Since it first started publishing in 2016, fans of Komi Can’t Communicate have been clamoring to see the exploits of their favorite awkward waifu brought to the realm of animation. Schoolgirl Shouko Komi is tall and gorgeous, capturing the attention of everyone around her, but she’s so socially awkward that nobody actually knows her at all. But when a chance encounter leads her to make her first real friend, the two start out on a quest for Komi to make 100 friends! We’re looking forward to seeing Komi’s adorable antics fully realized in anime form, and we’re sure to see some new meme templates as well!

Takt Op. Destiny is an original anime, so nobody really knows much about it yet, but the hype is definitely real. It comes from the mind of Sakura Wars creator Ouji Hiroi and is being brought to life by the legendary studios Madhouse and MAPPA, who have been killing it with animation and original series lately (Sonny Boy being the most recent example for Madhouse). The story gives vibes of Fate and Symphogear, focusing on a musical warrior and the “Conductor” who leads her into battle. Odds are looking good for this one, so keep an eye on it as the new season starts!

Here’s another beloved manga that’s finally getting its time in the spotlight this fall: Blue Period! A young delinquent with no direction in life finds his passion in painting, joining the school Art Club and trying to find his place in a new and fascinating world that he’s only barely begun to understand. It’s a story about finding your true love in life and following it wherever it goes, filtered through subject matter that we don’t normally see in anime (sports clubs tend to get the most visibility in stories like this, not the fine arts). Plus, one of the main protagonists is nonbinary, so we’re excited to get more non-cisgender representation!

Blue Period Trailer

You don’t need to be an expert to understand why Platinum End is one of Fall 2021’s most anticipated anime – it’s a “death game” show from the same writer/artist team who created Death Note and Bakuman! Reviews of the manga are mixed, praising its jaw-dropping art and larger-than-life action while bemoaning its convoluted story, so perhaps this adaptation can iron out some of the kinks to make Platinum End into the best version of itself. But even if this anime is a complete mess, it’ll still be a wild ride from start to finish!

Platinum End Trailer

A great black comedy is a real gem to find, and Mieruko-chan’s manga is chef’s kiss worthy in that department. Ordinary schoolgirl Miko suddenly starts seeing grotesque monsters everywhere she goes, but instead of losing her sanity, she tries to just ignore them and maybe try to help them pass on to the next plane of existence if she has to. If the anime’s direction is as on-point as it was in the trailer, we’re in for some gut-busting laughs for sure!

Mieruko-chan Trailer