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Sweetness & Lightning ‒ Episode 8
"The idea of embracing something from the past while putting your own spin on it really suits this show."
Taboo Tattoo ‒ Episode 8
"The show hasn't lost the plot so much as it's buried the plot in the backyard, hoping that it can make enough noise and spectacle to distract people from the suspicious odor of a decomposing narrative."
New Game! ‒ Episode 8
"If nothing else, New Game seems adept at maintaining a consistent level of quality."
Mob Psycho 100 ‒ Episode 7
"I'm guessing the show is currently rushing through material in order to hit some specific arc conclusion, and the current material is suffering the consequences."
The Morose Mononokean ‒ Episode 8
"The Morose Mononokean clearly has several more twists up its sleeve."
One Piece ‒ Episode 753
"This episode creates the freshest sense of adventure I've felt in the One Piece anime since at least the beginning of Dressrosa."
Answerman - When Did US Anime Publishers Transition from VHS to DVD?
Back when VHS fell to the mighty DVD, how did the US anime industry transition to a new format, and what did that mean for the industry as a whole?
― Jake asks: I have been wondering for a while now about when the anime industry transitioned from VHS to DVD's. I know that the DVD player was introduced on the market in the mid 90's but like a lot of people I did not get around to transitioning until ...
Tales of Zestiria the X ‒ Episode 8
"With no fanfare whatsoever, this week drops us back into the world of Zestiria, precisely where we left off three weeks ago with a tornado looming over the city of Ladylake."
Re:Zero -Starting Life in Another World- ‒ Episode 21
"The problematic second part drags down what is otherwise a satisfying climax to a significant piece of this story arc."
Season Finale: The Heroic Legend of Arslan: Dust Storm Dance ‒ Episode 8
"This may be the final episode of Dust Storm Dance, but its content makes clear that there's still a lot of Arslan anime to come."
Corpse Party: Blood Covered GN 1
Corpse Party's manga adaptation isn't quite as good as it could be due to some issues with both art and story, but it still seems like it has potential.
― Based on the updated version of the horror visual novel/adventure game, Corpse Party: Blood Covered feels like When They Cry's younger sibling. It's trying really hard to hit all the same horror highlights, with some lighter moments thrown in to ke...
Orange ‒ Episode 8
"Orange is still a fine show, but this episode's mixture of individual weaknesses marks it as one of the series' worst."
DAYS ‒ Episode 8
"We took two steps forward and one step back on DAYS this week."
Food Wars! The Second Plate ‒ Episode 8
"This may be the first time that we've seen Soma come so close to admitting that he's not up to a challenge."
The Mike Toole Show - Touched By a Galaxy Angel
Mike sings the praises of Right Stuf's recently resurrected space comedy, Galaxy Angel - and ruminates on the genre as a whole.
― Last week at Otakon, I somehow ended up in the audience at the Right Stuf's panel. There were some technical challenges, but we won't get into that—my big takeaway from the event was company head Shawne Kleckner extolling the virtues of a genre he simply referred to as spa...
The Devil is a Part-Timer! GN 6
If you've been wondering what happened to Maou and his merry band post-anime, now's your chance to find out, when a mysterious little girl falls from the sky and claims the devil king as her father!
― Covering the first part of volume three of the novel series, volume six of The Devil is a Part-Timer's manga adaptation picks up pretty much where the anime left off. If you've been waiting for new mate...
Rewrite ‒ Episode 8
"Nearly everything that the series has done so far now looks like a set-up specifically for this episode."
Berserk ‒ Episode 8
"Of course the show gets much closer to watchable right when it's ending. Berserk really is a tragedy!"
Love Live! Sunshine!! ‒ Episode 8
"Aqours is taking a longer path to the Love Live than μ's ever did, and that's the perfect decision for a show like Love Live Sunshine."
Handa-kun ‒ Episode 7
"Instead of scrambling to keep up with an endless line of newcomers, the audience is able to sit back and enjoy the antics of the Handa Force this week."
91 Days ‒ Episodes 6-7
"All in all, 91 Days managed to recover from its momentary dip in quality, and the visuals have as well."
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Diamond Is Unbreakable ‒ Episode 21
"Ever since day one, the show has been teasing the eventual inclusion of Yoshikage Kira, and this week finally pays that foreshadowing off."
Thunderbolt Fantasy ‒ Episodes 6-7
"These two episodes explore over how well this ragtag group of strong personalities can possibly function as a group, and the prognosis isn't good."
Sweetness & Lightning GN 1
Comfort food takes on a new meaning in the endearing and adorable first volume of Sweetness & Lightning, even as it stumbles a little when combining its genres.
― Manga has always excelled at creating genres you might not have expected to see, much less enjoy, and Gido Amagakure's Sweetness & Lightning is no exception. It combines “single dad raising a daughter” literature with a cooking story, and t...
Amanchu! ‒ Episode 7
"Although virtually no time is spent in the water this week, episode 7 is carried by fun character interactions and a relaxing atmosphere."
Alderamin on the Sky ‒ Episode 7
"This episode is nothing too spectacular, but the series is definitely smoothly sailing right now."
ANNCast - Otakon Special with Mike & Daryl
Mike Toole and Daryl Surat are fresh off the plane from Otakon 2016 and they're here to tell the tale! PLUS: Char's Counterattack, Berserk and much more!
― ANNCast Episode 269: Otakon Special with Mike and Daryl Mike Toole and Daryl Surat are fresh off the plane from Otakon 2016 and they're here to tell the tale! PLUS: Char's Counterattack, Berserk and much more! You can listen to the show on our pl...
This Art Club Has a Problem! ‒ Episode 7
"This week's Art Club did make me smile, even if those smiles were tempered by a few checks on how much time was left in the episode."
Yona of the Dawn Part Two BD+DVD
Yona's first season concludes open-ended, but the journey is still well worth the price of admission. Rebecca Silverman explores the twists and turns of this shojo adventure.
― If part one of Yona of the Dawn's anime adaptation was about Yona's journey from pampered princess to a young woman who could survive in the world, part two is about her realization of what she wants to do in that world as she...
Battery the Animation ‒ Episodes 5-6
"Battery the Animation continues to be naturalistic in both its drama and production, depicting intense – if commonplace – adolescent struggles in a realistic way."
Answerman - Why Are Later Volumes Of Anime and Manga So Hard To Find?
Sometimes finding middle or late volumes of an older anime or manga release is next-to-impossible and can run you some serious cash; Justin explains why.
― Vincent asks: I started buying anime on DVD back in high school and have gradually transitioned to buying Blu-rays. I've happened to notice that later volumes of certain series tend to sell out and go out of print significantly faster than the be...
Danganronpa 3: The End of Hope's Peak High School: Despair Arc ‒ Episode 6
"Just as the Future Arc starts looking more hopeful, the Despair Arc finally begins living up to its name."
Naruto Shippuden ‒ Episode 472
"Naruto Shippūden is bound and determined to make the audience feel something for Uchiha Obito."
This Week in Games - Pokemon Uranium
This week: a Pokemon fan game flies too close to the sun, a long-lost Game Boy Color game returns from beyond the grave, Konami stuns everyone with Metal Gear news and much more!
― Nobody's told me about any fires in the Anime News Network offices, so I'm going to go ahead and call the inaugural instalment of This Week in Games a success. That means it's time for another one! This week we've got a su...
Twin Star Exorcists ‒ Episode 19
"This is the show's new benchmark, with the kind of emotional intensity and tightly-wound conflict that I look for in anime."
My Monster Secret GN 2
Asahi's life gets more complicated when the monster secrets in his life just keep piling up! But as its harem expands, how does this offbeat romcom hold up overall?
― There's something inherently charming about a good manga romcom. You know the character relationships are probably going to stagnate, and you know any steps toward true romance will likely be walked back in a chapter's last few panels, ...
The Best and Worst of the Season So Far: Week of Aug 5-11
Orange and Food Wars! stomp down the competition with outstanding episodes, but halfway through the season, can they shake up the status quo? Here are your weekly user rankings!
― Our team of reviewers are following 30 anime series of the Summer 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. ...
Cheer Boys!! ‒ Episode 6
"The show decided to push itself to hard mode by more than doubling the size of its main cast."
Answerman - How Do I Introduce Old Anime To Younger Fans?
Justin runs down some in-depth advice for people looking to introduce some of their old favorites to new anime fans who might not be open to the classics.
― Heather asks: I work at a local community college and have become involved with the anime club at the school. As a 30-something anime fan, my approach to and experience with anime is quite different from the younger people in the club. I was inv...
Your Ultimate Guide to Anime Ending Credits: Part IV
The final installment of Kevin Cirugeda's guide to anime closing credits rounds out the creative team - learn about storyboarding, screenwriting, what exactly an Episode Director does and much more!
― If you found last time's quick look at the producers and studio interactions less exciting, you'll be glad to see this guide delve back into the artistic side of production. Right at the end of TV serie...
The Irregular at Magic High School Novels 1 & 2
Although it suffers from some overwriting, The Irregular at Magic High School's first two novels generally go to show that sometimes the book really is better.
― After the release of its anime version and two manga variants, the original light novels of Tsutomu Satou's The Irregular at Magic High School have arrived in English, courtesy of Yen On. While they aren't likely to win over any readers who ...
Berserk ‒ Episode 7
"Even if it still doesn't do its source manga justice, this was easily the best episode of Berserk 2016 yet."
Danganronpa 3: The End of Hope's Peak High School: Future Arc ‒ Episode 6
"This episode is uncharacteristically optimistic, but things can only get way worse before they get better."
D.Gray-man Hallow ‒ Episode 7
"As romantic as the idea of love stronger than death might be, I find myself pitying Kanda more than admiring his loyalty."
Vice & Luna - #10
It's finally date night for Luna, and Maybell has big plans, but Vice has a little something to say about that first!
―
Sweetness & Lightning ‒ Episode 7
"This episode takes a turn for the dramatic—but not to the point of feeling like a different show."
ReLIFE
This season's offbeat dramedy about an unemployed 27-year old getting a second chance at high school was released to Crunchyroll as a full series for binge viewing, but is it worth a 13-episode marathon?
― The Summer 2016 anime season has given us a number of unusual releases – one series that's only five episodes long (Planetarian), two concurrent series from the same franchise meant to be viewed si...
Taboo Tattoo ‒ Episode 7
"Outside of some admittedly cool moments littered throughout the fight against Cal, almost nothing about this episode works at all."
Danganronpa 3: The End of Hope's Peak High School: Despair Arc ‒ Episode 5
"After four episodes of solid pacing, episode 5 has to fudge around with some transparent padding to get us in place for the Tragedy."
New Game! ‒ Episode 7
"New Game! continues to feel like it's in a holding pattern, neither moving forward nor slipping back as it circles around the possibility of advancing the plot."
The Morose Mononokean ‒ Episode 7
"The Morose Mononokean is good at many different things, in a way that allows it to appeal to a wide array of viewers."
Mob Psycho 100 ‒ Episode 6
"The show's storytelling is as strong as ever, and I was happy to see that the events of last episode are actually resulting in lasting repercussions."
The Heroic Legend of Arslan: Dust Storm Dance ‒ Episode 7
"The fast pace of this episode is truly the root of its problems, even if it's understandable considering the pace of this season."
Answerman - How Superstitious Is Japan, Really?
Anime and manga frequently reference superstitious tradition - but just how superstitious is Japan in real life? Justin gets into it.
― Brooks asks: Are Japanese people in real life really as superstitious as they're portrayed in anime? Like in every anime that takes place at a school, there always seems to be that one character that's deathly afraid of ghosts to the point of absurdity. Or you often...
Shelf Life - After War Gundam X Part 2
After War Gundam X ramps up the stakes in its second half, but is it enough to elevate the overall story? Plus, all this week's new releases!
― I think I've been doing this unconsciously for a few seasons now, but I've figured out a method of watching simulcast shows that's been working well for me. I follow the episodic comedies and slow-paced slice of life stuff from week to week, then start the m...
Queen Emeraldas GN 1
Queen Emeraldas runs the risk of only appealing to fans of Matsumoto or older manga, but it is worth giving a chance even if neither of those are within your usual purview.
― Technically, this review could simply consist of the words “lady space pirate” and possibly “Leiji Matsumoto” and pique a prior fan's interest in Queen Emeraldas. But as with most, if not all, Matsumoto titles, there's far more ...
Re:Zero -Starting Life in Another World- ‒ Episode 20
"I guess I shouldn't be surprised that the battle against the White Whale is going to take more than one full episode."
Orange ‒ Episode 7
"Things moved forward quickly in this week's episode of Orange."
DAYS ‒ Episode 7
"We're starting to get a lot of repetition here."
Tales of Zestiria the X ‒ Episode 7
"These two episodes could possibly be an ad for Tales of Berseria stuck into the middle of Zestiria's show, and I find that possibility frustrating."
Love Live! Sunshine!! ‒ Episode 7
"Tokyo really was a turning point not only for the characters, but also for the series."
Yatterman Night Sub.DVD
Despite some pitfalls along the way and a shaky final episode, Yatterman Night comes together well enough overall. Theron Martin explores this unusual reboot.
― The original Yatterman TV series aired in the late '70s as the second and longest installment of the Time Bokan franchise. It featured a 13-year-old boy and his like-aged girlfriend who took on the identities of Yatterman-1 and Yatterman-2 to...
Danganronpa 3: The End of Hope's Peak High School: Future Arc ‒ Episode 5
"We haven't known Kimura and Ando for long, but this episode manages to wring the maximum amount of sadness from their relationship before its bitter end."
Rewrite ‒ Episode 7
"The disappearance of Inoue at the end of last episode seemed to mark a turning point in the series."
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Diamond Is Unbreakable ‒ Episode 20
"It's time for us to embrace a humbled, much more humanized version of Yukako."
Food Wars! The Second Plate ‒ Episode 7
"This episode didn't waste any time getting to the conclusion of the Autumn Election semi-finals, which means it only touched on the cook-off between Akira and Ryo."
Handa-kun ‒ Episode 6
"As Handa-kun continues to introduce us to Handa's unusual classmates, I find myself starting to wonder if he's actually one of the saner people in his school."
The List - 7 Cruel Gods
Life in our world isn't always fair, but these dastardly deities make it clear that the powers-that-be could always be a whole lot nastier to the puny humans under their heels.
― Famine, rivers of blood, locusts, or a death game of mentally unstable teenagers trying to kill each other with their cell phones, life is hard enough without the powers that be actively working to make things as horrible a...
Magi: Adventure of Sinbad
This Magi spinoff about Sinbad's early adventures has some rushed pacing problems, but its combination of adventure, humor, and backstory still tally up to a good time. Rebecca Silverman dives in.
― Thirty years before Aladdin, Alibaba, and Morgiana meet in Balbadd, a boy was born in Parthevia to a wounded soldier and his wife. Does that sound a bit melodramatic? So is the very beginning of this spin...
Amanchu! ‒ Episode 6
"Futaba takes center stage once again in this week's feel-good Amanchu!"
Alderamin on the Sky ‒ Episode 6
"This is a totally fine direction to go in, as it presents numerous possibilities for both military and diplomatic tactics, though it hardly rouses enthusiasm."
ANNCast - Hater Patrol
Zac and Jacob didn't intend to sound like a pack of haters when discussing Mob Psycho 100, but here we are. PLUS: Sweetness & Lightning, Love Live! Sunshine!!, Suicide Squad and much more!
― ANNCast Episode 268: Hater Patrol Zac and Jacob didn't intend to sound like a pack of haters when discussing Mob Psycho 100, but here we are. PLUS: Sweetness & Lightning, Love Live Sunshine, Suicide Squad and mu...
Answerman - Why Are Anime Conventions So Expensive?
For some, anime convention badges seem like they're going up in price, and ticketed events - an extra expense after you've paid for your badge - are on the rise. Justin gets into the rising costs of conventions.
― Kasra asks: I want to ask why in the world of cons is so expensive. I went to my first con on Friday and the cost of the ticket was so much that it was unbelievable -- 57 dollars to get in...
Interview: Your Lie in April Mangaka Naoshi Arakawa
The award-winning creator of the smash hit tearjerker Your Lie in April discusses his biggest hit, sudden success, his first trip to the US (or even on an airplane) and his brand-new manga series.
― Anime Expo 2016 was notable for having not just one, but several noted manga creators from Japan featured as their special guests. One such guest was Naoshi Arakawa, the award-winning creator of the drama...
Naruto Shippuden ‒ Episode 471
"I'm glad that the latest Obito love fest was limited to half the episode—but it shouldn't have even eaten up that much time."
This Art Club Has a Problem! ‒ Episode 6
"As promised, this week introduces a new character to the cast, and like Usami, I'm not quite sure what to make of her."
This Week in Games - Metroid's Saddest Birthday Ever
ANN's new weekly gaming feature launches with this week's big news - including a remake of Metroid II that Nintendo doesn't want anyone to play - and next week's biggest new releases!
― Greetings and welcome to This Week in Games, our new weekly gaming feature here on Anime News Network that probably reminds you a whole lot of our previous column, The X Button. But where the X Button was a roundup of...
Yurikuma Arashi BD+DVD
This yuri series of yesteryear can often be too weird for words, but its artistic ambition and thought-provoking ideas must be seen to be bear-lieved. Jacob Chapman explores this unusual gem.
― Yurikuma Arashi is a show about lesbians, written and directed by a man. For some people, this might not mean anything one way or the other. Countless other yuri anime have been written or directed by men, alo...
Twin Star Exorcists ‒ Episode 18
"Twin Star Exorcists took a surprising turn this week, resisting the urge to jump right into the fray and taking some extra time to prepare our protagonists (and the audience) for the battle to come."
Answerman - Are Anime Companies Cutting Back On Convention Appearances?
A recent interview with one manga company prompts a reader to ask if anime and manga companies are cutting back on costly convention appearances. Justin gets into it.
― Jake asks: One of the things that I enjoy about going to conventions is meeting people from the industry and getting a more personal experience. But recently I was listening to an interview with Seven Seas and they stated that it was...
Interview: Love Live Sunshine - Aqours
Six brand-new school idols appeared at Anime Expo 2016 to introduce the world to Love Live! Sunshine!! We sat down with the group to find out what their visit to America was like and what inspires their music.
― It's been a big year for the girls from Love Live Sunshine. It's the first voice role for many of the girls; they're the new "school idols" from the Love Live project, an all-media project th...
Ten Count GN 1
Despite a slightly uncomfortable premise, Ten Count's first volume treats its characters well in a slow but enjoyable first volume.
― Upon simply hearing the premise of Rihito Takarai's Ten Count, you could be forgiven for worrying that it would be just another exploitative yaoi series driven by an unequal relationship. That, however, would be allowing yourself to miss out on at least a first volume ...
The Best and Worst of the Season So Far: Week of Jul 29-Aug 4
Alderamin on the Sky shoots up the rankings in an unprecedented bid for the top spot - but Re:Zero remains king of the hill. See how all your favorite shows fared in our weekly rankings!
― Our team of reviewers are following 30 anime series of the Summer 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...
One Piece ‒ Episode 752
"It's been a solid 90 episodes since the whole crew has been together, so we're inclined to make haste."
Vice & Luna - #9
It's anime night at Vice & Luna's office, and it's never a simple task deciding what to watch!
―
Sweetness & Lightning ‒ Episode 6
"This week, Sweetness & Lightning changes things up by allowing its supporting players to join in the culinary fun."
Lucky Star Blu-Ray
Lucky Star took the otaku world by storm and became a sensation nearly a decade ago - now that the entire series is out on bluray, how does it hold up? Nick Creamer takes it on.
― It's difficult to conceive of a show that better exemplifies “a product of its time” than Lucky Star. Airing just one year after the mega-hit The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, it was the first dedicated slice-of-life serie...
D.Gray-man Hallow ‒ Episode 6
"Its mixture of drama and brief (often intentionally awkward) moments of comedy sets this episode just a notch above previous ones."
New Game! ‒ Episode 6
"New Game is able to distinguish itself from the slice of life crowd when the characters talk shop at the office, but it loses some of that spark when it sends everyone out for a normal day on the town."
Taboo Tattoo ‒ Episode 6
"The series keeps adding new characters without bothering to flesh out the old ones, and the general conflict is getting murkier and less interesting every week."
Mob Psycho 100 ‒ Episode 5
"Mob Psycho has topped itself yet again."
The Morose Mononokean ‒ Episode 6
"This episode begins and ends strong but loses its way somewhere in the middle."
Re:Zero -Starting Life in Another World- ‒ Episode 19
"The degree to which Subaru takes advantage of what he learned – especially in the last loop – is pretty impressive."
Orange ‒ Episode 6
"As an intimate portrayal of believable human feelings, many of this episode's scenes were clear winners."
Answerman - Why Don't Anime DVDs Have Other Languages?
One reader wants to know why anime DVDs have languages other than Japanese and English. Justin's ready for this one.
― Joel asks: I have been wondering why most anime titles released in the United States only include two language options, the original Japanese version and English Dub. Except for Disney's Studio Ghibli releases and Batman: Gotham Knight, I have not seen any other anime films or TV sh...
Tales of Zestiria the X ‒ Episode 6
"Sorey and Mikleo did warn us that it would happen – this week's episode is not about any of the characters we have met thus far."
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