Sunday, June 16, 2024

Using the Anime Interest Index to uncover the best anime of the 2020s

Hello my fellow painters, and welcome to every nerd’s favorite pastime, NUMBERS. And what’s better than numbers? Putting those numbers in order, especially when those numbers are going to represent which anime of the last five years are the ‘best’ ones.


But listing out what are purely the highest rated anime would be a bit too simple. After all, that’s what the MAL charts are, and you don’t need some random blogger to explain to you that Frieren is ranked #1 because people gave it high ratings. No, we need MORE than that. We need a way to rank anime in a way that suits our refined tastes. I refuse to accept that The Angel Next Door is a 7.82 while Do It Yourself sits at 7.45. This just isn’t right. We need TASTE if we’re going to single out which anime are worth watching in 2024.




If you’ve ever looked into ways to sort ratings before (who hasn’t!), you may have heard of the Bayesian average. This is the method that websites like Rateyourmusic use to make sure an album can’t just rocket to #1 of all time after it gets a high average rating. The Bayesian average factors in popularity as well, since it’s far easier to get a higher score if you have a low amount of ratings compared to having a lot.


We’re not going to be using this method to calculate our anime scores for this document, but I’m going to be using something similar. First of all, I wanted to change my focus away from the basic bitch normies of the anime rating sphere. Instead I wanted to look at the anime reviewers. That’s not to say Myanimelist anime reviews are of high quality, but this gives more insight into the opinions of people who felt the need to say something, versus people who speedwatch mid and give it an 8 because they didn’t hate it.


I’ve experimented with reviewer scores before, but ultimately gave up on my old method for one simple reason that Myanimelist can’t be bothered to deal with: Botting. Even the god damn review sections are susceptible to this, with bot accounts upvoting negative reviews (and in many cases, upvoting positive reviews!) for popular anime in order to take over the top slots in the review section. This leads to catastrophic results, such as Redo of Healer scoring an 8.4/10 instead of what it would actually score when the botting is removed, a 2.5/10. This problem occurred so often, that I decided it was time to take matters into my own hands and come up with a new way of judging review scores. And, with time, I finally found a new method that cannot be altered by botting. At least not yet. Until people start churning out AI-generated reviews to litter the review sections with spam, this method is safe, and these beautiful numbers I’m going to be showing you today are PURE.


Truthfully, before we get started, some of these results are pretty stupid, but this is about as good a method as I’m going to get to shine some light on the good stuff. Reviewers are generally more critical about seasonal fodder, with popular shows often getting slammed for not living up to expectations. Because of this, I wanted to reward anime that managed to maintain highly positive reviews in addition to their popularity. If a show is popular, and a lot of reviewers like it, it probably did something right. Likewise, shows that are popular and have a lot of negative reviews can score deep into the negatives, here, as we’ll see with comical results.


I could go on and on about how this formula works, but let me start with the first season of the 17 seasons I’m going to sling at you, and then I’ll try to explain it afterwards.


Winter 2020


1299    Ishuzoku Reviewers

882     Eizouken ni wa Te wo Dasu na

864     Dorohedoro

641     Jibaku Shounen Hanako-kun

562     Somali to Mori no Kamisama

490     Runway de Waratte

481     Bofuri

475     Id:Invaded

288     Housekishou Richard-shi no Nazo Kantei

268     Toaru Kagaku no Railgun T

241     Haikyuu!! To the Top

138     Pet

89     Koisuru Asteroid

49     RikeKoi

20     OshiBudou

7     Murenase! Seton Gakuen

2     Bokuhaka

-29     number24

-50     22/7

-266     Darwin's Game

-339     Nekopara

-634     Kyokou Suiri (In/Spectre)

-726     Infinite Dendrogram

-1056   Magia Record

-1467   Plunderer


Is this starting to make sense now?? If you’re wondering about the numbers, they don’t really line up with anything specific. Essentially, the max possible score you’re going to see in this post is around 1500. Higher score means that the anime is more interesting, and more people are satisfied with having watched it. A lower score means that reviewers find the anime to be a waste of time. It’s simple! However, Ishuzoku Reviewers ends up being a fork in the garbage disposal here. Anybody who knows their MAL history (I’m sorry if you do) might remember how MAL’s entire rating algorithm had to be reworked due to a spam campaign to get Interspecies Reviewers up to the top of the MAL charts. Because of this, the review scores are inflated in this one case. However, I consider Interspecies Reviewers to be an entertaining show for what it is. The same can’t be said for other targets of 10/10 spam ratings, like Redo of Healer, whose review scores couldn’t overcome the show’s diarrhea-like quality.


Seeing Haikyuu season 4 ranked towards the middle should give you a good idea of which anime people are actually willing to talk about. Despite its massive amount of high ratings, it doesn’t have that many reviews! This is par for the course on sequels. If there isn’t much to say about it, there’s not much reason to go out of your way to watch it, either. Fans will like it, us seasonal scavengers shouldn’t force ourselves to get into it. That is the nature of the Anime Interest Index.


Moving on!



Spring 2020


1196    Kaguya-sama S2

933     Kakushigoto

446     Fruits Basket S2

322     Nami yo Kiitekure

268     Houkago Teibou Nisshi (Diary of Our Days at the Breakwater)

217     Arte

178     Appare Ranman

152     Hamefura

136     Honzuki no Gekokujou (Ascendance of a Bookworm) S2

34     Kingdom S3

-29     Tsugu Tsugumomo

-50     Tamayomi

-86     Princess Connect Re:Dive

-221     Fugou Keiji

-339     BNA

-494     Listeners

-516     Gleipnir

-541     Shokugeki no Souma S5

-591     Yesterday wo Utatte

-850     Kami no Tou

-1195   Shironeko Project: Zero Chronicle

-1865   Hachi-nan tte, Sore wa Nai deshou!


You see? It’s possible for a second season to get attention if enough people are willing to talk about it! Not every sequel is so lucky, however, as Souma S5 gets absolutely blasted here. Not nearly as bad as our lowest entry, though! The big negative numbers are starting to come out, and it’s only going to get worse from here.



Summer 2020


742     Great Pretender

407     Deca-Dence

199     Oregairu S3

77     Re:Zero S2

73     The Misfit of Demon King Academy

7      Lapis Re:LiGHTs

-96        Monster Musume no Oishasan

-155     Uzaki-chan

-253      Fire Force S2

-386      Dokyuu Hentai HxEros

-427      Peter Grill to Kenja no Jikan

-1128    Gibiate

-1160    Sword Art Online: Alicization - War of Underworld S2

-1509    Rent a Girlfriend

-2147    The God of High School


Not too many big scoring anime coming out in the summer this year. God of High School comes in and breaks the negative 2000 barrier, with notorious cuck-fest Rent a Girlfriend not doing much better. Uzaki-chan has been spared from a complete trashing, but only just.



Fall 2020


671         Maoujou de Oyasumi (Sleepy Princess in the Demon Castle)

653         Jujutsu Kaisen

485         Tonikaku Kawaii

326         Akudama Drive

209         Majo no Tabitabi (Wandering Witch)

102         Haikyuu!! To the Top Part 2

96         Yuukoku no Moriarty

78         Golden Kamuy S3

78         D4DJ First Mix

59         Taisou Zamurai

22         Love Live! Nijigasaki Gakuen 

-99         Assault Lily: Bouquet

-100         Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear

-125         Ikebukuro West Gate Park

-135         DanMachi S3

-145         Adachi to Shimamura

-404         Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Gou

-568         Kami-tachi ni Hirowareta Otoko (By the Grace of the Gods)

-581         Noblesse

-582        Kimi to Boku no Saigo no Senjou (Our Last Crusade)

-783         Munou na Nana

-847         Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei (The Irregular at Magic High School) S2

-1079 100-man no Inochi no Ue ni Ore wa Tatteiru (I'm Standing on a Million Lives)

-1128 Hanyou no Yashahime: Sengoku Otogizoushi

-1289 Kamisama ni Natta Hi (The Day I Became a God)


Oh Jun Maeda… Once the king of the dating sim, now putting out the most reviled anime in an entire season. What HAPPENED? Higurashi ain’t doing so good, either. At least Kodaka managed to come out unscathed with Akudama Drive.



Here’s the top 10 of “anime you gotta see!” for 2020 overall, according to this scale.


1299 Ishuzoku Reviewers

1196 Kaguya-sama S2

933         Kakushigoto

882         Eizouken ni wa Te wo Dasu na

864         Dorohedoro

742         Great Pretender

671         Maoujou de Oyasumi (Sleepy Princess in the Demon Castle)

653         Jujutsu Kaisen

641         Jibaku Shounen Hanako-kun

562         Somali to Mori no Kamisama


Seeing Ishuzoku Reviewers at the top is a bit silly, though I’d consider this a freak occurrence. Something tells me the ensuing years will be more ‘normal’.


Right?!



Winter 2021


907     Attack on Titan: The Final Season

877     5-toubun no Hanayome (Quintessential Quintuplets) S2

564     SK∞

542     Yuru Camp S2

407     Hataraku Saibou (Cells at Work) Black

329         Jaku-Chara (Bottom-Tier Character) Tomozaki-kun

271     Dr. Stone: Stone Wars

196     Kemono Jihen

180     Horimiya

173     Non Non Biyori Nonstop

155     Kai Byoui Ramune (Dr. Ramune)

118     Idoly Pride

100     Re:Zero S2 Part 2

13     Beastars S2

-188         Tensura S2

-219     Mushoku Tensei

-291     Log Horizon S3

-554     Wonder Egg Priority

-570     Urasekai Picnic

-795     2.43: Seiin Koukou Danshi Volley-bu

-831     Kumo desu ga, Nani ka? (spider isekai)

-1075 The Seven Deadly Sins: Dragon's Judgement

-1213 Ore dake Haireru Kakushi Dungeon (The Hidden Dungeon)

-1407 Ex-Arm

-1464 Last Dungeon Boonies

-1647 Redo of Healer

-3595 Yakusoku no Neverland S2


This is the first season on this list where I actually watched a handful of these shows, if only for a few episodes. Neverland has by FAR the lowest score I’ve ever seen from this calculator, and I’d be surprised if anything else ever beats it. Redo of Healer also scores low, to nobody’s surprise. ‘Last Dungeon Boonies’ scoring stupidly low is a surprise to me however… I watched a few episodes of this and I remember it being a cute, mostly inoffensive comedy. Does that mean it falls off a cliff in the later episodes? Likewise, I have no idea how Tomozaki-kun ranked so high. Its premise and characters seemed bland to me. Cells at Work Black getting a high score is also funny.



Spring 2021


1206 Odd Taxi

1043 Vivy: Fluorite Eye's Song

990     Fruits Basket: Final

643     Nomad: Megalo Box 2

442     86

338     Fumetsu no Anata e (To Your Eternity)

309     Shadows House

285     Yuukoku no Moriarty Part 2

245     Zombieland Saga Revenge

242     Super Cub

236     SSSS.Dynazenon

206     Mairimashita! Iruma-kun S2

153     Shakunetsu Kabaddi

153     Bakuten

135     Mashiro no Oto

112     Mars Red

30     Seijo no Maryoku wa Bannou desu (The Saint's Magic Power)

28     Nagatoro-san

27     Edens Zero

9         Tensura Nikki (The Slime Diaries)

-135     Shaman King 2021

-198         Slime 300

-212     Bishounen Tanteidan

-324     Sentouin, Hakenshimasu (Combatants Will Be Dispatched)

-461     Subarashiki Kono Sekai (The World Ends with You)

-468     Jouran

-535     How Not to Summon a Demon Lord S2

-667     Koikimo

-932     Higehoro

-994     Full Dive

-1380 Boku no Hero Academia S5

-1388 Tokyo Revengers

-1672 Osamake


For the first time in a year, we’re starting to see some more 1000+ rated anime popping up at the top. Two in one season! No shocker that Oddtaxi is a reviewer’s favorite. Though there’s a few I remember wanting to watch (Higehoro, Full Dive, Tokyo Revengers) that score shockingly low. Maybe I should heed their warning, but a part of me is curious to see how they derail. Full Dive I think I actually know already, it has an annoying Accel World dynamic between the real world drama and game world. Shoutout to the hidden iyashikei gem Super Cub as well.



Summer 2021


835     Dragon Maid S2

514     Sonny Boy

445     Heion Sedai no Idaten-tachi (The Idaten Deities Know Only Peace)

350     Shinigami Bocchan to Kuro Maid (The Duke of Death and His Maid)

268     Kageki Shoujo

258     Uramichi Oniisan

240     Vanitas no Karte

206     Love Live! Superstar

173     Tsukimichi

157     Meikyuu Black Company

96     Shiroi Suna no Aquatope

-40     Re-Main

-205     Scarlet Nexus

-225     Jahy-sama wa Kujikenai!

-236         Bokutachi no Remake

-271     Megami-ryou no Ryoubo-kun (Mother of the Goddess' Dormitory)

-386     Mahouka Koukou no Yuutousei (The Honor Student at Magic High School)

-491     Deatte 5-byou de Battle (Battle Game in 5 Seconds)

-499     Kanojo mo Kanojo (Girlfriend, Girlfriend)

-578     Hamefura X

-693     Cheat Kusushi no Slow Life (Drug Store in Another World)

-739         Genjitsu Shugi Yuusha no Oukoku Saikenki (How a Realist Hero Rebuilt the Kingdom)

-777     Tensura S2 Part 2

-960     Peach Boy Riverside

-977     Seirei Gensouki

-1217 Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Sotsu

-2163 Tantei wa Mou, Shindeiru (The Detective Is Already Dead)


Higurashi bros… Not like this… I’m running out of things to say here but Kanojo mo Kanojo doesn’t deserve to be that low!



Fall 2021


761     86 Part 2

673     Ousama Ranking

643     Blue Period

345     Mushoku Tensei Part 2

249     Taishou Otome Otogibanashi

45     Kyuuketsuki Sugu Shinu (The Vampire Dies in No Time)

-73     Kimetsu no Yaiba: Mugen Ressha-hen (Demon Slayer: Mugen Train)

-76     Senpai ga Uzai Kouhai no Hanashi (My Senpai is Annoying)

-295     Henkyou de Slow Life suru Koto ni Shimashita (I Decided To Live A Quiet Life In The Countryside)

-362     Mieruko-chan

-496     Saihate no Paladin

-573     Sakugan

-632     Komi-san

-845     Kaizoku Oujo (Fena)

-1331 Ansatsu Kizoku (The World's Finest Assassin)

-1412 Takt Op. Destiny

-1508 Shinka no Mi (The Fruit of Evolution)

-1934 Platinum End


Mama mia… lots of flops in this season. It does pain me seeing 86 up at the top, so let’s not linger here.



The top 10 anime you gotta see from 2021


1206 Odd Taxi

1043 Vivy: Fluorite Eye's Song

990     Fruits Basket: Final

907     Attack on Titan: The Final Season

877     5-toubun no Hanayome (Quintessential Quintuplets) S2

835     Dragon Maid S2

761     86 Part 2

673     Ousama Ranking

643     Blue Period

643     Nomad: Megalo Box 2


What’s with all the damn sequels?? Can 2022 save us from this flood of followups?



Winter 2022


622     Sasaki to Miyano

486     Akebi-chan no Sailor-fuku

472     Kimetsu no Yaiba: Yuukaku-hen (Demon Slayer: Entertainment District) 

406     Sono Bisque Doll wa Koi wo Suru (My Dress-Up Darling)

296     Karakai Jouzu no Takagi-san 3

252     Fantasy Bishoujo Juniku Ojisan to (Total Fantasy Knockout)

224     Attack on Titan: The Final Season Part 2

128     Heike Monogatari

72     Ryman's Club

2         Slow Loop

-107     Arifureta S2

-238     Genjitsu Shugi Yuusha no Oukoku Saikenki (Realist Rebuilt the Kingdom) Part 2

-300     Tensai Ouji no Akaji Kokka Saisei Jutsu (Raising a Nation Out of Debt)

-349     Orient

-484     Kenja no Deshi wo Nanoru Kenja (Pupil of the Wise Man)

-493     Sabikui Bisco

-575     Leadale no Daichi nite

-653     Shuumatsu no Harem (World's End Harem)

-1612 Shikkakumon no Saikyou Kenja (The Strongest Sage with the Weakest Crest)


2022 bros…. I’m not feeling so good…
It should be noted that MAL has always had a large share of fujoshi writing reviews on their website, which would explain the surprisingly high scores for shows like Sasaki to Miyano as well as the Bishoujo isekai (which I can confirm after having watched some of it that it is really bad).



Spring 2022


1252 Kaguya-sama: Ultra Romantic

1231 Spy X Family

956     Paripi Koumei

779     Ao Ashi

474     Summertime Render

439     Dance Dance Danseur

300     Koi wa Sekai Seifuku no Ato de (Love After World Domination)

221     Deaimon

101     Date A Live IV

4         Otome Game Sekai wa Mob ni Kibishii Sekai desu (Trapped in a Dating Sim)

0         Aharen-san wa Hakarenai

-57     Tomodachi Game

-153     Yuusha, Yamemasu

-197     Shokei Shoujo no Virgin Road

-205     Mahoutsukai Reimeiki (The Dawn of the Witch)

-277     Komi-san S2

-522     Rikekoi S2

-961     Gaikotsu Kishi-sama, Tadaima Isekai e Odekakechuu (Skeleton Knight)

-1232 Kakkou no Iinazuke

-1568 Kawaii dake ja Nai Shikimori-san

-1620 Shijou Saikyou no Daimaou, Murabito A ni Tensei suru (Reborn as a Typical Nobody)

-2566 Tate no Yuusha no Nariagari (Shield Hero) S2


A ton of flopping going on in this season, but you also have four anime with 700+ scores, so you can’t complain TOO much. Big big highlights coming out here.



Summer 2022


285     Isekai Ojisan

35     Kumichou Musume to Sewagakari (The Yakuza's Guide to Babysitting)

-54     Danmachi IV

-64     Yofukashi no Uta (Call of the Night)

-122     Soredemo Ayumu wa Yosetekuru (When Will Ayumu Make His Move?)

-136     Made in Abyss S2

-160     Isekai Yakkyoku (Pharmacy Isekai)

-186     Lycoris Recoil

-477     Engage Kiss

-485     Overlord IV

-536     Youkoso Jitsuryoku Shijou Shugi no Kyoushitsu e (Classroom of the Elite) S2

-960     Kinsou no Vermeil

-1164 Rent a Girlfriend S2

-1170 Kuro no Shoukanshi

-1203 Mamahaha no Tsurego ga Motokano datta (My Stepmom's Daughter Is My Ex)

-1229 Hataraku Maou-sama (The Devil is a Part-Timer) S2

-1290 RWBY: Hyousetsu Teikoku

-1750 Isekai Meikyuu de Harem wo (Harem in the Labyrinth)

-1945 Tensei Kenja no Isekai Life (My Isekai Life)


What the hell happened here? Not even Call of the Night, Made in Abyss, or Lycoris Recoil come out of this season unscathed from the MAL reviewers. The idea that ‘Isekai Ojisan’ is the only anime worth watching from this list is a bit comical. Blame the rising trend of MAL reviewer contrarianism that this is apparently how the MAL reviewers feel about this season. I haven’t watched anything from this list personally, however, so I couldn’t tell you if I actually disagree with these results or not, but I just have a feeling…



Fall 2022


1493 Bocchi the Rock!

747     Mob Psycho 100 III

601     Bleach: Sennen Kessen-hen

423     Do It Yourself!!

268     Cool Doji Danshi

122     Boku no Hero Academia S6

0         TenKen

-23     Akiba Meido Sensou

-97     Chainsaw Man

-105     Futoku no Guild

-230     Spy X Family Part 2

-248     Uzaki-chan S2

-289     Fuufu Ijou, Koibito Miman (More than a Married Couple)

-315     Blue Lock

-321     Fumetsu no Anata e (To Your Eternity) S2

-379     Renai Flops

-454     Akuyaku Reijou nanode Last Boss wo Kattemimashita (Taming the Final Boss)

-567     Kidou Senshi Gundam: Suisei no Majo (The Witch from Mercury)

-607     Kage no Jitsuryokusha ni Naritakute (The Eminence in Shadow)

-716         Arknights: Reimei Zensou

-887     Noumin Kanren no Skill bakka Agetetara Nazeka Tsuyoku Natta (I Improved My Farm-Related Skills)

-1228 Beast Tamer

-1381 Shinobi no Ittoki


FINALLY some fuckin JUSTICE for Do It Yourself. This brings back memories of the Escape This Planet anime podcast thing, as this was the first season me and Bematt covered, and we went in WAY too hard. We made the rookie’s mistake of trying to cover everything, and even with the ‘elimination’ rules in place, I ended up watching way too much mid. Bocchi the Rock manages to set a new record here with nearly 1500 points. Ironically, I dropped it after one episode, though thankfully Bematt was there to sing its praises as the season continued.


With Spy X Family and Chainsaw Man now in the negatives, it’s hard to tell if people actually dislike these shows, or if the “popular = bad” trend is continuing to form between this and the last season. For all I know, there could be some anime-review youtuber influencing these guys to shit on these shows, but I’ll spare my poor brain from trying to dig into it further.



The top 10 anime you gotta see from 2022


1493 Bocchi the Rock!

1252 Kaguya-sama: Ultra Romantic

1231 Spy X Family

956     Paripi Koumei

779     Ao Ashi

747     Mob Psycho 100 III

622     Sasaki to Miyano

601     Bleach: Sennen Kessen-hen

486     Akebi-chan no Sailor-fuku

474     Summertime Render


Unfortunately, Do It Yourself barely missed the top 10 here (ranked #12).



Winter 2023


855     Buddy Daddies

455     Tomo-chan wa Onnanoko

382     Tondemo Skill de Isekai Hourou Meshi (Campfire Cooking)

340     Danmachi IV Part 2

296     Nagatoro-san S2

217     Benriya Saitou-san, Isekai ni Iku

183     Vinland Saga S2

46     Isekai Nonbiri Nouka (Farming Life)

-222     Kubo-san wa Mob wo Yurusanai

-309     NieR:Automata Ver1.1a

-311     Onimai

-358     Koori Zokusei Danshi to Cool na Douryou Joshi (The Ice Guy)

-375     Maou Gakuin no Futekigousha (The Misfit of Demon King Academy) II

-389     Sugar Apple Fairy Tale

-406     Trigun Stampede

-416     Saikyou Onmyouji no Isekai Tenseiki (Reincarnation of the Strongest Exorcist)

-458     Bofuri S2

-477     Spy Kyoushitsu

-480     Tokyo Revengers S2

-543     Tensei Oujo to Tensai Reijou no Mahou Kakumei (The Magical Revolution)

-717     Eiyuuou, Bu wo Kiwameru Tame Tenseisu (Reborn to Master the Blade)

-1038 Ningen Fushin

-1101 Inu ni Nattara Suki na Hito ni Hirowareta (Inukai-san's Dog)

-1124 Hyouken no Majutsushi ga Sekai wo Suberu (The Iceblade Sorcerer)

-1129 Shin Shinka no Mi (The Fruit of Evolution) S2

-1233 Otonari no Tenshi-sama ni Itsunomanika Dame Ningen ni Sareteita Ken (The Angel Next Door)


Welcome to Isekai Hell. The fact that me and Bematt even bothered to record an Escape This Planet episode for this season is shocking. And, to no surprise, two of the four anime that Bematt cared about (Tomo-chan and Buddy Daddies) show up at the top. Onimai (the only anime from this season I cared about) sadly gets cucked into the negatives. Me and Bematt were smart enough not to tackle this season at full force this time. We ended up putting out a 30 minute video for it, with my general conclusion being that this season sucked ass. If you focus on the highlights, however, this season is pretty standard stuff.



Spring 2023


801     Bokuyaba

684     Skip and Loafer

490     Kimi wa Houkago Insomnia

137     Niehime to Kemono no Ou

59     Yamada-kun to Lv999 no Koi wo Suru

40     Yuusha ga Shinda (The Legendary Hero Is Dead)

-53     Kamikatsu

-126     Megami no Café Terrace

-127     Oshi no Ko

-142     Tengoku Daimakyou

-232     Mashle

-236     Mahoutsukai no Yome (The Ancient Magus' Bride) S2

-256     Kanojo ga Koushaku-tei ni Itta Riyuu (Raeliana)

-291     My Home Hero

-382     Dead Mount Death Play

-388     Otonari ni Ginga (A Galaxy Next Door)

-450         Smartphone Isekai 2

-468     Mahou Shoujo Magical Destroyers

-629     Jigokuraku (Hell's Paradise)

-717     Kono Subarashii Sekai ni Bakuen wo

-797     Kidou Senshi Gundam: Suisei no Majo (The Witch from Mercury) S2

-1113 Isekai Shoukan wa Nidome desu (Another World for a Second Time)

-1214 Tensei Kizoku no Isekai Boukenroku (The Aristocrat's Otherworldly Adventure)

-1484 Kimetsu no Yaiba: Katanakaji no Sato-hen (Demon Slayer: Swordsmith Village)

-3040 Isekai de Cheat Skill wo Te ni Shita Ore wa, Genjitsu Sekai wo mo Musou Suru


And here’s the last season that Escape This Planet ever covered. It’s the last Escape This Planet recording, and it’s the last Bematt ‘Seasonals of the Abyss’. You know MAL reviewers are huffing some serious ass if we’ve reached the point where Tengoku Daimakyou is somehow in the negatives under Kamikatsu. It’s contrarianism at its peak, fellas. We’ve also gotten another rare negative 3000 breach from the Cheat Skill isekai, god knows why so many people bothered watching that one.


With only 3 seasons left to go, I’m going to find out just how much I regret pulling the brakes on Escape This Planet seasonal reviews.



Summer 2023


369     Dark Gathering

59     Dekiru Neko wa Kyou mo Yuuutsu (GoHands cat anime)

20     Horimiya: Piece

-4         Undead Girl Murder Farce

-93     Bleach: Sennen Kessen-hen - Ketsubetsu-tan

-97     Zom 100

-205     Uchi no Kaisha no Chiisai Senpai no Hanashi (My Tiny Senpai)

-222     Rurouni Kenshin 2023

-256     Seija Musou

-280     Okashi na Tensei

-298     Eiyuu Kyoushitsu (Classroom for Heroes)

-373     Rent a Girlfriend S3

-437     The Most Heretical Last Boss Queen

-493     Level 1 dakedo Unique Skill de Saikyou desu

-517     Masamune-kun no Revenge R

-569     Jujutsu Kaisen S2

-605     Jitsu wa Ore, Saikyou deshita (Am I Actually the Strongest?)

-625     Vending Machine isekai

-831     Watashi no Shiawase na Kekkon (My Happy Marriage)

-852     Nanatsu no Maken ga Shihai suru (Seven Spellblades)

-1162 Suki na Ko ga Megane wo Wasureta (The Girl I Like Forgot Her Glasses)

-1259 Liar Liar

-1308 Mushoku Tensei II

-1899 Yumemiru Danshi wa Genjitsushugisha (The Dreaming Boy is a Realist)


Ah yes. NOW I remember why we stopped writing about seasonal anime. I forgot all about GODHANDS summer and really, the results speak for themselves. Me and Bematt looked at this roster of upcoming anime and immediately noped out of our respective anime projects. That’s not to say it was all trash, however. Bematt wrote positively about Undead Girl Murder Farce for ETP’s Bite Sized Reviews. But beyond that, this season was mostly us talking about GoHands’ really weird animation style.



Fall 2023


1435 Frieren

576     Kimi no Koto ga Daidaidaidaidaisuki na 100-nin no Kanojo (100 Girlfriends)

522     Kusuriya no Hitorigoto (The Apothecary Diaries)

282     Migi to Dali

56     Spy X Family S2

-78     Undead Unluck

-102     Ikenaikyo

-127     Hikikomari Kyuuketsuki no Monmon (Shut-In Vampire Princess)

-163     The Eminence in Shadow S2

-176     Kamonohashi Ron no Kindan Suiri (Forbidden Deductions)

-243     Seiken Gakuin no Makentsukai (Demon Sword Master)

-254     Shangri-La Frontier

-432     Ragna Crimson

-433     Watashi no Oshi wa Akuyaku Reijou (In Love with the Villainess)

-450     Kikansha no Mahou wa Tokubetsu desu (A Returner's Magic)

-487     Toaru Ossan no VRMMO Katsudouki

-748     Boushoku no Berserk

-917     Kimizero (Our Dating Story)

-963     Goblin Slayer II

-1011 Shield Hero S3

-1659 Hametsu no Oukoku (Kingdoms of Ruin)


There does seem to be a lot of whiffs in this line-up, but considering the highlights, I don’t have a real excuse to have skipped out on this season! Frieren is the big one, and I’ve heard good things about Apothecary Diaries as well. I was actually planning to watch 100 Girlfriends to write about for one of my ‘bite sized reviews’ pages, but I gave up on it. Maybe next time, though…



The top 10 anime you gotta see from 2023


1435 Frieren

855     Buddy Daddies

801     Bokuyaba

684     Skip and Loafer

576     Kimi no Koto ga Daidaidaidaidaisuki na 100-nin no Kanojo (100 Girlfriends)

522     Kusuriya no Hitorigoto (The Apothecary Diaries)

490     Kimi wa Houkago Insomnia

455     Tomo-chan wa Onnanoko

382     Tondemo Skill de Isekai Hourou Meshi (Campfire Cooking)

369     Dark Gathering


It’s strange to see the top 10 threshold getting lower and lower every year. Though, by the looks of it, this has far less to do with the actual quality of seasonal anime, and more to do with MAL’s increasing levels of cynicism. In any case, it’s funny to see Buddy Daddies ranked 2nd best of the entire year. Thanks, P.A. Works!



Last season, fellas.


Winter 2024


717     Bokuyaba S2

600     Dungeon Meshi

242     Mahou Shoujo ni Akogarete

133     Saijaku Tamer wa Gomi Hiroi no Tabi wo Hajimemashita (Journey to Pick Up Trash)

17     Nozomanu Fushi no Boukensha (Unwanted Undead Adventurer)

7         Chiyu Mahou no Machigatta Tsukaikata (The Wrong Way to Use Healing Magic)

-151     Villainess Level 99

-167     7th Time Loop

-299     Yubisaki to Renren (A Sign of Affection)

-377     Dosanko Gal wa Namara Menkoi (Hokkaido Gals)

-385     Classroom of the Elite III

-386     Sasaki to Pii-chan

-605     Mato Seihei no Slave

-880     Sokushi Cheat ga Saikyou sugite (Instant Death Ability)

-1196 Ninja Kamui

-1250 Metallic Rouge

-1388 Solo Leveling


And there you have it. Bokuyaba claims another throne, with a few other highlights here and there. Not bad, eh?



In case you’re wondering if I forgot to mention OVAs and Movies and such… I saved them for this section, so I could gather them all in one place. I don’t have anything to say about these, so enjoy the ranking of random crap.


Movies/OVAs/etc 2020


645     Violet Evergarden Movie

597     Josee to Tora to Sakana-tachi

575     Kimetsu no Yaiba Movie: Mugen Ressha-hen (Demon Slayer Movie: Mugen Train)

510     Fate/stay night Movie: Heaven's Feel III

475     Tian Guan Cifu (Heaven Official's Blessing)

136         Oresuki OVA

63     Made in Abyss Movie 3

-11     Umibe no Étranger (The Stranger by the Shore)

-81     Given Movie 1

-202     Goblin Slayer: Goblin's Crown

-205     Kimi wa Kanata (Over the Sky)

-494     Burn the Witch 

-601     Nakitai Watashi wa Neko wo Kaburu (A Whisker Away)

-992     Xian Wang de Richang Shenghuo (Immortal King)

-1631 Nihon Chinbotsu 2020


Movies/OVAs/etc 2021


1067 Shiguang Dailiren (Link Click)

671     Gintama: The Final

537     Cider no You ni Kotoba ga Wakiagaru (Words Bubble Up)

439     JoJo no Kimyou na Bouken Part 6: Stone Ocean

322     Summer Ghost

174     Jujutsu Kaisen 0 Movie

135     Ai no Utagoe wo Kikasete (Sing a Bit of Harmony)

126     Sword Art Online: Progressive Movie - Hoshi Naki Yoru no Aria

-88         Star Wars: Visions

-229         Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time

-340     Kaguya-Sama OVA

-628     Gokushufudou

-780     Boku no Hero Academia the Movie 3

-883     Ryuu to Sobakasu no Hime (Belle)

-1531 Tenkuu Shinpan (High Rise Invasion)

-1760 Yasuke 

-1941 Shuumatsu no Walküre (Record of Ragnarok)

-2238 Wonder Egg Priority: My Priority


Movies/OVAs/etc 2022


734     Romantic Killer

643     Kotarou wa Hitorigurashi (Kotaro Lives Alone)

325     Kaguya-sama: First Kiss wa Owaranai

118     The First Slam Dunk

113     JoJo no Kimyou na Bouken Part 6: Stone Ocean Part 3

112     Fruits Basket: Prelude

110     Cyberpunk: Edgerunners

-68     Ame wo Tsugeru Hyouryuu Danchi (Drifting Home)

-94     Oemojisangjuui (Lookism)

-126     Sword Art Online: Progressive Movie - Kuraki Yuuyami no Scherzo

-130     Kimi wo Aishita Hitori no Boku e (The One Who Loved You)

-180     Natsu e no Tunnel, Sayonara no Deguchi (The Tunnel to Summer)

-284     Vampire in the Garden

-363     Suzume no Tojimari

-468     Bastard!! Ankoku no Hakaishin ONA

-542     Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero

-568     5-toubun no Hanayome (Quintessential Quintuplets) Movie

-731     Bubble

-736     Tensura Movie: Guren no Kizuna-hen

-1008 One Piece Film: Red


Movies/OVAs/etc 2023+2024


171 Haikyuu!! Movie: Gomisuteba no Kessen

154 Spy x Family Movie: Code: White

135 Pluto

-27 Shiguang Dailiren (Link Click) II

-280 Attack on Titan: The Final Season - Kanketsu-hen

-539 Black Clover: Mahou Tei no Ken

-569 Kimitachi wa Dou Ikiru ka (The Boy and the Heron)

-617 Good Night World



And that’s it! That’s all the numbers! Hopefully you might have uncovered some gems throughout all this. But for now, I’m gonna finish this big ol numbers post by giving you…

THE TOP 40 BEST ANIME OF THE 2020S SO FAR (ACCORDING TO THIS RANKING THING THAT’S BASED OFF THE OPINIONS OF THE GENIUS REVIEW WRITERS OF MYANIMELIST)


1493 Bocchi the Rock!

1435 Frieren

1299 Ishuzoku Reviewers

1252 Kaguya-sama: Ultra Romantic

1231 Spy X Family

1206 Odd Taxi

1196 Kaguya-sama S2

1067 Shiguang Dailiren (Link Click)

1043 Vivy: Fluorite Eye's Song

990 Fruits Basket: Final

956 Paripi Koumei

933 Kakushigoto

907 Attack on Titan: The Final Season

882 Eizouken ni wa Te wo Dasu na

877 5-toubun no Hanayome (Quintessential Quintuplets) S2

864 Dorohedoro

855 Buddy Daddies

835 Dragon Maid S2

801 Bokuyaba

779 Ao Ashi

761 86 Part 2

747 Mob Psycho 100 III

742 Great Pretender

734 Romantic Killer

717 Bokuyaba S2

684 Skip and Loafer

673 Ousama Ranking

671 Gintama: The Final

671 Maoujou de Oyasumi (Sleepy Princess in the Demon Castle)

653 Jujutsu Kaisen

645 Violet Evergarden Movie

643 Nomad: Megalo Box 2

643 Blue Period

643 Kotarou wa Hitorigurashi (Kotaro Lives Alone)

641 Jibaku Shounen Hanako-kun

622 Sasaki to Miyano

601 Bleach: Sennen Kessen-hen

600 Dungeon Meshi

597 Josee to Tora to Sakana-tachi

576 Kimi no Koto ga Daidaidaidaidaisuki na 100-nin no Kanojo (100 Girlfriends)


Once the next season is finished in a couple weeks, I’ll total those shows up and make a new post about it. Stay tuned…


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