A cute/stupid ecchi-almost-hentai driven by tropes that’s short enough to not get boring. Only here for the kinky times
Your Name (Kimi no Na wa)
A magical, emotionally moving piece with the most gorgeous of visuals. It feels like the magic of a Ghibli movie.
Girls und Panzer
A feel-good sports anime starring cute girls in tanks. It feels like a war tactics game, like Valkyria Chronicles or somesuch. I enjoyed this more than I anticipated.
Toradora!
Despite having a cut and dry predictable romcom plot, the character development here is surprisingly great, as are all of the characters. We found ourselves tremendously invested.
Angel Beats
Feels very "Anime Kid in High School." Has a lot of great moments, has a lot of cringey moments. I did cry at the end.
Your Lie in April
If you grew up learning any instrument, or even just surrounded by music, specifically classical, this will be a great piece for you. Deeply emotional and poetic, prepare for the cries (and for some distracting tropes).
Food Wars! – Shokugeki no Soma (Seasons 1-3)
In addition to being a powerful and intense shonen, this is also the most gorgeous food anime, and a purely indulgent ecchi without any of the awkward scenarios. A definite gem.
Tanaka-kun is Always Listless
This is second only to Laid-Back Camp in coziness. A delightfully dry, low energy comedy with a strong, subtle, and wholesome humor that's great to watch before bed.
Shimoneta: A Boring World Where the Concept of Dirty Jokes Doesn’t Exist
A rare, quality sex comedy anime that doesn't wholly rely on fan-service as the content.
Kakegurui
If you’re looking for a rush, Kakegurui won’t disappoint. If you’re wanting to stay comfortable, give it a pass. I'd liken this to very spicy or strong ethnic food: You either love it and get hooked, or you hate it.