For those not familiar with the anime scene, let me give you a brief summary of how TV anime seasons work in Japan. The debut of different anime shows are split into four seasons, aligning with the seasons of spring, summer, fall, and winter. Every January, April, July, and October 20-30 new anime shows  make their way onto Japanese television screens.

Of course, anime is quite infamous for having some of the most bizarre and downright terrible shows to ever grace TV. I would like to say that this is an unfair stereotype, but…. yeah, there is a lot of garbage that comes out each season. Luckily there are always a few standout shows that make fans remember why they fell in love with the medium. So, let me tell you about three of the best anime shows airing this season in Japan!

Charlotte

Imagine you have the power to control the behavior of all the people in your life. How would you use this power? Would you use it to make the lives of the people around you better, or would you simply use it for your own selfish benefit? Unsurprisingly, our main character, Yuu Otosaka, uses this power to cheat on tests and make girls he likes fall for him. Does this sound like the perfect power? Well, there is a catch: Yuu can only use his power for five seconds at a time. Although Yuu is quite happy living his life and using his power in whatever way he sees fit, he soon finds out that he is not the only teenager that was granted special powers. Yuu, together with some friends he makes along the way, soon finds out that these powers may not be quite as beneficial as they seem…

Even four episodes in Charlotte remains a quirky and creative show. Yuu is a stereotypical ‘kind of a jerk’ protagonist, but the characters he surrounds himself with really make the show pop. Yuu and his friends really have some creative and interesting powers and it is quite comical to see them in action. The comedic use of their special powers has the potential to grow old really fast, so it is nice to see that the show sets up for some bigger plot lines. Charlotte is definitely a show to keep your eye on and watch week to week.

Charlotte is available for free streaming on Crunchyroll.com (episodes are subtitled; a week delay applies for new episodes).

Rokka: Braves of the Six FlowersA war is about the begin. In order to create an army that has the strength to defeat the Demon King, the Goddess of Fate calls six warriors to come together and battle for the light. Then she disappears. However, when the warriors all finally come together there are not six present but seven. The true six must band together and detect which warrior is aligned with the Demon King, before it is too late. Six warriors came together to bring forth the light, while one came to drive them apart and destroy any chance for light forever.

Rokka combines two of my favorite genres: fantasy and mystery. While half the show is about the warriors getting ready for battle and trying to determine the best way to vanquish the Demon King, the other half contains the mystery element. Who is the warrior of the Demon King and can they find him or her before it is too late? Both critics and myself love this show so far, as it deftly blends these two genres together in the most subtle way and is always entertaining. Rokka: Braves of the Six Flowers is a must watch during these summer months.

Rokka: Braves of the Six Flowers is available for free streaming on Crunchyroll.com (episodes are subtitled; a week delay applies for new episodes).

Snow White with the Red Hair

Shirayuki, a pretty normal girl, lives a pretty normal life in the pretty normal kingdom of Tanbarun. That is, until one day the prince of Tanbarun, Raji, is struck by her beauty and attempts to make her his concubine. Disgusted, Shirayuki cuts her red hair, which happens to be her defining feature, and escapes to Clarines (the kingdom nearest hers). On her way there, she meets Prince Zen (and his friends) and saves him after he eats a poisoned apple meant for her. The rest of the story follows Shirayuki, her new friends and life in Clarines, and her ever present concerns about the vengeful and angry actions of Prince Raji.

Disney fans, Snow White with the Red Hair is definitely the anime for you! If you read the above synopsis, you can probably tell this anime doesn’t really follow the plot of the Disney movie or the fairy tale it was based off of. However, this anime definitely captures the atmosphere, the emotions, and the spirit of the original versions. Shirayuki (which literally translates into ‘Snow White’) is every bit as kind and warm hearted as the original Snow White and her friends are every bit as entertaining as the famous dwarfs! While I am still unsure as to where the plot of this version of the story will end up, I have no doubt it will leave me happy and smiling, much like the 1937 Disney classic. Snow White with the Red Hair is a creative, entertaining, and modern rendition of a classic story that is sure to leave any one who watches it with the warm fuzzies!

Snow White with the Red Hair is available for free streaming on Funimation.com (episodes are subtitled; a week delay applies for new episodes).

There you have them, my three recommendations for the summer 2015 anime season! If you have watched, liked, or disliked any of these suggestions, let me us know in the comments below. Happy streaming!

(Note: This article is an experiment for our site. If you like this and want to see more every season, please make yourself heard in the comments!)

Edited by: Hannah Wilkes