Time to cash in all those sick days and PTO you’ve been saving because the fall 2016 anime season is rapidly approaching. Whether you’re a fan of action-adventure, horror, or more of a slice-of-life, comedy kind of person, there’s something for every taste on this list! Premiering in October, these animes can be watched with subtitles on a variety of streaming sites such as Crunchyroll, Hulu, Netflix, and FUNimationNow.

From Haikyū!! to Drifters to Nanbaka, here are eight promising animes to keep on your radar this fall! 

Warning: this list may contain spoilers for continuing/ongoing animes!!

Haikyū!! Karasuno High School vs Shiratorizawa Academy

Starting this list off is the most anticipated anime of the fall 2016 season: Haikyū!! Karasuno High School vs Shiratorizawa Academy by Production IG. After two brilliant, heart-wrenching and anxiety-inducing seasons — and the stunning upset of another powerhouse school — the third installment of this adored series finds Karasuno High School’s volleyball team facing off against a Top 8 school and reigning prefecture champions, Shiratorizawa Academy.

Unlike in the previous seasons, which regularly showcased numerous matches, Haikyū!! Karasuno High School vs Shiratorizawa Academy is dedicated entirely to a single match and rightfully so: between Karasuno and their spot at nationals is their greatest opponent yet, Wakatoshi Ushijima, one of the Top 3 aces in all of Japan. If you haven’t already seen Haikyū!!, do yourself a favor and binge the first two seasons in preparation for this climactic third one.

Bungō Stray Dogs

Next on the list is one for fans of the fantasy and seinen genres: Bungō Stray Dogs, one of the hot animes of spring 2016, which saw the first part of the first season. Returning for the fall is part 2 and continues the story of Armed Detective Agency and their supernaturally powered detectives as they solve mysteries and carry out business. 

Central to the identity of the series is the concept of bungō, traditionally meaning the literary form of classic Japanese but used here to represent literacy in general, with most of the series’ characters named after famous authors. Many of their powers also reflect aspects of the author, be it the name of their power or a common theme, motif, or symbol present in their writings. With a unique premise, stylish art, and an electric soundtrack, Bungō Stray Dogs was well-received by viewers who now wait patiently for the continuation of the season.

Ajin: Demi-Human Season 2

Ever wished you could live forever? Well, think again because as the supernatural horror mystery series Ajin: Demi-Human shows, immortality may be the worst fate of them all. Building off the momentum of a manga, two anime films, an original video animation (OVA) and its first anime television season already, the second season of Ajin: Demi-Human continues to develop the hellish world of immortals known as Ajins through the eyes of Kei Nagai. An Ajin himself who lacks any sort of empathy, Kei finds himself trapped in a power struggle between vengeful Ajins and the governmental bodies that wish to experiment on and exterminate them.

The 3DCG animation may take some getting used to, but the series is definitely worth the try. Netflix is licensed for distribution in North America, so subscribers can binge the entire second season there once concluded. 

Drifters

Drifters is the love-child of Berserk, Bleach and Attack on Titan: think the tone and infernal, gory landscape of Berserk; the story of Bleach and the intensity of Attack on Titan. If it sounds overwhelming, it probably is and will be.

In this historical fantasy action anime, recently deceased heroes and warriors are transported to another realm and placed into a league known as Drifters. Their goal is to defeat the Ends, a different group of great historical warriors who seek to take over the world and terminate the Drifters. Although Hoods Drifter Studio is relatively new and unknown, the initial trailers and promotional videos have been promising and the idea of historical figures duking it out in an all-out, bloody brawl makes Drifters worth watching out for in October.

Nanbaka

Moving away from the serious and into more light-hearted territory is the comedy series Nanbaka. Flaunting a vibrant and neon color palate, and an energetic and avant-garde design, Nanbaka is set in a prison where inmates are divided into groups and assigned numbers.

The show follows Group 13, a fun-loving, rambunctious, and rowdy crew of four as they navigate incarceration and attempt to escape once Jyugo realizes there was more to his past than he remembered. Expect this over-the-top anime to be a wild and crazy ride that will leave you highly confused but very entertained.

Sengoku Choujuu Giga

Sengoku Choujuu Giga is an understated original anime you won’t find populating many lists this season.

Without a built in fan base to attach itself to; the name of a big animation studio behind it or a flashy and catchy plot to work off of, this is an anime that is sure to fly under the radar, which is a shame because it’s a charming, idyllic and comedic historical anime that uses animals to tell the live and stories of famous Sengoku warriors, imparting a fable-like quality to the series.

Natsume Yuujinchou

Heading into its 5th season is the mega popular but low-key Natsume Yuujinchou, a fantasy and slice-of-life anime that explores the relationship between Takashi Natsume and the spirits (ayakashi) that roam the earth.

A powerful medium, Natsume spends his days under the tutelage of his spiritual guide, a cat known as Nyanko-sensei, and releasing spirits that were bound to servitude in the Book of Friends, a journal bequeathed to him by his lonely and misguided grandmother Reiko who was also a medium. Shunned by other humans, she bullied spirits into signing the book so that she would have friends and companionship.

Natsume Yuujinchou is an anime for those who are in the mood for a fanciful and whimsical anime full of the mythical and fantastical. 

Nobunaga no Shinobi

Last but not least on our list is a charming and delightful historical gag comedy that is based on a popular 4-panel comic strip, Nobunaga no Shinobi. Like Drifters, and Sengoku Choujuu Giga, Nobunaga no Shinobi is also set during the Sengoku period and stars a young girl named Chidori who vows to serve warlord Oda Nobunaga after he saved her life years before.

For those looking for a truly light-hearted comedy full of gags and quick jokes fired in rapid succession, consider adding Nobunaga no Shinobi to your TV schedule this fall.