Another fantastic year of anime is slowly coming to a close, but things aren’t over yet. There are only a few weeks until the official start of the next season, the Winter 2015/2016 anime season. While most people are in the full Christmas spirit, Japanese fans have been hard at work picking their most anticipated anime for the next season. Charapedia has held a new poll asking its users what are their top anticipated anime of the upcoming Winter 2015/2016 anime season.
Taking in the first 10,000 votes, the top 20 anime have been calculated and ranked. From the 10,000 votes, 52.6% of the total were female with the remaining 47.4% were male. 69.9% of the voters were under 30 and the 30.1% were 30 or above.
Here are Charapedia’s Top 20 Anticipated Anime of Winter 2015/2016:
20. (94 Votes) Oshiete! Galko-chan
MAL Synopsis:
Follow the daily school life of Gyaruko-chan, Otako, and Ojyo in this series of comedic short stories. Gyaruko-chan has a tendency to speak rudely, but she’s basically friends with everyone. Otako is the quiet loner of the class, but she is good friends with Gyaruko-chan. Ojyo speaks her mind freely and naturally.
19. (106 Votes) Active Raid: Kidou Kyoushuushitsu Dai Hakkei
MAL Synopsis:
Set in a part of Tokyo that has descended into a quagmire, the story follows Unit 8 of the 5th Special Public Security Section’s 3rd Mobile Assault Division, popularly called “The Eighth,” who don powered armor “Willwear” exoskeletons to counter the rise in crime.
18. (110 Votes) Sekkou Boys
MAL Synopsis:
Four gypsum images with quirky personalities are part of an idol unit produced by a rookie female manager. The four members are soldier saint George, the amorous god of war Mars, the multitalent with a beautiful skin Hermes, and celebrity pioneer Medici.
17. (139 Votes) Norn9: Norn+Nonet
MAL Synopsis:
The story takes place a little in the future. Guided by one particular song, young elementary school student Suzuhara Sorata, from the Heisei Era, is warped through a time skip to an unfamiliar place that looks much like the towns from the Meiji or Taishou period from his textbooks. In this world, he meets three young ladies and nine young men and joins them on a journey aboard the mysterious Norn ship, a giant globe that floats in midair.
16. (151 Votes) Musaigen no Phantom World
MAL Synopsis:
In the near future, spirits and monsters are in full sight. A boy leads a group of people with special abilities as they plot against a massive organization that takes advantage of a certain incident and eventually know the truth about their world in the process.
15. (158 Votes) Prince of Stride: Alternative
MAL Synopsis:
The series is about an extreme form of sport known as “Stride.” It involves 6 players on a team that runs relay races in towns. The story takes place at Honan Academy where first year high school students Takeru Fujiwara and Nana Sakurai try to recruit members for their “Stride” club. They request Riku Yagami to join with the help of Takeru and Nana. Their goal is to compete and win the “End of Summer,” a top competition hosted in Japan alongside other schools.
14. (160 Votes) Kono Subarashii Sekai ni Shukufuku wo!
MAL Synopsis:
The life of Satou Kazuma, a hikikomori who likes games, all too soon came to an end because of a traffic accident… It was supposed to, but when he woke up, a beautiful girl who called herself a goddess was in front of his eyes. “Hey, I have got something a little nice for you. Wanna go to another world? You can take only one thing of your choice along with you.” “…then I’ll take you.” From here on, the great adventure of subjugating the Demon King will begin for the reincarnated Kazuma… Or so one would think, but it’s the labor for obtaining food, clothing and shelter that begins! Despite Kazuma wanting to live in peace, the goddess keeps causing problems one after another, and eventually, they attract the attention of the Demon King’s army!?
13. (173 Votes) Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu
MAL Synopsis:
When a certain man is released from prison, he knows exactly where he’s heading first. After falling in love with a traditional comic storyteller’s rendition of the story called “Shinigami,” he is determined to become his apprentice. The performer, Yakumo, has never taken an apprentice before, but to everyone’s surprise, he accepts the eager ex-prisoner, nicknaming him “Yotaro.” As Yotaro happily begins his new life, he meets others in Yakumo’s life, including Yakumo’s ward Konatsu. Konatsu was the daughter of a famous storyteller, and Yakumo took her in after her father’s tragic death. Konatsu loved her father’s storytelling, and would love to become a performer in her own right—but that path is not available for women.
12. (183 Votes) Divine Gate
MAL Synopsis:
When the Divine Gate opened, the living world, the heavens, and the underworld became connected, ushering an era of chaos where desires and conflict intersect. To restore order, the World Council is formed. As peace is restored, the Divine Gate becomes an urban legend. In that world, boys and girls deemed fit by the World Council are gathered. They are ones who aim to reach the gate for their personal objectives. Those who reach the gate can remake the world. What lies beyond the gate? When they reach the door, will the world change? Will it be the past that changes, or will it be the future?
11. (187 Votes) Haruchika: Haruta to Chika wa Seishun Suru
MAL Synopsis:
Haruta and Chika are members of their high school wind instrument club that is on the verge of being shut down. The two are childhood friends, and they spend their days practicing hard while also trying to recruit new members. When a certain incident happens within their school, they work together to solve it.
10. (193 Votes) Fairy Tail Zero
MAL Synopsis:
Details the meeting of the founders of Fairy Tail and exactly what happened between them to lead them to found the guild.
9. (197 Votes) Ooyasan wa Shishunki!
MAL Synopsis:
The story follows a boy who has gained an independent life. After moving into his rented apartment, he meets his landlord. The landlord has the physique of a little girl, and she does the cooking and housework while attending middle school with her friends.
8. (226 Votes) Nijiiro Days
MAL Synopsis:
The series details the lives of four main characters named Natsuki, Tomoya, Keiichi, and Tsuyoshi. They spend their days trying to have fun by finishing their studies and debating about romance. Natsuki, one of the main characters, has a crush on a girl named Anna at school, while others often get involved in their relationship.
7. (270 Votes) Dagashi Kashi
MAL Synopsis:
Shikada Kokonotsu’s father owns a rural sweets shop, and his plan is for Kokonotsu to take it over one day. However, Kokonotsu wants to be a manga author instead! One day in summer, the cute but weird girl Shidare Hotaru, from the famous sweets company, comes to pay a visit. Apparently, Kokonotsu’s father is famous and she wants him to join her family’s company. However, he will only agree if she can convince Kokonotsu to take over the family business!
6. (278 Votes) Boku Dake ga Inai Machi
MAL Synopsis:
Struggling manga author Satoru Fujinuma is beset by his fear to express himself. However, he has a supernatural ability of being forced to prevent deaths and catastrophes by being sent back in time before the incident occurred, repeating time until the accident is prevented. One day, he gets involved in an accident that has him framed as a murderer. Desperate to save the victim, he sends himself back in time only to find himself as a grade-schooler one month before fellow classmate Kayo Hinazuki went missing. Satoru now embarks on a new quest: to save Kayo and solve the mystery behind her disappearance.
5. (312 Votes) Ajin
MAL Synopsis:
Ajin are humans that cannot die. Seventeen years ago, they first appeared on a battlefield in Africa. From then on, more of their kind are discovered within the human society. Their rarity in appearance means that, for experimental purposes, the government will generously reward anyone who captures one. In the present day, for what a certain high school student expects to be a typical summer holiday, his life is about to turn unexpected…
4. (350 Votes) Akagami no Shirayuki-hime 2nd Cour
MAL Synopsis:
Although her name means “snow white,” Shirayuki is a cheerful, red-haired girl living in the country of Tanbarun who works diligently as an apothecary at her herbal shop. Her life changes drastically when she is noticed by the silly prince of Tanbarun, Prince Raji, who then tries to force her to become his concubine. Unwilling to give up her freedom, Shirayuki cuts her long red hair and escapes into the forest, where she is rescued from Raji by Zen Wistalia, the second prince of a neighboring country, and his two aides. Hoping to repay her debt to the trio someday, Shirayuki sets her sights on pursuing a career as the court herbalist in Zen’s country, Clarines. Akagami no Shirayuki-hime depicts Shirayuki’s journey toward a new life at the royal palace of Clarines, as well as Zen’s endeavor to become a prince worthy of his title. As loyal friendships are forged and deadly enemies formed, Shirayuki and Zen slowly learn to support each other as they walk their own paths.
3. (364 Votes) Durarara!!x2 Ketsu
MAL Synopsis:
Ikebukuro — a place filled with conspiracy plotters. After an information exchange center has been attacked, a young man who possesses the strength of two color gangs: “Dollars” and “Blue Squares,” walks on a path to end the chaos with his own ideologies.
2. (1829 Votes) Gate: Jieitai Kanochi nite, Kaku Tatakaeri 2nd Cour
MAL Synopsis:
In August of 20XX, a portal to a parallel world, known as the “Gate,” suddenly appeared in Ginza, Tokyo. Monsters and troops poured out of the portal, turning the shopping district into a bloody inferno. The Japan Ground-Self Defence Force immediately took action and pushed the fantasy creatures back to the “Gate.” To facilitate negotiations and prepare for future fights, the JGSDF dispatched the Third Reconnaissance Team to the “Special Region” at the other side of the Gate. Youji Itami, a JSDF officer as well as a 33-year-old otaku, was appointed as the leader of the Team. Amid attacks from enemy troops the team visited a variety of places and learnt a lot about the local culture and geography. Thanks to their efforts in humanitarian relief, although with some difficulties they were gradually able to reach out to the locals. They even had a cute elf, a sorceress and a demigoddess in their circle of new friends. On the other hand, the major powers outside the Gate such as the United States, China, and Russia were extremely interested in the abundant resources available in the Special Region. They began to exert diplomatic pressure over Japan. A suddenly appearing portal to an unknown world—to the major powers it may be no more than a mere asset for toppling the international order. But to our protagonists it is an invaluable opportunity to broaden knowledge, friendship, and ultimately their perspective towards the world.
And in 1st place is…
1. (419 Votes) Assassination Classroom Season 2
MAL Synopsis:
When a mysterious creature chops the moon down to a permanent crescent, the students of class 3-E of Kunugigaoka Middle School find themselves confronted with an enormous task: assassinate the creature responsible for the disaster before Earth suffers a similar fate. However, the monster, dubbed Koro-sensei (the indestructible teacher), is able to fly at speeds of up to Mach 20, which he demonstrates freely, leaving any attempt to subdue him in his extraterrestrial dust. Furthermore, the misfits of 3-E soon find that the strange, tentacled beast is more than just indomitable—he is the best teacher they have ever had! Adapted from the humorous hit manga by Yuusei Matsui, Ansatsu Kyoushitsu tells the story of these junior high pupils as they polish their assassination skills and grow in order to stand strong against the oppressive school system, their own life problems, and one day, Koro-sensei.
To see how effective the male and female votes were, their differences and what they find popular, here are their individual rankings of their respective top 10:
| Male | Female |
|---|---|
| 10. (91 Votes) Assassination Classroom Season 2 | 10. (112 Votes) Boku Dake ga Inai Machi |
| 9. (106 Votes) Divine Gate | 9. (128 Votes) Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu |
| 8. (126 Votes) Haruchika: Haruta to Chika wa Seishun Suru | 8. (131 Votes) Fairy Tail Zero |
| 7. (130 Votes) Akagami no Shirayuki-hime 2nd Cour | 7. (132 Votes) Norn9: Norn+Nonet |
| 6. (143 Votes) Musaigen no Phantom World | 6. (148 Votes) Prince of Stride: Alternative |
| 5. (144 Votes) Kono Subarashii Sekai ni Shukufuku wo! | 5. (199 Votes) Nijiiro Days |
| 4. (166 Votes) Boku Dake ga Inai Machi | 4. (220 Votes) Akagami no Shirayuki-hime 2nd Cour |
| 3. (188 Votes) Ooyasan wa Shishunki! | 3. (222 Votes) Ajin |
| 2. (233 Votes) Dagashi Kashi | 2. (312 Votes) Durarara!!x2 Ketsu |
| 1. (358 Votes) Gate: Jieitai Kanochi nite, Kaku Tatakaeri 2nd Cour | 1. (328 Votes) Assassination Classroom Season 2 |
So do you agree with the top 20? Which are your anticipated anime? Which do you think had the better list, the males or the females?