15 Must-See Summer 2018 Anime

Zuleika
TV Movies
TV Movies Anime

Goodbye spring, and hello summer. We are half-way through the year, but that doesn’t mean that there are no more anime to watch. On the contrary, this season is better than ever. Anime studios around Japan have released a plethora a new anime shows and movies to sink your teeth in. So here 15 anime series and movies that you wouldn’t mind missing your vacation for.

Attack on Titan Season 3

  • Premiere date: July 23
  • Studio: Wit Studio
  • Genre(s): Action, Military, Mystery, Superpower, Drama, Fantasy, Shounen

Attack on Titan Season 2 ended with quite a Scream, leading fans to speculate where the apocalyptic series will go next. Fortunately, the waiting is almost over as the third season premieres this summer.

While Wit Studio hasn’t yet released an official synopsis to the highly-anticipated season, the manga is way ahead of the anime so we can guess what will happen to Eren Jaegar and the rest of the Survey Corps. From the world outside the walls to a more in-depth exploration of the series’ favorite characters, and of course, more types of Titans, Season 3 will be explosive.

Free!: Dive to the Future

  • Premiere date: July 12
  • Studio: Kyoto Animation and Animation DO
  • Genre(s): Slice of Life, Comedy, Sports, Drama, School

The adventures of competitive swimming return this July, and it’s going to be more outrageously hot than ever. This time around, the boys have graduated from high school and are making plans for the future. While in Tokyo, Haruka Nanase meets with Ikuya Kirishima, a young man who used to be his swim mate in middle school. This reunion awakens Haruka’s memories of middle school and he suddenly remembers a very important moment.

Also, moving to Tokyo is Makoto Tachibana who’s working hard to achieve his dreams. But, down under in Australia, Rin Matsuoka has a very strange encounter. Will the gang reunite again? What does the future, or rather, the past have in store for them?

How Not to Summon a Demon Lord

  • Premiere date: July 5
  • Studio: Ajia-Do
  • Genre(s): Comedy, Magic, Fantasy

It seems that the isekai theme is beginning to pick some steam again. As is typical of the subgenre, How Not to Summon a Demon Lord follows another character trapped in a fantasy world, but this one is a bit different. The MMORPG Cross Reverie has players all around the world, but none are as powerful as Takuma Sakamoto, aka “Demon Lord.”

One day, Takuma is transported to an unfamiliar world, but with the same appearance he has in the game. Upon arriving, he meets two girls who want to make Takuma their servant and they perform an Enslavement Ritual on him. However, the spell rebounds and instead the girls are now Takuma’s slaves instead. And although Takuma may be the strongest magician, he doesn’t have the skills to communicate with other people. With a severe case of social anxiety, he acts like his character from Cross Reverie, Demon Lord. Thus begins the (mis)adventures of Takuma and his two slaves.

ISLAND

  • Premiere date: July 1
  • Studio: feel.
  • Genre(s): Sci-Fi, Drama

This summer 2018, comes the anime adaptation of the visual novel, ISLAND. The anime follows an amnesiac young man, named Setsuna, who washes ashore on a mysterious island forgotten by the people of the mainland. The island, known as Urashima, is so lush and beautiful that you might mistake it for Eden. However, the islanders live quite an unusual life, filled with a complicated past and long-established tradition.

One day, Setsuna arrives on the island and introduces himself as a “time traveler.” He has no recollection of his past life except that he has to complete a mission. Setsuna and three girls, Rinne, Karen, and Sara, work together to change Urashima and its traditions. However, what mysteries and challenges will they meet? And how will these enigmas affect their lives? You will have to tune in this July to find out.

Overlord III

  • Premiere date: July 2018
  • Studio: Madhouse
  • Genre(s): Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Game, Magic, Supernatural

After a climactic second season, Ainz Ooal Gown and his servants return for a third season. When we left off, Overlord II fans saw Ainz seeking to better understand this new world he find himself in. Accompanying him are the members of his guild who traveled across the land seeking information and power. Ainz’s quests throughout the Re-Estize Kingdom has earned him a lot of fame and admiration, building a reputation that has garnered the attention of some powerful enemies.

While there’s no official word on the synopsis or exact release date, there’s no denying that the third season will be as epic as ever.

Holmes at Kyoto Teramachi Sanjo

  • Premiere date: July 10
  • Studio: Seven
  • Genre(s): Mystery

A mystery series is a must on any anime list, and this time around, the mystery comes from the one and only Sherlock Holmes — well, sort of. Holmes at Kyoto Teramachi Sanjo follows Aoi Mashiro, who one day runs into Kiyotaka Yagashira, the grandson of an antique store owner. Without knowing it, Aoi ends up working at the shop, which is located at Kyoto’s Teramachi Sanjō shopping district. Together Mashiro and Yahashira, solve odd and mysterious cases related to the antiques brought in by the clients.

Back Street Girls

  • Premiere date: July 4
  • Studio: J.C.Staff
  • Genre(s): Comedy, Ecchi, Seinen

Yakuza turn into idols this summer anime season. The gender-bending series follows three yakuza members who commit an unforgivable mistake. However, they have the opportunity to redeem themselves and are given the option to: commit honorable suicide or go through gender reassignment surgery to become idols. So, Yamamoto, Tachibana, and Sugihara make the obvious choice and go to Thailand to begin the procedure.

After an intense year of dancing and vocal training, the girls make it big, and thus begins the tragic, yet funny tale of these former yakuza members.

Happy Sugar Life

  • Premiere date: July 14
  • Studio: Ezo’la
  • Genre(s): Drama, Horror, Shounen

When romance and horror come together, it creates a whole cast of characters that will keep you hooked until the very end. Happy Sugar Life tells the story of Satō Matsuzaka, a beautiful high school girl who believes she’s finally found the true meaning of love when she starts living with a younger girl named Shio. Satō’s love for Shio, or what she thinks is love, leads Satō to do unspeakable things to protect that special sweet feeling. Her actions range from blackmail to kidnapping to murder, all in the name of love.

Tenrou: Sirius the Jaeger

  • Premiere date: July 12
  • Studio: P.A. Works
  • Genre(s): Action, Historical, Horror, Supernatural, Thriller, Vampire

Vampires and werewolves come to blows in the summer anime release, Tenrou: Sirius the Jaeger. It’s 1930, and the creatures of the dark stalk the streets of Tokyo in search of prey. The music group, Jaegers, comes to town not only to entertain the masses but also to hunt vampires. Among their group is Yuliy, a young man with an unusual aura. But he also has a dark secret: he’s a werewolf, and his entire village was slaughtered by vampires. Now Yuliy wants to avenge his people, but to that, he and the Jaegers must find the holy ark known as the Arc of Sirius.

The action-thriller anime from P.A. Works premieres this summer. So, don’t miss it!

Muhyo & Roji’s Bureau of Supernatural Investigation

  • Premiere date: August 3
  • Studio: Studio Deen
  • Genre(s): Action, Comedy, Supernatural, Mystery, Shounen

This summer comes the sequel to Yoshiyuki Nishi’s manga, Muhyo & Roji’s Bureau of Supernatural Investigation. The sequel will follow main character Muhyo and his friends and takes place after the conclusion of the manga.

Two boys, who are masters of magical law — Toru Muhyo, a prodigy and expert on magic law, and his assistant Jiro Kusano — take on cases involving ghosts, monsters and other weird phenomena.

Lord of Vermilion: Guren no Ou

15 must-see summer 2018 anime Lord of Vermilion: Guren no Ou
  • Premiere date: July 14
  • Studio: Asread and Tear Studio
  • Genre(s): Action, Fantasy

The arcade card game, Lord of Vermilion, comes to life this summer thanks in part to a collaboration between animation studios Asread and Tear Studio. Taking place in the not too distant future, a mysterious red mist accompanied by a strange high-frequency tone cover the city of Tokyo and leaves every living thing unconscious. With the government suspecting the mist to be an unknown virus, it quarantines the town.

Fortunately, after six days, the residents of Tokyo start to wake up from their slumber with no injuries, and life in the metropolis resumes to normal. However, young people begin to develop strange abilities stemming from the power of their blood.

Baki

  • Premiere date: June 25
  • Studio: TMS Entertainment
  • Genre(s): Action, Martial Arts, Shounen, Sports

A good fight is sometimes essentials in a series and Netflix’s original anime, Baki brings just that. The summer anime follows Baki Hanma, a young fighter who wants to follow in his father’s, Yujiro, footsteps to become the world’s strongest fighter. He trains with no end and takes on challenges to hone his skills and develop his body to achieve his dreams. But, in his way are ruthless and dangerous men, that will push Baki to the limit.

The streaming giant’s adaptation of Keisuke Itagaki‘s martial arts manga, Baki, will premiere worldwide this upcoming summer.

Chio-chan’s Way to School

  • Premiere date: July 6
  • Studio: Diomedea
  • Genre(s): Comedy, Seinen

Being a gamer girl can be hard; there are the late nights and early mornings, and it really just messes up your whole routine. And that happens to be the case with Chio Miyamo who spends her nights playing games like Assassin’s Creed and getting in trouble trying to emulate the action sequences on her way to school the next day. Chio runs into all sorts of problems, ranging from construction obstacles, biker gangs, and of course, the sudden call of nature. Chio’s trip to school is always an adventure, but will she ever make it to school on time?

Banana Fish

https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6k8zy2

  • Premiere date: July 6
  • Studio: MAPPA
  • Genre(s): Action, Adventure, Drama, Shoujo

Don’t let the name fool you, Banana Fish is as intense as action series on this list. The series follows Ash Lynx, a handsome teenage gang leader in New York City. Raised to be the heir and the lover of “Papa” Dino Golzine, Ash decides to destroy the Golzine’s kingdom and get free from his clutches.

One day, Ash stumbles across a dying man in an alley who utters his last words: “Banana Fish.” This phrase isn’t new to Ash, and it opens the door to an old mystery and the chance to get his freedom. Days later, Ash meets Eiji Okumura, a young Japanese man who came to the US to work as the assistant to a photographer who wants to do a piece on American youth gangs. What starts as random encounters quickly turns into a life-and-death struggle, bringing Ash and Eiji together in ways that they can’t understand.

Cells at Work!

  • Premiere date: July 8
  • Studio: David Production
  • Genre(s): Comedy, Shounen

Keeping our bodies in healthy shape isn’t an easy task. It takes a village, and in this case, countless little characters to combat the evil bacterium. And Cells at Work! tells such a story.

Meet Kana Hanazawa, a red blood cell, who every day rushes to get her deliveries finished. However, countless dangers are awaiting the red blood cell. Luckily, she’s not alone as she has trillions of cells to help her out. Ranging from the mysterious white blood cell to the cute little platelets – everyone will come together to keep you healthy. Get to know these overlooked heroes and follow their adventures throughout your body.

The anime version of Osmosis Jones premieres this July 8.

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Zuleika
Zuleika is a fan contributor at Fandom and focuses on Anime with words on Vocal, Movie Pilot and Fanime BLOG. She's a big fan of horror, gore and mystery anime. Loves series, movies, and games that have to do with bloodthirsty but equally intelligent psychos.