I promise you, anime is worth investing in. Though it has a negative reputation, it teaches beautiful lessons and offers amazing advice to young viewers.

On the popular streaming service Crunchyroll, viewers can find new anime series that air in weekly, 20-minute segments to binge. Sometimes it can be extremely overwhelming with all the new episodes coming out at once, but there are some gems in all of it. Plus, the descriptions of some of these shows do not do them justice, so it’s important not to judge a book by its cover.

These three anime are my top picks for the spring season, and they have made me jump out of bed with excitement for each new episode.

One of the best spring anime this season by far is Witch Hat Atelier. This show premiered on Crunchyroll on April 6, and new episodes come out every Monday until the season ends. 

Out of the three anime I’m recommending here, Witch Hat Atelier was the one I watched last. 

I regret that decision.

Witch Hat Atelier features our main character, Coco (Anjali Kunapaneni), who stumbles upon forbidden magic after attending a festival near her home; a mysterious witch sells her a book of spells. After spending years trying to figure out just exactly how to cast her spells, she sneaks in and watches a witch, Qifrey (Joshua Waters), who draws to make magic. This secret is one of the biggest conundrums of the show, as, in the wrong hands, things can go quickly awry. 

When Coco practices and eventually traces this magic, Qifrey swoops in and saves her after her magic goes terribly wrong. Worst of all, Coco’s mother is trapped inside, frozen, and there is no current way to get her out.

The plot follows Coco’s journey through the magical world, meeting new characters and overcoming her personal struggles. The characters are so lovable, and, in my opinion, one of the most intriguing is Qifrey. Something I personally enjoyed is the fact that he’s based on Gojo (Kaiji Tang) from Jujutsu Kaisen. The characters are quick-witted, funny, and well-written, displaying the childlike and adult struggles of their world.

By far, though, the most appealing aspect would be the animation style. Not only is it beautiful, but it’s captivating. I am the type of person who does not usually enjoy fantasy shows, but something about the plot line that sucks you in and the art style that’s fun to watch makes it as amazing as it is. For new or avid anime watchers, it is by far one of the best of the season.

The main love interest is a femboy. Does it get more interesting and funny than that?

MARRIAGETOXIN was the first anime that had been focused on by my For You page and was an extremely enjoyable pick. It started airing on April 7, and comes out every Tuesday, which is one of my favorite days for anime to premiere, as it’s usually the day that I despise most. 

The show follows Hikaru Gero (Haruki Ishiya), a poison master in his family’s bloodline, allowing him to specialize in all things poison-related. The talk of a new heir being produced for the family arises, and to preserve his sister’s relationship with her girlfriend, he takes it upon himself to find a suitable marriage partner to have a child with.

The only issue with this is that this man has absolutely no dating experience, nor does he act like a normal human when he talks to women. With the help of one of his previous captives, Mei Kinosaki (Shion Wakayama), who is a professional in the dating world, Gero goes out to find his perfect match.

The funniest part of this anime is that Kinosaki is actually a man, cross-dressing in whatever gender to help the main character out. The only issue with this is that because Kinosaki is a man, the chemistry between him and Gero would have to be heavily navigated because of the heir situation, being that they cannot biologically have a child together.

The only bummer about this anime is that not many episodes have been released with English voice actors. As long as it doesn’t bother you to read subtitles, it should be completely fine for the general population to watch. 

If you want a good laugh along with an action-packed plot, this show is perfect for you. The fight scenes are compelling, and with their unique superpowers, it makes for some exciting battles.

Finally, queer media is getting the recognition it rightfully deserves.

This anime started premiering on April 1 and is currently airing every Wednesday afternoon. The plot focuses on Nakamura (Nasim Benelkour), a fifteen-year-old in high school, who is figuring out how to get closer to his crush, Hirose (Patrick Pedraza), while navigating the common struggles of queer kids trying to slowly discover and improve themselves. 

I love this anime mostly because it’s so wholesome. The issue with a lot of queer media currently is that the characters are heavily sexualized, giving it a bad reputation. Though with this show, it portrays the relationship so well, with many moments that give me crazy second-hand embarrassment, but I still love it anyway.

This is the classic high school romance, which I think most people can find comfort in. It reminds me a lot of You and I are Polar Opposites, which is another great fast-paced anime released this winter. Overall, this show is one you cozy up in your bed to watch at night, giggling as you see the main characters fall more and more in love.

I used to judge pretty harshly on new shows—being that I found them boring or hard to get into—but they can be great if you just give them a chance.

Watch some of the best shows of the season, even if it might not seem like your thing. You’ll be shocked by how these films can surprise you.

Anime can truly distract you for a little while from the hardships and overwhelming end of the school year, and these shows are some of the greatest to get lost in. From action to romance, there is something for everyone.