I am back to my usual routine and this time I will be presenting shows that I personally enjoyed though some of them are quite questionable because of heavy reliance on the infamous ecchi tropes, therefore I would like to say it at the beginning that this is a list that is definitely not for the general audience, this list caters to a very few and niche fandom in the anime community that have seen almost every genre the industry has to offer (except Yaoi, you can miss me with that stuff). So without any more reservations let’s get this one on the road!

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1. Killing Bites

Genres: Action, Ecchi, Sci-Fi, Seinen

Studio: LIDENFILMS

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We’re starting with something heavy right off the bat with this show that focuses on underground battles involving characters with animal features/ characteristics, furries unite!

Anthropomorphism is one of the greatest fetish in the anime industry and it is no surprise if a show decides to capitalize on that wave of hungry furries and reach the limelight. However despite being heavy on fan service, the show did not let it be its only saving grace as it provided quite an enjoyable royal rumble tournament involving 4 different groups of anthropomorphic peeps that went on for surprising twists and turns that threw me in for a loop that I didn’t quite expect out of show that screams of fetish all over its face. The ending is something to watch out for too.

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2. Dagashi Kashi 2

Genres: Slice of Life, Comedy, Shounen

Studio: Tezaka Productions

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If I were to describe the show in in a short phrase, I would say that it is about eating Japanese snacks in a lewd and suggestive way, well the first season was like that in the least but this season was a bit of downer on that department since the pillar of the show, Hotaru was absent for the majority of the series’ run though it tried to compensate by adding characters to the roster it was nearly not enough to cover the hole that the absence of Hotaru caused in the series. Another blow to the show is that the studio adapting the series was changed therefore leading to some minor changes in the character designs as well and if I were to be completely honest, the first season definitely has the edge regarding that matter and the final nail on the coffin, the show only runs for 12- 13 minutes per episode… that’s too dang short!

Well it is not like all hope is lost for the series since there’s still Saya which more or less stands on equal footing against Hotaru. Another positive point is that the ecchi comedy may have suffered due to Hotaru’s absence the romance part shone brighter on its stead and made the wait for Hotaru’s return worth it (not on the same level as the return of the mad scientist though).

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3. Toji no Miko (Katana Maidens)

Genres: Action, Fantasy

Studio: Studio Gokumi

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This one has probably gone under the radar of many because it doesn’t really have any quirks that allowed it to garner attention, however, I was strangely hooked by it’s mediocrity for reasons I can’t really explain, maybe it is the soundtrack? The characters and their interactions? The Yuri flags? Sword fights based on real life sword styles? The not so bad CG? The toothpaste flavored ice cream? Nene? Or maybe it is the combination of all those things I’ve stated? Well, regardless of whatever it is one things is certain and that it was fun while it lasted and watching all of its 24 episodes was a time well spent and I wouldn’t mind having a sequel/ prequel for this show, in fact as of writing I’ve already added the show Mini Toji in my Winter 2019 watch list which is a series of short animations about the daily lives of the MCs from the anime and from its counterpart game.

By the way I just recently found this video on youtube and it compiled all the sword fights from the series and I am only realizing now how great the choreography of this show's battle scenes are, maybe the use of real life sword styles and not too over flashy movements made them oddly satisfying compared to what the known battle shows has to offer.

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4. Yuragi-sou no Yuuna-san (Yuuna and the Haunted Hot Springs)

Genres: Harem, Comedy, Supernatural, Romance, Ecchi, Shounen

Studio: Xebec

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As a young boy I was originally focused on shows with Ecchi tag and this show just reminded me of why I used to love shows under the genre. Ecchi shows nowadays are too heavy on the ecchiness that they forgot to add other elements to keep viewers entertained aside from flashing boobies here and there compared to the ones I used to watch back then that integrated the comedy part naturally and develop the characters well that I would end up rooting for one or two to win the MC cup and yet, still able to deliver the ecchi as per the contract instructed. I may sound like a deviant talking about this genre but I assure you that the pre-darkness seasons of To Love Ru will give you a good time in more ways than one. This show is the closest one that I have seen recently to To Love Ru hence the inclusion in this list.

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5. Chio-chan no Tsuugakuro (Chio's School Road)

Genres: Comedy, Seinen

Studio: Diomedea

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The show had a lot of promise and funny moments (remembering the Kabaddi game still makes me chuckle) that I considered it to be a rival of Asobi Asobase until the first half of the season but it got staled later on and was then forgotten by many. It is not bad but not the best either, it will rank above average but it has tough luck being lined up together with Grand Blue and Asobi Asobase in the same season, no wonder it was vanished to obscurity never to see the light of the comedy stage again lol.

Seriously though, if you have the hots for comedy shows (like me) you should not pass up on this one or if I can’t convince you to watch it in full then just give the Kabaddi match a try, that scene is among the best ones I could think of in the long list of comedy stunts I’ve seen in my life.

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6. Harukana Receive

Genres: Sports, Slice of Life

Studio: C2C

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The ultimate ogle fest show because it is freaking beach volleyball which means that all episode are beach episode and it takes no genius to know what that entails! Well my sudden outburst of emotion aside, the show is not really suggestive on that regard and they just enjoy playing with the ball while clad in the best attire for the occasion - swimsuits.

Harukana Receive was more of a slice of life show than it was of a sports, not that it was a bad thing since I am quite fond of SoL shows, particularly well done ones like this, it managed to pull through by building an admirable cast that honed each other towards greatness though the presence of Akari was put into question by many, I believe her role was to become the link that will bring all 5 of the characters together even after cutting each others dream short by their own comrades hands. The acceptance and passing of the will of the defeated was also a nice touch to close the series but a second season is more than welcome if I were to be more greedy because I would like to see the match between two old teammates that once dominated the beach volleyball scene (definitely not here for the toned bodies of athletes dripping in sweat under the heat of the sun and of the moment).

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7. Comic Girls

Genres: Comedy, Slice of Life

Studio: Nexus

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This may not be the right list to include this one because this show is more or less above the average and ranked decently in numerous polls however as I no longer plan to make any other anime list for CY 2018 and given that this one didn’t made it to my top list then I will just place it here for publicity’s sake.

This is the Cute Girls Doing Cute Things (CGDCT) show of Spring 2018 anime season and I used this to fill the space that Yuru Camp left when the Winter season ended. Just like most shows under the genre it featured a group of girls that shares the same passion and hangs out together whether they be at school studying, at their dorm working or just having quality time together. It has done what you’d expect out of a show like this but they played their ending well by making it a bit emotional and inspiring that made all the difficulties, failures and frustrations that Kaos, the show's main character, has been through worth it when she finally got the break that she needs as a manga artist - serialization.

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8. Uma Musume: Pretty Derby

Genres: Comedy, Slice of Life, Sports

Studio: P.A. Works

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Just like Comic Girls this is a show that I put in here because I have no other list to fit it in but I seriously want to mention it because it was one of the memorable pieces I’ve seen last year.

The show featured horse girls that competes in tournaments to determine who the best horse girl is and who will get the chance to sing and dance on stage and be the target of adoration of almost everyone in the anime since horse girl racing seems to be a serious business in their world. The show has a big set of characters and a lot of rivalries going on making every race as exciting as the other because even the main character rarely gets the carrot at the end of the race.

The characters are likeable specially El Condor Pasa because of her bubbly and competitive nature and her way of talking is a personal favorite of mine, almost on the same level as my enjoyment of characters talking in Kansai dialect.

Some viewers were disappointed by the outcome of the final race though, however I believe the show did okay on that one especially in the commentary and animation part, albeit that it looks far-fetched to have a race with every participant crossing the finish line simultaneously.

Fun fact: All the girls are based on real race horse.
Sad fact: The horse that the MC, Special Week, was based on died during the run of the series.

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9. Release the Spyce

Genres: Action, School

Studio: Lay-duce

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The expectation towards cute spies may have been too high post Princess Principal’s airing that redefined what moe looking anime could pull off if handled in an unexpected manner. Though it is a show with cute spies it may come as a stretch to compare this one with Princess Principal because this show focused more on action while the former is more on the clever and cunning nature of working as spies. The show appeals more on the moe anime audience (which includes me) because of its simpler plot and cute character interactions that one could mistake it for any CGDCT anime, not to mention the similarity of the character designs to Yuru Yuri's because the same guy worked on the two series. Well it is not like it is all fun and games in this show either, there are also good plot twists here and there that made it entitled to use the espionage setting and to close the deal, the show’s soundtrack will be your next jam.

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10. Senran Kagura Shinovi Master: Tokyo Youma-hen

Genres: Action, Comedy, Ecchi, School

Studio: TNK

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If you think I am here for the ecchi then you must be thinking too low of me, the action then? Not really, the animation is normal more or less and the fight sequence is nothing to take note of either. Then why am I listing it here? For the laugh obviously, this show is like a more potent version of Keijo!!!!!!!! with higher nudity and more nonsensical stuff that the anime made sense of and it was pure gold when a show not trying to be clever with its joke finds its way to my funny bone. The suggestive dialogues during dire moments makes it even better that at the back of my mind I was taking note of possible meme materials and I might post some of the finished products when I run out of things to talk about.

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Phew... Finally done with 2018 anime list but of course it won't be complete without the OP/ ED category so I guess that will be what my next post will be about. Anyway thanks to everyone who has read yet another article from yours truly and I hope that you will be here again next time. Well then, see you again!

Ciao~