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Keijo!!!!!!!! ‒ Episode 7
"It's heartening to see that the series isn't letting itself get bogged down by these training sequences."
ANNCast - Quite A Number
Zac and Jacob catch up with Yuri on Ice, Girlish Number, All Out and much more, plus your Twitter questions!
― ANNCast Episode 276: Quite A Number Zac and Jacob catch up with Yuri on Ice, Girlish Number, All Out and much more, plus your Twitter questions! You can listen to the show on our player here, direct-download the MP3 version here, check out the show on Stitcher here, and we're also on Google...
All Out!! ‒ Episode 7
"Training camp ends with Jinko more or less ready to face the future as a team."
Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World- Novel 2
Things keep getting worse for ol' Subaru in the second Re:ZERO novel, which also introduces everyone's favorite twin maids, Ram and Rem!
― Immortality sounds great, but it's much more of a double-edged sword. Usually we see the sadder side of it in literature, such as Natalie Babbitt's Tuck Everlasting, but sometimes an author decides to go for the more depressing or frustrating aspects of the inabil...
Yuri!!! on Ice ‒ Episode 7
"As of this seventh episode, Yuuri on Ice has reached a point of no return."
Broadcast Dub Review Roundup
We've got reviews of Funimation's biggest fall season simuldub premieres, and you can find them all right here!
― This fall, Funimation partnered with Crunchyroll to dub a heaping helping of their seasonal simulcasts. Now that we're several weeks into the season, we have reviews of most of these new dubs available from our daily streaming reviews team! (Shows from past seasons like 91 Days and Orange...
Twin Star Exorcists ‒ Episode 32
"What a weird episode, especially after the emotional heaviness of the past few weeks."
To Love Ru Darkness 2 Sub.Blu-Ray
One of the most successful long-running fanservice franchises rolls out its fourth season. But how does Darkness 2 stack up against shinier new fanservice franchises of today?
― With 78 episodes spread amongst OVAs and four TV series (and a 79th pending in an upcoming OVA release), To Love-Ru is now the most expansive anime harem franchise that covers one single storyline. Over the course of eight ye...
Brave Witches ‒ Episode 6
“In the carousel of featured characters that the series seems to be rotating through, the turn has now come for Sasha and Nipa.”
Sound! Euphonium 2 ‒ Episode 7
"Sound! Euphonium is always a visually impressive production, but it's nice when its story is just as strong as its performance."
Girlish Number ‒ Episode 6
"It's time for a beach episode! Of course, this is Girlish Number we're talking about, so Kuzu-P's motives in planning this trip aren't exactly pure."
Nanbaka ‒ Episode 7
"A shift in gears was exactly what Nanbaka needed emotionally, and presenting it as a form of trolling makes it all the more fun and unexpected."
Natsume Yūjin-Chō Go ‒ Episode 6.5
Natsume's fifth season takes a breather this week, airing a little-seen OVA from last year in place of a recap episode. How does this Nyanko-sensei adventure hold up?
Trickster ‒ Episode 7
"At times, Trickster is too much in love with itself to reflect upon its clumsier side, but I cannot help but be impressed by the show's devotion to its core ideas."
One Piece ‒ Episode 764
"We're twelve episodes into Zou and it only now feels like the arc is in full motion."
Dragon Ball Super ‒ Episode 66
"The Future Trunks/Zamasu arc seems to be wrapping up now, and while I thoroughly enjoyed the ride, I'm a little disappointed if the conclusion is really going to be this unexceptional."
Answerman - Why Is Anime's Animation Style So Hard To Imitate?
Plenty of Western animation teams have tried to imitate the look of Japanese anime, so why do these projects still look so different?
― Kiza asks: In the past 15 years, we've seen more and more of anime influenced animation: we've had the colorful Totally Spies, the gag-action Teen Titans, two stories from the Avatar franchise, etc. And then we've seen animation that didn't go out of it's way to be ...
Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans ‒ Episode 32
"Iron-Blooded Orphans makes the horrors of war especially visceral this episode."
Shelf Life - Knights of Sidonia Season 2
This cel-shaded CG space opera continues into its second season with a renewed sense of purpose. Paul Jensen explores this set along with the week's other new releases!
― One thing I've noticed about reviewing anime is that strange things happen when you try to type too quickly. I have, on several occasions, turned Magical Girl Raising Project into "Magical Girl Raisin Project" while writing episode...
Izetta: The Last Witch ‒ Episode 7
"Izetta's quick thinking is probably as much the strength of this series as the Izetta/Finé relationship."
Super Mario Adventures GN
Super Mario Adventures is a fun trip down memory lane, but risks not appealing to those who missed out on the Nintendo Power era. It's time to do the Mario!
― Originally running over the course of 1992 in Nintendo Power magazine, Super Mario Adventures is the second of Viz's large-format, full-color collected editions of the magazine's nostalgic comics. That's really the chief appeal here – the nosta...
The Mike Toole Show - Japan's Superhero Legacy
An encounter with My Hero Academia in Shonen Jump sends Mike on a whirlwind tour of Japanese superheroes like Golden Bat, 8 Man, and even Batman himself!
― I was at lunch when I got the notification: somebody had bought that Yu-Gi-Oh! card I had on eBay. I don't play Yu-Gi-Oh!, but I get a couple of cards every year as part of my Shonen Jump digital subscription. The cards are immediately placed on e...
Poco's Udon World ‒ Episode 6
"This week's Poco's Udon World promptly takes us from the rural quiet of Kagawa to the hustle-and-bustle of metropolitan Tokyo."
Occultic;Nine ‒ Episode 6
"Occultic;Nine's visual execution continues to be its saving grace."
ClassicaLoid ‒ Episode 6
"Classicaloid has a lot of exciting spectacle and some important emotional scenes, but it needs to work on keeping its plot threads together."
Kiss Him, Not Me ‒ Episode 6
Kae's new fujoshi friendship is torn asunder by an unexpected shipping war this week, and Amy takes a listen to Funimation's first simuldub episode of Kiss Him, Not Me!
Cells at Work! GN 1
The immune system has never been so much fun in this educational manga about blood cells doing their jobs inside the human body.
― First there was Moyasimon, making bacteria cute. Now there's Cells at Work, anthropomorphizing blood cells as diligent workers, living inside little towns in your veins. Both manga have shared educational goals, but Cells at Work specifically focuses on the human immune s...
Flip Flappers ‒ Episode 6
"Flip Flappers finally became the best of all its strengths at once, blowing me away more than ever before."
March comes in like a lion ‒ Episode 6
"Equally charged reflections and images ran up and down this episode, which was almost entirely framed from Rei's most depressive of mindsets."
WWW.WAGNARIA!! ‒ Episode 7
"WWW.Wagnaria!! appears to be back in top form, and this episode helps to relieve any worries that the series could be running out of good material."
Magical Girl Raising Project ‒ Episode 7
"If nothing else, this episode gives us another chance to compare the moral codes of the remaining magical girls."
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Diamond Is Unbreakable ‒ Episode 33
"There's always that hard-to-describe balance between drama, weirdness, and pointlessness that contributes to the charm of this show."
Haikyu!! 3rd Season ‒ Episode 6
"With only four episodes remaining and one set to cover, the show knows that the tension is rising, and I may have to start holding onto something I can squeeze while watching."
Lostorage incited WIXOSS ‒ Episode 6
"Time will tell if any of this episode's setup will amount to anything, but for now I'm just hoping this is a minor speedbump."
The List - 6 Anime About the Awesome Power of Music
Short of the power of love, nothing can top the power of music to change lives in these super-sonorous anime adventures!
― The power of music, utilized by magic bards wielding flutes and lutes, is a familiar staple to roleplaying gamers. Their original task was to commemorate the great deeds of their patrons and ensure history was passed down via song. It wouldn't be inaccurate to credit bards, and ...
Drifters ‒ Episode 6
Drifters has a slightly rocky installment this week, but at least Funimation has a shiny new broadcast dub for James to check out!
Rainy Cocoa Sub.DVD
Rainy Cocoa is about an hour's worth of cute and not much else. Rebecca breaks down this bite-sized oddity.
― Anime shorts can take a few different directions in terms of how they approach their stories. Some tell a complete tale in bite-size pieces, others eschew plot for random antics or sketches on a theme, and still others divide a relatively plotless story into a season's worth of episodes. Rain...
Bungo Stray Dogs ‒ Episode 19
"The threads are rapidly becoming very tangled in this three-way battle."
All Out!! ‒ Episode 6
"All Out!! continues to be an engaging and entertaining example of its genre."
Answerman - Is Japanese Language From Anime Different Than Normal Japanese?
Just how different is everyday Japanese language different from the way they speak in anime? Can you learn Japanese by watching anime? Justin has some answers.
― AJ asks: I've been studying Japanese for a while now, but it's only recently clicked that there appears to be a disconnect between how formal people are with each other in how they address each other and how they speak in anime. What I mean...
Don't Get Jaded: Cynicism in Anime
Nick Creamer explores the snarky, biting, and sometimes wildly relatable cynicism in anime like SNAFU and this season's Girlish Number, shows that speak with a sardonic smirk.
― I've been watching some pretty jaded shows recently. Girlish Number is the new one - written by Wataru Watari, the author of My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU, its protagonist harbors all the snark and world-facing resentment you...
Keijo!!!!!!!! ‒ Episode 6
"This episode is mostly a light-hearted journey for the elite class to Kyoto, which results in some initial downtime."
Complex Age GN 2
Complex Age continues its exploration of what a grown-up "should" be through the story of an adult woman cosplayer. Rebecca Silverman dives in.
― For many of us who technically classify as “adults,” Complex Age is somewhere between “familiar” and “unsettling.” The story follows Nagisa, a woman in her twenties who is an avid cosplayer, making her own costumes, going to events, etc. She keeps her hobby...
Naruto Shippuden ‒ Episode 483
"Although it had its strong points, I'm not particularly saddened to see the Boyhood series come to an end."
Yuri!!! on Ice ‒ Episode 6
"Halfway through its run, Yuri!!! on Ice continues to progress at a blistering pace."
Brave Witches ‒ Episode 5
"Eventually this series will aim for something more dramatic, but for now it seems content to meander along and focus on character development."
This Week in Games - Rest In Peace, Wii U
It brought us Mario Maker, Splatoon, Super Mario 3D world and Bayonetta 2, and now it's toast. Dustin salutes the Wii U on the eve of its demise. PLUS: Overwatch's Sombra and more!
― First, a note: please be excellent to each other, people. Now let's forget our problems for a few moments with the most beautiful of distractions—video games. Farewell, Wii Hardly Knew U We heard that the Wii U would be ...
Sound! Euphonium 2 ‒ Episode 6
"On a general level, this episode reflected Sound! Euphonium 2's largest flaw: its lack of dramatic and thematic focus."
In Search of the Lost Future BD+DVD
This VN adaptation squanders its interesting plot in a poorly-paced bid to cram in too many other story elements. Rebecca Silverman breaks down what went wrong.
― Light novels may have overtaken visual novels as anime source material lately, but their adaptations are still around, as In Search of the Lost Future reminds us. Based on the 2010 visual novel of the same name, the story follows the six me...
Twin Star Exorcists ‒ Episode 31
"While it certainly isn't perfect, this episode does a great job to help transform Kinako from a one-note gimmick into an honest-to-goodness character."
Girlish Number ‒ Episode 5
"The contrast between this episode's somber tone and often farcical material lead to some occasionally awkward moments."
Nanbaka ‒ Episode 6
Nanbaka hits a major speedbump in episode 6, but Rose has some more positive thoughts on the first installment of the show's broadcast dub!
Answerman - How Are Anime Materials Archived?
Once an anime is finished airing, how do they preserve the show? Justin goes into all the ways Japan has preserved anime media over the years, and how it winds up in your hands.
― Ashley asks: Given that anime publishers and licensors can't just throw a master tape or a film can in a vault anymore, how does the process of archiving master materials work, both from a practical hardware standpoint and...
Natsume Yūjin-Chō Go ‒ Episode 6
"It's a standalone snow globe of an episode—full of fierce love and emotional permanence."
The Biggest Animation Highlights of Fall 2016
As the year's fall anime slate reaches its midway point, Kevin Cirugeda explores this sakuga-heavy season's most jaw-dropping and soul-warming animation showcases!
― Every now and then we're blessed with particularly strong anime seasons, batches of new series with a surprising wide range that gives any viewer at least something to treasure. This wonderful fall didn't quite sneak up on us though, the...
Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? On the Side: Sword Oratoria Novel 1
This DanMachi side story explores the adventures of Aiz, but is it essential reading for franchise fans?
― The DanMachi franchise has been successful enough that a spin-off novel series should come as no surprise. And no other supporting character is as worthy of a new storyline focus as Aiz Wallenstein, the inscrutable savior, idol, and love interest of original protagonist Bell Cranel. The result i...
The Best and Worst of the Season So Far: Week of Oct 29-Nov 4
Flip Flappers shoots up the rankings this week, while Bungo Stray Dogs takes a precipitous plummet! Find out where your own favorites rank!
― Our team of reviewers are following 27 anime series of the Fall 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 these rankings are bas...
Trickster ‒ Episode 6
Trickster slows down for a breather episode this week, and Anne takes a look at Funi's new broadcast dub!
Interview: Studio SHAFT president Mitsutoshi Kubota
At this year's first annual Akiba Fest, Studio SHAFT's president sat down with a roundtable of interviewers to discuss his career and philosophy for creating great anime!
― Mitsutoshi Kubota is the president of Studio Shaft, which is currently celebrating its 40th anniversary. His body of work includes popular and diverse titles ranging from the Hidamari Sketch, Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei, and Bakemono...
Tokyo Ghoul GN 7-9
Tokyo Ghoul cements its Gothic roots in these three volumes, which mark a major change for both Kaneki and the overall direction of the story.
― Tampering with the makeup of humanity, be it physical or psychological, has long been a subject of literary fascination. One of the first to take the idea in a specifically Gothic direction was Matthew Lewis' 1796 novel The Monk, which saw its lead character...
One Piece ‒ Episode 763
"It now officially feels like the new "saga" of One Piece has begun."
Dragon Ball Super ‒ Episode 65
"Zamasu honestly does feel like an authentic successor to the previous villains from the Dragon Ball manga."
Answerman - Why Do Voice Actors Perform Multiple Roles In Dubs?
In many anime, you'll find the same Japanese voice actor playing multiple roles - why is that? Justin gets into it.
― Kevin asks: I've been notching that in the credits that some of our voice actors play 3-5 characters. While in the Japanese's cast all voice actors have a different person and only play one person. Why is that? Also some voice actors in japan play characters that have only a single l...
Shelf Life - Cobra The Animation
Gabriella takes a look at this 2010 revival of a classic '80s psychedelic space adventure. Plus, all this week's new releases!
― I had a lame joke ready to use in this week's intro, but then Funimation picked up the license for Nichijou - My Ordinary Life, and that's clearly much more interesting. I watched this show when it aired and was crushed when the original plans for a release were scrapped. ...
Review: The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya Blu-Ray
Ten years after it set the otaku world on fire, does Haruhi Suzumiya still hold up as a slice-of-life comedy adventure? Nick Creamer cracks open this time capsule.
― It can be difficult to picture now what a big deal The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya once was, with cosplay, fandom clubs, countless Hare Hare Yukai videos, and an overwhelming convention presence once dominating the scene. One of my fir...
Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans ‒ Episode 31
"This week featured a military stalemate that just wouldn't end, and the episode's lack of a clear-cut conclusion—again—really drove that perpetuity home."
Poco's Udon World ‒ Episode 5
"While Souta and Poco largely take a backseat this week, Nakajima is a compelling enough character to carry his own story."
Occultic;Nine ‒ Episode 5
"It's a shame that Occultic;Nine seems to have done so much to repel its audience right off the bat – it's only been on an upward trajectory since then."
ClassicaLoid ‒ Episode 5
"This week, ClassicaLoid made what could have been a completely silly episode feel meaningful."
The Rising of the Shield Hero Novel 6
As Naofumi struggles to get the other three heroes to understand that this is not a game, will he be the only one left standing when the battle's done? Rebecca Silverman investigates.
― Aneko Yusagi's The Rising of the Shield Hero light novel series has come a long way from when it began. Volume one was very much a standard transported-to-another-world fantasy with its major claim to fame being that ...
Kiss Him, Not Me ‒ Episode 5
"If Kae's yo-yo-ing weight remains a prominent plot fixture, I can easily see it wearing thin."
Flip Flappers ‒ Episode 5
"After weeks of traveling to enchanting dream worlds, it looks like Cocona and Papika have stumbled into their first world of nightmares."
March comes in like a lion ‒ Episode 5
"March is an uneven show, but its base strengths are evident even when it stumbles."
Magical Girl Raising Project ‒ Episode 6
"A sudden and violent shift in storytelling almost makes it seem like Magical Girl Raising Project is trying to make up for not killing anyone off last week."
WWW.WAGNARIA!! ‒ Episode 6
"The show's ongoing problem of jokes playing out exactly as expected continues to rear its head more often than it should."
Izetta: The Last Witch ‒ Episode 6
"Episode 6 reaffirms that, no matter how serious the story remains, it will still have brief lighter interludes – whether they're appropriate or not."
Bungo Stray Dogs ‒ Episode 18
"We're really starting to get down to the nitty-gritty of what makes Akutagawa tick."
Haikyu!! 3rd Season ‒ Episode 5
"With only two sets to go, the winner of this fourth one could very well determine things without the teams ever playing the fifth."
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Diamond Is Unbreakable ‒ Episode 32
"I was so-so on the Kanedaichi plot last week, but it honestly got a lot more interesting once it was one of several things going on in an episode."
The List - 7 Powered-Up Forms That Are More Weird Than Awesome
Usually when an anime character in an action show gets fully powered up, they look intimidating and awesome - but that isn't always the case!
― Hey everyone, we have a Classic for you this week. I'll return to your regularly scheduled list next week with the Power of Music and Lost Anime Films. Until then, enjoy these silly power-ups! It's right about when all hope is lost that a character finally p...
Inside the 2016 Barcelona Manga Fair
Spain's biggest anime and Japanese culture convention broke its attendance records once again this year with over 140,000 visitors! Manu G. has the inside scoop on this king-sized event.
― The 22nd Barcelona Manga Fair (also known as Salón del Manga de Barcelona) took place this last weekend, which has been the largest event related to Japanese culture in Spain from its very first year. Every new ed...
Lostorage incited WIXOSS ‒ Episode 5
"The plot this week felt like busywork, but busywork that amounted to very little end product."
Drifters ‒ Episode 5
"Drifters will never be Shakespeare, but it's always good to see the storytelling at least dip its toe into the waters of thematic ideas."
All Out!! ‒ Episode 5
"This show doesn't shoot for the moon, but it's engaging enough to deliver a good time."
ANNCast - The Discotek Threat
Discotek's Brady Hartel stops by to talk about what this boutique DVD & bluray studio has been up to, including Street Fighter II: The Animated Movie and the latest, greatest Lupin anime!
― ANNCast Episode 275: The Discotek Threat Discotek's Brady Hartel stops by to talk about what this boutique DVD & bluray studio has been up to, including Street Fighter II: The Animated Movie and the latest, great...
Answerman - Why Do You Still See Flip Phones In Anime?
They're all but gone in America, but you see classic flip phones in anime all the time - what's the deal with that? Justin has the answer.
― Osiris asks: I've seen a lot of animes in which people only have old cell phones (durarara for example) but rarely they have smartphones, which i find weird since japan has great technology advances. Does people in japan actually use those old cell phones these...
Fairy Tales in Anime and Manga
From Snow White with the Red Hair to Flip Flappers, anime and manga are no stranger to classic fairy tales, but their reinterpretations can be very strange, as Rebecca Silverman explains...
― Are there any words filled with more anticipation than “once upon a time?” They've moved beyond being a stock phrase in oral storytelling; that four-word phrase has become the signal that we're about to hear som...
Review: A Silent Voice
Kyoto Animation's highly anticipated, lavishly-animated and epic-length adaptation of the smash hit manga A Silent Voice recently played the Scotland Loves Anime festival - and Kevin Cirugeda was there to see it!
― It's only appropriate that after announcing the plans for an anime adaptation – quickly detailed as a film – this project went silent for about a year. The idea of a beloved award-winning ...
Naruto Shippuden ‒ Episode 482
"If this is a reflection of what we can expect moving forward, it's probably a good thing that this miniseries is slated to end after next week."
Keijo!!!!!!!! ‒ Episode 5
"After the battles for the other Room 309 members last round, now it's finally Nozomi's turn."
Yuri!!! on Ice ‒ Episode 5
"The show buckles down to resolve some of the underlying dangers in Yuuri and Victor's partnership."
Brave Witches ‒ Episode 4
"After taking a week off due to the production reportedly falling behind schedule, Brave Witches is back in business."
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