This fall is packed with anime shows that eager fans can sink their teeth into. Many of the usual suspects are back, but look forward to new franchises to also pave their way through this time of orange leaves and pumpkins. Curious to know what the end of 2019 has in store for you? Here’s a list of some of the best fall 2019 anime to keep track of. 

My Hero Academia

Studio: Bones
Genre: Action, Comedy, Shounen

The headliner for the season is, of course, the return of My Hero Academia for its fourth season. A story about teenagers that engage in superheroics, the show has become the poster boy of shounen anime in recent years.

After a gripping season three finale between two of the biggest rivals in the story, the fourth season focuses on Deku and his classmates once again as they undertake Hero internships. There’s a whole new host of heroes and villains to look out for, as well as more high-stakes battles.

Deku will also have to explore his worthiness of All Might’s legacy as he interacts with Mirio Togata, a student who was once considered to take up All Might’s mantle.

Case File nº221: Kabukichou

Studio: Production I.G
Genre: Mystery, Comedy, Drama

Did anyone here ask for anime Sherlock Holmes? Kabukichou Sherlock is a reimagining of the world-famous detective, and this time sets itself in the seedy neon-lit Kabukichou district of Shinjuku Ward. As a series of murders begin, the titular Sherlock Holmes and his trusty friend John Watson investigate the menacing case of Jack the Ripper in this modern Japan setting.

As with all good detective stories, it’ll be a while until one can get the full picture. The anime’s intriguing mystery is complemented by colourful and quirky characters, as well as plenty of comedy. An offbeat way to enjoy Sherlock Holmes for sure, but it’s surely a must-watch for those that want to see Sherlock Holmes with a Japanese twist.

Hoshiai no Sora

Studio: 8bit
Genre: Sports, Drama, Slice of Life

Hoshiai no Sora is an original anime series that follows a high school student called Maki Katsuragi, who joins a tennis club that’s on the brink of closing down. The main reason he’s there, though, is because he has the athletic skills to hoist the club back into relevance.

The anime presents itself as a coming-of-age story that’s also focused around sports. A big highlight of the show lies in its exploration of human beings. Unlike most sports anime, real-life problems plague the characters constantly, and there’s a huge focus on how tennis ties into their complex lives as a coping mechanism.

No Guns Life

Studio: Madhouse
Genre: Action, Sci-Fi, Seinen

So the big deal about this anime is that the main guy has a revolver for a head. That’s not a joke, and there’s actually a whole backstory behind it.

Ex-soldier Juuzo Inoi has no recollection of his life prior to becoming a cyborg, otherwise known as an Extended. As a cyborg, he now has a giant functioning revolver where his head ought to be, as well as a revolver-like device embedded in his right hand. While searching for clues about his past, he lives out life as a detective called a Resolver and does what he can to help other cyborgs. 

As for his revolver-head? It can shoot, but only if someone else gets behind the trigger. It’s an odd concept, but the show itself boasts a serious noir aesthetic. With the prominent studio Madhouse also on board, what’s there not to like? 

Beastars

Studio: Orange
Genre: Drama, Psychological, Shounen, Slice of Life

Beastars is a change of pace from the usual anime aesthetic and goes for something truly unique. It’s a story about anthropomorphic animals in a society of herbivores and carnivores that coexist together.

The protagonist, Legoshi, is a wolf that attends Cherryton Academy and takes part in the drama club. Despite his carnivorous tendencies, he’s actually rather meek and gentle. His daily school life takes a major turn, however, when an alpaca named Tem is murdered in cold blood. As unrest begins to stir between herbivores and carnivores, Legoshi finds himself forced to get involved with his schoolmates and to learn more about them.

Food Wars! The Fourth Plate

Studio: J.C.Staff
Genre: Comedy, Shounen

For the food enthusiasts out there, Food Wars! The Fourth Plate is the salivating return of cooking battles and culinary comedy. Yukihira Soma continues his quest to become the best chef in the world. However, one aspiring to greatness can’t be without rivals that also cook incredible dishes.

Everything you love, from outlandish cooking competitions to unpredictable story arcs, can be found here. The depictions of food are also as incredible as ever, and will be sure to whet your appetite.

Assassins Pride

Studio: EMT Squared
Genre: Action, Fantasy

Based on the light novel series of the same name, Assassins Pride is set in a fantasy world where much of humanity has perished. Lycanthropes roam the land and the last safe haven is a city protected by glass domes. The human society here divides itself into commoners and aristocrats, in which the latter possesses innate powers that enable them to fight lycanthropes.

A man known as Kufa Vampir is assigned as a tutor to Mareida, the daughter of a duke family, to ascertain whether she is truly of noble blood. Should she not have control over mana like the other aristocrats, he is tasked with assassinating her.

Cautious Hero: The Hero Is Overpowered by Overly Cautious

Studio: White Fox
Genre: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy

Fans of KonoSuba may get a kick out of Cautious Hero. Like the former, it’s a fresh take on the crowded isekai genre that does so by referencing common tropes and then injecting comedy, as well tons of oddball characters into the mix.

The goddess Ristarte summons a hero from Japan to save the world of Gairbrunde from the Demon Lord, but inadvertently ends up with the overly-cautious Seiya. Though he has overpowered stats, he’s so overly cautious that he’ll spend a week doing strength exercises before he’ll even take on the bad guys.

The show doesn’t try to impress from a technical standpoint, and instead relies on jokes and a tight script to entertain. What helps sell this anime is Aki Toyosaki’s (K-On!, Kokoro Connect) gung-ho performance as she voices a seemingly gentle goddess that actually just constantly breaks into cynical grumbling.

Ascendance Of A Bookworm

Studio: Ajia-Do
Genre: Slice of Life, Fantasy

Another isekai that’s little different from usual, Ascendance of a Bookworm tells the story of a book-loving college student named Urano who dies in modern Japan and is then transported to another world. Rather than having the duty of becoming the chosen hero, she is reincarnated as the frail peasant Myne. As books are rare in this fantasy world, she decides to do her utmost to make them more accessible for both herself and the other commoners.

The show is a little bit special in that it focuses on how someone must make do with the new world they find themselves up. Myne faces her share of struggles and is in no way indestructible like many isekai protagonists from other shows. Ultimately, it’s a sweet story that showcases someone in pursuit of their dream, even in a world that explicitly weighs her down.

Fate/Grand Order – Absolute Demonic Front: Babylonia

Studio: CloverWorks
Genre: Action, Fantasy, Magic

The billion dollar game franchise that beat Fortnite as the most talked about game on Twitter in 2018 is now back with another much-anticipated anime series. Fate/Grand Order – Absolute Demonic Front: Babylonia adapts one of the mobile game’s major story arcs, set in historical Babylonia. If you’re a fan of the game, you’ll no doubt enjoy the story as it’s presented once again through polished and intricate animations, as well as stellar voice over.

Newcomers who are curious about the show shouldn’t feel left out, however. The show dedicates some time to telling you the gist of the premise, and the events that take place in Babylonia are standalone as can be. It’s a decent starting point that holds all of the franchises’ key appeals such as high-octane battles, intriguing storylines based on actual history, as well as only the very best boys and girls.