Written by Veda Kota
Summer brings many things besides vacations and great weather. Hot off the heels of one of the biggest spring anime seasons in recent history, the Summer 2023 anime season promises some great titles for your vacation pleasures. Take a look at this list to see if there’s anything that catches your eye!
Horimiya – The Missing Pieces
Release Date: July 1, 2023
Streaming on: Crunchyroll
Horimiya (Hori-san to Miyamura-kun) has become one of the more beloved modern school romance series with its distinct art style and fleshed out cast of characters. It follows Kyouko Hori and Izumi Miyamura, two seemingly opposite students. But a chance encounter outside of school allows them to see each other without the false veneer they put on at school. From there, a friendship blossoms, and eventual romance takes place, all with engaging side plots and dialogue that’s bound to make anyone smile. This side-story heavy anime is reportedly going to cover popular short stories that did not make it into the main story of the anime/manga. If you liked Horimiya or just want a break from more action-packed genres, check out Horimiya: The Missing Pieces!
Mushoku Tensei (Season 2)
Release Date: July 1
Streaming on: Crunchyroll
According to various forums, each episode of Mushoku Tensei took sux months to make, and to no one’s surprise, the animation and story direction was incredible. The author reportedly did not want a poor adaptation of his work, as the manga is densely packed with tons of lore and character development. After a successful first season, Mushoku Tensei is returning for another run in July.
The story follows a 34-year-old Japanese NEET (not engaged in employment, education, or training) after he gets evicted from his residence following the death of his parents. He comes to the conclusion that his life was for nothing, and in an attempt to bring meaning to it, he dies trying to save a group of teenagers from a speeding truck. When he wakes up, he finds that he has been reincarnated as a baby named Rudeus Greyrat in a fictional world that uses magic.
Due to his ability and more mature mind, he excels in all aspects of sorcery and finally feels as if he has found his place. However, a series of magical disasters threatens to disturb the peace of his new home by forcing thousands to flee. The story follows Rudeus’ growth in his new home while trying to find peace with the life he had before. Some elements in the show are questionable, as numerous fans have noted (which include themes of sexual assault, so watch with caution). Anime often deals with very uncomfortable themes and sometimes can show them quite flagrantly, so if themes like these trigger you, yours truly would advise staying away from this show.
The Girl I Like Forgot Her Glasses
Release: July 4, 2023
Stream On: Crunchyroll
Kaede Komura has always had his eyes on the beautiful Ai Mie. He sits next to her in class and hopes that one day she will have eyes for him. A few days after getting to know her, Kaede realizes that Ai forgot her glasses, as she is squinting at him looking rather confused. Throughout their friendship, Kaede realizes that Ai forgetting her glasses is a rather normal thing, and Kaede, in his earnestness to get close to Ai, gladly helps her with tasks that would require her to use her glasses. As Ai and Kaede grow closer to each other, their feelings blossom and it makes for a delightfully charming school romance anime.
Jujutsu Kaisen (Season 2)
Release Date: July 6, 2023
Streaming On: Crunchyroll
Originally a manga series created by Gege Akutami, Jujutsu Kaisen has become a wildly successful franchise, spawning an extremely successful first season, a movie, and millions of pieces of merchandise.
The first season introduced the viewers to Yuuji Itadaori, an athletically gifted teenager living a relatively normal life. One day, his classmates are attacked by a series of curses, and in his impulsivity, Yuuji decides to eat the finger of Ryomen Sukuna, placing a share of the curses in his own body. Taken in by a powerful sorcerer, Gojo Satoru, Yuuji enrolls in Tokyo Jujutsu High School, where he meets other students like him and encounters his fair share of curses and personal conflicts.
The first season served as more of an introduction to the characters, their personalities, and the various settings of present-day Tokyo. According to various articles, the second season will cover Gojo’s Past Arc and the infamous Shibuya Arc, which may put the episode count at somewhere between 23-26 episodes.
The Shibuya Arc is widely considered by fans to be one of the best plot points in the story, but be warned, it involves major amounts of heartbreak. Jujutsu Kaisen is filled with heart, humor, and heartbreak and will leave any viewer wanting more. The strong, dynamic personalities of the characters and heart-wrenching stories all provide a timeless formula for an incredible show. If you like anime like Yu Yu Hakusho, Demon Slayer, and Noragami, Jujutsu Kaisen will be an instant classic.
The Devil is a Part-Timer! (Season 3)
Release Date: July 13, 2023
Streaming on: Crunchyroll
After almost 10 years of being off the air, and a successful second season, The Devil is a Part-Timer! returns for a third season. Originally conceived as a light novel, The Devil is a Part-Timer! follows Sadao Maou and Shiro Ashiya (Satan and Alciel) as they escape the demon world of Ente Isla. They escape through a magical gate which leads them to modern-day Tokyo and assume more human-like forms.
However, due to the lack of magical power on Earth and them barely being able to survive, they both decide to take up a part-time job at MgRonald’s in order to earn money. One day while working, he meets the human form of the hero Emilia as Emi Yusa, and as the story continues, they encounter daily human problems and other scenarios in rather comical ways. The show is full of humor, wit, and plain silliness as it takes us through the lives of three otherworldly beings just trying to survive. If you want to simply sit down and laugh when you turn on your TV, this show is for you.
