2017 Anime Recommendations Guide and Highlights:

Well as 2017 is drawing to a close, I can certainly say it’s been another exciting year for the anime community as wave after waves of newly adapted light novels, games and manga were brought to life. While some may have brought you to tears, was it for the right reason? Here are some highlights on the best of the best and some controversial shows that divided fans. However, let’s not dwell any further and take a glimpse at the hits, misses as well as 2017 anime recommendations! (No spoilers)

2017 Anime Recommendations: Hits and Misses

Hit: Made in the Abyss

The Abyss—a gaping chasm stretching down into the depths of the earth, filled with mysterious creatures and relics from a time long past. How did it come to be? What lies at the bottom? Countless brave individuals, known as Divers, have sought to solve these mysteries of the Abyss, fearlessly descending into its darkest realms. – MAL summary

An overwhelming amount of fans agreed that ‘Made in the Abyss’ was, if not, the best anime of 2017. Although at first it may only appear to be a light hearted adventure, the darkness hidden behind cute, chibi styled art gradually dawns on us. Made in Abyss is a story about adventure, survival and most importantly finding life in the face of death and despair. The story and setting is intriguing, as many things are shrouded in mystery. Every episode tempted me to continue onto the next in order to discover more about the children’s descent into mysterious abyss and the dangers lurking in every corner.

Miss: Hajimete no Gal

Spring. The “season of love” has arrived and it seems that finding himself a girlfriend was harder than Junichi believed. To break the status quo, Junichi’s friends have forced him into confessing to the gal, Yame Yukana. However, things do not go quite as he expected. A series of “firsts” begins!

One way or the other, we’ve all once succumbed to the opposite sex, daydreaming and fantasising about that faithful day when they’ll finally come true. To satisfy our needs, many of us turn to guilty pleasures like harem romance and fan-service due to their appeal. Or if one is looking for more explicit content, hentai is a straight route. The biggest problem with Hajimete no Gal is how is can not decide on which it wants to be. As a result of trying to be both, it fails to deliver. Plus a pathetic main character and erotic scenes that lack impact, Hajimete no Gal is only worth trying if you’re in for some trash. Can’t say it’s on my 2017 anime recommendations. 

Hit: Youjo Senki

Miss: Masamune-kun no revenge

Hit: Boku no hero academia

Miss: Black clover

Despite initial hype, Black clover seems to be getting plenty of hate. So what really went wrong? Other than the MC’s irritating screeching that gave me ear bleeds and headaches, there is nothing special about Black clover. Shounen characters aren’t an issue if it’s well executed, but Black clover simply fails to deliver despite all it’s promotions.

Coloured splash page

Asta and Yuno were abandoned at the same church on the same day. Raised together as children, they came to know of the “Wizard King”—a title given to the strongest mage in the kingdom—and promised that they would compete against each other for the position of the next Wizard King. However, as they grew up, the stark difference between them became evident. While Yuno is able to wield magic with amazing power and control, Asta cannot use magic at all and desperately tries to awaken his powers by training physically.

There are several flaws concerning Black clover.

One is how dislikable it’s main character can be. I’m not even talking about his voice (dub is a solution) but just how over the top Asta is. Generic shounen main characters can be interesting, even inspiring. But Asta is ramped up to the point where he becomes dislikable or even delusional. Another issue is the storytelling. Many scenes become repetitive and the audience wasn’t given an opportunity to interpret and explore as every event was narrated . Most likely used as a filler which concerns pacing. As a long running marathon, filler’s are understandable but things move way too slow even by shounen standards, (a two page manga flashback was expended to 15 minutes!). Black clover had potential, though sadly it wouldn’t be on my 2017 anime recommendations.

Hit: 3 gatsu no lion

Miss: Boruto: Naruto next generation

Following the successful end of the Fourth Shinobi World War, Konohagakure has been enjoying a period of peace, prosperity, and extraordinary technological advancement. This is all due to the efforts of the Allied Shinobi Forces and the village’s Seventh Hokage, Naruto Uzumaki. Now resembling a modern metropolis, Konohagakure has changed, particularly the life of a shinobi. Under the watchful eye of Naruto and his old comrades, a new generation of shinobi has stepped up to learn the ways of the ninja.

Naruto ended for me the day he became hokage, the day when it’s last chapter was serialised. Then Boruto came along. Yes, you’ve hear me right, name sounds familiar? Boruto:Naruto next generation is indeed about the next generation of ninjas, following up about 10-15 years where the manga has left off. However, it feels like forced and lack depth, failing to pick up things where they’re left and lacks originality. A number of things don’t match up, the strangest being Naruto prioritising work over family. Even though we shouldn’t compare Boruto to it’s very popular dad (prequel), it’s hard not to. From what I’ve seen, Boruto seems like a children’s show. Will it be on my 2017 anime recommendations? Probably not unless you’re a diehard fanboy.

Hit: Natsume’s Book of Friends Season 6

Miss: Ousama game

Hit: Houseki no Kuni

This is how you do CGI right (Also Diamond is besto)

Houseki no Kuni made it’s debut this fall with it’s creative use of CGI with breathtaking animation, a hidden gem that excelled in visuals and story. (no pun intended). Although it flew under the radar of many audiences, Houseki no Kuni is undeniably the best anime of the fall season, truly a work of art that defied presumptions regarding CGI in anime.

In the distant future, a new immortal and genderless life form called Gems populate the Earth. The 28 Gems must fight against the Lunarians, who attack them regularly to abduct them and to turn them into decorations. Being only 300 years old, Phosphophyllite is the youngest of the Gems and has no assignment yet, till Kongou (Adamantine), assigns them the task of creating a natural history encyclopedia. – MAL summary 

I admit being taken back at first due to Japan’s poor history of CGI and flashbacks of 2016 Berserk, something more of a nightmare. However, Houseki proved itself to be everything you could hope a CGI anime would be. Varies themes of existential dread, mystery and slight horror could be felt throughout the story, further emphasised by the unsettling music that captured it’s unique world. Houseki no kuni definitely has potential and a story worth checking out.

 Worthy mentions:

Da yu hai tang

In an old mythical world, there reside spirit-like beings who oversee the natural order of the mortal realm. One of them, a young girl named Chun, has just come of age and must undergo her rite of passage by experiencing the human world for herself. While there, she gets caught in a fishing net during a storm and is rescued by a human boy.

However, the boy ends up drowning during the incident, and Chun returns to her realm full of guilt. Afterwards, she meets the Soul Keeper and decides to revive the boy in exchange for a part of her lifespan. Little does she know, meddling with the natural order of the world has severe consequences.

It may be a little biased coming from me, but Da yu hai tang, a chinese-animated movie is on pair with the renowned Studio Ghibli. Da yu hai tang is a whimsical and endearing coming of age tale about sacrifice, death, love and natural balance. The art and animation were nothing short of stunning, leaving me completely immersed from start to finish. The one thing that makes it different and outshines most anime movies is its concept revolving reincarnation and balance in nature, philosophical themes we don’t usually see.

Although it may be a bit difficult adjusting to the voice acting, Da yu hai tang is exceptional. Give it a try!

Attack on Titan season 2:

As the long awaited continuation of the smash hit Attack on Titan finally launches, you could expect the hype meter jumping off the scales as season 1 was one of the biggest shows of 2013. It’s brilliant animation, sound and storyline captured hundreds and thousands of fans, but it seems that the long wait didn’t quite deliver the same impact as the first. Perhaps many of us placed far too much expectations. However though considering the lengthy time between the two season it’s only normal to have high expectations.

Attack on Titan season 2 was without a doubt, entertaining. However, among many viewers it was agreed as less memorable and ‘messier’ in terms of direction and character development. The main character remains unchanging, even frustrating at times. As for visual and sound, it all felt a tad weaker than before.

Overall, Attack on titan was highly entertaining and pleasing for most fans, though it left a sense of unfulfillment and is not the ‘revolutionary’ many claim it to be.

 

Suggestions: 

If this interested you then you might also wanna take a look at our list of 5 korean and chinese animation worth checking out.

Other anime reviews: Check out Death parade anime review 

Net-juu no susume anime review, you can read about it here

Yuri on Ice anime review 

Tech Reviews

Romeo x Juliet: Anime review

So what are some of your thoughts about 2017 anime? Which would you recommend?