{"id":36207,"date":"2016-12-31T14:45:10","date_gmt":"2016-12-31T18:45:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.animenation.net\/?p=36207"},"modified":"2017-01-01T03:40:01","modified_gmt":"2017-01-01T07:40:01","slug":"ask-john-what-were-johns-picks-of-2016s-new-tv-anime","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.animenation.net\/blog\/ask-john-what-were-johns-picks-of-2016s-new-tv-anime\/","title":{"rendered":"Ask John: What Were John’s Picks of 2016’s New TV Anime?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"2016<\/a><\/p>\n

In order to be most useful to readers, I need to preface my reflection on 2016’s anime by first explaining my own criteria for judgement. Despite having watched Japanese language anime religiously for thirty years, I still find myself as enthusiastic and enamored with the medium as I ever have been. I still watch hours of anime every week, and I enjoy sampling shows I’ve never seen before. But I’m also now more than twice the age of the typical American anime watcher, and I find that my tastes, which have always been just a bit out of step with the majority of America’s otaku community, have diverged even further from the average. As a result, I have not extensively watched many of the shows most popular among American viewers this year, including Boku no Hero Academia<\/em>, Mob Psycho 100<\/em>, Yuri on Ice<\/em>, and Boku Dake ga Inai Machi<\/em>. I did manage to watch at least one complete episode of 233 out of the roughly 242 new television & web broadcast anime that premiered in Japan this year. This year’s total was up by 25 compared to the roughly 217 new anime released in 2015. However, a strikingly small number of new titles this year grabbed both my attention and respect.<\/p>\n

\"orange-anime\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Orange<\/em> owes most of its success to its original source manga by Ichigo Takano, although that’s not to say that Telecom Animation’s TV series adaptation is weak. The anime is visually lush and gorgeous. The animation quality doesn’t have a high bar to clear since the series is so dialogue heavy, but occasionally, particularly in episode 9, the animation quality does stumble appreciably. This teen drama about a group of friends struggling to compassionately console a suicidal classmate yanks at heartstrings with a graceful touch, evoking both warming smiles and sobbing tears through depiction of kind, considerate young people trying to do what’s best while conflicted by their natural adolescent anxieties and uncertainties. The show may not be quite as arrestingly affecting as 2011’s Ano Hi Mita Hana no Namae o Bokutachi wa Mada Shiranai<\/em>, but it’s also not quite as exaggerated nor as morbid as AnoHana<\/em> was. The argument may be made that Orange<\/em> serves up absolutely nothing new. But on the contrary, the show is also a heartache filled romantic drama at the peak of its form.<\/p>\n

\"Re:<\/a><\/p>\n

Ironically the primary strength of Re:Zero kara Hajimeru Isekai Seikatsu<\/em> is also its primary weakness. The “Groundhog Day meets sword & sorcery” story is completely unpredictable and constantly surprising because it doesn’t have to play by the conventional rules of narrative storytelling. The protagonist is free to be completely impulsive because in the absolute worst case scenario time resets, erasing all consequence and negative result. So on one hand the show can be wildly unpredictable because it has no lasting consequences to executing any and all of its characters. At the same time, the viewer may not be able to completely empathize with the characters because we know that they literally can’t fail since every failure ultimately gets erased and redone successfully. The show has an annoying habit of pulling rabbits out of hats, introducing plot twists appropos of nothing, but it gets away with the habit because it establishes the tendency as a matter of course from the very outset of the program and is, moreover, a natural characteristic of the fantasy world setting itself. The show also features a substantial amount of shocking, grotesquely graphic, sadistic violence. Depending upon the individual viewer’s perception, the show’s extreme brutality is either a welcome and natural component of the setting’s unpredictability or gross exploitation. The animation quality is consistently excellent but not unusual. If Re: Zero<\/em> did not have its characteristic unpredictability, it would largely resemble one of many other such fantasy adventure shows.<\/p>\n

\"dagashi_kashi-750x400\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Dagashi Kashi<\/em> doesn’t seem to get much love from domestic viewers because it’s “just” a routine romantic comedy, but I see much more in the show that initially evident. Dagashi Kashi<\/em> has a small but vivid cast of uniquely satisfying character types that play off each other well. Moreover, Dagashi Kashi<\/em> provides anime viewers with something we’ve never seen in any anime before. The Morinaga candy company mascot Kyoro-chan got his own anime TV series in 1999, but Dagashi Kashi<\/em> is the only anime that extensively elucidates the history and social relevance of specific Japanese candies. In effect, in addition to being a tremendously fun romantic comedy, the show also provides an interesting window onto an aspect of Japanese history and culture that no other anime ever has.<\/p>\n

\"Uchuu<\/a><\/p>\n

Studio Trigger’s Uchuu Patrol Luluco<\/em> seemed to largely get ignored or dismissed by much of the American otaku community, and I’m not sure why because Studio Trigger is a recent fan darling, and the show is most indebted to fan favorites Gurren Lagann<\/em> and Panty & Stocking With Garterbelt<\/em>. The show is another, in my opinion, welcome dose of wacky visionary director Hiroyuki Imaishi’s excited genius. The series that pits a young girl’s first love against space pirates, black marketeers, aliens, multiple dimensions, her own death, and literal, embodied cosmic cynicism is a hyperbolic, hyperactive celebration of both Studio Trigger’s cannon and the outrageous kinetic creativity of anime itself. The show is pure, vibrant creative energy shot through with the sense of artistic personality and enthusiasm that’s been so sorely missing in anime since its golden age. Space Patrol Luluco<\/em> is a show that reminds viewers of the crazy, creative, eclectic attitude of anime that turned us all into otaku in the first place.<\/p>\n

\"Neko<\/a><\/p>\n

I’m highly tentative about nominating Neko Neko Nihonshi<\/em> because I was only able to watch the series’ first episode. But few anime this year warmed my heart and made me smile as much as that single episode did. The world, and especially Japan, adores cats. Neko Neko Nihonshi<\/em> is an adorable history of Japan dramatized by simplistically stylized cats, complete with typical cat behavior. It’s literally the anime version of YouTube LOL cat videos combined with a detailed history of Japan documentary.<\/p>\n

\"dj_fune\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Showa Genroku Rakugo Shinju<\/em>, Joker Game<\/em>, and Fune wo Amu<\/em> are all praiseworthy for being relatively unique “gekiga” anime released in an era when otaku-oriented shows reign. However, Showa Genroku Rakugo Shinju<\/em> compromised itself by informing viewers how the story would end within the very first episode, robbing the show of any dramatic tension. Joker Game<\/em> is a far more rational and intelligent spy thriller than 2010’s Senko no Night Raid<\/em>, but the show’s dozen broadcast episodes never built up to anything. The episodes did not compliment each other to compose a greater collective impact. Fune wo Amu<\/em> was likewise content to redundantly re-examine the same superficial ideas rather than dive into some of the more intriguing and lesser-known aspects of compiling a modern dictionary. The show mentioned interesting ideas in passing; it just didn’t explore any of those interesting scenarios. Tonkatsu DJ Agetarou<\/em> gave viewers an interesting peek into modern Tokyo’s DJ scene, but once again the show ultimately felt superficial and under-developed. Thunderbolt Fantasy ~Touriken Kouki~<\/em> was a rare instance of a contemporary puppet anime, perhaps the first such show since 2009’s Renzoku Ningyou Katsugeki: Shin Sanjuushi<\/em>. But the series’ subsequent episodes never reached the delirious peak of spectacle that the first episode delivered and ultimately felt a lot like another example of screenwriter Gen Urobuchi hamfistedly trying to impress viewers with his elaborate, twisting plots. Sakamoto Desu ga<\/em> was undeniably funny but was also undeniably a one-trick pony. Koutetsujou no Kabaneri<\/em> featured stellar animation and superior visual design supporting a tired story with uninteresting characters.<\/p>\n

\"thunderbolt_desu_ga\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The nine anime premieres of 2016 that I wasn’t able to or didn’t watch any of are: Ganbare! Lulu Lolo<\/em> 3rd Season, the Lupin III: Italian Game<\/em> TV special (although I did watch the longer, unedited TV series), Mim Mam Mint<\/em>, Nameko: Sekai no Tomodachi<\/em>, Panpaka Pants W-O-New!<\/em>, the Danganronpa 3: End of Kibougamine Gakuen – Hope<\/em> special, Ohayo! Kokeko-san<\/em>, Kimoshiba<\/em>, and Inazuma Delivery<\/em>. My list of 2016 “new” anime excludes subsequent seasons of shows that continued episode numbering from their prior seasons, and re-broadcasts such as Shingeki no Kyojin Original Remaster<\/em>.<\/p>\n

\"Didn't<\/a><\/p>\n

2016’s New Anime:<\/p>\n

100% Pascal-sensei [web anime]
\n12-sai.: Chicchana Mune no Tokimeki
\n3-gatsu no Lion
\n3-Nen D-Gumi Glass no Kamen
\n91Days
\nActive Raid: Kidou Kyoushuushitsu Dai Hakkei
\nActive Raid: Kidou Kyoushuushitsu Dai Hakkei 2
\nAggressive Retsuko
\nAhare! Meisaku-kun
\nAikatsu Stars!
\nAjin
\nALL OUT!!
\nAmaama to Inazuma
\nAmanchu!
\nAmeiro Cocoa in Hawaii
\nAnge Vierge
\nAnisava
\nAnitore!! XX
\nAnne Happy?
\nAnsatsu Kyoushitsu 2nd season
\nAo no Kanata no Four Rhythm
\nAo Oni
\nArslan Senki: Fuujin Ranbu
\nAsa da yo! Kaishain
\nBakuon!!
\nBananya
\nBattery
\nBattle Spirits: Double Drive
\nBernard-jou Iwaku
\nBerserk
\nBeyblade Burst
\nBig Order
\nBinan Koukou Chikyuu Bouei-bu Love! Love!
\nBishoujo Yuugi Unit Crane Game Girls
\nBishoujo Yuugi Unit Crane Game Girls Galaxy
\nBloodivores
\nBoku Dake ga Inai Machi
\nBoku no Hero Academia
\nBonobono
\nB-PROJECT: Kodou?Ambitious
\nBrave Witches
\nBROTHERHOOD FINAL FANTASY XV [web anime]
\nBubuki Buranki
\nBuddy Go!
\nBungou Stray Dogs
\nCardfight!! Vanguard G Next
\nCHEATING CRAFT
\nCheer Danshi!!
\nClassicaLoid
\nCoCO & NiCO
\nCrayon Shin-chan Gaiden: Alien vs Shinnosuke
\nD.Gray-man HALLOW
\nDagashi Kashi
\nDANGANRONPA 3: The End of Kibougamine Gakuen – Kibou Hen
\nDANGANRONPA 3: The End of Kibougamine Gakuen – Mirai-Hen
\nDANGANRONPA 3: The End of Kibougamine Gakuen – Zetsubou-hen
\nDAYS
\nDigimon Universe: App Monsters
\nDimension W
\nDivine Gate
\nDream Festival
\nDrifters
\nDuel Master VSRF
\nDurarara!!\u00d72 Ketsu
\nEikoku Ikke, Shougatsu o Taberu special
\nEndride
\nFate\/kaleid liner PRISMA?ILLYA 3rei!!
\nFlip Flappers
\nFlying Witch
\nFudanshi Koukou Seikatsu
\nFukigen na Mononokean
\nFune wo Amu
\nFuture Card Buddyfight DDD
\nGakuen Handsome
\nGanbare! Lulu Lolo 3rd Season
\nGirlfriend (?) [web anime]
\nGirlish Number
\nGra-P & Rodeo II [web anime]
\nGyakuten Saiban: Sono -Shinjitsu-, Igi Ari!
\nHagane Orchestra
\nHai to Gensou no Grimgar
\nHaifuri
\nHaikyuu!!: Karasuno Koukou VS Shiratorizawa Gakuen Koukou
\nHakuouki: Otogisoushi
\nHanda-kun
\nHaruChika: Haruta to Chika wa Seishun Suru
\nHatsukoi Monster
\nHeybot!
\nHibike! Euphonium 2
\nHitori no Shita: the outcast
\nHundred
\nIdol Memories
\nInazuma Delivery
\nJoJo no Kimyou na Bouken: Diamond wa Kudakenai
\nJoker Game
\nKagewani: Shou
\nKaiju Girls ~Ultra Kaiju Gijinka Keikaku~
\nKamiwaza Wanda
\nKare Baka: Wagahai no Kare wa Baka de R [web anime]
\nKeijo!!!!!!!!
\nKetsuekigata-kun! 4th Season
\nKiitarou Shounen no Youkai Enikki
\nKimoshiba
\nKiznaiver
\nKobito Dukan
\nKochiKame Special
\nKoneko no Chi Ponponra Daibouken
\nKono Bijutsu-bu ni wa Mondai ga Aru!
\nKono Danshi, Mahou ga Oshigoto Desu.
\nKono Subarashii Sekai ni Shukufuku wo!
\nKoukaku no Pandora
\nKoutetsujou no Kabaneri
\nKoyomimonogatari
\nKuma Miko
\nKuromukuro
\nLong Riders!
\nLostorage incited WIXOSS
\nLove Live! Sunshine!!
\nLuck & Logic
\nLuger Code 1951
\nLupin III: Italian Game special
\nMacross ?
\nMagi: Sinbad no Bouken
\nMagic-kyun! Renaissance
\nMahou Shoujo Ikusei Keikaku
\nMahou Shoujo Nante Mou Ii Desu kara.
\nMahou Shoujo Nante Mou Ii Desu kara. 2
\nMahou Shoujo? Naria?Girls
\nMahoutsukai no Yome
\nMahoutsukai Precure!
\nMasamune Datenicle [web anime]
\nMasou Gakuen HxH
\nMayoiga
\nMim Mam Mint
\nMob Psycho 100
\nMobile Suit Gundam Unicorn RE:0096
\nMomokuri
\nMonster Hunter Stories: RIDE ON
\nMusaigen no Phantom World
\nNameko: Sekai no Tomodachi
\nNanbaka
\nNatsume Yuujinchou Go
\nNazo to Kine
\nNejimaki Seirei Senki: Tenkyou no Alderamin
\nNeko mo, Onda-ke
\nNeko Neko Nihonshi
\nNetoge no Yome wa Onnanoko ja Nai to Omotta?
\nNEW GAME!
\nNijiiro Days
\nNinja Slayer From Animation Special Edition
\nNobunaga no Shinobi
\nNorn9: Norn+Nonet
\nNurse Witch Komugi-chan R
\nNyanbo!
\nOccultic;Nine
\nOhayo! Kokeko-san
\nOjisan to Marshmallow
\nOkusama ga Seitokaichou!+!
\nOmoi no Kakera [web anime]
\nOnara Gorou
\nOnigiri
\nOoyasan wa Shishunki!
\norange
\nOshiete! Galko-chan
\nOtona no Ikkyuu-san
\nOZMAFIA!!
\nPan de Peace!
\nPanpaka Pants W-O-New!
\nPazuDora Cross
\nPepepepenguin
\nPersona 5: The Day Breakers
\nPhantasy Star Online 2 The Animation
\nPitanko! Nekozakana
\nPJ Berri no Mogumogu Munyamunya
\nPlanetarian ~Chiisana Hoshi no Yume~
\nPokemon: Sun & Moon
\nPrince of Stride: Alternative
\nPripara 3rd season
\nQUALIDEA CODE
\nRagnastrike Angels [web anime]
\nRe:Zero kara Hajimeru Isekai Seikatsu
\nRegalia: The Three Sacred Stars
\nReikenzan: Hoshikuzu-tachi no Utage
\nReLIFE
\nRewrite
\nRilu Rilu Fairilu
\nRS Keikaku -Rebirth Storage-
\nSaijaku Muhai no Bahamut
\nSaiki Kusuo no ? Nan
\nSakamoto desu ga?
\nSansha Sanyou
\nScared Rider XechS
\nSchwarzesmarken
\nSeisen Cerberus: Ryuukoku no Fatalit\u00e9s
\nSekkou Boys
\nSengoku Choujuu Giga Kou
\nSERVAMP
\nShakunetsu no Takkyuu Musume
\nShingeki no Bahamut Genesis Short Story
\nShiritsu Liyon Gakuen [web anime]
\nShougeki no Soma: Ni no Sara
\nShoujo-tachi wa Kouya wo Mezasu
\nShounen Ashibe: Go! Go! Goma-chan
\nShounen Maid
\nShouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu
\nShow By Rock!! Short!!
\nSHOW BY ROCK!!#
\nShuumatsu no Izetta
\nSoul Buster
\nSousei no Onmyouji
\nSoushin Shoujo Matoi
\nStella no Mahou
\nSuper Lovers
\nSUSHI POLICE
\nTabi Machi Late Show
\nTaboo Tattoo
\nTales of Zestiria the X
\nTama & Friends: Uchi no Tama Shirimasenka?
\nTanaka-kun wa Itsumo Kedaruge
\nTeekyuu 7
\nTeekyuu season 8
\nTerra Formars Revenge
\nThunderbolt Fantasy Touriken Kouki
\nTiger Mask W
\nTime Bokan 24
\nTime Travel Shoujo: Mari Waka to 8-nin no Kagakusha-tachi
\nTO BE HERO
\nTonkatsu DJ Agetarou
\nTouken Ranbu: Hanamaru
\nTrickster: Edogawa Rampo “Shounen Tantei-dan” yori
\nTsubasa to Hotaru 2nd series
\nTsukiuta. The Animation
\nUchuu Patrol Luluco
\nUdon no Kuni no Kiniro Kemari
\nUsakame
\nUta no?Prince-sama? Maji Love Legend Star
\nViVid Strike?
\nWagamama High Spec
\nWatashi ga Motete Dousun da
\nWWW.WORKING!!
\nYami Shibai 3rd Season
\nYuri!!! on ICE<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In order to be most useful to readers, I need to preface my reflection on 2016’s anime by first explaining my own criteria for judgement. Despite having watched Japanese language anime religiously for thirty years, I still find myself as enthusiastic and enamored with the medium as I ever have been. I still watch hours […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":36216,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-36207","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-ask-john"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.animenation.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/5596682i.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.animenation.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36207","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.animenation.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.animenation.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.animenation.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.animenation.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=36207"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.animenation.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36207\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":36222,"href":"https:\/\/www.animenation.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36207\/revisions\/36222"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.animenation.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/36216"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.animenation.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=36207"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.animenation.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=36207"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.animenation.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=36207"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}