We’re starting to post our 2023 anime summer season guide worth watching. In the first part, we traditionally talk about ten projects.
Peach Boy Riverside
- Genre: Action, Fantasy
- Premiere: July 1, 2023
- Episodes: 12
- Studio: Asahi Production
- Director: Shigeru Ueda
- Source: Manga
About what: The story of Princess Saltorin Aldike going mad with longing in her safe castle. Once the boring life of the heroine is interrupted by an unexpected event: her native village is under siege by the evil creatures “Oni”, who are being fought by the mysterious young man Mikoto Kibitsu. An unexpected twist of fate opens up not only new perspectives for Saltorin, but also the road to adventures that can change the whole world.
What we think: Arrangement of the story of the mythical Momotaro, served as a classic fantasy adventure. Separately, the presence of bloody scenes can be noted.
Waiting rating: 2/5
Scarlet Nexus
- Genre: Action, Sci-Fi
- Premiere: July 1, 2023
- Episodes: unknown
- Studio: Sunrise
- Director: Hiroyuki Nishimura
- Source: Game
About what: Anime adaptation of Bandai Namco’s Scarlet Nexus, which debuted late last month. The central focus of the plot is the post-apocalyptic world, which is under the onslaught of the mysterious “Others” – entities interested in absorbing human brains. A special detachment “OPI” acts to fight them, the members of which have superhuman abilities.
What we think: Anime adaptations of games are rarely of good quality, especially when they are out of touch with the original source. The decision to view the title should be made after familiarizing yourself with the original Bandai Namco project, about which you can in detail read in our big review…
Waiting rating: 2/5
When Cicadas Cry: Prom / Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Sotsu
- Genre: Detective, Mystery, Horror
- Premiere: July 1, 2023
- Episodes: 15
- Studio: Passione
- Director: Keiichiro Kawaguchi
- Source: Novella / Manga / Anime
About what: A direct sequel to last year’s remake-restart (and at the same time sequel) “When the cicadas cry”. The main setting of the narrative remains the quiet village of Hinamizawa with murders, conspiracies and even temporary traps taking place in it.
What we think: This time the story is told by Rena and Satoko, and since the title does not plan to conduct a detailed tour of the events of the previous season, this anime is not the best way for the first acquaintance with the franchise.
Waiting rating: 4/5
Memoirs of Vanitas / Vanitas no Carte
- Genre: Action, Fantasy
- Premiere: July 3, 2023
- Episodes: unknown
- Studio: Bones
- Director: Tomoyuki Itamura
- Source: Manga
About what: Vampire saga about the doctor Vanitas, who possesses a special magical grimoire, and the vampire Noe, who went in search of a powerful tome. Fate brings the two heroes together, but personal motives and aspirations turn their relationship into a complex puzzle.
What we think: Beautiful vampires against the backdrop of beautiful Paris is an almost sugary mix. But judging from the original manga, the storytelling has some pretty good potential.
Waiting rating: 2/5
My reincarnation in the otome game as the main villain / Otome Game no Hametsu Flag shika Nai Akuyaku Reijou ni Tensei shiteshimatta … X
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UCE-AqoYs9c
- Genre: Romance, Comedy, Everyday life
- Premiere: July 3, 2023
- Episodes: unknown
- Studio: Silver Link
- Director: Keisuke Inoue
- Source: Light novel
About what: Continuation of the crazy cocktail of isekai, light comedy and harem romance, telling about the misadventures of the girl Katarina Claes, who, as the name implies, is not the main character here at all – but a real villain.
What we think: The second season of the anime adds even more beautiful girls (and boys) to the already big harem. If the love affairs and simple humor of the previous episodes were to your liking, the new episodes are unlikely to disappoint.
Waiting rating: 2/5
My girls / Kanojo mo Kanojo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUX5nei_KyM
- Genre: Romance, Comedy, Everyday life
- Premiere: July 3, 2023
- Episodes: unknown
- Studio: Tezuka Productions
- Director: Satoshi Kuwahara
- Source: Manga
About what: A romantic story about a love triangle in which a young man Naoya Mukai tries to have an affair with two girls at once – a school friend of Saki Saki, and a classmate of Nagisa Minase. The fact that all three live under the same roof adds to the complexity of the situation.
What we think: Standard groundwork for a comedy about complex school love. Watch the trailer, look through the members of the harem, and if you like them – welcome to another drama about wonderful and bright feelings.
Waiting rating: 2/5
Remake of Our Life / Bokutachi no Remake
- Genre: Romance, Comedy
- Premiere: July 3, 2023
- Episodes: unknown
- Studio: Feel
- Director: Tomoki Kobayashi
- Source: Light novel
About what: A young guy Kyoya Khasiba suddenly loses almost everything – his career has failed, the past is gone, and the doors to a happy future cannot be opened. But fate gives the hero a second chance – having gone into a fleeting oblivion, Hasiba finds himself returning ten years ago, at a time when everything could still be corrected.
What we think: A standard plot about correcting and repeating mistakes of the past. There are four cute girls in the kit at once.
Waiting rating: 2/5
Honorary student at the school of magic / Mahouka Koukou no Yuutousei
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hkvOSbTY52A
- Genre: Action, Sci-Fi
- Premiere: July 3, 2023
- Episodes: unknown
- Studio: Connect
- Director: Hideki Tachibana
- Source: Light Novel / Manga
About what: An offshoot of the mainstream fantasy manga “The Unlucky Student in the School of Magic”. The story is told here on behalf of Shiba Miyuki, the sister of Tatsuya Shiba, who, unlike her unlucky brother, successfully succeeds in the science of cognizing supernatural forces.
What we think: Formally, “Honorary Student” should become an almost literal retelling of “The Irregular Student” interspersed with Siba’s unique adventures. If two seasons of the original title were not enough for you and you have already missed the heroes, then you are here.
Waiting rating: 2/5
The girl from the opera !! / Kageki Shoujo !!
- Genre: Drama, Everyday
- Premiere: 4 July 2023
- Episodes: 13
- Studio: Pine Jam
- Director: Kazuhiro Yoneda
- Source: Manga
About what: Music title about love for the stage, creativity and girlish friendship. The central characters here are two girls with completely dissimilar characters – energetic Sarasa Watanabe and Ai Narata, who has lost her taste for life.
What we think: An adaptation of a shoujo manga that is not most famous abroad, so the title is definitely not tuned to a wide audience. In extreme cases, you can admire the design of the main characters – it is quite good.
Waiting rating: 1/5
The rational hero rebuilds the kingdom / Genjitsu Shugi Yuusha no Oukoku Saikenki
- Genre: Action, Fantasy
- Premiere: 4 July 2023
- Episodes: 13
- Studio: J.C. Staff
- Director: Takashi Watanabe
- Source: Light novel
About what: Isekai about the young man Kazuya Soma, who moved to an alternate world, but instead of the standard story of defeating a powerful evil, he was drawn into a much more atypical game – he has to raise an entire state from his knees, and before that rally a friendly team around him.
What we think: Standard idea, but with different guidelines. Instead of a magical chosenness, Soma has to rely on his ingenuity and erudition – otherwise, in politics and economics, one simply cannot survive.
Waiting rating: 3/5
To be continued…
Read also: From the creators of the last season of Attack on Titans: The debut trailer for the Chainsaw Man anime has appeared…
