2023 brought many new anime. We’ll tell you which of them are the best that you have to see – whether you’re an anime fan or not.
The year 2023 is coming to an end and with it one of the years in which we received more anime series than ever before in the history of the medium. But where there are more series every year, there is also more and more junk under which the real gems are buried. We take a look back at the 5 best anime of 2023.
Even if some series are still waiting for their last episode, the overall picture makes it easy to see which series are among the best.
Which series appear on this list? This list is about new releases in 2023 – i.e. those that made their debut between January and December 2023. Continuations, such as second or third seasons of existing series, are not taken into account. It’s purely about new releases that were seen as anime for the first time in 2023.
Heavenly delusion
Alternative names: Tengoku Daimakyou, Heavenly Delusion: Paradise Lost
Genre: Adventure, mystery, sci-fi
Number of episodes: 13
Reviews: 8.22 / 10 (myanimelist), 8.0 / 10 (IMDb)
Streaming provider: Disney+
15 years ago, humanity was struck by a devastating event that would change everything forever. Dangerous monsters are now lurking all over the world, ambushing the last survivors and threatening to put an end to humanity. A few strongholds are completely shielded from the outside world and raise children in a false sense of peace – but the children’s curiosity drives them to want to get to know the outside world.
At the same time, in the outside world, Maru and Kiruko are fighting for their survival and are looking for a place called “Heaven” – a promised paradise where people can live in peace and without fear again. But the way there is long and reveals many secrets and puzzles that only slowly reveal what is actually going on with the world.
Why is Heavenly Delusion so good? Heavenly Delusion flew a little under the radar for most and still does today because it is offered on Disney+, which has been less known for anime. But the world shown here, in all its cruelty and morbidity, with many puzzles and lots of complex characters, can inspire from the first episode.
Exciting, dark twists pull all viewers in and in the end the question remains: Why aren’t there more episodes of this yet?
Heavenly Delusion was one of the surprise hits of the year and every fan of the medium should see it.
Freezing – Beyond Journey’s End
Alternative names: Sousou no freezing
Genre: Adventure, drama, fantasy
Number of episodes: 28 (not yet completed)
Reviews: 9.12 / 10 (myanimelist), 8.9 / 10 (IMDb)
Streaming provider: Crunchyroll
The Demon King was defeated by the heroic band and the empire faces decades of peace. Part of this group of heroes was the elven magician “Freeze”, who quickly set off on her travels again. The decades pass and when she meets her former companions again, many are already old and on the verge of death.
She realizes too late that she didn’t use the time to get to know her former companions better. She tries to make amends for this mistake and sets off again on the journey she once took with the other heroes. She also takes care of a student and at the same time has to deal with unresolved problems from the past – because time keeps moving.
Why is freezing so good? Where modern anime otherwise rely on more and more action in ever faster sequence, Freezing takes its time. Characters are complex and the series ensures that there is enough space for world building and that you can understand the protagonist in a understandable way. The discrepancy between Frieren’s age, her perception of time and people’s sense of time is particularly well represented in this series as rarely in any other work.
What begins slowly soon develops into a captivating, emotional story that doesn’t need any exaggerated drama – because the subject matter provides it all by itself.
Freeze is also one of the few stories in which characters really develop and time moves forward – often unexpectedly spontaneously, with greater consequences.
We had already classified Freezing as one of the most important anime of the year.
The Apothecary Diaries
Alternative names: Kusuriya no Hitorigoto, The Apothecary’s Diaries
Genre: Drama, mystery
Number of episodes: 24 (not yet completed)
Reviews: 8.72 / 10 (myanimelist), 8.6 / 10 (IMDb)
Streaming provider: Crunchyroll
As the daughter of a pharmacist, Maomao looks forward to a fairly solid life in the old empire – at least until she is kidnapped and kidnapped. Like many other girls, she is sold to the imperial palace to serve the emperor’s concubines and noble wives.
However, it becomes obvious that she is more talented than the other slaves when she saves one of the emperor’s children from death through her knowledge of herbs. This quickly gives her a new position as direct maid and taster to an imperial concubine.
Maomao quickly finds herself caught up in the web of intrigue and has to protect “her” concubine from attacks or solve mysteries surrounding illnesses and alchemy without ending up in the emperor’s crosshairs.
Our author Jasmin also raves about the pharmacist’s diaries.
Why is Apothecary Diaries so good? The series is primarily driven by the protagonist Maomao, who is funny, lovable and yet profound at the same time. A smart, self-confident woman who has found herself in an unfortunate situation and now has to use her skills to survive and get through everyday life as unscathed as possible.
The series jumps back and forth between serious topics such as assassinations, poisonings and prostitution, without losing its endearing charm or making the topics ridiculous. By the way, Maomao’s knowledge of alchemy is often worth knowing and instructive, and the historical approach of the series adds to the seriousness.
A clear recommendation for anyone who simply wants to experience a great story with interesting characters.
There are more top anime of 2023 on the next page.