Heroine? Saint? No, I’m an All-Works Maid (And Proud of It)!

Celesty McMarden has dreamed of becoming a maid ever since she saw one as a child and was captivated by her beauty. She secretly trained to become a maid until she turned fifteen. After her mother passes away, Celesty discovers a letter revealing that her mother knew about her dream and had once been a maid herself before becoming a mother. Her mother's final wish was for Celesty to become the best maid in the world. Determined to fulfill that wish, Celesty resolves to pursue her dream not only for herself but also in her mother's memory. It is then that she awakens her maid magic.

After using magic to change her hair and eye colors, she adopts the name Melody Wave and heads into town to find work through the Commerce Guild. She lands a position at the Rudleberg estate as an all-works maid, meaning she will be responsible for handling every task in the mansion on her own. When she arrives, the estate looks as though it's haunted. The walls are crumbling, the trees are dead, and crows circle above the rooftop. As Melody searches for the servants' entrance, she is greeted by a young girl with messy blond hair. The girl introduces herself as Luciana Rudleberg and explains what will be expected of her in the position. Melody enthusiastically accepts the job and puts her all into every task as she begins working toward her dream of becoming the world's best maid.

Heroine? Saint? No, I'm an All-Works Maid (And Proud of It)! was really good! It was cool to see a protagonist whose dream is to become a maid. What's even funnier is that Melody is completely oblivious to the fact that her existence is essential to the world. Usually, characters who are powerful but don't realize it can bother me, like Lloyd from Scooped Up by an S-Rank Adventurer. However, Melody always approaches things with a positive attitude, which I think is what sets apart the oblivious characters I enjoy from those I don't.

All the characters remain modest, too. There is a scene where Melody uses magic to create a maid outfit, and it plays out somewhat like a magical girl transformation sequence. However, her entire body is censored, although you can still see its outline. There's also a bath scene, but Melody is wrapped in a towel for the majority of it. If you enjoy fantasy or slice-of-life anime, I would definitely recommend giving this one a try!

The Forsaken Saintess and Her Foodie Roadtrip in Another World

Rin Takanashi is a Japanese girl who loves camping. After getting caught up in a saint summoning, the summoners decide that her skill is worthless and abandon her in a place called Lake Lear. With nothing else to do, Rin decides to go fishing. However, instead of catching a fish, she pulls an adventurer out of the river who had fallen in after running out of stamina while climbing a mountain. Once he wakes up, she feeds him and learns that his name is Vil and that he belongs to a race called the Dragoul. Vil explains that Rin is on a continent originally created by demi-humans who were tired of the human supremacy that ran rampant throughout the world. Eventually, humans who preferred to coexist with demi-humans also began settling on the continent. After enjoying her delicious Risotto, Vil invites Rin to join his adventuring party, Smorgasbord, as their cook and porter. After thinking it over for a night, Rin accepts and sets off for the nearest town to meet her new traveling companions.

The Forsaken Saintess and Her Foodie Roadtrip in Another World was great! I really enjoyed the personalities of the members of Smorgasbord and how well they interacted with one another. It was cool to see not only magic but also the characters using the unique abilities of their respective races. For example, Aria uses her spider thread to attack monsters. The series reminded me a little of Campfire Cooking in Another World, particularly because of its focus on food and Rin taking a winged cat as her familiar. However, overall, it bears more of a resemblance to Princess Connect! Re:Dive because it focuses on an adventuring party whose members love discovering and eating delicious food.

There is a hot springs scene, but the girls remain dressed, so their skin isn't exposed. The scene is also viewed from above, keeping the focus off their chests, unlike most hot springs scenes in anime. There is some swearing here and there, but it isn't particularly noticeable. If you enjoy anime that focuses on cooking, I'd definitely recommend giving this one a try!

You and I Are Polar Opposites Season 2

Miyu Suzuki and her friends from Class 2-7 are back! With their end-of-term tests over, winter break is finally here. To celebrate, the class holds a feast in their classroom. Meanwhile, Nishi and Honda walk past and compare the sight of everyone eating to the Straw Hat Pirates from One Piece. Yamada offers them some fried chicken, but they decline because their hands are full of bags. Before going their separate ways, Yamada and Honda say goodbye and wish each other well until next year. However, Yamada secretly makes plans to meet up with Nishi by pointing at his phone and silently mouthing that he'll text her.

Afterward, Watanabe, Sato, Azuma, Taira, Suzuki, Tani, and Yamada head to a neighborhood decked out in Christmas lights and decorations. They take pictures and chat about their plans for winter break. As they walk home together, Taira and Azuma gradually grow closer. Meanwhile, Tani and Suzuki decide to bake a cake together on Christmas Eve. They go shopping for ingredients before preparing a delicious-looking dessert. After dinner, they exchange Christmas gifts. Both have bought each other gloves to help keep them warm during the cold winter months ahead.

You and I Are Polar Opposites Season 2 was really good! However, it felt different from Season 1. The first season was more lighthearted and followed the typical romance clichés found in many romance anime. In contrast, Season 2 focuses more on the characters' personal growth while continuing to develop their relationships. There are no lewd scenes, and although a swear word pops up here and there, profanity is kept to a minimum. If you enjoyed Season 1, I would definitely recommend giving Season 2 a try!  

Catch Me at the Ballpark!

Ruriko is a new beer vendor for the Chiba Motorsuns. During every baseball game, she makes her way through the crowd, selling beer and snacks. Her first customer is a man named Kotoro Murata. Rather than maintaining a strictly professional attitude, she teases him to convince him to buy from her. As time goes on, more and more people come to the stadium not just to watch the games, but to see Ruriko as well.

Catch Me at the Ballpark! was not what I expected. I initially thought it would be similar to Smoking Behind the Supermarket with You. The two are alike in the sense that Murata attends baseball games hoping to see Ruriko. However, Catch Me at the Ballpark! continually expands its cast of characters, making some of them less memorable. 

However, once I stopped comparing the two series, I realized that Catch Me at the Ballpark! has a lot of good points. The little stories dedicated to each character make it feel like everyone has a purpose. The variety is great, and I found myself hoping to see more of certain characters. You also get to know the players on the Motorsuns and watch them improve, not just as baseball players but as people, too.

Overall, while it's hard to classify this as a romance anime, I would say it's worth giving a try. There's no fan service, and the swearing is kept to a minimum.

The Insipid Prince's Furtive Grab for the Throne

Arnold Reks Adler is the seventh prince of the Kingdom of Andrias. While some see him as unmotivated and lacking in talent, he is secretly an SS-rank adventurer known as Silver. Although he is incredibly powerful, what Arnold really desires is for his twin brother, Leonard Reks Adler, to take the throne. However, the other royals won't go down without a fight.

The first thing Arnold does to help Leonard gain the upper hand in the succession is find allies. While most nobles and merchants have sided with the second princess, Zandra; the second prince, Eric; or the third prince, Gordan, Arnold heads to the Duchy of Kleinert. He initially visits as Silver, using the monster outbreaks in the area as an excuse to meet with the family. However, he is turned away at the gate because they refuse to believe that an SS-rank adventurer would show up in their territory.

Arnold then appears as himself and uses illusion magic to arrange a meeting with Silver in front of the duke's daughter, Finne Von Kleinert. They discuss their desire to gain the Kleinert family's support in helping Leonard become the next crown prince. After their conversation, Silver quickly takes care of all the monsters and returns to his room in the duke's residence using teleportation magic. However, Finne is waiting in the room when Arnold takes off his mask. With his identity revealed, he asks her to keep his secret. Finne tells her family that Silver has single-handedly wiped out all the monsters, and she expresses her desire to help Arnold and Leonard moving forward. The duke agrees to support Prince Leonard in the succession and sends Finne to the capital to aid them. Will Arnold be able to maintain his act as an incompetent prince while controlling events from the shadows?

The Insipid Prince's Furtive Grab for the Throne was cool to watch. While the fights aren't particularly long or drawn out, the way the story weaves individual events into a grand plan captivated me. It reminded me a little of The Eminence in Shadow.

There is a shower scene, a bath scene, and a scene in which Elna Von Armsberg and Finne Von Kleinert are shown in their underwear. While I wasn't happy about the unnecessary fan service, I would still recommend giving the anime a try. In my opinion, the story more than makes up for it.

Smoking Behind the Supermarket with You

Sasaki is an overworked corporate slave at a trading company. While some people turn to games or books to relieve stress, Sasaki visits the supermarket to see a cashier named Yamada, whose smile brightens his day. One day, after noticing that Yamada isn't working, Sasaki looks for a place to smoke. After wandering around, he is invited to smoke behind the supermarket by an employee he's never seen before. She asks him why he always lines up at Yamada's register, even when other registers are completely free. Suspecting him of being a stalker with ill intentions, she questions him about his behavior. However, when he explains that Yamada's smile is a treasure to him, she lets it go.

The next time Sasaki goes to Yamada's register, she tells him that Tayama mentioned he was her fan and that it made her happy. Caught off guard, Sasaki drops his point card. Embarrassed that Yamada learned about their conversation, he decides to visit Tayama again. When they meet to smoke behind the supermarket, he tells her that he didn't appreciate her revealing their conversation and that he now feels embarrassed every time he goes to register #2. Despite this, Sasaki gives Tayama his favorite snack, Yummy Mochi Chips, as thanks for letting him smoke with her the other night.

After a few conversations, Sasaki starts wanting to visit the supermarket not just to see Yamada, but to spend time with Tayama as well. However, Tayama is keeping a secret from Sasaki. Will their relationship change if he finds out?

Smoking Behind the Supermarket with You was good. In the past, I've mentioned that I'm not a big fan of adult romance anime, but watching this made me realize that it's office romances that bore me. I really enjoyed watching Tayama and Sasaki get to know each other as they talked about things happening in their lives. The anime felt very relatable in that sense. While I enjoy the typical hand-holding and dates that you see in most romance anime, watching two people grow closer through casual conversations felt like a nice change of pace. The anime doesn't have any lewd scenes, either. If you enjoy romance anime, I would suggest giving this one a try!

On Your Mark

One day, the police burst through the window of a religious building and attack the residents. Inside, the officers discover a room filled with people wearing hazmat suits lying on the floor. As the search continues, a winged human is found unconscious on the ground. The two officers help her regain consciousness before transporting her in a police vehicle. After discovering that she is being experimented on, the officers break into the facility and free her from her cage. Using a car to escape, the trio hopes to reach a place where the winged human can finally be free.

On Your Mark was interesting. I decided to watch it because it was only seven minutes long and was created by Studio Ghibli. However, since it had no dialogue, I had to watch it multiple times to understand what was going on. Still, I think it was a cool idea. The world portrayed in the video has a post-apocalyptic feel to it. If you are a fan of Studio Ghibli, I would suggest giving this short film a try.

The World's Strongest Rearguard: Labyrinth Country's Novice Seeker

 

Atobe Arihito wakes up in a long line after dying in a bus accident alongside his colleagues. He is greeted by a woman who tells him to visit the guild and find a job. He then finds himself in Labyrinth Country, a place where people explore dungeons that connect to various parts of the world. Upon arriving at the guild, he learns that a girl is looking for people with rearguard classes to help her. Unsure which class would suit him best, Atobe simply writes “Rearguard” on his license, and the guild accepts it as his new class. Since no one has ever listed Rearguard as their class before, the guild receptionist warns him that it will probably be difficult to find a party without knowing what his class can do. Atobe then heads to the mercenary guild, where he meets and hires a lizardman girl named Theresia. Together, they venture into the dungeon, where Atobe begins to discover his various abilities, including shielding his party from attacks and making their attacks more powerful.

The World's Strongest Rearguard: Labyrinth Country's Novice Seeker was enjoyable. I particularly liked that the monsters were different from those typically seen in fantasy anime. Instead of slimes and goblins, you encounter cotton balls and harpies. I found it interesting that the characters' licenses serve as more than just identification; they function more like phones, keeping track of their skills and other information. The anime features some fan service, including a bath scene, a beach episode, and scenes that show off some of the characters' cleavage. If you enjoy fantasy anime, I would recommend giving this one a try.

The 100 Girlfriends Who Really, Really, Really, Really, REALLY Love You Season 3

A TV show host for Love Talk! Spill the Deets! shows up at the mall and sees a group of girls. She asks them if they have any stories about things their boyfriends have done recently to make them feel cherished. Each girl shares a story that starts out romantic but takes an unconventional turn.

Hahari shares a story about how one of her heels broke during a date, and her boyfriend caught her before she could fall. He then carried her for the rest of the date. Next, the host talks to Meme about her experience. Meme shares how her bra came unclasped and her boyfriend held it together. However, instead of using a safety pin, he used his fingers to hold it in place the entire time. After that, the host turns to Shizuka, who explains that her boyfriend wanted to share her love of books, so he memorized entire novels to discuss them with her. The other interviews follow the same pattern, and the host becomes convinced that boyfriends these days are turning into monsters. However, unbeknownst to the host, all the girls in the large group happen to be dating the same guy!

The 100 Girlfriends Who Really, Really, Really, Really, REALLY Love You Season 3 was great! There is so much to love about this anime. The characters are absolutely hilarious, and Hakari and Karane's arguments always make me laugh out loud. Hahari's reactions to different situations add to the show's humor, and I love the relationships Shizuka shares with both Nano and Rentaro.

Another fun aspect is the different drugs Kusuri creates, which cause all sorts of unforeseen chaos. The way the characters break the fourth wall and reference various other anime and manga is also a source of enjoyment. There were some inappropriate scenes, such as a bath scene, a hot spring scene, a shower scene, and a scene that shows Nano's cleavage. If you enjoyed the first two seasons, I would definitely recommend giving the third season a try as well!

That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime Season 4

The Festival was a success in getting other nations interested in what Tempest has to offer the world. After everyone has gone home, Rimuru inspects the Magitrain site. The children he taught are brought to a new school in Tempest, where they are taught by Hinata the Saint.

Meanwhile, Ramiris, Veldora, Mjollmile, the Hero Masayuki, and Rimuru work together to improve the dungeon after receiving complaints that it is too difficult. What they discover is that the adventurers attempting to conquer it are simply too inexperienced. Masayuki suggests creating a class to teach adventurers how to conquer the dungeon. However, what really changes the situation is Mjollmile's suggestion to add a monetary reward. This change brings adventurers there in droves.

However, the path to peace isn't an easy one. Many people still see Rimuru as an enemy. Will he be able to gain the trust he needs to create a world where humans and monsters can live in harmony?

That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime Season 4 was exceptional. The animation, story, and action were unbelievable. There were many new characters introduced who were exciting to see, and we also got to learn more about the backstories of some of the older characters, which was interesting. If you've enjoyed the anime so far, I would definitely suggest giving Season 4 a try.

That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime the Movie: Tears of the Azure Sea

Rimuru and his friends are invited to a tropical resort by Queen Elmesia. They fly to the island aboard her dragon airship and immediately begin relaxing in their own ways. While Rimuru, Shuna, Shion, and Eren are walking around, Gobta notices that a suspicious girl has been following them, so he confronts her. She says her name is Yura and claims that she just happened to be walking in the same direction as them.

When Gobta and Yura are attacked and later found by Rimuru and his friends, Yura opens up about what is really going on. She tells them that she is a priestess from the country of Kaien. She left the country after learning about a secret plot to abuse their guardian deity and is now being pursued. Will Rimuru be able to save a country that is being destroyed from within?

That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime the Movie: Tears of the Azure Sea was really good. The animation was absolutely beautiful, and the sea and birds looked especially realistic. The action was good too. What surprised me was that the majority of the focus was on Gobta. It was kind of nice to see him get more screen time.

Since the movie is set at a tropical resort, you do see girls in bikinis, but it didn't feel too distracting to me. If you enjoy That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime, I would definitely give the movie a try. It takes place between Season 3 and Season 4 if you want to watch it chronologically.

Clevatess Season 2

After the fight with Drel, Luna returns to the throne of Hiden. As his reward for helping save Luna, Klen asks to become Luna's magic teacher. So, Alicia and Klen go to Solsein, the school of magic. While on the surface it looks like they're going there to learn magic themselves, their real goal is to find the secret room where Drel conducted his experiments and discovered how to use magic. Various countries have the same idea, and each sends people of their own. This becomes apparent when Klen and Alicia encounter Naie Chiffonlitz, a teacher at the school who was once Drel's subordinate, along with others who fought in the war. Will they be able to keep up the charade, especially since Alicia has no aptitude for magic?

Clevatess Season 2 was really good. Though I will admit I was a little disappointed with the ending. It was cool to see Klen and Alicia go undercover as students. While going to a magic school is a trope that's been done to death, the magic system used in Clevatess is unlike anything I've seen in all the fantasy anime I've watched. While the way magic is drawn does somewhat resemble the magic in The Greatest Demon Lord Is Reborn as a Typical Nobody, the vibe is completely different.

There is some swearing throughout the anime. While the characters typically remain modest, you do see some of Alicia's skin when her clothes are ripped near the end of the anime. I would definitely suggest giving it a try if you enjoyed the first season.

Narumi's Week at Work

 

Gen Narumi, the captain of the First Division, skips out on work to eat at a restaurant. Before long, his platoon leaders come in and sit in the booth next to his. At first, they talk about all the things he does wrong, such as playing video games during training and using the communication channel to tell everyone whenever he’s trending online. However, they eventually start talking about why they like him. They explain that because of Narumi, they have the courage to continue fighting.

The vice captains of the First, Third, and Fourth Divisions meet up to discuss Narumi’s behavior. Hasegawa says that he would like to find a successor before he retires from the Defense Force. However, the other vice captains say that finding someone capable of replacing Hasegawa will be difficult, since not everyone has the patience to deal with Captain Narumi.

Narumi’s Week at Work was a lot of fun. Since all of the episodes are only three to four minutes long, I was able to finish the series pretty quickly. Even though the episodes were short, they were just as enjoyable as the full-length episodes of the main series. The anime stays relatively clean for the most part. There is a bath scene, but it only features Narumi and Vice Captain Hoshina’s brother, Soichiro. If you enjoyed Kaiju No. 8, I would definitely suggest giving Narumi’s Week at Work a try.

From Old Country Bumpkin to Master Swordsman Season 2

After the attack on the prince and princess, the vice-captain of the knights, Henblitz Drought, asks Beryl how to fight multiple opponents. As Beryl explains, Lucy pops in and starts blasting magic at him to see if he can avoid it. After he evades all of her attacks, she pulls aside the captain, Allucia Citrus.

When Beryl gets home and is talking with Mewi, Lucy and Ficelle arrive and ask if he would be interested in teaching at the magic academy. When Beryl says that he doesn't know anything about magic, Lucy explains that Ficelle is teaching a course on Sword Magic and that they want him to help the students learn how to wield a sword properly. After talking it over with the knights, Beryl attends the Sword Magic class and is able to gain the students' trust after having a mock battle with Ficelle.

From Old Country Bumpkin to Master Swordsman Season 2 was really good. There were some amazing events that happened throughout the season. A trope I really enjoy is when characters in fantasy worlds become teachers, so seeing Beryl Gardenant go to the magic academy to teach the students was definitely a highlight for me.

Another aspect I enjoyed was when Beryl goes back home and has a sword fight with his father, whom he sees as the ultimate swordsman. There aren't any lewd scenes, but there is some swearing throughout the season. If you enjoyed the first season, I would definitely suggest giving the second season a try as well.

Hanaori-san Still Wants to Fight in the Next Life

Ryusei Narukami was a demon lord in his past life. Now, he lives as a shut-in, spending about 10 hours a day playing video games. While relaxing in his room one afternoon, his little sister alerts him that a visitor has come to see him. Meteor Hanaori bursts into the room and tells him that she is the Hero who killed him in his previous life as a demon lord. Now that she has found him, she wants to know what evil plans he has in store for this new world so that she can strike him down.

When Ryusei tells Meteor that he just wants to live a peaceful life without bothering anybody, she doesn't believe him. After she leaves, he decides to get a job. He finds a teaching position at an all-girls school and goes in hoping to get a fresh start. However, when he arrives at the school, he discovers that Meteor is one of the students in the class he is teaching. Will the Hero and Demon Lord be able to get along, or will their memories of their previous lives get in the way?

Hanaori-san Still Wants to Fight in the Next Life was really funny and cute. I haven't been super into high school romance anime recently, but I absolutely love this one. All the characters are fun to watch, and the action scenes are entertaining as well. There are a couple of bath scenes, as well as a scene where you see Meteor in a bikini. Besides that, it's a pretty wholesome anime. I would definitely suggest giving it a try.

My Stepmother and Stepsisters Aren’t Wicked

Miya Nakamura was raised in a small home by her single mother. When her mother became sick, Miya worked various jobs to make sure she could be taken care of. After her mother died, Miya was taken in by the Kounakuras, a wealthy and prestigious family. Miya feared that she might not be accepted because she is Mr. Kounakura's illegitimate child. However, Marika, Arisa, and Teru Kounakura treat Miya as though she were truly part of the family. Not only do they treat Miya as an equal, but they also help her adapt to her new life by teaching her how to read and write, do mathematics, and understand the rules and traditions necessary to fit into high society.

My Stepmother and Stepsisters Aren't Wicked was really good. The anime initially makes you feel like you're going to experience a Cinderella scenario, but what you get is the complete opposite. It's a great slice-of-life anime about treating others with love and respect and how doing so can lead to wonderful experiences and memories.

While the anime is wholesome overall, there are a few bath scenes as well as a beach episode. However, the characters don't wear revealing swimsuits at the beach, and the bath scenes only show the characters from the head and shoulders up. Because of this, I wouldn't consider it an anime with lewd scenes. The language is kept clean as well. I would definitely suggest giving it a try.

Skeleton Knight in Another World Season 2

Thanks to Princess Yuriarna of the Rhoden Kingdom, peace has been established between humans, elves, and beast people. However, not everyone is happy with this new way of life. While slave trafficking has essentially ceased, nobles and thugs have begun using devices to control monsters as another way to oppress the people.

Arc, Ponta, Ariane, and Chiyome have been working together to fight back against the monsters and save anyone in harm's way. However, after saving a group of people, they notice that the entire town is avoiding them. After helping heal an injured child, Arc and Ariane learn from a nearby adult that everyone has mistaken them for a pair of criminals who have been causing trouble lately.

After searching for the people impersonating them, they discover that they are working with the son of the lord of Diento. He controls a group of goblins in hopes of attacking Arc, but due to the difference in power, the goblins aren't even able to scratch him. Will Arc, Ariane, and Chiyome be able to get to the bottom of where these devices are coming from and continue to free those in need?

Skeleton Knight in Another World Season 2 was great. There's a lot to love about this series. The voice acting, jokes, and action are all really good. The characters' personalities also make them really fun to watch.

One of the best things about this show, though, is the world-building. You get to see a ton of different cities, much more than you typically see in other fantasy series. But what I loved the most was learning about Chiyome's backstory and the lives of the Jinshin ninja clan.

There is a downside to this series, and that's that Ariane wears a very revealing outfit. There are also a few hot spring scenes this season, which the series probably would have been fine without. There is a little bit of swearing here and there as well. While it does have its downsides, I would definitely suggest giving it a watch if you enjoy fantasy anime with a lot of action.

A Livid Lady’s Guide to Getting Even: How I Crushed My Homeland with My Mighty Grimoires

Elizabeth Leiston is the crown princess of the Kingdom of Haldoria. She has made generous contributions to the citizens of the kingdom through her company, Funnel Trade Group. She also takes care of many of the administrative responsibilities that keep the government running. Despite all this, the crown prince announces that he is breaking off their engagement and marrying another girl named Sylvia Lockit. Prince Friede then imprisons Elizabeth on false charges and spreads rumors portraying her as a villain. That night, while in her prison cell, Elizabeth decides to seek revenge—not just on the prince, but on the entire kingdom. She uses her magic to escape her cell and uses her connections to move to the empire bordering Haldoria. There, she starts a new life as a merchant selling cosmetics. However, that's just a front to help her carry out her revenge. Will Elizabeth really be able to take down an entire country?

A Livid Lady's Guide to Getting Even: How I Crushed My Homeland with My Mighty Grimoires was really good. There was something strange about it to me, though. Not a single person in the entire country questioned the rumors, except for those who worked under Elizabeth. Even the poor people she had helped, along with the king and her own father, turned their backs on her. I can kind of understand why she wanted revenge.

As for the content, the characters dress modestly for the most part, except for a small scene where Elizabeth and her associates go to the beach and wear swimsuits. There isn't any swearing either. I would definitely recommend it if you enjoy fantasy anime. 

Though I Am an Inept Villainess

Reirin Kou is the most popular maiden in the Inner Court. She is so graceful that people have started calling her the Butterfly. On the flip side, Keigetsu Shu is the most hated maiden in the Inner Court. People have even compared her to a sewer rat. One night, as a comet passes by, Keigetsu’s jealousy reaches its peak, causing her to push Reirin over the edge of a tower. When Reirin wakes up, she finds herself inside a jail cell. Her head court lady, Tousetsu, comes to meet her and is unbelievably angry. She begins talking about how wrong it was to push Reirin. That’s when Reirin looks into a puddle and realizes that she is now in Keigetsu’s body.

Tousetsu then hands her a ball of poison and tells her that it is a gift from Reirin, giving her the option to commit suicide. If she refuses, she will have to participate in the Lion’s Judgment. If the lion eats her when she enters the cage, she is guilty. If the lion doesn’t eat her, then she is innocent. Will Reirin be able to convince everyone of what really happened before it’s too late?

Though I Am an Inept Villainess was really good. I had read part of the manga before the anime was released, but I was still surprised by how well they adapted it. There aren’t many anime that have a similar feel to The Apothecary Diaries, so it was exciting to see a story take place in a similar setting. All of the characters are fun to watch, the story flows really well, and the music supports it perfectly. The entire anime is wholesome. There are no lewd scenes and no swearing. I would definitely suggest giving it a try.

The Frontier Lord Begins with Zero Subjects

Dias is a soldier who fought for the kingdom for many years. After the war finally ends, he is awarded a piece of land by the king for his efforts in defending the people. However, when he arrives at his new territory, he finds that it is completely empty. As far as he can see, there is nothing but grass stretching for miles.

When he wakes up the next morning, a girl is standing over him, bombarding him with questions about who he is, how he arrived on the prairie, and what he plans on doing there. After she finishes questioning him, she takes him to a nearby village, which he somehow managed to miss when he explored the area the day before.

When the village leader asks whether he is a friend or an enemy, Dias says that, as the lord of this land, he wants to protect his subjects no matter what. The village chief then asks what he would do if they weren't his subjects. Dias answers that he would still protect them. That's when he realizes that the villagers aren't actually part of his territory.

The village chief acknowledges him as a worthy ally and gives him supplies to help him build a home. She then tells him that if he trades with their village, they will continue to supply him with food, livestock, and anything else he needs. To top it all off, she gives him Alna, the girl who originally found him, to teach him the skills he needs to survive out on the prairie.

After hunting together, Dias and Alna eventually get married and begin looking for new ways to bring subjects into Dias's domain. But will anyone want to move to a land so undeveloped that nobody except the lord and his wife live there?

The Frontier Lord Begins with Zero Subjects was really good. Before I started watching it, I was expecting something similar to Easygoing Territory Defense by the Optimistic Lord, but it turned out to be more like Farming Life in Another World. Even though it was different from what I was expecting, I still really enjoyed it.

The characters are all fun, and I especially liked seeing how they accept each other without judging one another based on their appearance or what happened in their past. While the anime stays mostly clean, there are a scene or two where you see Alna wearing skimpy clothing. If you enjoy fantasy anime where the characters work together to develop the land they live on, I would suggest giving this one a try.

The Troubled Life of Miss Kotoura

 

Haruka Kotoura was born with the ability to read minds. At first, she used it for simple things, like figuring out what kids would choose in rock-paper-scissors so she could win every time. As time went on, she began saying what people were thinking out loud. This caused her friends to call her a liar, and eventually, her parents divorced. Haruka was left alone with her wealthy grandfather. Despite all the hardships she faced, she still wanted to live a normal life and continued going to school.

Once she reached high school, Haruka believed that nobody would ever be on her side—until she met Yoshihisa Manabe. When he first tries to get close to her, she completely ignores him. However, Manabe consistently does everything he can to stay by her side, and she slowly begins to let her guard down. When people start calling her creepy because of her mind-reading ability, Manabe stands up for her and promises that he will never leave her side, no matter what happens.

The Troubled Life of Miss Kotoura was very funny, and I laughed a lot while watching this anime. I honestly hadn't looked up any information about it beforehand, so everything came as a complete surprise. It's a fun romantic comedy.

However, Manabe frequently fantasizes about Haruka in different ecchi scenarios, such as her making food while wearing an apron, a bath scene, and others. There is also a beach episode where the characters wear swimsuits. The anime handled the fan service fairly well through censorship, but it might be better to skip it altogether if you don't like lewd scenes. However, if fan service doesn't bother you and you enjoy romance anime, I would suggest giving The Troubled Life of Miss Kotoura a try.

I Became a Legend After My 10 Year-Long Last Stand

Luck, Goran, and Eric travel through a dimensional rift to defeat the Demon King. While they are able to badly injure him, they are unable to finish him off. After taking a break, they realize that they are facing what appears to be an insurmountable number of demons. Luck tells the others to leave it to him and return to their families, who are waiting for them. Reluctantly, Eric and Goran turn back while Luck holds off the demon horde.

Luck couldn't tell whether he had been fighting for weeks or months, but the Demon King eventually returns at full power. Since Luck had been fighting demons nonstop, even in his sleep, the number of skills he had learned allowed him to defeat the Demon King single-handedly.

When Luck finally returns to the Capital, he notices several changes, including a giant statue that was erected in town while he was gone. He asks a citizen who the statue is supposed to represent, and the citizen tells him that it is the great sage and saint, Luck, who saved the world ten years ago.

After learning about the statue, Luck decides to go to the Adventurers Guild, where he plans to start over from scratch. There, he reunites with Goran, who has become the Grand Master of the Adventurers Guild. Eric arrives soon after, having been appointed king in honor of his deeds and his role in helping defeat the Demon King. Together, they help Luck hide his identity as the S-Rank Mage Luck and become the F-Rank Warrior Lock. But will Luck be able to hide his true identity forever?

I Became a Legend After My 10-Year-Long Last Stand was really good. It had a similar feel to I've Been Killing Slimes for 300 Years and Maxed Out My Level, as well as The Dark History of the Reincarnated Villainess. While the anime has a lot of familiar tropes, such as adventuring, forming friendships that eventually feel like family, and being a former member of the Hero's Party, it still feels very unique compared to other fantasy anime.

There is a little swearing here and there, but the language is mostly clean. The characters generally dress modestly, with a few exceptions. There is a scene where you see Cellis at the river with her legs exposed, a bath scene featuring Celliss and Sia, and a vampire who shows cleavage during a fight. If you enjoy fantasy anime, I would definitely suggest giving this one a try.

The Oblivious Saint Can't Contain Her Power

The ducal house of Sanchez has produced great leaders in various fields for generations. The current head of the house has two daughters: Flora, who is considered a candidate for sainthood because of her outstanding talent with healing magic, and Carolina, who has been perceived by the public as clumsy and talentless. A nickname has even spread among the nobility, calling her the “Disgrace of House Sanchez.”

One day, the king visits Carolina and asks if she has someone she loves. He then explains that, due to political tensions between the Kingdom of Celestia and the Malcosian Empire, the Empire has demanded that a noble lady of the highest standing be sent to them as the bride of the second prince, Edward Ruby Martinez. Since the princess of Celestia is already betrothed and Flora is a candidate for sainthood, the duty falls to Carolina.

Rumors have spread far and wide that the second prince is an unfeeling man who cuts down innocent women and children without hesitation. Despite these rumors, Carolina accepts the proposal. Upon her arrival in the Malcosian Empire, she meets the Pyreborn Knights, the order commanded by Prince Edward. However, when she finally meets the prince himself, she is completely caught off guard. He is the complete opposite of the man she was led to believe he was. Will Carolina's new life finally be filled with the happiness she deserved but never received?

The Oblivious Saint Can't Contain Her Power was really good. It has a similar feel to anime like The Too-Perfect Saint, Betrothed to My Sister's Ex, and Pass the Monster Meat, Milady. I always enjoy fantasy/romance anime like this. They give off a special feeling that I don't get from romance anime that take place in Japan. That's not to say there aren't any good non-fantasy romance anime, though. The Dangers in My Heart, which I enjoyed immensely the other week, is a perfect example. The Oblivious Saint Can't Contain Her Power doesn't have any swearing, and there are no lewd scenes in it. If you enjoy fantasy/romance anime, I would definitely suggest giving it a try.

The Villager of Level 999

In this world, everyone is given a class and a level, and the weakest of them all is the Villager class. Most villagers die at around Level 5 to 10, but Koji Kagami has reached Level 999. During one of his quests, he meets a young girl who is being targeted by the hero's party. After getting her out of the situation by claiming that she's his little sister, he finds out that her name is Alice and that she is the daughter of the Demon Lord.

What Alice wants more than anything is coexistence between demons and humans. Since Koji had previously met the Demon King, he agrees to help her. They get medicine for the Demon King, who has been sick, and begin preparing to return Alice to the Demon King's castle. However, before they can leave, the city is attacked. Will Alice and Koji be able to convince the world that demons and humans aren't that different?

The Villager of Level 999 was pretty good. Something that I really appreciated was seeing the hero change. A lot of times, the hero is there just to be a jerk to the protagonist. Thankfully, Rex, the hero, is willing to listen to Koji and help him rather than being arrogant and set in his ways. All the characters dress modestly until the last episode, when you see Parna, the mage, wearing a bunny girl outfit. Besides that, there are no lewd scenes. If you enjoy fantasy anime, I would suggest giving this one a try.

From Overshadowed to Overpowered: Second Reincarnation of a Talentless Sage

 

After defeating the Demon King, Eftal was granted the privilege of becoming one of the Four Emperors by the king, along with the title of Lightning Emperor. The title of Emperor is typically only given to nobles, so Eftal sees it as a magnificent reward. He then goes on to teach children magic after the world becomes peaceful. One of his students, Merlin, was raised by him, and she wants to do everything she can for him.

However, Eftal eventually dies and is reincarnated with the same abilities he had at the peak of his previous life. Unfortunately, after 400 years, the magic of the world has weakened considerably, and most humans can't cast spells above Level 3. Because of this, Eftal decides to hide the fact that he can cast Level 10 spells. That won't stop him from fulfilling his dream of becoming the most powerful mage he can, though.

From Overshadowed to Overpowered: Second Reincarnation of a Talentless Sage was good. It kind of reminded me of The Greatest Demon Lord Is Reincarnated as a Typical Nobody and The Strongest Sage with the Weakest Crest. While the majority of the anime is clean, there are characters who wear revealing clothing, a bath scene, a hot springs scene, as well as a scene where you see a girl undress to break a curse that has been placed on her. I think the anime would have been better without that scene, but overall, it was still entertaining. If you enjoy fantasy anime, I would suggest giving it a try.

The Garden of Words

Takao Akizuki is a 15-year-old high schooler who has decided to skip first period whenever it rains. He goes to a small, sheltered area where he meets a woman who has decided to skip work and spend her morning drinking beer instead. At first, they don't talk to each other, and Takao simply spends his time drawing in his notebook. But every time he goes to the sheltered area on a rainy morning, she's there as well.

They eventually start talking about life, and Takao opens up about his dream of becoming a shoemaker. He tells her that he is already working on a pair of shoes, though they aren't as good as he would like them to be. She then asks him to make her a pair. While he agrees to do it, the rainy days eventually stop, and with them, his visits to the sheltered area come to an end as well.

Naturally, they meet again, but in the least likely place Takao expected to see her. Will things stay the same once Takao discovers who this mysterious woman really is?

The Garden of Words is exactly what you would expect from a film made by Makoto Shinkai. The animation and artwork are absolutely breathtaking, but I found the story a bit dull. None of his films have really captivated me the way Your Name did, which was the first film of his that I saw. Suzume came close, but ultimately didn't quite reach the same level for me.

The main reason I watched this was because the runtime was less than an hour, so I didn't have any high expectations going in. Despite that, I ended up enjoying it. The music is soothing, and the overall vibe is mellow and peaceful. Everyone dresses modestly, and there isn't any swearing. If you enjoy Makoto Shinkai's films, I would definitely suggest giving this one a watch.

Cultural Exchange with a Game Centre Girl

Lily Baker grew up in England, and despite watching anime her whole life, she fails to pick up the language after moving to Japan. This makes it incredibly hard for her to make friends. One day, she shows up at an arcade where she tries to win a koala stuffed animal from a claw machine. After she repeatedly fails, Renji Kusakabe wins the koala for her and tells her it's a Valentine's Day present. However, because of his poor English and their cultural differences, Lily believes that Renji has confessed his undying love for her. To help them understand one another, they start an exchange journal, which helps Lily learn Japanese while Renji learns English. Watch as Lily, Renji, and others grow closer through their shared love of gaming.

Cultural Exchange with a Game Centre Girl was really cool. It was hard to get started because of the constant switching between English and Japanese, but after a couple of episodes, I started to really enjoy it. It's fun to see Lily adapt to Japanese life as she works to make friends and improve her relationship with Renji. The majority of the anime is clean. There is a swear word here and there, as well as a hot spring scene and a beach episode. I also loved the references to Dropkick on My Devil! and Jujutsu Kaisen. I would definitely suggest giving it a try.

The Dangers in My Heart: The Movie

Kyotaro Ichikawa's sister, Kana, has started a band, and for their concert, she has Kyotaro write a song for them to sing. As the concert begins, Kyotaro reflects on how he met Anna, as well as the time they spent together that eventually led to them becoming a couple. Watch as some of the most memorable moments from The Dangers in My Heart are shown, along with additional scenes that weren't in the anime.

The Dangers in My Heart: The Movie was really good. It had been a long time since I had watched the series, and I feel like I love it even more now after watching the movie than I did when I first watched the series. Everyone dresses modestly for the most part. There is a scene where you see Anna in her pajamas with her stomach exposed. If you enjoy romance anime, I would definitely suggest giving The Dangers in My Heart: The Movie a try.

Ojisan and Marshmallow

Habahiro Hige works at a company with Iori Wakabayashi. There’s nothing Hige loves more than eating marshmallows. Wakabayashi is aware of this and approaches Hige, offering to share some of the bag she has. Because Hige won’t directly admit that he wants one, she eats them in front of him, waiting for him to be honest. Once she reaches the last one, she offers it to him again, and Hige finally says yes. However, there’s a catch: he has to take it from her mouth. Since they would have to kiss for him to eat it, he reluctantly lets it go.

In order to get into a relationship with Hige, Wakabayashi is willing to use marshmallows in a number of ways. However, will it be enough to get Hige to notice her, or will all of his attention remain focused on the marshmallows?

I really enjoyed Ojisan and Marshmallow. After watching the first episode, I felt like my love for romantic comedy anime had been reignited. I don’t typically enjoy office romances, so this one completely surprised me. It was absolutely hilarious, and Wakabayashi’s attempts to get Hige’s attention, along with Hige’s reactions to them, made me want to see them become a couple.

It is a wholesome romance for the most part, but there is a hot spring scene, a girl named Mioko Nijimori who shows cleavage, and a dream scene where Wakabayashi dreams that she is taking care of a baby. While I enjoyed it, I definitely wouldn’t suggest it to anyone unless I knew it was exactly what they were looking for. The fact that the characters are all adults, along with the humor, makes me feel like this is geared more toward adults than teens. 

Half-Broken Music Box

One day, while Keiichiro is in a dump, he finds an abandoned helper robot. He believes she's broken and takes her to a repair shop, but they tell him that her model is too old and that the parts are no longer available. Keiichiro takes her home and leaves her in the bathroom before going to bed. When he wakes up, he finds the robot downstairs making him breakfast. However, she has no memory of who she is or what her life was like before she woke up that morning.

When she asks what her name is, Keiichiro names her Flower. He takes Flower around town and teaches her about money so she can do the shopping. After finding out that she has a terrible memory, he buys her a notebook where she can write down what happens during her day so she won't forget. They then go on to experience things that make every day fun for Flower. However, she notices that Keiichiro doesn't smile at all. Is there a way to bring back the happiness that she has seen in the old photos around the house?

Half-Broken Music Box was interesting. It reminded me a little bit of Planetarian, though I think the Planetarian anime left more of an impact on me. Half-Broken Music Box is a good slice-of-life anime. Judging from the art and descriptions I found online, I went into it thinking it was supposed to be an emotional anime like Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day. While it didn't make me sad, I found it relaxing to watch.

The characters all dress modestly, though you do get a glimpse of a pornographic magazine when Flower is cleaning Keiichiro's bedroom. Besides that, it's a pretty wholesome anime. I would definitely recommend it if you're looking for something short and relaxing.

Victoria of Many Faces

After finding out that the agency she worked for had betrayed her, Chloe decides to fake her death and run away. As a former spy, she is well-versed in hiding herself and flees to another country under the fake name Victoria Sellers. There, she meets a little girl named Nonna who has been abandoned by her family. Victoria decides to take her in and raise her.

After using her skills to help capture a thief, Victoria becomes acquainted with Jeffrey Asher, the captain of the Second Order of Knights. To thank her for helping capture the criminal, he agrees to become her guarantor. Victoria quickly finds a job that will allow her to take care of Nonna while also providing them with a place to live. Although she wishes to find a normal, peaceful life, the extreme cautiousness she developed as a spy may continue to keep that happiness just out of reach.

Victoria of Many Faces was a good anime. The romance did feel a little rushed, but I can't complain too much since it was only nine episodes long. I really enjoyed the mix of action and romance. The anime had a similar feel to Spy x Family, but the medieval setting gave it a more relaxed feeling to me. If you're looking for an enjoyable romance anime, I would suggest giving Victoria of Many Faces a try.

A Sign of Affection

One day, while Yuki is riding the bus, a man approaches her and asks for directions. However, since she is deaf, she is unable to communicate with him. She is saved by a young man named Itsuomi. She remembers that he is part of the same club her friend Rin attends. So, after arriving at their college campus, she talks to Rin about him, and Rin takes Yuki to the bar where Itsuomi works. It's there that Yuki asks for Itsuomi's phone number. After receiving it, the two start to communicate more by texting. Itsuomi then tells her that he would like to learn sign language. This makes Yuki super happy, and she offers to teach him herself. Will Yuki and Itsuomi stay friends, or will their relationship turn into something more?

A Sign of Affection was pretty good. While the sign language being incorporated into the anime was different from any romance anime I've seen before, it didn't feel super exciting to watch. This definitely feels like an anime you watch between shows you really like. It has a really relaxing feel to it, which is good. Even though it felt pretty slow to me, I'm sure it can be super entertaining if that's what you're in the mood for. The anime stays pretty wholesome for the most part. There is a shower scene, but all you see is Yuki's head and shoulders. If you enjoy romance anime with older characters, I would suggest giving it a try.

Botan Kamiina Fully Blossoms When Drunk

It's Botan Kamiina's first year at college. As she goes to meet the girls living in the same dorm as her, she notices that the resident assistant is missing. So, she tells Kanade Gujo, Yaeka Kitamori, and Akane Yusa that she is going to find her. Botan goes to a small area where a lot of stalls are set up. She finds Ibuki Tonami, the RA for the dorm, sitting on a bench and drinking alcohol. Ibuki never lets anyone see her drinking, but when Botan says that she'd like to give the drink a try, Ibuki hands her the cup. After Botan tries the drink, Ibuki learns that Botan and she aren't so different, and maybe it would be nice to drink together again.

Botan Kamiina Fully Blossoms When Drunk was an interesting anime. One of the cool things about this anime is that the art style changes in every episode. I read that the studio had different teams of artists work on each episode, which is why it came out the way it did. The scenery looks absolutely amazing throughout the show. It kind of gave me Encouragement of Climb vibes. There are some yuri aspects to the show, which made it hard to watch at times, but they didn't get overly close, which made it seem more like a normal slice-of-life anime. There are hot spring scenes throughout it, but they didn't feel particularly lewd. The story isn't so fascinating that I felt like I could binge it, but it has a nice, relaxing feel to it. I would say this is a good anime to watch when you are taking a break from anime that are super action-oriented. While this wasn't my favorite, I still think that it's worth watching.

Kaya-chan Isn't Scary

Kaya Sato attends a kindergarten where mysterious events seem to happen. Recently, kids have been falling off the swings and getting hurt. The teachers assume it's because the kids are careless, but Kaya knows the truth. Invisible monsters haunt the playground and wait to push kids off the swing set. Kaya tries to prevent it from happening, but she is labeled a problem child for blocking off the swings. As she is pulled away by a teacher, a boy hops on the swing and is pushed over and over until he is so high that falling would inevitably result in serious injury. Luckily, Kaya steps in and defeats the ghosts with one punch. This is because Kaya is the world's strongest psychic.However, the ghosts don't just appear on the playground—they are appearing all over the city. Will Kaya be able to save those close to her, or will the fear of the unknown drive her away?

Kaya-chan Isn’t Scary was great. It kind of reminded me of Mieruko-chan as well as My Clueless First Friend. While I don’t typically watch horror anime, the art in the picture, as well as the title, made me want to give it a try. The anime has a good balance between horror and slice of life. The horror aspect isn’t overwhelming, and the story properly explains why things are happening while still maintaining a relaxing vibe throughout the anime. There aren’t any lewd scenes or swearing. If you don’t mind the horror genre, I would suggest giving it a try.