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Lupin the Third (TV 2015) ‒ Episode 24
"Lupin III is not the type of franchise where everything needs to make perfect sense."
GATE ‒ Episode 23
"If one of your primary interests in GATE has always been the hard-core military action then this episode will not disappoint."
Assassination Classroom season 2 ‒ Episode 11
"It feels like this is a decisive moment in the show's ongoing clash of educational philosophies, and the dramatic tension jumps up a notch as a result."
Active Raid ‒ Episode 11
"This was a reasonably successful episode of Active Raid; not thrilling, not tedious, just another movement towards the end."
Naruto Shippuden ‒ Episode 453
"After sitting through several months of material that served up an abundance of unintentional laughs, it's nice to see an episode that makes a conscious effort at bringing the funny."
Answerman - Why Do Companies Buy Rights For Territories They Don't Service?
Amazon is getting into the anime simulcast game, but their Prime service is available in a limited number of countries. Justin gets into the nitty-gritty of those rights.
― Corey asks: Hi! I'm asking this on the heels of the recent announcements from Amazon regarding Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress, and now the entire Noitamina lineup. Amazon announced global streaming rights to Kabaneri, even though ...
[email protected] Cinderella Girls
In spite of inviting unflattering comparisons to the original series, Cinderella Girls still has enough merit to stand on its own feet.
― It's hard not to compare Idolmaster: Cinderella Girls to the original Idolmaster. While Cinderella Girls isn't a direct sequel, it's an adaptation from the same broader media empire, takes place in the same universe, and even following roughly the same structure. A...
ERASED ‒ Episode 11
"This week's ERASED started right where the last one left off as far as storytelling goes."
ANNCast - Beat The Clock
Ann Tomoko Yamamoto got Time of Eve off the ground on Kickstarter, and now she's back with the beloved - and underseen - shojo comedy Skip Beat, which has a big crowdfunding mountain to climb.
― ANNCast Episode 254: Beat The Clock Ann Tomoko Yamamoto got Time of Eve off the ground on Kickstarter, and now she's back with the beloved - and underseen - shojo dramedy Skip Beat, which has a big crowdfund...
Haruchika – Haruta & Chika ‒ Episode 11
"This episode is an exciting prelude to an increasingly promising finale."
Interview: Akira in Color with Steve Oliff
The man who brought full color to the Akira manga at Marvel Comics so many years ago has unearthed his original pages for sale. Deb Aoki talks to the artist about his experience working on a classic.
― In the 1980's and early 1990's, there was no bigger manga series than AKIRA by Katsuhiro Otomo. Otomo's dynamic, detailed artwork and mind-blowing post-apocalyptic story was a game-changer in Japan, an...
Legend of the Galactic Heroes Novel 1
Legend of the Galactic Heroes’ clumsy writing only somewhat detracts from its sharp commentary and engaging storytelling.
― Western fans have been waiting a long time for Legend of the Galactic Heroes. Created over the course of twelve years, the series' lengthy anime adaptation has never received a western release, in spite of garnering consistent praise from fans. It's not hard to guess why; the co...
Myriad Colors Phantom World ‒ Episode 11
"Though most of its attempts at humor still come off flat, this episode has something that most of the previous episodes haven't: heart."
Gintama ‒ Episode 314
"The joke count clocks in at zero this week, but you'll be so swept up by the action and the plethora of game-changing revelations that you'll hardly miss the humor, even if it is the show's greatest strength."
Prince of Stride: Alternative ‒ Episode 11
"The Stride competition was great, fantastic even, but this week it came at the price of pretty much every other element of the episode."
Season Finale: Konosuba (Episode 10)
"...never forgets its snarky wit or clever twists on game mechanics even in the face of crisis."
Answerman - Who Watches Late Night Anime in Japan?
One reader wonders exactly who is watching something like Haruchika at 1:35am on a Wednesday. Justin has some insight.
― Ashley asks: Who does late-night anime in Japan target, age-wise? Lately it seems like when I talk about the intended audience for a late-night anime with my friends, a lot of them who only experience anime through a Western lens (i.e., only on Funimation, Crunchyroll, Adult Swim,...
Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam - Part 2 (Blu-Ray)
The second half of Zeta Gundam suffers from a little tonal whiplash and struggles in places - is it still worth taking the dive on bluray? Lauren Orsini is ready to find out.
― It's nothing new to say that Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam is a coming-of-age story. However, it becomes more apparent in the second half of the series that it's also a coming-of-age story for the Gundam franchise itself. The first ...
Snow White with the Red Hair ‒ Episode 22
"Shirayuki comes off as a stronger character when she admits her weakness."
Lord Marksman and Vanadis BD+DVD
For all that this blending of epic high fantasy and fan service-y harem antics is a mess, an engaging cast plays a key role in making it tough to dislike.
― Tactical fantasy warfare meets fan service-laced harem antics in this Fall 2014 TV series. Though based on light novels, Lord Marksman actually feels more like a game adaptation, as it boasts distinct RPG flavoring and an emphasis on combat overv...
Mr. Osomatsu ‒ Episode 23
"Through two interconnected stories, episode 23 starts off as a humorously inflated slice-of-life tale before transitioning into an exercise in surrealism."
Answerman - Are AMVs And Other Fan Works Really "Fair Use?"
Arguments about this one have raged forever: are AMVs and other fan works that use clips from anime really "fair use" or are they just copyright infringement? Justin digs in.
― Jake asks: I have been hearing a lot discussion over the last few months about fair use and how many artists are getting a lot of push back from the copy right holders. It has made me think about AMV's and there position at c...
Dimension W ‒ Episode 10
"This episode wasn't as much of a step down as the last one, but that doesn't mean that the show has improved."
Shelf Life - Terror in Resonance
Shinichiro Watanabe's terrorist teens get another look, plus this week's new releases and an anime collection you need to see to believe!
― I've been writing episode reviews for BBK/BRNK this season, and it's been an interesting little series to follow. The show uses CG character models instead of more traditional two-dimensional drawings, and it doesn't always work from an aesthetic standpoint. The...
Utawarerumono: The False Faces ‒ Episode 23
"We may be two episodes from the end of The False Faces, but we're going to spend the entirety of episode 23 running around the city like chickens with our heads cut off."
Schwarzes Marken ‒ Episode 10
"Frankly, I'm a little surprised that the series didn't drag this climax out for another episode, which leaves me wondering what the show is going to do for its final two episodes."
Grimgar of Fantasy and Ash ‒ Episode 10
"Ranta far outdoes the other party members in rashness, stubbornness, and even noise level, and Haru is starting to wonder if this is really okay."
Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans ‒ Episode 23
"Trust nobody on this week's episode of Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans."
Durarara!! ×2 The Third Arc ‒ Episodes 9-10
"Durarara!!'s endgame continues to prove that there's no such thing as a negligible person."
Haikyu!! Second Season ‒ Episode 23
"It's kind of delightful that one of Karasuno's greatest weapons is Tanaka's obnoxiousness, and it highlights once again how the characters are just as important as the games they play."
Wicked City DVD
If graphic, sexually-charged supernatural action series appeal to you then this remastered rerelease of a 1987 OVA from the director of Ninja Scroll should fit the bill quite nicely.
― Despite clocking in at 82 minutes, this 1987 production is actually technically an OVA, as it was originally released straight-to-video. It is based on novels written by Hideyuki Kikuchi, the prolific writer most famou...
BBK/BRNK ‒ Episode 10
"As a prologue to a season-ending confrontation, this episode gets the job done."
Luck & Logic ‒ Episode 10
"Pardon the pun here, but this is too many leaps of logic for me to follow."
God Eater ‒ Episode 11
"This week follows two careful plans, one in the past and one in the present, as they spiral out of control."
Shōwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjū ‒ Episode 10
"Five years after Kikuhiko's climactic confrontation with a desolate Sukeroku, Tokyo seems shrouded in a permanently overcast sky."
GATE ‒ Episode 22
"For most of the season, GATE has been almost overloaded with story. With episode 22, the series actually feels like it is stalling."
The List - 6 Most Dangerous Military Organizations in Anime
Sometimes our heroes aren't fighting against just one villain and a few henchmen - sometimes they're taking on an entire globe-conquering military force.
― There are few tropes capable of mirroring real world fears like a world power gone corrupt and its military running rampant. The backdrop is a common one, be it a dystopian future or a righteous war against a neighboring nation. Heroes have fough...
Heavy Object ‒ Episode 22
"The drones used by the Battlefield Cleaning Service add an intriguing new dimension to Heavy Object's man-against-machine battles."
Dagashi Kashi ‒ Episode 9
"This was a bad episode, but not an unexpected one."
Lupin the Third (TV 2015) ‒ Episode 23
"The penultimate episode of Lupin III: Part IV is here, and we're digging right into the action."
Hour of the Zombie GN 1
Seven Seas' latest zombie title has some interesting twists that make it stand out in a crowded genre - and it's not just that the zombies are fast.
― Zombie stories have rapidly filled the supernatural niche previously reserved for hot vampires, and every day it feels like a new one pops up. Loosely based on Voodoo beliefs, academics have hypothesized that the popularity of the zombie horror story h...
Girls Beyond the Wasteland ‒ Episode 10
"This episode had a somewhat redemptive ending, but that doesn't erase the largely nonsensical middle section."
Answerman - Why Do Voice Actors Work On Yaoi Drama CDs?
One reader wants to know why some Japanese voice actors (the straight ones, mostly) take yaoi and boys' love drama roles. Is there no stigma attached to playing gay in Japan? Justin gets into it.
― "Minako Sempai" asks: So this is something that I've always wondered about, most Yaoi manga tend to get adapted into drama cds or BL cds as some would like to call them. The male voice actors in these thi...
How Fire Emblem Became a Phenomenon
A cult classic for years, RPG series Fire Emblem has become a bonafide phenomenon among anime fans. Gabriella Ekens dives into the franchise to uncover what suddenly made anime fans sit up and take notice.
― For the longest time, Fire Emblem stood alongside Earthbound as one of those Nintendo franchises people primarily knew from Super Smash Bros. That all changed in 2013, when Fire Emblem: Awakening...
Assassination Classroom season 2 ‒ Episode 10
"As old friends and enemies alike come out to support Class E, Nagisa gets a chance to find some closure on a couple of past conflicts."
Review: Free! Eternal Summer BD+DVD
The pressure is on as Haruka, Makoto, and Rin enter into their third year of high school and have to face the idea of the future...once they're done swimming, of course.
― There is no faster way to make something enjoyable into a chore than to add a little pressure to the mix. While Free! Eternal Summer is still at its heart a show about beautiful young men in tight, skimpy swimwear, that idea forms ...
Naruto Shippuden ‒ Episode 452
"The two episodes of this miniseries that have aired thus far are more entertaining than any of the anime-original material the show rolled out in 2015."
Haruchika – Haruta & Chika ‒ Episode 10
"While the mystery itself may have been less difficult than previous weeks, the race-against-the-clock more than makes up for it with extra tension."
ERASED ‒ Episode 10
"It was a disaster that's been a long time coming, in retrospect."
Active Raid ‒ Episode 10
"This was not a good episode of Active Raid, but not in the way that Active Raid episodes have traditionally been not-good."
Interview: Eric Beckman, Founder & President of GKIDS
The man behind GKIDS, the company with the magic touch for getting anime nominated at the Oscars, talks about both the business and the New York International Children's Film Festival, happening now!
― Eric Beckman is the co-founder and president of GKIDS, a film distributor well-known among anime fans for their careful (and Academy Award nomination-laden) handling of several Studio Ghibli films in t...
Myriad Colors Phantom World ‒ Episode 10
"It's finally time for Ruru to get a feature episode."
The X Button - Import Roundup with Shin Megami Tensei
This week brings imports for Raiden, Shin Megami Tensei, and bug superheroes! Plus Ace Attorney’s best news yet, Zero Escape victims, and Kirby in a robot!
― So what was your favorite part of last week's Nintendo Direct? Wait, scratch that. What was your least favorite part? The front-runner there appears to be Nintendo's announcement of Super NES games arriving on the 3DS Virtual Console...the New ...
KonoSuba – God's blessing on this wonderful world!! ‒ Episode 9
"The artistry and animation here is actually some of the series' best to date, as are some interesting choices for camera angles and genuinely sexy succubus designs."
Review: Terror in Resonance BD+DVD
Terror in Resonance stumbles as a thriller, but is lifted to near brilliance by its execution and compelling ideas.
― Shinichiro Watanabe is a name that carries a lot of weight in the anime community. Cowboy Bebop is one of the most acclaimed anime of all time, particularly overseas, where its scifi-western appeal and polished, inspired execution have made it a gateway anime for close to two decades....
Gintama ‒ Episode 313
"There aren't many laugh-out-loud jokes this week, but learning more about the Shinsengumi's origins and Sasaki's tragic past is a satisfactory tradeoff."
Answerman - Are Manga Sales Increasing in the US?
Things seem pretty great in the world of manga publishing, but just how well is the industry doing? Justin breaks down some numbers.
― Cody asks: With book stores increasing their manga sections last year, and the amount of new series being picked up from different companies, is this a sign that people buying more manga is increasing? and if so do you think we'll reach a point where the price of man...
Comparing Comedies: Konosuba vs. Dagashi Kashi
This season's two hit comedies, Konosuba and Dagashi Kashi, don't have much in common on the surface, but comparing them reveals a lot about what we get out of anime comedies. Nick Creamer considers the possibilities.
― What is it that makes you laugh? Is it watching a character who's earned their fall hit the banana peel, or watching someone you've come to love be their ridiculous self? What do you ...
Skip Beat! GN 36
Kyoko learns that her original nemesis is set to make a return while Ren tries not to be jealous of himself in another volume that proves that Skip Beat's still got it.
― Yoshiki Nakamura's Skip Beat may appear to strictly be about the tangled potential loves of heroine Kyoko Mogami as she struggles to crush her softer feelings, but if you trace it back to its roots, you'll see that her unhealthy rel...
Prince of Stride: Alternative ‒ Episode 10
"It's much easier to take Riku's issues seriously when they're not lightened up at the first suspicion that the viewer might become uncomfortable."
Mr. Osomatsu ‒ Episode 22
"With no cold open or post-credits stinger, episode 22 devotes the entirety of its runtime to telling two delightfully twisted tales."
Snow White with the Red Hair ‒ Episode 21
"This transition episode is less about moving us between storylines and more about allowing us to enjoy the characters and their relationships."
The Best and Worst of the Season So Far: Week of Feb 26-Mar 3
Haruchika comes blasting up the charts in a surprise upset, but is it enough to shake up the top 5? See how your favorite shows fared in our weekly user rankings!
― Our team of reviewers are following 27 anime series of the Winter 2016 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 th...
Dimension W ‒ Episode 9
"As Dimension W tries to build on a nonexistent foundation, it only loses me more and more."
Etotama Collector's Edition Blu-Ray Vol. 2-3
Although it requires muddling through several more episodes of brain-numbing antics, the dramatic payoff for the series' paper-thin storyline is surprisingly strong.
― In anime, it is not at all unusual for comedy series which are not purely episodic to turn serious (or at least mostly serious) in their final few episodes in order to resolve whatever semblance of plot is guiding them. Often this does...
One Piece ‒ Episode 732
"There's a sense that the build-up was meant to be an important factor in this final battle, but that doesn't mean our patience can't be tested."
Interview: "Queer Japan" Filmmaker Graham Kolbeins
The folks behind MASSIVE, the first gay manga anthology in the US, return with a documentary exploring LGBT mangaka and the community in Japan (Mild NSFW images).
― Blushing school boys kiss in BL manga, magical anime girls coyly hint at their “more than friends” relationship. Male kabuki performers dress up as elegant women, and androgynous female actresses in Takarazuka theater troupes have legions...
Answerman - How Do You Cast Celebrities In An Anime Dub?
The casting process for your average anime dub is pretty well-known, but what happens when you have American celebrities in the mix? Justin explains.
― John asks: When you cast a dub full of celebrities like Only Yesterday, how is that process different from casting a "regular" anime dub that uses the usual pool of actors? Anime dubbing is a decidedly low-end affair when it comes to the entertainmen...
Shelf Life - When They Cry Season 1
One of the most acclaimed horror anime series of all time finally gets a much-needed rerelease in America, this time on bluray. PLUS: the rest of this week's new anime releases!
― There are some weeks when one or two genres seem to dominate the new release list. I'll find myself thinking, "Wow, there's a lot of mecha stuff this week," or, "Son of a beach episode, where did this avalanche of harem co...
Rokka: Braves of the Six Flowers Collector's Edition Blu-Ray Vol. 2
Rokka switches genres and settles into a very entertaining mystery rhythm in its middle set of episodes.
― Things have changed in Rokka: Braves of the Six Flowers. The show's first collection set up a compelling fantasy world, but didn't do much more than that; ultimately, those four episodes ended up feeling like a prologue to the actual story, with the show's slow pacing and poor character writing ...
Schwarzes Marken ‒ Episode 9
"Episode 9 just doesn't come together well enough to be anywhere near as compelling as it aims to be."
Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans ‒ Episode 22
"This may be the final “calm before the storm” episode before everything gets crazy again."
Grimgar of Fantasy and Ash ‒ Episode 9
"This episode, while it does have some important moments and nice character exchanges, just feels a little blah."
Haikyu!! Second Season ‒ Episode 22
"In another show I might doubt the ability to stretch this game out, but in this case, I'm just wondering how we viewers can make it with three weeks left until we know who wins."
The Mike Toole Show - Dark Side of the Moomin
If you've been an anime fan for a long time, odds are you've seen these weird creatures called Moomin at some point. If you've ever been curious what they are and where they came from, Mike's got the full report.
― I'm jetting off to Japan in a couple of weeks, the better to cover Anime Japan for this here website. This isn't purely a work trip, though—my wife is joining me, and we're building a vaca...
The Rising of the Shield Hero Novel 3
The third volume of this fantasy series really picks up the slack as it gives us more information about the world and political system Naofumi has landed in. Suddenly, things are making a lot more sense.
― Sometimes a series needs a few volumes to hit its stride. Aneko Yusagi's The Rising of the Shield Hero is clearly one of them. While volume one did a reasonable job of introducing the premise – fou...
BBK/BRNK ‒ Episode 9
"I wasn't sure how well the new characters would fit in when they appeared last week, but most of them have had a positive impact on the show thus far."
Shōwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjū ‒ Episode 9
"We know how it all ends – the first episode told us as much – and as of this moment, there's nowhere to go but down."
Utawarerumono: The False Faces ‒ Episodes 21-22
"U2warerumono has swiftly found itself in the middle of an intense game of Idiot Ball."
Luck & Logic ‒ Episode 9
"Luck & Logic proves that it does best when it ditches the half-hearted slice-of-life for sheer action."
Girls Beyond the Wasteland ‒ Episode 9
"With the script finally done, it's time for Yuka to stop being a dead weight and get on with the voice acting."
God Eater ‒ Episode 10
"It's clear that God Eater has gotten a major boost from the hiatus, resulting in an episode that was beautiful and horrible and hopeful and tragic all at once."
The List - 7 Highly Questionable Videogame Adaptations
There are plenty of decent anime based on videogames, but the genre has kind of a crummy reputation for a reason: there are plenty of not-so-great game anime out there. Here are seven of 'em!
― Anime productions pull from a lot of places; in addition to manga and light novels, anime also routinely adapts storylines from popular videogames. While there are plenty of decent anime based on videogames, ...
Umineko When They Cry Episode 5: End of the Golden Witch Volume 3 GN 12
The series gets back on track with this volume, although it still relies a bit heavily on a discussion of mystery as a genre rather than the mystery itself.
― Ryukishi07 has established an authorial habit in this fifth arc of his Umineko: When They Cry mystery series that has the unfortunate side effect of taking away from his own story's efficacy and enjoyability: trolling the reader. This really ca...
Dagashi Kashi ‒ Episode 8
"Dagashi Kashi remained its low-key, generally endearing self this week, though its second half unfortunately demonstrated exactly why that's the show it ought to be."
Heavy Object ‒ Episode 21
"I could be wrong, but I think this is the first time an anime series has featured a squad of mercenary maids with their own armored personnel carrier."
Lupin the Third (TV 2015) ‒ Episode 22
"This episode focuses back on one of the major players—Rebecca—and calls back to previous episodes in the series in small ways."
GATE ‒ Episode 21
"After taking a narrower focus last episode, GATE is back to splitting its time amongst multiple plot threads."
ANNCast - Criticproof
Zac and Jacob discuss the Psycho-Pass movie before gabbin' about anime criticism - what makes a good review, mistakes they've made, and much more.
― ANNCast Episode 253: Criticproof Zac and Jacob discuss the Psycho-Pass movie before gabbin' about anime criticism - what makes a good review, the mistakes they've made, and much more. You can listen to the show on our player here, direct-download the MP...
Answerman - How Important Are Hit Anime Series?
Does the anime industry need big hit shows to survive, or do people buy anime "because it's anime" and that sustains the market? Justin gets into it.
― Phil asks: Is the anime business hit-driven like other forms of media or do people buy it "because it's anime" and that sustains the market? Anime is, by and large, a hit-driven medium. By that I mean, the majority of anime series do not turn a profi...
Psycho-Pass The Movie
Production I.G.'s hit franchise finally hits the big screen this March, with Gen Urobuchi back in the writer's seat. Jacob Hope Chapman delves into the Psycho-Pass movie to see what it has to offer returning fans.
― If you were hoping to see the Sibyl system shaken by the events of this theatrical Psycho-Pass adventure, you may want to curb your enthusiasm. Production I.G. clearly knows when they hav...
Gundam Front Tokyo: The Ultimate Tour
Step inside the ultimate Gundam fan experience at Gundam Front! Explore enormous replicas of famous mobile suits and locations from the show, learn how Gunpla gets made and more in this exhaustive photo tour.
― In 1979 the All-Nippon News Network affiliate in Aichi Prefecture, Japan, Nagoya Broadcasting Network, aired an anime series that changed the face of the anime industry. That series was Mobil...
Goodnight Punpun Omnibus 1
Inio Asano's story is part slice-of-life and part coming-of-age as it follows a little boy named Punpun while he tries to navigate a life that isn't quite what he was expecting.
― It's almost too easy to call Goodnight Punpun a slice-of-life story or a coming of age manga. Although it is both of those things, it's also a bit of a fantasy, albeit a fairly mundane one. Inio Asano's story follows fifth-...
Assassination Classroom season 2 ‒ Episode 9
"While the dreaded career survey has long been a popular plot device in anime, Assassination Classroom puts its own twist on the old formula."
Naruto Shippuden ‒ Episode 451
"After putting the main story on the backburner for half a year, the producers decide to throw us a bone and show us what's happening in the “real” world."
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