Somehow, my Winter 2020 anime list is just as short as the last season. My reason for doing this is simple: I want to spend more time reading. If you read my last post about my reading challenge, you’ll know why.

Well, I can always scrap the idea of watching the anime for this season altogether and just focusing on reading more books. But doing that will also mean that I’m missing tons of new manga and light novels that I can recommend on this blog.

It’s through the new anime that I discover new manga and light novels to read. It’s unfortunate that I don’t have a reliable mean to discover new manga and light novels.

And guess what? This season doesn’t disappoint me at all despite only a few anime that are worth noting.

If you’re wondering which Winter 2020 anime that you should be watching, then this list will help you to get started.

Darwin’s Game

Darwin’s Game somehow reminds me of Tenkuu Shinpan for many different reasons. For one, you must learn how to survive when so many people in the game are coming after your head.

And another reason is that the best way to survive in such a cruel world is cooperation with other people who play the game.

The only difference is that the main character, Kaname Sudo, will avoid killing people even if it means surviving throughout the game.

Well, it’s already expected since he doesn’t believe that anyone should die regardless of the rule.

If you’re into the survival-theme anime, then you’ll enjoy watching Darwin’s Game.

Haikyuu!! S4

I’ve been watching Haikyuu!! from the first season. So, it shouldn’t come as a surprise here that I will continue to watch the fourth season as well.

Here’s the thing about Haikyuu!! in case you’re not familiar with this anime: you don’t need to know about volleyball if you want to watch this anime.

Heck, I know nothing about volleyball. And here I am watching Haikyuu!! until the fourth season. Besides, it’s also entertaining to watch too. So, there’s no reason for me to stop watching the anime.

Sure, they do have a special killer move. But at least it’s more realistic than the one you’ve seen in sports anime like Kuroko no Basket and Eyeshield 21.

If you’d like to give this anime a try, you need to watch this anime from the first season.

But if it sounds like a tall order to you, then reading the manga will be a lot faster to catch up with the latest season.

If that sounds like a good idea, you can get the manga in digital and in print right here on Amazon:

Buy Haikyuu!! Vol. 1 manga on Amazon

For those who live outside of the US and want to buy Haikyuu!! manga, you can get the manga right here at Wordery:

Buy Haikyuu!! Vol.1 manga on Wordery

My reason for recommending you to buy any books on Wordery is that it offers free shipping worldwide. If you want to save money on shipping which is a lot for many of us, consider buying your favorite books there.

ID INVADED

Here’s what makes ID INVADED a fascinating anime: the concept for this anime is similar to the TV series Criminal Minds.

With the investigation process begins with coming up with the profile for criminals and finding subtle clues left by the criminal, it really does feel like you’re watching Criminal Minds.

And the crime cases being portrayed in ID INVADED are just like what you’ve seen in Criminal Minds too.

The only difference is they’re creating the virtual world called well to pinpoint the criminal. So, the method in ID INVADED is a lot more sophisticated than the one you see in Criminal Minds.

After all, they’re diving into the criminals’ subconscious mind to identify the real culprit. As a result, we’re witnessing the world in a figurative manner in the virtual environment from the criminals’ perspective.

Personally, I enjoy watching the TV series Criminal Minds and ID INVADED. But unlike Criminal Minds, the concept in ID INVADED can be hard to grasp at first.

I’m not sure if the anime is intended to be that way. But maybe we can understand the system used in ID INVADED a lot better in the manga.

I don’t know. I could be wrong about that. If you happen to read the manga, feel free to chime in about the system used in ID INVADED.

Jibaku Shounen Hanako-Kun

I’m not the kind of person who pays special emphasis on the animation. But I have to say that the anime version for Jibaku Shounen Hanako-Kun is pretty. And it’s totally different than any other anime I’ve seen so far.

How pretty is that, you wonder? Well, the art style reminds me of Osomatsu-san but with a brighter and bolder color scheme. The animation itself truly does embody what the story is all about.

If you’re looking for a comedy anime to watch, then watch Jibaku Shounen Hanako-Kun. You will have a good time when you watch this anime.

It’s one of the anime that I’m looking forward to watching every week.

Want to read the manga? You can buy the manga in print and in digital on Amazon right here:

Buy Toilet-Bound Hanako-Kun Vol.1 manga on Amazon

For international fans, you can buy the manga in print on Wordery right here:

Buy Toilet-Bound Hanako-Kun Vol.1 manga on Wordery

Kyokou Suiri

This is what came across my mind when I watched Kyokou Suiri for the first time: this is the supernatural version of Hyouka.

Yup, I’m not kidding when I say that. The story is all about solving the mystery that involves anything supernatural. And the investigation process doesn’t just involve asking the supernatural beings around but also relying on the news articles and the official police reports.

Sure, the main character, Kotoko, is more or less like Houtarou with the exception that she has the ability to see anything supernatural at the expense of her left leg and her right eye.

But other than that, the anime does take the mystery genre in a different twist which I find fascinating.

I managed to get the first volume of the manga when it was on sale on Bookwalker. But if you find Kyokou Suiri is up to your alley, you can get the manga in digital and in print right here on Amazon:

Buy In/Spectre Vol.1 manga on Amazon

P.S If you have Kindle Unlimited, you can read the whole series for free.

Can’t buy the manga on Amazon? You can also buy the manga at Bookwalker too. You can get it right here:

Buy In/Spectre Vol.1 manga on Bookwalker

Prefer to get the manga in print instead? You can get the manga at Wordery right here:

Buy In/Spectre Vol.1 manga on Wordery

This is another anime that I’m looking forward to watching every week.

Majutsushi Orphen Hagure Tabi

I admit that any anime that falls into the fantasy genre isn’t my thing. And yet I’m giving Majutsushi Orphen Hagure Tabi a try.

The reason for that is because many people who watched the old version of the anime love this anime so much.

With so many people love the first edition of the anime, then this anime should be worth my time watching, right?

So, what do I think about the anime?

I have to say that the story in Majutsushi Orphen Hagure Tabi does follow the usual fantasy trope in the old days. So, watching the anime feels somewhat nostalgic to me even though I never watched the first edition of the anime before.

It’s strange that this anime reminded me of Kyou Kara Mao even though the story is nothing alike. Maybe because of the old school feeling, I guess.

Should you give this anime a try?

Yes, you should if you’re into fantasy anime.

If you prefer to stick to the original source material instead, you can get the light novel in digital format right here on Amazon:

Buy Majutsushi Orphen Hagure Tabi light novel on Amazon

Just to let you know that you can also buy the digital edition of the light novel at Bookwalker too. You can get it right here:

Buy Majutsushi Orphen Hagure Tabi light novel on Bookwalker

Runway de Waratte

Here’s what I didn’t expect when I watched Runway de Waratte: I never thought that the anime to be so inspirational.

Well, I already knew what the anime was all about since I watched the anime trailer for Runway de Waratte months ago.

But to think that the anime is so inspiring is something that I never expect at all.

Sure, the anime tends to be focusing on doing whatever it takes to make your dream comes true regardless of the obstacles you have.

But the lessons in this anime can also be applicable to any situation, especially when you have a dream that seems farfetched to you.

Even if you don’t, it doesn’t hurt to watch anime that gives you a positive vibe, right? What’s more, it’s rare to come across anime that everyone can relate to.

This is the anime that I’m so looking forward to watching every week.

As always, the anime may not be able to cover every single part of the story. So, if you do enjoy the anime, consider getting the manga as well.

If you’d like to buy the manga, you can buy it in digital right here on Amazon:

Buy Smile Down The Runway Vol.1 manga on Amazon

You can also buy the manga at Bookwalker too. That’s where I got mine:

Buy Smile Down The Runway Vol.1 manga on Bookwalker

Which Winter 2020 anime you’d like to give it a try?

Found anime that you find interesting to watch? Then feel free to leave a comment below which anime that caught your attention.

If you want a complete list of Winter 2020 anime, you can take a look at it right here.