43 fantastic anime shows came out this winter. Okay, that’s a bit of a lie, not all of them are great because some of them are actually kind of trash. This guide will put you on the right track to the five “must watch” anime so you don’t sit through garbage and torture yourself like I did.

1. “Dororo”

“Dororo,” originally a manga and anime from the 1960s, is back in 2019. “Dororo” is a darker version of “Pinocchio,” where a man named Hyakkimaru tries to become a human again after his father trades his humanity to 12 demons. Hyakkimaru must kill those 12 demons in a feudal Japanese war.

“Dororo” 2019 is miles better than the original source material because the old art style is too cartoonish. The new art style is much more realistic, and it fits with dark themes like war. I could take it more seriously when it comes to emotional investment, and at times the show makes me feel so sad.

“Dororo” is currently airing and available for streaming exclusively on Amazon Prime video.

2. “The Promised Neverland”

“The Promised Neverland” is based on a popular horror manga following three 11-year-old prodigies named Emma, Norman, and Ray who live in an orphanage run by the terrifyingly evil Mother. Although she looks like a caring person, she is manipulative and takes advantage of the children.

I’m gonna be honest here, many horror anime are straight up garbage because they aren’t very scary. “The Promised Neverland,” however, is the exception to the rule because it knows how to use horror correctly by successfully utilizing the camera and video editing to convey horror. When the show uses a dutch angle, which means the camera is tilted on the vertical axis, it conveys that something is terribly wrong.

“The Promised Neverland” is currently airing and available on Hulu, VRV, FUNimation, Hidive, and Crunchyroll.

3. “My Roommate is a Cat”

“My Roommate is a Cat” is based on a comedy manga following two protagonists with very different personalities named Subaru Mikazuki and a stray cat named Haru.

This anime will switch points of view between Haru and Mikazuki throughout episodes, as both of them help each other grow as characters. I like that the show transitions between characters because it helps me understand their motivations. Plus, it makes for good comedic relief as Haru sees Mikazukia as an idiot because she is just a cat.

“My Roommate is a Cat” is available on FUNimation, Crunchyroll, and VRV.

4. “Boogiepop And Others”

“Boogiepop And Others” is based on a popular novel series, which this happens to be the second anime adaption of the show. Boogiepop is a split personality character that deals with supernatural elements that harm the world.

When I began watching the first episode of the show, it lead me to be confused because the episode felt more like the series finale. However, I realized more throughout watching the series that it was intentional because “Boogiepop And Others” is a non-linear story like “Pulp Fiction.”

“Boogiepop And Others” is currently airing and available on FUNimation, Crunchyroll, and VRV.