The spring 2018 anime season is going to be great. This season marks the return of some of our favorite series. We’ll get taken on psychedelic adventures, meet new friends, and even see a familiar hero in anime form. This season will be one for the ages. Here are 15 anime series and films that you can’t afford to miss this spring.
My Hero Academia 3
- Premiere date: April 7, 2018
- Studio: Bones
- Genre(s): Action, Comedy, School, Shounen, Super Power
The superhero adventure series, My Hero Academia, continues this spring with its third season. The series left off with Class 1-A facing off against their teachers at UA academy. With 25 episodes set to air, Season 3 of My Hero Academia will cover the School Trip Arc, which happens during the students’ summer break. The gang may be on break, but that doesn’t mean they’ll spend their time roasting marshmallows outside. No, instead the students will spend their days at a camp for soon-to-be superheroes.
Besides the summer break arc, the series will also include the Hideout Raid and Hero Licence Exam arcs. Fans will also be introduced to four League of Villains characters: Twice, Mr. Compress, Spinner, and Magne.
Tokyo Ghoul:re
- Premiere date: April 3, 2018
- Studio: Studio Pierrot
- Genre(s): Action, Mystery, Horror, Psychological, Supernatural, Drama, Seinen
Tokyo Ghoul:re takes place two years after the events of last season, but ghouls are still a problem in the metropolitan city. So, the Commission of Counter Ghoul (CCG) uses a special team known as the Quinx Squad, to eradicate Tokyo’s most-unwanted citizens.
The Quinx Squad consists of humans who have undergone surgery to attain special ghoul-like abilities. Leading the group is Haise Sasaki, a half-ghoul, half-human whose mentor is the infamous White Reaper. But there’s more to Sasaki than meets the eye, as memories of his past life continue to claw at his mind.
Food Wars! The Third Plate 2nd Cour
- Premiere date: April 9, 2018
- Studio: Studio 3Hz
- Genre(s): Ecchi, School, Shounen
The second half of Food Wars! The Third Plate continues this season. Fans of the manga have been waiting for a huge secret to be revealed in Season 3. Unfortunately, the studio removed this secret from the first half of the season. Luckily, the (above) trailer makes it clear that this reveal will happen when the series returns in April.
The series will follow the Totsuki Culinary Academy first-year students to Hokkaido for their Promotion Exams. However, not everything will go smoothly. The rebellious students who opposed Central will have to go up against the ten best students at the academy, the Elite Ten Council.
If you loved the delicious-look recipes and salacious scenes the anime dished out previous, then Food Wars! is a must-see.
Sword Art Online Alternative: Gun Gale Online
- Premiere date: April 8, 2018
- Studio: J.C.Staff
- Genre(s): Action, Fantasy, Game, Military, Sci-Fi
Sword Art Online returns this spring with a brand new cast of characters. The series, a spin-off of the second season, will follow Karen Kohiruimaki, a young woman who feels out of place due to her height. She finds comfort in the game Gun Gale Online where she plays as a cute — and much shorter — girl with a pink P90.
One day, she meets the beautiful brown-skinned female player, Pitohui. They hit it off and form a squadron to hunt monsters together. However, everything changes when Pitohui pressures Kohiruimaki into participating in “Squad Jam,” a team Battle Royale similar to the Bullet of Bullets tournament.
Persona 5 the Animation
- Premiere date: April 8, 2018
- Studio: A-1 Pictures
- Genre(s): Action, Fantasy, Supernatural
The response to A-1 Pictures’ anime promo, Persona 5 The Animation The Day Breakers, was overwhelmingly positive in the anime community. So, the logical next step for the studio was to create a full-fledged season that will premiere this spring. While there isn’t much information available, we can at least presume that the anime will closely follow the events of the video game.
Tokyo is a city filled with deception, hypocrisy, and corruption. A group of rebellious teens join forces and decide that enough is enough. They form thePhantom Thieves of Hearts, a group hellbent on driving darkness out of their city. Every night they go out and steal the corrupt hearts of evil people to change and reform society.
Devils’ Line
- Premiere date: April 7, 2018
- Studio: Platinum Vision
- Genre(s): Action, Drama, Romance, Seinen, Vampire
In this alternate world, vampires exist, but they are much different than the tales told in books and movies. In Devils’ Line, these creatures are known as devils, a subset of humans. They live among humans, leading normal lives. In fact, unlike traditional vampires, devils don’t even need human blood to survive. That doesn’t mean, however, that they don’t crave it. The mere sight of blood causes them to lose control and turn into monsters.
One day, a college student, Tsukasa, is rescued from an attack by a devil. Her savior is a half-devil called Anzai who uses his supernatural abilities to help solve devil-related crimes in Tokyo. Anzai continues to look out for Tsukasa, and the two form a bond. But with Tsukasa perpetually at his side, will Anzai be able to keep his number one of not drinking human blood? Or, will he become a creature of the night?
Golden Kamuy
- Premiere date: April 9, 2018
- Studio: Geno Studio
- Genre(s): Action, Adventure, Historical, Seinen
The battle between the Russian Empire and Japan during the Meiji era was a short and bloody one that left countless people dead. Sugimoto survived the grueling war. But, his duty didn’t end there. During one of the battles, Sugimoto promised his fallen comrade that he would take care of his widowed wife. To do this, he goes on a hunt for gold.
His quest leads him to dangerous criminals who will do anything to get to the treasure first. Over the course of his adventure, Sugimoto is saved from the harsh climate of the northern islands of Japan by an Ainu girl. They decide to work together to find the elusive stash of gold before the criminals do.
Piano no Mori
- Premiere date: April 9, 2018
- Studio: Fukushima Gainax
- Genre(s): Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Music, School, Seinen
Piano no Mori (aka Piano Forest) tells the beautiful, heartwarming story of two boys from different walks of life. Kai, the son of a prostitute, finds comfort in playing an abandoned piano in the forest near his home. Shuhei, on the other hand, is the son of two prestigious pianists.
The boys’ lives couldn’t be any farther apart, but their shared love of music brings them together. Piano no Mori is a tale budding musicians and the friendship they form.
Magical Girl Site
- Premiere date: April 7, 2018
- Studio: production doA
- Genre(s): Horror, Psychological, Supernatural, Drama
The magical girl horror anime, Magical Girl Site, is gearing up for anime adaptation this spring. The story follows Aya Asagiri, a young girl who is always bullied by her classmates. Desperate to escape her troubles, Aya looks to the internet for answers.
She stumbles upon a mysterious website called “Magical Girl Site.” One look is all it takes for the website to drag Aya into the dangerous world of the Magical Girl Apocalypse. Now she must either fight against savage but cute magical girls with an uncontrollable desire for blood and destruction. Or, she could not fight — and die.
3D Kanojo: Real Girl
- Premiere date: April 4, 2018
- Studio: Hoods Entertainment
- Genre(s): Romance, School, Shoujo
Tsutsui Hikari is an otaku and social misfit. Because of this, his classmates think that he’s creepy and weird. One day, he ends up cleaning the school pool with Igarashi Iroha, who is the opposite of what Hikari likes in a real-life girl. Iroha is abrasive, loud, skips school, and, to top it all off, seems a bit promiscuous.
But unlike his classmates, Iroha is friendly towards Hikari. She even stands up to those who make fun of him. But despite all of her good qualities and how well she treats him, Hikari is a jerk towards her. Surprisingly, she never holds this against him. Eventually, Hikari starts to think that Iroha might be girlfriend material after all. But will he be able to handle her?
The Legend of the Galactic Heroes: The New Thesis – Encounter
- Premiere date: April 3, 2018
- Studio: Production I.G
- Genre(s): Action, Military, Sci-Fi, Space, Drama
Based on Yoshiki Tanaka‘s science-fiction novels of the same name, The Legend of the Galactic Heroes: The New Thesis – Encounter is the first of two planned seasons releasing this year. The new adaptation retells the decades-long interstellar war between the Galactic Empire and the Free Planets Alliance. When two new commanders enter the conflict, the rivals Imperial Admiral Reinhard von Lohengramm of the Galactic Empire and Yang Wen-li of the Free Planets Alliance, things get interesting.
The 12-episode series will follow these two commanders daily exploits. From dealing with superiors and subordinates to coming up with strategies, the two will overcome trials that will change them forever. Will one of them win this never-ending war? Only time will tell if this battle will end peacefully or result in their mutual destruction.
High School DxD Hero
- Premiere date: April 10, 2018
- Studio: Passione
- Genre(s): Action, Comedy, Demons, Ecchi, Harem, Romance, School
Season 4 of the TV anime series based on Ichiei Ishibumi‘s action-harem light novel series premieres this April. The new adaptation will cover parts three and four of “The Heroic Oppai Dragon” arc, “Pandemonium at the School Trip” and “Lion Heart of the School Festival.” The focus will be on the battles between Sairaorg Bael and Cao Cao.
The series will start with a school trip and festival for the second- year students. However, things take an unexpected turn when a group of heroes makes an unexpected entrance.
While High School DxD fans are excited about the latest adaptation, some are worried that Season 4 will not be as good as previous seasons. The series recently switched from TNK animation studio to Passione, a studio with only a few shows under its belt.
Batman Ninja
- Premiere date: April 24, 2018
- Studio: Kamikaze Douga
- Genre(s): Action, Martial Arts
Late last year, Warner Bros. released a trailer for one of the most impressive Dark Knight anime adaptations to date: Batman Ninja. The latest DC adaptation will take the Dark Knight and his arch-nemesis, the Joker, to a tumultuous era in Japan’s history.
When a show teases time travel, giant Joker robots, and meditation, you know that you are in for a treat. Audiences will get to see an epic, history-changing battle likely to please DC and anime fans alike. Hopefully, the success of Batman Ninja will make it possible for other Western superheroes to get anime adaptations.
Batman Ninja is set to release digitally on April 24th.
Steins;Gate 0
- Premiere date: April 2018
- Studio: White Fox
- Genre(s): Sci-Fi, Thriller
The new Steins;Gate series will adapt the follow-up game Steins;Gate 0. All the previous cast members from the games and anime will reprise their roles for the TV show.
The eccentric Okabe is struggling to recover from a failed attempt at rescuing Kurisu. Tired of continually failing, he decides to abandon his lively alter ego to forget his past. However, this doesn’t last long, as his memories return when he meets Kurisu‘s acquaintance.
Kurisu and her associate are testing a device that could store and simulate human memories. These simulations can perfectly replicate memory owner’s characteristics and personality. The invention, while brilliant, only brings Okabe anguish and sorrow.
Servamp Movie: Alice in the Garden
- Premiere date: April 7, 2018
- Studio: Platinum Vision
- Genre(s): Action, Comedy, Supernatural, Drama, Vampire, Josei
Servamp will return this spring with the movie Alice in the Garden. Mahiru‘s life has gone back to normal since Tsubaki’s disappearance, but that all changes when it unexpectedly starts to snow. Mahiru, believing that this has to do with vampires, contacts Misono Alicein. However, Misono has issues of his own. These issues cause his brother Mikuni to reveal the Alicein family’s dark secret to Mahiru.
Hideaki Nakano and Junko Yamanaka are set to return as the movie’s director and character designer. However, Ayumi Hiseao (Dragon Ball Super, Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? ) will write the script instead of Kenji Konuta. You can catch Alice in the Garden this April.
