Summer 2021 Anime Recap: The Good, The Bad, and the Meh!
Summer may normally be about hitting the beach or going on epic road trips, but the anime realm went one step forward with intergalactic quests, badass fights, and a mysterious private eye. We also went to the aquarium and took the chance to relive the college life. But which of these series went down smoothly like mojito, and which was like siphoning gasoline? These are the highlights and low points of anime in Summer 2021! (Check out our reviews of Girlfriend, Girlfriend, Mother of the Goddess’ Dormitory, The Great Jahy Will Not Be Defeated, The Duke of Death and His Maid, Life Lessons with Uramichi Oniisan, and the returning series at their respective links!)
THE GOOD:
EDENS ZERO
The creator of Fairy Tail flies to the stars, with characters that look very familiar to that universe. But despite the copy-and-paste designs, EDENS ZERO delivered a fun and exciting story revolving around friendship and discovery. Shiki, Rebecca, Happy, and the rest of the crew were a delight to watch roaming the universe, with Hiro Mashima’s trademark action, comedy, and heart in full swing. Although we’re still waiting on the second half to be released, EDENS ZERO has already proven itself worthy of being liked & subscribed on B-Cube!
FINAL GRADE:
EDENS ZERO can be viewed on Netflix.
The Aquatope on White Sand
A former idol runs away to Okinawa, only to take a job at an aquarium in trouble of being shut down. What follows is a tale of self-discovery, as aquarium director Kukuru and her newfound friend Fūka find the beauty found both under the sea and within each other’s hearts. An original production from P.A. Works, The Aquatope on White Sand is a beautiful series that places enough care both in its setting and character development. (Bonus points for how it captures the realities of working at an aquarium, as it’s not just about looking and taking care of fish and penguins.)
FINAL GRADE:
The Aquatope on White Sand can be viewed on Crunchyroll and VRV.
Remake Our Life!
What would you do if you had the chance to relive your college days? Kyouya gets the opportunity to have a better future, as he finds himself living under the same roof as the creators he admired most. However, Remake Our Life! showed the costs of messing around with the past, as the happiness and passions of others could be taken away. While we have yet to see if a second season will occur, Remake Our Life! demonstrated the hardships of creators, especially when it comes to taking shortcuts rather than going the extra mile.
FINAL GRADE:
Remake Our Life! can be viewed on Crunchyroll and VRV.
THE MEH!:
Sonny Boy
Hearing that director Shingo Natsume (One-Punch Man, Space Dandy) was given free range to create whatever anime he wants should sound great. However, Madhouse’s Sonny Boy -- a tale of high schoolers stuck in an alternate world -- left viewers with more questions unanswered than ones that were fully revealed. There were some great highlights no doubt (the premiere and monkey baseball delivering big laughs and twists), but this series felt like it was pretending to have a deeper meaning than it actually did. At least it had a banger of a soundtrack, with new tracks from Ging Nang Boyz, Toe, and Mid-Air Thief showcasing the strengths of Asia-based indie rock.
FINAL GRADE:
Sonny Boy can be viewed on Funimation and Hulu, and has been licensed by Funimation.
Drug Store in Another World
It wasn’t the prettiest isekai to look at, nor was it the smartest. Nevertheless, Drug Store in Another World was pure fluff that somehow managed to make me smirk in some fashion. Reiji, Noella, and Mina’s antics may have been sitcom-ish, but there was a certain charm that came through as the pharmacist invented items and elixirs that bettered his new surroundings. Extra props to Jun Fukushima’s performance as Reiji, who snuck some of his Kazuma-like snarky comments in for an extra punchy laugh!
FINAL GRADE:
Drug Store in Another World can be viewed on Crunchyroll and VRV.
The Idaten Deities Know Only Peace
This should’ve been the Summer of Coolkyousinnjya, with both the return of Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid and the premieres of two more of their series. Sadly, that wasn't the case. The Idaten Deities Know Only Peace was the better of the two, thanks to MAPPA’s impressive action animation, the side-splitting humor, and perhaps the coolest anime opening of 2021. However, its rape and pedophilia content rubbed many people the wrong way, not to mention having the show end in such an inconclusive manner. Consider The Idaten Deities Know Only Peace a blemish on noitaminA’s shiny track record, but at least it was better than the other Coolkyousinnjya series…
FINAL GRADE:
The Idaten Deities Know Only Peace can be viewed on Crunchyroll and VRV.
Peach Boy Riverside
If the episodes were shown in chronological order, Peach Boy Riverside would’ve been an all right show. However, pulling a Haruhi Suzumiya season one not only made things confusing, but it hurt the overall narrative and character development. Asahi Production’s attention to detail in the action scenes made some things better, on top of the friendship between Sally and harefolk girl Frau being genuinely cute and sweet. But because of its anachronical airing, most of my time watching Peach Boy Riverside was spent with more eyebrows raised than mouths gasping with wonder.
FINAL GRADE:
Peach Boy Riverside can be viewed on Crunchyroll and VRV.
THE BAD:
The Detective is Already Dead
Visually, The Detective is Already Dead is Studio ENGI at its best, with some amazing action and beautiful character designs. But the story of soon-to-be-deceased Siesta and her partner-in-crime Kimihito didn’t know what it wanted to be. Was it a straight-forward mystery? A sci-fi tale? A rom-com? Whatever it was trying to be, it wasn’t at all good. The Detective is Already Dead was a prime example of being a jack of many trades, but a master of none of them. Episode One may have been impressive, but it was all downhill from there, as it plummeted towards Siesta’s open burial plot.
FINAL GRADE:
The Detective is Already Dead can be viewed on Funimation, and has been licensed by Funimation.
Any shows we missed out on? Have a very different opinion on one of these series? Comment below with your thoughts on the Summer 2021 anime season!
Promotional consideration provided by Ellation and Funimation
