Spring 2024 Anime releases: Isekai fever

Based on a light novel series with a manga adaptation. The gods grew bored and created a battle of wits, “play of the gods”. Only people who have received a special power, known as Apostles, are allowed to compete in this play of the gods. The incentive? Their wish will be granted, if they can be victorious ten times. Though no one has achieved it yet. Fay, a human with a 3 victory streak, has been nominated by the goddess Leoleshea to battle against her.

Based on a light novel series with a manga adaptation and anime adaptation, spin-offs and visual novels. The story follows the traveling merchant Kraft Lawrence in a typical fantasy world. One night he meets the 600-year-old wolf deity Holo, who takes on the form of a teenage girl. She is a goddess of harvest, blessing the crops of the town she lives in. But lately the townsfolk have been applying new methods to secure good harvests. Wanting to travel back to her homeland now, Holo strikes a deal with Lawrence so she can become his travel companion. Thanks to Holo’s wisdom the merchant is making bigger profits, but now they attract unwanted attention from the Church.

Based on a light novel series with a manga adaptation. A pretty normal sorcerer has met his end in a duel and reincarnates as Llyod, the seventh prince of the Kingdom of Saloum. This new life offers him the opportunity to learn magic again, but with the knowledge from his previous life and the benefits of his new one.

Based on a manga series with several spin-offs. The story focuses on Ryū Sasakura, a genius bartender who uses his talents to ease the worries and soothe the souls of troubled customers.

Yuru Camp, alternatively known as Laid-Back Camp, is based on a manga series with live action and video game adaptations. The protagonist Rin Shima enjoys going on solo camping trips, until Nadeshiko Kagamihara invites her to their high school’s camping club. Together with other classmates they start travelling around Japan, just enjoying camping. It’s textbook wholesomeness.

Based on a light novel series, with a manga adaptation and several spin-offs. The protagonist Satoru Mikami is a run of the mill salaryman. But as he gets stabbed one day, his life changes as he reincarnates as a slime in a fantastical world. He gains new skills, notably one that allows him to devour anything and copy its appearance and skills. He befriends Veldora, a powerful but imprisoned Storm Dragon. Using his ability, he’s able to break the seal and free Veldora, who names him Rimuru. Together they found the nation of Tempest. With their wit and power they quickly draw a lot of attention; attracting both allies and enemies alike.

Based on a web and light novel series with manga and anime adaptations. The story takes place in the 2090s in a world where technology has polished magic, but being able to actually use magic is a genetic trait. We follow siblings Tatsuya and Miyuki from the Yotsuba clan. They enroll in a high school for magic users, which divides its students based on their abilities. While Miyuki is one of the best students, Tatsuya needs to rely on his technical knowledge and combat skills. People view him as an irregular to the school’s rankings because of his magical inaptitude.

Based on a light novel series with a manga adaptation. Archdemon Zagan falls in love with the elven slave Nephy during an auction. Naturally he spends all his money to buy her. They start living together at Zagan’s castle, where they try to live a peaceful and happy life together. But they also have to face powerful enemies.

Based on a light novel series with a manga adaptation. Ars Louvent used to be a Japanese salaryman, but got reincarnated in a different world where he is the heir of a noble family. He discovers that comes with some new skills, such as being able to appraise other people’s talents. He’s able to identify who excels in certain domains, and convinces them to become his servants or allies. This will prepare him for a war for the succession of the throne.

Based on a manga series with a live action film adaptation. Fable is an infamous hitman, feared by many in the Japanese underworld. But one day his sponsor orders him to lead an ordinary life: no more killing for an entire year. And that while living in a yakuza hideout. This may be his hardest mission yet.

Based on a light novel with a manga adaptation. Protagonist Rudeus Greyrat is a 34 year old NEET, who gets evicted after his parents’ death. Having even skipped the funeral, his life is truly pointless. However, he attempts to do something meaningful as he intercepts a truck heading towards a group of teenagers and pulls them out of the way. Giving his own life in the process, he reincarnates in a fantastical world. His memories are still intact though. Determined not to waste this new life as well, he sets off on “the adventure of a second lifetime”.

Based on a light novel series with a manga adaptation. The story follows Banaza, who’s summoned to the world of Klyrode as a possible hero. His skills are however inadequate, leading to his banishment to the forest. He slays a slime, which causes him to level up and gain infinite stats. With the new skill he decides to disguise himself as Flio, aiming to stay out of the conflict between humans and demons.

Based on a manga series, this story focuses on the couple Masaki and Hiromu, and their son Hikari. Masaki is a stay-at-home dad and struggles with the feelings of being a burden to his husband. They’ve now moved to an area that’s better suited to raise their son, leaving people behind to pursue their own happiness. But when some of these people start to return, they aren’t sure they have good intentions.

Originally a web novel, its light novel adaptation served as a basis for the manga, video games and anime. Protagonist Kazuma Sato, your typical NEET, meets an untimely and embarrassing death. Luckily, the goddess Aqua offers to reincarnate him in a MMORPG world, where he can adventure. They form a party and recruit other members, since Aqua cannot return to the afterlife until the Devil King is defeated. Their party is completely dysfunctional though, causing Kazuma to give up on his adventures, preferring to live a comfortable life instead. But that’s not taking into account the Devil King’s generals.

Based on a manga series, which is also known under the name Mysteries, Maidens and Mysterious Disappearances. Ogawa Sumireko wants to become a proper novelist. She decides to team up with her co-worker Adashino Ren to look into the strange occurrences that have been popping up around the city. She doesn’t know however that Ren is also full of mysteries.

Based on a manga series. This baseball story follows Haruka Kyomine, a pitcher, and Kei Kaname, a catcher. They are considered to be an unrivaled battery duo when it comes to middle school baseball. Having been scouted by various high schools, they still ended up at the same one. One that wasn’t even known for its baseball team at all. Turns out other star players, who had previously lost to the famous duo, also enrolled at the same school.

This anime with an absurdly long title is based on a light novel series with a manga adaptation. Demon king Anos Voldigoad made a deal with the human Kanon; he sacrifices his own life in exchange for peace, ending a 2000 years long war. After another 2000 years Anon reincarnates. Royal demons rule over lower class hybrids and magic itself has started to decline, because his descendants grow weaker due to his peace. In order to reclaim his former title, he must first graduate from Demon King Academy.

Based on a best-selling manga series with an anime adaptation that started in 2008. The story takes place in Victorian London, where we follow the 12-year-old Ciel, earl of Phantomhive. He serves as the Queen’s watchdog, tasked with solving crimes in the underworld. Ciel is in contract with the demon Sebastian Michaeilis, disguised as a butler. Ciel seeks revenge on those who tortured and murdered his parents, offering up his soul to the demon in return for his assistance.

Based on a manga series. In a world where monsters called Kaiju attack humans regularly, an Anti-Kaiju Defense Force naturally needed to be established. Kaiju that are particularly strong or have abnormal characteristics are given a number to identify them. The defense force uses armor and weapons made from kaiju, the latter given the same Number as the kaiju they’ve been made from. The story follows Kafka and Mina who vowed to join the force after their town was destroyed, but only Mina passed the exams. One day a kaiju enters Kafka’s body, giving him the ability to turn into a kaiju himself. In kaiju-form the force has named him Kaiju No.8, but he decides to keep this a secret and apply for the force again.

A movie centered around Nagi Seishirou before he enters Blue Lock.
(See our previous article for an introduction to Blue Lock)

In a world where most of the humans have gained superpowers (called “Quirks”) we follow Izuku Midoriya. Despite not having a Quirk, he dreams of becoming a Hero. After meeting his idol All Might, he passes his Quirk onto Izuku. Determined to become a hero he attends a prestigious high school for heroes in training. 

Based on a manga series. Tanjiro Kamado, a responsible teenager with a strong sense of smell and rock hard head, trains to become a demon slayer after his family gets slaughtered by a demon. Only his younger sister Nezuko survives, but has been turned into a demon herself. Convinced he can find a way to turn her back into a human, he trains hard to join the Demon Slayer Corps. He hopes to find the answers he is looking for while carrying out missions and taking out demons.