Top 6 Surprisingly Good Anime [Spring 2017]

2:40 AM June 14, 2017

Anime Recommendations [Article Category]
Isekai Anime [Genres]

Introduction

Let’s talk about Spring anime. It’s almost over. Even if this has not been the most amazing season, we have been given quite a few gems. Sure, shows like Attack on Titan 2nd Season, Berserk 2, and Boku no Hero Academia 2 are and were good shows. This was to be expected. The thing is though, is what about all of the other series that fall somewhere in the rankings between these great shows and the shows that shall not be named because they were terrible?

We all end up watching at least one of them. You know, those shows that land on our lists and we are like “meh sure okay why not?” But then, you get into them and suddenly, you’re on board with the story and all of the characters that come with the shows. This article is for those shows. It’s all about those shows that we have found to be actually pretty good despite either an average preview, setup, characters, or more. So kick back, get yourself some popcorn, and check out these shows that we feel are actually really good for Spring 2017!

Ellyn Barnes

1. Zero Kara Hajimeru Mahou no Sho

I’m not a big fan of fantasy. Judge me all you like, that won’t change. Just something about the genre isn’t as appealing to me as it is to other people. So when faced with Zero Kara Mahou no Sho, I was pretty sure I wouldn’t like it. It kind of gave off that magical other-world vibe that tends to turn me off unless it’s a pretty spectacular anime, like the similarly titled Re: Zero Kara Hajimeru Isekai Seikatsu. Regardless, I like to give all anime a chance, so I dove right in.

I was pleasantly surprised by the first episode, but it didn’t strike me as anything special. I did however like Mercenary’s character, so decided to stick with it for the three-episode rule mostly for him. By the third episode, I was pretty much in love - and not just with Mercenary, but with pretty much all the characters that had been introduced. The story, too, has more depth than I was expecting, and keeps giving us more twists and turns. In other words, Zero Kara Hajimeru Mahou no Sho is a really enjoyable watch!

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2. Ani ni Tsukeri Kusuri wa Nai!

I can definitely admit that I was a little quick to judge Ani ni Tsukeru Kusuri wa Nai!. Having given almost every Chinese-sourced anime a decent run only to drop them (with the exception of To Be HERO, and even though I finished it I didn’t enjoy it all that much), I wasn’t expecting to enjoy Ani ni Tsukeri Kusuri wa Nai! at all. Even though it’s a comedy, I hadn’t found any previous Chinese-sourced anime funny at all, so I was pretty sure it would all just go over my head. Oh, how wrong I was.

Ani ni Tsukeru Kusuri wa Nai! is HILARIOUS. And this is coming from someone who really dislikes writing in all caps in articles. I really enjoy each episode and am genuinely a bit sad that each one is only a few minutes long. I love the concept of a super-strong younger sister and weak-ass older brother who are (let’s be honest) both as ridiculous as each other. The art too is different without being jarring, and works really well with its style of comedy. Overall, it’s time to slap a big sign saying wrong on my forehead for judging this anime the way I did. It’s great.

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3. Shuumatsu Nani Shitemasu ka? Isogashii desu ka? Sukutte Moratte Ii desu ka?

Next up we have yet another anime with a title too long to say in one breath, and yet another fantasy anime that surprised me this spring season. Also known as SukaSuka (for obvious reasons), Shuumatsu Nani Shitemasu ka? Isogashii desu ka? Sukutte Moratte Ii desu ka? seemed at first glance to be just another military girl anime, with fantasy elements thrown in and most likely a harem of some kind. That’s what I expected when I started watching, at least.

What I ended up seeing was something far deeper, darker, and more psychological that I ever would have imagined. The story isn’t just about magical military girls, but instead secret weapons that look like girls, each of whom has a past that they themselves are not aware of. The harem element is kind of there, but the romance mostly focuses on Willem and Chtolly. Then there’s the psychological aspect of Chtolly changing species, and slowly losing her memories and personality, slowly morphing into someone she once was but no longer is. I can see this anime having a sad ending - which I hate - but I’m enjoying it so much I know I’ll be watching it until the end no matter what.

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Nagareboshi

4. Seikaisuru KADO

I was really on the fence with this one when to was first announced more than a year ago. I think the initial problem with KADO that I was facing, was it seemed like it was going to be one of those poser anime where they want to talk about something serious, but cannot think enough to apply real life logic, so they make up their own logic to help them try to present it as being deep. That, and the fact that this is seinen at it’s finest. Seinen is one of my favorite genres of anime. The problem is though, is that seinen is always about a 50/50 crapshoot. You want seinen to be good, but it does not always deliver. (Looking right at you Joker Game)

KADO however, is engaging, it is very realistic, and while I was worried about it being so deep that I would fall asleep during it, I find myself at the edge of my seat. I watch wondering just what Yaha-kui is going to pull out of his pockets next. So far, we have seen the introduction of the infinite energy producing wam and that weird brain rotating thing that makes sleep unecessary for humans. It’s so cool! It’s so interesting! Plus let’s not forget KADO and how pretty it is to just look at. I think it also, for the most part, probably portrays how the Japanese government would act in the event that we were invaded by aliens. Seikaisuru KADO gets my seal of approval.

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5. Alice to Zouroku

I have already talked about this show before in another spring related article, but I really mean it. This show really had a poor premise when it was announcing that it was coming on air. It looked a lot like Ichigo Marshmallow meets angry old man. And that was it other than that Sara was known as the red queen. However from the opening of episode 1, this anime was anything but slice of life. Sure it has calmed down a bit as the series has gone on, but there are still large doses of supernatural throughout the series that are very interesting and showcase the powers that the girls of the series have. It keeps us engaged as viewers and makes us want to keep watching them.

I think that while I do enjoy watching Sana interact with those around her, it’s about 10 times more interesting to see her conflict with the lab that was researching children and Sana while Sana uses her powers to avoid being collected. There is just this sort of unknown factor that comes into play when you load up an episode of the show. You don’t know if you are going to get a more mild and cute episode, or if this is going to be one of those supernatural battle episodes. While a slight gamble, it is a gamble where you win regardless of the episode. I think if I had to say “this is the best part” about Alice to Zouroku, it would be the fact that when the episode ends each week, I am satisfied. It is not like Attack on Titan or Boku no Hero Academia where I am screaming at my screen asking what just happened. I am content and happy, and that is what I want the most from the anime I watch.

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6. Warau Salesman NEW

Warau Salesman NEW is another show that I have talked about previously in anime articles geared towards spring 2017 shows. The show’s premise was at best lukewarm and I was honestly going to pass over it. It does not help either that the art for just Moguro-san is really… weird. He just looks weird all of the time and looks to be out of place. HOwever, that is how he needs to be for the story to really have the impact that it does. Warau Salesman NEW is good to me and here is why: it is one of like 3-4 anime that I watch immediately as soon as I know that it is out. Literally I drop everything. I guess somewhere deep inside of me, I just really want to see part of Japanese society broken down a bit more.

The realist/conspiracist inside of me just wants to see people faced with a crisis and chose for themselves. It’s the classic tale of the grass being greener on the other side, except when people break the rules and do not heed Moguro’s warnings, they get trapped on the other side where the grass has not only been sprayed on, but also comes with it’s own set of circumstances. The other thing that Warau Salesman NEW is doing that it will probably never reach the greater part of the population is that the problems that these people are facing that Moguro is helping, those are real problems that many japanese people face. No joke, no lie, the characters in this series is something that actually mirrors real struggles that Japanese people face in real life; they want to get away from overbearing and rude bosses; they want a bit more variety in their lives; they want a more attractive partner or glamorous life. I am so here for this series and I really hope that it does not end in spring!

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Final Thoughts

So there we have it, our six selections for anime we didn’t expect all that much from but which pleasantly surprised us along the way. Are you watching any of the shows above? If so, what do you think of them? Have you got any anime from spring 2017 that you think are surprisingly good and worth checking out? Get involved in the comments and let us know what you think!

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