The Best Anime of 2023 - Richard Eisenbeis, Nicholas Dupree, Gunawan + The Best Characters of 2023

5. Yuri is My Job!

Yuri is My Job has two things that, together, grant it a spot on this list: its setting and characters. Yuri is My Job takes place in a Tokyo café where the waitresses pretend to be students at the fictional Liebe Girls Academy—and the customers take the role of guests visiting the school's student-run café. In a kind of improv theater, the waitresses act out typical yuri romance scenes as they serve customers while also building an ongoing narrative involving the events at the school and in their personal lives.

Then, on top of this, you add in the real-world interpersonal relationships of the waitresses—which become much more complicated when the protagonist, Hime, is all but blackmailed into joining the café. Hime is a girl who puts on the facade of a kind, innocent girl to manage her daily life—only taking it off when alone or in the presence of her best friend.

While this makes her a great actress for the café, it also causes her trouble with the other waitresses who drop their facades the moment they are off stage—especially in the case of the ultra-responsible, big sister character, Yuno, who turns cold and hostile the moment the café closes. Why exactly this is becomes one of the series' bigger mysteries—and through it, Hime and those around her are forced to take a closer look at themselves and how they view the events of their lives. All these combine to make a great yuri romance story where the drama never feels forced, and the characters are all—if not likable—at least understandable. Give it a watch if you haven't.

4. The Eminence in Shadow 2nd Season

The Eminence in Shadow is a story that exists on multiple levels. On the surface, it's an isekai adventure with an overpowered protagonist surrounded by beautiful women who worship the ground he walks on. Under that, it's a collection of serious, often psychological, stories about the hard lives of the people in a fantasy world—their problems, fears, and the ways the world beats them down. Digging further, it's a dark comedy about a man who has achieved his life's goal but cannot realize it because he thinks he's just playing pretend—while all his friends play along to humor him. And finally, when you reach the bottom, you realize it's all just the tragic story of a lonely man who never outgrew his childhood dream and was left behind by his peers because of it.

The thing is, The Eminence in Shadow can be enjoyed on any of these levels—or even all of them at once. It is everything from a parody of isekai tropes to an in-depth look at the otaku mindset. It is possible to feel sorry for the protagonist, Cid, even as you alternate between laughing at his comic misunderstandings and cheering at his amazingly badass moments of triumph. Add to this a great supporting cast and some top-tier animation, and you get maybe not the best anime of the year, but certainly the most fun.

3. NieR:Automata Ver 1.1a

As both an anime lover and a game lover, it might be surprising that I don't often enjoy game-to-anime adaptations. In general, I feel that doing a one-to-one retread of a game in animated form is ultimately pointless—I could always just play the game and likely get a more complex version of the story, after all. Luckily, NieR:Automata Ver1.1a is anything but a simple copy of what the game has to offer.

While the general plot is the same, with human-made androids fighting alien-made robots in a never-ending proxy war to reclaim the earth's surface for humanity, the series isn't afraid to go off and do its own thing. We have one episode focused on the life of a random robot soldier. Then, we have another based on the YoRHa prequel stage play. It truly adds to the original's story and is a must-watch for anyone who enjoyed the game.

Amazingly, despite the differences in the story and medium, the core remains the same. This is a story that manages to explore the nature of humanity despite the fact there is not a single human character present. It is bleak, depressing, and melancholic. Yet, at the same time, it is oddly beautiful. It's got mystery, action, and a pair of characters you can't help but root for—especially in a world as devoid of hope as their own.

2. Pluto

It's hard to convey how important Astro Boy is when it comes to anime as we view it today—especially in the West. Without it paving the way—showing that Japanese animation could succeed outside of Japan—it's unlikely that we'd even be watching anime at all. Yet, how many people reading this have watched the original 1960's anime? Or how about the 1980s adaptation—or the early 2000s version? The sad fact of the matter is that aesthetics and storytelling techniques have evolved over the past 60 years. What was revolutionary then is often seen as unappealing now.

Pluto takes a single pivotal story from Astro Boy, "The Greatest Robot on Earth," and re-imagines it in a way guaranteed to captivate modern viewers. Rather than a superhero story, it becomes a cyberpunk noir murder mystery where a robot detective tries to prevent the murders of the world's seven greatest robots and their creators—even as he is on that list.

But that's only the surface level of the anime. The story explores AI, what it means to be human, and the cost of war upon the souls who participate in it. There are thought-provoking parallels to numerous real-world events, and it leaves you questioning the nature of good and evil throughout. Overall, it is a fantastic anime that, in any other year, would have been an easy pick for the number one spot.

What does it mean to live forever? How do you perceive the passage of time? How do you handle interpersonal connections? How do you deal with things like loss and love—or are they even important to you given how fleeting the existence of mortals is in your eyes? And what is it like to be a part of history—only to watch that same history fade to the point you alone remember it? These are only some of the questions explored in Frieren: Beyond Journey's End.

But beyond being a deep dive into immortality, Frieren: Beyond Journey's End is also a look at what it means to be human. It deals with lingering regrets—the mixture of sadness and joy from realizing what you had only when it's already too late. It's about evolving into the best version of yourself and the process it takes.

And yet, even with all this high-brow content, the series is consistently emotional and exciting. Many moments will bring you to the edge of tears, and others will have you ready to cheer—all elevated by some of the best-looking animation of the year. Simply put, Frieren: Beyond Journey's End is an anime that has it all, so it's an easy pick for the best anime of the year—if not the decade.

5. "Ippon" Again!

I love sports, but sports don't always love me back. There's been no shortage of sports anime in recent years, but very few have connected with me how I wanted them to. Blue Lock is fun, but too over-the-top and gimmicky to capture the spirit of competition and self-improvement that's always drawn me to the genre. So, it was incredibly heartening to find this hidden judo gem last winter. Whatever it might lack in production values compared to higher profile sports shows, "Ippon!" makes up for how much it just...gets it. It understands the thrill and unpredictability of physical competition. It perfectly portrays the sense of fulfillment that comes from pushing yourself through a hard training session. The cast is charming, the bouts are physical and weighty, and it lovingly portrays the desire for self-improvement that drives anyone serious about their chosen sport. So many shows can get caught up in the quest for victory or the despair of defeat that they forget the real draw of sports and martial arts; the joy is in the act itself. Whether it's the excitement of finally pulling off a new move you've been practicing, or just stubbornly working on a tedious but necessary fundamental, there's something powerful to be found in every aspect, and this series embodies that down to its bones.

4. Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch From Mercury Season 2

Fittingly for a series inspired by The Tempest, G-Witch came in like a storm last year, grabbing the attention of the online anime sphere like nothing else had in years. There were a lot of big expectations for its second half, and while not all of them were fully realized, what we got was still a blast. After using its first half to develop the cast, their complicated relationships, and the world at large, the show finally began to delve into the kind of tragedy and drama we all expect from a Gundam series, and it proved heart-wrenching and thrilling. Characters were put through the wringer in every way possible, shattering hearts and igniting ship wars across the solar system, before resolving in a big, wild, radically empathetic conclusion that delivered on its promise to break away from the calcified traditions of its parent franchise. Part of me still wants to see more of this world and these characters – at least give us an OVA with Suletta and Miorine's wedding, guys, c'mon – but that's the right kind of problem to have. Much as I love plenty of Gundam entries, G-Witch's new approach was a breath of fresh air, on top of just being a stellar drama and action spectacle.

3. The 100 Girlfriends Who Really, Really, Really, Really, Really Love You

I already gave my political address in the Best of Fall list, so I'll spare you the ideology. Here, I'll stick to saying that 100 Girlfriends is riotously funny, clever, and altogether a treat. From an existing fan perspective, it's a pitch-perfect adaptation that maintains the source material's anarchic sense of humor and enhances it through savvy additions. From a newbie perspective, it's a shotgun blast of ridiculous, over-the-top comedy that manages to be self-aware without ever feeling obnoxious with its meta-humor. The characters are simple, but written to be brilliantly versatile for any wacky shenanigan or bizarre situation they get involved in, all while remaining likable and distinct in an ever-growing cast. In some key moments, the show even communicates some genuinely touching and healthy messages about the nature of love and what being a good romantic partner means. That should be antithetical to a premise built entirely on comedic escalation. Yet, the show's unceasing earnestness and indomitable male lead make the whole magic trick work without a hitch. Whether you're harem trash like me or have never touched the genre, give this one a shot – you may just come to really, really, really, really, really love it too.

2. Vinland Saga Season 2

It almost feels silly to sit up here and preach to the choir about the many reasons this long-awaited sequel is good. Anyone who's seen Vinland Saga S2 knows it's some of the most thoughtful, compelling, and passionate drama you could watch this year or any year. Yet, at the same time, it bears repeating that this season features nothing short of phenomenal writing, capitalizing on all the anger and brutality of the first season and crafting it into an earnest plea for pacifism while never losing sight of how complex and radical that proposal is. It's worth reiterating how the show explores that idea through rich, painfully human characters who struggle for purpose, agency, or just the very right to life, all within a historical context that's simultaneously specific and timeless. It's worth highlighting the phenomenal, heartbreaking vocal performances that bring these characters and their struggles to life in supremely affecting ways. Because something this richly realized isn't something to take for granted, no matter how effortless it makes it look. You have probably heard more than enough times how great this show is, but that's only because it's true.

1. The Ancient Magus' Bride Season 2

It was a challenge to figure out an order for this. The amount of daylight between my top picks is so sparse that it eventually came down to pure gut instinct, and in the end, The Ancient Magus Bride won out. Like with Vinland Saga, it's a deliberately paced drama that thoughtfully builds a diverse cast with deep internal lives and struggles. Exploring those characters constructs a complex, dangerous world full of arbitrary and systematized cruelty that the characters must fight against to maintain their identities. It just so happens to do all that on top of an already-established world of mysterious and thrilling magic from the first season. It perfectly integrates the existing cast into this new dynamic and allows our established heroes to grow in new and surprising ways. So I guess it wins by basically being two really good shows stacked on top of each other.

Watching Chise grow into the role of mentor and guide for her new friends is intensely satisfying after seeing her claw her way out of her deepest traumas in season one. Witnessing Philomela overcome the abusive death spiral of her family and find the courage to decide what's best for herself was immensely cathartic after half a year of seeing her ready to shatter into a million pieces. Even scenes with tertiary characters who only served to add flavor to the larger narrative were fascinating, specifically for how unique those flavors were. That it all culminated in a bonkers battle filled with living curses, eldritch beings, and bloodthirsty gods was just the cherry on top to put it above the competition.

5. Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead

It's the most vibrant and fun zombie apocalypse available. Akira is a charming lead with an undeniably strong presence and an impact on the people surrounding him. He embodies the idea that one must never forget the joy of life, however difficult one's current situation is. Akira has gone through ups and downs in his life to learn that lesson. His unending cheerfulness, eagerness, and innocence will hopefully carry him and his friends through the zombie apocalypse.

His tenacity is not only endearing but also inspiring. Akira's optimism in the face of doom reminds the audience to keep their head up during the crisis. This is a relevant message considering the recent situations in the world. Akira didn't have time to despair; his life was at rock bottom when the apocalypse happened. Some people might give up at the moment, but not Akira. He did the unthinkable, having fun amid doomsday. His eccentric behavior eventually dragged his best friend along for the ride with another two girls. How will their journey end? I am more curious about how their journey will continue.

It was unfortunate for the series to experience a delay in production, but fortunately, the studio managed to give the fans a perfect Christmas present: the rest of the episodes.

4. Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury

This title has to be here. I am a Gundam fan and know the difference between my good and bad Gundam series. Witch from Mercury's only problem is the undercooked final episode, which is understandably a considerable problem. Fortunately, the number one aspect that carried it for me was the characters and their dynamics, like the interesting character development between Guel and some side characters. I still would have preferred the final episode to be a nonstop showcase of Prospera's terror and a plot device to propel the story into a third season. Still, I can't complain too much because I genuinely enjoyed the ride.

3. Pluto

A 10/10 adaptation of a manga written by Naoki Urasawa. If this series had aired on TV, it would have generated tons of discussion online throughout the season, although it wouldn't be a guaranteed positive discussion. Pluto, as it is presented on Netflix, was perhaps not a bad decision. The extended episode duration supports the storytelling elements well. The whole series managed to replicate the atmosphere presented in the manga. Every scene is crafted with care, from visual to audio, carrying the emotional aspect of the story to affect the audience. Emotion was emphasized as many characters in the story had questions about robots' rights and potential danger to humanity.

An important notion is that a perfect AI would emulate not just the good side of humans but also the bad. Usually, people would think the perfect AI would be similar to the seven strongest robots in the world. But it is scattered throughout the story that the first robot who murdered a human was the perfect AI as it demonstrated the most deranged aspect of a human's mind and was treated like Hannibal Lecter. Pluto took the audience diving into the psyche of the cast on what it means to be a robot that is evolving to be more human over time. Showcasing sympathy and empathy among the humans and robots intertwined in the pursuit of Pluto, the robot serial killer.

Gesicht works very well as a primary protagonist in the story. Following the point of view of a more mature character doing detective work gives the series a grounded feeling. The shift to Atom during the final arc is also very fitting to elevate the bombastic side of its science-fiction aspect, closing the story with much-anticipated fanfare.

2. Frieren: Beyond Journey's End

There is nothing I can say about Frieren that hasn't already been said so far. It isn't my number one just because of the genre and pacing. I just prefer something else more action-oriented. This series itself is a showcase of near perfection. Everything is crafted and moves in harmony. The characters are charming and funny, the world they inhabit is beautiful, and the people surrounding them are well thought out regarding their importance and role. Also, nothing has overstayed their welcome so far.

1. Undead Murder Farce

This title provided me with everything I wanted from an anime. Everything felt custom-made for me, either from a visual or storytelling standpoint. The pacing, dialogue, and interactions were especially suited to my taste. It slowed down and sped up almost at every point I desired. The way the characters look and act on screen is always a joy to sit through. The dialogue is fast and snappy, accompanied by stylish editing. Action scenes are fast but easy to follow, with the characters' fighting style fitting like a glove. The major complaint I have is that it is too short.

While Tsugaru and Aya join forces to hunt down and exact revenge on the same target, they are shown as grateful and appreciative towards each other. Tsugaru and Shizuku's interactions are also heartwarming—an odd, unlikely, but vibrant found family. Moriarty doesn't treat his crew like a typical big bad villain mastermind, either. Instead, the audience sees them seated at the same dining table in quite a humble hideout, like a family. The opening and ending arcs were also related to family struggles. From the vampire son unsatisfied with his happy little family to a werewolf daughter twisted by the loss of her only family. These aspects make the series feel oddly heartwarming.

Despite the flaws, Undead Murder Farce's style and substance are perfectly blended and seasoned.

While Frieren: Beyond Journey's End has an excellent cast overall, there's no doubt that Frieren truly carries this anime. Frieren is both innocent and battle-hardened, wise and absentminded. One moment, she is comic relief—being chomped on by a mimic. The next, she is a hero out of myth and legend—the one mage the demons fear above all others. Her immortal nature makes her view time itself in a way we cannot. Yet, through her, we can explore the nature of our mortal existence.

Frieren's story is one of regrets—how her inability to make the most of her time with one mortal man changes the entire trajectory of her thousand-year life. Each week, through her encounters with her new party and the people they meet, we see her discover how her past with Himmel and the others has affected her on a level far beyond what she thought at the time. It's both heartbreaking and beautiful to watch. She can never get back the time she lost, but she can do her best to make sure it never happens again by treasuring what she has with those around her every moment—even if it is antithetical to her very being.

All this is why Frieren is my pick for the best character of the year—and it's not even close.

I have, at many times, with various levels of jocularity, said that The 100 Girlfriends Who Really, Really, Really, Really, Really Love You could revolutionize the harem genre. While I don't seriously think that's true, I do think that future entries in the genre could learn from the show's protagonist. The male lead of a harem show being the most boring, uninteresting character is a rightfully accepted and parroted idea. While some shows give their protagonists more personality than a dry sponge, most are content to make their lead generically nice so as not to distract from the more vibrant, memorable, and marketable personalities of their many (many, many) girls.

Not so, with Rentaro. While his multiple lovers are the central pitch, the love-lorn leviathan and his endless capacity for romance make the show work far better than it should. Rentaro is filled with a boundless, unceasing ocean of love that allows him to find the best in anyone he encounters, be they an insecure tsundere, a mad scientist, or another girlfriend's mother. He fully dedicates himself to each girl, promising the impossible and delivering with every fiber of his being. He's the most consistent and hilarious source of humor in the whole show, and his knack for unconditionally caring for his family of girlfriends makes this ridiculous premise believable enough to follow. Any other Tom, Dick, or Harry would crumble under the pressure of being an equal and enthusiastic partner to triple-digit lovers. Yet, this boy and his immaculate eyebrows make it look easy. The biggest question surrounding any harem anime is always, "Why would so many women fall head over heels for this one dude?" Rentaro provides the perfect answer through his charm, dedication, and unbridled love. If you're not careful, you might just fall for him, too.

It's a goddess, it's a saint, it's Princess Adorkable! Carrying a whole series with her face game is no small feat. There is never a dull moment when she is on screen, from her fear of Guillotine-chan and unknowingly using horse shampoo.

Waking up in her 12-year-old body after being executed, Mia desperately finds ways to prevent a future revolution in her kingdom. Her focus on future survival was born out of her desire to ensure a better future, but in the end, her efforts brought forth good changes for everyone surrounding her. It even turns her image from an evil, selfish princess into the genius princess of the empire. But the audience and Guillotine-chan know that she is just a selfish dork with knowledge about the future, and seeing her toasting her brain for 12 episodes has been very amusing.

I think we all know by now that The Apothecary Diaries' Maomao is a fantastic character, so I want to draw attention to another cat ("Maomao" means "cat") who deserves it: Hakuto from My New Boss is Goofy. Hakuto is an abandoned kitten dumped by his [evil] owner for being a typical cat who scratches things and otherwise exhibits kitten behavior. He is picked up by the series' protagonists, Momose and Shirosaki. Shirosaki, who loves cats, takes him home, and poor little Hakuto can't accept that he really does have the loving home he always deserved. He's a textbook tsundere, but in the saddest way possible, as he tries to tell himself that he's not as happy as he is out of fear that it will all disappear on him. Watching Shirosaki (and later Momose, when he moves in) dote on the kitten and do everything they possibly can to show him how loved he is is heartwarming, and Hakuto himself is just a perfect depiction of a formerly abused and abandoned animal not daring to hope that his happiness can last. I've had cats and dogs like Hakuto, and watching him get incrementally more trusting is just incredibly well done. More than anything, Hakuto deserves to be the happiest cat in the world, and every episode that features him does a beautiful job of tapping into that feeling as he slowly begins to realize that he can just be.

I am sure I will spend fully half of my word count for this entire end-of-year retrospective writing about Vinland Saga's triumphant second season, but that's for a good reason: It's absolutely incredible television. A big reason for that lies in the depth of characterization and growth afforded to its protagonist, Thorfinn, who undergoes a most incredible and transformative journey this season, despite spending almost all of it stuck as a slave doing menial farmwork. In Vinland Saga's first season, Thorfinn's brooding nature and traumatic history certainly made him compelling. However, he was still a child who was helpless to change the horrible circumstances he found himself in. So, his storyline became more focused on the dramatic changes happening to the people and places around him. At the same time, he spent all of his childhood stewing on thoughts of avenging his father, Thors, and murdering his captor, Askeladd. It was good television, and occasionally even Great Television.

In Season 2, though, Thorfinn's journey towards living a life of redemptive pacificism takes center stage, and the creators of Vinland Saga pour every ounce of their creativity and artistry into making sure we feel every painful low and revelatory high of the saga. Makoto Yukimura's original story already possessed a keen knack for depicting compelling human drama and painfully relatable human emotions, and the crew at MAPPA put their all into making sure the animation sells every frame of Thorfinn's suffering and growth on screen. The result is a story that gives us a vision of a complete human being whose worst and most painful failings color each decision they make and every conflict they overcome. In Thorfinn Karlsefni, we have a hero who has, at one point or another, embodied the most spiteful and violent instincts a human can possess and our most profound capacity for empathy and love. I don't know if I've ever seen the protagonist of an "action" anime be written with such care and expert craft, which is why he is easily my favorite anime character of 2023.

"They're just like me fr fr" is a common refrain for praising characters these days. We all want to be seen, so any degree of oh-so-relatable social awkwardness or indulgent fandom love makes it easy to latch onto a character. I get it, you're talking to someone whose favorite character in New Game was Hajime because she also overspends on toys. But Konoha, the irascible lead of the 16bit Sensation anime, takes that appeal and goes way further with it, making it her own. It is endearing that one of the first things she's seen doing is simply scrolling through social media, liking and sharing art of cute anime girls. Whom amongst us? But that's a microcosm of her love for bishoujo as an art form, alongside her excitable info-dumping about her favorite visual novels. And her love doesn't feel like a marketing campaign for this material. It feels genuine, and it's demonstrated as such through the course of the story. Konoha recognizes these important titles as foundational to the otaku culture she's steeped in, which in turn inspires her to create. She does it all while being thoroughly baffled by the finer mechanics of time travel. It's not her fault, she's got but two brain cells, and both are consistently occupied by thoughts of pretty cartoon girls. Sometimes that and pure moxie is all you need to get by.

I knew I had to give this award to one of the MyGO girls, but choosing which one was another struggle altogether. There are sound arguments for each, and if I wanted to go with my personal favorite, I'd be highlighting Soyo. However, within the context and structure of MyGO as a story, I believe Anon stands out as the anime's finest accomplishment. She sucks in really funny ways and in really compelling ways, and as much as I love Bocchi, I'm glad Anon is a wholly different beast than last year's pink-haired disaster guitarist. When Anon starts out, her thirst for band clout is matched only by how little she knows about playing a six-string. By the time the show ends, she's more comfortable with barre chords yet still as transparently thirsty for the limelight. Best of all, that feels like incredible progress! There are lots of girls who suck in MyGO, but Anon, for better or worse, ends up being the vortex that sucks our heroines into a psychologically constructive musical arrangement. This also makes her a great foil for Sakiko's antagonism. Just like sickle cell anemia protects a person from malaria, so too does Anon's obnoxious self-centeredness grant her immunity from Sakiko's toxic charisma. They may as well be starring in completely different anime (and that will literally become true once Ave Mujica airs). In fact, Anon only stars in this one through sheer force of will. We watch her elbow her way into a protagonist, to the chagrin of almost every person who knows her. She doesn't deserve the crown, but she takes it all the same. How can I not reward that?

Dr. Tenma isn't the protagonist of Pluto. He's arguably one of the series' villains. Flooded with grief after the loss of his son, Tenma has surrendered to misanthropy and is quite mad under his well-tucked guise of logical superiority. As a viewer, you can understand his arguments about the nature of man and its propensity for violence. In Tenma's mind, cruelty and vengeance are built-in features, not bugs. If technology hopes to truly create an artificial intelligence comparable to a human's capabilities, the base instincts must be included. He is so far separated from empathy that subjecting his own creations to hatred or terror is no different than putting a power plug into an outlet.

Dr. Tenma isn't "good," but he's one of the best-realized characters to grace our screens this year, and I can't help but find him fascinating.

Tsugaru could have easily been a much less interesting character: a young man transformed against his will, trying to hold onto his sanity and humanity as the monster inside him threatens to consume his sense of self, seeking revenge against the man who did this to him but helping innocents along the way in his quest for revenge. It's a fine enough archetype, I suppose, but it's not like there's any shortage of characters like that. But in the first episode, when Tsugaru describes to Aya how he hopes he loses his last shred of human reason when he's in front of an audience so that he can turn on them, I realized he was something far more interesting. Yes, the anger was there; here before me was a man who valued chaos. Not malicious, per se, but someone who hopes to see everything play out in the most interesting way possible.

Tsugaru has the heart of a troll; if he were born in the modern day, he would be posting baffling takes on social media and cackling with glee as people tried fruitlessly to reason and argue with him. He takes nothing seriously, even his own life. He and Aya play off one another beautifully, making one another even more intolerable to everyone else around him and occasionally to each other – Aya's thousand-yard stare as he rattled off a rakugo story for presumably the thousandth time to entertain himself spoke volumes. I can't really think of any anime characters quite like him, at least in the role of a protagonist, and he is a key component to what makes Undead Murder Farce something special instead of just any other supernatural mystery series.

Plus, to be quite honest, he kind of reminds me of my husband, and he's hot. That helps, too.