January 2021 is the start of this year's winter anime season, which means a ton of brand-new anime debuted across all the different streaming services. There are plenty of shows to enjoy but seven series in particular have managed to keep us watching beyond their respective premieres.
Keep in mind, we're not saying that these seven are definitely the best anime to air this season. There are still plenty of weeks left in the winter season and any of these shows could take an unfavorable turn (or any we don't list here may recapture our attention if they have a turn for the better). But, for now, these seven anime are the ones we're enjoying the most, and we think that you will too. We're always open to hearing recommendations though, so let us know what you're currently watching--and why we should also be watching it--in the comments below.
It would be a disservice to summarize what Wonder Egg Priority is about, given how well it crafts a compelling mystery from the building blocks of its structure--an uncanny otherness in its dreamscapes, ensemble cast of nuanced characters that each harbor private yet powerful motivations, and creativity in making personal traumas into literal monsters. Part of the appeal of this show is how well it holds so much information back and yet delivers just enough nuggets of information with each episode to convince you to return the following week for another peek behind the curtain. If you can, try to go into Wonder Egg Priority with as little knowledge of what transpires as you can. Admittedly, that's a hard ask for a show that makes suicide and personal trauma the central theme of its conflict, but it will make this already compelling anime that much more interesting to watch. You can watch Wonder Egg Priority on Funimation.
Though the anime delves into the lives and motivations of their teammates as well, Yuni and Kimichika are the primary focus of the show--they both played together on their middle school volleyball team but had a falling-out that led to their team's defeat and the loss of their friendship. Now in high school, the two find themselves once again playing volleyball together and strive to fix their fractured relationship in order to become the powerhouse setter and ace combo their team needs to go to Nationals. You can watch 2.43: Seiin High School Boys Volleyball Team on Funimation.
Otherside Picnic sees college student Sorawo Kamikoshi teaming up with Toriko Nishina to explore a bizarre alternate reality where the creatures of urban myth are very real. Toriko is exploring "the otherside" in search of her mentor, a woman who's gone missing in the dangerous universe. Sorawo tags along after developing a small crush on Toriko, and the two form a monster-hunting partnership, selling the spoils of their expeditions to fund their weapon and supplies expenses. It's not an easy-going task though, and their journeys into the otherside begin to have an effect on them, transforming Sorawo's eye and Toriko's hand and giving them both otherworldly abilities. All the while, the two women grow closer to one another, developing a powerful bond. You can watch Otherside Picnic on Funimation.
In SK8 the Infinity, there's a secret skate race that takes place in an Okinawa mine shaft at midnight. Simply called "S," this race has no rules and competitors often challenge each other for rewards of their choosing. Some bet money, others stake their custom boards or personal reputations. Many of the racers are everyday business folks adopting personalities to unleash their hidden desires and true emotions. The series focuses on Reki, a high school student who loves skating more than anything, and his new friend Langa, a transfer student from Canada who knows nothing about skateboarding but ends up falling in love with the sport and becoming a natural S race competitor. You can watch SK8 the Infinity on Funimation.
Laid-Back Camp follows a group of high schoolers who all love camping. Rin Shima enjoys camping on her own, though a chance encounter with Nadeshiko Kagamihara inspires her to occasionally step outside her comfort zone and camp with others. Nadeshiko, on the other hand, wholeheartedly takes to group camping, joining the Outdoor Activities Club at her school. One of our favorite aspects of Laid-Back Camp is its portrayal of Nadeshiko. She's a happy-go-lucky girl and extreme extrovert but she understands Rin's boundaries as an introvert, allowing her friend to enjoy camping alone. Laid-Back Camp is a rare series that doesn't outright preach "activities are better with friends," and instead posits that people can enjoy the same activity in different ways and emphasizes respecting boundaries, ensuring the activity remains fun for everyone. You can watch Laid-Back Camp on Crunchyroll.
Like Wonder Egg Priority, you'll ideally want to go into Kemono Jihen with as little background knowledge as possible. Though it's not the main focus, the mystery around Kabane is one of the big drivers for the plot, and to reveal anything about him or the Tokyo detective that comes to his village in order to investigate the strange deaths of random livestock would ruin this anime's excellent first episode. That said, you should know that Kemono Jihen does not shy away from animating body horror or blood, and depicts child death and physical bullying in its first episode. The show has been more tame in subsequent episodes but this is definitely an anime that doesn't shy away from violent imagery. You can watch Kemono Jihen on Funimation.
In Horimiya, Kyoko Hori is a smart, stylish, outgoing student and one of the most popular girls in her class. Everyone thinks she must lead an exciting personal life but, in truth, she takes care of the housework and her little brother after school every day while her single mom works, preferring to dress down and wear comfortable clothes when not at school. Her classmate, the gloomy and shy Izumi Miyamura is an assumed otaku. But in truth, he only wears glasses, keeps his hair down, and always wears the long-sleeved winter uniform because he actually has a ton of piercings and tattoos. He's also not much of a shut-in or nerd; he impulsively acts out and is a poor student. A chance encounter causes Kyoko and Izumi to discover their dual lives and the two begin regularly meeting up after school, vowing to keep each other's secret. Eventually, the two's friendship begins to blossom into something more, and the two soon find out that their classmates aren't all what they seemed either. You can watch Horimiya on Funimation.