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Bungo Stray Dogs ‒ Episode 11
"There's definitely a shift of storyline in the wind for Bungo Stray Dogs."
Sailor Moon Crystal: Season III ‒ Episode 37
"Right now it's Hotaru who matters – and the imminent arrival of Sailor Saturn."
One Piece ‒ Episode 745
"So that's Dressrosa. I don't really feel comfortable declaring it as a good or a bad arc just yet, but I think it's one of the most clearly flawed in the series so far."
The Asterisk War ‒ Episode 23
"Overall, this ends up being one of the second half's most plot-intensive episodes, but why is something like this coming up so late in the series?"
Kumamiko - Girl meets Bear ‒ Episode 11
"By focusing on what makes the show work and attempting to justify some of the stuff that didn't, Kumamiko turns in one of its strongest episodes this week."
My Hero Academia ‒ Episode 11
"The USJ arc has been an interesting balance of My Hero Academia's strengths and weaknesses."
Tanaka-kun is Always Listless ‒ Episode 10
"It's summer, Tanaka is hot, so he and Ohta go to the pool. This plot has been used at least one hundred times in anime, but Tanaka-kun adds its own twist to the mix."
The Mike Toole Show - Shirobako Prime
Animation Runner Kuromi, which tackled the anime industry long before Shirobako, sends Mike on a stroll through the work of innovative director Akitaro Daichi.
― Out of all the great men and women steering the production of Japanese animation, Akitaro Daichi is probably my favorite director that I never, ever think about. For something like twenty years, he's been omnipresent; from Nurse Angel Ririka...
Re:Zero -Starting Life in Another World- ‒ Episode 11
"The core of the episode is Rem's introspection as she replays her and Ram's back story."
Masamune-kun's Revenge GN 1
The bullied kid returns to school as Mr. Hot and Popular with one goal: to get revenge on the girl who crushed his soul.
― Few things are as painful as being picked on in school. As an elementary school student, Masamune, who then went by the family name Hayase, was the perfect victim: he came from a prestigious, wealthy family and he was, shall we say, rotund. He muddled through, however, until one ...
Flying Witch ‒ Episode 10
"Overall, this was a pretty excellent episode of Flying Witch."
High School Fleet ‒ Episode 10
"With side plots starting to wrap up and a big confrontation looming on the horizon, this doesn't seem like the best time for the show to take a comedic detour."
Ace Attorney ‒ Episode 11
"You'd think that an episode with such an entertainingly absurd plot point would be a lot more rewarding."
Haven't You Heard? I'm Sakamoto ‒ Episode 9
"Although it was fun to spend a little time with the show's master villain last week, Haven't You Heard? I'm Sakamoto is at its best when the stakes are low."
Kiznaiver ‒ Episode 10
"The give and take was strong with this week's Kiznaiver. Excellent scattered tonal and character moments, as always, but also some disappointingly empty plot nonsense."
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Diamond Is Unbreakable ‒ Episode 11
"After last week's episode being easily the best of the one-offs, this week's installment of Diamond is Unbreakable brings us back around to something resembling a main plot."
Ushio & Tora ‒ Episode 37
"While this episode's visual quality was noticeably lacking, its character development was strong."
Concrete Revolutio ‒ Episode 23
"We had an entire Foot Locker's worth of shoes dropping in this penultimate episode."
The List - 8 Horrible Boyfriends
These 8 scrubs are definitely not long-term relationship material; plus: last week's poll results, including your favorite (and least favorite) anime trends of 2016!
― Hi guys, first I want to thank everyone who reads this column each week. I read your feedback in ANN's yearly reader survey last month and saw how many of you voted in The List as your favorite Anime News Network column. It totally ma...
Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam: A New Translation Sub.DVD
It's Zeta Gundam! In movie form! Now with awkwardly re-animated sequences that clash with the original 1980s footage! Lauren takes a strange trip through three very unique Gundam flicks.
― The story of Zeta Gundam is more than three decades old, and the Zeta Gundam compilation movies won't let you forget it. Watching 2005's Heirs to the Stars and Lovers and 2006's Love is the Pulse of the Stars is li...
Shōnen Maid ‒ Episode 9
"Combining the show's knack for cute comedy with a bit of plot development, episode 9 is among the strongest episodes thus far."
The Lost Village ‒ Episode 11
"Absurdly, preposterously, miraculously, basically all of The Lost Village's weird plot threads are coming together into something resembling a climax."
Big Order ‒ Episode 9
"Wherever these two siblings end up, I don't see how it can possibly make up for all the mistakes Big Order has made to get them there."
ANNCast - Zack Davisson's World of Yokai
Yurei: The Japanese Ghost author and Shigeru Mizuki translator Zack Davisson stops by to discuss The Birth of Kitaro, machine translation, the chilling world of Japanese ghosts and more!
― ANNCast Episode 262: Zack Davisson's World of Yokai Yurei: The Japanese Ghost author and Shigeru Mizuki translator Zack Davisson stops by to discuss The Birth of Kitaro, machine translation, the chilling world of ...
Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress ‒ Episode 9
"After eight straight episodes of crisply paced action-adventure, Kabaneri tried to top itself a little too hard and hopped the tracks with an awkward squeal."
Assassination Classroom season 2 ‒ Episode 22
"Whether Koro Sensei lives or dies, the strength of the ending will largely be determined by what kind of legacy he passes on to his graduating students."
Answerman - Why Isn't Gundam Bigger In America?
It's the question Gundam fans have been asking themselves for generations: why has the franchise never really taken off in a big way in the US? Justin gets into it.
― "Gundam Dunham" asks: The new series, Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans has premiered on Toonami, and it's being toted as the second (if not the third) coming of Gundam in the United States, which begs me to ask this question, w...
And you thought there is never a girl online? ‒ Episode 10
"Probably the season's funniest episode to date, although it doesn't accomplish much else."
Your Favorite Anime Couple
Just about every fan has a favorite anime couple, two lovebirds they were really rooting for - our critics run down their favorites, from Baccano to My Love Story, and we're dying to hear yours!
― Even if you don't consider yourself a romantic, most every anime fan has a favorite couple - two characters whose special relationship really connected with them, two people they were seriously rooting for....
Naruto Shippuden ‒ Episode 464
"After a one-episode reprieve, Naruto Shippūden heads back to Filler Land for round two."
Gakkyu Hotei: School Judgment GN 2 & 3
School Judgment never quite gets itself off the ground, though it sure does try. The third and final volume is by far the strongest, even as it is plagued by some recurring issues.
― Some series need a bit longer than others to get off the ground. Gakkyu Hotei: School Judgment turns out to have been one of those, and while it never really “takes off,” so to speak, it does by its third and final volum...
Joker Game ‒ Episode 10
"We finally get Colonel Yuuki's backstory, but as always in this show, the truth turns out to be more twisty than it appears on the surface."
The X Button - First Impressions: Guilty Gear Xrd Revelator
This week: Todd looks at the latest Guilty Gear cavalcade of heavy metal and fisticuffs! Plus remastered Final Fantasies, robot wars, and pranks!
― Next week brings along E3, but this week is all about Guilty Gear. And it reminds me of one proud accomplishment: I'm quoted in the Wikipedia page for my favorite Guilty Gear character, Millia Rage. Granted, the quotes make me sound like a nutcase. I was...
UQ Holder! GN 6
UQ Holder finally adds some intimate human drama to its reliably epic battles in its sixth volume.
― The Academy City arc comes to an end in this volume, as Santa squares off against his long-time friend Sayoko in a battle with the fate of the world at stake. UQ Holder certainly doesn't hold back in illustrating the desperate terms of this battle; with Kirie's power to rewind truly unacceptable carna...
Bungo Stray Dogs ‒ Episode 10
"The series may have finally gotten to where it needs to be, and things are definitely looking up on the whole."
Answerman - Why Were Some Animation Techniques Banned?
Our recent interview with Dragon Ball Super creative staff mentioned "banned animation techniques" - what are those techniques? Well, it's time to talk about the Pokemon seizure episode!
― Miroslav asks: I have read one of your recent interviews with one of the animators of Dragon Ball Kai/Super. He said that they had had to redrawn many scenes because they had been drawn with techniques that are no...
Twin Star Exorcists ‒ Episode 10
"This week, the show knows its limitations and works within them, instead of just trying to ignore them."
Anime's Fiercest Frenemies
Even when they're locked in a battle between good and evil, sometimes our favorite anime characters can't help picking a fight with their friends instead! Jacob Chapman explores what makes a great anime rivalry.
― Sometimes they're called rivals, and sometimes they're called foils, but I think there's no finer word than "frenemy" for one of the most enjoyable tropes in anime. Of course, the dynamic b...
Overlord Novel 1
The skull-faced hero from 2015's popular fantasy series Overlord is back in the first volume of the light novel series the anime was based on. Theron Martin sees how it stacks up to the adaptation.
― The 13 episode Overlord anime series aired during the summer 2015 TV season, but first came this novel (the first of 10 to date) by author Kugane Maruyama. It was originally published online in 2010 and ...
One Piece ‒ Episode 744
"It's a classic example of an episode with good story content, but nothing to write home about in the execution."
The Best and Worst of the Season So Far: Week of May 27-June 2
Jojo's Bizarre Adventure claims the top spot in the cumulative rankings and the rest of the list is shaken up! Find out how your favorite shows ranked this week!
― Our team of reviewers are following 25 anime series of the Spring 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 tha...
Inside Tokyo's New Sailor Moon Exhibition
High in the sky above Tokyo with a spectacular view of the city, a special exhibition of Sailor Moon rarities and treasures is currently being held - here's a tour inside!
― The February 1992 issue of Kodansha's Nakayoshi magazine introduced a genre redefining manga series to the world: Naoko Takeuchi's Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon. The series quickly captured the imagination of Japanese girls and was...
Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ Blu-Ray
It's a direct sequel to Zeta Gundam, and it's hilarious! Lauren Orsini discovers the hidden pleasures of this otherwise somewhat confounding entry in the Gundam franchise.
― The first two Gundam shows were serious business. In Mobile Suit Gundam and Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam, director Yoshiyuki Tomino wasn't afraid to kill off even beloved main characters to prove a point. So it must have been a major ...
Sailor Moon Crystal: Season III ‒ Episode 36
"Last week the Sailor Guardians stole a corpse from a hospital. This week they make the brilliant decision to take the elevator in a building controlled by an evil entity."
Shelf Life - Dororo
Discotek's release of the 1969 TV anime Dororo, with contributions from some of anime's most legendary artists, is out on DVD - Gabriella Ekens explores this fascinating piece of anime history.
― Oh my good golly gosh, y'all. We've got a lot of new releases this week. In fact, we've got so many that I'm not even going to hold you up with a lengthy introduction. Go on, dive into that bottomless sea o...
Answerman - Why Is Animation Only For Kids In The US?
There's a common notion out there among fans that "cartoons are for kids in the US, but they're considered mature entertainment for adults in Japan" - which isn't the case. Justin gets into it.
― James asks: In the United States, most people seem to be under the impression that animated works are primarily for children and families, while the same attitude does not exist in Japan. Yes, the western w...
First Impressions: Netflix's Voltron Legendary Defender
We sent super robot expert Mike Toole to watch the 70-minute pilot episode of Netflix's brand-new re-imagining of Voltron, by the folks who brought you The Legend of Korra! Is it any good? How faithful is it to the original?
― As the content wars of the current days heat up, it's not surprising to see major players like Netflix spreading their wings—they've underwritten original hits, brought a serie...
Your Lie in April Vol. 2 Blu-Ray
The tragic conclusion of Your Lie in April is out on bluray now - Theron Martin takes the long view on a show that generated plenty of controversy as it aired.
― Let's cut to the chase: the second half of Your Lie in April is, at least in part, a tragedy, somewhat in the spirit (though definitely not the style) of major “tragic girl” tales like Air and Kanon. Enough hints were dropped about this dire...
Re:Zero -Starting Life in Another World- ‒ Episode 10
"Re:Zero's streak continues with another strong episode, bringing it closer to Best of the Season potential."
Kumamiko - Girl meets Bear ‒ Episode 10
"As usual, Kumamiko is at its best when it draws on the quirkiness of small town life."
My Hero Academia ‒ Episode 10
"My Hero Academia is back to taking its time, but the slow pace feels more fitting now that we're in a proper arc."
Flying Witch ‒ Episode 9
"Flying Witch is consistently able to bring humor and a sense of reality to its slow-paced activities, and this episode was no exception."
Kiznaiver ‒ Episode 9
"Kiznaiver's ninth episode was a culmination of all that has come before, a capstone and breaking point that represents the series in full."
The Lost Village ‒ Episode 10
"In this week's The Lost Village, Mitsumune met God. God didn't really help explain much, though."
Yamibo DVD
This 13-episode mind-bending series based on an adult visual novel is a true oddity in more than one way.
― This 13-episode series is a true oddity in more than one way. It originally aired in 2003 but then languished for 9½ years before finally being picked up by Media Blasters in 2013. They originally solicited the title for a late 2013 release, but the title then languished again with unspecified ...
High School Fleet ‒ Episode 9
"I've heard of “monster of the week” shows before, but High School Fleet might be one of the first series ever to qualify as a “battleship of the week” show."
Ace Attorney ‒ Episode 10
"Adapting the Ace Attorney story to anime didn't make it any better, but it didn't make it any worse, either."
Haven't You Heard? I'm Sakamoto ‒ Episode 8
"Sakamoto has to work for his happy ending this time around."
Shōnen Maid ‒ Episode 8
"Fans of Shonen Maid's lighter side are sure to have blast."
The Asterisk War ‒ Episode 22
"I just don't understand why an episode like this is coming up this late in the season given the pacing the series has used so far."
Tanaka-kun is Always Listless ‒ Episode 9
"In this episode Tanaka-kun meets his ultimate nemesis: a milkshake."
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Diamond Is Unbreakable ‒ Episode 10
"This episode is bluntly titled "Let's Go Eat Some Italian Food", and I love it."
The List - 7 Genre Trends of 2016 So Far
We're about halfway through 2016, so here are seven noteworthy genre trends in anime - including all those reboots and male harems you've been seeing lately.
― Each season, viewers are treated to over 20 new shows ranging from the latest entry in a long-established mecha franchise, an adaptation for Shonen Jump's top-rated manga, or a vehicle in a multi-arm merchandise-selling machine. Certain stapl...
Gakuen Alice DVD
Nozomi's re-release of this deceptively cute series from 2004-05 proves that Gakuen Alice is still a show worth watching.
― Outwardly adorable, Gakuen Alice, based on the manga of the same name by Tachibana Higuchi, is actually one of the darker children's anime to be released in English, even though the anime is a bit lighter than the original manga. The story is set in a special school, Alice Acade...
Concrete Revolutio ‒ Episode 22
"With its tight focus and many important revelations with big implications, this episode of Concrete Revolutio stands tall and strong."
Ushio & Tora ‒ Episode 36
"This episode tells a story in parallels, with Hyou's arc coming full circle at the same time as the central conflict with the Hakumen."
Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress ‒ Episode 8
"Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress knows what the people want, and the people want Zombie Hunters on Motorcycles."
Big Order ‒ Episode 8
"Twists and turns are thrown at the audience with such wanton abandon, it's almost impossible to figure out why anyone is doing anything."
Assassination Classroom season 2 ‒ Episode 21
"It's just about time for Assassination Classroom to go out with a bang, but that doesn't mean there isn't room for some last-minute comedy."
Naruto Shippuden ‒ Episode 463
"While by no means action-heavy, episode 463 makes a colorful, adeptly-animated dent in the fight against Kaguya."
Answerman - Why Do Anime Movies Play On Weeknights?
If you've ever wondered why you had to go see the Psycho-Pass movie (or just about any anime theatrical release) on a Tuesday night, Justin has your answer.
― Jake asks: I have noticed that cinematic anime movie releases have increasingly become more and more popular events here in the US in the last year or two. But the one thing I find unusual is that they only do very limited showings on a Wednes...
ANNCast - Super Lovers 64
Dawn from the Anime Nostalgia podcast stops by to debate which era of retro anime is objectively the best one, but we get completely sidetracked discussing this week's Super Lovers. You've been warned.
― ANNCast Episode 261: Super Lovers 64 Dawn from the Anime Nostalgia podcast stops by to debate which era of retro anime is objectively the best one, but we get completely sidetracked discussing this ...
Your Ultimate Guide to Anime Ending Credits: Part III
The third installment of our in-depth look at the people who make the anime you love covers the most stressful jobs in the industry and what you might not know about outsourcing animation!
― It's been a while since the previous chapter of this guide following the ending credits of TV anime, attempting to shed some light into its production. Hopefully that break allowed everyone to catch up with the p...
orange: The Complete Collection 2 GN 2
Orange's final volume brings things to a bittersweet but satisfying conclusion, but comes with a big trigger warning for suicide. Also included is an aggressively adorable five-chapter romance, Haruiro Astronaut.
― Manga, and fiction in general, is not always the best portrait of real life. It often hits upon truths, but ultimately people read fiction to escape, to live a fantasy for a while. Ichigo ...
And you thought there is never a girl online? ‒ Episode 9
"It was probably inevitable that a fanservice-focused episode would pop up eventually."
The X Button - First Impressions: Kirby: Planet Robobot
This week: the mechanized magic of Kirby: Planet Robobot! Plus The Last Guardian, Twinkle Star Sprites, and a long-lost piece of history!
― This week brought news about The Last Guardian, a notable game on two counts. It's the next game from one of the industry's most acclaimed creative minds, and it got delayed an awful lot. This is also another opportunity for me to feel old, because I remember a ...
Baccano! Novel 1
Years after the Baccano! anime found success with fans and critics alike, the first volume of the original novels has finally been published in English. Gabriella Ekens takes a look at how it holds up after all this time.
― The Baccano! series is already fairly well known amongst Western anime fans for its anime adaptation. Released in 2007, it led to a brief Ryohgo Narita fandom that followed into D...
Twin Star Exorcists ‒ Episode 9
"The show sacrifices some potential character drama to gain a much needed adrenaline boost for the plot."
Joker Game ‒ Episode 9
"I'm glad that part 2 of Double Joker was able to pay off the rivalry established in part 1 with so much bite."
Bungo Stray Dogs ‒ Episode 9
"Bungo Stray Dogs' recent foray into a longer story arc is definitely a good thing, if only because it has resulted in a better balance of humor and action than we saw in earlier episodes."
Answerman - When Did Cosplay Start?
There's some confusion about when and where cosplay actually got its start; Justin details the origins of this social phenomena and the unexpected place it began!
― Anonymous asks: I've heard it said that cosplay originated in America in the 90s, but that doesn't seem like it's true. Is it? Cosplay definitely started far, far earlier than the 1990s. Whether or not it started in America really depend...
Is Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress Just An Attack On Titan Clone?
These two post-apocalyptic action series sure do look and sound a lot alike, and they even share a director - but there's a lot more to Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress than that. Jacob Chapman argues his case.
― The countryside has been devastated by undead humanoid monsters, forcing humanity into packed walled cities ruled by fear and a rigid class structure. Then disaster strikes when those monsters ...
After War Gundam X Sub.DVD
Gundam X has never been highly regarded, and yet it features a sentient dolphin. Lauren Orsini discovers what's holding this show back from true greatness.
― A full twenty years after its release in Japan, After War Gundam X has finally made it to English speaking audiences. This show came out in 1996, just a year after Gundam Wing, and has continued to live in its shadow. Gundam Wing was not only su...
The Best and Worst of the Season So Far: Week of May 20-26
It's an action-packed week with real winners and losers on the charts - Kiznaiver shoots up as a sudden rival for the top spot, while Kabaneri sinks like a stone! See how your favorite shows placed!
― Our team of reviewers are following 25 anime series of the Spring 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 w...
Requiem of the Rose King (GN 4)
Aya Kanno's take on Richard III continues with more conflict for Richard as he struggles to decide whether it is better to have emotions or to simple strike them down as Warwick continues to take his role as "kingmaker" a little too seriously.
― There's always a question when reading historical fiction and something that says that it's “based on” previous well-known works: how close will the author s...
One Piece ‒ Episode 743
"True to form, just as the One Piece anime is finally, finally about to depart Dressrosa and bid it farewell, it needs to slow things down."
Interview: The World's Biggest Visual Novels with Visual Art's
Visual Art's CEO Takahiro Baba, character designer Na-Ga and music composer Shinji Orito discuss the incredible success and behind-the-scenes details of some of their biggest games, including Air and Angel Beats!
― Three members of Japanese visual novel company Visual Art's – CEO Takahiro Baba (left in picture), character designer Na-Ga (not pictured by request), and music composer Shinji Orito (rig...
Sailor Moon Crystal: Season III ‒ Episode 35
"As the song goes, the darkest hour is just before dawn, and for Sailor Moon Crystal, that hour seems to be now."
Answerman - How Do Publishers Decide Whether To Release A Blu-ray Remaster?
Justin breaks down how exactly your favorite old shows get selected for big fancy high definition remasters on bluray, and why some classics get left in the dust.
― It's a holiday weekend, so we'll take an easy one this time. Nadeem asks: I buy physical media as I am a collector. With that said, I've been trying to improve my collection by purchasing Blu-rays instead of DVDs or upgrading my older DV...
Shelf Life - Wake Up, Girls! The Movie
Yutaka Yamamoto's idol singers get their very own prequel movie, out now on bluray from Sentai Filmworks. PLUS: all of this week's new anime releases!
― With all the craziness that's been going on in the last few days regarding anime on Hulu (see this Answerman article for the details), I'm reminded of why it's nice to own stuff on disc. Forget all that stuff about video quality and dependence on a ...
Re:Zero -Starting Life in Another World- ‒ Episode 9
"The writers have clearly shown that they know what they are doing on everything but Subaru's long-winded dialog, so I am eagerly looking forward to how this resolves next week."
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