Hi, KONNICHIWA! Emi here!
As you know, the new anime series in spring 2016 appeared one after another with their first episodes aired.
Have you found any anime that attracts you?
But we have almost 50 new anime. You are still wondering which to watch, aren’t you?

Especially for somebody like you, I will introduce this time’s must-see anime with high expectations in a ranking format! These were selected on my own at the time when I watched the first episodes of the new anime.
You will lose nothing by tentatively adding the anime introduced here to your recording list!

(For your reference, I like Sci-fi, Sci-fi punk, real robot, and romantic comedy as an anime genre.)

Now let me announce the ranking.

Best Five Must-see Anime in 2016

No.5 “Joker Game”

『ジョーカー・ゲーム(Joker Game)』 is an anime adaptation of the mystery/spy novel series written by Koji Yanagi.

The main attraction of this anime is its thrilling scenario.
The story takes place in Japan before the World War II in 1937.

“In autumn of 1937, a clandestine spy training agency was established in the Imperial Japanese Army, based on an idea of Lieutenant Colonel Yuuki serving the Empire of Japan. All the information on its examinees, including their careers, names, and ages, was treated as strictly confidential. The trainees were required to acquire various skills and techniques, including fluency in several languages, science, pharmacy, physics, communication technology, the practical skills of professional pickpockets and safecrackers, and how to flirt with girls like a gigolo. It was hard to believe that there was no graduate from the Imperial Japanese Army Academy among them. The trainees seemed to be from so-called countryfolks who graduated from imperial universities. Finally 8 elites remained who had easily transcended the utmost limits of spirit and body. Actually they were monsters.”
The gathered 8 spies are soon scattered all over the world to conduct espionage.
From now on, they will be facing isolation and a thrilling ‘joker game’ of cheating each other.
Who will draw the joker in the end?
We can’t miss how the story unfolds!

In addition, the visual aesthetic scores high points!
The animation was produced by Production I.G. known for “Ghost in the Shell”.
The visuals are not only high in quality but also filled with the beauty characteristic of Production I.G.

No.4 “Macross Δ (Macross Delta)“

I think I can’t help but pick up this anime as a Macross series fan.
In every series, Macross always attempts challenges and attracts fans.
When all is said and done, the greatest challenge in this series is the existence of the fighting idol group 「ワルキューレ (Walkure)」, isn’t it?
Though an idol is certainly indispensable to Macross, the idols singing, dancing, and fighting is the first in the history of Macross.
In addition, there is another surprise. It is the dance of a combat robot 「バルキリー (Valkyrie)」.
In the latter half of Episode 1, attacked by the enemy, a young civilian ハヤテ (Hayate) on a 「バルキリー (Valkyrie)」 rescues the heroine フレイヤ (Freyja): This is the standard storyline of mecha anime.
The 「バルキリー (Valkyrie)」 controlled by ハヤテ (Hayate) dances to the song performed by ワルキューレ (Walkure) to fend off the attacks from the enemy.
This combination of combats and dancing is also a new attempt, isn’t it?
In Japan, the idol fad has been continuing in recent years, and dancing is becoming popular among the youth.
Macross is good at merging combats and the culture symbolizing the age. Every time a new series is created, the anime always advances into a new one.
Though you may think the battle scene in Episode 1 might be strange at first, you should be getting caught up gradually while watching the anime, and finally find yourself absorbed in the world of Macross.
Let’s try feeling the new “wind”!

No.3 “The Lost Village:Mayoiga“

『迷家-マヨイガ- (The Lost Village:Mayoiga)』 is an original anime series produced by diomedea and Ponycanyon.

30 young men and women join a dubious “life re-doing” bus tour out of curiosity.
The destination of the tour is a shadowy village called 納鳴 (Nanaki) village.
From now they are supposed to go missing and to re-do their lives in the 納鳴 (Nanaki) village.
Some of them are in despair about the real world; some want to get out of their boring daily lives; and others want to re-do their lives —.
The bus carrying the 30 persons holding their individual ulterior motives or emotional scars is guided deep into the mountains —.

This unlikely setting is an attractive point of this anime series.
Though the setting is quite mysterious, there are some levity or comical elements, which inversely enhance the madness of this situation.
You can’t anticipate the future development. It will give you thrill and pleasure.

No.2 “JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Diamond Is Unbreakable“

This is Part 4 of the 『ジョジョの奇妙な冒険 (JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure)』 series.
The story is set up in Japan in 1999. The protagonist is 東方仗助 (Josuke Higashikata) who uses the Stand called ‘Crazy Diamond’.
This Part 4 『ダイヤモンドは砕けない(Diamond Is Unbreakable)』 is a work regarded as the greatest masterpiece in the series among fans.
You should pay attention to not only the storyline but also the fights between the Stand users, famous unique wording of JoJo, and onomatopoeias!

No.1  “Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress“

This anime is a steampunk action anime set in an island country 日ノ本 (Hinomoto) where steam engines are developed. The story depicts the boys and girls riding on the “Kotetsujo” armored steam train and battling “Kabane” which are living dead having a heart protected by a layer of iron.

First, the combination of zombies and steampunk is tricky (* Here ‘tricky’ means ‘super!’), isn’t it?
In addition, the story is set up in a virtual Japan in about the 19th century. We have never seen such a likely setting. This is too tricky. Every boy must love it.
Furthermore, the superb staff members are also worthy of attention. This anime series is directed by 荒木哲郎 (Tetsuro Araki) who worked on 「進撃の巨人 (Attack on Titan)」. The story editor is 大河内一楼 (Ichiro Okouchi) who was in charge of 「コードギアス　(Code Geass)」. The original character designer is 美樹本晴彦　(Haruhiko Mikimoto) who worked on 「超時空要塞マクロス　(The Super Dimension Fortress Macross)」. The animation is produced by WIT STUDIO which was in charge of 「進撃の巨人(Attack on Titan)」. Then the result must be entertaining.
I actually watched Episode 1. This anime has high quality in all aspects including the storyline, music, illustrations, character design, and action scenes! It is by far the most wonderful anime in the works released in this season. This series should be the most entertaining one! We should be really looking forward to it!

How do you like them?
In addition, “Re:Zero -Starting Life in Another World-“,”Haven’t You Heard? I’m Sakamoto”, and “My Hero Academia” are also worth to be recommended though I could not cover them here.
We really have a lot of good anime in this season!
I hope you will also have a good anime life! See you again!