Part 1 of this year’s Gift Guide was all manga and comics, so it seems sensible that we take a few minutes to take a look at some anime that has come out this year in sets so you can populate your gimme lists with items that you can’t afford for yourself. ^_^

Title:  Sailor Moon S, Part 1 and Sailor Moon S, Part 2

What It’s About: Sailor-suited warriors for love and justice, the Pretty Guardians, take on invaders from Tau Ceti in order to save the world, but find themselves embroiled in a battle with another team of Senshi from the Outer Solar System as well. Junior racer Tenoh Haruka and and concert violinist Kaioh Michiru battle their fate.

Who Will Like It: Haruka x Michiru fans, fans of the original voice actresses, since they are all stellar here. Fans of Sailor Moon, because, let’s face it….

Beware: …it’s a 20-year old anime with  mediocre animation, repeated footage, Monsters of the Day and other cost-saving shortcuts.

Title:  Sailor Moon Crystal ,Season 3

What It’s About: Sailor-suited warriors for love and justice, the Pretty Guardians, take on invaders from Tau Ceti in order to save the world, but find themselves embroiled in a battle with another team of Senshi from the Outer Solar System as well.

Who Will Like It:  Fans of the Sailor Moon manga, new fans of the series.

Beware: Faster paced than the original anime, it loses important character development. But the animation has settled down and the new voice actresses do a great job. Haruka and Michiru get their manga moments as a couple which are different than the original anime, but satisfying.

Title:  Revolutionary Girl Utena: Complete Series

What It’s About: Having been saved as a child by a prince, Tenjou Utena wants to become a prince herself. Caught up in the Student Council duels, she finds that she is “engaged” to the Rose Bride and must, after all, become a prince. Where it all leads and how she gets there makes for a surreal and magnificent series.

Who Will Like It:  Fans of the surreal, fantasy fans, magical girl genre fans who don’t mind some darkness in their magic.

Beware: Sexual abuse, incest, violence and whole lotta unexplained symbolism.

Sets to look for in 2018:

Title:  Aria The Animation Collection

After a massively successful Kickstarter, all of the Aria series will be dubbed and released on Blu-ray.  Look for pre-orders announcements in 2018.

What It’s About: Akari trains to be a gondolier in New Venice. Lots of travelogue and scenery porn while she befriends people around town and learns their stories.

Who Will Like It: People who want to just calm the fuck down and look at pretty scenery, people who like pretty girls.

Beware: Nothing happens. Paddling around is the point. (And the end of the series is infuriating, IMHO.)

Title: Konohana Kitan

Not licensed yet, but I bet it will be.

What It’s About:  Fox girls working at an otherworld Inn help clients reach their destination, while boecming closer to one another.

Who Will Like It: Moe fans, animal-eared girls fans, fans of cute, sweet, schmaltzy stories. 

Beware: It’s got a pile of fanservice, including constant bathing, with occasional creepy sexual stuff.

Title: Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid

Not licensed yet, either, but I expect it to be.

What It’s About: Boring career woman Kobayashi is befriended by a dragon who bring much-needed chaos into her life.

Who Will Like It: Fans of 4-koma comic strip-type humor and “wackiness ensues.”

Beware: Kobayashi is exceptionally dull.