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Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid GN 1
Tired of the guys getting all the monster girls? Here's a story about an unwitting female office worker who invites a dragon girl into her home!
― Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid may be yet another in the seemingly endless library of monster girl stories, but it distinguishes itself right away by being about a monster girl who moves in with an office worker rather than a young male college student. Koba...
The Disappearance of Nagato Yuki-chan BD+DVD
In this quirky spinoff of the 2006 otaku phenomenon, Yuki Nagato finds herself in the spotlight pursuing a romance with Kyon. How does Yuki-chan's adventure hold up compared to Haruhi's?
― This 16-episode series is based on a spin-off manga of The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya light novel series. It's one of those “what if” tales, imagining how things might have played out if the people around origin...
Dark Souls 3: The Ashes of Ariandel
The latest DLC for Dark Souls III sends Dave Riley to the Painted World of Ariandel, where he can't shake the feeling that he should be having a lot more fun with all this.
― Calling the Souls expansions “DLC” does them a disservice. Not at all similar to the micro transaction character skins and map addons the term calls to mind, Dark Souls' Artorias of the Abyss and Bloodborne's The Old Hunters are...
ERASED Blu-Ray 1
Erased's first half delivers an interesting take on a time travel murder mystery. Rebecca Silverman breaks down this new deluxe release.
― Many people have a moment they wish they could return to in order to do just one thing differently. Sometimes it's just to say good-bye to someone who won't be coming back, but maybe it's for a larger purpose, like to save a life. For Satoru Fujinuma, that moment ...
Horimiya GN 5
Horimiya continues to delight in its fifth volume of this angst-free look at a sweet romance. Rebecca Silverman takes a look.
― Of all of the many wonderful things about Hero and Daisuke Hagiwara's romance manga Horimiya, one of the best is its lack of melodrama. There are no huge dramatic reveals, no histrionics, no panels oozing with overly tense anticipation. Instead there's just Hori and Miyamura...
Scum's Wish GN 1
Before its anime adaptation comes out this winter, Rebecca Silverman takes a look at the dark world of sex and self-hatred in this very unusual romance.
― Scum's Wish is a difficult story. A bit like a “lite” version of Inio Asano's The Girl on the Shore, the story takes on the idea of budding sexuality and the disconnect between a physical and emotional relationship between a pair of unhappy sevente...
The Violet Knight eBook 1
This new web-novel-turned-light-novel stumbles a bit in its first volume, but it has enough potential to merit giving a second look.
― The Violet Knight is Cross Infinite World's second English-language offering, and like its predecessor, My Favorite Song, it is an officially licensed web novel with no light novel edition in Japanese. Its chief appeal is in that it is targeted at a female readership ...
Exist Archive: The Other Side of the Sky
Departed souls are forced to duke it out in the afterlife in this unusual JRPG adventure. Todd Ciolek explores Exist Archive.
― If nothing else, Exist Archive: the other Side of the Sky poses a creative vision of the afterlife. Never mind those angel-heaped clouds, surging hellfires, or even the Norse realms that developer tri-Ace adapted into their Valkyrie Profile series. According to Exist Archive...
Kizumonogatari Part 2: Nekketsu
In this middle entry of the Kizumonogatari trilogy, things take a hyperviolent and hypersexual turn that pushes Araragi to his limits. Nick Creamer explores this provocative film.
― The key moment of Kizumonogatari Nekketsu comes after its second battle, after Araragi has just faced the half-vampire, Episode. Episode is defeated and almost killed, but Araragi can't relish the victory. Instead, he's c...
Attack on Titan Anthology
Over 30 American comic book artists and writers come together for this compilation of Attack on Titan inspired stories! From its light-hearted parodies to its haunting horror tales, how does this anthology hold up?
― While the publisher Kodansha's claim on the introductory page that the Attack on Titan manga is “the biggest hit in a generation” may be debatable, there's no question that this franchis...
Review: World of Final Fantasy (Playstation 4)
Just in time for the series' 30th anniversary, World of Final Fantasy brings together characters new and old for a lighthearted role-playing adventure that builds on three decades of legacy while crafting its own identity.
― It's been nearly 30 years since the four Warriors of Light crossed the bridge out of Cornelia and into our collective hearts, launching one of the biggest—if not the biggest—RPG ...
B-PROJECT Episodes 1-12 Streaming
B-Project is a bit like UtaPri's calmer little brother - it's fun, it's silly, and it's entertaining start to finish, even if it's nothing new in the boy idol reverse harem genre.
― A large group of uniquely beautiful and talented young men? A slightly eccentric producer? An innocuous and normal (yet secretly talented) young woman thrown into the mix? Bubbly J-pop numbers with slightly feminine chore...
A Town Where You Live Sub.Blu-Ray
What happens when you try to cram two dozen volumes of manga into twelve episodes of anime? Rebecca Silverman finds out in A Town Where You Live.
― What happens when you take twenty-seven volumes of manga and try to condense it down to twelve episodes of anime? It's an issue that we've seen many times before with mixed results, but in the case of A Town Where You Live, based on Koji Seo (of Suzuka fa...
Kitaro Meets Nurarihyon GN
Don't be scared off by the 1960s publication date - this GeGeGe no Kitaro compilation still holds up, as the yokai boy finds himself up against a variety of spooky villains!
― Drawn & Quarterly's second collection of the late, great Shigeru Mizuki's GeGeGe no Kitaro stories may be named after Nurarihyon, but he actually only features in one chapter. However, his essence definitely permeates the curat...
My Girlfriend is a T-Rex GN 1
"Dinosaurs evolve into hot humans to avoid extinction in this funny send-up of the increasingly crowded monster girl genre. Rebecca Silverman takes a look."
― If your first reaction upon looking at the title of Seven Seas' newest monster girl offering is to think, “Wow, the monster girl genre has definitely gone too far,” you could be forgiven. From the outside, My Girlfriend is a T-Rex just looks li...
Kuromukuro Episodes 14-26 Streaming
Kuromukuro does its best to resolve its many mysteries in its action-packed second half, but does it succeed? Theron Martin investigates.
― Despite Netflix breaking the series into two 13-episode blocks for its subtitled stream, there was no break in Kuromukuro's 26-episode airing in Japan. Hence it's only natural that its second half picks up exactly where last season left off with zero recap. Where...
High School DxD BorN BD+DVD
As High School DxD enters its third season, does it still have enough juice to satisfy thirsty fanservice fans? Theron Martin has the answers.
― Based on its first two anime installments, High School DxD is the standard-setter and reigning champ for raunchy harem franchises. Despite being plagued by some production and storytelling issues, its third season does little to dethrone it. The main problem...
Thunderbolt Fantasy Episodes 1-13 Streaming
Can a fantasy adventure starring a pack of puppets really capture the same thrills and chills as an anime series, even with Gen Urobuchi at the wheel? Nick Creamer aims to find out.
― When it was first announced that Gen Urobuchi would be directing a puppet drama, it was difficult to know what to expect. Having started his career in visual novels and then made his mark in anime through works like Mad...
Blood Blockade Battlefront BD+DVD
Now that a limited edition release has finally made its way stateside, how does Studio Bones' ambitiously bizarre action series hold up? Jacob Chapman takes a look.
― It seems like an impossible task to pick out the one strangest thing about Blood Blockade Battlefront, even if you limited yourself to the very first episode. The show kicks off by ripping open its universe and ushering every supernatur...
Asterisk War: The Academy City on the Water [Limited Edition] Blu-Ray 1
The Asterisk War anime was the first version of this story to reach the west, but is it the best one? Rebecca Silverman weighs in.
― The first version of The Asterisk War to make it to the west is also the last one to see a physical release – the 2015 anime series. Aniplex of America's release of the first six episodes on Blu-Ray, which also includes a music CD of various BGM pieces remixed into a si...
Review: Miss Hokusai
Hokusai painted some of the most famous works in Japanese art history - but he had a little help from his daughter. Mike Toole explores the rich slice of history offered up by Miss Hokusai, in theaters this weekend.
― If you've ever just happened across a Japanese painting, a piece of fine art on canvas, you probably didn't see Tomioka Tessai's “Two Divinities Dancing” or Hasegawa Tohaku's “Irises.” ...
Yo-Kai Watch: The Movie
Nate Adams wakes up without his Yo-Kai Watch or his memories - which means someone's been tampering with the past! James Beckett takes on this theatrical installment of the popular show, in theaters this weekend.
― Yo-kai Watch has absolutely exploded in Japan over the past few years; the most recent film managed to outdo The Force Awakens in its opening-weekend box-office, and when you can knock Sta...
your name.
Makoto Shinkai's newest movie is blowing up the Japanese box office, but what is it about this film that touches so many hearts? Anne Lauenroth reviews this unexpected blockbuster.
― Why do we wake up crying from a dream we've already begun to forget? Why does the feeling of loss linger after the memory of that dream has faded to a vague feeling of something that should be there but isn't? How can we...
Plastic Memories Sub.Blu-Ray 2
Plastic Memories may have stumbled with tone problems in its first half, but this second half delivers on the drama where it matters most in the end. Theron Martin breaks it down.
― Spoiler Alert: This review will discuss the end of the series in detail. Though it started strong, Plastic Memories was prone to bouts of frustratingly uneven content even from the beginning. These tone problems have not ...
Persona 4 GN 1
This manga may not be equivalent to actually playing Persona 4, but it's also hardly a shadow of its former self. Gabriella Ekens dives into this adaptation of the hit JRPG.
― The original Persona 4 manga – published the year of the game's 2008 release – finally made it stateside early this year. As an abbreviated version of the game's storyline, this adaptation tries to condense the enormous JRPG in...
Assassination Classroom GN 13
The truth about Nagisa's family life is revealed, leading us to question whether or not he'll really be able to kill Koro-sensei when the time comes in this unusually dark volume of the series.
― How people think of themselves doesn't always reflect what we see on the outside. That's been shown over and over again in Yusei Matsui's Assassination Classroom, as the rest of the school consistently under...
Sweetness & Lightning Episodes 1-12 Streaming
Sweetness & Lightning offers a light but consistently rewarding getaway to a land of good food and great company. Nick Creamer gets into what makes this show special.
― Early on in Sweetness & Lightning, the young Tsumugi is just about to sample another of her father's cooking adventures. Staring up at her dad, she shouts “watch me eat!” before happily digging in, munching through a heaping plate of ...
I've Always Liked You
The first of a series of movies based on a vocaloid project, this fresh fall season addition to Crunchyroll may be a typical teen romance by anime standards but solid execution is everything. Theron Martin takes a look.
― This 63 minute movie, which debuted in Japanese theaters in April and is now streaming on Crunchyroll, has a somewhat unusual pedigree. It's based on a song and light novel project ...
Rising of the Shield Hero Novel 5
The Queen's protection has come in handy for Naofumi, but a trip to the Cal Mira Islands introduces a new threat for his group to worry about along with the Waves. Rebecca Silverman explores this new development.
― After volume four's triumphant ending, wherein Naofumi the Shield Hero not only got his good name back but the scheming king and princess of Melromarc who had conspired to smear it in the ...
Overlord Novel 2
Lord Momonga ventures out into the world beyond his stronghold in the glossy hardcover second volume of this hit light novel series. Theron Martin takes a look.
― This second entry in Overlord's light novel series was directly adapted into episodes 5-9 of last year's anime version. If the first arc described Ainz and the Lost Tomb of Nazarick's transition to the new world, this arc represents their f...
Den-noh Coil Blu-Ray 2
Den-noh Coil's plot ramps up in its second half as mysteries are solved and new ideas come to light. Theron Martin explores the story's conclusion.
― The first half of Den-noh Coil thoroughly established a broad cast of characters, the setting and almost magical technology, and numerous potential story threads while the children goofed around and got into the kind of mischief expected of tech-savvy k...
A Bride's Story GN 7
A Bride’s Story slows down in a volume that doesn’t quite match the manga’s usual heights. Nick Creamer investigates.
― In the afterword to this volume of A Bride's Story, Kaoru Mori mentions how she decided to change her drawing style for these chapters, and adopt “a bit of a lighter touch than I usually do.” This shift is clear in the artwork; in contrast to the manga's usual robust blacks and dive...
Corpse Party: Blood Covered GN 2
This horror manga begins to find its feet in this second omnibus, although it's still lacking in some important aspects.
― This is the volume where Corpse Party: Blood Covered comes into its own. In what would have been volume three of the original Japanese release, the story stops playing with unsavory romance tropes and trying to reinvent itself as Higurashi: When They Cry Lite and gets down to the...
Haikyu!! GN 4
Training camp begins for Karasuno's volleyball team, as Hinata still struggles to find his place within the team. Can they get their act together before the big practice match against Nekoma High?
― The previous two volumes in Haruichi Furudate's volleyball series were mostly concerned with assembling a full team for Karasuno High School, which was really a stand-in for how shattered the team had bec...
My Pathetic Vampire Life GN 1
Is it worth it to be an all-powerful vampire with eternal life if you have to spend that life repeating the 10th grade forever? Koide's beginning to have his doubts in this slightly absurd new comedy series.
― Can you think of anything more horrible than repeating your first year of high school for 150 years? That's the fate of poor Koide, a vampire who was turned at age sixteen back in the Meiji era...
Prince in His Dark Days GN 1
BL mangaka Hico Yamanaka makes the jump to shoujo with this bleak tale of a girl living in poverty roped into impersonating a missing rich boy.
― There's bleak, and then there's Atsuko's life in The Prince in his Dark Days. Everything about her life is drenched in misery: her mother is gone, her father, unable to cope with her loss, is an angry alcoholic, and there's not even enough money for Atsuko ...
Gundam Reconguista in G Sub.Blu-Ray
Yoshiyuki Tomino returns to the director's chair for the first time in over ten years for this unorthodox Gundam series, but has the franchise's creator lost his edge? Lauren Orsini investigates.
― The confusion that is Gundam Reconguista in G begins with the name. The word comes from the Spanish reconquista, or “reconquest” in English, but has been altered for a hard “G” sound, as director Yoshiyuki...
Assassination Classroom Season One Part Two BD+DVD
In the second half of this cult shonen hit's first season, Class E faces some of their greatest challenges yet! Rebecca Silverman breaks down the highs and lows.
― I hope that I can be as effective a teacher as Koro-sensei someday. Despite the fact that he's a giant tentacular octopus who destroyed the moon and threatens to do the same to the Earth, he also truly cares about his students and manages ...
Fate/kaleid liner Prisma☆Illya 3rei!!
Theron Martin takes on the fourth installment of the Fate/kaleid franchise, which returns the series to a greater focus on story and action in a mysterious alternate world.
― At 12 episodes, the fourth installment of the Fate/kaleid liner franchise is its longest to date. It's apparently not the last installment in the franchise either, given the recent advertisement for an upcoming movie. That's goo...
Digimon Adventure tri. Episodes 9-13 Streaming
This nostalgic Digimon journey takes a dark turn in its third arc, but what do these melancholy twists mean for Adventure's final chapter? Jacob Chapman dives in.
― Growing up can be wonderful in many ways, but so far, Digimon Tri has just been exploring all the not-so-wonderful things about it. From Tai's realization that the war games he used to play as a child have permanent real-world consequence...
Doamygar-D Sub.DVD
Doamygar D offers simple but endearing riffs on classic super robot staples, two minutes at a time. Nick Creamer investigates.
― It's a little surprising to me that a show like Doamygar-D would get a western release at all. The show is unabashedly insular - starring a young Kyoto confectioner known as Daijiro Kyougoku, it riffs on super robot cliches from nearly half a century ago, mixing them with s...
Everyone's Getting Married GN 2
The second volume of this josei romance focuses on Ryu Nanami, who may have bigger issues than he thinks. Rebecca Silverman investigates.
― When we first met Asuka and Ryu, they were resisting falling for each other. Asuka has the old-fashioned dream of one day marrying and becoming a stay-at-home wife and mother, while Ryu, a popular newscaster, likes living life his way on his terms, none of which ...
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 ...
Review: Shin Godzilla
Evangelion creator Anno Hideaki grapples with Japan's most famous radioactive monster in Shin Godzilla, a deeply political entry in the storied franchise. Mike Toole confronts the beast.
― Every time a western film studio steps into the ring to produce a Godzilla movie, it's inevitably followed by Toho spinning the franchise back up again, to show those silly foreigners how proper kaiju movies get ma...
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...
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...
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 ...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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 ...
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...
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...
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...
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...
Garo The Animation BD+DVD
Garo's second half offers an inconsistent narrative conclusion but satisfying action-packed entertainment that's well worth checking out. Nick Creamer has the details.
― Garo's first half offered a distinctive and engaging slice of fantasy-action. The show's vaguely Inquisition-era setting and beautiful art design matched perfectly with its sordid tale of justice and revenge, offering rip-roaring adv...
Phoenix Wright Ace Attorney: Spirit of Justice
In Phoenix's sixth adventure, he travels abroad to take on cases in a country where defense attorneys have been outlawed! Todd Ciolek puts his own lawyer skills to the test.
― Phoenix Wright needs a vacation, a transfer, or to use apt terminology, a change of venue. Throughout five major Ace Attorney games and several spin-offs, Capcom's presented Wright with fiendishly complex murders, help in the f...
Love Live! The School Idol Movie Premium Edition Blu-Ray
The Love Live movie is finally out on home video, and Nick Creamer has the details on its shiny, sparkly premium edition!
― Love Live! has never been the most emotionally scouring or thematically challenging production. It's grasped at drama, with both of its seasons attempting to top themselves off with some kind of poignant internal dilemma, but these moments are almost uniformly the weakest parts ...
Komomo Confiserie GN 5
Komomo Confiserie is a nicely compact shojo romance of only five volumes, and this final book wraps things up very sweetly.
― Over the course of its five volumes, Maki Minami's Komomo Confiserie has touched on many of the various tropes that make shoujo manga recognizable – from the abusive love interest to the fanciful fashions to the Cinderella storyline. That in itself isn't particularly remarkabl...
The Asterisk War Novel 1
The first volume of The Asterisk War's original light novel series is a breezy read with more complex characterization than its adaptations. Rebecca Silverman takes a look.
― I suspect that I'm not the only one who is sick of tsunderes, those characters who appear to be prickly and harsh on the outside but have warm, gooey, emotional centers. So it was a pleasant surprise to discover that not only is...
Absolute Duo BD+DVD
It seems like every new season is awash with light novel anime these days, but does Absolute Duo rise above the pack? Theron Martin breaks things down.
― This series' debut last year was not well-received here on ANN; its first episode was one of the lowest-rated of the season amongst ANN staff and readers alike (only World Break and Unlimited Fafnir fared worse), and it did not poll well enough to m...
My Hero Academia GN 5
My Hero Academia's strongest students face off in the sports festival finals, bringing many character arcs to an explosive climax. Nick Creamer explores this standout volume.
― What does it mean to stand in the shadow of those who've come before you? None of My Hero Academia's stars can avoid those shadows. Be it familial duty or simply the pro heroes chanting from the crowds, their past, present, an...
Barakamon BD+DVD
This down-to-earth slice-of-life comedy has some surprising insights about what it means to be an artist, with lots of laughs to be had along the way. Jacob Chapman dives in.
― Common wisdom regarding critics is often contradictory. "Everyone's a critic," but at the same time, "no one loves a critic." It might seem like madness at first, but it makes more sense when you consider that the creative pro...
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...
Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Crystal Blu-ray/DVD Set 1
Now that this divisive reboot of Naoko Takeuchi's beloved creation is out on Blu-ray, do the changes from the broadcast version enhance the material? Rebecca Silverman has the answers.
― Sailor Moon Crystal has received more than its fair share of criticism, much of it initially aimed at this first arc, the Dark Kingdom storyline. This Blu-ray/DVD release of the first fourteen episodes does a lot to ...
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...
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...
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...
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,...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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 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 ...
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...
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 ...
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...
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...
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...
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 ...
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...
Wandering Island GN 1
From its sweeping scenes of a biplane's flight to its mystical adventure plot, Wandering Island's first volume is the kind of book you can get lost in. Rebecca Silverman explores its depths.
― Whether you call it Brigadoon, Shangri-La, or Electric Island, legends and dreams of a mystical place just slightly removed from reality abound in both fiction and folklore. This fabled paradise is the backbone...
When They Cry: Rei Blu-Ray
These five bonus episodes in the Higurashi franchise may not be must-see, but they're a neat treat for fans looking to spend a little more time in Hinamizawa.
― Spoiler Warning for the ending of When They Cry: Kai Based on a fan disc released in late 2006, this 2009 OVA is the third of five When They Cry anime – the remaining two are When They Cry: Kira (licensed by Sentai but with no release date ye...
Black Clover GN 1 & 2
Despite its reputation, Black Clover isn't the worst manga ever, but it sure is clumsy! Rebecca Silverman breaks down where this shonen adventure stumbles.
― How picky should we be when a new series feels like a compilation of series we've read before? To a degree, it really depends on how well the new one melds its influences together; after all, prevailing wisdom says that there are only six plots ...
Under the Dog
Kinema Citrus' action-packed dystopian sci-fi adventure is available now to the folks who helped get it made, so it's time for Mike Toole to dive in. Does the film live up to its lofty expectations?
― Full disclosure: I backed Under the Dog on Kickstarter at the “special agent” level. Look for my name in tiny print in the credits! Just two years ago, I sat in a packed ballroom at Otakon, waiting to h...
Re:ZERO Novel 1
This first volume of the light novel behind the hit anime series is finally available in English, but are Subaru's earliest adventures still worth reading? Theron Martin breaks it down.
― The Re:Zero anime has become a low-key hit over the past two seasons, so naturally the first of its source novels is now being released in the States. Given the timing, the novel was probably slated to come out rega...
A Good Librarian Like a Good Shepherd Sub.Blu-Ray +DVD
This overlooked harem anime from 2014 has more charm than meets the eye. Rebecca Silverman details what makes this forgotten series special.
― A Good Librarian Like a Good Shepherd is not a title designed to catch you with its first episode. The show begins by introducing us to Kyotaro Kakei, a self-contained bookworm with the ticket to a magical library given to him by a mysterious man in his childh...
QQ Sweeper GN 3
It's the end of one story and the beginning of another in QQ Sweeper's final volume. Rebecca Silverman explores this abrupt conclusion.
― This is the final volume of QQ Sweeper, and that's a mixed thing. On the one hand, there's something wonderful about a series so short you can read it in its entirety in one sitting. On the other, this particular series doesn't end, but rather finishes the storylin...
Shonen Hollywood: Holly Stage for 50 Sub.DVD
Shonen Hollywood continues to demonstrate its unique strengths as it moves into its final season. Nick Creamer has the details.
― Shonen Hollywood has always been an unusual idol show. Some entries in the genre do dabble in the ugliness hidden behind the industry's glamor, but many of the show's most popular entries focus on a significantly idealized version of showbiz. Love Live sidesteps the issue ...
Plastic Memories Sub.Blu-Ray Part 1
This sci fi drama about expiring androids is good at bringing the waterworks, but struggles when it comes to the lighter side of things. Theron Martin breaks it down.
― Though I am a sucker for anime tearjerkers, I can easily count on one hand the number of series to get an emotional reaction out of me from their first episode. This original series from the Spring 2015 season is one of them. The firs...
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