With the spring 2021 anime season finally winding down, it is time for you – you busy anime fan, you – to discover learn what sank or what swam over the course of it. The season was actually an unexpectedly enjoyable one overall. There were tons of shows that I didn’t really have much hope for based on just the cursory glance, but they actually ended up amazing. Furthermore, while this isnt the case for every series, it was a season full or reasonably good drama anime.
Best Spring 2021 Anime
Shadows House
The Shadows are a family of nobles who live in their massive mansion. They are pitch black in appearance and emit soot that will linger on everything they touch. In order to effectively display their emotions, each Shadow is given a Living Doll to be their attendant and their face. This is the tale of cheerful and curious Emilico, a newly created doll, who was given to her more soft-spoken young Shadow, Kate. While it is promoted that Living Dolls be loyal and unconcerned about trivial matters, Emilico is constantly intrigued by the massive mansion and those that live within.
Why It Is Worth Watching? – This is honestly one of those series that a lot people likely slept on. There are hundreds of ways the concept could have been boring, and it is none of those. It is cute, yet at the same time there is a pervasive sinister air that seeps into the plot, making you more intrigued by it. It is never quite horror, and yet it is creepy at the same time.
Combatants Will be Dispatched
On Earth, the villainous Kisaragi Corporation has finally conquered everything, but they have their eye on the entire universe. Having finally created a transporter, they send agent Roku-gou to the kingdom of Grace where he is to infiltrate and eventually conquer the kingdom for the corporation. Of course, to ensure the success of one of their more disposable agents, they send with him Alice, an exceptional android, to make sure the mission is carried out. Finally arriving, Rou-gou and Alice end up infiltrating the inner circle of the kingdom and helping them secure victory against an invading Demon Lord.
Why It is Worth Watching? – I thought this would be your standard bland action/comedy/ecchi show, but it didn’t take long before I felt something very familiar about it. Combatants Will Be Dispatched was created by the author of Konosuba, and boy does it show. It fills that Konosuba-shaped hole in my heart – not in a complete way, but in a way.
Those Snow White Notes
After watching his grandfather perform the shamisen at a young age, Setsu became entranced. However, after his grandfather’s death, he runs away from his small village and quits plays after his grandfather said he should never play if he was just going to imitate others. Fleeing to the city, Setsu slowly begins to become inspired to develop his own shamisen style, further aided when his eccentric mother forces him to enroll in the Umezono Academy.
Why It Is Worth Watching? – Music anime is really hit and miss with me, but this one definitely hit. It is a series about playing the shamisen in the same way that March Comes in Like a Lion is about playing shogi. It is about the instrument, and has some absolutely enthralling pieces, but it is also about character development.
To Your Eternity
One day, an entity, for reasons unknown, threw an orb to Earth. With no emotion or identity, the orb is meant to gather sensations and is able to take the shape of things it encounters as it learns. For many years, it was a rock, and then it became moss, and when a wolf took its last breath near it, it became the wolf. After wandering for some time, it met a boy. After a long struggle, the boy, too, took his last breath. With human form, now the orb sets off on his never-ending journey where he will meet many new people and have many new experiences.
Why It Is Worth Watching? – I’m white-knuckle holding myself back from gushing too much about this series. However, it is very easily the best of the season. You know how everyone said they were getting teary-eyed at the end of episode one? I was teary-eyed not because I was sad, but because I was so happy to see a plot I’ve never seen before and can’t guess the end point of.
86
For years, the Republic of San Magnolia has been at war with the Giadian Empire. They were constantly plagued by their hordes of unmanned drones until the government created an unmanned solution of their own, finally able to wage their war without casualties. However, that is not quite the truth. The “unmanned” combat weapons are actually used by those of the 86th sector of the Republic, but they are not considered even human. This is the tale of both Shin, an 86er and battle commander, and Lena, their sympathetic handler who remotely commands the detachment from inside the city.
Why It Is Worth Watching? – There is no shortage of anime series covering war, but there is a shortage of series like 86 that highlight the perceived expendability of soldiers. The action, or rather the CGI of the action, is definitely a bit “meh,” but the themes of the show are worth sitting through it.
Vivy: Fluorite Eye’s Song
In a theme park ran by AI, there is a lonely stage where the first-ever autonomous humanoid sings in order to fulfill her mission of making everyone happy with her songs. This AI, Diva but given the nickname of Vivy by a young fan, has an encounter with an AI named Matsumoto who explains he traveled from 100 years in the future where AI have advanced so far that they rebelled and started exterminating humanity. Together, he guides her to singularity points on a hundred-year journey in order to change the course of history.
Why It Is Worth Watching? – For as near as AI is in our future, you would think there would be more stories touching on it. Vivy promotes a sort of story that really can only be lead by an AI or an otherwise immortal, and tells it in the form of short, but action-packed vignettes that all lead up to an ultimate outcome. The plot is interestingly enough, but the animation is such a huge flex sometimes that can sell this series alone.
The Saint’s Magic Power is Omnipotent
Sei, a young office worker, is summoned to a new world. However, the people who summoned her to banish dark magic from the world only meant to summon one person they would call Saint. Instead, they summoned two, and Sei discovers that they actually like the other girl better. Not really caring about that, she ends up making potions at a research institute using her newfound magic. Unfortunately, while she is unexpected talented at her work and happy doing it, she begins to think that she is indeed the Saint.
Why It Is Worth Watching? – This show is definitely not of interest to everyone, but as exhausted as I am going into every new isekai series these days, I found myself really enjoying it. It is like being wrapped in a cozy blanket. It’s not really doing anything, but you are happy just the same. Anyway, the show definitely has a Mary Sue main character who is 1.5 times better at everything than anyone else without trying, and there is some strong reverse harem vibes, but the main character is likable in only the way that a worn out office lady who has had enough tedium can be.
So what did you enjoy from the Spring 2021 anime season? Let me know in the comments section below.
