Giji Harem

Short Synopsis: A new drama club member adopts a host of different personas for the amusement of her senpai.

Lenlo: I feel like I just watched Saori Hayami have a stroke, in the best way possible. A harem show where every “girl” is the same schizophrenic chick in different hair styles acting like different people to flirt with her Senpai, all while Saori Hayami voices each one of them differently? That’s actually kind of clever. Giji Harem can keep it simple and cute with the MC being in on the joke and playing it up, or it can get crazy and have a love triangle and shit between the different personalities, who knows! I doubt it will go that far, keep it wholesome and cute, but even keeping it simple it’s pretty fun. The fact that, like the Russian Girl show, the MC is capable of bantering with the main girl without sticking his foot in his mouth or shitting his pants also goes a long way towards making this enjoyable. Pair that with expressive designs, this being about a drama club there’s a lot of focus on their faces and emotions as they talk to each other, and there’s a lot to enjoy. The dialogue is pretty clever as well. Honestly, this is the first show of the season so far that I’m actually going to keep up with after the first episode. This feels fun and cute.
Potential: 75%

Wooper: The challenge of adapting a manga with super short chapters is figuring out how to stitch those chapters into full length episodes. That’s only if you accept the challenge in the first place, though, which Giji Harem definitely did not, at least in this premiere. This was just a bunch of trope-driven vignettes laid on top of each other, then placed into an episode-shaped container, and I had seen enough by the time I was halfway through the stack. It started off well enough, quickly establishing the female lead’s acting chops and introducing her persona-swapping gimmick as a fun way to combat her nervousness around her senpai. We met one of her characters, then another and another, until she’d formed a small stable to draw from. The question then became what else the show might do with them, apart from providing amusement for her upperclassman; no answer was provided, and none likely ever will be. I watched with increasing impatience as the male lead fretted over her facial expressions, snapped pictures of her playing different characters, and requested that she trot out specific impressions at a moment’s notice. By the time senpai-kun started contemplating which outfits he wanted to assign to his kouhai in her various forms, I felt as though I’d developed restless leg syndrome – not exactly an experience I’m eager to revisit.
Potential: 10%

Ramen Akaneko

Short Synopsis: A young woman is hired to work in the back room at a ramen shop run by cats.

Lenlo: Ramen is a very inoffensive, relaxed, nothingburger show. All about a bunch of cats that run a ramen shop and a young girl who somehow gets roped into a job there, despite watching 20 minutes I couldn’t tell you a single thing about what happened in this episode. Yes, it was inoffensive, yes it was chill, but so much so that it never really dared to do anything. It’s just… boring. So much so that I don’t think even Slice of Life fans are going to find much to be engaged by here.
Potential: 0%

Wooper: I’m more of a cat liker than a cat lover, but I still tend to sample all the cat-themed anime that release each year. Unfortunately, Ramen Akaneko made one of the weakest first impressions of all the shows I can remember in that category. My biggest issue here is its habit of switching between hand-drawn characters and 3DCG models, even for rudimentary tasks such as the sole human cast member brushing her feline coworkers’ hair. Combine that with the slapdash background art (especially the hideous establishing shot of the street outside the ramen shop), and it’s clear that this show was produced entirely out of obligation. As far as the writing goes, we learn about human character Tamako’s anxiety surrounding her new job, and witness her difficulty in cooperating with one of the pricklier cats on staff. These stories helped sustain my focus for 20 minutes, but I’d say the show’s flavorless tone is a bigger issue than whether or not it can spin a couple yarns per episode. Its premise is thinner than the noodles served at its in-universe restaurant, after all, so it’ll need a much more distinctive atmosphere if it wants to stay open for business.
Potential: 5%

Days with My Stepsister

Short Synopsis: Two teenagers talk out their soon-to-be sibling relationship after their parents get engaged.

Wooper: Of all this summer’s new anime premieres, Gimai Seikatsu will likely have the fewest amount of cuts. This show likes its long takes, and uses mostly medium shots to create a slow, thoughtful mood. I’m a fan of this style, especially in animation, where close-ups often fly by one after another, so this episode was a breath of fresh air – though it’s adapting a step-sibling romance light novel, so I’m not sure that “fresh” is the right word. I’ve enjoyed other taboo-based anime in the past (Koi Kaze, After the Rain), so it’s not impossible that I’ll find something to like here, but it’s got a mountain to climb despite its pleasant pacing. There was at least one instance of the show reaching for sensitivity a bit too aggressively (a mid-episode montage of the characters unpacking backed by soft piano and crooning vocals), but we also got an effective moment of humor to balance it out (the protagonist’s father clumsily welcoming his fiance and stepdaughter to their new home). The backgrounds are sparse, but characters are usually well-positioned to reinforce the feeling of each scene. To put it simply, I’m mixed on this one, but I’m leaning toward giving it another shot, especially since there are a handful of side characters we haven’t even met yet.
Potential: 50%

Lenlo: I am much less positive on Seikatsu than Wooper it seems, as I found the pacing and presentation rather dull. Wooper is right that most anime cut a bit too fast, with scenes flying by, but jumping to the opposite end of the spectrum like this was not the answer. It feels novel I suppose, relaxed, but that soft piano perpetually in the background felt overly sentimental and like Seikatsu was holding up a sign telling me how to feel rather than actually earning it, so to speak. Credit where it’s due of course, for a gross underage sibling romance Seikatsu actually handled it pretty well. There were no ecchi shots, no fanservice, it didn’t have them walking in on each other in the shower or falling on top of each other naked or anything, though there was one joke involving a bra. It feels like Seikatsu might actually care about the story it’s trying to tell, might actually be genuine, and I’m just not responding well to the over the top sentimentality of it all. If Seikatsu could cut down a bit on all of that I think it could be pretty good. As is though, it’s difficult for me to get invested despite everything pointing in the right direction.
Potential: 30%

Oshi no Ko S2

Short Synopsis: Aqua attends the first several rehearsals for “Tokyo Blade,” the stage play in which he was recently cast.

Wooper: I watched all of Oshi no Ko’s first season and came away viewing it as junk food – a purported deep dive into Japan’s entertainment industry that was really just a pulpy teen drama. As an anime-only viewer, I’ve got no way of knowing whether this season might change that opinion, but it’s off to a pretty good start after this episode. Most of it takes place in a single room – a rehearsal space for the cast of the stage play around which this season will revolve – qualifying it for the “bottle episode” label. Assistant director Kuniyasu Nishina got the most out of this limited setting, however, dimming the backgrounds with different brightness levels to bring out the characters’ line readings, and even representing a particular clash of wills with metaphorical paint being splattered on the walls (which put me in mind of the Araragi vs Suruga fight from Bakemonogatari). The laser focus on acting, and on several of the performers’ different approaches to the trade, actually gave the series a bit of an ‘inside baseball’ feel – more so than in 2023, anyway – and the last-minute request from the in-universe source material’s author poses a complication that ought to help the show stay on track. All in all, having seen this season premiere, I’m more interested in continuing with Oshi no Ko this year than I thought I’d be.
Potential: 70%

Mario: Oshi no Ko picks up right where it left last season (as if “episode 12” wasn’t a clear indication), meaning that if you are new to this parade, you’re most likely lost amongst its big cast. For the rest of us, this new season will be focusing on the “2.5D play,” which is apparently an adaptation of a popular manga, and is very much within its DNA. We get the “inside knowledge” of the production of a stage play where the cast rehearses for their parts, the staff members who rationalize their artistic choices… but what I find unusual is that Aqua is not necessarily the main focus here. We hear his monologues, but so far he’s removed from the stage production itself. Instead we learn more about it through the people around him, especially his “girlfriend” Akane. This is pretty much a setup episode, but it does provide a good cliffhanger at the end, so I’m sure to tune in for the next episode (my guess is that the author wants to kill the main love interest and bring Akane’s character to the forefront).
Potential: 40%

Alya Sometimes Hides Her Feelings in Russian

Short Synopsis: A beautiful student council member and her otaku seatmate flirt with each other.

Wooper: Alya-san is such blatant nerd bait that the “too old for this shit” part of me wants to dismiss it out of hand, but honestly, it isn’t that bad. In fact, before we got to the part where the Russian hottie asked her classmate to slide her thigh high sock up her leg, I was ready to label it ‘kind of good.’ The premise of her smugly flirting with him in a language that he can’t admit he understands is a good one, since it gives incomplete power to both characters, and though the protagonist is a Literally Me redditor-type, he’s also normal enough to refer to an attractive classmate as a friend without stuttering about it. There are a couple good gags in here (e.g. an ikemen’s phone slipping from his hand due to shock, then pausing in midair before falling to the ground), and the character animation is more polished than I expected. Eventually, though, you reach the scene where the main dude’s hand brushes against the cute girl’s crotch while he puts on her sock, and though the show carried on from there without missing a beat, that was the point where I pulled the cord to get off at the next stop. Still, if you’re looking for a light ecchi romcom this season, you should probably be watching this.
Potential: 40%

Lenlo: Wooper basically has the right of it, as far as ecchi romcoms go you could do a lot worse than Alya. While I can’t speak to the quality of the Russian, it is an interesting hook and leads to some pretty cute interactions. That plus the MC being a generally well adjusted human, capable of holding a conversation without melting into himself, does a lot to make Alya watchable. Does that make Alya good? Not really, not for me at least, as it’s still pretty trashy and fetishy with stuff like the leggings and the crotch touch. The blatant love-triangle being setup with the other girl, Suou, doesn’t do much for me either as I’d much prefer this be a wholesome and straightforward romance. If romcoms are what you’re looking for, you should probably give Alya a shot, as it definitely stands out against the normal romcom fare. If that isn’t your genre though, nothing about Alya is going to change your mind.
Potential: 30%

Shinmai Ossan Bouken-sha…

Short Synopsis: Apparently 30 years old is middle age, and also too old to be an adventurer. Unless you were trained by super adventurers and are basically Saitama from One Punch Man.

Amun: I get it if this show isn’t for you. In fact, you’ll probably need to have experienced a very specific set of circumstances to appreciate this show: being a part of a group who is significantly more skilled than you at something. I’ve had the (dis)pleasure of this experience: you really do end up with a confused sense of normal. Shinmai Ossan does a surprisingly good job of conveying that confusion when you encounter someone who is “normal” to the rest of the world. The frustration and anxiety that comes from not being able to measure up against your peers, who are beyond exceptional, comes across quite well here. Also, what’s with calling 30 old…first Kaiju No. 8, now this show. I must admit, I do enjoy having an old man in a young man’s game – it makes for a nice gimmick. Now, the animation isn’t top shelf, and the character designs look a little dated, but I quite enjoy the premise, so I’ll be sticking around for a while.
Potential: If you like the shtick, 70%. If not, 10%.

Mario: I reckon that this episode can resonate to most late-bloomers out there (myself included) – whether it’s is your career or hobby, the show suggests that it is never too late to turn over a new leaf for what you really care about. I just wish that they handle all the other parts surrounding that message a bit better. The whole premise boils down to a one-liner joke – that he’s OP despite his age and his stats – and it gets stale even before the episode ends. The writing is clumsy – remember the duel where they have to give one “condition”? Well, they kinda forget it here partway. Our main guy is as bland as white paper and as thick as the slime bag he punches… I suppose that the show will get more straightforward as it goes, i.e. this elite group will save the world with him as the main contributor, but that would also kind of defeat this show’s very premise.
Potential: 10% (can confirm I do not like the shtick)

The Strongest Magician in the Demon Lord’s Army Was a Human

Short Synopsis: Literally the show’s title.

Amun: First premiere of the new season, hooray! Usually the first show premiering is a steaming pile of poor animation or fanservice, but is this season any different? The answer is….kinda. Maogun was about as standard a premiere as you could ask for. Truthfully though, that puts it head and shoulders above any other season first premieres that I can remember. Hey, at least it’s not an isekai, right? We have a standard overpowered OP with a dark secret that only the big boobed boss knows….well and this random maid who just found out. Okay, whatever. There’s a pig henchman and then a demon queen who is on about something. I don’t really love the character designs though – there have been more shows that do this, with the heavier outlines. This more comes down to execution and that’s something I am absolutely not convinced Studio A-CAT can continue for a full season. Think of this as an old, used Honda Civic – it’ll be sorta fun to drive until the wheels fall off.
Potential: 25%

Lenlo: While Maogun isn’t quite as bad as I was expecting, I think Amun is overstating its quality a bit. It’s still a rather dull and by the books OP MC fantasy story. I suppose the whole “Hiding his identity” thing would be interesting, if it wasn’t immediately revealed that others are aware of who he is, taking a lot of wind from Maogun’s sails so to speak. Meanwhile visually Maogun is primarily mediocre CGI with poor lighting and a heavy reliance on after effects for the spells. There’s just… very little of interest here, and while that places it above most Isekai slop we get, it’s still not worth my time.
Potential: 10%

Suicide Squad Isekai

Short Synopsis: DC Suicide Squad villains are sent to a new world!

Amun: (Note, I’m only going to discuss the first episode, although I know 3 premiered immediately). Let’s keep this simple: “Suicide Squad Isekai” didn’t have a great start. My complaints: first, Harley’s fight with whoever that ninja was felt really weird – the finishing blow just felt odd in perspective. Secondly, the entire episode felt rushed and confused – tons of time was spent on showing the Joker, only for him to be seemingly absent from the rest of the show (although I love the inclusion of his car). Third, the animation wasn’t as crisp as it needs to be for an action heavy show like this. I KNOW Wit can do better. Finally, and this is probably the most concerning point, I didn’t feel that the tone of the DC Suicide Squad was well integrated with the isekai setting. Suicide Squad is about the irreverent “bad guys killing other bad guys for good reasons” with humor and style. “Suicide Squad Isekai” more felt like super powered prisoners were set free in a fantasy land. And I mean, that would be a fine premise, but we know these characters already – it just felt like hearing a song you love, trying to like it, but they’re hitting the wrong notes just slightly. Maybe the show will improve, but I’m honestly really disappointed.

(Episode 2 update: while the first episode is cheeks, episode 2 was way more fun. Maybe this could turn out okay?)
Potential: 30% (after 2, 50%)

Lenlo: After watching Suicide Squad I feel that it’s safe to say, as a comic book fan, that it’s best to go into this expecting a regular Isekai with a DC aesthetic rather than an actual exploration of these characters in any interesting fashion. If you wanted to see Harley Quinn in a fantasy world in any way other than visually, SSI simply is not for you. It has no idea who they are beyond the surface level and some catch phrases like “Puddin”. However if you just want to watch a hot blonde psychopath and her “friends” make media references and murder their way through a fantasy world, this will probably be right up your alley. And honestly, visually? I don’t think it looks that bad. It doesn’t move that well, like Amun says the animation isn’t very crisp and I’ve seen Wit do better, but I kind of like the designs and how colorful it all is, sometimes at least. If I rate this on a scale of Harley Quinn stories, it’s not shaping up to be very good. If I rate it on the scale of Isekai in general however… Well that’s a much more favorable comparison if you ask me. Suffice to say, I’m going to finish watching the other 2 episodes and probably a bit more before/if I drop it.
Potential: 40%

My Wife Has No Emotion

Short Synopsis: An exhausted salaryman gets a robot maid and swiftly falls in love with her.

Mario: Boy this is tough to sit through. For me, the problematic part of this premise is not about him falling in love with a robot (which of course is a can full of worms), but the very idea that the “perfect wife” image is the one who cooks for you and does the household chores… and refers to you with the honorific “-sama”. It’s just a blatant wish fulfillment cranked up to 11. Adding to that is a very generic male lead whose name I immediately forget as soon as I hear it. He doesn’t have much of a personality, really. Just look at his apartment and you don’t see anything that reflects his hobby or characteristics. But I guess he’s human enough to… have a boner when a humanoid girl sleeps next to him. The fact that the titular robot is emotionless but somehow 10 times more interesting than him speaks to that. Sorry but I don’t buy this relationship at all.
Potential: Nope. Does this show deserve three reviews written for it? Nope nope.

Amun: This premiere was lowkey disturbing. Not on the level of Goblin Slayer or anything, but yeah, this was not enjoyable. I looked into it and the source comes from 2019, somewhat at the beginning of the current AI boom. Given today’s advancements with humanoid robots (props to showing the extensive charging sequences) and LLMs like ChatGPT, My Wife Has No Emotion isn’t a cute comedy, but more of a dystopian nightmare. There was just way too much discomfort and awkwardness this episode, ignoring that this could very well become reality within the next decade. Of course, we have the obligatory ghosts in the machine, where the AI exhibits functionality beyond programmed behaviour – could it be, gasp, alive?! I do have to give props for that clock animation (that’s on point). Plus, there is also no way on earth that having a robot sleep in your bed doesn’t smell like oil. Yeah – this is disturbing. No more of this for me, thanks.
Potential: Absolutely not. Why do they keep making tradwife anime weirder and weirder?

Lenlo: I don’t know what I find more depressing, the idea of live-in tradwife sex robots, or the idea that this guy works what looks to be 12-hour days just to get home, crash, and do it all over again. Anyways, Amun has the right of it in that this show isn’t wholesome or cute at all and instead rather creepy. Weebs and Neets are already too afraid to go outside and talk to the opposite sex, do we really need to encourage it with things like demure robot wives who do anything you say? Maybe the show goes somewhere with it and gives her a personality, does the thing where it chastises him for falling in love with an appliance and that a true and fulfilling romance can only come from another sentient being reciprocating those emotions with their own free will. The emotions bit at least definitely seems to be what My Wife is gunning for judging by this first episode. That’s enough for me to not write it off completely like Amun, as there’s clear potential there. But I can’t say I’m particularly hopeful for it, just going by Japan’s track record.
Potential: 1%