Though it’s only June, it’s safe to say that 2019 is turning out to be another great year for anime. The Promised Neverland and Mob Psycho 100‘s second season started things off with a bang and spring shows like Demon Slayer and Rilakkuma and Kaoru have kept the momentum going. Summer sees the highly anticipated arrival of Fire Force and Dr. Stone, not to mention the premiere of Your Name director Makoto Shinkai’s latest work. The following are all the shows that fans should keep on their radars this June, July, August, and September, lest they miss out on what could be 2019’s greatest anime hits.
Summer 2019 Anime | Fire Force
Fire Force tells the story of Shinra Kusakabe, an orphan who has the ability to light his feet on fire. Nicknamed Devil’s Footprints, the young man strives to earn his place in the Special Fire Force Company 8, a brigade tasked with bringing down evil pyromancers known as Infernals. The manga constantly questions what it means to be human, as some Infernals are able to retain their corporeal forms and blend in with society unnoticed.
It’s interesting to witness Shinra’s personal journey unfold, especially as he confronts the organization he thinks is responsible for his family’s murder 12 years prior. Given how Fire Force is being animated by the studio behind the Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure series, there’s a good chance that some spectacular visual effects are in store. The show premieres on July 5.
Summer 2019 Anime | Weathering With You
Anime fans have been excited for Your Name director Makoto Shinkai’s new movie, Weathering With You, ever since it was announced late last year. After protagonist Hodaka Morishima trades his life on a lonely island for the hustle and bustle of Tokyo, he finds himself broke.
To make matters worse, as soon as begins writing for an occult magazine to make ends meet, the city is besieged by constant rainfall. Hodaka’s luck changes when he bumps into a girl named Hina Amano and learns of her ability to control the weather. While few other details have been shared about the film’s plot or characters, the brief footage shared so far evokes Your Name in all the right ways. Weathering With You premieres on July 19.
Summer 2019 Anime | Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon?‘s second season
Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon?‘s second season seems like it’ll start off with the light novel’s “War Game” arc. This plot thread has a deity named Apollo challenge Hestia for her one and only Familia member, Bell Cranel. From here, the show will likely touch upon the Hestia Familia’s clash with the Soma Familia and the group’s run-in with war god Ares. If the source material serves any indication, the stakes will be far greater here than they were in the past. Hestia will have to fight a lot harder if she hopes to stop Bell’s harem from growing. The season premieres on July 12.
Summer 2019 Anime | Arifureta: From Commonplace to World’s Strongest
As its name suggests, Arifureta: From Commonplace to World’s Strongest is an isekai series. Before outright dismissing it, fans should know that the light novel separates itself from its peers by portraying protagonist Hajime Nagumo as completely useless no matter the world he’s in. Sounds relatable, right? Though his classmates are all bestowed with powerful magical abilities when transported to another realm, Hajima is only gifted the ability to transmute objects.
The character’s luck only seems to get worse from this point forward, though at least he meets a bunch of cute lolis on his quest for redemption. Arifureta probably won’t win the award for most original new anime when it premieres on July 8, but it may be funny enough to warrant some attention.
Summer 2019 Anime | Teasing Master Takagi-san‘s second season
Romantic comedy fans should be pleased to know that Teasing Master Takagi-san‘s second season is just around the corner. For those that are unaware, the show stars a cool and collected young girl named Takagi, the likes of which loves to tease her easily bothered classmate Nishikata. Nishikata often tries to get back at her, but fails almost every time.
Teasing Master‘s continuation will most likely offer more fun interactions between the two characters. As hinted at toward end of the first season, there’s a small chance Takagi will reveal her true feelings for Nishikata, too. Anime fans on the hunt for a cute show to watch this summer should be in for a treat. The season premieres on July 7.
Summer 2019 Anime | Dr. Stone
Dr. Stone‘s premise is pretty fascinating. Just as main character Taiju is about to confess his love for a girl, a bright light in the sky petrifies all of humanity. Centuries pass before Taiju and his best friend Senku break free from their stone casings. As the pair try to figure out a way to save humanity, they struggle to survive in a post-apocalyptic world filled with dangerous wildlife. Dr. Stone has potential to be the year’s breakout hit if its characters prove to be just as compelling as its science fiction universe. It premieres on July 5.
Looking ahead, this fall promises the long-awaited return of such massively popular shows as My Hero Academia, Psycho-Pass, and Sword Art Online. Anime fans should do their best to catch up with anything they may have missed earlier in the year, as the deluge of quality content will likely continue well after summer is over. Streaming anime on the beach may not be such a bad idea after all.
