The Fall 2023 season of anime is almost upon us and, like clockwork, it’s coming with a deep lineup. While big series like Spy x Family Season 2, The Rising of the Shield Hero Season 3, Tokyo Revengers Season 3, and the second cour of Dr. Stone Season 3 headlining the upcoming season, it’s only right we give some up-and-comers the spotlight. So here are 8 lesser-known anime for the Fall 2023 season that fans should give a chance.
Good Night World
Studio: NAZ
Release: October 12, 2023
Genre: Fantasy/Drama
Where To Watch: Netflix
Source: Manga By Uru Okabe
Synopsis: A shut-in older brother. A high-achieving younger brother. A father who is not respected by his own children. A mother who neglects her own household. This is a broken family, and none of its members know that they are all players in an online game. [Netflix]
STAFF: Former Production I.G. employee now turned freelancer Katsuya Kikuchi is directing the series with veteran screenwriter Michiko Yokote handling the series composition and script. Some of Yotoke’s big-name works in this role include Prison School, The Disastrous Life of Saiki K., and Re: Life. She’s also handled the script for Gintama and more recently Tsurune Season 2 and Call of the Night.
CAST: The main voice cast for the series includes Akio Ootsuka (Rider from Fate/Zero), Aya Endou (Cattleya from Violet Evergarden), Daisuke Hirose (Leonhard from The Royal Tutor), and Nobunaga Shimazaki (Yuno from Black Clover). The supporting cast is comprised of some big-time names such as Rie Takahashi (Emilia from Re: Zero), Inori Minase (Rem from Re: Zero), and Kenjiro Tsuda (Kento from Jujutsu Kaisen).
Pluto
Studio: M2
Release: October 26, 2023
Genre: Mystery/Sci-Fi
Where To Watch: Netflix
Source: Manga By Naoki Urasawa and Osamu Tezuka
Synopsis: In an ideal world where man and robots coexist, someone or something has destroyed the powerful Swiss robot Mont Blanc. Elsewhere a key figure in a robot rights group is murdered. The two incidents appear to be unrelated…except for one very conspicuous clue – the bodies of both victims have been fashioned into some sort of bizarre collage complete with makeshift horns placed by the victims’ heads. Interpol assigns robot detective Gesicht to this most strange and complex case – and he eventually discovers that he too, as one of the seven great robots of the world, is one of the targets. [Viz Media]
STAFF: Toshio Kawaguchi is directing the series that’s been in the making for a decade at Studio M2, making it his first series in the role of director. Kawaguchi also directed the one-episode special Hi no Tori: Kizuna-hen, which is based on the manga by Osamu Tezuka, the same person who co-wrote the manga Pluto. Shigeru Fujita (Monster) is in charge of the character designs and will fulfill the role of chief animation director for the series.
CAST: The main cast includes Minori Suzuki (Freyja from Macross Δ), Fuji Shinshuu (Risotto from Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure: Part 5), Toshihiko Seki (Senketsu from Kill la Kill) and Youko Hikasa (Rias Gremory from High School DxD).
Migi and Dali
Studios: Geek Toys, CompTown
Release: October 2, 2023
Genre: Mystery
Where To Watch: Crunchyroll
Source: Manga By Nami Sano
Synopsis: The twin brothers Migi and Dali were adopted by a wealthy couple. However, the couple adopted them to play the role of a sole child named Hitori Sonoyama. The twins begin to hide their real identities and play the role as they try to blend in with the couple’s local villagers. [Anime Corner]
STAFF: Mankyuu will be directing Migi and Dali while also handling the series composition and sound composition for Migi and Dali. Mankyuu is previously known for directing the new anime slice-of-life series from this year The Ice Guy and His Cool Female Colleague. Series creator Nami Sano passed away earlier this year ahead of the anime’s release and even talked about wanting to create a new manga had she overcome her illness. She’s widely known for creating the hit comedy manga Haven’t You Heard? I’m Sakamoto (Sakamoto Desu Ga?).
CAST: The main cast includes Ayumu Murase as Dali and Shun Horie as Migi. Murase is notably known for his roles as Hinata from Haikyuu, Luck from Black Clover, and Aki from Chainsaw Man while Horie’s biggest lead roles include Kazuya from Rent-a-Girldriend and Kyoutarou from The Dangers in My Heart. Horie also voiced Pierre from THE IDOLM@STER SideM Wakeatte Mini! series, which Mankyuu directed.
Stardust Telepath
Studio: Gokumi
Release: October 9, 20223
Genre: Supernatural, Coming-of-age
Where To Watch: Crunchyroll
Source: 4-Panel Manga By Rasuko Ookuma
Synopsis: The story follows two high schoolers who have trouble fitting in. Umika Konohoshi struggles when it comes to communicating with her peers and people in general, so much so that she sometimes feels like she doesn’t belong to this world and is perhaps an alien who does not belong on Earth and is trapped here while being forced to interact with others. One day, Umika meets a mysterious girl who claims that she is an alien! The two connect and learn more about being open. [Anime Corner]
STAFF: Kaori will be directing the series at studio Gokumi. She will also be handling the series composition alongside Natsuko Takahashi (Ore Monogatari). Kaori’s most recent directing work includes The Quintessential Quintuplets Season 2 (2021),
Endro~! (2019) and How to Keep a Mummy (2018). The two worked together in the same roles for Yuyushiki in 2013.
CAST: The main cast includes Seria Fukagawa as Yuu Akeuchi and Yurie Funato as Umika Konoshi. This will be Fukawaga’s first role since she voiced Candela in Interspecies Reviewers (2020) and her first main role since Hanako Yamadagi from Ongaku Shoujo (2018). Her co-star Funato was also in Interspecies Reviewers as Asatent and it’ll be her first main role since voicing Kuracchi from Mazica Party (2021).
Ron Kamonohashi: Deranged Detective
Studio: Diomedéa
Genre: Mystery
Release: October 2, 2023
Where To Watch: Crunchyroll
Source: Manga By Akira Amano
Synopsis: This unusual duo brings the hidden truth into the light! Ron Kamonohashi, a private investigator with serious issues, and Totomaru Ishiki, a pure-hearted but dim police detective, team up to solve the most baffling mysteries! A thrilling detective story for a new generation from Akira Amano, creator of “Reborn!” and “Ēldlive”! [Anime Corner]
STAFF: Shouta Ihata will be directing the series while Wataru Watari, creator of My Teen Romantic Comedy, will be handling the series composition. Ihata is also the director of bigger-name anime such as Domestic Girlfriend, The Saint’s Magic Power is Omnipotent and Girlish Number.
CAST: Junya Enoki will voice the role of Totomaru Ishiki while co-star Youhei Azakami will voice the role of Ron Kamonohashi. Enoki’s biggest roles include Itadori from Jujutsu Kaisen and Nasa from Tonikawa: Over The Moon For You while Azakami’s include Guel from Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch From Mercury and Tetchou Suehiro from the fourth and fifth seasons of Bungo Stray Dogs.
Ragna Crimson
Studio: SILVER LINK.
Genre: Action/Fantasy
Release: September 30, 2023
Where To Watch: HIDIVE
Source: Manga By Daiki Kobayashi
Synopsis: In this action-packed dark fantasy, humanity lives under the threat of annihilation by immensely powerful dragons. The dragon hunter Ragna embarks on a revenge-fueled quest to eliminate that threat once and for all! Dragon hunters: warriors armed with special silver weapons who kill their prey for bounty. Lowest among their ranks is Ragna, who forms an improbable partnership with the young genius Leonica, a master dragon slayer with more kills to her name than almost any other. All Ragna wants is to stay by Leonica’s side, but his dream is shattered by an attack from the deadliest dragon imaginable… [Penguin Random House]
STAFF: Ken Takahashi is directing the series while Deko Akao is handling the script and series composition. Fans should be excited about this action-packed series given Takahashi’s special is action animation direction. He’s fulfilled the position for over 15 different anime, including episodes of Sword Art Online: Alicization, Fate/Kaleid Liner Prisma Illya, and JoJo`s Bizarre Adventure: Golden Wind. Meanwhile, Akao is a veteran who has handled the series composition for over 60 different anime including Noragami, Komi Can’t Communicate, and Assassins Pride.
CAST: The cast for Ragna Crimson is stacked. The main cast includes Murase (also listed above for Migi and Dali) as Crimson, Chiaki Kobayashi as Ragna, and Minase (also listed above for Good Night World) as Leonica. Kobayashi is known for his roles as Askeladd from Vinland Saga, Yuuichi from Tomodachi Game, and more recently, Gabimaru from Hell’s Paradise. Additional cast includes the following: Junichi Suwabe (Yami from Black Clover), Daiki Yamashita (Deku from My Hero Academia), Fairouz Ai (Power from Chainsaw Man), Takuya Eguchi (Hachiman from My Teen Romantic Comedy), and Reina Ueda (Miyo from My Happy Marriage).
The Kingdoms of Ruin
Studio: Yokohama Animation Lab
Genre: Fantasy/Action/Drama
Release: October 6, 2023
Where To Watch: Crunchyroll
Source: Manga By yoruhashi
Synopsis: For ages, humanity flourished through the power of magic, a gift from witches to aid mankind. But times have changed. The scientific Gear Expansion has made both magic and witches obsolete. In order to liberate humanity from the blight of magic, the mighty Redia Empire began a ruthless hunt to exterminate all witches. Adonis was only a boy when the hunt began, apprentice to a witch he dearly loved. When she perishes at the hands of the empire, Adonis vows revenge. By this furious wizard’s power, blood will flow! An epic battle between science and magic begins. [Seven Seas Entertainment]
STAFF: Keitaro Motonaga will be directing the series with Takamitsu Kouno handling the series composition. As a director who’s been in the industry since 1985, Motonaga brings a lot of experience to this series having directed popular series such as Katanagatari, School Days, and Jormungand. Kouno, a veteran himself of over 20 years, also handled the series composition for series such as Absolute Duo and Utawarerumono: The False Faces.
CAST: Azumi Waki will voice the main female protagonist Doroka while Kaito Ishikawa will voice the main male protagonist Adonis. A few of Waki’s biggest roles include Senko from The Helpful Fox Senko-san, Maika from Blend S, and Hinata Tachibana from Tokyo Revengers. Her male co-star Ishikawa is most famously known for his roles as Tobio Kageyama from Haikyuu, Naofumi from The Rising of the Shield Hero, and most recently, Kiyoka Kudou from My Happy Marriage.
Protocol: Rain
Studio: Quad
Genre: Drama/Esports
Release: October 7, 2023
Where To Watch: Crunchyroll
Source: Original
Synopsis: The story centers on Shun Tokinoya, a second-year high school living with his mother and younger sister. After his father’s death in an accident and his sister’s injury, he quit the game he was passionate about, and now works at an esports café called “FOX ONE.” He spends all his time studying and working part-time while hanging out with his childhood gaming friends. Suddenly, he learns that “FOX ONE” has a huge amount of debts. In order to repay the debts, Shun and his friends aim to win the “Xaxerion Championship” and win the prize money. With a sense of guilt, Shun jumps back into the world of online games, and is confronted by Bakuretsu-kun, who used to play the game with him. [Crunchyroll]
STAFF: Yasutaka Yamamoto will be the chief director for the series alongside Daishi Katou, who is credited as a director. Katsuhiko Takayama will handle the script for the anime while working with Yamamoto on the series composition. Yamamoto has directed over a dozen anime series and OVA’s in the past 15 years including Aharen-san wa Hakarenai, Noblesse, Problem Children Are Coming from Another World, Aren’t They? Takayama has handled the script for series such as Mirai Nikki, Baka & Test – Summon the Beasts and the original Full Metal Alchemist series.
CAST: Minase (making her third appearance on this list) will voice the role of Nozomi Inatsuki. Meanwhile, her co-stars include Kensho Ono as Shun Tokinoya and Sora Amamiya as Yuu Saegusa. Ono’s biggest roles include Tetsuya Kuroko from Kuroko’s Basketball, Akutugawa from Bungo Stray Dogs, and Canute from Vinland Saga. Some of Amamiya’s most notable roles include Akame from Akame ga Kill, Aqua from Konosuba, and Touka Kirishima from Tokyo Ghoul.
So which of these titles will be on your watchlist for the Fall 2023 anime season? Are there any lesser-known anime fans should also know about? Let us know in the comments!
Featured image: The Kingdoms of Ruin
©2023 yoruhashi/Mag Garden, Hametsu no Oukoku Production Committee
