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Holy shit, Asia seriously just dropped their own version of Arcane with Tu Bian Yingxiong X (To Be Hero X), and it's an absolute banger. This series doesn't waste time—three minutes in, the main character literally dies, and some random guy has to step up and take his place. The story itself feels like something straight out of Black Mirror, with a society that ranks heroes and villains based on merits and public support. Honestly, every praise you'd throw at Arcane fits here perfectly, and then some.

One of the best things is how they experiment with animation styles and absolutely kill it every time. They ... even switch completely different art styles within episodes, turning scenes into literal comic book panels—it's wild. The art is fantastic, the voice acting (even the dub!) is on point, and the storytelling is top-notch.

If you've got a friend who's hesitant about anime, this show might just win them over. It's genuinely impressive and won't disappoint. Easy 9/10.

Mekakucity Actors (Kagerou Daze/Heat Haze Daze) is definitely one of those anime series where figuring out where to start and understanding the lore is like solving a giant puzzle blindfolded. But surprisingly, the anime itself is pretty beginner-friendly. Plus—HOLY MOTHER OF GOD, IS THAT HATSUNE MIKU?!

Unfortunately, we probably won't get another season anytime soon, but there's buzz about new projects potentially on the horizon, so fingers crossed. (plus i hear the light novels are good) Don’t expect it to change your life or anything, but you've got to give credit where it's due—the unique, color-themed art styles tailored to each protagonist's identity are super cool, ... kind of like what you'd see in the Monogatari series. The power system, centered entirely around vision and optics, is also really fresh and intriguing. Definitely not something you see every day.

Personally, I'd give it a solid 8/10, but it's not something I'd recommend to newcomers to anime due to its disjointed, nonlinear storytelling. However, if you liked series like Monogatari or Sonny Boy with their unique, offbeat storytelling methods, Mekakucity Actors is absolutely worth your time.

Oyasumi Punpun is honestly one of those series I find really hard to either recommend or say you should skip. I have super mixed feelings about it. On one hand, it's incredible at showing depression, generational trauma, and how these things shape your interactions with people throughout your entire life. It nails the exhausting reality of trying (and sometimes failing) to overcome those deep-rooted issues.

But here's the thing—the main character himself is pretty much a metaphor, and for a lot of readers, that's just going to come across as a weird quirk. Many people will probably only scratch the surface, missing out on the deeper ... meanings, especially because the quality and intensity fluctuate a lot. One chapter might blow your mind, and the next could leave you totally lost. To really understand everything that's going on, you'd probably need multiple in-depth analyses or full-blown video essays.

Realistically, most casual readers, myself included, aren't going to dive that deep for fun. While I can appreciate that Oyasumi Punpun is genuinely artistic and insightful, it's not something the average manga fan can fully grasp or enjoy without putting in a ton of extra work. If you're looking for easy entertainment, this probably isn't your manga. But if you're ready to wrestle with complex emotions and symbolism, it might be worth trying.

Shonen no Abyss (Boys Abyss) is easily a 10/10 for me—not because it's some masterpiece in art or storytelling, but because it hits you in a way that's impossible to forget. It's all about diving deep into psychological pain, showing a kid who's stuck as a victim, a villain, and a bystander to his own misery. The way the story explores generational trauma and mental struggles feels super real and honestly pretty disturbing at times.

What really got me hooked was how each character was treated. Even the mysterious ones or those you wouldn't expect to matter ended up feeling important and had satisfying stories. The ... ending is kinda vague but also clearly wraps things up, which felt just right for a series like this.

If you've read Oyasumi Punpun and liked how dark and emotional that was, Boys Abyss is definitely something you should check out. It's basically a similar type of darkness, just told differently. Like Punpun, this one sticks with you for a long time. Definitely recommend it if you're into manga that aren't afraid to go deep and get emotional.