This year has been a big year for anime fans, as any anime fan will tell you.
Although the new anime scene has been strong (Dr. Stone, anyone?), 2019 has seen some of the best sequels in a long time.
From One-Punch Man to Mob Psycho 100, here are my top picks.
BEST ANIME SEQUELS OF 2019
ONE-PUNCH MAN SEASON 2
VIZ Media
Genres: Action, Comedy, Parody, Sci-Fi, Seinen, Superpower, Supernatural
Animation studio: J.C. Staff
Where to watch: Season 1 is available on both Netflix and Hulu, while the second season is on Hulu and Crunchyroll.
The story of Saitama, Earth’s strongest hero who can defeat his enemies with just one punch, is back four years after its successful debut.
Despite the fact that the second season’s animation is subpar due to the studio switch from Madhouse to J.C. Staff, the story saves it.
Well, it depends on who you ask because some may argue that it’s an anime sequel that should have been rethought.
However, the addition of Garou, one of the best One-Punch Man villains to date, elevates this to a must-see.
So, if you can look past the visual deterioration, you’re in for an enjoyable story and a solid setup for season 3.
DORORO REMAKE
Sentai Filmworks
Genre: Action, Adventure, Historical, Supernatural, Shounen
Animation studio: MAPPA & Tezuka Productions
Where to watch: Amazon Prime
Dororo was created by the legendary mangaka Tezuka Osamu (creator of Astro Boy) and first appeared in 1967.
So, I suppose you could say that this remake has been in the works for the past 50 years. Whew.
The show follows Hyakkimaru, a boy born without skin and limbs, who sets out to kill the demons who took his body. On his journey, Hyakkimaru meets Dororo, an adventurous kid who joins him in his quest to revive his body.
Dororo is a heartfelt and dark tale about demons and war that masquerades as a sweet story about friendship.
Finally, while the story is good, the visuals are stunning, and the music is fantastic, viewer discretion is strongly advised.
AGGRETSUKO SEASON 2
Netflix
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Where to watch: Netflix
Animation studio: Fanworks
Aggretsuko, a collaboration between Netflix and Sanrio (the creators of Hello Kitty), is back for an encore!
However, don’t let the Hello Kitty thing fool you; this is a mature, slice-of-life anime series that will resonate with the josei audience.
Retsuko, a red panda, is an anxious accountant who vents her rage at death-metal karaoke in the first season. In the second season, Retsuko’s world expands beyond office drama, giving her plenty to rage about.
She now has to deal with an overbearing mother who, against her will, begins matchmaking for her.
A hilarious and great short anime watch, especially if you need to vent and scream along to some good old, fashioned death metal, is one of the best 2019 anime sequels.
FRUITS BASKET 2019
Crunchyroll & Funimation
Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance, Supernatural
Animation studio: TMS Entertainment
Where to watch: Hulu, Crunchyroll, Funimation
The Fruits Basket manga serialization first appeared in 1998, and it was first adapted into an anime in 2001.
And now, 18 years after the original aired, The Furuba remake is finally here. Not to mention that it will cover all of the source material, including the author Natsuki Takaya’s 2015 sequel series, Fruits Basket Another.
The plot follows a young, orphaned girl Tohru who ends up living with a few members of the mysterious Sohma clan. As the story progresses, things eventually spiral into fantasy and a reverse harem.
The remake’s revitalized animation style certainly improves the show’s look a LOT, but the whole thing feels formulaic at best.
However, fans seem to be more than happy with it. And with another season on the horizon, they’ll finally be able to see the entire Furuba story in animated form.
MOB PSYCHO 100 SEASON 2
Crunchyroll
Genres: Action, Comedy, Slice of Life, Supernatural
Animation studio: Bones
Where to watch: Crunchyroll, Funimation
And now, ladies and gentlemen, I present to you the best anime sequel of 2019, Mob Psycho 100 season 2.
MP100 is a webcomic about Shigeo Kageyama, also known as Mob, a middle-schooler with telekinetic abilities. It was created by ONE, the artist behind the One-Punch Man webcomic.
Both the first and second seasons were animated by the Japanese studio Bones, which also worked on My Hero Academia and Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood.
Season 2 of MP100 is an absolute must-see. It’s nothing short of a visual spectacle, with an emphasis on wit and character development.
The show also sends a strong message that kindness and empathy are more important than strength or special abilities.
Like our list of best anime sequels of 2019? Share or pin it for later! You can also stay in the loop and follow us on Facebook and Pinterest.