To start off things, let me give you a hint of my manner when it comes to judging... First and foremost, I prefer quality over popularity. That's not me saying there are no popular anime that can be considered excellent. What I meant was, I simply don't rely on the buzz generated by public opinion. I make sure that I properly watch and analyze well a certain show, and if it's all good, then I'll proudly recommend it. Second, it's not all about high-budget production. Just because an anime has jaw-dropping art and smooth animation, doesn't automatically make it a must-see. It's possible that some of those have poor writing, and episodes are not well-directed (which is sadly a waste of all the time and money invested on it). Lastly... I don't have any bias when it comes to genres. I do believe if you're going to make a countdown of some sort, you need to be open to all kinds of themes for you to be able to deliver a fair judgment. Do you think we're on the same boat? If yes, then *yay*; If not, it's fine.
And I guess that's enough for an intro... Let's now get into the main subject:
The Top Five Anime of Summer 2019 (~insert drum roll effect~)!
5. Bem
Synopsis: Bem, Belo, and Bela are humanoid monsters who help those who are in need. By doing so, they are hoping to be fully transformed into a human someday.
(This is the second remake of the original 1968 anime Youkai Ningen Bem. The first being released way back in 2006. Judging by the posters and character designs, the 2019 version is definitely way more polished, and suitable for a broader audience.)
First Impression: The soundtrack was the one which captivated me the most. From the opening and ending credit songs, to the background music; all the themes used were perfectly fitting for each scenario. Storywise, I'm intrigued by how long our three heroes can keep on being motivated even though they were not gaining enough trust from the people they sincerely helped. In the end, I think it will boil down on how people will view them... As a monster, or one of their own?
4. Enn Enn no Shouboutai (Fire Force)
Synopsis: Citizens of Tokyo are facing a phenomenon called Spontaneous Human Combustion; it is when a random human is suddenly engulfed in flames for unknown reasons, turning them into what they call an Infernal. A special team of fighters called Special Fire Force is summoned when such incident occur to deal with the matter. Shinra Kusakabe, a third-generation pyrokinetic who can manifest flames on his feet, joined the eighth company to be a hero, and at the same time find the cause of his family's tragedy twelve years ago.
First Impression: In the first four minutes of the first episode, I remember telling myself: "Well okay, this one's unique." Usually, we're presented with a group of ninjas, samurais, mages, but on this anime, they served us firefighters... who can be categorized as mages as well, if you actually think about it (lol). But anyway, in real life it's them -- who are (one of) our rescuers. So to have a show featuring firefighters as main characters, infused with fictional anime ingredients, were something which I found to be a perfect combo of reality and fantasy.
3. Araburu Kisetsu no Otome-domo yo (O Maidens in Your Savage Season)
Synopsis: Members of a high school literature club became curious about the topic of sex while they were having a book reading session. All five of them, whilst shy and lacking in confidence, agreed to discuss the subject for them to be knowledgeable on the matter.
First Impression: The characters here sure like to talk about adult stuff, but it doesn't mean this is one of those anime with too much fan-service -- there's almost none. They are very much relatable as well and can make you feel what it's like to fall in love, back in your younger years. This anime also doesn't have much depth compared to the rest on this list, but it's cleverly written and has enough dose of comedy, drama, and romance to fill your satisfaction.
2. Kanata no Astra (Astra Lost in Space)
Synopsis: Nine youngsters were selected to have a trip into a planet called McPa. On their arrival, a blackhole of some sort devoured them and transported them into space. Luckily, an unmanned spaceship was near, which they used to settle in. Without guidance from anybody else, they need to help each other return to their home planet.
First Impression: After finishing the pilot episode which was almost an hour-long, I remember posting quickly to Facebook with a photo of this anime's logo and recommending it to my friends as one of the best anime this season. For me to do something like that is an indication of how much I want people to acknowledge an art. Well, why wouldn't I? This science-fiction anime delivers a solid episode week per week. Character development is the most obvious improvement you will notice on the show. All nine characters have enough screen time to talk about their background, and let you realize how much they've changed as the series goes along.
1. Vinland Saga
Synopsis: In a battle between England and Denmark, a young son of a veteran Viking learned what it's like to survive and kill in a battlefield when he joined a group of merciless warriors, for the purpose of taking revenge on his father's murderer.
First Impression: The first three episodes have built a great momentum coming to the series' fourth act. It was then I realized that this was my top anime for the summer of 2019. Thorfinn, the main character, has similarity to Arya Stark from Game of Thrones. Thus, if you love that character, there's a huge chance you will also be gratified by her male counterpart in this show.
As the season progresses, you can't help but to worry or think how he will be able to overcome obstacles knowing he's all alone on his quest of vengeance and doesn't even have a loyal sidekick to back him up. (So yeah, us viewers can only hope he will have some partner along the way.) This anime will have a total of 24 episodes, meaning we have a long way to go -- and that's freakin' good news... more Viking raids, more bloody action to enjoy!
That's all for my top five, hopefully, you'll give a chance to one or two shows I've listed here. I know some of you won't agree, and that's totally understandable. There are three other anime which I watch this Summer season: Lord El-Melloi II Case Files, How Heavy Are the Dumbbells You Lift?, and Given, all are good in their respective ways, so give 'em also a shot.
PS: Some of you might be wondering why there are no certain titles on the list. So allow me to expound what 'new anime' means for this chart... It's a series that has just released its first season, meaning sequels like Attack on Titan Season 2, or Haikyuu!! Second Season, cannot be included. A prequel or a sequel can be categorized as 'new' as long as it has mostly new characters. For example, Fate/stay night: Unlimited Blade Works is a continuation to the events of Fate/Zero, but since the cast is almost entirely different, it can be considered as new. Remakes are also fine as they can present another side or scenarios not seen on other adaptation/s.