But thanks to a friend firmly recommending a phenomenal fanfic that completely changed my life, I fell hard and fast for Daiya no Ace. If you asked me three years ago whether I’d ever watch an anime about baseball I would’ve laughed in your face. ~ RebeccaĪce of the Diamond (2013, ~126 episodes) QQ: Implicit-metaphorical Oh and of course, it is hella gay, centered around one of the most adorable tales of star-crossed elementary school crushes I’ve ever seen.

In the end it’s a beautifully crafted story that deeply respects its characters. In many ways it’s a strength of the show how little it tries to subvert your expectations but at the same time, I was deeply impressed by how seriously and deftly the second half of the show delves into some surprisingly heavy emotional arcs of loss and trauma. It’s comforting and escapist to slip into a world where the worst villains you encounter are salespeople trying to pass off spruce go boards as kaya wood.

Since my first anime love was the, uh, other shonen series about a boy with goofy blond bangs cheating at a game by being possessed by an ancient spirit, I had a huge soft spot for Hikaru no Go from the beginning - I love the particular genre trappings, the earnest intensity, the slightly pretentious forays into game theory.