Oshi No Ko
Alternative names: My Star, My*Star
Genre: Mystery, Drama, Romance
Number of episodes: 11
Ratings: 8.73 / 10 (myanimelist), 8.4 / 10 (IMDb)
Streaming provider: HiDive
Ai Hoshino is a star – a Japanese idol. At just 16 years old, her career is blossoming. But there is a secret she wants to hide from the world: She is pregnant and gives birth to twins. She tries to pursue both dreams simultaneously: life as a star and as a caring mother.
What still works remarkably well in the first years takes a dark turn. For her secret threatens to be revealed as a stalker is onto her…
Why is Oshi no Ko so good? Oshi no Ko was the “hype anime” of the year. At first glance, Oshi No Ko may look like a strange variation of the isekai genre, but that does not do justice to the series. The story of Ai and her two children is profound, relatable, and sometimes surprisingly cruel.
Oshi No Ko also offers deep insights into the world of TV productions and unflinchingly shows what social media can do to the vulnerable psyches of young people – all while actually being a “murder mystery” story in which a criminal must be found while simultaneously young people’s ambitious wishes and dreams are at stake.
Basically, it’s advisable to watch the first episode in movie length – afterward, you won’t be able to put the series down anyway.
My Happy Marriage
Alternative names: Watashi no Shiawase na Kekkon, My Very Special Wedding
Genre: Drama, Romance, Fantasy
Number of episodes: 12
Ratings: 7.83 / 10 (myanimelist), 7.8 / 10 (IMDb)
Streaming provider: Netflix
Miyo is born into the Saimori family. But her mother dies early, and her father remarries. In the eyes of her stepmother, Miyo is a disgrace – also because she lacks the talent for the supernatural. She therefore leads a life as a lowly maid in the shadow of her sister.
To eventually get rid of her completely, Miyo is expelled from the house and presented as a “marriage offer” to a prince. The family hopes to profit politically and financially from this offer and simultaneously get rid of Miyo. For Miyo, this is a particularly cruel fate, as Prince Kudo Kiyoka has the reputation for treating women poorly.
Why is My Happy Marriage so good? Anyone who can overlook the cheesy title is getting a really good anime. Few anime series manage to depict the profound despair of a young woman in such a situation as well as “My Happy Marriage” does. However, although the series clearly starts as a drama, it slowly transitions into a romance without losing sight of the negative aspects.
Many episodes are dark, painful, and it is very easy to sympathize with Miyo. Even if you are not that into romantic anime, the fate of Miyo and the small glimmers of hope that occasionally give her a spark of hope captivate.
For this series, we highly recommend the original Japanese version (with subtitles), as the voice of the protagonist contributes greatly to the emotional depth of this series.
Bonus: Attack on Titan
Although Attack on Titan is not a new anime of the year 2023, it certainly belongs on this list. For this year, the finale of the series was released – as a film. In the last chapter, the story about the Titans, the Survey Corps, and Eren Jaeger came to an end.
For many fans, it was the “anime of a generation” that introduced many to the medium.
Even though opinions on the finale of Attack on Titan vary widely, it is clear that it marks the end of an era and now a new series must be awaited that can have the same impact and captivate a new generation of anime fans.
Anyone who has not given Attack on Titan a chance so far should do so now – because the series is complete and ends with a conclusion that deserves the name.
Our author Dariusz was even converted to anime by Attack on Titan.
What were your favorite anime of the year 2023? Which world enchanted you, which character made you root for them?
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