January - March • 226 anime
Winter 2023 felt like a season of steady payoffs — 209 shows rolled out, and a handful actually stuck with you. A few sequels (The Misfit of Demon King Academy II) and anthology pieces (Junji Ito Maniac) gave the season clear high points without needing to be flashy.
My take on winter 2023 was that it rewarded patience more than spectacle. The Misfit of Demon King Academy II leaned hard into its power‑fantasy comedy, and when the series leaned on character beats and ridiculous one‑liners it landed — the lead's charisma carried a lot of episodes. Junji Ito Maniac was the season's weird flex: the anthology adapted short horror pieces with faithful, unsettling visuals and a surprisingly consistent mood.
On the movie front, The First Slam Dunk reminded everyone why kinetic sports animation still mattered — the choreography and score turned old scenes into cinematic set pieces. Sasaki and Miyano: Graduation closed that quiet romance with warm, earned growth, which felt satisfying after the series' slow burn. Record of Ragnarok Season 2 kept the over‑the‑top fight energy, giving fans spectacle and clear chapter breaks. Overall, winter 2023 was patchy in volume but had distinct pockets where creative risks actually paid off.
