Written by: Nicole Castro
Published on: December 25, 2021 at 17:00 PHT (GMT+8)
Merry Christmas! Merry Kuri!
Whether you're celebrating Christmas with special ham recipes or Japanese-style KFC and strawberry shortcake, one thing is for sure: we are all united in our love for Christmas in anime.
So this time, we're featuring seven Christmas episodes in anime that were especially memorable.
1. The Disastrous Life of Saiki K. Season 2
Episode 1: Another Christmas Challenge!
Sometimes, Christmas and holidays in general are a nightmare for introverts who just want to relax the day away. If this sounds like you, then you'll definitely relate to Kusuo Saiki. Saiki spends the entire day using his psychic powers to avoid friends and family who are pushing him to celebrate the old-fashioned way.
2. Shakugan no Shana Second
Episode 22: Christmas Eve
Christmas Eve was a major plot-turning point for the second season of Shakugan no Shana. Shana and Yuji Sakai's classmate Kazumi Yoshida decide to confess their feelings to Yuji through letters and ask Yuji to meet up with the one he chooses to return his feelings to near the clock tower. And that is when things happen.
3. My Hero Academia Season 5
Episode 101: Have a Merry Christmas!
For an action-packed series like MHA, the heroic missions never stop. And this is why the students of Class 1-A deserve a happy, normal Christmas so they can act more like their age. It's also an especially important day for Eri, who is experiencing the holiday for the first time. But while the students of Class 1-A are enjoying their youth, the teachers of U.A. High School are having serious discussions to deal with the looming threats.
4. ReLIFE OVA
Episode 3: Date
Christmas is typically regarded as a couples' day in Japan (yes, in addition to the actual Valentine's Day), and Chizuru Hishiro takes advantage of this social norm to ask Arata Kaizaki out on a date on December 25. It's an important chance for her to figure out her feelings. It's also a bittersweet sight for Ryō Yoake and An Onoya who are aware of the outcome of the ReLife experiment.
5. Sword Art Online Season 1
Episode 3: The Red-Nosed Reindeer
Christmas episodes in anime are often placed midway into the series or at the finale. But Sword Art Online takes a departure from this tradition by placing it as early as episode 3. The plot for this episode is very normal and focuses on the early days of Kirito's life in the SAO game. But it's the Christmas part at the second half of this episode that earns a place in many fans' memories. On Christmas, Kirito sets out to defeat Nicholas The Renegade on Floor 35. But it's a hollow, soul-crushing victory. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer has never sounded so sad.
6. Koi to Yobu ni wa Kimochi Warui (Koikimo). English Title: It's Disgusting to Call This Love
Episode 4: On This Holy Night
As mentioned, Christmas feels more like Valentine's Day in Japan, so it's appropriate that this episode would be devoted to couple Ichika Arima and Ryo Amakusa finding presents for each other. But what's even more heartwarming here is that Ichika and Ryo don't forget about Rio and make sure she belongs in their happy little celebration.
7. Yuri!!! On Ice
Episode 10: Gotta Supercharge it! Pre-Grand Prix Final Special!
We can't end this list without one of the Christmas episodes that exploded in anime fandom in recent years. In episode 10, the cast take a break from their hectic schedules preparing for the Grand Prix Final in Barcelona, Spain. Yuuri Katsuki goes out shopping with Victor Nikiforov. December 25 also happens to be Victor's birthday, so Yuuri goes out of his way to find him a birthday present. And what a present indeed. We'd like a pair of Maria Dolores "lucky charm rings" too please!
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from AniradioPlus!
Digest by AniradioPlus
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