T5W#226-Top 5 Most Anticipated Anime of 2020

As 2019 begins to wind down, we’re all looking back at the year when Demon Slayer came in, kicked everyones ass and made everyone forget that there were a ton of other new titles out there (poor Fire Force).  But more so, everyones looking to the start of the next decade and all the Anime magic coming our way.  So this week, I’m picking my Top 5 Most Anticipated Anime of 2020, with my fingers crossed that all of these are actually released in the new year (seriously I did a list like this back in 2017 for 2018 and half the list didn’t arrive until 2019).

#5-Mobile Suit Gundam: Hathaway’s Flash

For being the landmark 40^th Anniversary of the franchise, 2019 was surprisingly devoid of any ORIGINAL Gundam works.  We mostly got a bunch of compilation films (that no one asked for) and TV editions of OVAs.  The only new product we got was a new chapter of Gundam Build Divers (Re:Rise).  Originally intended for release in 2019, the long awaited beginning of the Hathaway’s Flash trilogy has been pushed to 2020.  This new film trilogy sees Yoshiyuki Tomino returning to the director’s chair for a story centered on Bright Noa’s estranged son, Hathaway, about 10 years after the events of Char’s Counterattack.  This’ll be the latest chapter in the UC_Next 100 initiative for the Gundam Franchise and the first time weve inched between the UC100 mark (but well before UC0123 where Gundam F91 takes place).  One can only wonder what else awaits as the project inches its way to release.

#4-Haikyu Season 4 (January 2020)

I have a weakness for sports Anime.  Free, Yuri on Ice, they both are inspiring and know how to hit all the right emotions.  Haikyu, an Anime about Volleyball, is no different and the first three seasons are a bullet train of epic and emotional moments.  The end of Season 3 saw the Wingless Crows of Karasuno High School triumph over Shiratorizawa, the high school that could not be stopped.  Next stop is the Spring Inter High Tournament.  The only question now is what school is capable of standing in Hinata and Kageyama’s way?  I mean, they defeated the towering goliath that is Ushijima…honestly can anything stop them now?  Knowing Haikyu, the answer could come hard and fast and totally change the game.  Whatever lies ahead, I cant wait to watch these guys play again.

#3-Ghost in the Shell SAC_2045 (Spring 2020)

Not a lot is known about this latest chapter of the Ghost in the Shell franchise besides the name, it’s broadcast and some of the talent involved.  In other words, it’s likely this might be a continuation of the Stand Alone Complex saga (It’s been…13(?) years since SAC: Solid State Society); will air two seasons of 12 episodes on Netflix; and each season will have a different director.  SAC head writer Kenji Kamiyama will return to direct the first season while Appleseed trilogy director Shinji Aramaki handles Season Two.  They’re going with a CGI approach to Motoko and crew this time…that does make me uneasy.  Still if Kamiyama is writing as well, my fears can be put to rest.  Aramaki’s Appleseed films look gorgeous but don’t have the best stories.  Combining his animation skills with Kamiyama’s deep storytelling that helped make Stand Alone Complex so great in the first place could make this one of the best entries in the entire Ghost in the Shell saga.

#2-Fate/Stay Night: Heaven’s Feel III-Spring Song (Spring 2020)

Hooooo BOY has this series been good.  Thus far, Heaven’s Feel is acting like this is what Studio Ufotable has been building towards since it’s first Fate project (Fate/Zero).  And all of the pieces are there for one helluva heart wrenching finale.  Can Shiro save Sakura from her own darkness?  What about Saber, can she be saved too?  What role do Holy Grail War survivors Rin and Kirei still have to play in this whole conflict?  Heaven’s Feel has easily been the darkest entry in the Fate/Stay Night franchise and I don’t expect things to wrap as nicely as they did in Fate/Stay Night or Fate/Stay Night: Unlimited Blade Works.  For the first time, I am truly worried that Rin and Shiro wont make it out of this one.  Is this going to be worth the almost year and a half wait?  Well…I wanna say yes and I really want this to finish strong because Presage Flower and Lost Butterfly were almost perfect films.  And you can bet that if it does get a US theatrical release I’ll do my best to check it out and review it at some point right here at the Gundam Anime Corner.

#1-Evangelion 3.0+1.0 (Summer 2020)

Speaking of pressure, I don’t think any Anime has ever felt this level of Star Wars: The Force Awakens or Avengers: Endgame levels of hype to live up to.  3.0+1.0 was supposed to have been released alongside 3.33 back in 2008…twelve years later (and eight since 3.33 in 2012), the grand finale to the Rebuild of Evangelion Saga is almost upon us.  Having recharged his batteries working on Shin Godzilla, Hideaki Anno returns to the directors chair to finish his epic retelling of one of the greatest Anime sagas of all time.  Based on the sneak peak shown at Anime Expo 2019, don’t expect a lot to make sense right away…or maybe at all.  I honestly don’t know if every loose end and unanswered question will be resolved…and if not that’s kind of par for the course with Evangelion.  Frankly, I think everyone just wants to watch the damn movie regardless of whether or not its good.  We’ve waited more than a decade for it.  2020 promises to be the Year of Evangelion once again…Anno…please don’t F this up.