Returning to Anime? The Best Anime Series of 2013 That You Missed

Been away from anime for awhile? We understand. You go out
and have your life, anime will always be waiting for you when you come back.
They always come back. If you are finally coming back and stopped watching
sometime in or before 2013, here are all the best anime series that you missed
and definitely should go back and watch.

Attack on Titan

Facing imminent extinction, humanity retreated behind a
series of tall, thick walls to escape their most dangerous threat – massive
human-like Titans with a taste for human flesh. With an enemy that eats
humanity for fun rather than food, they are at constant threat. As such, it is
the duty of every human to defend the species. Enter Eren Yegaer, after his
village was destroyed by a Titan breach, Eren and his adopted sister Mikasa
join the Survey Corps, a faction of the military that scouts and combats Titans
outside the walls. After joining in the brutal war, Eren discovers a brutal
secret about himself that could unravel what the world thinks they know about
Titans.

The anime of the year that basically overshadowed all others. It launched a phenomenon. Too gory for some, certainly. However, if you aren’t squirmy about that stuff, it provides a solid action anime that gets intriguing later on.

Silver Spoon

Yuugo Hachiken is a hard-working, studious student, but he
is tired of trying to live up to the academic expectations that are placed on
him. So when it comes time to go to high school, he enrolls in the Ooezo
Agricultural High School in Hokkaido. Being so clever, he thinks he will excel
in the institution, but soon learns that farming is much harder work, both
physically and emotionally, more so than he expected.

While it doesn’t give a traditional view of farming, Silver Spoon does do a good job of teaching you where at least some of your food comes from. I personally enjoyed the whole bacon arc in which he struggles with killing a pig that he has bonded with.

Kill la Kill

After the murder of her father, Ryuuko Matoi scours the land
searching for his killer. Her only lead is the missing half of his invention –
the Scissor Blade. On her search, she is lead to the prestigious Honnouji
Academy that is ruled by the iron-fisted student council president Satsuki
Kiryuuin and her Elite Four. These students rule with their “uniforms” that
bestow upon them supernatural powers. Ryuuko Matoi is convinced that they know
something about her father’s death, but to face them, she needs a uniform of
her own.

Imagine an anime in which the main character got stronger the more scantily clad she was dressed. Then imagine that it was a top tier action anime and not a hentai. How they pull it off is super clever and has made this series a classic.

Log Horizon

Thirty thousand Japanese players of the popular Elder Tale
game all log in to explore the new update of their game, only to discover they
are unable to log out. The story focuses on the socially awkward college
student Shiroe, a master strategist in-game, and his friends as they try to
navigate their new real.

Sword Art Online in 2012 opened the flood gates for isekai and VRMMO anime. Log Horizon came later, but was still one of quality (unlike what we often get today). This series focused on a more realistic protagonist, had less emphasis on a harem, and generally focused on a more detailed plot. If you were intrigued by the MMO premise but disappointed by Sword Art, this is all for you.

My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU

Hachiman Hikigaya firmly believes that a joyful youth is
something that people make up just to lie to themselves. After writing an essay
criticizing relationships, he is forced to join the Volunteer Service Club that
is aimed at helping others solve their problems. With the only other member
being the icy Yukino Yukinoshita, they use their wits and cold views on society
to help others.

In most rom-coms, they have a very twee emphasis on being cute and sappy. However, SNAFU presented an alternative that actually matured up the common premise a bit. The main character and the love interest aren’t the type to be love-addled fools, and as such, love grows slowly from nothing.

The Devil is a Part-Timer

Right on the verge of taking over the world, evil Demon Lord
Satan was foiled by the hero Emilia and was forced to retreat through a
dimensional portal. He ends up in this world where he is without powers and
without money. In order to pay his way, he gets a part-timer job slinging fast
food.

Imagine being the most powerful villain in your world, only to come to ours where there is no magic and have to work a part-time job due to the ease of employment requirements. The only bad thing about this show is that there isn’t more of it.

Non Non Biyori

Asahigaoka is rural village in the middle of nowhere, and
for the five students who go to school there, their days are all about keeping
the boredom at bay. All of different ages, their ways to entertain themselves
never border on normal.

Non Non Biyori is a very visual chill anime. It likes to show you beautiful landscapes, and it distracts very little from them. There’s no plot, just cute girls doing occasionally silly things. It is an excellent choice for just unwinding.

Archenemy and Hero

After fifteen years of warfare with the demon world, the
Hero is unsatisfied with their advance and rushes forward to the Demon Queens
Castle. There he not only finds a beautiful woman that is the queen, but she
needs his help. To his surprise, she offers a way to not only help his country,
but hers as well. Together, they join forces to make that dream a reality.

This oft-forgotten show is a lovely blend of romance and country management. As odd as that sounds, it is refreshing to have a romance that focuses on the political aspect that some relationships have. It displays how every country wars for their own reasons, and through addressing those reasons, only then you can find peace.

My Mental Choices are Completely Interfering With My School Romantic Comedy

Kanade Amakusa’s high school life should have been normal.
Instead, he is cursed with Absolute Choice. This curse means that every so
often, he will be forced to make a choice, unfortunately, both choices are
often completely terrible and completely public.

In all its serious aspects, this anime is a failure. But that is okay in this case! There is one thing it does very well – it makes you laugh. The choices are so ridiculous that it covers up any other flaws. If you just want to laugh, this is for you.

Gargantia on the Verdurous Planet

In the distant future, humanity has abandoned a ruined Earth
and now lives in the furthest reaches of space fighting their eternal enemy,
the Hideauze. During one of their massive space battles, a young soldier named
Ledo and his mecha Chamber are flung through a warp hole into space. He crash
lands on a strange planet that is covered in completely in water. To his
surprise, he finds that other humans also live there aboard massive fleets of
boats. Found by the Gargantia fleet, Ledo must navigate this strange new world.

Despite the dash of CGI, Gargantia on the Verdurous Planet features some gorgeous visuals and a plot that was bursting with potential. Despite knowing what the twist is immediately, it is interesting to watch the plot unfold. Of course, the vibrant characters, perhaps in just contrast with the purposefully bland main character, are what really carry the show.

Beyond the Boundary

As the last surviving member of her clan of spirit warriors,
Mirai Kuriyama must use her special power of fighting using her blood in order
to subdue Youmu, creatures that are the manifestation of negative human emotions.
One day at school she happens across Akihito, a rare half-breed Youmu in human
form. Immediately trying to kill him, she finds out he is an immortal being and
the two strike up an impromptu friendship.

As it turns out, 2013 was the year for just absolutely
beautifully animated series. This Kyoani gem, a studio known for their top tier
animation, can be the pinnacle of fluid visuals. The fights scenes in this
series will blow you away. The plot, unfortunately, will not so much. Possibly
because it is given more context through movies and I just hate that.

Golden Time

Banri Tada has finally been accepted into a private law
academy in Tokyo, but due to an accident, he is without all his memories.
During his freshmen orientation, he meets Mitsuo Yanagisawa who is consummately
stalked by a girl from his old school. Banri begins to hit it off with both of
them. As they spend more time together, their fates seem intertwined, but for
better or worse?

Golden Time, as it follows college students, has the freedom to be a more mature romance. It is not confined by the morals of high school students and those in college are in a little more control of themselves. It has a frustratingly cliché amnesia element to it, but has a nice story to tell.

Oreshura

After being abandoned by his love-addled parents, Eita Kidou
is a bit put off by romance. It also causes him to see through the love
confession of one, Masuzu Natsukawa. As it turns out, she just wanted a
boyfriend to stop the daily love confessions. While he initially declines, she
takes to blackmailing him to be her fake boyfriend.

Sometimes you just want a refreshing romance about warming
up someone’s heart, yeah?

Kotoura-San

Haruka Kotoura is a school girl that can read people’s
minds. Unfortunately, it has caused her nothing but trouble, eventually causing
her parent’s divorce. After she moves to a new school, she tries to avoid her
classmates, but a classmate of hers finds her power not scary, but intriguing.

This series starts off super dark with some terrible things
said to a child, and from there, you watch her rehabilitated. Through love and
friendship, it is nice to see a person rehabilitated after being completely
torn apart by her family.

Do you have any more gems that are anime series from 2013? Let
returning fans know in the comments section below.