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The Perfect Insider ‒ Episode 10
"This week featured the final confrontation between Magata and our two detectives, as the pair traded off interviewing her within her own dream chamber."
The X Button - Expert Ease
This week: Todd unboxes the Xenoblade Chronicles X limited edition! Plus: King of Fighters returns, Final Fantasy, Ni No Kuni, Street Fighter, Sony’s PlayStation Experience, and much more!
― Xenoblade Chronicles X is the sort of game meant for special-edition packaging. It's a gobsmackingly huge journey across an alien world where the player finds towering creatures, massive robots, and a generous f...
School-Live! Complete Series
Infamous for its first episode twist, the moe girls-and-zombies dramedy School-Live captured the imaginations of otaku everywhere this summer. Is the show worth all the hype?
― Spoiler Warning for the major plot point at the end of episode one! It's so easy to be taken in by appearances. School-Live!, based on the manga of the same title by Norimitsu Kaiho and Sadoru Chiba, starts out looking like ev...
Gintama ‒ Episode 301
"The second installment of the Shogun Assassination Arc is quite possibly the most frenetically action-packed episode Gintama has ever given us."
Dance with Devils ‒ Episode 10
"For those who have been curious, we finally see the face of the lead pink-haired vampire who has been popping up for the last ten episodes."
Beautiful Bones: Sakurako's Investigation ‒ Episode 10
"There honestly wasn't that much to dig into in this episode outside of the bare mechanics of the plot."
Answerman - Why is it so tough to buy Japanese digital media downloads?
Ever try to buy a song digitally, from a Japanese website? Ever actually succeed at doing that? Justin explains why it's so weirdly difficult.
― Vanessa asks: Hello, is it impossible to buy Japanese digital media from any website while living outside of Japan? Cds and books are easily attainable from Amazon Japan, which even will display the website in English for foreigners. While browsing mp3s and...
Fullmetal Alchemist Blu-Ray Collector's Edition
The 2003 Fullmetal Alchemist series left a smoking crater in anime fandom, and now it's out on bluray in a superdeluxe $300 limited edition. Hope Chapman revisits this modern classic and cracks open that pricey box.
― Few anime have had the opportunity to leave a thumbprint on pop culture the size of Fullmetal Alchemist's. Upon first airing on Cartoon Network's adult swim block in 2004, FMA became a ...
One-Punch Man ‒ Episode 10
"With such a massive cast to breeze through in such a short amount of time, episode 10 becomes mostly set-up narration with a few standout action scenes to carry the bigger picture."
One Piece ‒ Episode 721
"The episode goes on to reminds us of that the ultimate power of Law's Devil Fruit is the ability to make somebody immortal at the cost of his own life."
Resident Evil: The Marhawa Desire GN 5
Resident Evil 6's prequel manga ends after five tense (and intense) volumes, and while the finale may work better for those who know the game, it's still a pretty good horror series.
― You have to appreciate a manga series where you can read each volume in roughly twenty minutes because the action just moves that fast. Resident Evil: The Marhawa Desire has been one of those series for all of its five...
Naruto Shippuden Uncut Set Volume 24
Gaara confronts his resurrected father in this decidedly uneven collection of Naruto Shippuden episodes from the Fourth Ninja World War.
― Volume 24 of Naruto Shippūden encompasses episodes 297 to 309, another collection of stories set during the Fourth Ninja World War. Episode 297 picks up where the previous set left off, with Gaara confronting the reanimated corpse of his father, the Fourth Kazekag...
Mr. Osomatsu ‒ Episode 10
"As usual, logic takes a backseat throughout the entire episode, but it's in service of a good cause: making the jokes even funnier."
Concrete Revolutio ‒ Episode 10
"This episode was a giant step forward for this series."
Answerman - How Does Old Anime Get Remastered?
Older anime shows are coming in out in HD at a remarkable clip, but how do these shows go from dusty and neglected to sparkling and new for the bluray treatment?
― Julian asks: So I know a couple people who like to collect old animation cels, and I've read before that materials get lost or destroyed so that when it comes time to re-master a show they have to use old releases (see the new Eva BD). My...
Comet Lucifer ‒ Episode 10
"Considering how much time Comet Lucifer has spent getting these kids to the Altar, their visit is surprisingly brief."
Black Lagoon: The Complete Series Premium Edition Blu-Ray
Black Lagoon offers plenty of highlights for fans of ultraviolence, though those looking for something more may find its serious drama too little too late.
― It's no surprise Black Lagoon has maintained such an enduring reputation among action fans. Even on the level of base premise, the show presents something fresh and exciting - a multinational cast of smugglers and thieves terrorizing the souther...
Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans ‒ Episode 10
"This episode is both emotionally complex and deeply suspenseful."
Utawarerumono: The False Faces ‒ Episode 10
"If cheeky yet chaste anime burlesque isn't really your speed, this is just a baffling slog of lazy humor out of nowhere."
Haikyu!! Second Season ‒ Episode 10
"The Karasuno team finally starts to put all of their new tricks into play."
Seraph of the End: Vampire Reign ‒ Episode 21
"Watching this show progress over two seasons, I feel as though the Titan comparison has grown from a criticism to a compliment."
Young Black Jack ‒ Episode 10
"It will take a lot for these final episodes of Young Black Jack to top the conflicts of previous episodes."
The Asterisk War ‒ Episode 10
"Despite the steady pacing, I still question whether or not the tournament can be concluded in only two episodes."
Idol Dreams GN 1
Arina Tanemura reworks the magical girl story into something for an older audience with the story of a thirty-one-year-old woman who wishes she could change the past.
― Most of us can probably remember a time in adolescence when we made a choice at a metaphorical fork in the road. Do you regret yours? Chikage Deguchi does, and she has carried the memory of the boy she let get away in her heart, conti...
Chivalry of a Failed Knight ‒ Episode 10
"You really have to appreciate it when a story goes out of its way to try and show what's going on with the less important characters."
Attack on Titan: Junior High ‒ Episode 10
"Sometimes you can't tell if this show borrowing directly from the original is a joke or just convenient laziness."
Garo: Crimson Moon ‒ Episode 9
"Between the characters' histories, relationships, and the subtle machinations of the Heian imperial court, there's the potential for drama here. The show just doesn't seem to be using any of it."
Owarimonogatari ‒ Episode 10
"Last week's episode almost let us forgot this is largely an Araragi-Kanbaru arc, but there were no illusions on that front this time."
Ushio & Tora ‒ Episode 23
"This episode shows abstract human emotions in a concrete way, proving that Ushio has won over a lot of allies into loving him."
The List - 6 Idols that Fandom Forgot
Anime idols have sung and danced their way into the hearts of otaku everywhere for years now, but here are six examples where the phenomenon failed to ignite.
― The popularity and success of the idol genre is undeniable; Love Live continues its almost unbelievable hold on Japanese otaku, and shows like Idolmaster: Cinderella Girls burn up the bluray sales charts. Unfortunately, not every idol anime ...
Devil Survivor GN 1
It's a clunky start for this manga adaptation of Atlus' Nintendo DS game, but not an entirely unpromising one.
― While any form of adaptation from one medium to another is difficult, games into another narrative format seem to be particularly troublesome. Whether this is because the choices present in the originals now have to be made for the reader, as opposed to the players making those decisions t...
Noragami Aragoto ‒ Episode 10
"Yato and Yukine's worst fears are starting to come true."
K: Return of Kings ‒ Episode 10
"For all that K has tried to make Munakata cool, has he ever looked cooler than in this episode?"
ANNCast - Visual Novel Invasion
The folks from Sekai Project, who just released a little visual novel called Clannad in English for the first time, are taking the visual novel world by storm. Today, they stop by ANNCast to talk about the past, present and future of the company.
― ANNCast Episode 245: Visual Novel Invasion The folks from Sekai Project, including co-founder Chris Ling, PR manager David Bruno, and European PR manager...
Answerman - How Is Online Streaming Doing in Japan?
Streaming video services are completely ubiquitous in America, and it's the #1 way people keep up with new anime, but how do these services perform in Japan?
― Wayland asks: So apparently everyone in US and Aust is loving streaming services, (despite issues with people trying to get on the US site). I've also heard that it hasn't really taken off in Japan, yet. Hulu wasn't really able to make a dent...
The Perfect Insider ‒ Episode 9
"This was a fun and speedy episode of Perfect Insider, even if the mystery only continues to get more absurd with each new variable."
What's The Best First Episode You've Ever Seen?
We asked our team of critics one simple question: what is the single best first episode of an anime series you've ever seen, regardless of how the show turned out? Find out what they said and sound off on your own picks!
― It's a pretty simple question, but it can tell you a lot about someone's taste in anime: what's the single best first episode of an anime series you've ever seen? It doesn't matter...
Danganronpa BD+DVD
The anime adaptation of Danganronpa, the twisted smash hit visual novel that's taken anime fandom by storm, is out now. But is it as cool as it should be?
― Danganropa is a Japanese video game franchise available primarily on PlayStation Vita, iOS, and Android platforms which has already seen American releases of some of its titles. This 2013 anime series is a more or less straight adaptation of the ...
Naruto Shippuden ‒ Episode 440
"Everything was set up to be neatly (albeit anticlimactically) wrapped up, but a filler arc this bad wasn't about to let us off the hook that easily."
The X Button - Net Started
This week, it’s an import watch with Shining Force fighters, knightly warfare, and a game all about Twitter squabbles! Plus Super Robot Wars, Darius, and another developer’s exit!
― We had fun last week. Koei Tecmo's Facebook page alluded to Dead or Alive Xtreme 3 not coming to North America or Europe due to potential issues over the game's ribald depictions of women, and arguments exploded. Koei Te...
The Honor Student at Magic High School GN 1
The Honor Student at Magic High School retells the story of The Irregular at Magic High School from Miyuki's point of view, and the franchise is much more accessible for it.
― Did you try to watch the anime version of Tsutomu Sato's The Irregular at Magic High School but just couldn't get into it because the protagonist, Tatsuya Shiba, was simply too good at everything except having a discernible per...
Dance with Devils ‒ Episode 9
"Things are definitely heating up in both the romance and the main plots, and while the show maintains a level of ludicrousness that is appealing, it also is trying to advance the story in a more serious way."
Gintama ‒ Episode 300
"The first episode of this long-awaited arc isn't bad by any means, but it has yet to live up to the full month of hype that preceded it."
Beautiful Bones: Sakurako's Investigation ‒ Episode 9
"I've gotten accustomed to not really feeling invested in its mysteries, and also getting very little at its attempts at characterization, but this time, basically every single thing worked."
Answerman - Why Are Anime DVDs More Expensive Than Western Animation?
Your average new anime series on bluray costs about $60, while your average new American TV series costs about half that. Why is that?
― Cody asks: I have a question about retail price differences between Japanese animation and Western animation, specifically regarding series. For example, if I wanted to buy Maoyu on Blu-ray from Amazon, I'd be paying $34.77, yet season four of Legend of Korra is on...
What Makes Kyoto Animation So Special?
Anime fans have been waxing rhapsodical about the glory of Kyoto Animation, the house behind megahits like K-On! and Free!, for years. What is it that makes their work so meaningful to so many? Nick Creamer tries to figure it all out.
― So I've been watching K-On! lately. This hasn't been difficult. It's a very easy show to watch! You can just sort of lie back on your couch and lean your head in its ...
A Bride's Story GN 6
A Bride’s Story shines in its most dramatic and propulsive chapters yet.
― When I reviewed the last volume of Bride's Story, I mentioned how my greatest hope for the series was that it would eventually turn its piercing eye towards a story more focused and dramatic than the slice of life vignettes so far. Though the manga was endearing and beautiful, it wasn't always gripping, and sometimes felt more...
One Piece ‒ Episode 720
"So I did the math and I learned that Bellamy has been in the middle of his big finishing move against Luffy for the last 12 episodes now."
Mr. Osomatsu ‒ Episode 9
"From gag-laden skits to moving melodrama, this episode goes to show that you never know exactly what to expect from Mr. Osomatsu."
The World is Still Beautiful Sub.Blu-Ray
This lighthearted shojo adventure about a girl sent to marry a prince she's never met had a warm reception with critics and audiences alike, but is it worth owning?
― As shojo romantic dramedies go, this 12 episode series from the Spring 2014 season is one of the most accessible recent offerings. Even those who do not normally care for such fare could find this to be a pleasing viewing experience, as...
One-Punch Man ‒ Episode 9
"This was an absolutely stellar episode of One-Punch Man not only for its amazingly visceral battle sequences, but its humor, heart, and sharp social commentary."
The Best and Worst of the Season So Far: Week of Nov 19-25
The show that's dominated the top of the charts all season long drops to #2, while another king is crowned. It's an exciting week for your favorite shows!
― Our team of reviewers are following 24 anime series of the Fall 2015 season and readers are rating each episode as the reviews go up. So let's have a look at what ANN readers consider the best (and worst) of the season. Keep in mind that these r...
Concrete Revolutio ‒ Episode 9
"We may not fully know what Concrete Revolutio is about until it reaches its conclusion."
Shelf Life - Umi, Myself, and I
This week on Shelf Life: the second half of Turn-A Gundam and a low-key, relaxing journey through some tough adolescent feelings with Umi Monogatari. Plus this week's releases! You can't go wrong!
― Thanks have been given, turkeys have been eaten, and we're in the midst of the frenzied holiday sale season. If you went out and fought the crowds last Friday, congratulations on surviving the hordes of ...
Comet Lucifer ‒ Episode 9
"Right from the start, it's clear that this episode aims to move the plot along in a big way."
Yo-kai Watch GN 1 & 2
Yo-Kai Watch's first two books are good fun for the kiddies, but probably don't have much crossover appeal for older readers.
― If you're familiar with this story – which traces its roots back to a card game and a Nintendo 3DS game – you'll notice that Viz's release of the shounen Yo-Kai Watch manga has been localized. (A shoujo manga also exists, but as of this writing, it has not been licensed in E...
Answerman - Why Do Delta Airlines Flights Have Japanese Movies?
Delta flights are routinely loaded with mainstream Japanese movies, including subtitled live-action anime adaptations and often anime itself. Why is that?
― Jake asks: I recently was on a red eye Delta flight to the west coast over the holiday and was flipping through the movie section on those new tablets they now have built into the seats and found something quite surprising. I was expecting to fi...
Young Black Jack ‒ Episode 9
"This week, we had a story that definitively proves that the creators are up on their Tezuka."
Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans ‒ Episode 9
"This week's theme was responsibility, as Orga, Kudelia, and the other characters wrestle with how to protect and provide for the families they've found."
Seraph of the End: Vampire Reign ‒ Episode 20
"This episode featured everything I want out of Seraph in the End."
The Mike Toole Show - Hip to Be Square
Mike contemplates exactly how the bizarre comedy Papuwa landed on Western shores. Believe it or not, the answer may lie with Final Fantasy! Didn't see that coming, did you?
― Last Christmas, my editor, the inimitable Zac Bertschy, took notice that the Right Stuf's online holiday sales blitz included the complete set of a TV series called PAPUWA. He immediately called attention to this, so I followed ...
Attack on Titan: Junior High ‒ Episode 9
"By now, if you've seen Attack on Titan but aren't manga current, you'll be thoroughly spoiled for upcoming events by this show."
The Asterisk War ‒ Episode 9
"Whether directly or indirectly, everything that has happened in the series to date has been building towards the Phoenix Festa, which finally gets underway with episode 9."
Accel World Novel 5
Accel World's fifth novel not only goes beyond where the anime left off, but it also shows some real improvement in terms of writing as it explores the reasons why the characters need to accelerate in the first place.
― Since the first Accel World novel, Reki Kawahara has fostered a suspicion in the reader that the kids who become caught up in Brain Burst, the program that allows access to the accele...
Chivalry of a Failed Knight ‒ Episode 9
"What it does well it does well, and that's worth more than you might think."
Garo: Crimson Moon ‒ Episode 8
"Garo: Crimson Moon has set up plenty of ingredients for an interesting overall conflict, but I'm impatient for them to start executing it."
Haikyu!! Second Season ‒ Episode 9
"As always, the plot isn't the only enticing thing about this show, and this episode manages to put in plenty of the fun little moments that make it more than just a sports story."
Owarimonogatari ‒ Episode 9
"Shinobu Mail has finally pulled off its first consistently great episode."
Noragami Aragoto ‒ Episode 9
"The story keeps chugging along at an intense emotional register."
Utawarerumono: The False Faces ‒ Episodes 8-9
"Utawarerumono might have to keep getting worse before it gets better."
Answerman - Why Is Sunday So Dead At Anime Conventions?
Sundays are usually a ghost town at any given convention, no matter how popular the show is. What's up with that?
― Chris asks: I somehow made it to three major anime cons this year (Anime Central, Anime Weekend Atlanta, and Youmacon), and every time I was surprised and dismayed by the retrenchment from the dealer's room on Sunday. At each of these cons, a number of informational booths simply weren...
Anime News Network's Holiday 2015 Gift Guide - Games
Our week-long gift guide wraps up with the one thing everyone wants: videogames! A smattering of the best games for every otaku on your Christmas shopping list awaits.
― Clannad There are a couple factors that make this visual novel release basically the ideal otaku Christmas gift, so let's run them down: Long-awaited English-language release of the visual novel most fans of the medium will tell you...
Tokyo Ghoul BD+DVD
The first season of this insanely bloody drama has captured a worldwide audience of hungry fans, but does it live up to all the hype?
― The action-horror series Tokyo Ghoul is quickly turning into one of the few anime you might have heard of even if you don't regularly follow new Japanese releases. The manga keeps topping the New York Times bestseller list, while merchandise has already crept its way...
K: Return of Kings ‒ Episode 9
"The real issue here is, of course, what Fushimi is doing and why."
The List - 6 Times Evolution Went Horribly Wrong
Anime is overflowing with villains playing God, trying to determine the next stage of human evolution. Here are six times where mankind was the endangered species.
― They say people never change. Humanity, as a whole, seems to have reached its physical limit. We're taller and faster. We climb higher and jump further. In fact, much of the next stages seem tied to possible biotech and enhancing existi...
Ushio & Tora ‒ Episode 22
"This episode had a chance to commit to a completely different nature of conflict and ended up with more of the usual good versus evil instead."
Heavy Object ‒ Episode 9
"It's a leaner, less serious version of the usual formula, and it actually works."
The Perfect Insider ‒ Episode 8
"This was a strong episode in spite of not really adding to the overt mystery, riding successfully on the ever more sturdy relationship between Moe and Souhei."
Naruto Shippuden ‒ Episode 439
"Jiraiya's Ninja Tales fails time and again to impress."
Anime News Network's Holiday 2015 Gift Guide Part V: Collectibles & Cool Stuff
The blockbuster second-to-last page of our week-long holiday gift guide is here, overflowing with toys, statues, action figures, and much much more!
― Royal Twintails Pillow Have you ever loved a hairstyle so much you wanted to wrap yourself up in an enormous pillow-like representation of it? No? Well here's your chance! This is pretty clearly a novelty item, but I'll be honest – it looks pretty com...
Senki Zesshō Symphogear GX
The third season of Symphogear brings all the ludicrous over-the-topness that made the first two seasons such a smash, but how does it all wrap up?
― Symphogear has always been a very silly show, one resolutely dedicated to dramatic absurdity and one-upmanship. In its second season, the show doubled down on its premise by emphasizing everything Symphogear and discarding everything not Symphogear. Wha...
Anime News Network's Holiday 2015 Gift Guide Part IV: DVD & Blu-ray
DVD and Bluray finally arrive in our week-long Christmas gift guide! We've rolled out some awesome limited editions, 2015's best and most elaborate releases and much more!
― Anime itself is a highly personal gift, and it's tough to know exactly what a fan might actually want. Some tips up front if you're buying anime for someone: Ask them what shows they like first and narrow it down. Don't ask what...
The X Button - Vanishing Point
This week, Todd scrutinizes some missing pieces of Mario, Sonic, and other popular series! Plus Dead or Alive controversy, Disaster Report’s rebirth, and the quest for holiday games.
― This may be the first X Button to arrive on Thanksgiving, due to the new schedule. I'd like to use the opportunity to mention Thanksgiving-themed video games, but I've noticed a problem. There aren't any. It's rare to...
Naruto: Kakashi's Story Novel
Naruto's teacher Hatake Kakashi takes center stage in this light novel set one year after the Fourth Shinobi World War.
― When it comes to Naruto characters who warrant further exploration, Hatake Kakashi is at the top of the list. Team 7's cool and collected (but oftentimes aloof and nonsensical) leader is one of the franchise's most popular characters. The hidden lower-half of his face was the subj...
Gintama ‒ Episode 299
"Episode 299 continues the series' efforts to cram in as much comedy as possible before the Shogun Assassination Arc kicks off."
Beautiful Bones: Sakurako's Investigation ‒ Episode 8
"This episode wasn't exactly thrilling, and Sasaki's drama ran into the regular problem of the viewer not being particularly invested in these episodic stories for their own sake."
Dance with Devils ‒ Episode 8
"This week's musical number is right up there with the chorus of pomeranians for sheer absurdity – seriously, the only things missing were hearts and pudgy cherubs."
Answerman - Why Are Some Gundam Series Getting Simultaneous Dubs?
Gundam Unicorn and Gundam The Origin both got simultaneous English dub releases, while a lot of other Gundam is released subtitled-only. What's up with that?
― Matt asks: I've been surprised how first Gundam Unicorn and now Gundam the Origin have been getting simultaneous dubs upon release. Even though Unicorn's North American release got thrown into the chaos surrounding Bandai Entertainment's clos...
Anime News Network's Holiday 2015 Gift Guide Part III: Tech & Gadgets
Today's the day for tech in our week-long gift guide! Figure out the ultimate streaming package for the otaku on your Christmas shopping list, plus a bunch of fun gadgets and weird stuff.
― The Streaming Bundle The start of any tech gift guide on a site like this is liable to give you a long list of bluray players and high-end TVs, but as any anime fan will tell you, times have changed - all we real...
A Quick, Easy Guide to the Gintama Drama
At nearly 300 episodes, Gintama is most famous for its incredible comedy, but the show has a serious storyline fans love. With a big new arc starting next week, here's a quick and easy way to catch up with the show's real story before the new arc begins.
― Because Hideaki Sorachi's popular revisionist history comedy is so very wacky, it's easy to forget that Gintama has an overarching plot. With the...
Fairy Tail BD+DVD Parts 16 & 17
As two arcs come to their conclusions, Fairy Tail grows increasingly intense as the characters battle to change the future.
― One of the strengths of Fairy Tail, and indeed other similar shounen series, is the way that it can go from goofy to dead serious in a matter of minutes. The most recent story arcs to receive DVD/BD releases from Funimation, the Grand Magic Games and the Eclipse Gate plotlines...
One-Punch Man ‒ Episode 8
"While the show's vaunted animation appeal doesn't suffer from the changeup this week, the story does sag from the impromptu cast expansion."
Anime News Network's Holiday 2015 Gift Guide Part II: Fashion
Our week-long gift guide keeps on truckin' with a shockingly wide variety of anime shirts, jackets, hats, and jewelry. Who knew there was so much anime stuff you could put on your body?
― Women's Totoro Tights Within the last year, silhouette tights have become increasingly popular with many online shops stocking cat and rabbit versions. These tights are another iteration for fans of Ghibli's (argua...
Mr. Osomatsu ‒ Episode 8
"Episode 8 illustrates that the Matsunos are versatile characters who can be thrown into any situation with hilarious results."
Concrete Revolutio ‒ Episode 8
"Just as it shares Watchmen's eye toward political history, Concrete Revolutio is also all about interrogating "classic" superheroes, in this case from Showa-period anime."
K-ON! The Movie
K-On! settles into a comfortable rhythm for an unremarkable but endearing final movie.
― After the surprisingly draining emotional heights of K-On!'s second season, it'd be difficult for a movie reprise to come off as a truly essential addition to the series. And possibly to its benefit, the K-On! movie doesn't really try to - cataloging the girls' pre-graduation trip to London and quest to come up w...
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