Spring 2021's seasonal anime has featured numerous polarizing anime, especially within the romantic comedy genre, and Don't Toy With Me, Miss Nagatoro is no exception. Nagatoro is, at this early portion of the season, seemingly equal parts romantic interest and cruel antagonist. The series does its best to foreshadow that her over-the-top teasing of timid, wet-noodle protagonist Naoto "Senpai" Hachioji is a demented form of flirtation (that might ultimately help the boy stand up for himself), but at times Nagatoro's actions go too far for some viewers' tastes.
Love it or hate it, the anime is already leaving its mark on the community—primarily in the form of Nagatoro's incredible facial reactions and "noodle arms." Fans of Nagatoro's sardonic and impish nature who need something to watch as they wait week-to-week for new episodes might enjoy the other anime Sumire Uesaka, Nagatoro's voice actress, has starred in.
O Maidens In Your Savage Season: Rika Sonezaki
Following the members of a high school literature club, the coming-of-age anime explores the sexual trials and tribulations of puberty through the perspectives of its all-girl protagonists. Sitting together and reading sexual scenes from works of literature, each girl has a different view of "sex" and the societal and personal pressures associated with it.
Rika Sonezaki is the literature club's president and takes her role seriously. Sonezaki is disturbed that she finds herself interested in sexuality and even the idea of romance despite her efforts to dedicate herself and her peers to more literary pursuits.
Myriad Colors Phantom World: Mai Kawakami
Possessing unseen phantoms, government conspiracies, and magic, Myriad Colors Phantom World offers viewers numerous forms of entertainment. The narrative centers on students at the Hosea Academy, a school that trains those capable of seeing and sealing phantoms.
Mai Kawakami, an elemental-magic-wielding martial artist, is one half of the low-performing phantom hunters "Team E," with protagonist Haruhiko Ichijo rounding out the squad. Although they are initially looked down upon, primarily because Ichijo's sealing ability is slow and impractical, Kawakami's fighting prowess is never in question.
Carole & Tuesday: Angela Carpenter
Carole & Tuesday offers viewers a rich, futuristic environment as the anime explores life on Mars and the power of music in a society similar but ultimately removed from Earth. As the eponymous Carole and Tuesday develop their friendship and grow as struggling musicians, Angela Carpenter's narrative showcases an entirely different path through the music industry.
As a child star and actress, Angela is deeply ingrained within the entertainment community and is no stranger to the pressures and pitfalls of stardom; even so, she pushes herself to pivot from acting to her true passion of singing. Although she is petty and even cruel, Angela makes for a complex and antagonistic character as viewers watch her career trajectory become entwined with Carole and Tuesday's.
Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions!: Sanae Dekomori
Middle school and high school are often trying, difficult times as students attempt to fit in, stand out, or just understand themselves a little bit better. Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions! tackles the type of adolescent who suffers from "chuunibyo syndrome," a term used to describe those who shamelessly partake in a role or world they've fantasized for themselves.
The budding relationship between Rikka Takanashi and Yuuta Togashi explores the comedy and difficulties that result from maintaining or leaving behind these made-up personas. Sanae Dekomori is Rikka's best friend and one of the characters that heavily plays into her "chuunibyo" persona with hilarious results.
Goblin Slayer: Goblin's Crown: Noble Fencer
Known for its gritty and darkly realistic approach to portraying the lives of adventurers in a fantasy world, the film Goblin Slayer: Goblin's Crown contains the same violence and realism that garnered praise (and quite a bit of backlash) for the anime. Adopting a utilitarian approach to systematically eradicating goblins, the eponymous Goblin Slayer is a man who has devoted his life to revenge against the monster race that massacred his village.
Noble Fencer, a woman from an aristocratic family that set out as a novice adventurer, is scarred from her experience underestimating goblins. The film's plot sees Goblin Slayer's party join forces with Noble Fencer in an effort to slay the abnormal and powerful Goblin Paladin.
Restaurant To Another World: Aletta
Serving up viewers a cooking anime with a twist, Restaurant to Another World depicts real-world cuisine being ordered by characters from an alternate fantasy-themed reality. Throughout the week, Nekoya is just another restaurant but on Saturdays, when it's closed to the public, its patrons enter the establishment through varying forms of magic to eat modern dishes.
Aletta is a demon girl who, after trying and failing to find employment because of her heritage, finds her way to Nekoya. Taking pity on her, the restaurant's owner and chef, known by the Japanese title of "Master," hires her as a waitress.
Iwakakeru -Sport Climbing Girls-: Konomi Kasahara
As a medium, anime allows for compelling character-driven narratives that explore strange or seemingly uninteresting premises. Iwakakeru -Sports Climbing Girls- is one such sports anime that focuses on a rock-climbing high school club. Utilizing the visuals of rock climbing as a metaphorical expression of overcoming obstacles, Iwakakeru possesses a surprising amount of inspirational and exciting moments as characters grow personally and as climbers.
Konomi Kasahara, the series's protagonist, joins the club after spending her middle school years dedicated to puzzle games. Feeling as if she has failed to challenge or push herself, Kasahara utilizes the analytical skills she's developed from gaming to reach new heights as a rock climber.
Why The Hell Are You Here, Teacher!?: Kana Kojima
Wildly inappropriate and problematic, Why the Hell Are You Here, Teacher!? details the relationship between teacher Kana Kojima and one of her students, Ichiro Sato. Through a plethora of coincidences—often incredibly absurd ones—the two often find themselves in compromising situations.
Kojima's attitude when teaching is strict and intimidating, earning her the moniker "Kojima the Demon." The anime's plot is more concerned with providing fanservice than it is with narrative or character development.
Overlord: Shalltear Bloodfallen
Embodying the fantasy of possessing overwhelming power in an MMORPG, Overlord elevates the scenario from the screen to a form of reality. As one of the most popular series classified as an "iseaki," a story that often transports characters from Earth to an alternate world, Overlord's premise begins with a renowned high-level player, Ainz Ooal Gown, finding himself relocated to a "New World" after logging in and awaiting the final shutdown of his favorite game YGGDRASIL.
Shalltear Bloodfallen is an NPC (nonplayable character) from the game that, in the New World, has gained sentience. Possessing great power as a vampire, Shalltear's personality indexes heavily upon her expressive sexuality and appreciation for fetishes.
Plastic Memories: Eru Miru
Taking place in the near future, Plastic Memories explores themes of humanity, memory, and the effect technology capable of feeling emotions has on society. Within Plastic Memories' world, androids have been developed that flawlessly mirror human behavior.
These androids, known as "Giftia," survive for 81,920 hours before their operating system malfunctions and become devoid of personality and dangerous. Members of the Terminal Service seek out Giftias that are nearly aged out and retire them. Serving as an engineer for the Terminal Service, Eru Miru is an effervescent and intelligent girl with mischievous humor.