Reviewing 2023’s Best Anime

[@thehappypolybunch5791]

Amazing list! Apothecary Diaries deserves the spot. However, I disagree with you. Overlooking the setting where women are literally only seen as breeders/servants to men takes off a HUGE part of MaoMao's brilliance. I wouldn't consider her as a 'women trying to pursue stem'. She is a complex character that's aware of the oppressions of the world she lives in as a woman and as a commoner. Therefore, she tries her best to lay low and avoid being beheaded. She just wants a peaceful life where she can experiment with poison. Maomao doesn't dream big nor tries to fight the system, she knows she can't get far under her circumstances. And the social criticism in Apothecary Diaries is what I consider makes it a 10/10. The chapter where Maomao asks Jinshi to execute her by poison if needed with such calmness was my favorite part along with the explanation of why she paints freckles on her face. As a woman, it's refreshing to see a female character that's realistic: not an exaggerated strong femme fatale that fights against patriarchy nor a submissive slave whose personality is meant to complement a man. Just a girl that tries to navigate a sexist, classist and violent world as best as she can. That's basically the struggle every women faces, even in the modern world.

[@LukewarmTakesYT]

Thank you so much for the perspective on Maomao. I can’t believe I missed so much about this already deep character. I really appreciate the female perspective, since my framing of the story is certainly from a male perspective. You’ve made me appreciate Maomao even more!

[@thehappypolybunch5791]

@@LukewarmTakesYT Thanks to your for the video! I loved your takes, especially how the issues behind JJK's production lowered its' score. I personally don't want to watch JJK because it's a bit too shonen for me (although the openings are fire and I listen to them everyday). I know main characters die (unlike most shonens) and the animation is PEAK, but the script could be better and the characters are too cartoonish for me (I HATED Todo's introduction, to just fight Megumi based on his taste on women. That was my deal breaker). As for Maomao, it's okay because that aspect of her is very subtle. Apothecary Diaries does a great job at being very casual with the oppressions Maomao (and all women) live. It's also refreshing that they don't make the microaggressions they suffer the center of the story. You have to pay attention to notice. For example, in the very first chapter, when Maomao is kidnapped, she just sighs and accepts her destiny. She knows there's nothing she can do. Also, when Fengmin gets executed, they just say it with a line. Maomao knows this will happen and gives Fengmin options to avoid involving Ah Duo. Unlike a usual male character that would get furious and start a revenge or revolution arc, Maomao just chills and goes with whatever the world throws at her. Hope you can appreciate those little details in the second cour of the anime that's coming out :D

[@aissamouajib5181]

Heavenly Delusion at number 1 is BASED, earned an immediate like and sub for that. This show is criminally underrated and needs a lot more recognition for sure!

[@LukewarmTakesYT]

One of the biggest crimes in anime this year was how overlooked Heavenly Delusion was

[@thehappypolybunch5791]

Also my favs besides the ones included in this list (Apothecary Diaries and Frieren) were Skip to Loafer and Vinland Saga 2. Damn Vinland Saga was AMAAAAZING. Such a journey

[@LukewarmTakesYT]

One of my shames this year is never starting Vinland Saga, it’s sitting on my list since season 1 and I never got past episode 1.

[@2triedforthis830]

@@LukewarmTakesYTfrom what I heard, s2 is wayyy better, with more character study and focus than battle stuff. I finished s1 and it was pretty nice a jaw dropping story following a young kid who just wants to avenge his father, and now I’m currently watching s2 and am seeing this young boy grow to be such an empty guy and whatnot. I think it’s worth watching and so far I am definitely enjoying s2

[@Lanodd]

Ok, I'm sold, I will watch Undead Unluck because of this video (the only one I missed in this list). About the others: Frieren and Apothecary Diaries deserve all the appreciation they are getting and both feel good to watch. Jujutsu Kaisen 2 was a big surprise to me: season 1 was good but nothing more and I skipped the movie (luckily I accidentally watched it right before the last episode of S2). Oshi no Ko started great but almost all what came next couldn't compete with the first episode. Heavenly Delusion is my anime of the year and easily in my personal top 5, also the manga is getting better and better and I would suggest everyone who liked the anime to read it from the beginning because they are sort of complementary.

[@LukewarmTakesYT]

I’m very glad that I added another person on the Undead Unluck train. The story currently in the anime doesn’t get anywhere close to the hype of the current manga story. Trust me, it’s worth the hype, it just takes some time to ramp up.

[@nitariosoru]

you should be famous bro great video

[@LukewarmTakesYT]

Thank you, this means a lot!

[@tman9260]

Bro I only started watching anime this year and ngl I was not disappointed

[@LukewarmTakesYT]

That's so awesome! What was your favorite anime of this year?

[@2triedforthis830]

Wow I hope you find great ones! If you need some good recommendations i can list some of my personal favorites that aren’t super weird if yk what I mean. Anime is a really good way to watch stuff and there’s so many great ones i hope you watched

[@ronthesmortman]

You still earned a sub tho

[@LukewarmTakesYT]

Thank you very much!

[@Jujitsu_painter]

Fun fact fire force is actually the prequel of soul eater

[@LukewarmTakesYT]

Yup! I actually made a video on that a while back. You can find it in my “connected anime universes” playlist

[@Jujitsu_painter]

@@LukewarmTakesYT oh dam thx didn't notice

[@iagoeu352]

You forgot the best one "Pluto"

[@LukewarmTakesYT]

Pluto, Blue Eyed Samurai, and the Scott Pilgrim “anime” are all things I’ve heard great things about but couldn’t get to due to my schedule, but I am sure they’re great!

[@DrKrapulax]

JJK S2 was a freakin' disappointment, first because the flashback arc disrupted the flow of the show and it was unneeded & boring, then because the Shibuya arc was just meaningless gore massacring tons of people and half of the sorcerers/assistants we care about and replacing them with idiotic new characters we don't care about. Also the bad guys are just way too overpowered, to the point where it's painful to watch the good guys getting slaughtered without any kind of meaningful resistance, and it's not a fun viewing experience. Also the plot + how some characters act are patently idiotic, like Yuji not finishing enemies he could have for no reason whatsoever. Should I root for these weak, pathetic idiots while they're being massacred by totally unrealistic disgusting monsters dreamt up by traumatized children? S1 was way better than this with a more straightforward shonen vibe. S2 tried to be too edgy and gruesome for its own good.

[@gobidobi4078]

Honestly jjk s2 should've been 9 or 10 and giving it 7 cause of the working conditions in mappa is dumb. You're rating an anime not its working conditions. By that logic most of these shows would be 7 too bc every studio is toxic like mappa

[@LukewarmTakesYT]

You’re certainly entitled to that opinion, as I am mine. I would say that no other studio (to my knowledge)has had news of worker abuse to the extent of Studio MAPPA. JJK is a spectacular show and I agree it deserves to be considered 9 or 10 on its own. It just can’t be divorced (at least in my mind) from the studio’s treatment of its animators. Perhaps things will change down the line, but that’s where it stands right now.

[@ronthesmortman]

No zom 100?

[@LukewarmTakesYT]

I mentioned in the video description that Zom 100 is an honorable mention. However, I feel that the way the anime played out and it’s treatment in production just didn’t quite make it to the top of my list this year. It’s still great though!

[@ronthesmortman]

@@LukewarmTakesYT Ah I see

[@ronthesmortman]

@@LukewarmTakesYT great list still

[@candralegend4965]

No romance anime?? And where's the goat vinland saga?

[@LukewarmTakesYT]

The four romance anime I watched this season didn’t hit best of the year for me but they were nice - Tomo Chan - More than a married couple, less than lovers - Yamada Kun at lvl999 - The Experienced You and the Inexperienced Me As for Vinland Saga, I am ashamed to say that I still haven’t started it. But I am sure it’s great.

[@candralegend4965]

@@LukewarmTakesYT You haven't watch the real best romance bro, it's the dangers in my heart. I'm pretty sure it will make in your top anime of the year because it's one of a few romance anime where each eps keeps getting better. Get past the first 3 eps and you will found peak romance

[@LukewarmTakesYT]

I’ll add it to my list. If I find it more enjoyable than Kaguya-sama or Fruits Basket, I’ll perhaps make a video on it! Thanks for the recommendation.

[@captainclux]

not seeing 100 gfs here 🤨🤨

[@LukewarmTakesYT]

You know, that one isn’t really in my wheelhouse but I have heard it’s…interesting to say the least

[@captainclux]

@@LukewarmTakesYT that is definitely one way to put it lol

[@DrKrapulax]

Thank God Mushoku Tensei S2 wasn't on this list as it was absolute dogshit.

[@LukewarmTakesYT]

I didn’t start it and I don’t intend to

[@DrKrapulax]

@@LukewarmTakesYT A wise man.

[@MysticLuka]

​@@DrKrapulax Mushoku Tensei season 2 cour 1 is all setup for the second half of the season. I love MT, but this first half was definitely slow compared to season 1. There's tons of realy huge things just over the horizon for it though, so eve nif you didn't like cour 1 of s2, you should check out cour 2 still, because I think it'll be much better.

[@amanygur]

where link click at ik its a donghua but you still could include it

[@LukewarmTakesYT]

Link Click is a show that’s been sitting in my “to watch” list for months, I’ll get around to it eventually

[@amanygur]

@LukewarmTakesYT trust me its peak 🙏

[@hezyh7688]

NO BLEACH ??????