21 best anime of 2021 so far

The fall anime season is in full swing with exciting new shows like Naoko Yamada’s Heike StoryAnd Platinum EndPremiering with returning favourites like Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, Lupin III: Part IVPlease see the following: JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Stone Ocean! With the absolute deluge of awesome and exciting new anime pouring out this year, it’s reasonable that some of the year’s best might have slipped off your radar. PolygonHQ has put their heads together and created a list of the top anime that came out so far this year.

Major titles such as My Hero AcademiaAnd Megalobox 2 Nomad To more niche titles, such as Odd Taxi, Uma Musume: Pretty DerbyPlease see the following: Pui Pui MolCarHere are 21 top anime series that will air in 2021. It’s time to catch up.

Beastars (Season 2)

Orange

BeastarsThis story tells of a wolf that wants to have sex and fears he’ll eat the rabbit. I think it’s a metaphor for puberty. It could also be an uninformed, sloppy exploration of race. Maybe it’s holding a magnifying glass to sexual violence on campus. Or perhaps it’s a coming of age story about a generation of young people disconnected from their parents by rapidly changing norms. Frankly, I’ve stopped caring about what it’s about.

Although I realize this may seem gauche to some critics, it is not for me. BeastarsIt works when you stop trying to establish a connection between the world and our city of teenage herbivores, carnivores, and herbivores. When I am able to see the show’s internal logic in its entirety, I find it enjoyable. This is how I enjoy the show. BeastarsLike Romeo and Juliet. It is the story of star-crossed lovers, often violent and sometimes frustrating, kept from one another by society. Like Shakespeare’s plays, BeastarsYou can make it into anything you wish. —Chris Plante

BeastarsYou can stream season 1 and 2. Netflix.

Period Blue

Image courtesy of Netflix

Yatora Yaguchi is a delinquent to most, but in actuality, he’s an earnest guy. He gets good grades and has a thriving group of friends, but he’s bored by his stagnant life. After being inspired by an upperclassman’s large beautiful painting, he begins to study art. However, as somebody who was always successful without too much effort, he’s shocked by the amount of work he has to put forward to become a master of the arts. He struggles while comparing his work to his classmate’s, but doesn’t give up, as he found a hobby that he really has passion for.

While animations in Blue Period isn’t anything particularly phenomenal, the story it tells is relatable to anyone who has creative hobbies. —Julia Lee

Blue PeriodYou can stream the video on Netflix.

Fruits Basket – The Final

Image: TMS/8PAN/Funimation

Basket with fruits lures viewers in with the promise of a cute story about a family that turns into animals when they’re hugged, then absolutely disarms with boatloads of generational trauma. The last season sees all this come to an end as Tohru Honda, an orphan from Japan, attempts to disarm the Sohma family’s curse against Akito the dominant family head. Because this is Basket with fruitsEveryone has suffered traumas, Akito included. Akito’s final emotional season in Fruits Basket shows that not everything is as it appears. When the big moment happens, it’s a sweeping emotional catharsis for everyone. Keep tissues close at hand. —Petrana Radulovic

The fruit basket is the finalYou can stream it on CrunchyrollAnd Funimation.

Heike Story

Photo by Funimation

Science SARU (Eizouken is a dangerous disease!) and adapted from Hideo Furukawa’s 2016 translation of the Japanese folk legend Tale of the Heike, director Naoko Yamada’s (A Silent Voice) Heike StoryBiwa is a young orphan with prescient powers. She is adopted by Taira not Shigemori (eldest son of powerful Taira clan) and haunted at night by visions of his death. Predicting the downfall of the Taira clan, Biwa bears witness to the myriad misfortunes and tragedies that befall the clan but nonetheless refuses to assist them out of retribution for her father’s death. Beautiful Ukiyoe-esque backgrounds and a haunting score composed by Kensuke Ushio. Written by Reiko Yoshida.Violet Evergarden), Heike StoryThis is the best anime that has been premiered this year. —TE

Heike StoryAvailable to stream online Funimation.

Horimiya

HorimiyaThe show’s name is. combining the names of its two central love interests, Kyouko Hori and Izumi Miyamura, is about as darling as you’d expect a show named after its two lovers to be.

Hori, who is an independent big brother and confidant student, follows her budding romance and friendship with Miyamura. Miyamura is shy, quiet and reserved with a hidden edgy side. He has tattoos and body piercings, we learn! You can read the entire story here. other shojo, it’s not uncommon for a story to take entire seasons for the love interests to hold hands, and might not even show a kiss. In HorimiyaIn just a few episodes, they fall in love with each other. This pace allows the debut season of the show to quickly move away from showing just Hori and Miyamura’s relationship, and gives us space to learn about all the other people in their life. We see Miyamura, once alone, develop a supportive and loving community over time.

Horimiya doesn’t do anything remarkable or groundbreaking; It’s just really pleasant to watch. They avoid intense conflict and instead embrace idyllic friendships which overcome conflicts without much development. Sure, there isn’t some sort of big, satisfying resolution like there is in a show like Basket with fruitsNot only are you spared the grief, What’s more is that you really don’t have to sink all that much time into, with a complete story starting and coming to a close after just one season. Light and enjoyable. HorimiyaIt was a summer snack watch that I rephrased. —Ana Diaz

HorimiyaYou can stream the video on Hulu And Funimation.

Jujutsu Kaisen

Image via MAPPA

Jujutsu KaisenIt was the biggest anime hit of 2020, which continued strong into 2021. Yuji Itadori is a young boy from a happy family who is forced to eat a finger that was actually real. This served as the vessel of a demon named Sukuna. Itadori is captured by Gojo, a mysterious, powerful mentor, and he assembles an army. NarutoThe cast consists of three main characters, who all work together in order to defeat cursed creatures.

Jujutsu KaisenThis anime plays with shonen-anime tropes. It is different from other anime that focus more on superheroes with magical power who can save the day when things get tough. Jujutsu Kaisen starts with Itadori’s own weakness and him begging for the demon inside to save him.

Although the show’s beginning is slow, it pays dividends if you spend a lot more time with its characters. The characters — and its women especially — are presented with care, and the three main characters develop an endearing dynamic reminiscent of siblings who like to pick on each other. Sticking around will show some of Studio Mappa’s finest work, as later fight sequences are some of the best animation to come from the studio yet. Basically, Jujutsu Kaisen is the perfect show for long-time shonen fans who are looking for something that isn’t afraid to venture off the well-trodden paths of its predecessors and conjure up something a little bit darker, a bit stranger. —AD

Jujutsu KaisenYou can stream the video on CrunchyrollAnd HBO Max.

Season 2: Laidback Camp

Photo: C-Station

This anime is possibly the most comfortable in recent years.The Laid Back Camp’s second season delivers as a perfect follow up to its first. Rin still loves camping by herself, but she slowly continues to open up to her new gang of friends at her school’s camping club.

It’s still a very good, comfy slice-of-life anime about girls going camping. This show is semi-educational and still has its roots. The new season offers fun glimpses into cool places in Japan. —JL

The Laid Back CampSeason 2 can be streamed on Crunchyroll.

Megalobox 2 – Nomad

TMS Entertainment photo

Season 2 of MegaloboxIt is an unsettling, more somber and sadder story about the underdog that contrasts with the carefree attitude shown in the first series. Set several years after his victory at Megalonia, the champion fighter known as “Gearless”Joe is a far cry from when we last saw him; addicted to painkillers, fighting anonymous cage bouts for chump change and,most distressingly, alone. Nomad is a worthy successor to the tremendous action and character-driven drama of the first season; a rousing story of a champion’s precipitous fall from grace and subsequent revival into a fighter far stronger and more determined than ever before. —Toussaint Egan

Megalobox 2 – NomadYou can stream the video on Funimation.

My Hero Academia (Season 5)

Image: Studio Bones

Studio Bones’ breakout superhero action drama returned for its fifth season as the students of UA High school were thrust into ever more precarious danger with greater stakes. My Hero Academia season 5 deals heavily in Endeavor’s recovery following his confrontation with the super-powered Nomu at the end of last season, the hero Hawks working undercover to take down the League of Villains from the inside, and Deku manifesting a new aspect of his quirk One for All as he delves deeper into the history of his predecessors and their connection to the villainous All for One. —TE

My Hero Academia season 5There is a stream available on Crunchyroll, HuluPlease see the following: Funimation.

Odd Taxi

OLM Photo

Odd Taxi is, well, odd. This mystery drama is a slice of life that centers on Odokawa (a taxi driver aged 40 who happens to also be a walrus). He may be involved in the disappearance or not of a girl. Although the premise sounds dire, anime overall is full of black humor and irreverent banter. The series’ focus revolves around a group of quirky, eccentric and, above all, heartbreaking characters. Human characters whose lives intersect Odokawa’s own in search of their heart’s desire, whether it be the semblance of true love or just trying to go viral on social media. Odd Taxi is a series you must absolutely make the time to watch and a strong contender for 2021’s most unique and underrated anime. —TE

Odd TaxiWatch it streaming on Crunchyroll.

Pui Pui MolCar

Photo: Shin-Ei Animation

Pui Pui MolcaR is the most bizarre and funny comedy anime that came out in 2021. The show is a stop-motion animation short that takes place in a city populated with giant fuzzy guineapigs. It consists of several skits which follow the Molcars through various misadventures. Traffic jams and impromptu bank thefts are just a few of the many misadventures that this show covers. Pui Pui MolcarThis anime is full of creativity, as well as genuine laughter. With each episode running at just under or around eight minutes, it’s a perfectly snack-sized, low commitment anime that might make for a decent change of pace if you’re looking for something fun to watch or if you’re tired of your kid constantly watching Cocomelon. —TE

Pui Pui MolcarYou can stream it on Netflix.

Ranking of Kings

Image: Wit Studio / Funimation

Based on Sōsuke Tōka’s manga of the same name, Ranking of KingsThis fantasy world is filled with swords and sorcery. The story follows Bojji’s journey as the firstborn son, the heir to King Bosse’s throne. Despite his kind-hearted nature, Bojji is looked down upon by his father’s court and the kingdom’s subjects for being born deaf and mute. Only one person seems to understand him: a shadowy creature known as Kage who swears to support Bojji’s quest to become king through thick and thin. Bojji is forced to flee his half-brother Daida from the throne.

Ranking of KingsThe story is filled with heartwarming coming-of-age comedy, with lovable characters, beautiful storybook colors, an engaging story, intrigue, peril, and some surprisingly powerful battles. Bojji, the most adorable anime character in 2021 is able to communicate depths of compassion with only a few utterances. If you’re looking for an anime that will surprise, thrill, and endear itself to you to no end,The Ranking of KingsIt easily ranks as one of the most outstanding anime that the year has seen. —TE

Ranking of KingsYou can stream it on Funimation.

Sakugan

Image: Satelight

Set in a subterranean world populated by monsters called the “Labyrinth,” Sakugan follows the story of Memempu, a precious nine year old who yearns to explore the world outside the safety of the human colonies and her father Gagumber, a former “Marker” (see: explorer) and mech pilot working as a lowly miner. Memempu appeals to Gagumber that she allow her to be a Marker so that they can search for the place of her dreams. Gagumber, who has no intention of stopping her dreams, agrees to join his daughter in their search for adventure and answers about the world.

The beating heart of Sakugan’s appeal, beyond the elaborate mecha fights and breathtaking vistas, is the odd couple father-daughter relationship between Memempu and Gagumber who incessantly bicker with one another at every turn. It’s the story of a young girl venturing beyond the safety of her home to make her own mark on the world, as well as the story of a father who wants to protect his daughter all the while knowing he has to give her space to learn and grow. It’s that bond and dynamic that secures Sakugan’s place as one of the year’s best anime; an adventure shared between a father and daughter who have as much to learn from each other as they have to teach one another. —TE

SakuganAvailable to stream online Crunchyroll.

Sk8 the Infinity

Image: Studio Bones

The hard-working skateboarder Reki loves the S races — secret skateboarding races that take place at night. These races are filled with danger, and some of the most iconic underground skateboarders settle their beef (yes, that’s the term the anime uses) in S. Canadian transfer student Langa is more into snowboarding, but with the help of Reki, he starts skating and participating in S. Conflict arises as the creator of S is more devilish than he seems, and Langa begins to outperform Reki.

Sk8It is unique because of its characters. The large cast of characters makes it stand out (Cherry, stans unite! and interesting backstories, it’s the perfect short sports anime to satisfy any itch you may have in 12 episodes. —JL

The Infinity of SK8You can stream it on Funimation.

Sonny Boy

Madhouse Photo

After the success commercially and creatively of shows like the first season, One-Punch ManAnd Boogiepop, OtherShingo Natsume is back with a new sci-fi survival drama. Sonny Boy. A class of high school seniors are transported from their current location to another dimension. Students are left with no clue as to the cause of their strange journey and must try to make sense of it all. Add to the fact that some of the boys and girls among the group have suddenly acquired strange and powerful new supernatural abilities, and you’ve got a powder keg of a situation just waiting to burst. This is what really matters Sonny BoyIts beautiful setting and focus on the teenage drama between its characters is what sets it apart. Mari Fujino’s art direction emphasizes bold color contrasts to depict exotic backgrounds, often relying on pure black to simulate empty voids, and Hisashi Eguchi’s (Perfect Blue) character designs are reminiscent of the anime of the ’70s and ’80s.

There are deeper comparisons than just the surface. Lord of the Flies or Kazuo Umezu’s The Drifting Class, Sonny BoyThe intriguing science-fiction mystery of Sci-Fi is supported by relatable stories that tell the story of coming-of-age. —TE

Sonny BoyCan be streamed on FunimationAnd Hulu.

SSSS. Dynazenon

Photo: Studio Trigger

SSSS.Gridman was one of 2018’s most exciting premieres, reviving one of Tsuburaya Productions’ neglected franchises into a brilliant animated love letter to all things tokusatsu. SSSS.Dynazenon The brilliant sequel to the first series is here. This episode focuses on a new team of heroes under the leadership of a mysterious man called Gauma, who must unite to defeat a force of kaiju by using Dynazenon and the combined strength of their mecha. The series’ explicit connections to the Gridman universe are loose but tantalizing, opening up a slew of exciting possibilities for shared adventures in future while establishing its own tone and stakes apart from its predecessor.

SSSS.DynazenonTrigger ranks this anime as the most outstanding. This rolicking series of action mechas features explosive battles and beautiful animation. The characters are well developed. —TE

SSSS.DynazenonYou can stream the video on Funimation.

Star Wars: Visions

Image: Disney Plus/Lucasfilm

Star Wars: Visionsseven studios, nine directors acclaimed including Hiroyuki (!Promare) and Kenji Kamiyama (Ghost in the Shell, Stand Alone ComplexJapanese Animation allows Star Wars fans to share their stories using Star Wars’ universe. This anthology contains short stories that challenge the norms of what fans and viewers have grown to expect from Star Wars’ iconic sci-fi adventure film. However, it also taps into its core animating principles which make it one the most popular series in cinematic historical. Far removed from the otherwise stifling homogeneity endemic throughout a lot of Star Wars media post-Disney acquisition, the anthology boasts the kind of stories you otherwise wouldn’t expect from everyone’s favorite space opera. There’s a bunny girl wielding lightsaber katanas, Tezuka-esque boy robots channeling the force, Sith clone children cleaving Star Destroyers in half with super-powered sabers, and other surprising twists on familiar Star Wars tropes and themes. More than that, it’s a self-evident product of a generation of animators paying homage to one of the most influential movie series of all time. This one is a strong representation of the Force, no matter how you view it. —TE

Star Wars: VisionsYou can stream it on Disney Plus.

To Your Eternity

Image: Brain’s Base

Many anime share similar premises. To Your Eternity may be the only one whose protagonist is an immortal, sentient orb — although Fushi doesn’t stay an orb for long. An unknown creator has sent an orb to Earth to gain consciousness. The ability to change into any creature it desires is a sign of its growing intelligence. Fushi evolves from a rock into a wolf, and then a boy. He embarks on a painful journey of self-discovery, learning what it means to be human. But throughout it all, the series never loses its sense of hope, finding beauty in life’s impermanence and reminding viewers that nothing is ever truly gone as long as it lives on in your memories. —Sadie Gennis

To Your Eternity You can stream the video on CrunchyrollAnd HBO Max.

Tokyo Revengers

Image: Liden Films

Takemichi, part-timer, is struck by a train. He is instantly transported twelve years back to his 14-year old self, when he was only a crybaby. Takemichi seizes this chance to make a new path and to save Hina his middle-school girlfriend from the Tokyo Manji Gang. Takemichi, a gritty and twist-filled character, travels back and forth between past and future only to realize that each crisis in the past is leading to another tragedy in his present. The show’s time travel mystery is a great hook. But what really makes it stand out? Tokyo RevengersThe compelling character development of Takemichi is something you must see. In order to change the future, Takemichi becomes deeply involved with Tokyo Manji in the past, developing complex relationships with its members, such as the child-like, but ferocious leader Mikey and the mature-beyond-his-years Draken. Perfect blend of action-packed drama and character drama. Tokyo Revengers It is rapidly becoming one of the most popular modern shonen series. —SG

Tokyo Revengers You can stream it on CrunchyrollAnd HBO Max.

Uma Musume: Pretty Derby Season 2

Photo: P.A.Works

Uma Musume: Pretty Derby’s second season puts a heart-racing anime twist on the real story of the Japanese racehorse, Tokai Teio. She’s a hard working horse girl who wants to be as fast as her mentor, Symboli Rudolf. Teio has every chance of winning the triple crown. However, she is injured unexpectedly and that makes things difficult.

You will find a lot of well-known voices and drama in this movie. Uma Musume’s creators manage to pull off an interesting feat: they really make you really care about the horses. The series was a great way to learn about the real Japanese racehorses. I found out so much while watching it, even though some episodes left me speechless. I was hooked. —JL

Uma Musume: Pretty DerbySeason 2 can be streamed on Crunchyroll.

Zombie Land Saga Revenge

Image: MAPPA

Zombie Land Saga RevengeThis season continues the tales of the original zombie girls, and picks up from the beginning. It is now possible to discover more information about Saga, including the background of Yugiri and other characters. The idol group wants to restore life to Saga. It seems that Saga is under an unfortunate curse. The girls don’t give up, though. This collection is filled with snappy songs, and hilarious comedy. Zombie Land Saga RevengeYou should continue to be on the lookout for this video. —JL

Zombie Land Saga RevengeYou can stream it on Crunchyroll.