April - June • 222 anime
Spring 2016 dumped a huge slate — 143 titles — and a handful of shows actually kept people talking. Re:ZERO arrived and twisted the isekai formula, while Joker Game brought a dry, grown-up spy drama into the lineup.
I remembered Spring 2016 as one of those seasons where a few bold choices made the whole quarter feel interesting. Re:ZERO was the obvious standout — its time-loop setup and willingness to put the protagonist through brutal consequences pushed the isekai idea into darker, more emotional territory.
Joker Game offered sharp, restrained espionage: short, tense episodes that trusted ambiguity and character over flashy action. Flying Witch was the opposite in the best way — slow, gentle slice-of-life about everyday magic that settled into a calm rhythm. Magi: Adventure of Sinbad leaned into big-idea fantasy and polished action, giving Sinbad a real origin arc instead of just fanservice. The Lost Village (Mayoiga) was memorable for trying a crowded-mystery approach; it wasn’t for everyone, but its weird moments stuck with you.
Studios like Wit, Bones, David Production, Silver Link and Trigger showed up with visually confident work, and the season proved original series could still take risks that paid off.
