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Haven't You Heard? I'm Sakamoto ‒ Episode 10
"This week's Haven't You Heard? I'm Sakamoto starts strong and never lets up."
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Diamond Is Unbreakable ‒ Episode 12
"Though we still have the threat of Red Hot Chili Pepper and his Stand user rearing their ugly heads into the picture, this episode centers around what's probably the most tender story beat in the season yet."
Kiznaiver ‒ Episode 11
"As the story's narrative fundamentals and larger conversations continue to be creaky, Kiznaiver shined in the details once again this week."
Ushio & Tora ‒ Episode 38
"It's satisfying to see all the loose ends getting carefully tied up, both in the outside universe and in Ushio and Tora themselves."
Series Finale: The Lost Village ‒ Episode 12
"The Lost Village's finale successfully cleared its own narrative hurdles while consistently demonstrating exactly what has made this show fun."
Shōnen Maid ‒ Episode 10
"Deftly fluctuating between pure comedy and comedy-drama, Shonen Maid is at the top of its game this week."
Series Finale: Big Order ‒ Episode 10
"The show pulled out all the stops this week and concluded in the only way it ever could have: with thundering anticlimax."
After War Gundam X Sub.DVD
In the latter half of this less-than-beloved Gundam entry, a surprising shift in pace takes the series to a new level. Lauren Orsini takes a look at what changed for After War Gundam X.
― Getting canceled just might be the best thing that could have happened to After War Gundam X, because the difference in entertainment quality between its first and second halves is like night and day. When the show ...
And you thought there is never a girl online? ‒ Episode 11
"The theme of the whole episode could be “lessons learned.”"
Naruto Shippuden ‒ Episode 465
"I sincerely hope this will be the story that breaks the show's recent pattern of introducing promising filler arcs and failing to fully realize them."
Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress ‒ Episode 10
"Kabaneri is often a rollercoaster ride, but this episode was really a contrast in extremes, as equal parts good writing and bad writing forced the show to eat its own tail with gusto."
Assassination Classroom season 2 ‒ Episode 23
"With this episode, Assassination Classroom has effectively closed the book on Koro Sensei's backstory."
Twin Star Exorcists ‒ Episode 11
"Twin Star continues its rom-com run this week, though it doesn't work quite as well as it has in the past."
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."
First Impressions: Sherlock: A Study in Pink
At long last, Benedict Cumberbatch's unique portrayal of Sherlock Holmes has finally been captured in manga form. Rebecca Silverman investigates how it stacks up to the TV series.
― Manga and anime adaptations of Western properties tend to be limited to the classics – children's literature such as Heidi, fairy tales, and roughly nine hundred versions of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. However, ever...
The Best and Worst of the Season So Far: Week of June 3-9
As Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress takes a precipitous fall from grace, what other anime are creeping in to take the top spots? See how your favorite shows stack up 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...
A Silent Voice Vol. 7
In its seventh and final volume, a great manga comes to a somewhat unsteady conclusion.
― A Silent Voice reached its climax at the end of the fifth volume, as Shoya's efforts to “pay back” his bullying of Shoko were dramatically articulated through his almost trading her life for his own. The sixth volume nearly put the story's active drama on pause - taking the form of something like Neon Genesis Ev...
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?"
Answerman - How Bad Is Bullying In Japan?
Anime and manga deal with bullying all the time, in a variety of ways - but how widespread is bullying in Japan, and are the extreme cases depicted in anime at all realistic?
― Lisa asks: Is girls ganging up on other girls simply for talking to, or liking the most popular guy in school, as seen in so many anime shows, really a thing in Japan? So often you see these terrible situations where a lone g...
Shelf Life - Azumanga Daioh
One of the most beloved anime comedies of the last 20 years finally gets a rerelease from Sentai Filmworks, and Paul Jensen checks in to see if AzuDai still has what made it so special. PLUS: this week's new releases!
― I met up with some old friends for a Magic: The Gathering draft tournament the other day, and I learned (or perhaps re-learned) something important: I am really, really terrible at M...
When They Cry: Kai Blu-Ray
The second season of When They Cry finally sees the light of day! It tones down the source material just a bit, but overall was worth the wait, even without a dub.
― Spoiler Warning! If you don't know who is behind everything and don't want to find out, you may want to skip this review. I've tried to minimize spoilers, but… It has been a long time coming, but finally the second season of When They Cr...
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 ...
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