The summer 2020 anime seasonal lineup officially concluded and now, it’s about time to wrap the whole season for us as we gave you our final impression review. In this post, I have summarized my final thoughts on my top 20 anime of summer 2020; what makes them special, their respective strengths and weaknesses and why did they capture my attention.
Alright, before we proceed with my list, I would like to inform everyone that I have watched all of these anime titles this season, and there are some more outside of the top 20 while I have to admit that I have dropped some of those anime including Gibiate and Uzaki-chan Wants to Hang Out.
I usually rate each episode of these anime series every week and by the end of the season, I did rate them as a whole story; from its animation quality, the visuals and graphics, the character development, the music and voice acting, as well as the plot quality, the dialogues, the consistency, and the progress of the whole story. Without further ado, here are my top 20 anime series from the summer 2020 lineup as follows:
20. Monster Girl Doctor
Studio: ARVO Animation
This anime is pure entertainment if you don’t mind some minor ecchi scenes. Nonetheless, it was still wholesome, fun, and delightful for viewers who are simply looking for a good time to laugh and smile. It was great to see the relationship of Doctor Glenn with Sapphe grow as they discover some more things about each other despite being together for so long. Our doctor’s circle also widen as he met different souls that makes his journey as a medic develop even more.
19. No Guns Life Season 2
Studio: Madhouse
Juzuu Inui and the rest of the gang did give us a pretty decent run this season albeit it is far from the best and this makes me wonder what actually happened to the mighty animation studio of Madhouse. I started watching No Guns Life from the fall 2019 anime lineup and it has been a promising ride until it slowly decays and became uninteresting. I can still tolerate watching it this season but I have to admit that it really went down in quality and even in storytelling. Nonetheless, the actions were great, the character designs for the Juzuu and his gang are beautiful, and the music is literally on fire and catchy.
18. Muhyo & Roji’s Bureau of Supernatural Investigation Season 2
Studio: DEEN
Here’s a series that I didn’t like at first but it slowly became interesting and I just realized that I am finally enjoying it. The progress was quite slow but it sure offers an amazing ride and Roji’s development as a character was splendid. Muhyo is cool as usual and it always makes me wonder if there’s anything in this world that can make him worry at all as it seems that he is always prepared no matter what kind of trouble they are in. We also witnessed the development in Goryo and Ebisu; that’s a nice way of redemption in my own honest opinion as we finally see them changed their method.
17. Baki: The Great Raitai Tournament Saga
Studio: TMS Entertainment
The first entry of TMS Entertainment in our top 20 and definitely one of the bloodiest anime this season. First of all, the narrative sucks a little bit and the pacing is even more confusing. However, Baki thrives in its ability to excite the viewers by its sheer amount of resolution in delivering fight scenes that shounen fans will enjoy. I did enjoy the fight scenes albeit I felt that it has so many lackluster scenes, making the story hard to believe. For example, why do those Chinese people with Sea King titles look weak and pathetic, we all know that Baki and the gang are powerful but from the sideline, the story looks lame and not convincing for me. I felt pity for Alai Jr. too but I think he needs to learn where to put himself in the end.
16. Mr. Love: Queen’s Choice
Studio: MAPPA
Underrated? Yes, this anime series is actually fun although it looks bizarre sometimes. The story isn’t special at all, and it looks generic from the surface but the characters did make it interesting, especially the boys. Our main character is pretty and strong-willed but she’s not convincing at all. Well, the four boys though saves the series; Victor, Lucien, Gavin, and Kiro are not just handsome and powerful evolvers but they sure have that ability to capture the hearts of the audience and make the anime a little bit romantic than usual.
15. The Misfit of Demon King Academy
Studio: SILVER LINK.
I know I might get a lot of hates with putting Lord Anos at 15th spot but the anime gets boring to me near the end as playing with the mystery and identity of Kanon isn’t convincing anymore. Lord Anos and his parents are the only things that make The Misfit of Demon King Academy an interesting ride for me. I love the plot but what the anime has delivered so far are quite shallow and I can’t see that much substance from it. Nonetheless, it’s amazing to see Anos put those characters that we hate in their right places despite it became a redundant cliché later on.
14. Rent-a-Girlfriend
Studio: TMS Entertainment
First of all, I sincerely hate Kazuya for being a lame and sore loser of the main character. However, I also take for consideration that he’s just human and just like anyone of us in the real world displaying such a lame behavior when it comes to love. He is a jerk, and a lucky one for having those ladies around him and why is it he can’t have the courage to speak what’s convenient and what he feels. Yeah, Rent-a-Girlfriend is like having a wound but we still keep on pouring salt in it as we enjoyed it despite how annoying it may be. Meanwhile, the ladies are all interesting. Chizuru’s obviously is my best girl of the season. Ruka is quite annoying but I can’t hate her, while Mami’s seriously deserves a better man but she’s being a b*tch on the surface and it gets on my veins. However, the animation is really beautiful, and the music is catchy especially the opening and ending theme songs.
13. Deca-Dence
Studio: NUT
I almost dropped this because I got confused by the plot twist but good thing I didn’t because it has been an amazing ride with plenty of good developments later on. In fact, Deca-Dence as a sci-fi anime is filled with surprises and makes us eager to see how the story unfolds as the bug dare to overthrow the system. This revolution simply resonates with me in many ways, and Natsume as the main character is fun to watch while Kabu is smoking hot despite being a cyborg in reality.
12. A Certain Scientific Railgun T
Studio: J.C. Staff
What a great journey! Railgun did entertain us since the winter lineup was here and never fail to make us laugh. I just get annoyed with its inconsistencies. Nonetheless, it’s both amusing and fun to follow’s Mikasa Mikoto’s journey as she overcomes those hurdles that get in her way. It’s also good to see some characters from the novel appeared in the anime.
11. Fire Force Season 2
Studio: David Production
The animation had always been lit since the first season premiered last year and the characters always look menacingly dazzling. However, I felt like Fire Force lose the sparks in its story as it became dull with no souls at all and simply became an empty vessel filled with flames, and fight scenes. The story became uninteresting lately, or it’s just the build-up needed for the upcoming climax for the 2ndcour of the anime’s season 2 this fall. I would like to shout out Ogun for being a cool character though.
10. Ahiru no Sora
Studio: Diomedia
I love this one so much as it breaks the barrier and gets outside of its genre. Ahiru no Sora is not just a mere sports anime but a real tearjerker drama that could leave you crying for real. It’s amazing to see how the boys develop their character albeit it was a slow process. The challenges they encountered along the way had taught them lessons to be a better person but also makes them even more cheerful and face life with positivity and enthusiasm. One thing that still bugs me though, Momoharu why did you make Madoka cry. Oh, I also want to make another shout out for Kite and how hot and cool he is in on the court.
9. Food Wars: The Fifth Plate
Studio: J.C. Staff
Yukihira Soma’s journey as a chef officially concluded in the anime adaptation of Food Wars and it has been a fantastic experience to see him triumph and surpassed many hurdles including his battle against Asahi Saiba. Now, looking back at when the series started, it feels nostalgic knowing how Soma and the gang evolved through the years.
8. Appare-Ranman!
Studio: P.A. Works!
I am glad that P.A. Works did a great job here, it’s a nice way for redemption after the lackluster journey from Fairy Gone last year. Appare-Ranman! Is a fantastic combination of humor, drama, adventure, and action with unique and beautiful character designs. It’s like an addicting blend of different flavors as every character contributes their own respective personality in the story.
7. The Millionaire Detective: Balance: Unlimited
Studio: CloverWorks
What a fantastic mystery anime we had here with interesting characters in the lead. First of all, Daisuke never fails to amaze us all and he can even invade the internet with his amusing shenanigans that even rich people wouldn’t dare do except him. Haru’s development is good and seeing where he came from, his involvement with Daisuke had made him get over from his past and became an even better person. Unfortunately, it’s Daisuke that still manipulates the game, poor Haru!
6. The God of High School
Studio: MAPPA
Wow, this anime can even compete to Anime of the Year 2020 if it doesn’t have one major disappointment. The God of High School is the landslide winner for best action anime of the season and the best animation for me. However, its great potential has been wasted by a disaster of pacing in its storytelling. The plot was enticing enough, however, to accommodate the fight scenes from the webtoon and deliver it in every episode, the development of the story has been rushed. While as a whole series, The God of High School did deliver an amazing and action-packed anime experience despite this abysmal flaws.
5. Sword Art Online III – War of the Underworld Part 2
Studio: A-1 Pictures
Kirito finally woke up and this anime had been sitting atop of the whole season for me until the other succeeding titles stole the spotlight when the summer 2020 season is almost near its end. Nevertheless, the anime concluded in the most spectacular way possible for the series and officially finished the Alicization Arc that was started last 2018. Overall, it has been amazing especially with all the ladies give all their effort to save the Underworld until Kirito wakes up, and the arrival of their friends on the Underworld sure makes it even more epic than ever.
4. My Teen Romantic Comedy: SNAFU Climax
Studio: feel.
Oregairu 3 concluded the 7 years journey of Hachiman, Yukino, and Yui. It has been amazing especially to see Hachiman and Yukino finally together, albeit I felt bad for Yui for reasons that we all know. I must say, these three shared a complex relationship. Among my favorite highlight from Oregairu Season 3 is when Hachiman do the rap thing, and that was hilarious and pretty entertaining. In the end, Hachiman simply proves that he is the best male character of the season.
3. Re:Zero – Starting Life in Another World Season 2 Part 1
Studio: White Fox
The most thrilling and mentally challenging anime of the season, Re:Zero had given us another deluge of drama and excitement as Subaru Natsuki must overcome hurdles and experience countless deaths to achieve the future he desires, but we still don’t know what’s the price of it. The Seven Witches also appeared in the anime finally, and Echidna sure played us all under her command. One thing I am sure though, we had been tortured this season and it’s not just Subaru whose heart was exhausted but the viewers too. Good thing, we had characters like Otto who is the real MVP of Re:Zero Season 2.
2. Great Pretender
Studio: WIT Studio
This is the modern Lupin III for me and I sincerely enjoy every ounce of this anime. This is what you get when con-man work together to bring mischievous fellas down. It’s fun, entertaining, mind-boggling, adventurous, and interesting. It’s a grand scheme put all together with versatile actors playing the roles given to them while delivering funny moments to viewers. I only have admirations towards this series, and it’s amazing how they came up with all of those shenanigans.
1. Fruits Basket Season 2
Studio: TMS Entertainment
One of 2020’s most dramatic anime filled with great character development and the progressive story that has been consistent since its premiere from the spring 2020 lineup, Fruits Basket simply proved that it could bring feels and sentimentality in every episode while also providing a decent amount of humor and laughter to its viewers. This season, we had seen almost every character from the series shared their story and it has been narrated in a delicate yet impactful way that the viewers have no choice but to empathize with them in one way or another.
And this is where I shall end this post about my list of best anime series of the summer 2020 lineup. Please let us know your top anime from this season by leaving your thoughts in the comment section below.
Last Updated on April 22, 2021 by Yu Alexius
