Anime is such a fickle mistress. There you are, innocently going about your life, when Zing Boom! You fall head over heels in love with a new anime. The world is brighter, there are birds singing, wonderous adventures and fascinating characters await you behind the screen just to have all of it ripped away right as it was getting good!
We’ve all been there, a lovely little story that had tons of potential abandoned by the studio before it has a chance to come to a satisfying conclusion and we, innocent little otakus are left to wait years, hoping it will magically reappear so we can finally know what happens! If only they had 12 more episodes, they could have dug into those great characters backstories and really fleshed them out. They could have explained those perceived plot holes. They could have finally gotten those two estranged lovebirds together. It was too soon! We need MORE
Here are five series I am holding my breath until I see again. I’m getting a little dizzy here…
OK let’s not even pretend you don’t see this one coming so might as well get it out of the way
Natsume’s Book of Friends
This one doesn’t have a number. It’s out of list. If my entire blog could be boiled down to a single thesis statement, it’s that there should always be more Natsume. I was feeling sick this morning – nauseous in the bus and reading a chapter of the latest manga actually cured me. For realz! This show is magic, please make more of it. Thank You!!!
Now onto to the actual list we go!
5) Kino’s Journey – The Beautiful World
I recently finished the 2017 series and thought it was a truly fantastic premise with rather mixed execution. And although I don’t count this as one of my favourite series, I really did enjoy a lot of the “countries” and would have liked to see more.
I also think that a bit of extra time would have allowed the show to iron out some of its weaker aspects, such as poor characterization and surface level treatment of the conflicts presented. It wouldn’t have helped much with the flat and exposition heavy nature of the narrative but there was something very interesting at the core of Kino’s Journey and I felt the series never managed to get to it.
4) Days
I know I know, most of you don’t care about some random little football(soccer) anime. But Days had heart! It was a little formulaic and cliché to be sure. However, I found it consistently endearing and even managed a decent emotional connection to a lot of the characters. Because of the structure of traditional Sports anime narratives, they often need a little time to build up to something truly interesting and I feel like Days got further in its first season than a lot of more popular shows.
Not to mention that the story was just starting. They were in the middle of tournaments, there was foreshadowed conflict between two close friends, a slow burn potential romance was hinted at. Clearly this was not the whole story, in fact they literally told us that by ending the last episode with a “To Be Continued”.
3) Yona of the Dawn
This show gave me anime blue balls. Yona is a classic fantasy adventure. It has a clear set beginning, middle and end but the series stopped right in the middle. It stopped so abruptly in fact that it might as well have been mid sentence.
It was particularly painful as we were in the heat of the action. The four dragons having just barely reunited with the last one still completely mysterious and suspicious. Yona needed to figure out if he could be trusted before attacking the palace and reclaiming the throne. All the while Su-Won is working to unite the kingdom and prepare for potential war with its neighbors. It was starting to become apparent that things were not quite what they seemed but at the same time, we never found out what exactly was going on.
Unlike other shows, Yona was at the apex of it’s narrative, just to disappear and leave us all hanging. And with so many fans of the series, there really is no reason not to finally finish this one.
2) Drifters
I loved Drifters. I realize the studio has a reputation for extremely drawn out release schedules and I hope we won’t have to wait a decade for this one to wrap up. There is so much potential in this series and it offers a completely unique viewing experience.
This show was dazzling to look at and naughty, bloody fun to watch. I personally enjoyed that first season more than Hellsing Ultimate (Integra excluded of course) and I really can’t think of any similar series to fill the void.
Time travel, ancient Japanese history, high fantasy, mysterious god like figures, Lord of the Rings symbolism and childish potty humor. This show has it all and obviously has a long way to go. ‘Cmon, don’t make me read the mange to find out the rest. I have a hard enough time typing.
Honorable Mentions
The Eccentric Family
The Eccentric family is one of those stories that doesn’t need an ending. It’s a soft narrative that comes and goes and does whatever it wants. I do enjoy it so and it makes me feel at home. I would like more.
Sound! Euphonium
I felt like those characters were right on the cusp of greater realization at the end of that second season. It was an ok place to stop but it felt unsatisfying. I think the girls deserve a chance at finding themselves.
1) Noragami
Noragami season 1 was a well made surprisingly touching series that mixed Japanese mythology with contemporary angst and blended them into a fun fast paced action adventure things with pain and regret. In 12 episodes it managed to slowly redeem lost little Yukine and left us in a spot where the young man could finally move on. Not bad for a season of anime.
Noragami season 2 upped all the stakes as well as the rewards. It deepened and broadened its classic lore. It taught us more about interesting side characters been wanted to learn to know better. It stripped away the teenage angst and melodrama to reveal a poignant, still slightly naive emotional maturity. It was a fantastic season of anime that’s earned the show’s praise. And it ended on a cliffhanger, having just introduced the most fascinating character so far and hinting at a potential conflict that was sure to change everything.
Noragami has shown that it gets better with age. It’s also set up what promises to be the most interesting arc of the story so far. It’s a popular show that’s still relevant and moves merch. So where in Yato’s name is season 3????
I want to see the rest of this story so bad, I don’t even know how to write about it!
You know what they say: it’s better to have loved and lost….well forget that! It’s way better to have loved and continued on loving until a natural and satisfying end point has been reached.
There are actually many more shows I would watch more of if given the chance. How about you? Is there a series you are patiently awaiting to return despite all evidence to the contrary? Don’t give up hope, we’ve all been there.
