Astra Lost in Space

Studio: Lerche
Genre: Action, Sci-Fi

It’s not often that a science fiction story begins with a gripping incident that humanises its characters. Astra Lost in Space certainly achieves that with a high-stakes premise that serves to focus on a group of individuals and their shared bonds.

In the year 2063, nine regular high school students are set to have their summer vacation on a faraway planet. However, upon arriving there a strange light overwhelms these students and transports them 5,012 light-years away.

Taking refuge in an abandoned spaceship called Astra and faced with limited food and resources, they band together to survive their plight and find their way home.

How Many Kilograms Are the Dumbbells You Lift?

Studio: Doga Kobo
Genre: Comedy

Eager for a workout? Need some advice on a good training regimen? Believe it or not, this show has you covered. It’s a sports comedy themed around weight training that feeds some handy training tips in between some genuinely hilarious scenes.

It follows Hibiki Sakura, a student who constantly overeats on junk food. As she gains in weight uncontrollably, she reluctantly decides to head to the gym but struggles due to her lack of physical strength.

Luckily for her, the high school president Akemi is a strong athlete who also so happens to train at the gym. She introduces Hibiki to the macho trainer Machio, who eagerly assists her in her long journey of getting a slimmer and stronger body.

Not convinced? Here’s a Muscle video based on the anime’s opening that might give you a good laugh.

Granbelm

Studio: Nexus
Genre: Magic, Fantasy

Amongst a sea of countless adaptations, Granbelm stands out as the occasional and rare original anime series. What makes this show quite interesting is how it’s blended magical girl and mecha genres together into a new story about, well, doing battle as both.

Granbelm takes place in the modern world where magic has ceased to exist. In truth, seven mages had chosen to seal magic away from the world after it became abused for greed. Through chance, young Mangetsu Kohinata learns that she is the descendant of one of these mages and is thus still capable of magic.

By transforming into a magical girl and commandeering a powerful mecha, she finds herself drawn into a war between six other descendants for the right of that sealed power.

Vinland Saga

Studio: Wit Studio
Genre: Action, Adventure, Historical, Drama

As a show that manages to weave an intriguing and personal story into a tense moment in human history, Vinland Saga shines. Complemented by some intense animation and lots of brutal deaths, it’s quite the trip for anyone interested in diving into the nitty-gritty of 11th-century London.

The tale follows Thorfinn, a young boy whose father is murdered in cold blood by the Viking leader Askeladd. With vengeance consuming his heart, the boy joins Askeladd’s company so that he may one day slay him.

This involves various duels he engages with the man but is forced to earn the right to by performing many difficult tasks for him. Throughout this ordeal, the company engages in various fights amidst a Dane-controlled England.

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