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The Spring 2016 Anime Preview Guide

The Spring 2016 Anime Preview Guide has begun! Check back daily for fresh takes on all of this season's hottest new shows.
Available Now: Shonen Maid - Concrete Revolutio: The Last Song - Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress - And you think there is never a girl online? - Anne-Happy - Super Lovers - Bungo Stray Dogs - Twin Star Exorcists - Joker Game - Hundred - BAKUON!! - Sailor Moon Crystal Season 3 - and much more!

Interview: Bluefin and the World of Anime Collectibles

If you've ever bought a Gundam model, it likely says 'Bluefin' on it somewhere; we sat down for a chat with the folks at Bluefin, who are responsible for getting some of the coolest anime merchandise into your hot little hands.

The X Button - First Impressions: Star Fox Zero

This week: the sights, sounds, and gimmicky little robots of Star Fox Zero! Plus Assault Suits, Mega Man, and yet another game-industry departure.

Anime Spotlight - Bakuon!!

Discouraged by riding uphill to her school on a bicycle, high school girl Hane Sakura joins the motorcycle club and acquired a motorcycle license.

Anime Spotlight - And you thought there is never a girl online?

Hideki Nishimura thought female characters in online games were all played by male players. He is about to change his mind, however, when he receives a confession of love from a female character......

Anime Spotlight - Haifuri

Childhood friends Akeno Misaki and Moeka China enroll in a marine high school in Yokosuka in order to become "Blue Mermaids," a new female force established to protect the remaining coastal towns after many countries have sank into the sea.

The Pro Wrestling-Shonen Anime Connection

If you've ever wondered why shonen anime like Dragon Ball Z seems like pro wrestling so often, Daryl Surat is here to illuminate the Japanese pro wrestler who's likely responsible for influencing a generation of mangaka.

Anime Spotlight - Bungo Stray Dogs

Armed Detective Agency, a group of prolific Japanese writers with supernatural powers, solve disputes that army and police couldn't step into.

The Best and Worst of the Winter 2016 Season

The final rankings for the entire Winter 2016 anime season are in! Find out how ERASED, Grimgar, Konosuba and more fared according to your votes!

Anime Spotlight - SUPER LOVERS

High school student Haru Kaido is suddenly introduced to a boy named Ren, a wild child who happens to be his adoptive little brother.

Anime Spotlight - JOKER GAME

In 1937, the Imperial Army established "Institution D" to train spies. The recruitment method, training, and core values of the Institution were, however, very unorthodox and different from those of the Army.
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Answerman - How Common Is It For Japanese Kids To Spend Time Overseas?

The mysterious overseas transfer student who is suddenly at the center of the story: you see it in countless anime, but how common is it? Justin gets into it. ― David asks: I've noticed that a common practice in anime to have a "foreign" character is to have them be someone born in Japan, but who moved to another country (it usually seems to be the US, although I believe I remember a few cases where...
ep. review

Assassination Classroom season 2 ‒ Episode 14

"I'll give the series the benefit of the doubt on this one, but the last thing Assassination Classroom needs to do is to start making up plot twists as it goes along."
ep. review

Naruto Shippuden ‒ Episode 455

"Although a decent chunk of episode 455 is taken from previous installments, this week's Naruto Shippuden adds a number of intriguing new details to a story we all thought we knew."
ep. review

One Piece ‒ Episode 735

"We're still in the calm before the huge post-arc info dump comes, and all the characters who need out are packing up and heading home."
review

Kingdom DVD

By all rights Kingdom should be a grand epic, but it falters in its storytelling by over-narrating and failing to find a balance between action and character development. ― Note: I use the Romanization provided by Funimation in the subtitles, but from the pronunciation it isn't entirely clear if pinyin or Wade-Giles is being used. Refer here for pronunciation differences. In some ways Kingdom is to C...
review

Princess Jellyfish [Omnibus] GN 1

Princess Jellyfish is finally available in English, and it is definitely worth the wait. Akiko Higashimura's story is touching, funny, and just all around a good read. ― If you have ever felt weird, alone, or socially anxious, Princess Jellyfish is a manga you ought to read. One of the most honest, and funniest, stories about not quite fitting in, Akiko Higashimura's tale of a group of self-proclaime...
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Answerman - Why Would A Licensor Require a Dub?

Just how common is it for a Japanese company to require an English dub, like with Skip Beat, and why would any licensor demand that in the first place? Justin gets into it. ― Ryan asks: I have never thought of this until I read about the Skip Beat! kickstarter. Why would a Japanese company require a english dub for an American company to license a property? Wouldn't they be just as happy with a sub ...
review

Your Lie in April Vol. 1 Blu-Ray

Music shapes and defines the life of Kosei Arima in this acclaimed drama, out on bluray now from Aniplex of America. Theron Martin dives in. ― This release from Aniplex of America covers the first 11 episodes of the adaptation of Naoshi Arakawa's award-winning manga, which constitutes the first of the series' two seasons. Ostensibly it is a series about classical music, and indeed, that is featured r...
ep. review

Series Premiere: Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Crystal: Season III

"I realize that it might be too early for a celebration, but it really looks like the third season of Sailor Moon Crystal is going to be far superior to the first two."
review

Grimgar of Fantasy and Ash

Grimgar presents a unique and compelling take on a well-worn premise, offering a more meditative style of fantasy adventure. ― Grimgar's premise is probably one you've heard before: “boy from our world finds himself waking up in a strange, medieval fantasy world. In this world, players must choose classes and then fight monsters, acquiring gold and new skills over time. And so the boy gathers togethe...
ep. review

Season Premiere: Sailor Moon Crystal (Episode 27)

"I realize that it might be too early for a celebration, but it really looks like the third season of Sailor Moon Crystal is going to be far superior to the first two."
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Anime Spotlight - The Asterisk War (2nd season)

Ayato Amagiri takes up the challenge along with his partner Julis, the Witch of the Resplendent Flames (Glühen Rose). ― The Asterisk War (2nd season) Visit the Official Site › Story Characters Trailer Cast & Staff Gallery Broadcast Begins April 2, 2016 (JST) Key Staff General Director: Manabu Ono (Horizon in the Middle of Nowhere, Saki, The Irregular at Magic High School) Original Character Designs:...
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Answerman - What's With All The Censorship Lately?

Justin cuts to the chase about what is and is not "censorship" and where all the content edits in anime and video games are coming from these days. ― James asks: I have been seeing much news about censorship in video games, recently, and I am wondering why it is still occurring; in this day and age, when people can access virtually anything instantly on the internet, how can companies still think th...
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Shelf Life - Evangelion 3.33: You Can (Not) Advance

The third Evangelion movie gets another look from Gabriella Ekens, who has some advice for poor Shinji. PLUS: This week's avalanche of new anime releases! ― With most of the shows I was following over the winter already over (Is it time for Haikyu season 3 yet?), I started watching Gate on a whim last week. I've always been a little bit of a military otaku at heart, so I'm having a blast watching ta...
review

Saekano: How to Raise a Boring Girlfriend Vol. 1 Blu-Ray

Saekano tries to be a metafictional commentary on otakudom and game creation, but it gets a little too bogged down by that ambition and forgets to advance its plot. It has its fun moments, but not quite enough. ― In some ways it would have been better had Saekano: How to Raise a Boring Girlfriend, adapted from the light novels of the same name by Fumiaki Maruto, saved episode zero for the end of the ...
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The Mike Toole Show - Grudge Match

All the ruckus over Batman v Superman gets Mike thinking about all the crossovers and team-ups anime has attempted over the years, including the new Cyborg 009 vs. Devilman! ― Since the movie came out a couple of weeks back, the entire nerd section of the internet has been buzzing about this new Batman v Superman film. Is it good? Is it really bad? Is Ben Affleck Batman better than Ben Affleck Darede...
review

Utawarerumono OAV Blu-Ray 1

These full-length OVA episodes from 2009 function as side stories to the original TV series. While the storytelling works, the artistry suffers. ― The original Utawarerumono releases came with a few OVA shorts, but these three episodes are actually a separate set of full-length episodes released in Japan in 2009, a set complete with its own distinct opener and closer. This release from Sentai Filmwor...
ep. review

Season Finale: Shōwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjū (Episode 13)

"It's only halfway complete, but Showa Genroku Rakugo Shinju already stands among the best that anime has to offer."
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Anime Spotlight - The Lost Village

30 young men and women sign up for a suspicious bus tour to “Nanakimura Village” – a phantom village that may or may not really exist. ― The Lost Village Visit the Official Site › Story Characters Trailer Cast & Staff Gallery Broadcast Begins April 2016 (JST) Key Staff Director: Tsutomu Mizushima (Another, Big Windup!, Blood-C, Girls und Panzer, Prison School, Shirobako, xxxHOLiC) Series Composition...
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Anime Spotlight - Kumamiko - Girl meets Bear

A middle school student works as the shrine maiden for a shrine that worships bears. ― Kumamiko - Girl meets Bear Visit the Official Site › Story Characters Trailer Cast & Staff Gallery Broadcast Begins April 3rd 2016(JST) Key Staff Director: Kiyoshi Matsuda (Macross Frontier (TV) (Episode Director (5 episodes)) Story Deep in the mountains somewhere in the Tohoku region, Machi is a middle school stu...
ep. review

Season Finale: Dagashi Kashi (Episode 12)

"The show ends where it began, with a bunch of likable teenagers enjoying their time together as they amble very slowly towards the future."
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The List - 7 Anime from When Maids Ruled the Earth

Journey with us back to a land before time, an era when sea, sky and land were dominated by the majestic, the proud, the beloved and eternal Maido. ― Anime cycles through trends, like all fictional media. Twilight gave rise to plenty of supernatural teen lit romance series trying to mirror Meyer's success while other authors are turning to fairy tale reimaginings to cater to Once Upon a Time viewers...
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ANNCast - From The New World

Zac and Jacob didn't know going in that From The New World would become one of the best anime they've ever seen, but it sure was a nice surprise. Guest Max Holl joins the discussion. ― ANNCast Episode 256: From The New World Zac and Jacob didn't know going in that From The New World would become one of the best anime they've ever seen, but it sure was a nice surprise. Guest Max Holl joins the discus...
ep. review

Season Finale: Utawarerumono (Episode 25)

"Even if there turns out to be a third season on the way, U2warerumono is best left forgotten."
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Answerman - Why Don't We Have A Subscription Manga Service Yet?

One reader wants to know why "The Netflix of Manga" doesn't appear to exist yet, and Justin digs into the many possible reasons why. ― Matthew asks: What's stopping an English language manga distributor (Viz, Yen Press, etc.) from incorporating an all access subscription model to their online libraries? Unlimited access for a monthly or yearly subscription fee seems to currently work well for the an...
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The X Button - First Impressions: Nights of Azure

This week: A look at the darker turns of Gust’s new action-RPG! Plus arcade comebacks, Fire Emblem fallout, and a long-lost relic of the 1990s! ― I came down with a stomach virus last week, and it made me think about the mixed blessing of staying home sick when I was a kid. I'd stretch out in bed, sip flat 7-Up, read books and magazines, and maybe get propped up in front of the TV if I was well into...
review

Mahō Shōjo Nante Mō Ii Desu Kara. Streaming

This sweet and silly little magical girl parody series hits a lot of the right notes even if it never really goes anywhere. It's fun, but not much else. ― Mahō Shōjo Nante Mō Ii Desu Kara. translates to I've had Enough of Being a Magical Girl, and you can certainly see why. Yuzuka, the eponymous magical girl, found herself saddled with the designation while walking home from school one day. A strange...
ep. review

Assassination Classroom season 2 ‒ Episode 13

"Once again, we have a divided episode where one half clearly outshines the other."
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Photos from AnimeJapan 2016: Finale

Our last gigantic batch of photos from AnimeJapan 2016, including Hundreds, Jojo's Bizarre Adventure, My Hero Academia and much more. PLUS: a visit to the Love Live shrine! ― Okay, so here's how Anime Japan was laid out – you'd enter the facility behind the cool sign above, go downstairs, and then dash across across two huge halls (hall ‘A’ and hall ‘J,’ natch) of Tokyo Big Sight to see everything. ...
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Your Ultimate Guide to Anime Ending Credits: Part II

Last time we ran through the entire process of actual animation - this time we'll cover the people who polish it up and make it shine for you. Kevin Cirugeda's incredible guide to the folks who make anime continues! ― It's time for another installment in this guide detailing the ins and outs of anime production, structured around the roles listed in the ending credits of a TV anime episode. When desc...
review

Bokurano

Bokurano tells a gripping and inspiring story of human conviction in spite of its messy animation problems. ― I'd been meaning to watch Bokurano for a while before it fortuitously popped up on Crunchyroll. The show falls in what I consider a “low-key classic” area of fan reputation - shows like Dennou Coil or Haibane Renmei, that have absolutely stellar reputations, but not the most visibility. It's ...
ep. review

Season Finale: Gintama (Episode 316)

"As the Farewell Shinsengumi Arc comes to a close, viewers are forced to say goodbye to the staff of Odd Jobs Gin-chan for the fourth time."
ep. review

Series Finale: Myriad Colors Phantom World (Episode 13)

"While the series may be a bit of a disappointment overall by KyoAni standards, neither it is it a train wreck."
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AnimeJapan 2016 Photos: Part I & II

The sights, the sounds, the booths, the cosplayers - this is the show floor at this year's AnimeJapan 2016, where everything from My Hero Academia to Macross Delta were shown off. ― It's finally here! The reason I flew across the country, over Alaska, and across the Pacific to Japan, the nation's biggest anime exposition, and it… …well, it seems kinda empty, doesn't it? Let's head inside Tokyo Big S...
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Answerman - Why Haven't Light Novels And Visual Novels Caught On In America?

Light novels and visual novels have both had plenty of niche success in the US, but neither medium has broken mainstream - why is that? Justin considers the possibilities. ― Carl asks: I was wondering why light novels and visual novels haven't caught on in the US the way Anime and Manga have. While some Light Novels and arguably less Visual Novels have been translated they seem to be huge in Japan b...
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The Best and Worst of the Season So Far: Weeks of Mar 18-24

The winter season comes to a crashing finale with a surprising pick climbing up the ladder just in time to claim the top spot! How did the rest of your favorite shows fare in the end? ― 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 se...
review

A Girl on the Shore GN

Inio Asano's sexually explicit tale of two depressed middle schoolers seeking solace in each other is haunting in its depiction of teenage depression and what its protagonists do to try and cope with it. ― Here's your warning before we discuss the book: this is a very sexually explicit manga, so if that makes you uncomfortable, A Girl on the Shore is not going to be the book for you. Given that Inio ...
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Tour the Swag of AnimeJapan 2016

Here's an avalanche of photos of all the incredible toys, costumes, models, cels, statues, posters, sake, trading cards, blurays, gashapon and more on display at AnimeJapan 2016! ― As anime and manga fans from around the world gather at the Tokyo Big Sight exhibition center for the annual Anime Japan fair (March 26 to March 27, 2016), it begs the question of what sort of merchandise fans are looking ...
review

Monthly Girls' Nozaki-Kun BD+DVD

One of the most popular and beloved comedies of the last few years is out on bluray from Sentai Filmworks, and Theron Martin's ready for a revisit. ― With most anime comedies, the discussions are about whether or not they are funny enough consistently enough for them to be considered among the season's (or even year's) funniest titles. With this 12 episode offering from 2014, the discussion is instea...
ep. review

Season Finale: Mr. Osomatsu (Episode 25)

"Even in its curtain call, the show managed to subvert viewer expectations and serve up a heaping helping of irreverency."
ep. review

Series Finale: Snow White with the Red Hair (Episode 24)

"Snow White with the Red Hair proves that not every story has to be epic and change your world."
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Answerman - Is There A Future For "Spinoff" Anime Conventions?

Japan Expo USA is on hiatus indefinitely and a few other conventions "spun off" from larger events seem to be having a little trouble - is there a future for these shows? ― Chris asks: I see Japan Expo USA has gone into hiatus mode, and we're waiting on dates and a location for the next Otakon Vegas. Are these spinoff cons going to make it, and what's holding them back? Despite their popularity, ani...
ep. review

Season Finale: Dimension W (Episode 12)

"Overall, Dimension W started out promising, stood on shaky ground until about episode five, and then threw itself off of a cliff."
ep. review

One Piece ‒ Episode 734

"As last week's episode finished off with the final blow of the Luffy vs. Doflamingo fight, this week is mostly about getting the reactions of the enormous supporting cast."
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Shelf Life - Kingdom Season 1

Funimation quietly released season one of Kingdom, a little-seen anime about China's Warring States period in a big DVD box. James takes a look. PLUS: this week's new releases! ― There are some weeks when nothing on the new release list really catches my eye, but this week ain't one of them. There's some really good stuff coming out, and a lot of it comes in comes in a big, shiny box full of merchan...
review

Review: Parasyte -the maxim- Blu-Ray Vol. 1

The first half of Adult Swim's smash hit horror/thriller Parasyte is out on bluray from Sentai Filmworks. Nick Creamer revisits the phenomenon for a fresh look at all that gore and splatter. ― Initially published throughout the late 80s and early 90s, you'd think the Parasyte manga would be an odd choice for adaptation - until you learned it was accompanying a new live-action film release. Given that...
ep. review

Series Finale: Schwarzes Marken (Episode 12)

"It's a finale with some disagreeable elements but on the whole, it's a satisfying conclusion to the story."
ep. review

Season Finale: Grimgar of Fantasy and Ash (Episode 12)

"This was never an easy story – but in the end, it is one worth watching."
ep. review

Season Finale: Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans (Episode 25)

"This episode conveyed big changes on the horizon for each main character through a thoughtful, slow buildup that has me both excited and scared."
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Indian Summer DVD

This three episode OVA series from 2007-2008 is an eminently forgettable fan service fest which is best forgotten about. ― This three episode OVA series, which adapts a manga of the same name, was originally released in Japan over 2007 and 2008. ADV Films gave the anime version its first American release in the first quarter of 2009, but it is now being rereleased by Sentai Filmworks under its Sentai...
ep. review

Season Finale: Haikyu!! Second Season (Episode 25)

"Once again, the show excels in depicting the aftermath of an emotional game."
ep. review

Season Finale: BBK/BRNK (Episode 12)

"BBK/BRNK got pretty ambitious with its storytelling in the latter half of the season, and this episode is simply too short to offer a proper ending to every side story."
ep. review

Season Finale: Luck & Logic (Episode 12)

"While this episode of Luck & Logic neatly concluded its story arc and deftly set up a plot for its upcoming season, there was nothing particularly special about it."
ep. review

Season Finale: God Eater (Episode 13)

"Though it was a more momentous than usual episode, it left too many loose ends unresolved, and if we don't get a second season it's going to hurt."
ep. review

Series Finale: Durarara!! (Episodes 35-36)

"This finale was never going to be able to live up to the promise of 62+ bloated episodes, so covering the major bases as well as it did is worth its own special flavor of applause."
ep. review

Shōwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjū ‒ Episode 12

"We've reached That Moment, foreshadowed throughout the entire series and included in the title."
ep. review

Dagashi Kashi ‒ Episode 11

"Overall, this episode felt a bit more sedate than usual, but it was otherwise pretty much textbook Dagashi Kashi."
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The List - 6 Steampunk Anime to Whet Your Whistle

If it looks Victorian and it has a bunch of gears and watch parts on it, then it's Steampunk! Anime has a rich tradition of embracing the steampunk aesthetic - here are six of the coolest! ― Steampunk is one facet of geek interests that even the uninitiated has probably seen at anime conventions thanks to cosplay. Steampunk versions of popular characters, be it Disney princesses or Ghostbusters, hav...
review

Shuriken and Pleats GN 1

Matsuri Hino's new series is here, and this time it features a girl ninja instead of vampires. It's fun, but hampered by the fact that Hino doesn't seem quite sure what kind of story she wants to write. ― In the middle of writing her previous series, Vampire Knight, Matsuri Hino reports thinking to herself that she wouldn't write another manga series. Instead (and luckily for her fans), she wrote Shu...
ep. review

Season Finale: GATE (Episode 24)

"This episode does cover most of its bases, but it never much captures a feeling of tension or energy."
ep. review

Season Finale: Heavy Object (Episode 24)

"I'd hesitate to recommend this to anyone who doesn't enjoy fictional technical details, but its intended audience will find a competent show that only gets better over time."
ep. review

Season Finale: Girls Beyond the Wasteland (Episode 12)

"Ultimately, I can't call this a good show, but it did turn out charming in ways that I didn't expect."
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Touring The Real-Life Anohana

Take a stroll through the real-life locations and natural beauty that inspired the smash hit tearjerker Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day! ― In recent years, an entire sub-culture of anime fans dedicated to finding the real-life locations of different anime series has emerged. You might think this is an easy task, but consider the effort put into it. First, we must pinpoint the actual city or town ...
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Answerman - What Holidays Are Celebrated Only In Japan?

Holidays are frequently strip-mined for use in anime storylines, but Japan's holidays often look a lot different from those in the West. Justin breaks it down. ― T. Brown asks: So many animes cover holidays like Christmas, Valentine's day, and White day, but at there any other holidays that are celebrated that are specifically Eastern or Japanese? It's true that Western holidays tend to get most of ...
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ANNCast - Patience Rewarded

Zac and Jacob take a break before Spring Preview Guide to wrap up the winter season, hype up the spring and discuss the FLCL rebirth, the Escaflowne kickstarter and more! ― ANNCast Episode 255: Patience Rewarded Zac and Jacob take a break before Spring Preview Guide to wrap up the winter season, hype up the spring and discuss the FLCL rebirth, the Escaflowne kickstarter and more! You can listen to t...
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KonoSuba – God's blessing on this wonderful world!!

Konosuba is inconsistently funny and certainly rough around the edges, but still finds charm in its group of ragtag non-heroes. ― That's right, they made another “trapped in a videogame-style world” show. The leveling, the acquiring of skills, the evil demon lord, all of it. Of course, Konosuba is a little different from Sword Art Online or Log Horizon. Imitation inevitably follows success, but so do...
ep. review

Assassination Classroom season 2 ‒ Episode 12

"Unfortunately, this episode's second half doesn't measure up to the first."
ep. review

Naruto Shippuden ‒ Episode 454

"This week's outing reminds us that Itachi's backstory is all about tough decisions, moral ambiguity, and personal sacrifice."
ep. review

Series Finale: ERASED (Episode 12)

"Overall, ERASED is definitely not as good as the show it could have been, but it's still a very reasonable show."
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Can You Name These 12 Anime from the 2000s?

How well do you remember the previous decade? Test your knowledge of the anime of the 2000s!
ep. review

Season Finale: Haruchika – Haruta & Chika (Episode 12)

"This final episode achieves strong emotional closure by giving us what we want most from each of these characters in a slow, satisfying, natural way."
ep. review

Season Finale: Active Raid (Episode 12)

"The title of this season's final Active Raid, “For Whom Does Order Exist?”, seems like a pretty good question for a better show to explore."
ep. review

Myriad Colors Phantom World ‒ Episode 12

"This feels much more like a series approaching a midway point than an end."
review

Digimon Adventure tri. Episodes 5-8 Streaming

The second Digimon Adventure tri film is finally here! Does it build on the promise of the first installment? Our resident Digimon expert Jacob Hope Chapman finds out. ― Wow, the Adventure cast sure has grown up! In fact, they've grown up way more than I think anyone was expecting. If the first movie made it clear that Digimon Tri has set its sights on nostalgic children-at-heart instead of trying to...
ep. review

Gintama ‒ Episode 315

"For the second week in a row, comedy is thrown out the window, but the show remains riveting and the Farewell Shinsengumi Arc has outdone even the stellar Shogun Assassination storyline before it."
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Toole Japan Part II: Attack on Titan and Evangelion at Universal Studios Japan

Mike valiantly fights the crowds on a holiday weekend at Universal Studios Japan to experience the park's Attack on Titan, Evangelion and Kyary Pamyu Pamyu rides - and that's just the beginning! ― After the glorious, unexpected insanity of the Nipponbashi Festa, Prairie and I figured that hitting Universal Japan on Monday would be a good idea, to avoid the crowds. After all, who goes to a theme park ...
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Answerman - How Do Anime Companies Quality-Check Their Work?

There are a million little factors that can go wrong with any bluray - how do anime companies catch (or miss) all those little mistakes? Justin dives in. ― Brian asks: What sort of QA process to anime companies have? I ask this because it seems to me that I've come across a whole variety of issues that at points seem unacceptable for a retail release, such as a sub only show completely missing a spo...
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What Was Your First Anime Obsession?

Our critics revisit the shows that transformed them from normal everyday teens into full-fledged Anime Fans, and we want to know what YOUR first real anime obsession was! ― We asked our writers one simple question: which anime made you a fan? Not the first anime you ever saw - not the blurry memories of Robotech or Gundam Wing before you knew what anime was - the first show you really embraced as an ...
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The Best and Worst of the Season So Far: Week of Mar 11-17

ERASED rebounds while Konosuba's finale takes the top spot. Find out how your other favorite shows are performing as we head into the Spring season! ― 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 that these ranki...
ep. review

Season Finale: Prince of Stride: Alternative (Episode 12)

"“End of Summer and Beyond” is less about telling the story of the race and more about capturing a mood."
review

Monster Hunter: Flash Hunter GN 1

Keiichi Hikami and Shin Yamamoto's take on the Monster Hunter world is much more faithful than Hiro Mashima's, and it's off to a decent start - even if it still may be more fun to actually play the game. ― Monster Hunter: Flash Hunter marks the second adaptation of the popular Monster Hunter game franchise to make it into English translation, the first being Kodansha's release of Hiro Mashima's Monst...
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Toole Japan Part I: Nipponbashi Street Festa 2016

We sent Mike Toole to Japan, so naturally he stumbled across an enormous cosplay street festival on his first day in beautiful Osaka. Witness: incredible cosplay by Japanese fans! Giant robots! Dogs and cats in costume! ― I'm on assignment for ANN here in Japan, getting ready to cover the great big Anime Japan event later this week at Tokyo Big Sight! But before heading to Japan's megalopolis, my wif...
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Interview: Inio Asano

The acclaimed author of Goodnight Punpun, Solanin and Nijigahara Holograph talks about his currently-ongoing manga Dead Dead Demon's Dedededestruction and the modern manga market. ― During the past Salón del Manga de Barcelona, Spain's largest anime and manga event, which took place in Barcelona from October 29th to November 1st, we had the opportunity to talk with Inio Asano, the manga creator respo...
review

Deadman Wonderland GN 13

Deadman Wonderland's conclusion rushes to the finale a little too fast, but it largely proves a satisfying ending to the series. ― Ever since his classmates were killed and he was framed for their murders and sent to Deadman Wonderland, Ganta Igarashi's life has been a nightmare. Forced to fight for his life in twisted gladiatorial matches and later against the forces that put him in the prison in th...
ep. review

Utawarerumono: The False Faces ‒ Episode 24

"U2warerumono keeps derailing anything that could be dramatically cathartic into another series of time-filler battles."
ep. review

Mr. Osomatsu ‒ Episode 24

"Somehow, the series has made us care enough about these little jerks to want to see them happy."
ep. review

One Piece ‒ Episode 733

"The fated day has finally come, as the final episode of Luffy vs. Doflamingo has arrived."
ep. review

Snow White with the Red Hair ‒ Episode 23

"What is mostly lacking in this episode is Shirayuki herself."
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Answerman - Why Aren't More Dubs Available For Streaming?

One reader observes that while subtitled anime is plentiful in the streaming world, dubbed shows still lag behind - why is that? Justin gets into it. ― Scotty asks: Do you know why site likes Hulu and Crunchyroll only let you steam the subbed versions of anime even if there is a dub available. I'm a paying member of both but they only have some dubs there but I know some shows actually have them. Ar...

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