Last night resulted in quite a storm, and today is now quite chilly. I can tell autumn is kicking off with our temperature dropping and the leaves on the trees changing colour. I am starting in on the Tuesday anime while I am taking a lunch break at work. I can happily say that the sun is peaking through the clouds for the first time in about a week. Hopefully, this means the ground can dry, and my laundry too. Today, there are only four anime to catch up on, but some premiered their anime last week, so I have six episodes to watch. Monday’s catch-up took me a lot longer than I thought it would; oh well, I enjoyed it, and that is all that really matters, isn’t it? Just like yesterday, I am not sure what to expect, but I am looking forward to the selection.

The Four Tuesday Seasonal anime are:

Here are the four seasonal Tuesday anime that are airing, and I’m watching and reviewing them on Wednesdays. Each title below is linked to its respective section, so feel free to jump straight to the one you’re following or most curious about:

1. Apocalypse Hotel (4.5/5)
2. Catch Me at the Ballpark! (4/5)
3. Once Upon a Witch’s Death (2.5/5)
4. The Shiunji Family Children (3/5)

This lineup may shift as the season progresses. Some shows might drop off, and others could be added. Each week is a little different, and that’s part of the fun!

The scores you see above reflect my overall impressions of the latest episode I watched for each anime. In the sections that follow, I’ll break down what stood out (for better or worse), from story progression and animation quality to character development and emotional impact.

Let’s dive into the episode impressions!

Apocalypse Hotel

• Episode 1: A True Hotel Is Always Storied
• Release date: 8 April 2025
• Crunchyroll
• Episode Score: ⭐⭐⭐⭐½ (4.5/5)
  • Hauntingly beautiful and unexpectedly emotional

It is clever to go from a hotel advertisement to a plague caution and back into the advertisement and back and forth. It lets us know what happened for this to become an apocalypse hotel and what happened to the people. It went from potential plague to extinction, being a very real possibility. I am so relieved that we did not have to wear the types of masks in this anime. So, humanity went to the ocean floor and into space to try to survive. Seeing nature reclaim everything, but the hotel was a surprise. I wonder how much time has passed. I am revelling in the nature shots that they are showing us. I found it both sad and saw the horror of them going through their day-to-day every day with nothing changing. There is no point other than their programming to do what they are doing. Almost futile, really. Cooking lavish meals that no one will ever eat, making beds that no one will ever sleep in, and never being able to fully follow your programming. As time goes by and supplies run short or out entirely, and having the robots break down and are unable to be maintained or repaired. The happy music in this sequence of the robots performing their duties is harrowing. Reminded me of Fallout a bit. The Doorman robot does seem to possess a certain ironic depth in its shallowness. I also found Yachiyo’s reaction to the loss of a fellow robot, even if her understanding is limited, to be a touching moment. I really enjoyed the missing shampoo hat. A shampoo hat that is missing constitutes an emergency, causes Yachiyo to have a meltdown and predicts worst-case scenarios. It is their biggest crisis since mankind departed over a century ago. How ever will it survive? I am curious about the guest at the end. How have you managed to make me feel bad for robots? Random thoughts: I want a rooftop garden and a gardening robot.

Verdict: A slow-burn philosophical sci-fi that masterfully blends an eerie atmosphere with emotional weight. If you enjoy existential dread softened by whimsical melancholy, this one’s for you. Definitely continue, especially with that cliffhanger guest reveal!

Catch Me at the Ballpark!

• Episode 1: Ruriko the Beer Vendor Girl / Welcome, Regular / Candy and Tears
• Release date: 1 April 2025
• Crunchyroll
• Episode Score: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4/5)
  • Bubbly and charming with just enough heart to keep it from being fluff

Pink and yellow are bold uniform choices, but they make the girls stand out. When Ruriko revealed that she was joking about giving Koutarou Murata the mainly foam beer, I was relieved. And I am not sure why. I am enjoying Ruriko, her playful persona, and her ‘I can’t believe I did that’ reactions afterwards. The dynamic between her and Koutarou is really fun to watch. The lost child section of the anime in the third act really gave something more to the series. I am glad that we are exploring more around the ballpark/stadium and its employees. Otherwise, it would get monotonous very quickly. I am surprised the focus is on Ruriko, a ‘beer girl’ and not Koutarou, the ‘corporate slave’. This feels more like a slice-of-life anthology centred around the Ballpark rather than a traditional story-driven show. It’s a very chill and enjoyable watch, but I do wonder where the overarching plot might go.

Verdict: Surprisingly warm and layered, this show may look like light fun but carries genuine charm and emotional beats. Ruriko is a delight, and the ensemble cast has room to shine. It may not be ground-breaking, but it’s comfort anime done right.

• Episode 2: The Definition of a Baseball Fan / No! Never! / The Head Scarf of Innocence
• Release date: 8 April 2025
• Crunchyroll
• Episode Score: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4/5)
  • Quietly clever and refreshingly grounded

I knew the moment Takino, Yuki started talking about being Kojirou’s fan that she would end up being his wife. It’s funny how she dislikes baseball fans but is one herself—such a great irony. I really appreciated the message about not giving out personal information. Ruriko’s witty, non-answers to the three guys trying to pry into her life were just perfect. Getting a raise without asking? That sounds like a dream! On top of that, Natsuno Yamada’s promotion and future placement were well-deserved after her perseverance. Even though she didn’t get the job she initially wanted, it was a clever way to show that things can still work out, even if they don’t go according to plan. This show is definitely better watched one episode at a time. Having just watched two episodes in a row, I can tell it works better with a slower pace to enjoy the moments fully.

Verdict: Still going strong, best enjoyed one episode at a time. The attention to character detail and workplace realities makes it feel authentic without becoming preachy. A solid series for when you want to smile without effort.

Once Upon a Witch’s Death

• Episode 1: The Witch With One Year to Live
• Release date: 1 April 2025
• Crunchyroll
• Episode Score: ⭐⭐☆☆☆ (2.5/5)
  • Beautiful set-up with strong atmosphere, but the emotional stakes fall flat and feel rushed.

The opening music instantly drew me in. There are a lot of animals in one house. Oh wow, that’s even more animals than I thought. The way Faust informed Meg of her upcoming death was harsh. Way to rip the bandaid off. The opening sequence drew me in, from the hoards of animals in the house to the blunt delivery of Meg’s cursed fate. Then it tapered off. I was preparing myself for a series that would be delivering a lot of heavy and emotionally charged stories with satisfying conclusions for those happy tears, and yet, from this episode, I feel let down. It was difficult to buy into the father and daughter’s grief over their loss, and then the emotional hook between father and daughter at the end felt hollow. I’m a fan of Meg’s somewhat irreverent personality, yet her interaction with the father and daughter felt a little too airheaded and happenstance. The emotional payoff was lacking, which is a pity because the visuals are good, and the premise is there. Just something is not lining up. If I had to guess from episode one, it’s the connection between the characters. It lacks a genuine connection. Since I can not detect it in the anime, I can’t commit to the set-up of emotional stakes or payoffs.

Verdict: Visually pleasing with a solid premise, but emotionally underwhelming. Despite hints of deeper themes, the connections feel forced, making it difficult to care about the episodic stories. It’s worth a few more episodes, but it needs heart, not just tears.

• Episode 2: The Apprentice Witch and the People of Lapis
• Release date: 8 April 2025
• Crunchyroll
• Episode Score: ⭐⭐☆☆☆ (2.5/5)
  • The granny’s story was touching, but the lack of emotional resonance continues to dull the experience.

I’m still finding it hard to connect with the characters emotionally. The moments that are supposed to be moving just aren’t landing for me right now, and I’m not entirely sure why beyond my initial thoughts from the first episode. Maybe I needed more time to get to know Meg before her curse was revealed. While it made for a striking opening, I still didn’t quite believe the concern by the end of episode one. Perhaps it’s because the characters themselves don’t seem all that bothered. Maybe the story could become decent if the protagonist learns something genuinely relevant and interesting that leads to her personal growth. I enjoy stories that can make me feel, but two episodes in, and so far, I feel next to nothing for our main character other than acknowledging that she is a sweet girl. While the situations presented for Meg to earn the happy tears she needs are outwardly sad, they lack a certain depth. The animation is lovely and cosy, though. What the story really needs is something I can empathise with. I’m also wondering how Meg is ever going to gather these tears of joy; the first two episodes have only shown these bittersweet tears, a mix of grief and happiness. I enjoyed the story with the granny, and if it continues in that vein, my opinion will probably improve. The outro music is gorgeous. I will probably listen to it every week. On a completely different note, I really want my own Carbuncle and owl! I’ve wanted an owl ever since I was a kid reading Harry Potter, and this show is just making that desire even stronger.

Verdict: Still struggling to deliver genuine emotional payoff. The cosy visuals and music are lovely, but the narrative isn’t giving me anything to hold on to. There’s potential if Meg’s personal growth deepens, but at this point, it’s just pretty sadness without a soul. Still, Carbuncle and owl goals?

The Shiunji Family Children

• Episode 1: What If…?
• Release date:
• Crunchyroll
• Episode Score: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆ (3/5)
  • A chaotic family drama with questionable humour.

Why are the sisters so physically harmful to their brother? Ah, the brothers can’t defend themselves, and their dad is always on the girls’ side. Got it. I find it very hard to believe that they were all shocked at the revelation that they were adopted. Their eye colours, hair colours, face shapes, heights, and body shapes are all different. They are a little too different to share two parents. Some of them must have questioned it, surely. Why do I feel that I already know who the end game is from the so-called siblings? The animation is clean and pretty too. An added bonus is that the episode’s pacing didn’t drag. The lack of a sensible story is well-compensated by a quality production. I am curious how far they’re gonna push the drama later, but all I can say is that I am glad they are not blood-related.

Verdict: Let’s be honest; it’s not trying to be profound. It’s drama candy with an “it’s okay because they’re not blood-related” loophole. I’m here for the mess and the clean art style, it will probably be a guilty pleasure. Definitely not for everyone, but it knows what it is.

Final Thoughts on this week’s Tuesday releases

This Tuesday’s lineup gave me a little bit of everything: philosophical sci-fi, stadium slice-of-life, whimsical (but emotionally elusive) witch tales, and chaotic family drama. While each show has its own vibe, I found myself drawn most to the contrasting tones between Apocalypse Hotel and Catch Me at the Ballpark!. The former lingers in the mind with its haunting quiet, while the latter warms the heart with casual charm and subtle growth.

Once Upon a Witch’s Death is still testing my patience. I want to connect with Meg and her journey, but I’m finding it hard to feel anything beyond aesthetic appreciation. I’m not giving up just yet, but I do hope future episodes dive deeper into emotional authenticity rather than surface-level sentimentality.

The Shiunji Family Children was a chaotic surprise. While its humour is… questionable at times, as is the premise, it didn’t drag, and I’m curious to see where this melodramatic mess goes.

All in all, Tuesday’s releases are shaping up to be an eclectic bunch. I wouldn’t say this day is the strongest of the week so far, but it has its gems. It’s clear that Apocalypse Hotel is setting itself up to be one of the season’s more emotionally complex titles, while Catch Me at the Ballpark! continues to grow on me with its lovable cast and grounded storytelling.

Anime I Am Most Looking Forward to Next Week Tuesday:

Without question, Apocalypse Hotel has become the Tuesday standout for me. It’s rare to find a show that manages to evoke such a deep sense of loss, quiet resilience, and existential loneliness while also weaving in gentle absurdity, like treating a missing shampoo hat as a full-blown crisis.

The world-building is subtle but powerful. I’m still thinking about those robots mindlessly following their protocols, cooking and cleaning for guests that haven’t existed in over a century. The emotional weight hit me harder than I expected, especially with Yachiyo’s response to the loss of a fellow robot. It’s those little moments—understated, melancholic, yet strangely hopeful—that make me want to come back.

And now, with the guest cliffhanger at the end of episode one, I’m beyond intrigued. Who are they? What will their arrival mean for the hotel—and its remaining “staff”?

If the show can maintain this tone while slowly unravelling the mystery behind the hotel’s survival, we’re in for something truly special. It’s not often an anime that makes me feel existential dread and a strange sense of peace all in one episode — I need more of that. I can’t wait to find out what’s next.

Any I’m considering binging instead of watching weekly or dropping outright?

It’s not time to make a decision yet. Although some series are taking their time to develop their stories and characters, none have felt slow enough to stop watching. I’m content to keep watching each week and see how they progress. Besides, I need to stick to my rule of watching at least the first five episodes.

What have been your thoughts on Tuesday’s releases? Are you following along with the season?

Follow along with Tuesday’s anime releases here: