This new entry into the Higurashi franchise was thought to be a remake of the original with better animation (which wouldn’t be a terribly difficult feat to accomplish), but by the beginning of the second episode, it became clear that this would be a completely new story taking place after all events seen thus far. Higurashi: When They Cry – NEW is looking fantastic so far, with just the right balance of nostalgia and new ideas sprinkled throughout its story, music, and overall atmosphere. Seasoned Higruashi fans shouldn’t hesitate to check this out!

If you’re a fan of Kino’s Journey, Violet Evergarden, or especially Kiki’s Delivery Service, Majo no Tabitabi will be right up your alley. Elaina is a newly minted witch who travels around the world, briefly intersecting with the lives of others who need her help or support. It’s a gorgeous show, courtesy of relatively new studio C2C (who are also responsible for the surprisingly well animated Harukana Receive and WorldEnd), which makes the world feel all the more magical and lived in.

That said, this anime isn’t afraid to go a bit darker than you might expect it to, featuring mature themes like slavery, grooming, and problems that can’t be solved by the power of friendship alone. If that sort of nuanced approach appeals to you, Majo no Tabitabi should definitely be on your watch list!

There are approximately as many Sherlock Holmes adaptations as there are soul-sucking tragedies in the year 2020, even just counting those from the medium of anime. But Yuukoku no Moriarty does things a bit differently by focusing on Holmes’ eternal archnemesis William James Moriarty instead, telling the story of how he became the “criminal consultant” who rids Victorian society of corrupt nobles from the shadows.

Honestly, after the colossal disappointment that was Woodpecker Detective’s Office, we needed a sexy anime boy detective show that didn’t dissolve into an aimless mess halfway through – and Yuukoku no Moriarty is here to fix that. It’s smart, beautiful, and endlessly entertaining, just like its diabolical main character.

Bike lesbians. Bike lesbians! BIKE LESBIANS! Ahem... sorry about that. It’s just rare to see a mainstream anime that treats romantic relationships between women as serious love stories instead of just fanservice or “a phase” (looking at you, Hibike Euphonium), so we’re particularly excited about Adachi to Shimamura this season.

The titular characters are slacker high school students who meet on the second floor of the gym every once in a while to play ping pong and chat, but over time they grow to realize that they might actually love each other. Their interactions feel so genuinely awkward and sweet, especially their bike ride in the rain from the first episode. We expect great things from this show!

Anime industry veterans Studio Pierrot don’t do original shows very often, but Akudama Drive has already proven itself worthy to stand among their best work, at least in terms of visuals and pure, uncut hype. It’s set in a neon-drenched cyberpunk version of the Kansai region, where civil war has torn society to shreds and gangs of criminals rule the streets.

There’s not a ton of deep character development here (so far, anyway), but that’s not really the point – the point is to lose yourself in the thumping EDM beats and go along with the thrill ride, and luckily Akudama Drive absolutely excels at that. You have to give this one a shot!