Hello and welcome to Project Nitsuj. Well it’s the start of a new year once again which means it’s time to take a last look at 2023 and count down their best anime. Overall, 2023 had some fire anime all year around. Right from the get go this was a year that was going to make each season feel special and give you something to watch. Whether it be the more highly anticipated anime or a few surprises that caught you off guard. There was definitely something for everyone to enjoy this past year. I’m Nitsuj and these are the top 11 anime of 2023.
#11. Trigun Stampede
The original Trigun is considered one of the all-time great animes by fans. Despite the anime being different from the manga nobody really seemed to mind as it was still great. Stampede is also different from the manga but still delivers a great and intriguing story that focuses more on the relationship between Vash and Knives and shows us that when CGI is put in the right hands you can create magic. We get a more sci-fi/darker edge to the story along with new characters as well as a different take on other characters. While I understand fans wanting to see a true adaptation of the manga I do enjoy these different takes on Trigun. Just like a superhero can have reboots so too can mangas.
#10. Dr. Stone S3
Coming back stronger than ever, Dr. Stone continues to be a series that I continue to enjoy the more I watch it. The first half of the anime does a good job seeing everyone get ready for their voyage, introducing new characters, as well as build up the final villain of the series. In the second half of the anime we get to the action as it’s a battle for the petrification device against the islanders and coming one step closer to revealing the truth as to what happened to everyone. This anime had a lot of great twists and turns that kept me on the edge of my seat whenever I watched it and once again seeing how they invent everything with the resources they have is always cool and fascinating to see. I always look forward to seeing what they’ll make next and how it’ll help achieve what they’re trying to do. All I can say is, season 4, now.
#9. Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead
It’s been a while since anime has done a zombie story and they knocked it out of the park with this gem. When a zombie outbreak begins, corporate slave Akira becomes free and makes a list of 100 things he wants to do before becoming a zombie. I think almost everyone can relate to Akira and what he’s been through. What he was doing before the outbreak can’t be called living but is tragically something that happens not only in Japan but the world in general. So when we see him smiling and living his best life we in turn can’t help but feel happy as well. Despite the zombie outbreak the world is so colorful and bright as everyone is just doing their best to live in these dark times. The anime does a good job of balancing out its comedy, action, and drama excellently and that’s reflected perfectly in Akira and the other characters who each have their own personality and talent they bring to the team that makes them enjoyable. It’s a great anime that a lot of people worked hard on creating and is worth checking out.
#8. Hell’s Paradise
Another gem from Shonen Jump that flew under a lot of people’s radar. Hell’s Paradise gives you a whole new dark fantasy fix as criminals and executioners search for the elixir of immortality on an island crawling with the supernatural and immortals trying to kill them. Going into this anime I didn’t know that much about the story but by the end of it I was hooked and picked up the manga right away to see what happens next. The main character Gabimaru is an unapologetic badass ready to take down everyone and everything in order to complete this mission and return to his wife. While the series definitely has a few issues they really don’t take away from how great and intriguing this series is. As of now there’s been no word of a second season and with how things are at MAPPA I think it’ll be a minute before we see it.
#7. SpyxFamily S2
Shonen Jump came to play this year as they brought back some of their best stories for another season. The wholesome family comedy quickly rose to fame in 2022 and the second season keeps that momentum going. There’s a lot more action this time around as well as giving us character development on side characters and at the center of it is our favorite wholesome but fake family who continuously inch closer and closer to becoming a real family. This season had plenty of action, good character growth, laughs, and wholesomeness that makes me excited for what happens next.
#6. Vinland Saga S2
Oh look, another series that MAPPA took from Wit. The sequel to Vinland Saga received mixed reviews from two separate fans. Manga-only fans loved this series while anime-only fans hated it because it focused on the farm life of Thorfinn with barely any action to speak about and just focused on character development. And. . .that’s what makes this season so good. The character development is great here and so important. Thornfinn has spent most of his life filled with anger and vengeance and once that’s taken away from him we see how he is left with nothing and is dead inside. However, it is through his interactions with others that we see him grow and move on with his life to become a true warrior just like his father. It’s not just Thorfinn who goes through character growth, it’s also Canute who has shed the skin of the timid prince to become a king that will stop at nothing to achieve his goals. Who these two were in the first season and seeing what they become in the second season is like day and night and I love it. While I admit I wanted to see more action in this season the action we do get to see is great along with the story and character development, this might just be one of the most important arcs ever written in a manga. As an anime-only fan I can say that this season was great in my opinion.
#5. Kimestu no Yaiba S3
Goddamn Shonen Jump, you are just taking over the anime industry. While I think the first two seasons of Kimestu no Yaiba are better make no mistake that this season was great as well as it is all action, reveals the backstory of Muzan, and ends on a huge reveal that makes you cry and smile. Tanjiro takes center stage this season and gets to work with two hashiras with very different personalities but by the end of the season you love them both and want to protect their smiles. While the two hashiras are great, the anime continues to focus on Tanjiro’s growth as we see him continuously get stronger and stronger and Nezuko’s condition takes a step in the right direction. Aside from one demon these are probably the least developed of the bunch we’ve seen so far but they still have good designs, powers, and present a good obstacle for our heroes to overcome. This season was a rush from beginning to end and it’s only going to get wilder from here on out.
#4. Oshi no Ko
Probably the biggest anime to catch me by surprise. I really thought this was just going to be a bright and colorful story about a man being reincarnated as the child of his favorite idol. What I got was dark shit that had me hooked by the end of the first episode. This series is like an alternate version of Bakuman. It shines a light on the dark side of Japan’s entertainment industry while also giving us a dark tale of vengeance with an intriguing mystery. Despite its dark themes and premise, the anime still gives us its comedic and idol moments. While one child is out for revenge and looking for his mom’s killer the other is trying to continue their mom’s legacy and make it to the top of the industry. This was a wild anime that left me speechless and while I don’t consider it overrated or the best anime of the year it definitely deserves all the praise it’s been receiving.
#3. Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation S2 Part 1
The fan-proclaimed greatest isekai anime of all-time returns. Season 1 was a masterpiece of storytelling, character growth, and world-building that set a new standard for isekai anime. Season 2 had big shoes to fill and what we got was a story about a boy overcoming his erectile dysfunction. I kid you not. Joking aside, the story of Rudy overcoming this was done in a good way. The anime takes it’s time more and allows us to focus on the characters while also dropping lore to set up future events. Characters continue to feel real and the same can be said about Rudy who goes on an emotional and mental journey that everyone has gone through or will go on in their life whether they like it or not. We see the emotional scars Rudy carries not just from his former life but his new life as well and how they affect him in his day-to-day life. It’s the kind of stuff that people spend years struggling with and depending on how it’s handled can lead to dire consequences. And that is what makes this season so good. We see the steps Rudy takes to better himself. Sometimes they’re good sometimes they’re bad but it’s all relatable because it’s how life works. While this season may not have the action or world-building we got back in season 1 it excels at exploring the main character and showing his life story both the good, the bad, the slow, and the fast.
#2. Jujutsu Kaisen S2
Animator controversy aside, there’s no denying that this season of Jujutsu Kaisen covered a lot and gave justice to some of the most insane moments from the manga. The first half focuses on Gojo and how his once good friend turned his back on everything they stood for. In the second half we get the Shibuya arc and if you’ve read the manga you know just how intense and action-packed this arc is. Enemies are defeated, allies are lost, and surprise reveals are around every corner in this arc. The action just never stops as each episode builds on top of the other and delivers a great story with amazing animation to go along with it. Speaking of the animation, I can’t deny that the harsh schedule MAPPA puts its animators through is messed up and needs to stop. Animators are people too and as a viewer and longtime fan of anime I’d rather see animation done correctly and with care than quickly being rushed out in order to make money.
Before naming the number one anime here are a few honorable mentions:
Bungou Stray Dogs S4-5; Reborn as a Vending Machine, I now wonder the dungeon; My Tiny Senpei; Rising of the Shield Hero S3; The Eminence in Shadow S2; Shangri-La Frontier; The 100 Girlfriends who Really Love Me; Ragna Crimson; Berserk of Gluttony; The Faraway Paladin S2; SHY; Firefighter Daigo; Under Ninja; The Saint’s Magic is Omnipotent S2; My Daughter Left the Nest and Returned an S-Rank Adventurer; Mashle; Konosuba: An Explosion on this Wonderful World; Goblin Slayer S2; The Ancient Magnus Bride S2; The Legendary Hero is Dead; The Café Terrace and Its Goddesses; Tomo-chan is a Girl; Buddy Daddies; Spy Classroom; High Card; Magical Destroyers; Ningen Fushin; Danmachi S4 Part 2; Don’t Toy with me with Miss Nagatoro S2; and Rurouni Kenshin: Meiji Kenkaku Romantan
And the number one anime is. . .
#1. Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End
It’s just the story of an elf living out her life and it’s bloody brilliant. It’s a simple premise but everything about this anime is great. The animation, the music, the plot, the characters, and the story-telling. I haven’t seen an anime pull me like this since FMA: Brotherhood. This is an anime that shows us the importance of bonds in our life. That no matter where we go or how long we live we need each other in our lives. Because that is the only way we will grow as people. It’s really hard to explain what makes this series so great. Maybe it’s because there’s no BS or hidden meaning. What you see is what you get. It’s not trying to be an epic story or present something new to the genre. Although this series has breathed new-life into the fantasy genre. It’s just telling the simple story of an elf, her life, her story, and the people she comes across. It’s an amazing anime and is my pick for anime of the year.
And that’s my list. What were your favorite animes of 2023? Let me know in the comments below. Thanks for reading and I’ll see you next time on Project Nitsuj.