It hasn’t been that long that we’ve featured the 15 must-see anime to watch this fall. But, with a new season comes a slew of anime shows and sequels that become the new must-see. From sports to supernatural-themed anime, this winter season will check off almost every anime theme that there is. Here’s a list of the 15 must-see winter 2017 anime.
1. Blue Exorcist: Kyoto Impure King Arc
Six years after the anime’s initial release, Blue Exorcist returns with Blue Exorcist: Kyoto Impure King Arc. Set in the late Edo Period, a demon known as the Impure King killed countless of innocent people. After defeating the Impure King, the Knights of the True Cross kept its left eye safely sealed away on Academy grounds. However, it appears that someone has stolen it.
Hearing that the thief has taken a child hostage, Yukio and Rin go to the rescue. Their investigation will lead Rin and his friends to Kyoto and involve them in the mystery of the Impure King. However, will their feelings about Rin bring a wedge in their friendship?
2. ACCA: 13th Ward Observation Department
The winter 2017 anime, ACCA: 13th Ward Observation Department takes place in the fictional Kingdom of Dowa. However, the world is much different. It has been divided into 13 zones, with each zone having an observation department that ACCA controls. The series follows ACCA’s second-in-command, the astute Jean Otus, and his daily travels and adventures between each district.
3. Scum’s Wish
Mugi Awaya and Hanabi Yasuraoka appear to be the perfect couple. However, there’s more than meets the eye, as they both have a crush on someone else. In other words, they are only dating each other to fill the hole in their hearts. Will they ever be with their true love or will they suffer in solitude? The only way to find out is to watch Scum’s Wish this winter.
4. Gintama
While TV Tokyo has not released many details on the new season, the sequel of Gintama will pick up where the series left off last March. Based on a Charapedia poll, Gintama is one of the most anticipated winter 2017 anime in Japan. With its long history and nail-biting season finale, no wonder fans would be excited for the latest anime adaptation of Gintama.
5. Tales of Zestiria the X – Season Two
Tales of Zestiria the X returns for the winter 2017 anime lineup. The second season of the fantasy adventure anime will continue to follow Sorey and his quest to purify the world of malevolence.
6. Hand Shakers
The original winter 2017 anime series, takes place in Osaka, Japan in the year “AD20XX”, where duo’s challenge each other with their “Nimrodes” – weapons born from their deep psyche by joining hands. The duo who are victorious after these grueling battles gets the chance to meet and challenge “God.” On top of being an original series, GoHands put some serious time and effort into this anime. With its beautiful animation, Hand Shakers will certainly become one of the most breathtaking winter 2017 anime series.
7. Saga of Tanya the Evil
As one of Japan’s elite office workers, Tanya Degurechov was unstoppable. However, her career and life all change when a wrathful God has her reborn as a little girl. With blonde hair, blue eyes and porcelain white skin, the now reborn Tanya strikes fear in her opponents, becoming one the most dangerous entities among the Imperial Army’s sorcerers.
8. Sword Art Online the Movie -Ordinal Scale-
With a new Sword Art Online movies, comes a new threat to Kirito and his friends, this time it’s the NerveGear’s competitor, The Augma. And they are coming with a new gaming system. Unlike the NerveGear, The Augma doesn’t have a full-dive function. Instead, it uses Augmented Reality to get players into the game. With it virtually eliminating all the risks that the NerveGear had, this makes it an instant hit on the gaming market. The most popular game on the system is “Ordinal Scale,” an ARMMORPG developed exclusively for The Augma. Thrilled with the new game, Asuna and the gang try it out. Kirito is initially hesitant to use it, however, he comes around and begins to play the game too. But, they will soon find out that there’s more to Ordinal Scale.
9. Seiren
Seiren follows Shouichi Kamita, a high school student who likes to help others, but is at a loss when he needs help himself. Despite facing university entrance exams and other worries about his future, he still has time to build a relationship with three different girls.
10. Project Itoh: Genocidal Organ
The third movie adaption of the late Satoshi Itō light novel comes to the screen this February. Project Itoh: Genocidal Organ recounts the story of a world where the war on terror comes to an abrupt end when a homemade nuclear device destroys Sarajevo. This leads countries to transform into total surveillance states while developing countries endure a wave of genocides. Intelligence agent Clavis Shepherd must track down the man responsible for the nuclear war, an American named John Paul.
11. Black Butler: Book of the Atlantic
The new Black Butler anime will be an adaptation of the sixth arc – Luxury Liner – of the Black Butler manga. Taking place in 1889, this winter 2017 anime movie will follow Earl Ciel Phantomhive and his servants, Sebastian Michaelis and Snake, as they board a luxury passenger ship where the deceased are coming back to life. But the undead have become something other than human. This brings into question – who or what is responsible for reviving the dead?
12. Chain Chronicle: The Light of Haecceitas
The anime adaptation of the mobile game Chain Chronicle takes places in the fantasy world of Yggdra, where humans and mythical creatures live. Ruled by the Holy King, the land was at peace until one day, a mysterious group called the Black Army appeared. Upon their arrival, the king sent troops, but they were no match for the Black Army. And so the Holy Capital and the King fell. But, not all is lost as a young hero decides to fight back and forms the Volunteer Army to oppose the Black Army King and bring back peace to Yggdra.
13. God’s Blessing on This Wonderful World! – Season Two
The second season of God’s Blessing returns this winter season. The series will continue from last season’s cliffhanger, where Kazuma finds himself under arrest after destroying a noble’s mansion.
14. Showa and Genroku Era Lover’s Suicide Through Rakugo – Season Two
The second season of Showa and Genroku will cover the third story arc, Sukeroku Anew arc. Thus, continuing the story of the last great traditional Japanese storyteller and his reformed gangster apprentice.
15. Akiba’s Trip The Animation
Anything is possible in Akihabara, where anyone can do seemingly anything, and the streets are filled with everything that an anime fan would want. But, recently, creatures known as “Synthisters” have invaded the shopping area and are preying on the city’s visitors. The only way to defeat the Synthisters is by exposing them to sunlight. That means that to beat them, their clothes need to be ripped off. And so starts the amazing Akiba’s Trip.
While we’ve only covered 15 of the winter 2017 anime lineup, there are plenty of other series that are also worth a watch.
