From Netflix’s killer new line-up to Attack on Titan’s farewell, 2023 was one of anime’s best years ever

Dec. 24, 2023

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A year to remember

In March, Attack on Titan rumbled on with the longest final season ever, premiering the first of two ‘Final Chapters’ that followed Eren’s descent from fiery protagonist to the hit anime’s Big Bad. It eventually stuck the landing in November, too. Its final episode was a bittersweet farewell, tinged with a sense of sadness and melancholy that could only come from a show that audiences have followed for the better part of a decade now. It was well worth the wait.

Those desperate to fill the Titan-shaped hole in their lives, though, didn’t need to look far.Jujutsu Kaisen season 2has provided enough heartbreak and heart-pounding action to make it stand out as arguably anime’s currently greatest ongoing anime (though it would be remiss of us to bring up the show without mentioning the work of animation studio MAPPA, which has been the subject of allegations surrounding overworked employees and a toxic work environment).

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It’s here where we return to Netflix. Not only has it been making waves in the preservation space, it’s also launched a killer lineup that puts even the premiere anime services to shame.

Pluto, Blue Eye Samurai, and Scott Pilgrim – yes, that was produced in Japan by Science SARU – are best-in-class offerings from a streaming service that’s fast becoming the major player in the anime space. With the ripples of Crunchyroll and Funimation’s merger last year still being felt, the significance of Netflix offering up this much choice and accessibility cannot go unnoticed.

For more, check out our picks for thebest animeand the latest onDemon Slayer season 4, AKA the Hashira Training arc.

I’m the Senior Entertainment Writer here at GamesRadar+, focusing on news, features, and interviews with some of the biggest names in film and TV. On-site, you’ll find me marveling at Marvel and providing analysis and room temperature takes on the newest films, Star Wars and, of course, anime. Outside of GR, I love getting lost in a good 100-hour JRPG, Warzone, and kicking back on the (virtual) field with Football Manager. My work has also been featured in OPM, FourFourTwo, and Game Revolution.

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