John’s Picks for 2020’s Best TV Anime

The 2020 COVID-19 pandemic affected Japan’s anime industry as it did everything else in the world, resulting in a potentially contracted spring broadcast season and a number of anime television series delayed or broadcast with significant delays. In fact, after just four episodes, the continued broadcast of Kingdom season 3 was delayed for an entire year. So while 2019 premiered roughly 219 anime television and web series, 2020 brought viewers a slightly lessened 198 estimated new broadcasts. Excluding continuing titles, which includes new seasons that continued previous episode numbering, I was lucky to be able to watch introductory episodes of all of the completely new 2020 broadcast anime excepting the super-deformed spin-off mini-series Hulaing Babies☆Puchi. In my perspective, 2020 delivered plenty of strong new anime, and a number of unusual titles, but rather few titles of exceptional excellence. My “best of” list is, of course, subjective. And unlike many other “best of 2020” lists on the web, mine excludes 2019 titles that premiered or concluded in America this year.

Director Masaaki Yuasa rose to prominence among the most hardcore otaku in 1997 due to his short film Noiseman Sound Insect. His name recognition expanded considerably in 2004 with the premiere of his first feature film, Mind Game. He again ascended to a new plateau of prominence in 2017 with the sequence of Night Is Short, Walk On Girl, Lu Over the Wall, Devilman Crybaby, and Ride Your Wave. So anticipation was high for his 2020 original television series Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken! (Eizouken ni wa Te o Dasu na!), and the show didn’t disappoint. A loving homage to the art of anime, “Eizouken” distinctly referenced Hayao Miyazaki’s Future Boy Conan, Katsuhiro Otomo’s Akira, animator Yoshinori Kanada, Mamoru Oshii’s Ghost in the Shell, as well as generations of giant robot anime. Arguably more than anime other anime production since the golden age, “Eizouken” was clearly an animation staff’s labor of love and an opportunity to express personal aesthetics through animation technique specifically as animators including Yoshinori Kanda, Ichiro Itano, Hiroyuki Okiura, and Toshiyuki Inoue did in the 80s and early 90s. The dynamic trio of protagonists Midori, Sayaka, and Tsubame keep the show bubbly and brisk. Sayaka Kanamori in particular functions well as a subtle cynical tsukkomi to Midori Asakusa’s boké while Tsubame Mizusaki is literally the group’s kanban musume. Despite little actually occurring within the narrative, the show exuberantly espouses its affection and respect for the creative artistry of hand drawn anime. The show’s enthusiasm is both educational and infectious for viewers.

Runway de Waratte seems to often be overlooked since it’s such a subdued and introspective slice of life drama. Yet those characteristics are precisely what make the show so compelling. Unlike previous fashion industry anime including Gokinjo Monogatari and Paradise Kiss that focus heavily upon fashion itself, Smile Down the Runway is a deeply humanistic show that focuses its emphasis on character development. Predictably, the drama introduces numerous challenges and conflicts that seem highly coincidental and scripted; however, closer inspection reveals that every conflict arises naturally as a result of the rational and believable choices the characters make. The show is populated by characters who feel grounded and real, who make their decisions thoughtfully, and who struggle with real-world obstacles. Moreover, the story doesn’t play favorites, so outcomes aren’t predictable, and even the child prodigies don’t always come out on top. Runway de Waratte was a tremendous surprise that felt far more real and sympathetic than one would expect from shows of its ilk.

One of the biggest surprises of the year had to have been Studio Pierrot’s explosive Akudama Drive. On an immediate and superficial level, the show is everything foreigners assume anime to be, cranked up to eleven: infinitely stylish characters, sultry eroticism, gratuitous bloody violence, a Blade Runner inspired aesthetic, mature storytelling including unpredictable major character deaths. The entire production is so deliberately designed to epitomize sophisticated adult animation that it also instantly become impossible to take seriously. The show looks and feels like hyperbolic self-parody. At the same time, its lush production values and sheer sophisticated spectacle are undeniable. However, as this anime take on Suicide Squad unfolds, it also reveals a genuine heart. The characters eventually reveal just enough of themselves to become sympathetic. Viewers begin to look beyond the artifice and care about the story development and how honor among thieves is still a sort of respectable morality. And by its end the wild ride is a breathless spectacle that also espouses a satisfying message.

Production I.G so rarely disappoints that frequently an I.G pedigree feels like an automatic handicap over other shows. Moriarty the Patriot (Yuyoku no Moriarty) isn’t flawless, but its strengths amply compensate for its weaknesses. Telling the tale of Sherlock Holmes from antagonist Henry Moriarty’s perspective isn’t a remarkably original narrative, yet its stylistic aplomb elevates the prosaic concept. Complex and deep characterization is almost non-existent; the supporting characters are little more than their roles. The series’ narrative structure also feels sparse and under-developed. The story takes great care to set up a strong foundation, but then it indulges in numerous great shortcuts and lapses. However, the stylish bishounen emphasis on elaborate deception and double-crossing feels like a direct successor to Death Note. And the lush, vividly rendered art design is precise and marvelous.

Somali and the Forest Spirit (Somali to Mori no Kamisama) is likewise yet more so an anime of unique strengths that’s compromised by appreciable weaknesses. With a Ghibli-esque art design and a vaguely Ghibli-esque tone, the show is easy to impulsively esteem. This is a lovely looking show but one with more potential than it fulfills. The series introduces many prominent philosophical themes including the irrationality of discrimination, the perception of evil residing within the eye of the beholder, the justification – if one exists – for violence, the value of honesty versus compassionate lies, and the just reward for wrongdoing. But the show is much better at introducing these thematic questions than answering them. In most cases the show sets up a scenario but then merely turns the page, leaving the moral quandary unanswered. However, strictly in terms of immersive atmosphere and visual creativity, Somali and the Forest Spirit ranks among the best offerings of the year.

I’ll have forthcoming another article discussing my runner-up titles and my picks of the most fascinating, unusual, quirky, and noteworthy premieres of 2020.

This is my working list of 2020’s TV & web anime premieres.

100-man no Inochi no Ue ni Ore wa Tatte Iru
22/7
A3! Season Autumn & Winter
A3! Season Spring & Summer
Adachi to Shimamura
Akudama Drive
Ani ni Tsukeru Kusuri wa Nai 4
Anime Kapibara-san
Anoyo no Subete wa, Obakegumi!
Appare-Ranman!
Arad: Gyakuten no Wa
Argonavis from BanG Dream!
ARP Backstage Pass
Arte
Asatel: Mirai no Mukashibanashi
Assault Lily: Bouquet
Baki: Dai Raitaisai-hen
Bakugan Armored Alliance
BanG Dream! 3rd Season
BanG Dream! Garupa Pico ~Oomori~
Battle Spirits: Kakumei no Galette [web anime]
Bessatsu Olympia Kyklos
Beyblade Burst Sparking
BNA
Boku no Tonari ni Ankoku Hankaishin ga Imasu.
Breakers
Bungo to Alchemist: Shinpan no Haguruma
Cap Kakumei Bottleman
Cardfight!! Vanguard Gaiden: If
Chou Futsuu Toshi Kashiwa Densetsu R
D4DJ First Mix
Darwin’s Game
Deca-Dence
Digimon Adventure:
Dogeza de Tanondemita
Dokyuu Hentai HxEros
Dorohedoro
Dragon Quest: Dai no Daibouken (2020)
Dragon’s Dogma
Duel Masters King
Dungeon ni Deai wo Motomeru no wa Machigatteiru no Darou ka III
Eizouken ni wa Te wo Dasuna!
Enn Enn no Shouboutai: Ni no Shou
Eternity: Shinya no Nurekoi Channel?
Fireball Gebaude Baude
Fruits Basket 2nd Season
Fugou Keiji: Balance:UNLIMITED
Fushigi Dagashiya Zenitendou
Gal to Kyouryuu
Gal-gaku. ~Sei Girls Square Gakuin~
Get Up! Get Live! #GeraGera
Ghost in the Shell SAC 2045
Gibiate
Gleipnir
Gochuumon wa Usagi Desu ka? Bloom
Granblue Fantasy The Animation Season 2: Djeeta-hen special
Gundam Build Fighters Re:RISE 2nd season
Guraburu!
Hachi-nan tte, Sore wa Nai deshou!
Haikyuu!!: To the Top
Hakushon Daimaou 2020
Hanyo no Yashahime Sengoku Otogizoushi
Hatena☆Illusion
Healin’ Good♥Precure
Heya Camp△
Higurashi no Naku Koro ni (2020)
Himitsukessha Taka no Tsume: Golden Spell
Honzuki no Gekokujou: Shisho ni Naru Tame ni wa Shudan wo Erandeiraremasen 2nd Season
Houkago Teibou Nisshi
Housekisho Richard-shi no Nazo Kantei
Hulaing Babies: Aratame Staying Babies
Hulaing Babies☆Puchi
Hypnosis Mic: Division Rap Battle – Rhyme Anima
ID:INVADED
IDOLiSH7: Second BEAT!
Ikebukuro West Gate Park
Infinite Dendrogram
Inu to Neko Docchi mo Katteru to Mainichi Tanoshii
Isekai Quartet 2
Ishuzoku Reviewers
Itai no wa Iya nano de Bougyoryoku ni Kyokufuri Shitai to Omoimasu.
Iwa Kakeru! Sport Climbing Girls
Jashin-chan Dropkick’
Jibaku Shounen Hanako-kun
Jujutsu Kaisen
Kaeru no Pickles: Kimochi no Iro
Kaguya-sama wa Kokurasetai? Tensai-tachi no Renai Zunousen
Kaiju Step Wandabada 2nd Season
Kakushigoto
Kami no Tou: Tower of God
Kamisama ni Natta hi
Kami-tachi ni Hirowareta Otoko
Kanojo, Okarishimasu
Kimi to Boku no Saigo no Senjou, Aruiwa Sekai ga Hajimaru Seisen
Kingdom 3rd Season
King’s Raid: Ishi wo Tsugumono-tachi
Kitsutsuki Tantei-Dokoro
Koi to Producer: EVOL×LOVE
Koisuru Asteroid
Komatta Jii-san
Kotodama Shoujo -Microphone soul spinners-
Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear
Kusoge-tte Iuna!
Kuutei Dragons
Kyojinzoku no Hanayome
Kyokou Suiri
LALALACOCO
LALALACOCO II
Lapis Re:LiGHTs
Listeners
Love Live! Nijigasaki Gakuen School Idol Doukoukai
Maesetsu!
Magatsu Wahrheit: Zuerst
Magia Record: Mahou Shoujo Madoka?Magica Gaiden
Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei: Raihousha-hen
Majo no Tabitabi
Major 2nd Second Series
Majutsushi Orphen Hagure Tabi
Maou Gakuin no Futekigousha
Maoujou de Oyasumi
Mashin Eiyuuden Wataru: Nanatama no Ryujinmaru
Mewkledreamy
Mogu Mogu Mogyu [Oha Star anime]
Monster Musume no Oisha-san
Motto! Majime ni Fumajime Kaiketsu Zorori
Munou na Nana
Murenase! Seton Gakuen
Mushikago no Cagaster
Nami yo Kiite Kure
Natsunagu!
Nekopara
Nihon Chinbotsu 2020
Ninja Collection
Nintama Rantarou no Uchuu Daibouken with Cosmic Front Next
Noblesse
Norimono Man: Mobile Land no Car-kun
number24
Obake Zukan
Ochikobore Fruit Tart
Oda Cinnamon Nobunaga
One Room Third Season
Ookami-san wa Taberaretai
Ooya-san to Boku
Ore no Yubi de Midarero. Heiten-go no Salon
Oshi ga Budoukan Ittekuretara Shinu
Osomatsu-san 3rd Season
Otome Game no Hametsu Flag shika Nai Akuyaku Reijou ni Tensei shite Shimatta…
Otona Nya Koi no Shikata ga Wakarane!
Overflow
PazuDora season 3
pet
Peter Grill to Kenja no Jikan
Plunderer
Poccolies
Pocket Monster Sword?Shield: Hakumei no Tsubasa
Princess Connect! Re:Dive
Rail Romanesque
Re:Zero kara Hajimeru Isekai Seikatsu 2nd Season
Rebirth
Rikei ga Koi ni Ochita no de Shoumei Shite Mita.
Runway de Waratte
Saikyo Kamizmode!
Sakura Kakumei ~Hana Saku Otome-tachi~ [web anime]
Senyoku no Sigrdrifa
Shachou, Battle no Jikan desu!
Shadowverse
Shin Sakura Taisen the Animation
Shironeko Project: Zero Chronicle
Shokugeki no Souma: Gou no Sara
Show By Rock!! Mashumairesh!!
Somali to Mori no Kamisama
Sore dake ga Neck
Strike Witches: Road to Berlin
Sword Art Online: Alicization – War of Underworld part 2
Taeko no Nichijou 2nd season
Taiso Samurai
Tales of Crestoria: Toga Waga o Shoite Kare wa Tatsu promotional web anime
Tamayomi
The God of High School
Toaru Kagaku no Railgun T
Toji no Miko: Kizamishi Issen no Tomoshibi
Tomica Kizuna Gattai: Earth Granner
Tonikaku Kawaii
Tototsu ni Egypt Kami
Tsugu Tsugumomo
Tsukiuta. The Animation 2
TV Yarou Nanaana: Kaibutsu Kraken wo Oe!
Umayon
Utau Soccer Panda Mifanda
Uzaki-chan wa Asobitai!
Watanuki-san Chi to
Yahari Ore no Seishun Love Comedy wa Machigatteiru. Kan
Yatogame-chan Kansatsu Nikki 2 Satsume
Yesterday wo Utatte
Yu☆Gi☆Oh: Sevens
Yuukoku no Moriarty
Zashiki Warashi no Tatami-chan [web anime]
Zoids Wild Senki [web anime]