Rin’s Seasonal ANIME PICKS - Winter 2024
Our Manga & Anime Editor Rin Setsuna will be in charge of presenting you with 3 fresh picks from the previous anime season, so that you never miss out on anything promising.
There will also be a 4th recommendation at the end of each edition, chosen by the Yokogao Discord Community. Feel free to join so you can help pick next season’s anime recommendation.
“These seasonals are some I’ve personally watched and would recommend to anyone looking for a new show to start. Hopefully you’ll find a gem among them!”
#3 Hokkaido Gals Are Super Adorable!
Genre: Comedy
Themes: Romantic Subtext, School
Aired at time of publishing: 1 season - 12 episodes
Hokkaido Gals Are Super Adorable!
Synopsis
Tsubasa Shiki is your average Joe. One day, he moves from the vibrant city life in Tokyo towards a town in rural Hokkaidou. He arrives on his own by taxi, but gets out a little before his destination to walk the remainder of the route to his new house. His view on Hokkaidou is idealized, until he watches his taxi leave whilst the strong cold weather of Hokkaidou hits him.
This is where he learns that he got out way before his destination, leaving him stranded in the next town over. He walks around aimlessly until he lays his eyes upon a beautiful girl. She is obviously a native for she was wearing a short skirt in such weather! She notices Tsubasa, and does not hesitate to spark up a conversation. Tsubasa is quickly overwhelmed by her enthusiasm and beauty, but eventually makes it home after the Hokkaidou gal named Fuyuki Minami leaves him behind getting on a bus.
The next day, Tsubasa is shocked to see how Fuyuki is not only his classmate, but the person sitting at the desk next to him. Fuyuki is very thrilled at this fact, and immediately aims to befriend our protagonist. What will come of them? And who are the other gals in the area who we’ll meet?
Personal note
I honestly didn’t have very high hopes for this show because of how there is a lot of suggestive content presented in a way I’m personally not a big fan of. But I guess this comes naturally, especially in a romantic subcontext story. However, I quickly grew to like it a lot.
The girls are really nice characters and it’s definitely worth giving them all some of your time and attention. There are also a lot of visually pleasing shots, and it’s also rather educational when it comes to what Hokkaidou seems to be like! PS: Sayuri-chan is awesome~♡!
#2 Ninja Kamui
Genres: Action, Sci-Fi, Fantasy
Aired at time of publishing: 1 season - 12 episodes (currently airing)
Ninja Kamui
Synopsis
Joe Higan is a family guy. Living in the outskirts of a rural town in North America, he and his beautiful family consisting of his wife and son enjoy every day at their farm, living the good, quiet life.
That is until one night, when they find him. Joe is actually a 21st century ninja who ran away from his clan. So now they’re after him. Brutally, and mercilessly, they murder the only people that truly mattered to him, and even he manages to barely make it out alive due to special tech.
Now plagued by the sight of his family being torn apart, right before his very eyes, and his reason for living existing no more, he decides to take revenge on his killers and everyone else in the clan.
He takes back his old name of Ninja Kamui and works with people from the FBI, not only for his own goal, but also because of a not-so-honest company called AUZA, which is brainwashing the world with their top notch quality technology designed to make life as easy as can be. You can’t trust anybody out here anymore. Still, there are the very few who go against all the social ideals and risk their life for the sake of justice, as well as vengeance.
Personal note
I felt it was worth giving this one the second spot on the list because despite it seeming like an anime I wouldn’t enjoy because it is very technical and context-heavy, so to say, it is very immersive and interesting to follow. The fighting scenes are really impressive, and the way Joe fights is satisfying, in a way.
Ninja Kamui is Park Seong-Hu’s first original work, and is heavily involved in the production of the visuals themselves, as well. He is known for his work on many other anime titles with great animation such as Jujutsu Kaisen, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, Yuri!!! On Ice, and more.
#1 Solo Leveling
Genres: Action, Adventure, Fantasy
Theme: Adult Cast
Aired at time of publishing: 1 season - 12 episodes
Solo Leveling
Synopsis
Imagine, if you will, you and everybody else just going about their day, heading to work or going shopping… then, out of nowhere, dozens of interdimensional portals appear throughout the country, out of which come all sorts of otherworldly creatures, hungry for blood. As if this isn’t bad enough, you realize they’re also immune to conventional weaponry, putting the country into a post-apocalyptic type state.
This is the world Solo Leveling is set in, and about a decade after the incident, we learn that with the appearance of said gates also came the awakenings of many citizen’s superhuman abilities, giving them the ability to fend off these monsters. These heroes - known as Hunters - fight to secure the portals that already exist and continue to appear here and there, and to clear out each of them of any harmful creatures. They’re like dungeons in game worlds, and there is interesting loot to collect!
Sung Jin-Woo is our protagonist. Known better as The Weakest Hunter of All Mankind, he barely gets by and is often used to fill up empty spots in parties just so that the Hunters are allowed to enter a dungeon.
The dungeon he and the squad he is in enter is labeled lower class, so as long as even Jin-Woo is careful, not much can go wrong. However, the guild finds an unmarked trail within the cave inside of this portal, and decides to go check it out. This is when they enter a boss fight, totally out of their league. Trapped inside this room, the odds of them making it out alive are next to none… It is true hell for the poor Jin-Woo. What’ll he do from here on out?
Personal note
The hype for Solo Leveling is real. It combines a lot of interesting elements that I happen to love, and Jin-Woo is just so cool! He’s a cool MC among cool MCs! I can’t wait to see more of his journey, and might have to read the manhwa before season 2 comes, because I’m too impatient. Definitely worth giving the #1 spot on this season’s recommendations!
Community Pick: Your Lie in April
Genres: Drama, Romance
Themes: Music, School, (Love Polygon)
Aired at time of publishing: 1 season - 22 episodes / 1 OVA
Your Lie In April
Synopsis
During his younger years, Arima Kousei was labeled a prodigy due to his precision and perfectionism when playing the piano. But one day, his teacher, mentor and most importantly; dear mother of his passes, rendering him powerless and unable to play the piano freely and happily, incapable of hearing the notes.
Living his life as a regular student, barely clinging onto his musical career, he runs into Miyazono Kaori at a park. He is immediately captured by her beauty and grace, as Kaori plays the melodica amidst the falling cherry blossoms.
One thing leads to the next and Kaori asks Arima to be her accompanist up on the stage. She would be playing her beloved violin, whilst Arima would support her with his piano.
They go on to become closer friends and work on Arima’s trauma, next to attending competitions and the like, amongst so much more.
Personal note
Your Lie in April is one of the most beautiful anime you can ever watch, and the Yokogao Discord Community knows it. It certainly is a must-watch! Even if you’re not into classical music, it would do you good to watch this anime. It is very emotional and captivating, to the point where you’ll find yourself getting goosebumps multiple times.
An easy binge for me, personally! I can’t express how much I recommend this anime to anyone out there in words, so this spring, please do give it a shot! You’d be missing out for real if you didn’t. We all promise you that you won’t be disappointed.
Explore the anime picks from previous seasons here.
