Whaddup, my friends? The new fall anime season is almost upon us, and you know what that means: everyone’s favourite franchise Sword Art Online is back! This time, they’re doing a four-cour adaptation of the beloved Alicization arc. That’s right: 50+ episodes of Kirito and friends, baffling fanservice, and cages with bars placed so far apart you could drive a truck through the gaps.

For those of you not aboard the SAO train, there’s a variety of new series to choose from. Not much has really jumped out at me, but I think I’ll check out the super-stylish buddy cop dramedy Double Decker! Doug & Kirill, and yuri romance Bloom Into You has some positive buzz as well. I’m also a sucker for short-form anime, so if Capsule Hotel de (no, I’m not typing out the entire title) gets a Western release, I might watch it.

Also of note:

• Dragon Pilot, the new series from Mari Okada, writer/director of the beautiful but flawed Maquia: When the Promised Flower Blooms, just premiered on Netfix. This is considerably more cartoonish and comedic than Maquia, from what I’ve heard.
• Fan favourite and Ainu history lesson Golden Kamuy is back for its second season. I hear this series has bears. I like bears.
• Crime thriller/BL melodrama Banana Fish continues with its second cour.
• The ludicrously popular Fairy Tail series is entering its final season. I have no idea what it’s about.

What are you folks planning on checking out? Any recommendations? And as always, please share what you’ve been reading/playing/eating/listening to lately.