The Spring 2021 anime season is officially underway, and it will need to deliver something special to topple its predecessor. Winter 2021 proved to be a great period for anime, offering many worthwhile shows over a wide spectrum of genres. Returning series like Dr. Stone, The Quintessential Quintuplets, Attack on Titan, and Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World- maintained the high standard that they had originally set for themselves, with some arguably toppling their previous seasons.
Winter also contained plenty of great new shows, with Horimiya, Wonder Egg Priority, and SK∞ ranking among the best and most talked-about anime of the season. With such a stacked lineup, some series were naturally doomed to be overshadowed by their contemporaries. Now that Winter has passed, this is the perfect time to binge-watch some of the season's underrated anime.
10 Bungou Stray Dogs Wan!
A benchmark that can be used to measure an anime's success is whether they spawn a "quirky" comedy spin-off. Like many series before it, Bungou Stray Dogs has proven popular enough to warrant a slice-of-life look into the lives of its main characters, and Bungou Stray Dogs Wan! is above average for this type of project.
A sketch series that primarily focuses on the strained relationship between the Armed Detective Agency and the Port Mafia, Bungou Stray Dogs Wan! is silly but endearing. It might not offer much for those who are not already enamored with this universe, but it is a must-watch for fans.
9 Dr. Ramune -Mysterious Disease Specialist-
Mystery anime are few and far in-between, especially when it comes to the really great ones. While Dr. Ramune -Mysterious Disease Specialist- is not among the absolute best, it is still a solid anime that touches upon quite a few mature themes revolving around mental illness.
In this world, mysterious diseases can suddenly hit someone when they are at their lowest, and they tend to manifest in food-themed ways. Dr. Ramune is the only person who can solve these issues.
8 Idoly Pride
While they tend to have a dedicated audience, idol anime are always going to be niche, particularly if they do not differentiate themselves from the status quo. At its heart, Idoly Pride is a typical entry in this genre, but it does the basics so well that it becomes transcendent.
Idoly Pride takes a refreshingly grounded look at the idol industry without becoming too grim. Character development, catchy songs, and solid animation are some of this show's strengths.
7 Tropical-Rouge! Pretty Cure
Pretty Cure has been doing its thing for nearly two decades, and it's currently on its 18th season. Tropical-Rouge! Pretty Cure introduces a new generation of characters, most of which are inherently likable. As always, the magical girl anime is uplifting, devoid of any significant tension, and endlessly charming.
Pretty Cure is undoubtedly for younger viewers, so that should be taken into account when watching this anime. That said, it is a really great show for children.
6 Heaven's Design Team
Somewhat reminiscent of Cells at Work, Heaven's Design Team blends education and entertainment, albeit with comedy being its main focus. In this universe, God outsources the creation of new animals to a design team, with angels serving as the link between them.
Relaxing, funny, and enlightening, Heaven's Design Team features a likable cast of characters, even if they are not especially complex. This is the type of anime that can make an afternoon fly by and requires no extra effort from the viewer to appreciate.
5 High-Rise Invasion
High-Rise Invasion attracted a decent amount of attention when it debuted, but the fact it is limited to Netflix automatically damages its exposure. Teenagers find themselves stuck in a battle for survival set primarily on the roofs of high-rises, and escape is not guaranteed when there are violent killers roaming around.
High-Rise Invasion is far from a perfect show, and it can be inconsistent in its presentation of its characters. However, the anime gets by on over-the-top action and a sense of mystery. The two lead girls, particularly Yuri Honjou, are a touch overpowered, but that can be entertaining in its own way.
4 Azur Lane: Bisoku Zenshin!
Based on a mobile game released in 2017, 2019's Azur Lane anime adaptation fell flat as it struggled to balance its big roster of characters, expansive storyline, and conflicting tones. While less ambitious, Azur Lane: Bisoku Zenshin! is a significant improvement over its predecessor, mainly because it sticks to the slice-of-life formula and does it mostly well.
Azur Lane: Bisoku Zenshin! is basically a "cute girls doing cute things" anime, it just happens to feature characters that are named after warships. With each episode lasting less than 10 minutes, Azur Lane: Bisoku Zenshin! does not overstay its welcome.
3 Non Non Biyori Nonstop
Non Non Biyori is far from an unknown property, as it is generally regarded as one of the defining slice-of-life anime. However, the show's lethargic pacing and timid humor can make it a somewhat difficult sell.
Out of all the available seasons, Non Non Biyori Nonstop is the most consistently entertaining, especially when it comes to its comedy. Nonstop makes better use of the anime's supporting cast, allowing characters like Kaede Kagayama to interact more frequently with the main four girls. Season 3 is worth trying even by those who found Non Non Biyori's earlier incarnations a bit underwhelming.
2 World Trigger Season 2
Following a long hiatus, World Trigger made its comeback in Winter 2021. Season 2 might have only lasted 12 episodes, but it continued the impeccable storytelling that had come to define the show by the end of its first run.
When it comes to shounen anime, World Trigger tends to be overshadowed by the demographic's marquee properties, mainly due to it having a somewhat slow start. Once World Trigger picks up around the 15 episode mark, it becomes quite fantastic.
1 Uma Musume: Pretty Derby Season 2
Uma Musume: Pretty Derby is an anime about horse girls. As gimmicky as that might sound, Uma Musume: Pretty Derby should not be dismissed just because of its premise. The first season was one of the more memorable sports anime of 2018, and its sequel is significantly better.
Sports anime live and die by the strength of their characters, a department that Pretty Derby excels in. Season 2 builds upon the work of its predecessor to craft a more unique tale that is willing to break away from the sports genre's heavy focus on competitions.