this post was submitted on 19 Jan 2026
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Anime Questions, Recommendations, and Discussion Thread [2026, Week 04] (ani.social)
submitted 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) by wjs018@ani.social to c/anime@ani.social
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[–] Unboxious@ani.social 6 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (2 children)

I tried a few of the new shows from this season:

  • Sentenced to Be a Hero - A bit edgy for my taste. It has some really cool, flashy action scenes but the characters are frankly a drag. After I completed the first two episodes I got the distinct feeling that I would've had a better time watching something else. Not sure I'll finish this one.
  • You and I Are Polar Opposites - A fun, very cute shounen romcom. Made me laugh a few times. It's probably pretty similar to whatever you imagined when you read the title. Would recommend to anyone who's into that sort of thing; I'll definitely be finishing it.
  • Journal with Witch - I don't know wtf is going on with that title. There aren't any witches, though there is a journal. The Japanese title, ~~異国日記~~ 違国日記 (Journal in Another Country) makes a bit more sense given the visual metaphors that the show likes to use. This is a very grounded story about a woman who adopts her teenage niece after said niece's parents die in a car crash. It's quite well-written, and is easily my favorite from among these three shows.

I also watched some sequel shows:

  • Frieren - This felt like a return to form; the first episode of the season felt a lot more like the first half of the first season than the second half of the season. I hope they can keep that up 'til the end of the season; I've read the manga but that was a while ago so I can't remember how long these nice short bits go for.
  • Jujutsu Kaisen - The Jujutsus sure are Kaisening over there. If you liked previous seasons for the fights you'll like this season too.
  • Oshi no Ko - Fun seeing more of the girls. Also, banger of an OP.

Currently catching up on:

  • Umamusume - It's okay. Not as good as Cinderella Gray or the movie, but okay. I hear it gets a fair bit better after the first season though!
  • Golden Kamuy - The only anime I know of where the characters have a canonical dick size ranking chart. Couldn't have been made for a more excellent story; I love these ridiculous goofballs. If you want to watch crazy people kill each other in Hokkaido this is the good stuff. I just wish the animation were a little better, though it's generally not nearly as bad as the first episode might suggest. Don't worry, nothing looks as bad as that bear looked.
[–] Endmaker@ani.social 3 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (3 children)

Sentenced to Be a Hero

the characters are frankly a drag

I find it interesting to see multiple members of this community - myself included - shit on its first episode despite how well-received it was among the broader anime community. Looks like we are just not the target demographic.

Jujutsu Kaisen

If you liked previous seasons for the fights you'll like this season too.

Excuse you, I actually watch JJK for the plot 😤 Seriously though, the conspiracy was what got me hooked; the action scenes are just the icing on the cake. Hopefully there is greater development of the story in this season.

Umamusume

I hear it gets a fair bit better after the first season though!

IMO Teio's story in season 2 is still the best. I hope you would stick around long enough to finish it.

[–] Unboxious@ani.social 4 points 1 month ago

IMO Teio’s story in season 2 is still the best. I hope you would stick around long enough to finish it.

No need to worry; unless they're actually bad I usually finish the things I start. It's not like season 1 doesn't have its moments; Gold Ship is great and after having watched Cinderella Gray it was fun seeing Oguri Cap in the eating contest.

[–] ReluctantZen@feddit.nl 2 points 1 month ago

despite how well-received it was among the broader anime community

I haven't watched it myself, but I get the sense that it's because of the animation and not much more. I've seen plenty glazing about how well-animated it is, but not about story or characters.

[–] nyan@lemmy.cafe 1 points 1 month ago (2 children) 
Sentenced to Be a Hero

the characters are frankly a drag

I find it interesting to see multiple members of this community - myself included - shit on its first episode despite how well-received it was among the broader anime community. Looks like we are just not the target demographic.

Dark/edgy fantasy doesn't seem to be very popular around here, it's true. Makes me feel a bit isolated sometimes, as someone who does like those kinds of shows. 😅

[–] Unboxious@ani.social 3 points 1 month ago (1 children)

It's not that I disliked it for being dark or for being edgy or for being fantasy. I disliked it because it wasn't very good.

[–] nyan@lemmy.cafe 3 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Maybe it's just confirmation bias on my part, but it just seems like these kinds of shows are more likely to actively receive bad reviews than be ignored, which is what happens to most of the stuff that I would judge as truly bad. Compare, for instance, Hell Mode, an utterly cliched isekai that's also currently running and which I would say was more deserving of bad reviews, because its creator wouldn't recognize an original idea if it bit them—not one word's been said about it. Even Beheneko, which was an unapologetic brainless boobfest held together by a thin surface skin of plot, didn't draw as many bad reviews here as Sentenced to be a Hero.

Upon reflection, the answer might simply be that the people who are giving this one bad reviews watch a lot less trash than I do and therefore have a differently calibrated evaluation scale.

[–] Unboxious@ani.social 3 points 1 month ago

Yeah there's no way I was going to be watching either of those shows in the first place.

[–] Endmaker@ani.social 3 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

I don't think the dark fantasy theme is a dealbreaker. Personally, I enjoyed works like Heavenly Delusion, and find the story (and story-telling) of The Promised Neverland fantastic, up there with the greats.

It's just that for some anime, the dialogue and character-acting felt so off the mark.

Ultimately, entertainment / enjoyment is subjective. It's nice to see that you stayed true to yourself instead of bending to peer pressure.

[–] selayar@ani.social 3 points 1 month ago (1 children)

The Japanese title, 異国日記

Actually the japanese title for Ikoku Nikki use a non standard writing (違国) that use the kanji 違 (different) instead of 異 (foreign/unusual).

[–] Unboxious@ani.social 1 points 1 month ago

So it does, I guess I wasn't paying close attention; thanks for the correction!