With a global pandemic rising, it's going to be a rough Spring, but at least we still have new anime to comfort us during this time of social distancing! While there have been some coronavirus-related disruptions in the anime industry (most notably, Re:ZERO Season 2 had to move from Spring to Summer and many of FUNimation's simuldubs are experiencing minor delays), animators are working hard remotely to bring you fresh entertainment at a time when we need it most.
Here's an overview of the 16 biggest new and returning shows of the Spring 2020 anime season, and where and when anime fans in the United States will be able to stream them.
FRUITS BASKET (SEASON 2)
Season 1 of the new Fruits Basket anime covered the same narrative ground as the 2001 anime, but with more sophistication. Season 2 is now going into previously unadapted territory, animating some of the most intense parts of Natsuki Takaya's classic shojo manga. Whether you're brand new to the mysteries of the Sohmas' zodiac curse or a returning fan, expect to be hit with all the feels.
Fruits Basket Season 2 premieres April 6 at 10:30am PDT. FUNimation will be streaming the English dub, and Crunchyroll will stream the subtitled version. Unfortunately, a planned theatrical premiere of the first three episodes had to be canceled due to the coronavirus.
BNA: BRAND NEW ANIMAL
Japanese fans are already raving about the first six episodes of BNA: Brand New Animal, which premiered on Japanese Netflix in advance of the series' April 9 TV premiere. Given Netflix's typical release patterns for its TV anime licenses, international fans will likely have to wait until after the Spring season ends to watch this original series from Little Witch Academia creator, Yoh Yoshinari.
The story follows Michiru, a high school girl transformed into a tanuki, in a world where humanoid animals have entered human society. Following Beastars, Netflix and Fuji TV's +Ultra block seem intent on turning anime fans into furries... and it seems to be working!
SWORD ART ONLINE: ALICIZATION - WAR OF THE UNDERWORLD (SEASON 2)
Technically this is the second airing block of the second part (War of the Underworld) of what's considered an extended third season (Alicization) of the Sword Art Online anime -- a season count which does not include the Sword Art Online Alternative spinoff series that aired between Seasons 2 and 3. If that descriptor didn't leave you confused, you're probably already a fan of the influential virtual reality adventure series.
Those who've been waiting since December to see how the Underworld War concludes will get the chance to stream new episodes starting April 25 at 9:30am PDT on FUNimation, Crunchyroll and HIDIVE.
TOWER OF GOD
Tower of God is this season's most heavily promoted new series on Crunchyroll. It's the second "Crunchyroll Original" anime and the first of the streaming site's collaborations with the Korean comics powerhouse, WEBTOON. Twenty-Fifth Baam's quest to ascend a mysterious tower has captivating millions of comic readers already. The trailers promise a well-animated adaptation that hopes to achieve the same widespread popularity.
New episodes of Tower of God will premiere weekly on Crunchyroll starting on April 1 at 7:30 AM PDT.
KAGUYA-SAMA: LOVE IS WAR (SEASON 2)
Kaguya-sama: Love is War was the big comedy hit of the Winter 2019 anime season. Each episode featured multiple skits demonstrating the absurd lengths high school geniuses Kaguya and Miyuki would go to avoid confessing their obvious love for each other. Expect more of the same well-directed laughs (and hopefully an equally great ending theme) from Season 2.
The season premiere airs in Japan on April 11. While the streaming license for the first season was shared between FUNimation, Crunchyroll and Hulu, it's been announced FUNimation has exclusive streaming rights of Season 2 as part of its deal with Aniplex. FUNimation will also be producing a dub for Season 1.
APPARE-RANMAN!
Appare-Ranman is the show this season most likely to provoke the meme of "Is this a Jojo reference?" The premise of an 18th-century race across America heavily recalls the plot of Steel Ball Run, Part 7 of the Jojo's Bizarre Adventure manga, and some of the colorful costume designs also evoke JoJo's sense of fashion.
However, the main characters (engineer Sorano Appare and samurai Isshiki Kosame) are distinctive from the Speed Ball Run cast, which gives us optimism that this flashy original action series from P.A. Works will be able to stand on its own merits. It's scheduled to premiere on April 10, with FUNimation licensing the streaming rights.
FOOD WARS! (SEASON 5)
Food Wars! is one of the most offbeat of the major Shonen Jump hits. You might not expect the story of competitive chefs so talented that their food makes people orgasm to last five seasons, but here we are. The manga wrapped up last year, and this will be the final season of the anime, showcasing Yukihira Soma's intense final competition in The Blue.
Food Wars!: The Fifth Plate starts airing in Japanese TV on April 11. As it has with previous seasons, Crunchyroll will be streaming the series.
GHOST IN THE SHELL: SAC_2045
Of all the anime series receiving continuations this season, Ghost in the Shell: SAC_2045 might be the most controversial. Why? Unlike previous seasons of Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex, this one is entirely CGI, and opinions are split on whether the change in art style is successful.
Still, even with different animation, Kenji Kamiyama from the previous two seasons is returning to co-direct with Shinji Aramaki, so it might be worth watching even if your eyes need time to adjust. We'll find out when the whole series drops on Netflix worldwide, April 23.
NO GUNS LIFE (SEASON 2)
Based on the manga by Tasuku Karusama, No Guns Life is a cyberpunk noir series centered around Juzo Inui, an "Extended" cyborg war veteran and mercenary with a gun for a head. The anime was always planned as 24 episodes, divided into two seasons. Season 1 of the anime aired in the Fall of 2019, finishing off on a relatively self-contained but by no means final note.
After taking a break for the Winter, the second season begins on April 9. FUNimation will continue streaming both dubbed and subbed versions. If Ghost in the Shell: SAC_2045 wasn't enough, this should surely satisfy your cyberpunk needs.
GLEIPNIR
Many recent hit anime have heavily appealed to furries, but few might be so specifically appealing to fursuiters as Gleipnir. Like many an anime protagonist, Shuichi Kagaya has the power to transform into a monstrous beast. Unlike others, his beast form looks exactly like a mascot costume, complete with a zipper and a cartoony smile. It's a unique set-up for a series that's part action-adventure, part romantic comedy.
The first TV anime in three years from the studio Pine Jam, Gleipnir is scheduled to premiere on April 5, with FUNimation managing streaming in America.
MY TEEN ROMANTIC COMEDY SNAFU (SEASON 3)
Fans of the anime My Teen Romantic Comedy Snafu, based on the light novel series by Wataru Watari, have been facing a long wait for more. The two-year gap between Season 1 and Season 2 is nothing compared to the five-year gap between Season 2 and Season 3. This slice of life series about a loner boy forced to help two girls with their problems has gained a wider audience during that hiatus, with a dub released in October 2019.
Season 3 will be the final season and premieres on April 9. Official US streaming plans haven't been announced yet, but as a Sentai Filmworks license, expect it to stream on HIDIVE.
SOL LEVANTE
Sol Levante should be a special treat for those of you with 4K HDR TVs. The animation from Production I.G. is going to be gorgeous no matter what screen you watch it on, but if the hype is to be believed, this will be a real gamechanger as the first hand-drawn anime series produced in the 4K HDR format.
Of course, all the fancy technology in the world is worthless without a good story, and we still don't know much of anything about this anime's story. We will all be able to find out soon. Barring any additional delays (its release has been delayed twice before), Sol Levante will be streaming worldwide on Netflix on April 2.
MY LIFE AS A VILLAINESS: ALL ROUTES LEAD TO DOOM!
Every anime season brings about at least one new isekai series where some nerdy human dies and gets reincarnated into a fantasy world. This season's big premiere in the genre is one of the relatively rare shojo isekai series. The main character is a dating sim player who finds herself reincarnated as Katarina Claes, the villain of the last game she was playing. Now she's desperate to prevent the game from reaching a Bad Ending.
Those looking for some reverse-harem romantic comedy mixed in with the typical isekai tropes should be on the look-out for My Life as a Villainess: All Roads Lead to Doom. The series starts on April 4 on Crunchyroll.
ASCENDANCE OF A BOOKWORM (SEASON 2)
This season sees not only the premiere of a new female-driven isekai series but also the return of one of last year's favorites. Ascendance of a Bookworm's story about an aspiring librarian who dies in an earthquake and gets reincarnated into a medieval world with low literacy charmed anime viewers during the Fall 2019 season. In Season 2, Myne begins her training as a priestess, which will grant her more access to the literature she craves.
The anime continues on Crunchyroll starting on April 4 at 11:45 AM PDT. To best prepare for the show's return, make sure to also watch the two OVA episodes which were released on March 10.
LISTENERS
Listeners, a new original series created by Jin and Dai Sato and directed by Hiroaki Ando, takes place in a world without music. This silent world changes when a boy, Echo Rec, discovers a girl, μ, who has an auxiliary port in her body. The character designs are already appealing, but more than anything, a sci-fi series about music changing the world is going to need an awesome soundtrack to hit big. L!th!um is responsible for handling the musical responsibilities.
You'll be able to tune in to this anime starting on April 3 thanks to FUNimation.
YU-GI-OH! SEVENS
Toyetic children's anime always finds a way of continuing well beyond the point that their original fans have grown up. Case in point: we'd bet many adults weren't even aware there was still Yu-Gi-Oh! anime being produced, but even more spikey-haired kids are set to do battle with card games in the sixth Yu-Gi-Oh! anime set to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the iconic, Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters anime.
It will be time to d-d-d-d-duel again on April 4 on Japanese TV. No American licensor has yet been announced for streaming, though the previous series Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS streamed on Crunchyroll so a license announcement for Sevens seems likely in the near future.