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KADO - The Right Answer ‒ Episode 4
"Once again, this series goes out of its way to mix some moral dilemmas into the practical challenges that its characters face."
The Art of Closed Captioning
Closed captioning the mountains of anime you see on streaming services is no small task; Justin Sevakis explains what goes in to making sure people can read their anime.
― For years, dubbed anime programming has been shown on video streaming services in the US – but without closed captioning for the hearing impaired. While both anime publishers and streaming providers knew that this wasn't ideal for ...
Love Tyrant ‒ Episode 4
"Maybe it's too early to be making harsh judgments, but the previously unstoppable comic pace of the series slows to a distinct crawl this week."
Clockwork Planet ‒ Episode 4
"The more Clockwork Planet delves into its own premise, the more questions I end up left with."
ANNCast - Zacura Quest
Zac and Jacob take on Sakura Quest, Re:Creators, Nier: Automata, and a special trip down VHS fansub memory lane.
― ANNCast Episode 294 - Zacura Quest Zac and Jacob take on Sakura Quest, Re:Creators, Nier: Automata, and a special trip down VHS fansub memory lane. 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...
Tsukigakirei ‒ Episode 4
"I don't expect Tsukigakirei's CG character models to get any better, but I do hope the show stops assuming they're good enough to put front and center."
Saekano: How to Raise a Boring Girlfriend Flat ‒ Episode 3
"Episode 3 comes much closer to being fully back in stride, finally regaining the spirit that made the first season entertaining."
Sakura Quest ‒ Episode 4
"This is Sakura Quest's first attempt at setting up a true multi-episode arc, but it hardly feels like just set-up."
Classic Streaming: Revolutionary Girl Utena ‒ Episode 3
"The rule going forward is question everything, which is a very fun rule to follow."
Sagrada Reset ‒ Episode 4
"This all could have been paced and plotted better, without so much chaff."
Noragami Season Two: Aragoto [Limited Edition] BD+DVD
Yato and his ragtag gang return in Noragami's long-awaited second season! Theron Martin explains why this next leg of the story made a much bigger splash than the first.
― The first season of the Noragami manga adaptation got off to a strong start with its story about a girl who finds herself associating with various Japanese gods and the Regalia who serve them, but it floundered later with an anime-...
Boruto: Naruto Next Generations ‒ Episode 4
"The series ratchets up the silliness this week to deliver its strongest episode yet."
The Royal Tutor ‒ Episode 4
"It's field trip time on The Royal Tutor, as Heine takes his inconspicuously well-dressed students out to visit the capital."
Natsume Yūjin-Chō Roku ‒ Episode 3
"While I wouldn't want to see Natsume Yujin-Cho devolve wholly into horror, this episode did a great job breaking the routine to show that the series can still be full of surprises."
Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory Blu-Ray
Does this '80s-tastic, Top-Gun inspired OVA series hold up for modern Gundam fans? Lauren Orsini has the answers.
― There's a reason I refer to Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory as "Top Gundam" for short, and it's not simply because the intro song, “The Winner,” sounds so suspiciously like Danger Zone that it (along with other strangely familiar songs in the score) got composer Mitsuo Hagita a...
SukaSuka ‒ Episode 3
"SukaSuka is close to being a good series, but it will need to shed some of its genre baggage if it's going to tackle a more ambitious storyline."
Grimoire of Zero ‒ Episode 3
"It's only been a few weeks, and Grimoire of Zero already has me torn on how I feel about it."
Akashic Records of Bastard Magical Instructor ‒ Episode 4
"On the whole the fourth episode of Bastard Magic Instructor is still on a decided uptick from where the series started."
Yowamushi Pedal New Generation ‒ Episode 16
"Tensions are running understandably high in the hours before the Inter High begins, but when it comes to who's on top, looks can be deceiving."
Answerman - How Are TV Networks Associated With Anime?
Some anime only show on one channel in Japan, while others, like Attack on Titan, wind up on a dozen stations across the country - why is that?
― Kevin asks: Every once in a while I see an anime with a TV station logo which makes me wonder. Why do some anime shows only be on a single network? Like most of Toei shows are only on Fuji TV and naruto is only on TV Tokyo. Why do these studios get there s...
Shelf Life - Is It Wrong To Try To Pick Up Girls In A Dungeon?
James Beckett gets one last good look at the first hit season of DanMachi - and takes a little time to appreciate it. PLUS: this week's new anime releases!
― As you may have noticed while reading my initial episode review, I'm having a lot of fun watching KADO The Right Answer this season. It's kind of a slow series and my brain hurts from keeping track of all the characters, but it's also the kind ...
Atom The Beginning ‒ Episode 2
"Atom The Beginning is still getting its feet on the ground, but with two weeks of spectacular battles, the series is definitely off to a promising start."
Alice & Zoroku ‒ Episode 4
"The information we're given regarding Sana's origin and the various organizations at play is compelling, but the episode starts to feel overloaded at times."
The Eccentric Family 2 ‒ Episode 3
"Everything that makes this show special was on display this week, from its dynamic cast to its gorgeous environments, fantastical set pieces, and firm emotional center."
Scrapped Princess BD+DVD
One of the best fantasy series of the early 2000s is finally available again on Bluray. Theron Martin takes it for a spin.
― This 24 episode light novel adaptation originally aired during the Spring and Summer seasons of 2003 and saw its first DVD release in the U.S. in 2005-06, with its last Complete Collection rerelease being in 2007. Its original DVDs have aged rather poorly, as they are notorious...
One Piece ‒ Episode 785
"Things have been moving slow, but we're also about to get bombarded with significant character introductions over the next few episodes, so I haven't found this build-up suffocating."
Dragon Ball Super ‒ Episode 87
"This recruitment mini-arc before the Tournament of Power is asking a lot of its audience."
Granblue Fantasy the Animation ‒ Episode 4
"Rackam really is the star this week, with Gran, Lyria, and Katalina largely taking a backseat and following his orders."
Season Premiere: Rage of Bahamut: Virgin Soul ‒ Episodes 1-3
"This second season already feels stronger than the first, with a more involved story and the return of most fan-favorite characters."
That Wolf-Boy is Mine! GN 4
This sweet shojo love story comes to a charming conclusion, as love triangles resolve without getting too hairy. Rebecca Silverman reflects on if this romance is worth reading.
― One of the best things about a short series is that they end. That may sound a bit too obvious to merit stating, but a short-and-sweet series, if done right, can be incredibly fulfilling. That's the case with Yoko Nogiri's T...
Eromanga Sensei ‒ Episode 3
"After her introduction in the previous episode, Eromanga Sensei's third episode gives some formal focus to rival author Elf Yamada."
Berserk ‒ Episode 16
"For once, things seem to be looking up for Guts and his travelling party."
Attack on Titan ‒ Episode 29
"This isn't just the peak of this second season's commitment to doubling down on the horror, it's easily one the direst moments in the entire Attack on Titan franchise series thus far."
My Hero Academia ‒ Episode 17
"The U.A. sports festival rages on with the beginning of the cavalry battle."
Re:CREATORS ‒ Episode 3
"The animation for the brief fight scene at the beginning isn't the sharpest, but this series has so much going for it on a conceptual front that minor problems like this can be overlooked."
Sword Oratoria: Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? On the Side ‒ Episode 2
"Maybe I blocked it out, but I don't remember so much Loki-assaulting-Lefiya action in the original Sword Oratoria novels."
The List - 7 Anime Within Anime
The List goes a few levels deeper than usual this week, with a look at "fictional" anime that were created only to exist inside of other series—but ended up becoming real anime after all!
― Anime is an inescapable aspect of Japanese culture. Even if you live in Japan and don't watch late-night anime series, there's still video games, local moe mascots, and prominent advertising at major train statio...
Ichi-F: A Worker's Graphic Memoir of the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant GN
This behind-the-scenes look at the clean-up effort following the Fukushima disaster is rich with narrative and artistic detail. Theron Martin explains what makes this biographical manga so unique.
― Manga is so typically a disposable entertainment form that it can be easy to lose sight of how compelling a format it can be when devoted to serious, non-dramatized nonfiction accounts. This is just such ...
Series Premiere: KADO - The Right Answer ‒ Episodes 0-3
"Despite its methodical pacing and lack of a big emotional hook, KADO is thoughtfully written and carefully presented, with the potential to explore some really big ideas."
Answerman - What Were VHS Fansubs Like?
Back in the 80s and 90s anime fansubs were distributed entirely on VHS tape - a whole ecosystem of tape sharing and trading that no longer exists. Justin breaks it down.
― Michael asks: Every once in a while, I'll stumble across old VHS fansubs; the unique quirks (like Kodocha's purple tapes) are absolutely fascinating. Were things like custom labels or tapes and fancy splashscreens common back then...
Series Premiere: Sagrada Reset ‒ Episodes 1-3
"The show has some serious problems (mostly on the production side), but there is more promise to its story than most of its mid-tier brethren."
Persona 5 Versus Authority
Persona 5 drops the usual trappings of heroism, instead presenting a world of thieves and underdogs taking on corrupt authority figures. Gabriella Ekens explores what makes Persona 5's story so different.
― If you'd been following Persona 5 at all before release, you might have heard the developers throwing around a certain word: “picaresque.” Since this is a literary term, I was surprised to see it ...
Series Premiere: Love Tyrant ‒ Episodes 1-3
"It delivers its jokes extremely well, and while it has issues everywhere else in terms of writing, pacing, and design, none of that is enough to distract from enjoying those punchlines."
There's a Demon Lord On the Floor GN 1
This supernatural workplace comedy takes on a fun premise that manages to avoiding some of the more tired aspects of its genres, even if it doesn't stand out much either. Rebecca Silverman has the details.
― Think The Devil is a Part-Timer meets Working!!. There's a Demon Lord on the Floor's first volume introduces a story that feels very much like a combination of those other two series' premises – ...
Series Premiere: Clockwork Planet ‒ Episodes 1-3
"It's definitely on the ugly side for anime, and it could stand to be more creative with its premise, but there's still potential here."
Season Premiere: Saekano Season 2 ‒ Episodes 0-2
"The “flat” in the season's title is a musical note reference, but unless the show picks up more, it could be an unfortunately accurate label in another sense."
Series Premiere: Tsukigakirei ‒ Episodes 1-3
"A charming, intimate, and solidly realized character drama."
Series Premiere: Sakura Quest ‒ Episodes 1-3
"It's really impressive how many little details are packed into every scene, helping the characters and their tiny world of a town feel real."
This Week in Games - The Disney Afternoon Collection
Capcom finally releases a bunch of their old Disney NES games from the vault, but are they still worth playing? PLUS: SNES Mini, Xbox refunds and much more!
― I “finished” NeiR: Automata this week, and obviously I'm putting “finished” in quotations because I actually just got to the first ending of many. I liked it, but I wasn't enraptured by it. The daily stories of nearly biblical transcendance may...
Classic Streaming: Revolutionary Girl Utena ‒ Episodes 1-2
"If you've ever felt lonely, misunderstood, or like the only broken person in a society you couldn't relate to, Utena is a story for you." Jacob Chapman kicks off this king-sized 20th anniversary retrospective!
Paying to Win in a VRMMO Novels 1 & 2
These first two novels have fun playing with the idea of the ridiculously overpowered protagonist from stories like Sword Art Online. Rebecca Silverman has the details.
― Prepare to have a new definition for the overpowered hero. Ichiro Tsuwabuki, leading man of Blitz Kiva's light novel series Paying to Win in a VRMMO, is nearly as perfect as a man can get. He's filthy rich, he once had successful ca...
Boruto: Naruto Next Generations ‒ Episode 3
"It makes sense that Next Generations would want to feature a stand-in for one of the franchise's most popular characters, but the end result is largely a watered-down version of Rock Lee."
Season Premiere: Natsume Yūjin-Chō Roku ‒ Episodes 1-2
"It's no longer Natsume against the world by a long shot, and his growing social circle paints yokai troubles in a new light."
Series Premiere: The Royal Tutor ‒ Episodes 1-3
"Heine's true comedic potential can shine when his deadpan attitude clashes with the princes' theatrics."
Answerman - Why Are Common English Loanwords Mistranslated So Often?
Often you'll see an English loanword like "Buruma" translated literally in subtitles even if it's obviously not accurate - why does that happen?
― Juliana asks: Why, when handling an English loanword, do translators so often use the literal English source-word, rather than the meaning the word most commonly has in actual Japanese usage? I can't think of a recent show that didn't render jusu (soda, s...
Berserk: Why Griffith Is the Perfect Villain
Did the infamous villain behind the Eclipse take a wrong turn on his path to glory, or was he always fated to go down such a monstrous road? Anne Lauenroth explains what makes Griffith such a fascinating demon.
― Editor's note: Originally this article was called "Griffith Did Nothing Wrong", and it was a tongue-in-cheek clickbait title that was a bad choice; not only did it misrepresent the content ...
Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? Blu-Ray
This fantasy light novel adaptation may never fully answer the question in its title, but it does capture the adventuring spirit of RPG gaming. Theron Martin explores this Dungeon's depths.
― The full title of this 2015 series (mercifully shortened to DanMachi) is arguably misleading, since it immediately inverts this supposed premise, and Bell never actually tries to pick up girls in a Dungeon. Howe...
Series Premiere: "SukaSuka" ‒ Episodes 1-2
"There's an intriguing story to be found once you get past this light novel adaptation's triple-sentence title."
Series Premiere: Akashic Records of Bastard Magical Instructor ‒ Episodes 1-3
"An underwhelming first episode sets a bad impression, but the series improves enough over the next two episodes to be decent."
Vice & Luna - 04/18/2017
The office is about to get flooded again, but the battle between Luna and Perry rages on - can Vice get them to chill before it's too late?
―
Series Premiere: Grimoire of Zero ‒ Episodes 1-2
"While the characters and the premise have a lot to offer, they're not clicking quite as well as I would have hoped."
Death March to the Parallel World Rhapsody Novel 1
This isekai story attempts to spice things up with a 30-year old protagonist instead of the usual high school hero, but does it stand out otherwise? Rebecca Silverman finds out.
― How many more “guys taken to a parallel world that functions like an MMORPG” stories can we really take? That's a question that more than one of us may very well be asking at this point; even if the genre is hardly new, it ...
Yowamushi Pedal New Generation ‒ Episode 15
"With Koga and Teshima's years-long feud resolved, the floodgates have opened on a slough of new conflicts for the characters of Yowamushi Pedal New Generation."
One Piece ‒ Episode 784
"The Whole Cake Island arc is off to a slow start, but for what it's worth, I'm having a really good time."
Season Premiere: The Eccentric Family 2 ‒ Episodes 1-2
"Like the first season, The Eccentric Family 2 seems deeply concerned with identity and how we place ourselves within larger societies."
Answerman - Do Manga Artists Have Any Control Over "Filler" Episodes?
Long-running Shonen Jump shows like Naruto and One Piece have plenty of filler - how involved are the original manga artists with these filler episodes? Justin explains.
― Christopher asks: It's a common opinion among anime viewers that filler scenes/episodes/arcs can be very hit or miss. Some, like the ones in “One Piece” often work well, while others, such as some of the ones in “Bleach” are dropp...
Shelf Life - Luck & Logic
Paul's luck runs dry this week when he has to sit through the likes of Luck & Logic. Hopefully, this week's other releases and a new Shelf Obsessed entry will make things better!
― I went to see Your Name last week, since I'm lucky enough to live near a theater that's playing it. Then I went to see it again a few days later, since I really liked it and wanted to inflict it on as many of my friends a...
Piacevole: My Italian Cooking Episodes 1-12 Streaming
Does this bite-sized cooking anime have the chops to stand alongside fan favorites like Food Wars or Sweetness and Lightning? Rose Bridges finds out if Piacevole is worth your time.
― I love a good cooking anime as much as the next food-loving otaku. Feature-length anime must manage to have their cake and eat it too by pleasing food lovers with delicious cooking scenes and recipes, but also working i...
Series Premiere: Alice & Zoroku ‒ Episodes 1-3
"Personality-wise, the titular “Alice” is a character we've all seen before, but the chemistry she shares with the no-nonsense Zoroku is the most entertaining part of the show so far."
Series Premiere: Atom The Beginning
Astro Boy's pre-history is rendered in adorable pastels, with likable pacing and a big cast of characters - but do you need to know Astro Boy before diving in?
Dragon Ball Super ‒ Episode 86
"This is going to be an episode that people will point to as one of the visual highlights of the series."
Series Premiere: Eromanga Sensei ‒ Episodes 1-2
He's a popular light novel author whose books are illustrated by a talented but enigmatic artist - who turns out to be his own little sister.
Series Premiere: Granblue Fantasy the Animation ‒ Episodes 1-3
"In terms of character relationships, GranBlue Fantasy has mastered showing rather than telling."
Series Premiere: Re:CREATORS ‒ Episodes 1-2
"This series looks like a guaranteed hit, acting as otaku catnip while featuring a lot of creativity, substance, and story potential."
Attack on Titan ‒ Episode 28
"All of episode 28 is bathed in an inky cloak of Gothic dread, which feels both refreshing and entirely appropriate for where the series has gone."
The Mike Toole Show - The Other 100 Best Anime Movies of All Time, Part 3
Mike gets terrifyingly close to #1 on his countdown - Mamoru Oshii, Studio Ghibli and Type-Moon all make an appearance!
― FOREWORD: Alright, since this is broken into four parts, I'll lead off by re-iterating: this project is an "answer" of sorts to a generally terrific list of 100 essential anime films by Paste Magazine. You can read my reasoning for compiling this selection in Part 1 of this partic...
My Hero Academia ‒ Episode 16
"We're still in the early stages of the sports festival, but we've gotten at least one really good emotional high out of it so far, so I'd say we're not off to a bad start."
The Ancient Magus' Bride GN 6
The Ancient Magus’ Bride settles into a comfortable rhythm as Chise’s circle of friends expands around the holiday season. Nick Creamer has the details.
― At this point, The Ancient Magus' Bride has thoroughly explored the nature of the bond between Chise and Elias. The two of them are vaguely codependent in a way that isn't necessarily good or bad for either, but could easily spell trouble depending...
Berserk ‒ Episode 15
"Despite some odd off-model shots of Griffith, the lack of facial expressions in the animation isn't actually doing his character much disservice at this point."
Series Premiere: Sword Oratoria ‒ Episode 1
"For a first episode, this does a good job of getting us into the story's world, though not its ostensible protagonist."
The List - 7 of Anime's Strangest Pandas
Being on the endangered species list hasn't kept these notoriously fussy fluffballs from stealing the spotlight in many of our favorite anime series. Here are just seven of anime's most memorable panda bears!
― Hey guys! It's been a few busy weeks here in the land of anime news. The Spring Preview Guide just wrapped up, and I'm trekking around Seattle for the 20th annual Sakura-Con convention. If yo...
Kizumonogatari III: Reiketsu-hen
The Kizumonogatari trilogy comes to an end, as Araragi finally cements his fate for the many Monogatari stories to follow. Nick Creamer breaks down this final film's highs and lows.
― We generally have certain expectations regarding endings. We expect, if not happiness, at least some sense of finality. Some kind of closure to a story's dramatic journey. We have followed characters through some clear ...
Answerman - Why Do Publishers License Anime And Not Release It?
Sometimes a company will license an anime, make an announcement and then... nothing ever comes out on DVD or bluray. How does that happen?
― Miri asks: Recently I was looking at some (US) publishers' lists of announced titles and I noticed that many licensed series but never do anything with them -- no DVD, Blu-ray, and sometimes not even streaming. Aniplex of America is particularly bad with this, ...
How Online Animators are Revolutionizing Anime
Japan's "web generation" of animators have wildly changed the anime production process, taking web animation to a global scale. Callum May of the Canipa Effect asks these up-and-coming talents about their inspirations.
― Go to animation school. Draw in-between frames for 3 years. Become a key animator. Earn a “living”. This is the generic pathway for someone hoping to make it big within the anime ind...
ANNCast - Spring 2017 Anime Roundup
Zac and Jacob break down the entire Spring 2017 anime season, from Titans to Boruto to Eromanga-sensei.
― ANNCast Episode 293 - Spring 2017 Anime Roundup Zac and Jacob break down the entire Spring 2017 anime season, from Titans to Boruto to Eromanga-sensei. 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 Goog...
Super Lovers Seasons 1 & 2 Streaming
This BL anime's triple-taboo premise left most viewers balking, but is there anything in Super Lovers worth watching? Rebecca Silverman has the answers.
― Super Lovers is not an inherently terrible show. As with all romances, it's important to remember that this is a type of fantasy, and what one consumer finds appealing on that level is liable to turn another off, just as some people prefer dark fan...
Anime Spotlight - ID-0
Alliance Academy student Maya Mikuri runs into an accident while handling some I-Machine work—only to be rescued by a ship from Escavate, an Orichalt excavation firm and de-facto band of pirates that pilots I-Machines.
― ID-0 Official Website: http://id-zero.com/ Twitter: @ID_0_anime Trailer Introduction Story Characters Cast & Staff Gallery On air starting April 9, 2017 Key Staff Director: Goro Tan...
This Week in Games - Yooka-Laylee
N64 collectathon platformers rise from the grave in the form of Yooka-Laylee, which Dustin spent some time with. PLUS: Overwatch has a story now, Yakuza Kiwami and more!
― Nostalgia's a tricky thing. If you're reading this, there's a pretty good chance you had some formative experience with a piece of media in your youth. I love video games because of Kirby's Adventure when I was five, and anime beca...
Season Finale: Bakemonogatari ‒ Episodes 13-15
"This final arc of the season centers on the two characters who first brought this story to life."
Key the Metal Idol - Complete OVA Series DVD
Idol series may be all the rage nowadays, but Key's idol adventure from 1994 is unlike any other. Take a trip back in time with Theron Martin to discover what makes this unusual series so special.
― In many respects, Key the Metal Idol is an aberration of an anime series. It was released as an OVA of 13 standard episodes between 1994 and 1996, followed by two movie-length episodes released in 1997. I...
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