After some slower, more minimal seasons, the anime industry is kicking back into full gear for the fall of 2020 with a slew of shows from across several genres. As with every season though, some shows look to have more potential than others, which is why we’ve compiled a list of the top seven upcoming fall 2020 anime you need to have on your radar.
Jujustu Kaisen – Fall 2020 Anime
Premiere Date: Oct. 2 via Crunchyroll
It’s always a big event when one of the hottest new Shonen anime gets an adaptation, and Jujutsu Kaisen is no exception.
The story follows Yūji Itadori, an abnormally athletic high schooler who in spite of his raw talent has forgone sports in favor of the Occult Research Club. Doing so allows him to live a carefree life, enjoying time with his friends finding paranormal happenings while also keeping his ailing grandfather company until his death.
This all changes, however, when he meets a sorcerer named Megumi Fushiguro. The young man reveals that Yūji’s friends in the Occult Research Club have unleashed Curses upon his school by unearthing an ancient talisman which appears as an old, severed finger. Eager to save them, Yūji rushes to the scene, only to find himself unable to expel the curses due to a lack of magical powers.
With no other choice, he tries consuming the finger in order to seal its evil within his own body. By a stroke of luck, it works, granting him untold magical energy and revealing him to be a natural seal for other such talismans. Megumi and his allies then decide to train Yūji in the art of sorcery, turning him into the world’s best hope of completely sealing away a much greater Curse lurking in the shadows.
The show has a decent spin on the usual Shonen set-up, and the acclaimed production company MAPPA of Yuri on Ice and Dororo fame is set to handle its animation. Plus, thanks to a solid store of manga chapters to draw off of for material, its first run of episodes on Cruchyroll will only be the beginning of what the show can bring to the table.
Haikyu!! To the Top Part 2 – Fall 2020 Anime
Premiere Date: Oct. 2 via Crunchyroll
Many shows were put on hold or delayed due to the COVID-19 global pandemic, and Haikyuu!! was no exception. Fortunately, its finally set to kick back into high gear during the fall 2020 anime season with the second part of its fourth cour.
Picking up right where Part 1 left off, the show returns to the unfolding events of the Spring Tournament. The Karasuno High team continues to give their all against ever more skilled opponents, and their latest adversaries – Inarizaki High – are their biggest challenge to date.
They’ll need to push their skills and teamwork to the limit in their second round against Inarizaki in order to overcome this challenge, and push forward to prove themselves as the greatest team in Japan.
The animation courtesy of Production I.G is still looks to be top notch based on the latest trailer. Spikes and the like shown in stunning fluidity, while the characters are still as bright and expressive as ever.
Fans of the series are bound to enjoy having it back in their lives for the next three months, and those interested couldn’t find a better encapsulation of what makes the show so popular.
Higurashi no Naku Koro ni 2020 – Fall 2020 Anime
Premiere Date: Sept. 30 via Funimation
Higurashi is well known in the anime fandom for its subversive spin on the Harem and Moe genres, taking viewers down a horrific rabbit hole of gore, murder and intrigue. In recent years though, its faded from the collective consciousness, replaced by other series and shows willing to go to the same lengths.
That’s all set to change during the fall 2020 anime season though, thanks to a fresh new adaptation of the story by Passione, the studio behind hits like Rokka: Braves of the Six Flowers and Wasteful Days of High School Girls.
All of the tender, heart-warming moments between new kid Keiichi Maebara and his friends, as well as the sickeningly twisted scenes brought on by an unknown malevolent force, have been given a fresh coat of animation.
One of its more recent trailers showed off some of these improvements, and still only scratched the surface of what the show could provide.
It’s also worth noting that the series is set to adapt the full story of the series, giving fans new and old a means of seeing what happens in the most modern and visually captivating way possible.
Top it all off with the fact that it’s streaming through Funimation – and will likely receive a stellar dub as a result – and there’s little reason not to give this psychological horror anime series a look this fall.
Burn the Witch – Fall 2020 Anime
Premiere Date: Oct. 2 via Amazon Prime Video
It’s been a long time since Bleach creator Tite Kubo has had anything adapted into an anime, and the anime film Burn the Witch looks to make the wait well worth it for his fans.
Set in an alternate version of London where magic and dragons exist, the series follows two witches named Noel Niihashi and Ninny Spangcole. The two enjoy a life of adventure and purpose, as they use their magical abilities to keep the city safe from unruly dragons and ensure those that wish to live side by side with humans can do so in peace.
Their lives become far more difficult, however, when they encounter Balgo Parks, a young man who naturally attracts powerful and violent dragon wherever he goes. They in turn wreak havoc on the city, putting humans and dragons alike in danger as a result.
With no other choice, they decide to try and help him determine why this happens to him, drawing them into a power struggle with other magic users that carries far deeper implications for the world they know and love.
It’s exactly the kind of zany and fantastical plot fans would expect from Kubo, and with Colorido involved in the anime film’s production it’s sure to offer plenty of visual splendor. It also helps that it’ll be streamable via Amazon Prime Video, making it all the easier to view without risking a trip to the theater.
Golden Kamuy Season 3 – Fall 2020 Anime
Premiere Date: Oct. 5 via Crunchyroll
Golden Kamuy’s last season left fans on one hell of a cliff hanger, and due to COVID-19, they’ve now had to wait far longer than they thought to find out what happens next.
Fortunately, their patience looks to have been well worth it. The show is set to return better than ever, offering more of the mystery, slice of life and action adventure chaos the series is known for.
Following their separation at the end of the last season, Saichi Sugimoto and Asirpa are desperate to reunite and formulate a plan to stop those opposing their hunt for Asirpa’s father. Luckily, their friends are at their side, eager to help them achieve their goals and make sense of what the true value of the hidden gold stockpile in Hokkaido really is.
At the same time though, their enemies are gaining strength and numbers. Both the 7th Division and Hijikata’s faction are hot on the trail of inmates containing clues to the location of the stockpile, and they’re intent on keeping Sugimoto and Asirpa’s group from claiming any more clues before they do.
There will be blood, heart-felt reunions and shocking twists before the season is through, and fans won’t want to miss a second of it.
Yashihime: The Half-Demon Princess – Fall 2020 Anime
Premiere Date: Oct. 3 via Viz Media
Arguably one of the biggest shows to grace the fall 2020 anime slate, Yashihime: The Half-Demon Princess is a series a long time in the making.
A sequel series to Inuyasha, Yashihime follows the children of the original cast in their adventures throughout past and present Japan. In particular, it sees Towa and Setsuna, the daughters of Seshomaru, reunite after being seperated during a viscious wildfire when they were younger.
Setsuna managed to escape the blaze, but Towa accidentally fell into the tunnel leading to the present day during the chaos. She became trapped there for several years, cared for by Kagome’s younger brother until she was able to return to her time. Once she’s back though, she find her sister has forgotten she ever existed, their memories together seemingly erased by an unknown force.
Desperate to restore what they’ve lost, the two set out together to reclaim Setsuna’s memories, joining forces with the other children of the original cast as they go.
It has all the elements of a proper sequel to the Shoujo action hit, and its design feels updated without totally changing Inuyahsa’s style thanks to Sunrise’s animation work. Fans new and old will definitely want to check it out when it starts streaming on Oct. 3.
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba the Movie: Mugen Train – Fall 2020 Anime
Premiere Date: Oct. 15
It’s safe to say Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba is one of the hottest anime and manga series out there right now, and its first feature film, Mugen Train, looks to be a continuation of that trend.
The film sees Tanjiro Kamado and his allies teaming up with the Hashira Kyojuro Rengoku to investigate demon attacks aboard a train. They may end up with more than they’ve bargained for though, as a newly enhanced member of the Lower Moons is hot on their trail and eager to bring their heads to the demons’ leader, Muzan Kibutsuji.
Before the night is over, the groups will have engaged in a bloody clash the likes of which neither is probably prepared for, and only one will be left even remotely intact.
Being an animated film instead of a multi-episode series, Mugen Train looks to be driving its animation quality to the highest level based on trailers. Ufotable, the studio behind the first season, is still at the helm of the project though, so its little surprise they’re amping up the series’ already impressive looks for the occasion.
Funimation is likewise hard at work preparing the film’s dub, so fans can count on it being one of the highlights of fall 2020 anime season.
Published: Sep 16, 2020 03:00 pm