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Series Premiere: Ace Attorney (Episodes 1-3)
"It's as close to the game as you can get, resulting in a show with ho hum production values that takes few if any risks."
Series Premiere: Big Order
"Takes what could have been an interesting premise and somehow manages to make it feel both overstuffed and devoid of anything important actually happening."
Concrete Revolutio - Episodes 14-15
"The first two episodes of Concrete Revolutio: The Last Song, especially the second one, are more cohesive than almost all of season 1."
Ushio & Tora ‒ Episode 29
"This episode was heavy on flashbacks and world-building, but managed to keep its focus on a fight in the present, leading to a rare half hour of riveting action that lines up chess pieces in the background."
Series Premiere: Kiznaiver (Episodes 1-2)
"There's a potentially great show hiding in Kiznaiver. The mix of Trigger's visual exuberance and Mari Okada's hyper-emotive storytelling seem like a fertile match, and Kiznaiver seems to at least be trying to be exactly that theoretical show."
Magic User's Club! TV + OVA DVD
Theron takes in the entire Magic User's Club franchise and tries to determine if this once-somewhat-popular romantic comedy still has any magic left in it after all these years.
― Though it has both light novel and manga adaptations, Magic User's Club! started out in 1996 as a six episode anime-original OVA series. (Some sources out on the Web claim that the OVA is an adaptation of the franchise's sh...
Season Premiere: JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Part Four (Episodes 1-3)
"Between Angelo the friendly neighborhood serial killer and the Nijimura brothers, there's a definite theme of evil coming from the inside and spreading its way outward."
Series Premiere: The Lost Village (Episodes 1-3)
"The Lost Village is an extremely ridiculous show."
ANNCast - Spring Forward, Fall Back
Zac and Jacob wrap up the spring season and pick their favorites from the lot, including My Hero Academia, Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress and much much more, plus live questions!
― ANNCast Episode 257: Spring Forward, Fall Back Zac and Jacob wrap up the spring season and pick their favorites from the lot, including My Hero Academia, Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress and much much more, plus live question...
Answerman - Why Are Some Manga Printed In Such Limited Quantities?
If you're a fan of lesser-known manga (or in some cases, middle volumes of popular long-running series) tracking down copies can be a nightmare. Justin explains why.
― Melissa asks: I've been a longtime fujoshi and now that I've got a stable job and can really expand my yaoi manga collection, I've noticed that many series are out of print, making it hard for me to track them down. I know a lot of ya...
When They Cry Blu-Ray
This 2006 horror series holds up very well in terms of story; even if you've already seen, read, or played it, it's fun to go back and see how much these early arcs actually reveal once you know the answers.
― When mid-twentieth century radio host Reverend Vernon McGee said “God made the cities, and the devil made small towns,” he wasn't talking about When They Cry, but he very well could have been. ...
Naruto Shippuden ‒ Episode 456
"Itachi's Story is still the most entertaining filler arc in years, but its blunders are becoming increasingly difficult to overlook."
Season Premiere: And you thought there is never a girl online? (Episodes 1-2)
"The story is at least giving itself room to develop a deeper story while spinning its romantic comedy antics."
Interview: Kazuya Sasahara on Dai-Shogun VR
The man behind the soldier bunnies of Apocalypse Meow has a vision: anime in virtual reality. Specifically, Dai Shogun in virtual reality, via Kickstarter. Naturally, we had a few questions about his ambitious plans.
― Kazuya Sasahara is known among Western fans chiefly for his directorial work on Cat Shit One (also known as Apocalypse Meow in the US), a little CG OVA featuring realistic fuzzy animal...
Season Premiere: Twin Star Exorcists (Episodes 1-2)
"It's a familiar story being presented with such genuine enthusiasm that you can't help but want to go along for the ride."
Forget Me Not GN 1
Based on a Taiwanese novel, Forget Me Not's first volume struggles with female characters who are more tropes than people even as it spins a fascinating story.
― Forget Me Not puts readers in a difficult position. Protagonist Yusuke Serizawa isn't really a bad guy per se, but he has hurt plenty of girls and women (and presumably males; they just aren't central to the story), and even if it was due mo...
Season Premiere: Bungo Stray Dogs (Episodes 1-2)
"The generally lighthearted tone helps keep things much less dark than they could be, although the ending theme certainly suggests that things could go in that direction later."
Season Premiere: Joker Game (Episodes 1-2)
"Joker Game is already offering viewers a world with rich and varied perspectives, even if the way they express those views is not remotely subtle."
One Piece ‒ Episode 736
"After several dozen or so episodes of pure fighting, nuggets of information like this feel so refreshing."
Answerman - What Does The Deal Between Crunchyroll And Kadokawa Mean?
Kadokawa and Crunchyroll announced a very significant partnership this week, but what does it mean for those companies and for the industry? Justin gets into it.
― Notorious2122 asks: I'm a little confused by the recently-announced deal between Crunchyroll and Kadokawa. Does this mean that CR will get all of the anime that Kadokawa publishes in Japan? Do publishing companies in Japan make the deals ...
Library Wars: Love & War GN 15
In its final volume, Library Wars: Love & War finally achieves a balance between romance and action, making this a happy ending all around.
― As the fluffier, more romantic cousin of the Library War TV anime, Library Wars: Love & War has tried to balance the budding romance between protagonist Iku and her gruff commanding officer Dojo with the anti-censorship action of a military story. It hasn't alw...
Psycho-Pass 2 BD+DVD
Nick Creamer details the many, many, many ways that this grim 'n gritty cyberpunk action sequel let down fans of the smash hit original series.
― The original Psycho-Pass was a real hit back when it premiered in 2012, one of the first hits in a long time for the once-renowned noitaminA anime block. The show was composed and partially written by Gen Urobuchi, a man who'd gained significant fame both i...
Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Crystal: Season III ‒ Episode 2
"The positive changes to this season of Sailor Moon Crystal seem to be sticking so far, not just with its transformations but also with its character interactions and plot progressions."
Answerman - What Happened With Anime Sols?
A few years back, a new anime crowdfunding platform emerged, promising to stream classic unreleased anime while raising money for DVD releases - and then it folded. Justin gets in to what happened.
― Sam J. asks: My question is the following (though whether it's an appropriate question for this column, I'll have to let you judge): What happened to Anime Sols? Did it have to happen? What lessons are ...
Anime Spotlight - Haven't You Heard? I'm Sakamoto.
The cool, cooler, coolest high school student is here, and his name is Sakamoto.
― Haven't You Heard? I'm Sakamoto. Visit the Official Site › Story Characters Trailer Cast & Staff Gallery On Air starting April 7, 2016 (in Japan) Key Staff Director: Shinji Takamatsu (Gintama (TV), Mobile Suit Gundam X, School Rumble, Cute High Earth Defense Club LOVE!) Character Design: Kana Ishida Atsuko Nakajima (T...
Series Premiere: My Hero Academia (Episodes 1 & 2)
"The first two episodes of My Hero Academia are as indicative of the genre as you can imagine when it comes to plot, but the execution makes it shine so much stronger."
Anime Spotlight - Shonen Maid
After his mother passed away, grade school boy Chihiro Komiya starts working as a "maid" at his uncle's grand estate.
― Shonen Maid Visit the Official Site › Story Characters Trailer Cast & Staff Gallery On air starting April 7, 2016 (in Japan) Key Staff Director: Yusuke Yamamoto (Aquarion Evol, Walkure Romanze) Series Composition: Yoshiko Nakamura (Hiiro no Kakera - The Tamayori Princess Saga, Mont...
Shelf Life - Lupin the Third: Jigen's Gravestone
The Woman Called Fujiko Mine gets one more shot at glory with Jigen's Gravestone, a spinoff movie set in the same Lupin universe. Paul gets grim 'n gritty with it. PLUS: all of this week's new anime releases!
― So many new seasons have been starting up in the last week or so. New anime season! New baseball season! OK, those are the only two I can think of off the top of my head, but it still feels l...
Shōwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjū
Showa Genroku Rakugo Shinju is one of the finest anime in years, though its personal drama may leave you a little cold.
― We don't often get shows like Rakugo Shinju. The show is a period drama inside a period drama, introducing us to Yotaro, a hopeful student of rakugo in the 1970s, before cutting back to tell the story of his master Yakumo, when he was a mere student known as Kikuhiko. It's a drama...
Evergreen GN 4
Evergreen falters in its final volume in its handling of the "twist" that may have been one of the most poorly hidden secrets in recent manga.
― I'm fairly sure most of us saw this coming, whether we wanted to or not. The truth about Niki and Hotaka's relationship feels like it might have been the worst kept secret in the history of manga, though in truth that may simply be because it wasn't as well ...
Season Premiere: Ushio & Tora (Episode 27)
"It appears that Tora has literally met his match, and this show has given me nothing but reasons to be excited for what happens next."
She and Her Cat -Everything Flows-
An adaptation of Makoto Shinkai's acclaimed short, She and Her Cat is a gentle but affecting story told with great visual grace.
― She and Her Cat -Everything Flows- is a fairly unusual production. It's ostensibly an adaptation of one of Makoto Shinkai's very early films, but frankly, the Shinkai version doesn't offer much to adapt - it's five minutes of altered-photography backgrounds and minimalist...
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...
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."
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."
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."
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...
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.
― If you've ever purchased a Gundam model kit in America, you've probably seen the name Bluefin on the back somewhere. Having recently opened a brand-new warehouse space in So...
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.
― Last week, we heard a little bit about Valkyrie Profile 3. To be specific, we heard about Shuichi Kobayashi, producer of the new Star Ocean, keeping a Valkyrie Profile 3 proposal in his files. That's no real shock, of course. Game companies have plenty ...
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...
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.
― Bakuon!! Visit the Official Site › Story Characters Trailer Cast & Staff Gallery On air starting April 2016 Key Staff Director: Junji Nishimura (GLASSLIP, Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan, Samurai Deeper Kyo, Ranma ½) Introduction If highschool girls ride a...
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......
― And you thought there is never a girl online? (Netoge no Yome wa Onna no ko ja Nai to Omotta?) Visit the Official Site › Story Characters Trailer Cast & Staff Gallery TV Anime on air starting April 7...
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.
― Haifuri Visit the Official Site › Story Characters Trailer Cast & Staff Gallery Broadcast Begins April 9, 2016 (JST) Key Staff Director: You Nobuta (A Good Lib...
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 ...
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.
― I lack mental organization. I don't keep a list of everything I've seen, read, played, or own. It is one thing to say you watched a series, but how much do you remember? As I look ...
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...
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.
― Bungo Stray Dogs Visit the Official Site › Story Characters Trailer Cast & Staff Gallery On air starting April 6th 2016 Key Staff Director: Takuya Igarashi (Ouran High School Host Club, Sailor Moon Sailor Stars, Soul Eater) Series Composition: Yoji Enokido ...
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."
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!
― 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 rankings...
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...
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."
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.
― SUPER LOVERS Visit the Official Site › Story Characters Trailer Cast & Staff Gallery Broadcast Begins April 6th 2016(JST) Key Staff Director: Shinji Ishihira (Fairy Tail,LOG HORIZON) Series Composition: Yoshiko Nakamura (Monthly Girls' Nozaki-kun, Hiiro no Kakera - ...
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.
― JOKER GAME Visit the Official Site › Story Characters Trailer Cast & Staff Gallery Broadcast Begins April 5th 2016(JST) Key Staff Director: Kazuya Nomura (Ghost in the Shell: The New Movie, R...
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:...
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...
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...
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 ...
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...
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...
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."
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...
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...
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."
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...
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...
Season Finale: Utawarerumono (Episode 25)
"Even if there turns out to be a third season on the way, U2warerumono is best left forgotten."
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...
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...
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...
Assassination Classroom season 2 ‒ Episode 13
"Once again, we have a divided episode where one half clearly outshines the other."
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. ...
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...
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 ...
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."
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."
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...
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...
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...
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 ...
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 ...
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...
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."
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."
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...
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."
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."
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: 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...
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."
Season Finale: Grimgar of Fantasy and Ash (Episode 12)
"This was never an easy story – but in the end, it is one worth watching."
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."
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...
Season Finale: Haikyu!! Second Season (Episode 25)
"Once again, the show excels in depicting the aftermath of an emotional game."
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."
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