It has been a while since we picked the animes for you readers! We chose the top few animes to watch in 2013/2014. We picked the new animes and left out the returning seasons of current animes.
Are you ready for our 2015 picks?
Wizard Barristers: Benmashi Cecil (ウィザード・バリスターズ〜弁魔士セシル Wizādo Barisutāzu – Benmashi Seshiru) is produced by Arms and directed by Yasuomi Umetsu.
Plot: In 2018, humans and wizards live together in Tokyo. Police continue to protect order in society, but wizards (known as Wud) are tried according to magical law via Magic Prohibition Law, in special courts defended by wizard barristers via the Court for Magic. At age seventeen, half-Japanese, half-Canadian Cecil Sudo, has just become the youngest wizard barrister after passing the bar exam at age fifteen, and begins work at the Butterfly Law Offices. While she hasn’t realized it yet, she has tremendous magical potential.
2015’s top 5
Death Parade (Japanese: デス・パレード Hepburn: Desu Parēdo) is created, written, and directed by Yuzuru Tachikawa and produced by Madhouse. The series spawned from a short film, Death Billiards (デス・ビリヤード Desu Biriyādo), which was originally produced by Madhouse for the Young Animator Training Project’s Anime Mirai 2013 and released on March 2, 2013. The television series aired in Japan between January 9, 2015 and March 27, 2015
Plot: Whenever two people on Earth die at the same time, they are sent to one of many mysterious bars run by bartenders serving as arbiters. There, they must participate in Death Games with their lives on the line, the results of which reveal what secrets led them to their situation and what their fate will be afterwards, with the arbiters judging if their souls will either be sent for reincarnation or banished into the void. The series follows Decim, the lone bartender of the Quindecim bar, whose role in judging these souls changes when he meets a curious black-haired woman.
Cute High Earth Defense Club LOVE! (美男高校地球防衛部LOVE! Binan Kōkō Chikyū Bōei-bu Love!) is created by Kurari Umatani and produced by Diomedéa.
Plot: The Earth Defense Club at Binan High School; Yumoto Hakone, En Yufuin, Atsushi Kinugawa, Io Naruko and Ryuu Zaou; who regularly attend a local bathhouse run by Yumoto’s brother, are approached by a strange pink wombat-like being from another planet who charges them (rather involuntarily) with the task of saving the world. Using a set of “Loveracelets” he gives them, the group transforms into Battle Lovers, who use the power of love to combat foes intent on spreading hate and discord. As they battle, they encounter the Earth Conquest Club under the influence of a small green hedgehog-like creature named Zundar; student council elects Kinshiro Kusatsu, Ibushi Arima and Akoya Gero become their enemies who are also responsible for creating the monsters the Lovers fight. This is like male Sailormoon.
Assassination Classroom (Japanese: 暗殺教室 Ansatsu Kyōshitsu) is written and illustrated by Yūsei Matsui. The series follows the daily lives of an extremely powerful octopus-like teacher and his students dedicated to the task of assassinating him to prevent Earth from being destroyed. As of March 2015, thirteen tankōbon volumes have been released in Japan with a circulation of ten million copies.
Plot: The Earth is threatened by a powerful creature who destroyed 70% of the Moon with its power, rendering into the shape of a crescent moon forever. The creature claims that within a year, Earth will also be destroyed by him, but he offers mankind a chance to avert this fate. In class 3-E at Kunugigaoka Junior High School, he starts working as a homeroom teacher where he teaches his students not only regular subjects, but the ways of assassination. The Japanese government promises a reward of ¥10 billion (i.e. 100 million USD) to whomever among the students succeeds in killing the teacher, whom they have named “Koro-sensei” (殺せんせー Korosensē, a pun on korosenai (殺せない, unkillable) and sensei (先生, teacher)). However, this has proven to be an almost impossible task, as not only does he have several superpowers at his disposal, including the capacity of moving at Mach 20, but he is also the best teacher they’ve ever had.
Maria the Virgin Witch (純潔のマリア Junketsu no Maria, lit. “Maria the Virgin”), subtitled Sorcière de gré, pucelle de force, is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Masayuki Ishikawa. Kodansha Comics USA
Plot: Set in France during the Hundred Years’ War, it follows Maria, who is one of the most powerful witches of her era. She intervenes against the warring nations by using her succubus and incubus familiars to manipulate the opposing factions, as well as large-scale illusions, all for the sake of helping the people and maintaining peace. As a result, she has gained the appreciation of several villagers and the hostility of the Church, which considers her a heretic. Yet Maria is still a virgin and her own familiars tease her about it. As news of her actions spreads, Archangel Michael focuses on Maria and rejects her interference in human affairs. After a direct confrontation, Michael ultimately decides that Maria will lose her magical powers if she loses her virginity and also forbids her from publicly using magic, sending an angel called Ezekiel to oversee this decree.
Yatterman Night (夜ノヤッターマン Yoru no Yattāman) is by Tatsunoko Production. The series celebrates the 40th anniversary of the Time Bokan franchise and is inspired by Tatsunoko’s 1970s anime series, Yatterman.
Plot: A long time ago, the Yattermen were heroes of justice who fought against the evil Doronbow Gang, exiling them and bringing peace to the Yatter Kingdom. Several generations later, however, the Yattermen have since become corrupt with power while everyone else has been forced to live in poverty and despair. After losing her mother to the Yattermen’s selfishness, Leopard, a direct descendant of the gang’s leader Doronjo, reforms the Doronbow Gang with Boyacky and Tonzra’s descendants, Voltkatze and Elephantus, to rebel against the corrupt Yattermen.
Editorial by Wilsurn “NOT OTAKU” Lim
