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Hey guys, W here, and I’d like to welcome you to our new, once-a-season series: The 3-Episode Rule. A common rule in many circles of anime fans is that after 3 episodes, you should have a general idea of what a show is and where it is going. For this series, I’ll be posting about 3 shows you should watch in the current season and 3 shows you should add to the backlog, all based on having watched 3 episodes of the show. Some of my picks might surprise you so sit back, relax, and read on!
3 Series to Watch
Skull-Face Bookseller Honda-San
This short form series (based on the mangaka’s experiences working at a bookstore) nails the absurdities found at working in retail perfectly while seamlessly blending issues with various anime fandoms and references. Each 11-minute episode is filled with a colorful cast, fast-paced and relatable humor, and an interesting look into the lives of the people that keep Japanese book stores afloat. Put simply, if you love the culture surrounding anime, as well as poking fun at the various of the people that inhabit the scene, you won’t want to miss this. I went into this show thinking it wasn’t my cup of tea and I walked out after three episodes wishing that they were full length.
SSSS.Gridman
Inspired by the old Ultraman-esque tokusatsu (literally “special filming” but associated with live action shows with heavy special effects) show of the same name, SSSS.Gridman is the Power Rangers/Super Sentai/Ultraman show of the anime world. Production quality is rock solid thanks to Studio Trigger and there are moments of extreme nuance in settings, character interactions, and themes. Though the fights are rendered in CG, the style mirrors the cheesy and cumbersome suits of the shows it draws inspiration from and the story does the same with its over the top weapons, power-ups, and feeling of inevitable victory. All in all, this has been one of the more fun and easier ones to watch which, coupled with its quality, elevates it to a level I’m comfortable recommending.
Zombieland Saga
Depending on who you ask, idol series like Love Live or The Idolmaster are the cancer of fandoms because of their waifu-bait casts, cookie-cutter stories, and unending flow of merchandise. Zombieland Saga leans heavily into this trope and parodies the absurdity of it all by crafting a story focused on a group of zombie girls that must work together to form an idol group in order to save the Saga prefecture. With characters realizing how insane the situation is, comedy ranging from slapstick to smart wordplay, and a focus on various different types of music, this show is never devoid of laughs. Sure, there are the CG fueled dance numbers both loved and hated by the community and, sure, the cast is full of waifu-bait but taken as a whole the show’s approach toes the border between serious idol show and parody in a way that can appeal to everyone.
3 Series to Backlog
JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure Part 5: Golden Wind
The animation is great, the opening is great, the voice acting is great, and the feel of the series as a whole is great so why is this series on the backlog list? The answer is found in its name: Part 5. For example, while not catching onto a reference to the original Gridman in
SSSS.Gridman will not hurt a viewer, not having any knowledge on the JoJo universe will greatly hamper enjoyment of this series. What I’m saying then, and this is a bit of a cop-out, is that this is only a series to backlog if you haven’t seen the other parts. This is especially true based on the notoriety of some of the Stand powers in this iteration. If you don’t know what “stand” in the last sentence means, and if the name DIO immediately takes your mind to the singer and his band of the same name, then you aren’t ready for this show yet.
Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai
This show falls into the category of light-novel adaptations focusing on exploring a social idea through ridiculous means and, at least for me, I need to be in a very specific mood to watch it. Following the exploits of a girl suffering from “puberty syndrome,” which in her case makes her invisible to those around her, and a boy that has experienced it before, through the mysterious wounds on his body, the show tries to turn how societal views can effect a person into tangible effects and does it to varying degrees of success. Again, though, the long monologues, tired and subdued romance story, and fantastical “puberty syndrome” makes this show a slog to get through at times. Thanks to its realistic setting that isn’t truly a reflection of our world, it is definitely one that is better viewed at your own pace rather than weekly and a perfect candidate for backlogs everywhere.
Ace Attorney Season 2
While this is a case, like JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure earlier, where knowledge of the previous season is helpful in getting the most out of the show, the reason that this is on the list is because it is just another videogame adaptation that, while enjoyable, isn’t as smart as its source material and doesn’t live up to it. There are some smart courtroom moments and twists, but viewers are never really given a chance to try to figure everything out for themselves. While season two ultimately does have a larger story, this show is one best watched in large chunks rather than weekly thanks to its case-focused storytelling techniques. Give it a shot when it’s done but don’t worry about watching it weekly.