus (Tasogare Out Focus) (Ep. 1-11)

(Streaming at Crunchyroll)

06. The Magical Girl and The Evil Lieutenant Used to Be Archenemies (Katsute Mahou Shoujo to Aku wa Tekitai shiteita.) (Ep. 1-11)

(Streaming at Crunchyroll)

07. Egumi Legacy (Ep. 1-10) – Voice actor Eguchi Takuya’s unique character designs in glorious animation. To be honest, I’m not sure I get it, but this work is one of a kind, that’s for sure!

(Streaming at YouTube)

Notable Drops:

Delico’s Nursery (4 episodes) – Certainly, the message that child-rearing is as important a job as any other is a meaningful one. But I don’t know. When your other job is crime-solving, and people are out there dying while you and everyone on your team are changing diapers and looking after the kids, it does make me question your priorities.

(Streaming at Crunchyroll)

The Elusive Samurai (Nige Jouzu no Wakagimi) (3 episodes) – It was not bad, by any means; the animation especially, looked great. But I just felt too much discomfort reconciling the very violent and disturbing narrative elements (eg. torture and murder of children) with the comedic content. Well also we have a tendency to be less interested in action dramas starring child-protagonists.

(Streaming at Crunchyroll)

Mid-Spring 2023 Anime Ranking

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01. [OSHI NO KO] (Ep. 1-11) – This is the anime of the season and it pretty much does live up to the hype. The characters are well-written and likeable; there’s a mystery and some social commentary; and generally, the balance of light and darkness hits the mark.

(Streaming at HIDIVE)

02. VINLAND SAGA SEASON 2 (Ep. 13-24) – Snake is an impressive character; even Thorfinn respects him. Their fight in ep. 16 is easily the highlight of the season. Also, I’m very glad to have Survive Said The Prophet back with the new OP “PARADOX.” It’s a perfect fit.

Tragedy abounds as Thorfinn’s and Canute’s opposing trajectories veer toward a clash.

(Streaming at Crunchyroll)

03. MY HOME HERO (Ep. 1-12) – The animation is certainly not amazing, but this story about a man trying to get away with murder after protecting his daughter against her abusive yakuza boyfriend is smart and riveting. The premise is a nice departure from the usual anime fare, and Suwabe Junichi is great as the daddy.

(Streaming at Crunchyroll)

04. My Love Story with Yamada-kun at LV999 (Yamada-kun to Lv999 no Koi wo Suru) (Ep. 1-13) – I love the fashions in this anime, and the characters are very cute. I do think the 2 leads have chemistry, and I was rooting for them, but it bothered me that he had to rescue her so. many. times. If I was Akane, I would personally be mortified if the guy I liked witnessed me over-drinking on multiple occasions and doing stuff like distractedly walking into traffic.

Also, while I applauded Akane for taking the high road with Runa after what the younger girl did to her, I didn’t think Runa deserved to be let off the hook so easily. In short, Runa is the worst thing about the show.

(Streaming at Crunchyroll)

05. Why Raeliana Ended Up at the Duke’s Mansion (Kanojo ga Koushaku-tei ni Itta Riyuu) (Ep. 1-12) – This isekai mystery/romance has some surprising superficial similarities with My Love Story with Yamada-kun at LV999, including the appearances of the lead characters and the way they started their relationships, but otherwise it feels like a completely different animal. While the character designs are sufficiently attractive, I think I might have liked this more if the animation, and especially the colour palette, looked a little more high-budget.

(Streaming at Crunchyroll)

06. Skip and Loafer (Skip to Loafer) (Ep. 1-12) – This wholesome, feel-good anime about an unlikely group of friends drawn together by a unique but unassuming classmate, is objectively a better show than the preceding two on this list; but the slice-of-life/high school setting just doesn’t draw me in as much from week to week.

(Streaming at Crunchyroll)

07. THE MARGINAL SERVICE (Ep. 1-9) – Entertaining in a so bad, it’s good kinda way, which I believe is the way it is intended to be enjoyed. Well I could do without the pervy mascot character, but I’m having fun with this stupid show.

(Streaming at Crunchyroll)

08. MASHLE: MAGIC AND MUSCLES (Ep. 1-8) – So derivative of Harry Potter as to be distracting, and the main character is an unbelievable cream-puff-obsessed idiot. We are trying to give this a fair shake, but its shounen trappings are getting somewhat tedious.

(Streaming at Crunchyroll)

09. DEMON SLAYER S3: Swordsmith Village Arc (Kimetsu no Yaiba: Katanakaji no Sato-hen) (Ep. 1-5) – We kinda have a bad habit of losing interest in long running shounen anime, and Demon Slayer was heading in that direction for us. While we did make it through all of season 2, much of it felt like a slog.

So after the first (feature length) episode this season, my sister and I discussed if it was time to drop; I actually argued to give it a bit more time to see where things were going. However, the second episode had us completely bored out of our skulls. At that point, the only thing that could save it was if they suddenly cast not one, but both, of our favourite VAs into the next episode. And well, the rest is history ’coz we’re still on board.

(Streaming at Crunchyroll)

ALSO STARTED:

Hell’s Paradise (Jigokuraku) (ep. 1-3) – but I felt the level of violence and grotesqueness was out of proportion to the quality of the narrative. The short time I spent with Hell’s Paradise was enough to convince me that colourful flower arrangements are creepy, and I’ll probably never be able to see them as lovely again.

(Streaming at Crunchyroll)