The 5 Best Anime Premieres of Fall 2023, Ranked
Photo Courtesy of Crunchyroll
The fall is here, and the end of the year is fast approaching, but not without producing a final round of 2023 anime. Having braved the darkest depths of this season’s offerings by watching just about every premiere (aside from sequels I’m not caught up on), I can confidently say that no one else should do that. I’ve seen things you people wouldn’t believe… ninjas attacking World War II general Douglas McArthur, anime Marie Antoinette trying to escape “guillotine-kun,” a grown man who’s been turned into a pig saying some of the most unspeakable bilge that’s ever reached a television set, and lots and lots of stupid names (Boromir Napolitan, Fate Graphite, Riselia Ray Crystalia, to name a few).
No single person is meant to endure this many mediocre cartoons, but luckily, I lived to tell the tale and have returned with a few treasures from this grim journey. In all seriousness though, this season has commendable breadth, and while a few made me question my life choices, there were also plenty of solid debuts that will appeal to a wide range of palates. Here are the five best anime premieres of fall 2023—and a few honorable mentions, too.
Honorable Mentions
Ron Kamonohashi: Deranged Detective is a whodunit where an unlikely Holmes and Watson-pairing use their differing talents to solve crimes. Its first episode showcased some fun deduction alongside buddy cop antics, as our weirdo detective unfurled mysteries that made clear why he needs a grounded partner. If this initial case is any indication, this one may be an entertaining weekly procedural.
Tearmoon Kingdom has the audacity to open with a grim stretch where the main character, who is a clear analog to a certain cake-loving French queen, wallows in prison until getting guillotined, at which point it’s revealed that this story is actually a reincarnation comedy where our protagonist needs to avert her future beheading. Thanks to its humor and ridiculous history-fueled hook, it somehow pulled off this tonal whiplash-inducing transition.
On the comfier side, My New Boss Is Goofy is a fluffy workplace comedy where Kentaro finds himself under the tutelage of Yuusei, a kindhearted airhead. More than its gags, this premiere’s main strength is how it depicts Kentaro’s recovery from the emotional abuse he suffered at his last job. Stiff animation makes it more difficult to enjoy these charms than it should be, but it’s still very sweet.
Overtake! is a grounded drama about a photojournalist who is unexpectedly drawn into the world of F4 racing. Due to its concise communication of its protagonists’ career hangups, this episode set up interesting stakes that I’d like to see play out.
Although I know little about Precure, the long-running series that Power of Hope ~Precure Full Bloom~ is spun off from, I was still drawn in by its climate change-fueled ennui and relatable depictions of getting older. It follows a group of ex-magical girls as they deal with the trials of adulthood, and thus far, it has made good on this compelling setup.
5. Undead Unluck
Between its over-the-top violence, frenetic animation, and general degree of craft, Undead Unluck’s premiere is propelled by madcap creativity that makes it difficult to look away from its gleeful carnage. We follow Fuuko, a young woman cursed with an ability that causes anyone she touches to be killed in a freak accident shortly thereafter. Because of this, she’s consumed by isolation and guilt until she meets Andy, a man incapable of dying who is sick of his immortal life. The two strike up a partnership due to their contrasting abilities but quickly come in the crosshairs of an organization that wants both of their powers. This episode is stunning from the jump, with a largely wordless introduction that cuts between the horrible moment when Fuuko first learned about her powers and the climax of a romance manga she’s reading, instantly cluing us in to her heavy past and longing for connection. This sequence makes it crystal clear that David Production has a talented crew on this project, and these opening scenes switch between entirely different art styles and eye-catching imagery to succinctly capture Fuuko’s headspace.
From here, we’re treated to playful mayhem as Andy showcases that he can use his regenerating body to perform all manner of cartoonish body horror, shooting blood from severed limbs to launch himself like a rocket or shoving a jagged bone through a building to slow down his descent. While this all sounds outrageously gross, the maximalist vibe of the proceedings makes it come across as gleefully dumb instead of nauseating, which pairs well with the rapid pacing and punchy sense of motion that captures these explosive gestures. However, there is a massive caveat to my recommendation for this one: our introduction to these characters relies on a recurring unfunny “gag” where Andy repeatedly sexually harasses and gropes Fuuko to activate her ability that stems from physical contact. Honestly, this sucks quite badly, and the only reason it didn’t cause me to entirely lose faith in this story is because I’ve read that this dynamic is eventually retired and never remarked upon again. But for now, it severely undermines this debut, and I don’t fault anyone for steering clear because of it.
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