Best Anime Of Winter 2023

The Winter 2023 anime season is almost at an end. In fact, shows like Don't Toy with Me, Miss Nagatoro 2nd Attack, The Angel Next Door Spoils Me Rotten, and The Fire Hunter have already aired their finales, and most series will conclude their runs before the end of March. Even though it probably will not go down as an all-time great, the season has nevertheless produced its share of memorable shows that will be discussed for years to come.

With over 40 anime airing during Winter 2023, keeping up with everything can be borderline impossible. Furthermore, some series take a few episodes to really find their groove; by the time these anime get good, they might have already been dropped from a viewer's rotation. Consequently, let's take a look at the best anime of Winter 2023 that are worth binging now that the season is nearly complete.

Special Mention: Kubo Won't Let Me Be Invisible & The Misfit Of Demon King Academy 2

A number of Winter 2023 anime have been delayed. Shows like NieR:Automata Ver1.1a and Unite Up! Have returned from their hiatuses, but the same cannot be said for Kubo Won't Let Me Be Invisible and The Misfit of Demon King Academy 2 The latter two are indefinitely delayed, while the former is set to return in April 2023. Due to their statuses, these three series will not be in contention for the best anime of Winter 2023.

19 D4DJ All Mix (+/- 0)

Winter 2023 is quite giving when it comes to idol anime. Continuing from Fall 2022, IDOLiSH7 Third Beat! Part 2 is among the genre's strongest seasons in a long time, and it is not without company. Unite Up! Has lost some steam due to a delay, but the anime is still a fairly interesting and grounded look into the industry. Technoroid: Overmind is, admittedly, not that great, but D4DJ All Mix is more than good enough to pick up the slack.

The CG anime sets itself apart by concentrating on idols backed by DJs, with the story introducing a couple of different girl groups. The current season finds the girls trying to stage an event per month, a process that involves creating new songs revolving around timely themes. Like its prequel, 2020's D4DJ First Mix, All Mix is fairly laid-back, almost feeling like a slice of life at times. While typically ending with a performance, most episodes are driven by the characters' charming banter rather than their drive to be the best of the best.

18 NieR:Automata Ver 1.1a (+/- 0)

Two of the biggest anime of Winter 2023 fall under the sci-fi umbrella: NieR:Automata Ver 1.1a and Trigun Stampede. The former has managed to exist alongside its source material rather. A-1 Pictures adaptation suffered a setback when its fourth episode was delayed for a couple of weeks, causing the anime to lose most of its early momentum. Since returning on February 19, 2023, Ver 1.1a has maintained a reasonably high standard of quality.

The story revolves around a seemingly endless war between androids and machines. The former fight for humanity's sake, while the latter have started to ape some human behavior. 2B and 9S are advanced YoRHa androids who are sent to help the resistance, although their mission quickly becomes ambiguous. Ver 1.1a has largely stuck to NieR:Automata's story, albeit with a few flourishes that expand on some aspects that are only touched upon in the game.

17 The Vampire Dies In No Time Season 2 (+/- 0)

The Vampire Dies in No Time might not be Madhouse's most well-known or acclaimed series, but the comedy anime is consistently amusing. The first season laid the foundation for Draluc and Ronald's formula, as the vampire and hunter learn to live with each other. As entertaining as the two leads are, the anime's supporting characters steal the show, something season 2 seems to recognize since the series is now basically an ensemble sketch comedy.

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Each episode is divided into two or three skits, and the weirder things get, the better. Draluc and Ronald might be the most "ordinary" characters in this universe, and they act as great straight men for wackier personalities such as Fukuma, Yomotsuzaka, and Handa. The Vampire Dies in No Time is not a groundbreaking or once-in-a-lifetime show, but it is a fun Winter 2023 anime that can bring a smile to a viewer's face.

16 The Fire Hunter (-4)

The Fire Hunter has been strange so far. The series envisions a world where humans burst into flames when close to fire, and most towns are barely managing to scrape by. Fire hunters are tasked with defeating monsters who contain an energy source, and they are accompanied by dogs. When a fire hunter dies saving a young girl named Touko, she accepts responsibility for the deceased man's dog and agrees to journey to the capital in search of his family.

Signal.MD's anime is a mixed bag. The show has an eye-catching art style that pops off the screen but is held back by occasionally subpar animation. The Fire Hunter's world-building is fantastic, painting a clear picture of a desperate society on the brink of annihilation; however, a lot of this information is delivered via underwhelming exposition dumps. Characters like Touko and Koushi are well-written and multi-layered, but they are also not big personalities. While not perfect, The Fire Hunter's positives outweigh its negatives, and season 2 has been confirmed.

15 Bofuri: I Don't Want To Get Hurt, So I'll Max Out My Defense. Season 2 (-2)

While there are plenty of anime about characters trapped in video game worlds, stories that remove the "trapped" part are relatively rare. Bofuri follows Maple as she starts her video game career by diving into a VR MMORPG called New World Online at the behest of her friend, Sally. In order to avoid getting hurt, Maple focuses solely on leveling up her defense stat, a decision that breaks the game and transforms the rookie into a powerhouse.

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Season 2 continues to chronicle Maple, Sally, and their friends' virtual journeys as they explore new layers, discover exciting loot, and take on bosses. Due to its premise, Bofuri is naturally devoid of any real tension since the worst that can happen is a quick respawn or a wasted session. Consequently, the anime opts for a relaxed tone that highlights its likable characters. This Winter 2023 anime is the ultimate comfort food.

14 Trigun Stampede (+2)

Vash Receives His Coat – TRIGUN STAMPEDE Episode 8

Trigun Stampede has struggled to step out of its cult classic predecessor's shadow, Madhouse's Trigun. Orange's new series is a more faithful adaptation of Yasuhiro Nightow's shonen manga, although that does not necessarily translate to a superior experience. Putting aside comparison to the '90s series, Trigun Stampede is undeniably one of Winter 2023's most visually stunning shows; in terms of animation, the anime stands alongside Land of the Lustrous, Orange's CG masterpiece.

Vash the Stampede has a reputation for bringing destruction with him, which makes him a target for bounty hunters on Noman's Land. Despite his villainous reputation, in reality, Vash is a kind soul who is incapable of hurting a fly. However, his brother is another story entirely.

13 Sugar Apple Fairy Tale (+2)

In a season overflowing with fantasy stories, Sugar Apple Fairy Tale has been somewhat lost in the shuffle. This is a shame, especially since the J.C.Staff anime is trying almost single-handedly to satisfy Winter's shoujo quota. In this universe, humans and fairies co-exist, although the former treat the latter as slaves. Ann Halford aspires to craft silver sugar like her recently deceased mother, and she hires a fairy bodyguard named Shall Fen Shall to accompany her on this journey. Due to suffering a lot at the hands of humans, Shall does not take Ann at her word when she says she will set him free once their job is done.

Sugar Apple Fairy Tale is built entirely on the strength of Shall and Ann's friendship, and both of these characters are well-defined as individuals. Earnest but slightly naive, Ann has good intentions, which put her at risk of being manipulated; however, she quickly learns from her terrible experiences. On the other hand, Shall starts out as cold but steadily warms up to Ann, while still retaining a mistrust for humans at large. Their story has been enchanting and memorable.

12 Don't Toy With Me, Miss Nagatoro 2nd Attack (+2)

Filling in Winter 2023's teasing quota, Don't Toy with Me, Miss Nagatoro 2nd Attack has completed its transition into a wholesome romantic comedy. While the opening season's debut episode can leave a bad impression due to Hayase's overzealous bullying of her senpai, Naoto, the anime quickly softens the girl's mean-spiritedness. Since then, she has come across as annoyingly playfully rather than unnecessarily aggressive.

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Ending on a really sweet note, season 2 is a contender for Winter 2023's most wholesome anime, something that might have seemed impossible after the pilot episode. It is not just that Hayase stops treating her senpai like a punching bag, but Naoto also undergoes a lot of growth. In some ways, he is one of the most realistic protagonists in anime rom-coms. While he feels nervous around Hayase, he does not let that stop him from pursuing his interests.

11 Tokyo Revengers: Christmas Showdown (+/- 0)

Starting exactly from season one's conclusion, Tokyo Revengers: Christmas Showdown finds Takemichi returning to a future that is somehow worse than ever before. Once again, the timid protagonist is forced to go back in time to try and change the Tokyo Manji Gang's trajectory, hopefully saving Hinata's life in the process. This time, Toman is on a direct collision course with Black Dragon, a violent biker gang governed by a vicious and manipulative leader.

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Christmas Showdown has generally offered more of the same; consequently, if someone hated the first season, the sequel is unlikely to change their mind. Well-meaning but frequently ineffective, Takemichi is a divisive figure who can be very frustrating. The anime also loves to highlight the protagonist's fragile nature to a fault, with most episodes involving a moment when Takemichi receives a few punches to the face. Popular characters like Draken and Mikey have taken a backseat in season 2 as well, although this has permitted people like Chifuyu and Kisaki to get more time in the spotlight.

Tokyo Revengers is a high drama series that can be very entertaining, provided someone tolerates Takemichi and does not mind suspending their disbelief.

10 In/Spectre Season 2 (+/- 0)

In/Spectre season 1 had a lot of things going for it: awesome protagonists, great dialogue, and interesting stories. However, the third arc overstayed its welcome to such an extent that it damaged the cour's overall quality. So far, season 2 seems to have fixed its predecessor's pacing issue. In a world where humans unknowingly exist alongside spirits, Kotoko Iwanaga serves as a bridge between the two. Yokai (and sometimes humans) turn to the human girl to help them solve their dilemmas, and she is insightful, sharp as a knife, and witty.

Season 2 is currently on its third arc, and the show has yet to produce anything resembling a miss. Along with being fascinating in isolation, each saga has been relatively different as well, ensuring things do not get repetitive.