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Season Finale: Food Wars! The Second Plate ‒ Episode 13
"Even though The Second Plate has had its issues with pacing and art, it really pulled it all together in a very satisfying way."
Series Finale: Handa-kun ‒ Episode 12
"While it may not be spectacular, this episode is competent and entertaining enough to wrap the series up on a positive note."
Alderamin on the Sky ‒ Episode 12
"The main attraction is still the back-and-forth on military tactics, but this series has also become an unexpectedly strong display of character development."
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Diamond Is Unbreakable ‒ Episode 26
"JJBA finally delivered a Rock Paper Scissors episode, the perfect blend of ordinary mundanity and psychological warfare that can be heightened to absurd melodrama. "
Season Finale: Amanchu! ‒ Episode 12
"Futaba, Hikari, and the rest of the club go for one last dive in this week's satisfying finale."
Series Finale: Battery the Animation ‒ Episodes 10-11
"Battery the Animation has made its way to the finish line with the energy of a geriatric trying to parallel park."
Answerman - How Does The Train System Work In Japan?
Japan's train system is referenced constantly in anime - so how exactly does it work? Justin gets into it.
― Tayler asks: How do kids in Japan pay for the trains that they are constantly using? Train use is something that seems to happen in nearly every school anime, but I don't think I've ever seen one that actually mentioned the price of a train ride, or why kids are able to seemingly just walk on...
Laughing Under the Clouds BD+DVD
This story of three brothers battling a mythological monster doesn't really take off until episode five, but once it gets going, it's worth the struggle. Rebecca Silverman explores this overlooked anime.
― Based on a six-volume manga by Karakara Kemuri (whose series Countdown 7 Days, Replica, and Takeru: Opera Susanoh Sword of the Devil have all been at least partially released in English), Laughing ...
Season Finale: This Art Club Has a Problem! ‒ Episode 12
"So long, Art Club. May your canvases always be bright with apples and waifus."
This Week in Games - Tokyo Twilight Ghost Hunters Daybreak
Dustin takes on Tokyo Twilight Ghost Hunters Daybreak: Special Gigs!, discusses Metal Gear Survive, Pokemon on the Nintendo NX and next week's biggest releases!
― The Tokyo Game Show took place over the past weekend, and like most recent years for the show, it didn't provide a ton of huge announcements. That's generally reflective of the past decade of AAA Japanese development, which has obviously go...
The Heroic Legend of Arslan Season One Part One BD+DVD
This epic story of a prince who fights to regain his kingdom has great ambitions that its lead character struggles to support. Theron Martin weighs this legend's pros and cons.
― Stories about members of royalty who are violently deposed and must struggle to regain their kingdom have peppered storytelling for centuries, and anime is no different. Over the years, fantasy titles like Record of Lodoss W...
Danganronpa 3: The End of Hope's Peak High School: Future Arc ‒ Episode 11
"This penultimate Future Arc episode was basically a series of fist-pumping highlights from start to finish."
Twin Star Exorcists ‒ Episode 24
"Rokuro and Benio's Bogus Journey continues this week, as the Twin Star Exorcists head into yet another town afflicted with Kegare infection, though the Basara they find there completely defies their expectations."
Answerman - Why Aren't More Anime Movies Available For Streaming?
There's a metric ton of TV anime available for streaming - so where are all the anime movies? Justin explains why so few theatrical anime are available streaming.
― Robert asks: Why there are so few movies in legal anime streaming services (unlike Netflix which specializes in movies)? I think at the very least they should have movies that came from popular tv series in their catalog. IMO it is easie...
Psycho-Pass: Mandatory Happiness
In this visual novel adventure, you take on the role of Investigator or Enforcer to help the heroes of Psycho-Pass solve gruesome cases. Can this game live up to the legacy of its franchise?
― In the future, superpowered AI monitor human psychological states, measuring their likelihood of committing criminal acts and meting out proactive justice to prevent those crimes from happening. Enforcers, dire...
Cheer Boys!! ‒ Episode 11
"This episode's drama was far from original, and even three revolving mini-stories weren't enough to keep it afloat."
The Best and Worst of the Season So Far: Week of Sep 9-15
The summer season is winding to a close, but that doesn't mean it's too late for Jojo's Bizarre Adventure to suddenly leap up the charts! Find out how all your favorite shows did 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 (a...
Vice & Luna - #14
Luna's date night is over - but she still needs to settle things up with Vice!
―
D.Gray-man Hallow ‒ Episode 12
"If one thing has been consistent throughout this adaptation, it has been inconsistent pacing."
Season Finale: Taboo Tattoo ‒ Episode 12
"Taboo Tattoo was a dud through and through."
Season Finale: Sweetness & Lightning ‒ Episode 12
"As viewers have come to expect, this series' curtain call features far more sweetness than lightning."
Doukyusei -Classmates- Blu-Ray
This ethereal boys-love film dives right into the love confessions and intimacy and never turns back. Jacob Chapman explores what makes this Blu-Ray edition special.
― When I first heard Aniplex was going to start screening a critically and financially successful boys' love movie produced by A-1 Pictures in theaters, I was pretty puzzled. Boys' love, shonen-ai, yaoi, however you want to slice it, is ...
Season Finale: Berserk ‒ Episode 12
"If nothing else, Berserk 2016 at its most awkward has never been able to dampen the strength of Miura's writing."
Season Finale: New Game! ‒ Episode 12
"A fun little comedy with a likable cast that managed to end on a strong and somewhat thoughtful note."
Mob Psycho 100 ‒ Episode 11
"Overall, I was very impressed with how gracefully this episode integrated Mob Psycho's very divergent characters, themes, and even genre styles."
The Morose Mononokean ‒ Episode 12
"This episode is a sharp departure from the much quicker manga version of the story, but I prefer where the anime goes with it."
Answerman - Where Do Animax Asia's English Dubs Come From?
Animax Asia is a 24-hour anime cable channel run by Sony, and it's chock-a-block with English dubs many American fans have never heard. Justin gets into it.
― Skye asks: Why does Animax Asia broadcast anime with English dubs, and who dubs them? I recently watched Toward the Terra, and upon further research (wikipedia), I learned it was dubbed by Animax Asia, which broadcasts dubs in Southeast Asia. ...
Shelf Life - Gundam Build Fighters
James takes his first step into the magical world of battling Gunpla in Gundam Build Fighters, while Paul runs down all this week's new anime releases!
― In my endless search for interesting things to talk about in these intro paragraphs, I completely missed a personal milestone: it's been over a year since I started my time at the helm of Shelf Life. I moved from just writing reviews to organizing ...
The Rolling Girls BD+DVD
Rolling Girls is a compelling but ultimately disappointing jumble of great ideas and rickety execution. Nick Creamer rolls out its pros and cons.
― The Rolling Girls is pretty much exactly the kind of show I want to believe in. Graced with a vivid visual aesthetic, centered on the poignant edge of adolescence, and framed as a rock and roll road trip through a fanciful alternate Japan, it breathes cre...
Season Finale: Re:Zero -Starting Life in Another World- (Episode 25)
"Going into next season without more Re:Zero to anticipate will be sad indeed." The season finale of Re:Zero is here!
Orange ‒ Episode 12
"This week's Orange was easily the show's emotional peak so far, winding back to explore the drama of the original timeline from Kakeru's perspective."
Tales of Zestiria the X ‒ Episode 12
"This episode does a good job of showing Sorey's character progression over the course of twenty-five minutes."
DAYS ‒ Episode 12
"If there were a way to bring these emotional high stakes to the actual soccer field, DAYS would be one incredible show."
The Mike Toole Show - All-new Originals
Mike takes a journey through the long and storied Super Robot Wars franchise, a mashup of strategy, action and beloved classic giant robot anime.
― Getting the game took longer than I expected. Just ordering it was complicated, a procedure involving an inquiry on Twitter, a few exchanged emails with a vendor in Malaysia, and a PayPal invoice. Then I was treated to a fairly long wait, which is my faul...
Love Live! Sunshine!! ‒ Episode 12
"Now that the end is in sight, the girls can finally figure out what will make Aqours work and what will make them shine."
Food Wars! The Second Plate ‒ Episode 12
"It's a shame that Food Wars couldn't have started with the Stagiaire, because with this story arc, the show has really returned to its former glory. "
91 Days ‒ Episode 10
"Now that Avilio has nothing left to lose, the Vanettis have no idea what they're in for."
Goodnight Punpun GN 3
No one writes dark and difficult stories quite like Inio Asano, and the third omnibus of Goodnight, Punpun is no exception as Punpun prepares for high school.
― No one writes dark and difficult stories quite like Inio Asano. While there are tragic and depressing elements to his series, and those certainly abound in this latest omnibus edition of Goodnight Punpun, it wouldn't be fair to simply label h...
Rewrite ‒ Episode 12
"The unimpressive visual quality of the series as a whole seems to weigh more heavily in this penultimate episode."
Handa-kun ‒ Episode 11
"This school festival storyline benefits from Handa-kun's surplus of outlandish personalities, and it feels like there's still enough content left over to carry on into next week's continuation."
Thunderbolt Fantasy ‒ Episode 11
"Always hilarious, tense, and exciting, Thunderbolt Fantasy continues to be everything I could ask for out of a work of pure entertainment."
Alderamin on the Sky ‒ Episode 11
"The real meat of this episode comes after the battle."
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Diamond Is Unbreakable ‒ Episode 25
"By far the most interesting aspect of this episode comes from Kira's new domestic life."
The List - 6 Anime Series to Help You Relive Your Goth Phase
Grab your fishnet shirt, your latex pants and your Sisters of Mercy LP because it's time to relive your dark phase with six classic anime so goth that bats will fly out your nose!
― Goth subculture really hit it big in the west in the 1990s, fueled by films like Interview with a Vampire and The Crow. A preoccupation with death, dark poetry, Victorian romance, and period clothing can all be attribute...
Wagnaria!!3 Sub.Blu-Ray 2
This long-running slice-of-life comedy reaches its conclusion in this volume, as burgeoning romances within the restaurant come to a head. Paul Jensen breaks down Wagnaria's last hurrah.
― Anime comedies, particularly those that overlap with the slice of life genre, often have trouble with endings. When the whole point of a series is to observe the everyday misadventures of a group of charming oddbal...
Danganronpa 3: The End of Hope's Peak High School: Despair Arc ‒ Episode 10
"While Future Arc's 10th episode concluded in catharsis, the Despair Arc finally descended into its deepest dungeon of despair."
Amanchu! ‒ Episode 11
"Heartfelt, adorable, and evenly paced, this week's Amanchu! is an entertaining almost-finale to a consistently solid show."
Answerman - Why Are Anime Discs Re-released So Much?
Ever wonder why there are so many releases of Dragon Ball Z? Or why one show might get 3 releases, while another barely gets one? Justin breaks it down.
― James asks: Funimation has released and re-released Dragonball countless times, which I find to be very annoying, since it is clearly an attempt to get more money from their customers, and there is little that can be added to any further releases ...
Mobile Suit Gundam: A Char For All Seasons
It isn't a great Gundam show without a great villain! Lauren Orsini starts with Char and counts down the complex, ruthless and iconic bad guys of Gundam.
― Sometimes it's not the hero that makes a story great—it's the villain. This is especially true for the Gundam franchise. Each of these space opera stories focuses on the tireless rivalry between the protagonist and antagonist, and with so many var...
My Youth Romantic Comedy Is Wrong, As I Expected Novel 1
The first novel that spawned the cult success anime series "My Teen Romcom SNAFU" is as divisive as it is unique. Rebecca Silverman weighs the ups and downs of Hachiman's adventure.
― As far as annoyingly unrealistic statements made to children by adults go, “these are the best years of your life” is probably one of the worst. Apart from the fact that you (hopefully) have a lot of life to live post-h...
Inside the English Dub Premiere of Digimon Adventure Tri
The original English cast of Digimon Adventure reunited for the first time in over a decade for the first Digimon Tri movie, and we've got the inside scoop from Thursday night's premiere!
― It was a packed house at the TCL Chinese Theater for the English dub premiere of Digimon Adventure Tri's first movie, as everyone settled in their seats, goodie bags and tickets in hand, with nervous energy. I hav...
This Art Club Has a Problem! ‒ Episode 11
"Not only did this episode present one cohesive storyline, but it also offered us a tantalizing glimpse of life outside of the art club."
This Week in Games - Death Stranding
This week's biggest news, including the Playstation 4 Pro, The Last Guardian's release date slip, a few more details on Death Stranding and much more!
― Ireland's a nice place. Good food. Great beer. Lot of sheep. But now it's time to put all that fresh air and beautiful country aside and talk about the things that really matter: video games! I had all these grand plans of playing through the Phoenix...
Twin Star Exorcists ‒ Episode 23
"While the results are definitely a little uneven, the episode still absolutely delivers an entertaining, emotional, and effective story."
Cross Ange: Rondo of Angel and Dragon Blu-Ray part 2
The second half of this controversial series comes to Blu-ray, but can it wrap up all its wild plot twists in a satisfying way? Theron Martin investigates.
― Whatever your reaction was to the first 12 episodes of Cross Ange, your reaction to the last 13 episodes is unlikely to be any different. Those who found plenty to hate about the first half will find more things to despise in the second half, wh...
Answerman - How Do Franchises Keep English Translations Straight?
How does a mega-franchise like Pokemon or One Piece keep their English-language names and translations straight? Justin gets into it.
― Jennifer asks: I've been watching the Pokemon anime recently, and it's made me wonder about the translations of pokemon names, which are different between Japanese and English, and how they keep the same name though the different media Pokemon can be consumed throug...
Cheer Boys!! ‒ Episode 10
"This week's episode balances a massive cast while carefully training the spotlight on two of the cheerleaders' engaging and relatable struggles."
A Beginner's Guide to Tales RPGs
Now that Tales of Zestiria has gotten its own anime adaptation, you may be wondering what this long-running JRPG series is all about and where to start playing. Gabriella Ekens has the answers!
― Deluging the market with a new game every year or so, the Tales series is the biggest JRPG franchise that you might not know about. While still slightly beneath the notice of the average Western gamer, the s...
The Best and Worst of the Season So Far: Week of Sep 2-8
ReZero retakes its place at the top of the heap, but it's a 12-point jump up the ladder for Thunderbolt Fantasy! How did your favorite summer 2016 shows fare 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 seas...
NTR Netsuzou Trap GN 1
Less sweet and consensual than most yuri series translated into English, NTR's first volume has some issues but is a decent read nonetheless.
― If you like your yuri sweet and focused on the emotional relationship between the protagonists, like in Whispered Words or Sweet Blue Flowers, NTR Netsuzou Trap is not the series for you. It has much more in common with Citrus in its more sexually aggressive ...
Danganronpa 3: The End of Hope's Peak High School: Future Arc ‒ Episode 10
"Despite not getting much closer to the truth, episode 10 delivered the most emotionally resonant content from Future Arc yet."
D.Gray-man Hallow ‒ Episode 11
"With two full episodes and only one manga chapter left before the scene many fans suspect to be the closing point for this adaptation, it's time to speculate where Hallow will leave things."
Yona of the Dawn GN 1
The source manga for the 2014 anime is finally available in English! With its focus on Su-Won and Hak, it offers an interesting look at the start of Yona's journey.
― Spoiler Warning: if you don't want to know the identity of Yona's betrayer before reading the book, perhaps skip this review. All of us know that life is full of changes, some good, some less so. Very few, however, actively plan for tho...
Vice & Luna - #13
Maybell charges in once more as date night comes to a close!
―
Taboo Tattoo ‒ Episode 11
"The plot is too convoluted to invest in, and almost all of the characters we're dealing with have only been introduced in the past couple episodes."
Sweetness & Lightning ‒ Episode 11
"This week's episode finds both Tsumugi and Kotori in precarious positions with their respective peers."
New Game! ‒ Episode 11
"The trip to the convention is a nice change of pace from New Game's usual office antics."
Interview: Aniplex of America President Hideki 'Henry' Goto
Aniplex of America is throwing a huge party in Los Angeles on the weekend of October 15th! We sat down with president Henry Goto to get the details - and get his take on the anime industry in 2016.
― Hideki “Henry” Goto needs very little introduction – the president of Aniplex of America, Goto has had a storied career in the Japanese animation industry, having been a familiar face to American fans si...
Mob Psycho 100 ‒ Episode 10
"I doubt this series will end up finding satisfying answers for all its underlying questions, but I'm still thoroughly enjoying the ride."
Answerman - What's Up With Dollar Store Anime Releases?
Justin takes a journey through the world of dollar store anime - just where do all those random old anime DVDs come from?
― Charles asks: I've occasionally come across anime on the kind of DVDs that go straight to dollar stores and discount bins as if they're public domain. Some examples I've seen are The Little Mermaid (1975), The Wonderful Galaxy of Oz, and even Captain Harlock. They usually look ...
The Morose Mononokean ‒ Episode 11
"It's one of the best episodes of The Morose Mononokean yet, making me eager to see what the last two episodes have in store for a final conflict."
One Piece ‒ Episode 756
"This episode isn't exceptional like the last few have been, but it's solid nonetheless."
Shelf Life - Children Who Chase Lost Voices
Paul takes a look at a recent Makoto Shinkai movie with a more Ghibli flavor to see what it can offer anime fans both old and new. Plus, all this week's new releases!
― I had an introduction all ready for this week, and then the news about Crunchyroll and Funimation forming a partnership showed up. Serves me right for trying to get my work done early for once. This Answerman article explains things ...
When Supernatural Battles Became Commonplace Blu-Ray
Although it's less a supernatural battle story and more a slice-of-life dramedy, this 2014 series still has a lot of fun to offer. Rebecca Silverman has the details.
― If you go into When Supernatural Battles Became Commonplace expecting a show about supernatural battles, you're probably going to be disappointed. This series, based on the inevitable light novels, is basically the introduction to a la...
Berserk ‒ Episode 11
"This episode's focus on spectacle that it couldn't portray dragged it down a little, but the haunting visual metaphors and terrific characterization helped bring it back up."
Danganronpa 3: The End of Hope's Peak High School: Despair Arc ‒ Episode 9
"Despair! These cliffhangers have left me in despair!"
Re:Zero -Starting Life in Another World- ‒ Episode 24
"Seeing how Subaru acts on what he learned from the last couple of episodes is still quite satisfying, along with the way the relationship between him and Julius has evolved."
Orange ‒ Episode 11
"Overall, this episode of Orange did a lot to alleviate my growing concerns about the show's direction."
Love Live! Sunshine!! ‒ Episode 11
"This You episode has been a long time coming, and it's great to finally get her time in the spotlight."
DAYS ‒ Episode 11
"Returning Tsukushi to his starring role makes this story leagues better than it's been for several weeks."
Tales of Zestiria the X ‒ Episode 11
"I can't help but feel that Tales of Zestiria the X didn't quite think things through when it came to distribution of content."
Food Wars! The Second Plate ‒ Episode 11
"Soma's work over the week of his first stagiaire gives him the chance to explore the idea of what other chefs want for their food."
Rewrite ‒ Episode 11
"The setup for the big finale looks like it's now complete, so the overriding question is whether or not Key is going to pull out something great and emotional to finish this story off."
Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? Novel 6
This first novel of DanMachi to cover the story post-anime adaptation may be the best one yet! Theron takes a look.
― The 6th DanMachi novel marks the point where the main storyline fully extends beyond the 2015 anime adaptation, picking up just a couple of days after the 5th novel and anime both leave off. For those who loved the anime version but don't want to traipse through the rehashes of the fi...
91 Days ‒ Episode 9
"This week provided enough insight into Avilio's emotional state to overwrite the coldness I felt for him mid-series."
Thunderbolt Fantasy ‒ Episode 10
"This episode was entirely setup for Thunderbolt Fantasy's climactic sprint to the finish line."
The List - 7 Heart-Pounding Tournaments
From friendly tests of skill and prowess to no-holds-barred death matches, here are just seven of anime's most memorable battle tournament arcs.
― When trying to discover the best of the best, anime pits contenders against one another to see who will reign supreme. Many a shōnen anime has a tournament competition of some sort. Most are physical showdowns where protagonists reveal new powered up abil...
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Diamond Is Unbreakable ‒ Episode 24
"The ensuing beating that Kira delivers is one of the best scenes I've seen in Diamond is Unbreakable yet."
World Break: Aria of Curse for a Holy Swordsman BD+DVD
It's another magic fighting high school series based on a light novel! Can World Break manage to cram six books worth of plot into a scant twelve episodes? Rebecca Silverman finds out.
― At this point in anime history, light novel adaptations are inevitable. World Break debuted in the same season as Absolute Duo, Saekano: How To Raise a Boring Girlfriend, and The Testament of Sister New Devil, as wel...
Handa-kun ‒ Episodes 9-10
"The cast of Handa-kun gets quite a workout in these two episodes."
Amanchu! ‒ Episode 10
"While not quite as poignant as last week's installment or as funny as episode 8, the Diving Club's latest outing is a relaxing (though slightly underwhelming) good time."
Alderamin on the Sky ‒ Episode 10
"A well-done episode in a series that is now running at the top of its game."
ANNCast - Gurren Lagann
Zac, Jacob and guest Eryn Dearden drill to the center of the 2007 smash Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann to discover if, after a whole decade, this bombastic blockbuster still has that burning manly spirit.
― ANNCast Episode 271: Gurren Lagann Zac, Jacob and guest Eryn Dearden drill to the center of the 2007 smash Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann to discover if, after a whole decade, this bombastic blockbuster ...
Battery the Animation ‒ Episode 9
"The introduction of this secondary couple has done a lot to make Battery the Animation more interesting."
Naruto Shippuden ‒ Episode 475
"While lacking in action, this week's Naruto Shippūden propels the story forward in a major way."
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