With so many anime being delayed or canceled due to the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, it's a perfect time to catch up on those lengthy to-watch lists and seek out some gems that may have been missed in recent years. Here are five one-season anime from all different genres that can easily be binged during weeknights after work or over the course of a single weekend.
Grimgar of Fantasy & Ash
Based on the popular light novel series by Ao Jūmonji, this isekai anime centers around a group of novice adventurers who wake up in a fantasy world with no memory of how they got there. The characters begin with no skills of their own and must train as volunteer soldiers, fighting and killing different types of monsters to hone their abilities, make money and survive.
It has your standard guild classes and various skill sets to learn -- priest, mage, hunter, etc. -- but Grimgar stands out among isekai thanks to its exceptionally gritty realism and the honest portrayal of battling just to live another day. The stunning watercolor-esque animation is also a constant highlight.
Flying Witch
Looking for a calm, relaxing anime to enjoy after a long day's work or late at night just before bed? Look no further than Flying Witch, a fun, easygoing slice of life that spans just 12 episodes. Makoto Kowata, a teenage witch in training, moves to the countryside to live with her aunt and uncle to broaden her life experience and continue improving her witchcraft skills.
There's no antagonist, nor any real external or internal conflict that needs solving, and there doesn't need to be. It's a joyful, sometimes comedic story of Makoto's teenage life as a witch, making friends at a new school and living life with her extended family as they come together to share in the quirky world of witches and magic.
Erased
An underrated 2016 murder mystery/supernatural anime, Erased is a story of drama and suspense with plenty of surprising twists and turns along the way. Protagonist Satoru Fujinuma is a struggling manga artist who possesses a special ability he calls Revival, allowing him to go back in time to just before a tragedy occurs and attempt to stop it.
When Satoru's mother, a prominent ex-journalist, is murdered in his own apartment, Satoru himself is widely viewed as the prime suspect. He is suddenly transported 18 years into the past, shortly before a trio of kidnappings and murders involving his classmates took place. How are all these events connected, and can Satoru save them all from their tragic fates and clear his name in the process? A wild 12-episode journey that may require a tissue along the way.
Golden Time
There are plenty of standard anime romcoms out there to enjoy, but Golden Time brings a unique twist to the genre. College freshman Banri Tada has lost his memory after falling from a bridge shortly after his high school graduation. He doesn't remember anyone from his family to his closest friends to his best friend Linda. Regardless, on campus he quickly makes new friends in Mitsuo Yanagisawa and Koko Kaga, childhood friends with Koko being obsessively in love with Mitsuo.
These relationships grow and change throughout their school adventures as Banri fights an emotional internal battle between who he is now and who he was before the accident. It's a show filled with love and laughs, addressing mental health struggles in a realistic and compassionate manner.
Re:Creators
An excellent Amazon original anime whose 2017 airing was somewhat overshadowed by the hype around Season 2 of My Hero Academia, think of Re:Creators as a "reverse isekai" of sorts. 16-year-old Sota Mizushino, an aspiring light novel writer, is watching an anime on his laptop when suddenly he is transported into the show's world. He meets the main character, Selesia, who is battling a mysterious young girl in a military uniform.
When Sota returns to his own world, with Selesia in tow, they discover that several characters from popular anime, manga and light novels have also been transported to the real world -- along with the military girl. The characters split into factions as some ally with Sota and Selesia while others join with the "military princess" based on promises that she will end the hardships in their own worlds, unaware of her origin or her true intentions.
Re:Creators is unique for its reliance on the power of the written word, featuring some pretty surreal scenes where the fictional characters meet and team up with their real-world creators. Its cast is full of memorable characters with colorful personalities and a wide array of special abilities. Sota finds inspiration from his role models while being forced to deal with a tragic incident from his past that is somehow connected to the events of the present. The outstanding soundtrack from the legendary Hiroyuki Sawano is the icing on the cake.