January - March • 260 anime
Winter 2017 looked like a split personality season: a heavy slate of films running alongside a batch of new TV shows. KonoSuba 2 leaned into its comedy, and Kizumonogatari Part 3 finally wrapped a long-running movie trilogy.
My take on winter 2017 was that it played like two seasons at once — a movie-heavy lineup sitting next to lots of fresh series. That mix made room for both big theatrical events and smaller, character-driven TV shows, so the things that worked tended to feel sharply focused.
KonoSuba 2 doubled down on the franchise’s comedy, sharpening the timing between the main quartet and adding set-piece gags that actually landed. Kizumonogatari Part 3 closed out a visually distinctive trilogy, giving the long-form arc a satisfying artistic payoff. Sword Art Online: Ordinal Scale acted like the season’s big, glossy bridge film — high-production action, a memorable soundtrack, and plot threads that fed the wider series. Interviews With Monster Girls stood out for handling its delicate subject matter with quiet warmth and steady pacing.
Overall, the season rewarded patience: the biggest wins were either polished movie outings or shows that knew exactly what tone they wanted. A lot premiered, but the ones that nailed their focus stuck with you.
