The development of revolutionary energy technology led to a mass apocalyptic event created by “Evolution Fields,” which have caused biological organisms to merge with technology, leading to monstrous evolution and devastation. In the wake of this apocalyptic event, humans desperately fight against both these monsters and each other for survival.
Jumping in right where we left off 13(!) years ago with The Second Raid, Kaname Chidori is once again the target of various military conspiracies and PMC ambushes. Teletha “Tessa” Testarossa’s estranged brother, Leonard, has returned to kidnap Chidori and do various shady bad guy things. Once again, Chidori’s bodyguard/classmate/boyfriend Sousuke Sagara steps up to the plate to deal with it all, preferably while in a giant robot.
Sugimoto “The Immortal” Saichi is a veteran of the Russo-Japanese War who’s desperate to make some quick cash to help his deceased friend’s widow. Hearing a rumor about a stash of hidden Ainu gold in the Hokkaido wilderness, he teams up with a young Ainu girl named Asirpa on a bloody quest to find it. But they’re not the only ones after the gold. Between mutinous army platoons, political revolutionaries, and the most violent and dangerous criminals Northern Japan has to offer, the duo have their work cut out for them.
In the future, gunpla battle has evolved to the final frontier…VR MMOs. Now players log into Gunpla Battle Nexus Online, a virtual world where Gundam fans can meet up and live out their Gundam fantasies in the digital world. Inspired by the reigning gunpla battle champion, Riku embarks on his journey to become the best gunpla battler.
Humanity fights monsters known as Klaxosaurs with humanoid giant robots known as Franxx. Each one is piloted by a boy-girl duo known as, “parasites.” Hiro is a parasite whose washed out of the program after his failure to reach synchronicity with his former partner. Ready to leave for good, a chance meeting with the mysterious fatalistic parasite known as Zero-2 changes his fate forever.
Akira Fudo is a sensitive young man with a good heart, but lacks the bravery or ambition to do much with his life. When his best friend Ryo Asuka shows up and reveals to him the existence of demons that have returned from their age long slumber to conquer the Earth, Akira must merge with the devil Amon and become Devilman, the one who can combine the raw destructive power of a devil with the good soul of a human being.
2017, despite being something of a garbage fire of a year, ended up being pretty good for anime. Between some original standouts, old franchises returning to form, and some excellent adaptations, anime is as fresh as it’s ever been, even in the face of some truly offensive offerings. As my life gets busier, I find I end up watching less than I’d like, but nonetheless, here’s my arbitrary list of awards that give me an excuse to talk about some of that anime.
