With the last of the Winter 2023 anime coming to a close, anime fans are getting ready for the new bloom of shows in Spring 2023. Last year, Spring 2022 was stacked with shows such as Spy x Family and Kaguya-sama: Love Is War Season 3, shows that dominated the anime scene for nearly the whole year.
With those expectations in mind, Spring 2023 is starting off strong with action shonen such as Demon Slayer: Swordsmith Village Arc and Dr. Stone: New World. There’s quite a selection of shows to be excited about, but these are the ones that the folks on MyAnimeList are most excited about.
10 In Another World With My Smartphone 2
Release Date: April 3, 2023
When a tragic lightning accident leads to the untimely demise of 15-year-old Mochizuki Touya, the young man is granted a rare opportunity to stand before God. In typical isekai fashion, God offers Touya a chance to live in a brand new fantasy world, the gimmick being that Touya can keep his smartphone.
While the isekai genre has been oversaturated in the past few years, In Another World With My Smartphone 2 proves its staying power with its unique gimmick. While it’s not rocking the boat as far as innovating the genre goes, just like most isekai, it’s a simple and enjoyable show for fans of the genre.
9 Mashle: Magic and Muscles
Release Date: April 8, 2023
In a world where magic reigns supreme, Mash Burnedead is considered a danger to the gene pool due to his lack of magical abilities. Forced to live in secrecy in the forest, Mash spends his days relentlessly training his physical strength to rival that of the most powerful magic wielders to reach his goal of becoming the Divine Visionary.
Mashle: Magic and Muscles’ absurd premise is certainly turning heads, and for fans of Dungeons and Dragons, it will be cathartic seeing a pure Strength build beat up the squishy wizards who rejected him. Magic might be cool, but muscles are the great equalizer in this upcoming action shonen.
8 Ousama Ranking: Treasure Chest Of Courage
Release Date: April 14, 2023
The young Prince Bojji’s inability to hear or speak has earned him the disdain of the people in his kingdom, who mockingly refer to him as “The Useless Prince.” Despite the constant ridicule, Prince Bojji is strong-willed and also happens to have a shadow friend named Kage. Through their unlikely friendship, Bojji begins his journey to be the best king he can be.
With the overwhelming success that Ousama Ranking got during its first season, this new OVA has fans clamoring for more adventures with Bojji. The surprisingly deep and heartwarming story that lies underneath the folksy, childlike aesthetic makes Ousama Ranking memorable. Hopefully, it succeeds and gets a second season down the line.
7 The Ancient Magus’ Bride Season 2
Release Date: April 6, 2023
The Ancient Magus’ Bride’s Chise Hatori, who can see otherworldly creatures, faces numerous hardships in life after being abandoned by her parents. She sells herself into slavery and is presented at an auction as a rare and valuable “Sleigh Beggy.” Elias Ainsworth, a magus, takes an interest in her and offers to make her his apprentice and bride, granting her a chance at a new life full of purpose and adventure.
The first season’s slow pace did a fantastic job of introducing viewers to its beautifully realized world. The relationship between Elias and Chise is complex, and the series takes its time building it naturally. With the second season working with an established dynamic, it focuses on a larger ensemble cast and shows how Chise interacts with people other than Elias.
6 Oshi no Ko (My Star)
Release Date: April 12, 2023
In an unexpected turn of events, 16-year-old idol Hoshino Ai finds herself seeking medical attention at a countryside hospital run by Gorou Amemiya, a gynecologist and one of her devoted fans. Though shocked by the idol’s sudden appearance, Gorou pledges to provide her with the utmost care and safe delivery, despite the unusual circumstances surrounding her pregnancy.
There is far more to this premise than meets the eye, but fans of the manga know that Oshi no Ko, written by none other than Aka Akasaka of Kaguya-sama: Love Is War fame, isn’t afraid to open the curtains on the darker sides of showbiz. It’s a gripping tale of how fame and fortune aren’t quite the dazzling fantasy many believe them to be.
5 KonoSuba: An Explosion on This Wonderful World!
Release Date: April 5, 2023
Megumin and Yunyun, members of the Crimson Magic Clan, are accomplished in their magical studies, albeit in wildly different ways. While Yunyun is focused on mastering advanced magic, Megumin has instead chosen the path of explosion magic. Megumin’s single-minded focus on being a glass cannon and Yunyun’s crippling social anxiety make for one bizarre spinoff.
Megumin and Yunyun were always fan favorites in the main KonoSuba series, so giving them their own show will be popular. It also has the benefit of building up the lore of KonoSuba outside of the main gang’s shenanigans and gives a chance for new characters to shine amid the explosions.
4 Jigokuraku (Hell’s Paradise)
Release Date: April 1, 2023
Gabimaru, a cold and emotionless ninja, is on death row after being set up by his fellow ninjas. Despite wanting to die, he can’t because he has a reason to live: he wants to return to his wife. Asaemon, a famous executioner, proposes that Gabimaru joins an expedition to an island south of Japan in search of the elixir of life in exchange for a full pardon. The island isn’t all as it seems.
One of the few hyped shows that aren’t a second season of something, Hell’s Paradise focuses on horrors of all kinds. It’s not for the faint of heart, as the characters are psychologically tormented and witness some truly grotesque body horror. Add a strong ensemble cast, and Hell’s Paradise is looking to be a new player in the action-horror scene.
3 Tonikaku Kawaii 2nd Season
Release Date: April 8, 2023
In Tonikaku, Nasa Yuzaki, a high-achieving student, falls in love with Tsukasa, a girl he sees on the street, risking his life to confess his feelings. She accepts, but she disappears after saving his life. Nasa spends years searching for her until she unexpectedly appears at his doorstep as his wife. Together, they start their odd yet fulfilling married life.
The first season was mostly slice-of-life wholesomeness, but it also sowed the seeds for deeper narratives. Tsukasa is an inherently mysterious character, seemingly knowing obscure things offhand. There are so many elements that could be tackled in a second season amid the lovebirds’ flirting.
2 Dr. Stone: New World
Release Date: April 6, 2023
In the ongoing quest to find the source of the mysterious petrification, Senku and his crew embark on their newly built ship to look for a treasure chest that apparently contains these answers. Their journey leads them to a primitive community similar to Ishigami village, but with a significantly darker past.
Dr. Stone is classic shonen fare, and this season is looking to continue that trend with some intrigue. Granted, the sight of them wearing pirate outfits does make it seem like a hilarious One Piece parody at times, but Dr. Stone’s focus on grounding itself in “real-world science” is interesting — even if the “real” science ends up looking more like magic.
1 Demon Slayer: Swordsmith Village Arc
Release Date: April 9, 2023
The climax of the story comes ever closer in this new arc from Demon Slayer. After a vicious battle leaves Tanjiro’s sword badly damaged, he travels to the titular swordsmith’s village. While this is happening, however, Tanjiro finds himself without his trusty blade and is ambushed by a fast-regenerating demon.
Despite being almost three years removed from the manga’s end, Demon Slayer’s popularity hasn’t slowed down a bit. With only two arcs left, Demon Slayer is setting itself up for an exciting final arc. Plus, with ufotable’s ongoing attempts to outdo themselves every time they adapt Demon Slayer, fans should expect another hype-inducing masterclass of action animation.
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