The spring anime season has reached its halfway mark, and we're diving into what's working, what's flopping, and which shows have completely caught us off guard.

My Hero Academia: Vigilantes stands out as a refreshing take on hero work through the lens of unsanctioned adults rather than sanctioned teenage students. The series explores what happens when heroes don't reach certain neighborhoods, with standout character Knuckle Duster stealing the show as he throws hands without any quirk to back him up. We're seeing fascinating connections to the main series, including early appearances from villains like Stain before his ideology fully formed.

Windbreaker continues delivering jaw-dropping fight sequences that rank among the best action animation this season, though its weekly release format has highlighted some pacing issues. When you're waiting for those spectacular rooftop beatdowns, the character development episodes can test your patience. Yet this deep character work is building toward something special, particularly with supporting characters like Akihiko Nirei determined to stop being dead weight.

The season's disappointments include Fire Force, which despite solid animation hasn't captured our hearts the way its spiritual predecessor Soul Eater did, and The Beginning After The End, whose compelling story is tragically undermined by animation quality so poor it's been described as a "slideshow presentation." How the author could choose this studio remains one of anime's greatest mysteries.

On the surprising front, Chinese animation To Be Hero X has emerged as an unexpected gem, featuring a fascinating world where powers are directly tied to public trust and popularity. This anthology-style series explores different heroes facing unique challenges in a system where losing fame means losing strength—sometimes with bizarre consequences like one hero who becomes physically unable to sit down.

Beyond the shows themselves, we tackle industry issues like the shutdown of major piracy site Anime Heaven and the concerning advance of AI in animation production. Whether you're watching on Crunchyroll or sailing the digital seas every week, the spring season offers plenty worth discussing. What shows have captured your attention this season?