RIOTUS

^{from Alex, Julian, Philip, and Sherin (The RIOTUS Anime Lotus Society)}

Spring has arrived like an Itadori-style kick to the face. With that, dear readers, comes the excitement of a new anime season full of joy, fear, good, evil, and cherry blossoms. The Crunchyroll Spring lineup brings us a cavalcade of characters and stories sure to steal your heart…or soul. From demons and kaiju to bartenders with uncanny mixology skills: Welcome to the adventure. The RIOTUS Anime Lotus Society has taken on the task of preparing you for the adventure Crunchyroll has in store for us all this spring season:

Train to the End of the World 

Train to the End of the World or  Shūmatsu Torein Doko e Iku? (literal translation “Where Does the Doomsday Train Go?)—well I have my tickets. You know where the preposterous theory that ‘5G cellular network’ will kill us all and ruin society, well, in Train to the End of the World, that societal collapse happens when we introduce the ‘7G cellular network’. How bad is it, the world not only becomes broken, realities don’t work right, strange phenomena roam the land, cats and dogs living together…MASS HYSTERIA. That last part isn’t in the series but I suspect it’s happening unseen in this work created by Tsutomu Mizushima, with Michiko Yokot of the animation house EMT squared.

Enter Shizuru, Nadeshiko, and Reimi, from the town of Agano, an “ordinary” town, in a dystopian Japan where strangeness is afoot. But Shizuru is more concerned for her missing friend, Yōka. Determined to find her, Shizuru and three friends board an a mysterious train, operated by Zenjirō, who technically counts as insane…but means well, mostly?  The motley crew travels to the ‘outside world’, unsure if they’ll make it back alive. But that’s friendship in the apocalypse for you, I guess. As they venture toward the unknown, the question looms: What awaits them at the final stop? (Philip Jean-Pierre)

Watch Train to the End of the World on Mondays

Laid-Back Camp – Season 3

If, like us, you often find yourself wishing you could ignore all your problems and run away to the mountains, this one’s for you. Laid-Back Camp returns for a third season, welcoming back our cozy crew as they gear up for their next adventure. Rin and her friends are looking to hit the road along the Ōi River for cherry blossom season, which means trying to decide what equipment and plans will give them the best camping experience possible (within budget, of course). And, as always with this show, it’s the little details that make you connect so much. Whether it’s the campfire cooking experiments, impromptu haircuts, or miniature dog tents, everything in Laid-Back Camp is designed to make you feel all warm n’ fuzzy. 

The group of campers keeps growing with love and unabashed enthusiasm for the outdoors, bringing each colorful personality together for delightful adventures in the beautiful Japanese countryside. This comforting slice-of-life anime is one you’ll keep coming back to and S3 already feels right at home. Laid-Back Camp highlights the simple pleasures of diving into nature—and how those experiences are best shared with friends. Oh and hey, you might get some good camping tips along the way! (Alex Bear)

Watch Laid-Back Camp – Season 3 on Thursdays

Bartender: Glass of God

TGIF, amirite! Then welcome to Eden Hall, a quiet bar tucked away in the late night streets of Tokyo, the Ginza District. Here everyone doesn’t know your name but they know your troubles. Enter Ryū Sasakura, gifted bartender with the ability to sooth your soul with the perfect drink exactly when you need it. Every drink has a story and Ryu is there to tell it with customers who have lost their way.

Based on the Japanese manga series Bartender written by Araki Joh and illustrated by Kenji Nagatomo. Bartender: Glass of God is the reboot of the popular series from 2006 continuing the premise that the clients and various problems they face are resolved through being served the right drink. While the series is episodic and revolves around alcohol, it really is about the idea that all any of us want is connection—a reminder that we belong or someone is listening. As is talked about in the series “to know which beverage is the most appropriate, a bartender must be more than a liquor connoisseur; they must be a good observer.” (Philip Jean-Pierre)

Watch Bartender: Glass of God on Thursdays

Wind Breaker  

The heroes of Shonen anime give us an array of reasons to love them, but I’ve never met one like this. Haruka Sakura is a belligerent little bastard who can’t take a compliment and it is adorable. Wind Breaker is a ride-along for the daily dustups of Sakura’s life; after he transfers to Furin High School and joins a gang of neighborhood guardians known as Bofurin. Imagine a school for boys where fisticuffs are the only curriculum and protecting the city is a career path. You’ll hear comparisons to Tokyo Revengers, but they’re enthusiastic ones. Of course, for Bofurin, there are other neighborhoods and more gangs…sooo the fights are delightfully vicious and choreographed to get the cardiacs thumping. To complement the faceoffs, Wind Breaker gives us found families and characters with missions in life that evolve as they do.

Not that you’re surprised, you know I wouldn’t recommend it if it wasn’t a strong start to what could be an anime banger with big heart. Sakura starts out with an emotional force field around him that cracks when the townspeople show their appreciation for his love of fighting. It’s clear he’s never been appreciated or admired in his past and he responds like Chopper on One Piece. Basically: Don’t hug me (I might like it). There’s also the Zenitsu-styled, Akihiko Nirei, a boy who can’t fight but has the spirit and the drive to protect those who need it. The leader of Bofurin, Hajime Umemiya, is intriguing too. Ume is a seriously unserious candidate for our Ultimate White-Haired Anime Squad. That’s why I’m about to go and watch episode 5 right now. Wind Breaker is a slipstream of knuckle-busting, heart-tugging, and weird characters—I hope you’re ready to be blown away. (Sherin Nicole)

Watch Wind Breaker on Fridays

Tonari no Yokai-San

Ever woken up and felt totally different? Well, Tonari no Yokai-San is taking that to mythical new heights. Set in a small rural village in Japan where humans live together in harmony with the gods and yōkai, this charming anime follows Buchio, a beloved pet cat who suddenly evolves into a Nekomata, a kind of cat yōkai who can communicate with those around him. This transformation is an adjustment process for Buchio but his human family takes it in their stride. With the calm and reassuring help of their neighbor, a crow Tengu named Jiro, the humans and yōkai alike band together to help him find his balance. 

Based on the noho manga of the same name, Tonari no Yokai-San is a peaceful small town anime that explores themes of family and belonging through the whimsical lens of folklore. You can immediately relax into this world, knowing the wonders held within will unfold in due time as Buchio rediscovers his life in a new way. The animation is pretty but not overly complex which holds space for its characters’ emotions to take center stage—emotions they often feel deeply. The legend-filled mysteries and drama build up slowly to keep you hooked but it’s the cozy vibe that will truly make your heart happy. It takes a village to raise a child and a truly magical one to raise yōkai—and Tonari no Yokai-San quickly welcomes you in as the place to be. (Alex Bear)

Watch Tonari no Yokai-San on Saturdays

Kaiju No. 8

My stand-out Anime Spring season release is Kaiju No. 8, a manga I’ve been reading since its release in the summer of 2020. The story of Kafka Hibino, an early 30-something man who works as a Kaiju clean-up professional who then, after an accident, becomes a Kaiju superman. He used these new powers to help the Japan Defense Force to help stop Kaiju from destroying the world. With crisp visuals, character designs, and fantastic animation by Production I.G. (FLCL, Ghost In The Shell – Stand Alone Complex) adapts the Shonen Jump manga fantastically. The voice acting is also terrific, and I hope people take the time to watch this and make it one of the new super hits in the anime world. (Julian Lytle)

Watch Kaiju No. 8 on Saturdays

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Hashira Training Arc

Have you ever been so reckless you can’t even call your mum to blame your cousins for your mistakes? That’s me— this is my story. I was stuck in bed with whatever school-born plague my nephew toted home like a bubonic backpack. Thus, I decided to finish Koyoharu Gotouge’s number-one-selling manga. Mistakes were made. The brilliance and tragedy of the final arcs broke me.  

Now it’s your turn, my Anime-onlies. It’s time to get beautifully broken. The beginning of the end is coming to Crunchyroll on May 12 when the Hashira Training Arc of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba begins. At the end of the Swordsmith Village Arc, we learn that Nezuko is the only demon who can face the sun. Those events set up an oncoming face-off with the king of the demons, Muzan Kibutsuji, the smooth criminal. In preparation, the Hashira—including our adored Tengen Uzui, our treasured Mitsuri Kanroji, and the enigmatic Muichiro Tokito—put their collective foot on the necks of the other slayers and recruits. The animation skills of Ufotable are on full display here. The Hashira Training Arc is a bridge, tying up loose ends while laying the foundation for the final two arcs. It’s also a trust-building exercise that explores the resilience of these characters, the camaraderie that binds them, and the personal growth that comes from their hard-knock lives. Prepare yourself—the raw humanity, humor, and harshness are what make Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba so good. And the Hashira Training Arc is top-tier goodness. (Sherin Nicole)

The Hashira Training Arc premieres Sunday, May 12

Full Crunchyroll Spring Lineup:

• Kaiju No. 8 
• WINDBREAKER 
• Spice and Wolf: MERCHANT MEETS THE WISE WOLF
• Train to the End of the World 
• Tonari no Yokai-san
• Laid-Back Camp Season 3
• Sound! Euphonium Season 3 
• BARTENDER Glass of God 
• A Condition Called Love
• Astro Note
• Black Butler -Public School Arc-
• My Hero Academia Season 7 (May 4)
• Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Hashira Training Arc (May 12)

And there you have it,  a great way to start your spring off! 

Action and adventure aplenty.

We have welcome beginnings, new opportunities and new things to be excited for. As you can see, every show spotlighted is a doorway to imagination with the promise of something more. But don’t take my word for it, dive into some or all of these series and find out for yourself.