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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...
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...
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...
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...
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 ...
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...
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...
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 ...
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 ...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
[email protected] Cinderella Girls Season 2
Cinderella Girls’ second season rises high above the first, finding new strengths and firmly establishing itself as a worthy idol series.
― When I reviewed the first season of Cinderella Girls, I mentioned how the show seemed to have serious trouble getting out from under the shadow of its predecessor. The animation was a clear step down, and though occasional episodes were very well-directed, the sh...
School-Live! GN 2
As Kurumi, Yuri, and Yuki venture out to the mall on a field trip, more details about what happened emerge. Hope, as it turns out, can really be a double-edged sword.
― Even if you've seen the anime, it's worth reading the School-Live manga, because this volume shows just how much was changed or left out in the adaptation. The storyline for the second book in the series covers the “field trip” storyl...
Nichijou GN 1
Nichijou's first volume finally hits shelves as it combines comedy with slice-of-life to good effect, showing just why so many companies have been willing to take a chance on it.
― Nichijou, also known as My Ordinary Life, has had a long road to continuous publication in English. First licensed by Bandai, then briefly released digitally by JManga, it now at last has found a reliable home at Vertical,...
[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...
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...
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 ...
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...
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...
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...
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 ...
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....
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...
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...
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 ...
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...
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...
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...
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-...
My Hero Academia GN 3
My Hero Academia takes a few chapters to catch its breath before charging towards the next arc in this relatively low-key third volume.
― My Hero Academia's second volume was a whirlwind of challenges and cliffhangers and punches, cramming a full day of two-on-two hero battles and an unexpected attack by actual villains into a few action-packed chapters. The manga's third volume unsurprisingly can't ...
Behind the Scenes!! GN 1
Bisco Hatori's new series is here, and it's no Ouran knock-off, despite some superficial similarities. It also hasn't quite gotten off the ground yet, but it has potential.
― For everyone who thinks they're weird, there's someone even stranger to help put things in perspective. That's how it works in fiction, anyway, and for the hero of Bisco Hatori's new series, it all turns out to be a question of ...
Blast of Tempest
Blast of Tempest weaves a wild tale of love, magic, and revenge, though its high ambitions aren’t necessarily matched by its execution.
― You have to admire the confidence of a show that not only names itself after one of Shakespeare's greatest plays, but also quotes the bard directly on an episodic basis. That's about as bold of a choice as you can make - not just subtly riffing on classic tragedies...
Sunny GN 5
Sunny's fifth volume continues its honest exploration of the emotional lives of the children at a foster home in the late 1970s as they learn that home isn't always where the heart is.
― Taiyo Matsumoto's Sunny is a deceptive series. On the surface it is a slow-moving slice-of-life story about the group of children living at the Star Kids Home, a “foster home” for orphaned or abandoned children in th...
Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation GN 1
This light novel adaptation feels a little rushed, but it also presents an interesting take on the idea of living your life in a game-like world. It has potential.
― Based on a web novel turned light novel, Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation's first volume is a bit of an odd duck. While its premise is interesting and watching its protagonist, a nameless thirty-four-year-old otaku NEET reincarnated...
Review: Kizumonogatari I: Tekketsu-hen
At long last, Bakemonogatari's prequel story has arrived in theaters. But can any film shoulder the weight of Kizu's expectations? Nick Creamer investigates.
― Six years ago, it was announced the light novel Kizumonogatari would be receiving an anime adaptation. Following on the heels of the blockbuster success Bakemonogatari, Kizu acted as a prologue for that story, detailing the events that were br...
One Piece Season 7 Voyage 4 DVD
His brother's life is in danger, so Luffy infiltrates the nigh impregnable prison Impel Down to get him back as One Piece continues one of its darker story arcs.
― One Piece, while still full of zany characters and wacky antics, is not the light-hearted series it once was. While there were hints of it throughout the preceding story arcs, the fact that Luffy is now actively breaking into a dangerous p...
Futari wa Pretty Cure Streaming
The first entry in the megafranchise that is Pretty Cure is fun and cute, but never really takes off like some of the later entries do. But it does play with the genre in some interesting ways.
― Despite its gigantic stature in Japan, the Pretty Cure franchise of vaguely-related magical girl shows has not taken off in the U.S., with only two of the thirteen series being available. Of those two, only ...
Review: Only Yesterday (Dub)
The biggest hidden gem in Studio Ghibli's library is finally coming out in the US with a brand-new dub starring Star Wars' Daisy Ridley. Justin Sevakis revisits this quiet, beloved film and takes the brand-new English track for a spin.
― Only Yesterday is possibly the least appreciated anime in the Studio Ghibli catalog, probably because it stands out so oddly among the rest of the films (not to ment...
Angel Beats!: Heaven's Door GN 1
While not a must-read for franchise fans, this prequel to the anime does show at least some promise at filling in some of the original story's gaps.
― The Angel Beats! anime series is unquestionably my favorite of all of the Key-connected titles, and one that I chose as the top American release of 2011, but that doesn't blind me to its most glaring weakness: that it had a lot more story to tell then ...
UQ Holder! GN 3
UQ Holder does its best to make up for underlying weaknesses through sheer energy in its third volume, offering plenty of fights at the very least.
― UQ Holder is a fundamentally strange shounen manga. Generally, stories about upbeat young boys who dream of taking on the world don't focus on undying vampires with forbidden magic; they start small, giving their protagonists a lot of lead-up time to ea...
IGPX Immortal Grand Prix DVD
Both the Production I.G. and Toonami Cuts are included in this comprehensive release about mecha racing roller derby-style. Thrilling action balances out shaky logical underpinnings.
― Note: The series most commonly referred to as IGPX is actually the second series to bear that name. The first, a series of five 5 minute shorts animated in 2003 by Bee Train and Studio I.G. for Cartoon Network's Toonam...
Fate/stay night: Unlimited Blade Works Season 2 Blu-Ray
The conclusion of Fate/stay night: Unlimited Blade Works is out on bluray with an English dub, which means it's time for Nick Creamer to dive back in and see how Aniplex's release stacks up.
― So here we are, back again with the second half of Unlimited Blade Works. When I reviewed the first half of this series, I stated that it was a very compelling action show with a few solid characters overall, h...
Taboo Tattoo GN 1
Taboo Tattoo's first volume introduces a decent story, but it's laden with enough tropes of the shounen action genre to make it feel too cookie cutter for comfort.
― If you're tired of the basic shounen action story when an average guy meets a crazy girl while gaining some sort of amazing supernatural power, then you're probably not going to be charmed by Taboo Tattoo's first volume. It plays out ver...
Shirobako: Collection 1 Blu-Ray
Shirobako turns a fond but piercing eye towards the anime industry itself, resulting in one of the finest anime dramas of recent years.
― The opening song of Shirobako gives you a pretty clear hint of the journey you're in for. “I still remember the feeling of excitement that made my heart dance as a child. No doubts or insecurities, with overflowing hope… I felt like I could be anything I wanted to ...
The Case of Hana & Alice
Fans who took the plunge on Flowers of Evil will find a lot to like in this similarly-rotoscoped film about two troubled but sympathetic teens by veteran live-action director Shunji Iwai.
― Most anime fans are familiar with the subgenre colloquially named "Cute Girls Doing Cute Things". The Case of Hana & Alice, though, is an interesting variant; Kooky Girls Doing Kooky Things. Admittedly, their kook...
Log Horizon: The West Wind Brigade GN 1
This Soujiro-centered spinoff of the Log Horizon franchise gives us an idea of what other people were getting up to while Shiroe was plotting and planning. It has some repetition, but overall offers some interesting new information and characters.
― The original Log Horizon, be it anime, novel, or manga, has a lot of characters floating around while only focusing on a select group. Despite that, it o...
orange: The Complete Collection GN 1
Orange's first three volumes are bittersweet as they explore the possibility of going back and saving someone's life. It's beautiful, but also can be very difficult reading if you relate too closely to the situation.
― It feels like stories about fixing the mistakes and regrets of the past have been popping up a lot in recent months – from winter 2016's Erased anime to Arina Tanemura's magical woman ...
Review: Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc PC
The smash cult visual novel finally comes to Steam! Jacob Hope Chapman puts the latest port of this shocking and wildly entertaining mystery to the test.
― Outside of a few mainstream-friendly darlings like the Phoenix Wright series, Western gamers don't get many official releases from Japan's massive bevy of murder-mystery-driven visual novels. Given how hard it can be to get these games brought ove...
Review: Akame ga Kill! Collection One Blu-Ray
The boundaries of morality and cruelty are explored in in the first 12 episodes of this wildly popular and violent smash hit, collected in this first bluray volume. Rebecca Silverman straps in.
― Since Beowulf at the very least, popular entertainment has glorified violence for our enjoyment. The “cool” character is often the most violent (although not the most vicious – he still has to have a conscie...
Naruto: Shikamaru's Story Novel
Two years after the Fourth Great Ninja War, Shikamaru learns more about himself than he ever expected when he undertakes a mission to assassinate a charismatic revolutionary.
― With his constant mutterings of “What a drag,” Nara Shikamaru initially seemed like a one-note character. The joke has always been that his natural genius is at odds with his desire to live a relaxed, carefree life. However, a...
Naruto Shippuden Uncut Set Volume 25
Uchiha Madara enters the fray of the Fourth Great Ninja War, and the sky is falling.
― The seemingly endless Fourth Great Ninja War continues to unfold in Naruto Shippūden: Volume 25, which collects episodes 310 through 322. With the exception of episodes 321 and 322, every installment found on this set is anime-original. Fortunately, as far as filler content goes, Volume 25 features far more hits th...
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Part 2 GN 2
Things just keep on getting wilder as Jojo and Caesar encounter the Pillar Men underneath Rome. If Jojo's going to beat them, he had better hope Caesar's master Lisa Lisa will take him on in this action-packed, gravity-defying volume.
― One thing you can say about Hirohiko Araki's Jojo's Bizarre Adventure: there is never a dull moment. Battle Tendency, the second part in the ongoing megaseries, is le...
Corpse Party: Tortured Souls Blu-Ray
This well-animated OVA series is one of the most gruesomely graphic anime titles ever made. Does anything else about it actually matter?
― Whatever else might be said about this four episode OVA series, there's exactly one thing you need to know: it ranks among the most gruesomely graphic anime titles ever made. And really, does anything else about it actually matter? If hyperviolent fare on the leve...
A Silent Voice GN 5
A Silent Voice’s fifth volume continues to examine the fragile bonds of young acquaintances with its trademark heart-catching acuity.
― A Silent Voice's fifth volume opens with a very unexpected change of pace - an action pastiche detailing the adventures of a rough and tumble hero known as Big Friend “N,” who gallantly fights at the side of his, well, big friend. Full of dynamic action panels, drama...
Aldnoah.Zero Part 3 Limited Edition
Aldnoah.Zero's second season can't quite live up to the finale of the first, but it does use some interesting themes and references to build its story of an increasingly senseless war.
― In all honesty, the first twelve episodes of Aldnoah.Zero didn't really need a sequel. With their pointed conclusion they made a definitive statement about the follies of war while leaving viewers the space to fill i...
Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam Blu-Ray
The sequel series to the original Mobile Suit Gundam is a much darker look at the horrors of war, and now it's out on bluray in English! Our resident Gundam expert Lauren Orsini weighs in.
― Don't be fooled by the new name or the young new protagonist—Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam is a sequel series. Its many tie-ins to the One Year War at the center of Mobile Suit Gundam 0079 cement it as a follow-up to t...
My Little Monster GN 12
There's one volume left, but the main story ends here in a book that is sweet, thoughtful, and thoroughly satisfying.
― Stable, happy couples don't tend to make for great reading, but they do provide excellent happy endings. Robico's My Little Monster has never fully promised us either of these things as it followed the rocky, awkward romance between emotionally wounded Haru and deliberately cold Shi...
UQ Holder! GN 2
UQ Holder maintains its polish and consistency, but has yet to truly find its voice in this second volume.
― In many ways, UQ Holder feels like the series Ken Akamatsu has been wanting to write for most of his career. His first major hit, Love Hina, started off as a traditional harem series, with serial failure Keitaro Urashima finding himself the manager of a lady's dorm and comedy predictably ensui...
Daimadaler: Prince V.S. Penguin Empire BD+DVD
This hyperactive sex comedy sendup of giant robot shows might be trying a little too hard to be ribald, but it also just might generate a few chuckles nonetheless. Theron Martin gets into it.
― The very first line of the opener should serve as a warning about what you're getting into here. It translates as “turn your roaring libido into strength,” and that fully embodies the essence of the show, for ...
The Boy and The Beast
Just as he tackled motherhood in the acclaimed Wolf Children, Mamoru Hosoda takes on fatherhood in his latest film, The Boy and the Beast. Absent his crucial screenwriting partner, Hosoda's film is an unfortunate and rare stumble for a promising artist.
― At first glance, The Boy and The Beast carries all the hallmarks of a Mamoru Hosoda film. The warm colors, wiggly lines, soft expressions, and hype...
Review: Night on the Galactic Railroad Blu-Ray
Gabriella Ekens is all aboard the train to existential happiness in this classic film, based on Kenji Miyazawa's timeless children's book. It's out now on bluray for the first time, and it's never looked better.
― Editorial disclosure: two regular Anime News Network contributors worked on this disc, Mike Toole and Justin Sevakis. Neither were involved with nor consulted on this review in any capacity...
Review: Evangelion 3.33: You Can (Not) Redo Blu-Ray
Rebuild of Evangelion's long-delayed third installment finally arrives on bluray, where it's revealed that maybe it's a bad idea to keep screaming "GET IN THE ROBOT, SHINJI!"
― Well, it's finally here: after a little over three years in release limbo, Evangelion 3.33: You Can (not) Redo is finally on bluray in the US. Let's not waste any time: the odds that you've heard this movie sucks are astronomi...
Review: Sword Art Online II Blu-Ray 4
Asuna takes over the lead role for the series' final story arc, which is a key component in making it the best SAO arc animated to date.
― You do not need to be an Asuna fan (as I am) to acknowledge that she has been woefully underused and underdeveloped through the first five story arcs of the SAO franchise (including Extra Edition). Despite being one of the original two faces of the franchise, she ...
Umineko When They Cry Episode 5: End of the Golden Witch Volume 2 GN 11
Umineko devolves into a tedious debate about the rules of the Golden Age mystery in a volume that's all about the genre without actually giving us much mystery.
― It's time to ask yourself, are you reading Umineko: When They Cry because you like the story and Ryukishi07's style of telling it, or are you reading it because you have a deep investment in the philosophical discussion of mystery novels, f...
My Monster Secret GN 1
My Monster Secret opens with a by-the-numbers but endearing set of harem shenanigans, full of fun characters and ridiculous faces.
― The harem bar has been somewhat raised as of late. While the harems of years past could get away with occasional hot spring shenanigans and the promise of a kiss, modern sex capers like Prison School and Monster Musume throw lust and nudity front and center, accompanyin...
Gakkyu Hotei: School Judgment GN 1
A fun and weird mix of mystery elements makes School Judgment's first volume an interesting new series, albeit it one with some disturbing pieces.
― How many of you attended or participated in mock trials in school? In the school system I attended, it was a pretty common social studies exercise in middle and high schools, and in some cases students even went to the courthouse to play out their cases....
Honey So Sweet GN 1
A seemingly mismatched pair of high schoolers tries to sort out their relationship in this new shoujo series that is as sweet as its title.
― Spiritually, Honey So Sweet has a lot in common with Robico's My Little Monster. Both stories feature high school age heroes who frighten their classmates (and even got suspended for the same reason on the first day of school) and the girls they love, neither o...
Genshiken: Second Season GN 7
Madarame and Hato’s romantic foibles dominate a volume of Genshiken that sees the manga demonstrating its old strengths from outside its dramatic comfort zone.
― The trials of young Madarame continue in Second Season's seventh volume, as both he and all his improbably suitors struggle to deal with their feelings. As befitting a harem story, in the wake of Madarame breaking his hand (again) after lear...
One-Punch Man GN 4
One-Punch Man continues to be a very funny parody of the superhero genre as Saitama's heroing-for-fun lands him in what's supposed to be the hot seat with other jealous heroes.
― One of the most effective attacks you can wage on a person is to go for their ego. Bullies have known this for years, and you'd think that this would work doubly well on those people with superpowers and lists of rankings an...
The Ancient Magus' Bride GN 3
The Ancient Magus’ Bride turns inward in its third volume, challenging the uneven relationship at the heart of its magic and mystery.
― The third Ancient Magus' Bride opens in blood and thunder, as the attack on Chise that closed out the last volume prompts a wild response from Elias. Shedding the trappings of his nearly-human form, Elias billows across full-page spreads in black and bone, spine brea...
Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? Novel 4
Bell's defining defeat of the Minotaur has qualified him for Level 2 as an adventurer, a feat which shocks Eina in this fourth light novel.
― The main story in the fourth DanMachi novel was directly adapted into episode 9 of the anime. The episode did feel like it had rushed things a bit, but not until I read the novel version did I appreciate how much. However, the source material only supplied 161 ...
Review: Garakowa -Restore the World-
Theron Martin enters the world of Garakowa, a film that shows a whole lot of ambition and creativity but has a few storytelling issues that get in the way.
― Originally called D.backup, Garakowa is the creation of the duo Physics Point, who won the right to have their concept adapted into animated form as part of a contest conducted by Pony Canyon back in 2013. Although the creators may be newcomers ...
Die Wergelder GN 1
Hiroaki Samura subtitles his new series "Bad Bitch Action," and while that's only true of a few of the characters, this is still an intense, disturbing, and sometimes funny series that means it when it says its for mature audiences.
― Can you put a price on a life? According to the ancient Germanic practice of wergeld (also spelled “wergild”), you sure can – the word means “man payment” and refers to...
Sailor Moon R Part II BD+DVD
The quality is better (although not perfect) in Viz's release of the second half of Sailor Moon R, where Chibi-Usa's true history (and goal) is revealed.
― Arguably, part two of Sailor Moon R, the second of five original seasons in what has come to be known as Sailor Moon Classic, is where the story starts to get good. Less subjectively, it's where the story returns to the manga storyline (more or le...
Vinland Saga GN 7
The tale of Ketil's farm comes to an end here as Thorfinn puts his new "first resort" for conflict into practice in this chapter of Makoto Yukimura's Viking saga.
― The phrase “move on” has many connotations, ranging from a simple shift in the topic of conversation to a much more drastic lifestyle change. In the seventh omnibus of Makoto Yukimura's Viking tale Vinland Saga (comprising volumes thirtee...
Sword Art Online: Progressive Novel 3
Some aspects of the writing improve as the story moves to a new floor which poses fresh types of challenges, but other problems still linger.
― One of the most appealing features of the Progressive retelling of SAO's Aincard story arc is that it has the time to explore all the floor-to-floor variations which make Aincard the dynamic setting that it should have been. That is more evident in this novel...
Review: Tamako Market Blu-Ray
Tamako Market may not reach the heights of its director’s previous work, but is still a polished and endearing effort.
― Tamako Market is a less-storied entry in the Kyoto Animation canon, but certainly not for lack of talent. The show represents the reunion of director Naoko Yamada and series composer Reiko Yoshida, the team responsible for the blockbuster hit K-On!, its sequel, and its indulgent bu...
Resident Evil Zero HD Remaster
One of Dave Riley's fondest videogame friends and a cult favorite entry in the Resident Evil series comes back with a facelift and a new suite of features, but can Dave go home again?
― Resident Evil Zero, a prequel featuring Resident Evil 1's ultra-wimp, Rebecca Chambers, places the eighteen-year-old rookie medic in her own grueling, eight-to-ten hour, zombie-shotgunning adventure. Backing her up is...
Lucifer and the Biscuit Hammer GN 9-10
Biscuit Hammer outdoes itself with an extended finale that soars above its already-impressive early material.
― When I reviewed the fourth collection of Lucifer and the Biscuit Hammer, I expressed some disappointment at the lack of climactic emotional payoffs matching the earlier volumes. As it turns out, Biscuit Hammer was apparently just saving all the big stuff for the finale. Here in the story's ...
Junji Ito's Cat Diary: Yon & Mu GN
Horror master Junji Ito describes his life with his fiancee's cats in a volume that really captures the animals while poking fun at his horror style.
― This is not a horror story. Or maybe it is – famed horror mangaka Junji Ito (Uzumaki, Gyo) has never lived with cats before his fiancée A-ko tells him that her family cat Yon will be moving to their new home, which they already share with Junji (J-kun...
The Devil is a Part-Timer! Novel 3
The third novel continues the story beyond the anime adaptation, making it clearer that there is a much bigger story involved than what the anime version hinted at.
― With its third novel The Devil is a Part-Timer continues the story beyond its anime adaptation, in the process making it clearer that there is a much bigger story involved than what the anime version hinted at. Minor revelations through...
Livingstone GN 1
Livingstone adapts Tomohiro Maekawa's stage play about the way lives can veer from a soul's chosen path in a first volume that is a little too recognizable.
― There are as many different beliefs about souls and the afterlife as there are religions in the world. Some believe that to name a child after a living person will render the older person a ghost, as his soul will be transferred to the child; o...
Yowamushi Pedal GN 1
Yowamushi Pedal's first volume takes a little while to get going, but then this story about a boy discovering the world of competitive cycling starts to fly.
― Bicycles are a part of many peoples' childhoods – learning to ride a bike is the first taste of freedom for a lot of kids as suddenly they have access to places farther away than mere walking could take them. It's a rite of passage in a lot of...
Concrete Revolutio
Concrete Revolutio spins a classic examination of heroism into an exciting and sprawling treatise on power, justice, and the nature of society.
― Concrete Revolutio is packed with more superbeings than you could possibly ask for. There are traditional sentai warriors here, and child geniuses piloting giant mechas. There are massive beasts created by government experiments, and cyborg detectives sworn...
My Love Story!! GN 7
My Love Story!! shifts its focus to Sunakawa and the girl who's been stalking him (with love) for the past ten years. Takeo's about to learn that some things are best left unmeddled with.
― Being a naturally helpful person can get you into a lot of trouble. Not only is it likely to attract emotional black holes, but even the most well-intentioned action in pursuit of someone else's goals can backfire...
Of the Red, the Light, and the Ayakashi GN 1
Also known as AkaAka, this supernatural story's first volume is intriguing, although light on the explanations.
― Perhaps we should start with the obvious: Of the Red, the Light, and the Ayakashi is a really awkward title. Its Japanese original is Akaya Akashiya Akayashino, which is not an easy one to translate – not only does the meaning have to be conveyed, but even non-Japanese speakers can see th...
Testament of Sister New Devil BURST
If the first season of Testament had issues fully distinguishing itself from close competitor High School DxD, its 10 episode second season only exacerbates the problem.
― If the first season of Testament had issues fully distinguishing itself from close competitor High School DxD, its 10 episode second season only exacerbates the problem. Let's see, a plot where the whole gang goes to the demon real...
One-Punch Man
Nick Creamer takes on One Punch Man and finds himself thrilled by the incredible action and unbelievable animation, but there's something amiss...
― Like many great heroes, One Punch Man seems to have grown into its powers throughout its lifespan. Starting out as a barely-drawn webcomic by barely-artist ONE, it initially got by purely as a gag comedy. “What if there was a hero so strong he could defe...
Fairy Tail Part 18 BD+DVD
Fairy Tail embarks on a filler arc that misses a couple of big opportunities, but at least we get to see Gray have a dance-off.
― Not all anime-only arcs are created equal. Some feel like pure fluff filler, others attempt to fix an issue that didn't get enough time or attention in the manga, and still others fall in between. The episodes in this eighteenth DVD/BD release of Fairy Tail feel like they ...
Tamayura: Hitotose DVD
This 2011 slice-of-life show has a lot to offer in terms of emotion, although it still is likely to have limited appeal to those who are not fans of the genre.
― Slice of life shows, sometimes also categorized as “soothing” or “iyashikei,” are very hit or miss if that's not your go-to genre. Tamayura: Hitotose, a series from 2011 recently released on DVD by Nozomi, is a little bit of both hit and mis...
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