Anime Leaves Keep Falling: 2023 Fall Anime Season Impressions - Renegade Animation #126
In this episode, Captain Kaye, The Animation Guru, and Teresa regroup to talk about the bevy of new anime titles that Fall 2023 has to offer!
What’s going on, everyone? This is your Captain (Mike Kaye) speaking, alongside my esteemed co-host and editor of the podcast, The Animation Guru (Cameron Ward), and our fellow anime connoisseur Teresa. We are excited to once again rake up the leaves of Fall Anime 2023! If 35 new series premiering sounds like an overwhelming amount, that’s because it absolutely was. The bad news for the industry is that this is simply a production pipeline that refuses to slow down, but the good news for consumers is that you have a better chance of finding an anime that’s right for you! Without further ado, please tune into the podcast to hear our full discussion, and keep reading to see our collective top 5 titles in alphabetical order.
The Apothecary Diaries
Based on the light novel series written by Natsu Hyūga and illustrated by Touko Shino, this anime has a lot to offer. It’s a great period piece set during the Ming Dynasty in China, with gorgeous animation from OLM and Toho Animation Studio, and a fascinating story filled with mystery, and a little political intrigue.
Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End
When a fantasy anime has me drawing comparisons to Violet Evergarden, that’s how you know you have something special! Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End is a wonderful fantasy drama about an Elf and her new mage apprentice embarking on various adventures, retracing the steps of her old party along the way. Given the lifespan of an elf compared to that of humans, the anime spans many decades, particularly the first episode, which takes place 50 years after defeating the Demon King with her old party. The anime taps into feelings of nostalgia for happy memories, and regret for taking certain moments in one’s life for granted. It’s easily one of the best shows I’ve seen so far this season.
My New Boss is Goofy
I don’t really know how to sell this one, because comedy is so subjective, especially in anime. I can say that this one does arguably the best job at balancing its subtle, yet absurd sense of humor with the drama of our main protagonist Kentarō Momose still recovering from his abusive previous employer. If you’re looking for that feel good office comedy that promotes a healthy work environment, you needn’t look any further.
Overtake
I didn’t think I’d be this interested in a Formula 4 racing series, but there’s more going on beneath the surface than just racing. A phrase that’s often repeated in the first episode is “do you best,” which is exactly what these characters are striving for. Whether it’s the driver, Haruka Asahina, or the freelance photographer Kouya Madoka who was assigned to cover the race, they are easy to route for. The animation itself is incredible, a nice blending of 2D and 3D during the racing sequences, and there is so much personality to these character designs.
Shy
I don’t actually believe that “superhero fatigue” is the problem with the waning success of the MCU. This is a genre that still has plenty of gas in the tank, so long as the people telling these stories have a firm grasp on why we love superheroes in the first place. They are meant to be a beacon of hope, a light in the darkness. They are meant to inspire others, but sometimes they may need to inspire themselves. That’s what makes Shy a great superhero story, and why Teru Momijiyama is one of the most relatable protagonists of the season. I didn’t realize how much I needed to see this, until the second episode ripped out my heart and reduced me to a puddle of tears. This one comes highly recommended!
That’ll do it for this episode! Thank you all for joining us! We have provided resources for those who wish to support the victims of the Israel-Hamas war: https://www.jewishvoiceforpeace.org/, https://www.ifnotnowmovement.org/, https://itch.io/b/2120/games-for-gaza, https://www.instagram.com/palestineredcrescent/, https://buildpalestine.com/2021/05/15/trusted-organizations-to-donate-to-palestine/, https://www.npr.org/2023/10/13/1205235922/help-israel-gaza-humanitarian-organizations.
