Spring Cleaning: The Spring 2023 Anime Impressions Part 1 - Renegade Animation #107

In this episode, Captain Kaye, The Animation Guru, and Teresa take a stroll through the blossoming garden of Spring 2023's new anime offerings. Part 1 includes titles categorized under action/adventure, slice of life/drama, and "other" (those that don't fall neatly into one genre).

What’s going on, everyone? This is your Captain speaking, and you know what time it is? It’s time for TOO MUCH ANIME! Sure, we say that every season, but what’s cool about Spring 2023 is that we actually had quantifiably more good shows to discuss than bad. For part 1 specifically, even the action/adventure anime at the bottom of the list were still at least watchable. Tune into the podcast if you want to hear the full discussion. Featured below is our collective top 3 recommendations.

---

---

Hell’s Paradise

This is a MAPPA production, so of course it’s going to look great! But there is so much more to love about this anime aside from its gorgeous animation. We’ve seen stories like this before, where a group of criminals are sent on a suicide mission in exchange for some kind of reward. However, this show takes a more nuanced approach, especially with our main protagonist and how he ended up incarcerated. Be warned, this show can be pretty violent, and there are references to suicide in the first three episodes. Out of all the action/adventure anime on the list, this one stood out the most!

Insomniacs After School

I swear it’s only a coincidence that Sentai Filmworks acquired both Insomniacs After School and last summer’s Call of the Night, both of which were produced by Liden Films. Fortunately their similarities begin and end with a pair of kindred spirits who enjoy each other’s company in the hours where the rest of the world is asleep. Anyone with even a passing interest in astronomy will love the visual presentation of this series, the gorgeous night setting, and just the overall lo-fi atmosphere. Of course, what matters the most is that our two romantic leads share great chemistry, and I can’t wait to see where things go beyond the first three episodes!

Heavenly Delusion

I’m glad we actually get to cover an anime that’s a Disney+/Hulu exclusive for the first time on this podcast! But that’s not the only reason why I love Heavenly Delusion. It’s a post-apocalyptic anime that follows two parallel storylines: one of them is set in an isolated, indoor utopian society referred to as “Heaven,” while the other features a pair exploring “Hell,” the world outside the walls of the facility. There’s an air of mystery that consistently kept me engaged, and the show never gets bogged down by too much exposition. It excels in writing well-rounded character, in a world that feels lived in, exploring a number of complex themes. You do not want to miss this one.

That’ll do for Part 1! Thank you for joining us, and stay tuned next week for Part 2. Please visit https://entertainmentcommunityfund.org/ and donate under the designation of Film and Television if you wish to support those that are effected by the 2023 WGA Writers’ Strike!

---

---