The autumn season is always crowded, and this year is no exception, with more than forty new series premiering between late September and mid-October. We watched the first episodes of all of them. These seven stood out for their craft, their confidence and their potential to become the shows everyone is talking about by December.
1. Last Train to Hoshimura
A slow, beautiful drama about the final year of a rural mountain railway. The animation lingers on weather and light in a way that few TV productions can afford, and the premiere’s closing scene is one of the most moving openings of the year.
2. Iron Chorus
The mecha revival nobody expected. Iron Chorus is loud, colourful and unapologetically sincere, with hand-drawn robot battles that recall the genre’s golden era.
3. The Apothecary of Minor Curses
A cosy fantasy about a pharmacist who treats small magical ailments: hiccups that summon crows, shadows that wander off. Gentle, funny and perfect for winding down.
4. Signal Ninety
A tense sci-fi thriller set aboard a research station that loses contact with Earth. The pacing is tight and the sound design is superb.
5. Paper Lantern Road, Season 2
The return of one of last year’s best shows. Read our season one review if you need a refresher.
6. Kitchen Samurai
A comedy about a disgraced swordsman who opens a noodle stall. The jokes land more often than not, and the food animation is a genuine highlight.
7. Moth and Ember
A gothic romance with striking art direction and a score that deserves a soundtrack release of its own.
