Top 5 Anticipated Anime for Spring 2020

You may not realize it since you’ve been trapped in your home for so long, but the seasons have changed and along with them, a new season of anime begins. You may be stuck trying to find new shows to watch and in that regard, I have great news. While so many things have been postponed or cancelled, new anime is still going to be pumped out (at least for now). So here are a few suggestions to keep a lookout for when you need new viewing material.

1. Gleipnir

Gleipnir is an upcoming anime about a boy named Shuichi Kagaya who suddenly wakes up one day as a massive monster. This monster has brute strength, fluffy paws, strong sense of smell, and depression from losing his humanity, but continues to hold onto his human morals. Accompanying him is a young girl named Claire Aoki who is sadistic and utterly twisted in her morals and quest to find monsters and her monster sister.

I am extremely excited for this anime for a few reasons. The biggest one is that I have no idea what to expect or what this even could remotely be about other than the small summary. Another thing I enjoyed is how the trailer revealed just snippets from the manga and nothing else. No dialogue, no explanation. Seeing how this might be some really wild psychological anime experience it could be one that takes spring by storm. The character descriptions that were given were also so out of the ordinary it really could make one think past just what’s on the surface.

-Alex Criscione

Gleipnir will be streaming on FunimationNOW starting April 5.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tr_nBgSuksA

2. Woodpecker Detective’s Office (Kitsutsuki Tanteidokoro):

At the end of the Meiji Era, a genius poet named, Ishikawa Takuboku, is struggling financially. Following a bizarre murder case, he makes the decision to do what anyone would in his situation, he starts a detective business with his friend, Kindaichi Kyosuke. This recent murder will be the first case for the Woodpecker Detective’s Office.

The first thing that attracted me to this show was the art, then I clicked the trailer and heard the music and I just knew I had to watch the whole thing. While trailer’s obviously only show bits of information, the murder mystery seems interesting and the involvement of poets and novelists working to solve a crime puts an interesting twist on an otherwise generic plot.

Woodpecker Detective’s Office will be streaming on Crunchyroll April 13.

3. Listeners

In the world of Listeners, it’s more than just music has vanished from the world – the entire concept of music is gone. That is, until one day, a boy named Echo Rec, finds Myuu (μ), a girl with an auxiliary port on her body. She’s doesn’t remember who or what she is, but Echo Rec knows she’s a “Player”. Together they decide to venture into the world and bring back music. The series has two big name creators, Dai Sato (Cowboy Bebop, Eureka Seven) and Jin (MEKAKUCITY ACTORS).

You had me at “Dai Sato.” The man has yet to make a series I didn’t absolutely love. If his name is on it, you should be watching it, I know I will be. Although his name being there was my initial draw, I found the plot fascinating and new. I love music and I think music is something we don’t always view to be as important as it is. I love this mashup idea of music and people being one thing. Echo Rec can literally plug instruments into Myuu and that’s how they make music. Plus there is a cast of interesting characters we glimpse in the trailer and I can’t wait to see them all in action.

Listeners will be streaming on FunimationNOW April 4^th, 2020

4. Tower of God (Kami no Tou):

The main protagonist of this story is a boy called Twenty-Fifth Bam. Bam’s life to this point has largely been spent trapped underneath a giant, mysterious Tower. His only company is his close friend, Rachel. One day, Rachel enters the Tower leaving Bam with no choice but to follow. Expected or not, Bam is met with challenges on each floor of the Tower, which he must overcome if he ever wants to find Rachel and get out.

Ever since I started reading Tower of God on LINE Webtoon, I wondered when it would get an anime. Seriously, SIU (Lee Jong-hui) has created a masterful story with this manhwa, well deserving of an anime. It has a great plot, twists and turns, and an amazing cast of characters that I can’t wait to see brought to life with voices and animation.

Tower of God started streaming on Crunchyroll April 2.

5. Appare-Ranman!:

Brought to you by P.A.Works, Inc (Angel Beats!, Another, Charlotte) Appare-Ranman! Takes place towards the end of the 19th century. Sorano Appare, a genius but socially awkward engineer, and Isshiki Kosame, a wise but cowardly samurai, are drifting in the sea between Japan and America. They have no money but come across an opportunity to enter the Trans-America Wild Race. If they win, the prize money would enable them to get home. The race is more dangerous than they expected though as the duo runs in to rivals, bandits, and the general challenge of surviving in the wilderness as they race through America, starting in Los Angeles with the finish line in New York.

I was immediately smitten with this animation style. It’s similar to shows liks Charlotte and Angel Beats! But it has this almost dusty overlay that makes it look westernized. I also love the character design, Appare looks awesome and the glimpses of other characters we see makes it seem like they will be just as fascinating to see on screen. There’s something immediately intriguing about a cross country race, we’ve seen it over and over in movies, books, and shows, and hopefully, Appare-Ranman! will become another great race.

Appare-Ranman! will be streaming on FunimationNOW April 10^th, 2020