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Guilty Crown BD+DVD
This divisive and explosive mech series from Production I.G. and renowned animation director Tetsuro Araki definitely turned a few heads back in 2011, but is it any good today? Theron Martin investigates.
― In one of the included interviews for Funimation's rerelease of this series, one of the show's producers specifically mentions Neon Genesis Evangelion as a personal inspiration. That's not surpris...
Danganronpa 3: The End of Hope's Peak High School: Future Arc ‒ Episode 8
"After spending so much time with Makoto, fans had been clamoring for an episode with Kyoko instead. Be careful what you wish for."
Twin Star Exorcists ‒ Episode 21
"Any fears I had that the show would rest on its laurels were put to rest this week, and I couldn't be happier."
Cheer Boys!! ‒ Episode 8
"It's been a couple weeks of mediocrity, but Cheer Boys!! is finally getting its groove back."
Answerman - Why Is Old Anime Still Released In Interlaced Format?
"Interlaced" video should, by all accounts, be a thing of the past - so why does it still occasionally show up on anime DVDs and blurays? Justin gets into the technical details.
― Anonymous asks: Why is it that older shows are still presented in interlaced form on new-release DVDs? They look terrible on a computer. Prior to HD video being a thing, all video was interlaced. All of it. Every show that...
D.Gray-man Hallow ‒ Episode 9
"So much for promises of eternal love."
Sweetness & Lightning ‒ Episode 9
"While I enjoyed episode 9 immensely, there's no denying that it's about as by-the-books as this series gets."
Yowamushi Pedal GN 3
This omnibus volume slows things down a bit from the heady days of the Welcome Race, but its exploration of the cast's emotions proves just as interesting.
― Competitive sports are a divisive pasttime, which is especially strange because they really don't have to be. Very few people are going to get into the sort of burning feud that Red Sox vs Yankees inspires over whether Dairy Queen or Baskin Robi...
Berserk ‒ Episode 9
"I'm continuing to enjoy the show much more now than I did at the start, even if I feel more lost than ever before."
Taboo Tattoo ‒ Episode 9
"It's actually kind of a shame to see the script working so hard to pick up the slack this week, because the direction is probably the weakest it has ever been up to this point."
Mob Psycho 100 ‒ Episode 8
"Even by the lofty standards Mob has already set for itself, this was a barn-burner of a spectacle."
New Game! ‒ Episode 9
"Whether you're watching for the video game jokes, the character humor, or the fanservice, New Game feels like it's a little more on point than usual this week."
One Piece ‒ Episode 754
"The One Piece anime has been stagnating these last few months, and now we're in for a breath of fresh air with new characters, locations, and an overall much more engaged production."
The Morose Mononokean ‒ Episode 9
"This episode of The Morose Mononokean is a mix of various moods we've seen earlier in the series, but it introduces some new ideas that make the episode feel original."
Tales of Zestiria the X ‒ Episode 9
"This episode throws new characters at us without fanfare and gives us major plot information with all the finesse of a firehose."
Please tell me! Galko-chan Episodes 1-12 Streaming
Rose Bridges takes a look at this underrated short gag series from earlier in the year and discovers a surprisingly educational (and filthy) anime like nothing else out there.
― When I was in high school, there was one huge girls' bathroom in the main hallway. For some reason, there was no such equivalent for the guys. This place became a sort of social gathering spot for all the girls in school, reg...
Re:Zero -Starting Life in Another World- ‒ Episode 22
"This episode introduces a curious complication that may help explain how this arc could cover the remaining three episodes of the season."
Orange ‒ Episode 9
"The group is almost all on the same page now, but that doesn't make handling adolescent romance any easier."
DAYS ‒ Episode 9
"Without the show's one fantastic character in the spotlight, there's not much left to care about."
Love Live! Sunshine!! ‒ Episode 9
"Overall, this is a delightful, cute, and moving episode."
Food Wars! The Second Plate ‒ Episode 9
"While we do miss out on most of the food prep, which is a shame, the ending more than makes up for it with Soma's impressive chutzpah."
Rewrite ‒ Episode 9
"For all the serious matters being explained, the episode still finds room for some fun."
Handa-kun ‒ Episode 8
"While this episode is amusing from time to time, it doesn't reach the heights of humor that I was hoping it would."
Danganronpa 3: The End of Hope's Peak High School: Despair Arc ‒ Episode 7
"The Benadryl Blood Flood has finally come crashing down on the Despair Arc, continuing this prequel's inevitable plunge into hell."
Thunderbolt Fantasy ‒ Episode 8
"While our party has decided that they've figured out the twist, I suspect that it won't be so cut and dry."
Amanchu! ‒ Episode 8
"This week's dual-segment Amanchu! presents us with two separate character studies, giving the audience a chance to view Ai and Futaba through the eyes of Makoto and Hikari."
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Diamond Is Unbreakable ‒ Episode 22
"This is the point in the series where it's clear that we're more or less done establishing the town of Morioh."
The List - 6 Strange Reinterpretations of Classic Literature
Legends never die, and old stories can always be made new again. Just add robots! Here are a few strange anime takes on memorable classic tales.
― Classic literature is a resource regularly mined for new visual adaptations, whether it's a Jane Austen romance or another mystery starring the unflappable Sherlock Holmes. These stories and their characters are immediately familiar to audiences around th...
Nisekoi 2 Sub.Blu-Ray 2
Nisekoi's second season comes to a close with no romantic resolution in sight, but is the journey more important than the destination? Theron Martin investigates.
― This release covers the second half of the series – episodes 7-12. This run of episodes is average by franchise standards, including both the weakest entries of the season and one of the strongest. Aside from a sad magical girl parody don...
Alderamin on the Sky ‒ Episode 8
"Overall, the series seems to be on an upward trend."
Battery the Animation ‒ Episode 7
"The show continues to progress at its usual mild pace."
Answerman - Do Salarymen Really Read Manga?
Most anime may not be as mainstream in Japan as we would like to believe, but what about manga? Does the average working adult really read comics on the train?
― Vithuyan asks: I have heard that manga is very popular among salary-men in Japan, is that true? Yes. Although most of them are not reading Shonen Jump. Seinen manga magazines ("seinen" literally means youth, but in terms of manga demographi...
This Art Club Has a Problem! ‒ Episode 8
"This Art Club has a Problem may not always know how to handle its side characters, but it continues to do a good enough job with its leads."
ANNCast - A Thousand Miles
Zac and Jacob welcome Crunchyroll brand manager Miles Thomas to goof around for an entire hour about Danganronpa, Orange, Re:Zero, cake vs pastry donuts and much much more!
― ANNCast Episode 270: A Thousand Miles Zac and Jacob welcome Crunchyroll brand manager Miles Thomas to goof around for an entire hour about Danganronpa, Orange, Re:Zero, cake vs pastry donuts and much much more! You can listen t...
Danganronpa 3: The End of Hope's Peak High School: Future Arc ‒ Episode 7
"Even with a one-episode vacation from the main plot, Danganronpa 3 has me on the edge of my seat."
Interview: Knights of Sidonia Mangaka Tsutomu Nihei
Deeply influential sci-fi mangaka Tsutomu Nihei talks about his incredible career, and goes in-depth about his most famous creations: Knights of Sidonia and Blame!
― Mecha suits, space motorcycles, morphing space aliens, epic futuristic cities, and talking bears with guns – this and more are the product of the imagination of manga artist Tsutomu Nihei. The creator of mind-bending science fiction seri...
First Impressions: Attack on Titan: Wings of Freedom (PS4)
Eren and his Titan-killing pals finally arrive in proper videogame form, with the thrilling ability to zip around on your very own 3D Maneuver gear - but is the rest of the game worth the hype?
― It's been a few years since monster-killing mega-franchise Attack on Titan hit critical mass, and now Tecmo Koei's flagship development team, Omega Force, has been put to the test to deliver an Attack on Tit...
That Wolf-Boy is Mine! GN 1
This first volume of Yoko Nagiri's supernatural shojo story is a cut above the pack thanks to its thoughtful take on old tropes. Rebecca Silverman takes a closer look.
― Literature is rife with mildly embarrassing titles obscuring really enjoyable books – just look at the romance section of any bookstore. Yoko Nagiri's That Wolf-Boy is Mine joins their ranks with this first volume. Despite its title,...
Naruto Shippuden ‒ Episode 473
"Minor flaws aside, episode 473 almost brings the Kaguya fight to a close—and that alone is cause for celebration."
This Week in Games - On the Verge
Dustin sings the praises of the grimy Metroid-alike Axiom Verge, Super Mario cosplays at the Olympics, a new game from Pokemon developers Game Freak, PLUS Attack on Titan for the PS4 and the rest of next week's new releases!
― Welcome back once again to This Week in Games! News is a little slight this week because of a substantial stack of new releases, but we've still got a pair of surprises includi...
Charlotte Blu-Ray 1
Renowned visual novel writer Jun Maeda returns to anime for his first series since Angel Beats! Nick Creamer investigates the opening beats of Charlotte.
― Jun Maeda is one of the more high-profile creators in anime circles, though he didn't initially build his reputation in anime at all. Maeda is instead largely famous for his visual novels - he was a central player in building KEY's reputation, whe...
Twin Star Exorcists ‒ Episode 20
"After last week's tightly constructed and emotionally draining climax, we get a simultaneously messier and even more affecting follow-up."
Cheer Boys!! ‒ Episode 7
"Just when our main seven seem to have resolved their emotional baggage, the nine new members pile on plenty of their own."
Answerman - What Is Anime Midstream?
A scrappy little company called Anime Midstream picked up the series B'tx recently, so it's the perfect time for a refresher on just who Anime Midstream are.
― Drew asks: This past week I saw the article on ANN about a company called Anime Midstream releasing anime B'tX. I was excited because I liked that anime and it never was completely released here before, but it got me wondering who was this co...
Comiket 90: Cosplay and More
Our Tokyo correspondent Ken shares both his experience attending the massive Comic Market 90 at Big Sight and a horde of new cosplay photos!
― The biannual Comiket (Comic Market) is the largest anime and manga related event in Japan. Every August and December, thousands of hobbyists flock to the Tokyo Big Sight exhibition center in Odaiba, Tokyo for the three-day festival, where they can sell and pur...
Kuroko's Basketball GN 1
Even though it gets off to a slow start, this compilation of Kuroko's Basketball's first two volumes lays a strong foundation for a story that will only get stronger as it grows.
― If you pick up one new shonen sports title this year, it should probably be Haikyu, but if you're in the mood for more than one, Kuroko's Basketball is definitely worth a look. That's not an entirely fair comparison, of co...
D.Gray-man Hallow ‒ Episode 8
"This episode was a step down from the flashback, but there are still some powerful moments to be found."
The Best and Worst of the Season So Far: Week of Aug 12-18
Mob Psycho 100 descends more than a few spaces while Danganonpa is on the ascent - find out how your favorite summer anime fare in our 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. Keep in mind that the...
Vice & Luna - #11
Maybell takes Luna on their first date - inside a roleplaying game!
― Editor's note: Vice & Luna is on hiatus next week so our team can take a little break, but we'll have a bonus comic and a fan art gallery so please look forward to it!
A Certain Magical Index II BD+DVD
Despite a bevy of pitfalls, the wide range of subplots explored in the final season of the Index franchise will definitely give fans plenty to chew on while they wait for more. Theron Martin dives in.
― The Certain Magical Index franchise has four anime series and one movie to date, of which this was the third installment, airing in Fall of 2010. Although I consider it to be the weakest series in the...
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."
Shelf Life - Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ
Shelf Life finishes up its run of Gundam reviews with the divisive final part of the original Univeral Century timeline. Plus, all this week's new releases!
― I started playing the farming game Stardew Valley last week, and it's taught me that I should never, under any circumstances, be allowed to name a real animal. My character owns three chickens named "Drumstick," "Buffalo," and "McNugget," and ...
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."
The List - 6 Things You Might Not Know About Masashi Kishimoto
How well do you know the creator of Naruto? Here are a few snippets of trivia about the author of one of the most beloved shonen manga in the world!
― Masashi Kishimoto ended his main Naruto manga after 15 years of serialization in November 2014. The manga and its equally popular anime series introduced a whole generation to the medium, not unlike Dragon Ball Z and Sailor Moon before it. The anime r...
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."
Subaru Natsuki: The Best and Worst Thing About Re:Zero
Re:Zero's protagonist is no ordinary NEET, but is he extraordinary in a good way or a bad way? Jacob Chapman dives into this otaku hero's mind to uncover what makes him tick and why it matters.
― Spoiler Warning: This article contains spoilers through episode 18 of Re:Zero. Re:Zero is definitely the kind of anime that draws polarized feelings out of people. Right off the bat, it's based on a series o...
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...
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