In Praise of 2020’s Short Anime

Happy New Year, everyone! Hope your January is off to a good start. Mine is about to be filled with writing, both for our Winter First Impressions and the AOTY mega-post, but before hurling myself into either of those projects I’d like to shine a light on four of the year’s best short series. I wrote a similar piece last year and felt good about recommending those shows, so making it a yearly thing felt right. Although short anime typically attract low viewership figures and even lower appreciation levels, I love them for their simple stories and thrifty production techniques. As a bonus, their episodes end quickly enough that my age-addled brain has no chance to wander partway through! Whether you’re a dinosaur like me or you’re just in the mood to finish an entire series in a single afternoon, let’s kick things off with one of 2020’s more obscure anime: Super Shiro.

Super Shiro

Right off the bat, I have to qualify my last statement – Super Shiro is the only show in this group of four that can’t be finished in an afternoon. That’s because it started in 2019 and continued airing weekly for the better part of last year, so its 48 episodes will keep you busy for a while despite their brief runtimes. I wrote a bit about this series last year, and much of what I said then still applies today: it’s a simply designed, frantically animated production that lives and dies on the central rivalry between Shiro and his nemesis Dekapoo.

What kept the show relevant in its second year, however, was its willingness to play with the fourth wall. The narrator occasionally spoke directly to the characters, who in one very funny episode ignored his pleas for a plot-driven story, opting to lounge at the local hot springs instead of doing their jobs. The series also acknowledged that Shiro’s legs never moved when he ran, not with a simple line of dialogue, but by dedicating an entire story to a badge that gave him that ability. Strangest of all was episode 44, which forced its characters to reckon with their status as fictional beings, and offered some good advice for anyone who’s had similarly existential concerns. Over the course of last year, Super Shiro went from cute weekly distraction to metacommentary-fueled grab bag – a change that I wholeheartedly approved.

Pokemon: Twilight Wings

A lot of short anime make a name for themselves by spinning straw into gold, but Twilight Wings was a top shelf production from the outset. This is arguably the best that Pokemon has ever looked in the franchise’s 25 year history, owing mostly to the show’s lavish backgrounds and keen use of lighting. From verdant fields that stretch on endlessly to crystalline lakes teeming with marine life, Studio Colorido’s art underscores their philosophy that imaginary creatures can look real when their environments do. It helps that Twilight Wings has some standout animated moments, but they don’t match the heights of the main series’ climactic battles. Rather, the emphasis here is on creating a world that both humans and Pokemon can believably inhabit, and the result is a string of small-scale dramas that have real stakes, despite belonging to one of the world’s most corporate franchises. Even if you haven’t paid attention to Pokemon in years, this miniseries is absolutely worth an hour of your time.

Bessatsu Olympia Kyklos

In telling the story of a timid Greek artisan who was struck by lightning and transported to 1960s Japan, Olympia Kyklos accidentally became the year’s best isekai anime. It’s also in the running for silliest show of the year, with a farcical take on time travel that acts as a perfect vehicle for its crash course on Ancient Greek culture. Main character Demetrios is crudely claymated to set him apart from the 2D Japanese cast, and the show takes full advantage of its mixed media aesthetic by utilizing body humor to its fullest potential. The misunderstandings that Demetrios forms in the modern era are carried back to Greece, as well, changing the course of history by recontextualizing the first Olympic games. It’s a lot of fun to witness the cascading impact of his meddling, not only in antiquity but also in the recent past, as he travels between the two eras on a regular basis. Beset by an avaricious boss, a flighty love interest, and a crew of Spartan warriors who won’t give him a moment’s peace, Demetrios is one of the year’s most misfortunate heroes. Happily, by the end, he’s also one of the most celebrated.

Inu to Neko

This show’s full Japanese name translates to “With a Dog and a Cat, Every Day is Fun.” Being a cat person I can’t verify the truth of that statement, but this collection of one-minute shorts certainly makes a strong case for its accuracy. 90% of the enjoyment to be found here stems from a hyperactive dog and a menacing cat acting super cute, which is a lot of fun in isolation, but it’s the other 10% that deserves special praise. Every once in a while, Inu to Neko will focus on a pet that has passed away, recalling memories of its time on earth from the perspective of its former caretaker. Despite having so little time to establish a connection between animal and owner, the series consistently nails these stories by arriving at a point of catharsis just seconds before the ending. Episode 3 is a standout example of this capability, centering on an elderly man who decides not to get a new pet because his previous cat (who was selfish and needy in life) wouldn’t have allowed it. You might view these tales as saccharine or sentimental if you’ve never bonded with an animal, but for the rest of us, Inu to Neko packs a feel-good punch.