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It’s that time of year again, and so begins another season chock full of anime. Since 2020 has been a hectic and quiet year, 2021 is starting off with a bang with a stacked anime lineup. Here are the top ten most anticipated anime of Winter 2021. If you don’t see your favorite anime on this list, be sure to comment on which anime have you hyped up for 2021.
10. The Quintessential Quintuplets (Season 2)
The Quintessential Quintuplets was the fifth bestselling manga in 2019 and the third bestselling manga in the first half of 2020 in Japan (coming after Demon Slayer and One Piece). It is a romantic comedy series that tells a high school student who is hired as a private tutor for a group of quintuplets. At the very beginning of the series, it is indicated that the main protagonist will marry one of the quintuplets, but the identity of the bride is unknown until the end of the story.
The first season of this anime adaptation earned praise for its clean, colorful animation and its close adaptation to the source material. Its sudden rise in popularity is due to the series’ unique and respectful take on the harem genre. The genre is filled with series that have stereotypical and degrading female characters. Still, The Quintessential Quintuplets is an uplifting tale of self-improvement that connects with fans for its in-depth character development and light-hearted jokes — without going too deep in absurd fanservice material. As the source material completed its run in February 2020, fans are excited to immerse themselves in another fun and heartwarming season.
9. The Seven Deadly Sins (Season 4)
Known for being one of the most popular series in Shonen Jump, The Seven Deadly Sins is a medieval fantasy series that caught everyone’s attention for its European-inspired art style and over-the-top fight scenes. The first two seasons of the adaptation earned a lot of praise from fans and critics alike for their detailed animation. However, the third season has achieved the opposite and earned notoriety for deteriorating animation quality and unnecessary botched censorship.
This was due to Studio Deen taking over the adaptation, rushing the production, and outsourcing the animation to a smaller studio. Many are worried about the animation quality of season four, especially since the upcoming season is likely to have some of the biggest and most action-packed arcs of the series. However, since the backlash of the third season, Studio Deen has released various clips and trailers that show some promise that the animation has been improved. Let’s just hope that season four makes a comeback that will bring back fans.
8. Beastars (Season 2)
This adaptation about a world of modern, civilized, anthropomorphic animals with a cultural divide between carnivores and herbivores caught viewers’ attention for its premise and usage of 2D and 3D animation. The series impressed its viewers with its dark themes and compelling writing. Besides, it won several awards in 2018, and its popularity rivaled other breakout series such as The Promised Neverland.
The manga series completed its run in October 2020, and it has enough source material to create several more seasons. Considering how the first season found its footing, many fans and critics alike are excited to see what the next season has in store. Judging by the trailer alone, it appears that season two is not going to hold anything back.
7. Cells At Work! (Season 2)/Cells At Work! Code Black! (Season 1)
Cells at Work! is a lighthearted comedy anime that can be simply described as “if Osmosis Jones became an anime.” The story follows anthropomorphic cells as they do their job to keep the human body healthy. The anime adaptation won fans over for its simplicity and creativity. Additionally, doctors and biologists attested to the cells’ depictions as extremely accurate and clever. With the second season’s announcement, fans are eagerly waiting for their next biology lesson, as the series still has many things to go over about the human body.
If the original series is a bit too cutesy and lighthearted for your taste, then you should check out the spin-off series that’s also conveniently premiering this season, Cells at Work! Code Black! The spin-off series is set in a human body suffering from an unhealthy lifestyle and constant threat by viruses and infections. It is the exact opposite of the original series, as it tackles dark and mature existential themes and is likely to be jam-packed with fights between life and death. (Literally!)
6. Dr. Stone (Season 2)
Known as one of the breakout anime of 2019, Dr. Stone is set in a world where all of humanity has been petrified by a mysterious flash of light. The story follows an eighteen-year-old genius named Senkū Ishigami as he tries to rebuild society through the power of science. The series is a new addition to the weekly Shonen Jump anthology that premiered in 2017. Its popularity hasn’t wavered despite competing against other top-rated titles such as One Piece and My Hero Academia.
While the series had a slow start to set the premise and the characters properly, viewers instantly got hooked watching Senku use factual science to solve problems. The mystery behind the petrifying shine of light still keeps everyone interested in the series. Right after the season finale’s premiere, it was announced that the second season is on its way. It got fans eagerly waiting, and from the looks of the trailer, it appears to be all out primitive warfare.
5. That Time I Got Reincarnated As A Slime (Season 2)
That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime is a lighthearted isekai (“sent to another world” genre) series that received an adaptation in 2018. The series follows a traditional isekai premise: an unlucky individual is sent to another world and must understand and adapt to it. Despite this generic premise, the series tells a unique story with many things going on in each arc. It also has a lot of bloody and action-packed fight scenes that contrast its cute aesthetic and art style.
The series is an honest and charming take on the genre, and the storytelling doesn’t try and hide the fact that it is another isekai series even though it’s an extremely oversaturated genre. Originally to air this year, the production of the second season was postponed due to COVID-19. Fans highly anticipate the second season, as the ending of the first season foreshadows another armed conflict.
4. Re:Zero (Season 2 Part 2)
The first season of this dark fantasy isekai series amazed fans for its mature and realistic take on the isekai genre. The series started as generic as it could, following the stay-at-home NEET adventures (Not in Education, Employment, or Training) Subaru as he was suddenly transported to a fantasy world. The series stood out due to the main character’s ability to turn back time at the moment of his death. This began a perilous and dark journey of mental attrition as Subaru relives countless lives in order to live through the perfect “playthrough” of his journey.
Though it was supposed to be released consistently in the summer of 2020, COVID-19 forced the season to be released in a split-cour format. Despite this setback, part one of the second season received many favorable reviews from fans and critics alike and has properly set the stage for part two. With everything on the line and the threat of a world-ending calamity, Subaru must figure out a near-perfect plan to save everyone without going insane from continuous revivals.
3. Log Horizon (Season 3)
Known for being part of the isekai boom in the early 2010s, Log Horizon stood out from other series for its objective take on the isekai genre. The premise follows thirty thousand players transported to the popular MMORPG (Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game) Elder Tale during the release of the game’s twelfth expansion pack. With this unique premise, fans immersed themselves in its setting, and the series provided great world-building and character development that kept them hooked and curious.
It has been five years since the second season of Log Horizon debuted back in 2015, and when the author of the popular light novel series was caught for tax evasion, fans assumed that a third season would never come to light. However, the author reportedly paid his taxes and continued to work on the series. While it is rare for an anime to introduce another season several years after its initial release, this announcement proved that any series with a strong fanbase has the potential to make a comeback.
2. The Promised Neverland (Season 2)
When the first season of this series was released back in 2018, many thought the anime would be a lighthearted show about orphans. However, things took a dark turn when the orphans found out that they are being raised for food for demons. This development shocked viewers, and in just twelve episodes, viewers became attached to Emma, Norman, and Ray as they plot to escape the prison they once called home.
The series has many things to explore, considering where it left off in the first season. In addition, the source material has finished the story since June 2020. The anime has a clear path to receive back-to-back seasons, just like My Hero Academia, and the new season should have plenty to offer new fans.
1. Attack On Titan (Final Season)
You probably saw this coming a mile away, yet you still stuck it out all the way to the end to find out. It is without any doubt that Attack on Titan is the most anticipated anime this season. The series is known for its action-packed scenes, detailed animation, and over-the-top violence. Fans of the series can only guess what’s to come for Eren, Mikasa, Armin, and the rest of the Survey Corps as they realize the world is a bigger place than they realized.
In November 2020, series creator Hajime Isayama stated that the manga was 1% to 2% away from completion and he planned to the end it the same year. With only sixteen episodes left, fans are curious to see how it will all end. Will the anime end the same as the manga, or will it end on an original ending? It is unclear, but here’s to hoping that the anime and manga end in a manner that meets all of our expectations.