Anime Spotlight : Best Anime from Winter 2016

The Winter 2016 Anime season has ended which means it's time again to choose which of the Anime that ended this season was the best. As you probably know by now, this includes Anime that started in previous season's but only ended now as well. Generally Winter 2016 had some really good shows, and some down right terrible ones too. But let's see which made the grade!

Boku dake ga Inai Machi

Synopsis : Fujinuma Satoru is a struggling manga artist who has the ability to turn back time and prevent deaths. When his mother is killed he turns back time to solve the mystery, but ends up back in elementary school, just before the disappearance of his classmate Hinazuki Kayo.

PV : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8tTxuO1oIY

AniDB : https://anidb.net/perl-bin/animedb.pl?show=anime&aid=11292

Thoughts : Boku dake ga Inai Machi, also known as ERASED, was generally good throughout it's running. It had an interesting premise, even though the mystery was a bit easy to figure out, it still kept me entertained. Strong emotions pulse through the veins of ERASED as you follow Satoru's hard battle to change the past so he can save his future. 

Hai to Gensou no Grimgar

Synopsis : When Haruhiro awakens, he's in the dark. He doesn't know where he is, why he is here, and where he came from. Around him there are several men and women who have the same circumstances. Haruhiro and his companions find themselves in a game-like world called Grimgar and must form a party, cooperate, and learn new skills to survive the harsh environment together.

PV : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ii2-zqoB-ww

AniDB : https://anidb.net/perl-bin/animedb.pl?show=anime&aid=11712

Thoughts : While KonoSuba was easily the funnier of the "stuck in a fantasy world" anime this season. Grimgar had the far bigger impact. Both emotionally and visually. Even though Grimgar features some fanservice, it's not over the top. The choice of music really matched the dark theme of Grimgar well. And with the battles always being life and death, the last few episodes were quite rough.

Haikyuu!! Second Season

Synopsis : The Continuation of the hugely popular volleyball anime, Haikyuu!! This time the Karusano Volleyball team goes out to prove they aren't flightless birds anymore.

PV : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQM6bFGJS3s

AniDB : https://anidb.net/perl-bin/animedb.pl?show=anime&aid=10981

Thoughts : The Second season of Haikyuu!! started off just as strong as the first one ended. The high quality of animation is also back. A lot of new characters are introduced which soon become familiar faces. If you aren't a fan of sports anime in general, you could do far worse than use Haikyuu!! as your Introduction into the genre.

Durarara!!x2 Ketsu

Synopsis : Half a year after the turmoil that rocked the entire city of Ikebukuro - Peace has once again returned to the city and people are living each day normally. The high school students enjoy their days of youth as the strongest and most dangerous man of Ikebukuro works diligently. The informant plots (or plans) a new scheme and the headless rider is pursued by the cops as she rides through the night... But soon this normal will be cut short by the abnormal. Slowly but surely, the unknown will seize the city and face an all new storm.

PV : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQb_pwA4Zso

AniDB : https://anidb.net/perl-bin/animedb.pl?show=anime&aid=10867

Thoughts : Durarara!!x2 finally comes to a close with Ketsu. A great big cast of unique characters big enough to fill a theater with outstanding animation and music. Some really great dark humor and a tinge of romance. Makes for an unforgettable Anime experience in Durarara!!x2 Ketsu.

Gate: Jieitai Kanochi nite, Kaku Tatakaeri (2016)

Synopsis : A gate appears in Tokyo's Ginza district sometime in the 21st century. From the gate pour out monsters, knights from middle-age Europe and other fantasy-like beings, and they kill many citizens of Tokyo. This event is known as the Ginza Incident. The government sends a small group of soldiers from the Japanese Self-Defense Forces to the alternate world beyond the gate. Led by otaku soldier Itami Youji, they find that the villages in the world are being attacked by a dragon. An elf girl who is a survivor from the dragon's rampage joins the group in their travels across the dangerous new world.

PV : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vlt1h0Yv1ds

AniDB : https://anidb.net/perl-bin/animedb.pl?show=anime&aid=11602

Thoughts : Those of you who know me, know I loved the first season of GATE : And so the SDF fought. The second season of GATE for me was even better than the first. Building more on the characters introduced in the first season of GATE, while also expanding the world and it's lore/history. I won't lie. I want more GATE.

There are a few special mentions this season, like KonoSuba for it's comedy, Dimension W for it's OP and action scenes. Koukaku no Pandora for being a VERY pleasant surprise. And others like Heavy Object, Akagami no Shiroyuki 2 and lastly. The end of Ace of Diamond 2.

I'm sure I'm missing out a few shows here, which were your Top 5 Anime for Winter 2016? As Always sound off in the comment section below and let your thoughts be known!