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KADO - The Right Answer ‒ Episode 5
"We've seen how professional negotiators and world leaders react to the prospect of free energy; now it's time to find out what happens when the rest of us get our hands on it."
Revolutionary Girl Utena ‒ Episodes 4-5
"While the first three episodes helped ease us into Utena's world and characters, episode four is where the show really embraces its true nature."
ANNCast - The Sacred Scrolls of Wall
Zac, Jacob and special guest Lynzee take your questions on convention culture, long-running anime, giant DVD collections, franchise fatigue and much more!
― ANNCast Episode 295 - The Sacred Scrolls of Wall Zac, Jacob and special guest Lynzee take your questions on convention culture, long-running anime, giant DVD collections, franchise fatigue and much more! You can listen to the show on our player ...
Clockwork Planet ‒ Episode 5
"Things haven't really improved much for Clockwork Planet, but they haven't gotten demonstrably terrible either."
Saekano: How to Raise a Boring Girlfriend Flat ‒ Episode 4
"The theme of this episode seems to be that absolutely everything has a double meaning."
Goblin Slayer Novel 2
Goblin Slayer and his party head out to the Water City to deal with a very unusual infestation in this second volume of the unique fantasy light novel series.
― It's official – the rogue adventurer known as Goblin Slayer has acquired a party. While this is fairly normal within the realm of standard fantasy, particularly when it takes on the flavor of a role-playing game, tabletop or otherwise, the fi...
Love Tyrant ‒ Episode 5
"The reckless absurdity that made the first few episodes of Love Tyrant so much fun returns in full force this week."
Tsukigakirei ‒ Episode 5
"Tsukigakirei stuck to its guns this week, offering twenty charming minutes of brief glances, awkward sighs, and tentative romance."
Sagrada Reset ‒ Episode 5
"This is not only an exceptionally boring plotline for the show, but a poorly presented one too."
Sakura Quest ‒ Episode 5
"This episode succeeds because it gives the girls of the Tourism Board something they've needed for a while now: a victory."
Mobile Suit Gundam: The 08th MS Team Blu-Ray
This earthier tale of guerrilla warfare in the Universal Century has a lot going for it that you don't find in other Gundam series. Lauren Orsini explains what makes 08th MS Team special.
― Gundam's Universal Century isn't much for compelling love stories—except when it comes to this 1996 OVA. After a slough of Tomino-directed stories in which Newtype pilots fall in love simply by psychically “sensin...
Boruto: Naruto Next Generations ‒ Episode 5
"Mitsuki's debut episode focuses more on Shino than the boy himself, but it makes sense for the show not to reveal everything about him right away."
Natsume Yūjin-Chō Roku ‒ Episode 4
"From beginning to end, this is a page-turner of a mystery, and the subtle hints it drops justify its status as a two-parter."
The Royal Tutor ‒ Episode 5
"After his notable absence from the first episodes, the God of War finally makes his entrance."
Akashic Records of Bastard Magical Instructor ‒ Episode 5
"The series has a very solid arc going right now, and I look forward to seeing more."
Steins;Gate: The Movie BD+DVD
Okabe and his crew of supernerds are back for more time-traveling, world-changing shenanigans in the Steins;Gate movie. Nick Creamer isn't sure you can go home again.
― The Steins;Gate series was one of the first shows I watched when I was first getting back into anime in 2011. Combining distinctive and well-written slice of life material with propulsive science fiction, it was a thrilling and very e...
SukaSuka ‒ Episode 4
"While I'm starting to miss that initial feeling of mystery, SukaSuka is at least doing a reasonable job of broadening its fictional world."
Grimoire of Zero ‒ Episode 4
"How odd that Grimoire of Zero's least eventful episode to date would end up being one of its most endearing."
Yowamushi Pedal New Generation ‒ Episode 17
"It's another week of brewing tensions and rivalries before our teams hit the road."
The Betrayal Knows My Name Sub.DVD
This sub-only release hides an enjoyable dark fantasy that's lighter on the BL than you might expect. Rebecca Silverman dives deeper.
― Originally released in 2010 and based on a manga whose English release has been on hiatus until this coming July, The Betrayal Knows My Name at first seems like an odd choice for a DVD release. It's clear that Funimation was a bit trepidatious about it as well – this...
Atom The Beginning ‒ Episode 3
"If Atom The Beginning can even out its storytelling, this episode shows us that there is real potential for its future."
Alice & Zoroku ‒ Episode 5
"This week, Alice & Zoroku wraps up its first major story arc with a full-blown action extravaganza."
Answerman - What Are Those Flavored Breads In Japanese School Lunches?
Take a magical, carbohydrate-filled journey through the incredible world of delicious Japanese baked goods with Justin Sevakis.
― Evan asks: Several depictions of school life in Anime/Manga make reference to what I can only describe as "flavored bread" being sold at the cafeteria with students complaining and or worrying that they'll be out of x-flavor if they're late. E.g. In Ranma 1/2, the entire ...
Shelf Life - Is the Order a Rabbit? season 2
Paul returns to the Rabbit House cafe for some more light and fluffy comedy, along with a breakdown of all this week's new anime releases, and a production cel-heavy Shelf Obsessed entry!
― I know that the scheduling is probably just a coincidence, but I really like how My Hero Academia gets new episodes early in the morning on Saturdays. Watching it while I eat breakfast gets me all nostalgic for t...
Revolutionary Girl Utena [Complete Box Set] GN 1-5
It may not hold up quite as well as its animated counterpart, but Chiho Saito's original manga is still an interesting read in its own right. Rebecca Silverman breaks down this deluxe edition release.
― Despite being created simultaneously by the creative collective Be-Papas, Revolutionary Girl Utena's manga version, written and drawn by Chiho Saito, predates its anime version by roughly a year. Whil...
One Piece ‒ Episode 786
"We're back to a one-chapter-per-episode pace, but even by those standards, there's way more in here than I'm used to seeing per episode."
Dragon Ball Super ‒ Episode 88
"Other than my own gripes as to how the Gohan stuff is handled, this episode works fairly well."
The Eccentric Family 2 ‒ Episode 4
"At last, the day of the great Tanuki Shogi Tournament has arrived!"
Eromanga Sensei ‒ Episode 4
"After a rocky start, the series pulls together for a solid finish to this arc."
Granblue Fantasy the Animation ‒ Episode 5
"It's fun, but if it ever wants to move beyond that, GranBlue Fantasy had better figure out how to make us worry that something isn't going to work out for its heroes."
Series Finale: Tales of Zestiria the X ‒ Episode 25
"Tales of Zestiria the X's finale isn't quite as epic as it could have been, but that doesn't stop it from ultimately being satisfying."
The Mike Toole Show - The Other 100 Best Anime Movies of All Time, Part 4
The final installment of Mike's mega-countdown is finally here! Which films made the top of the list?
― 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 particular list, or chec...
Attack on Titan ‒ Episode 30
"The relationship Ymir and Christa form is one of fascinating if not questionable codependence."
My Hero Academia ‒ Episode 18
"The calvary battle should be the most banal of all the sports festival games, but it's proving itself something mighty in this back half."
Re:CREATORS ‒ Episode 4
"Despite a total lack of action, there's a fair amount going on in the plot this week."
Berserk ‒ Episode 17
"When we have to cover X amount of monologue in Y lines per minute, no lovely intonation can save the episode from feeling rushed."
BAKEMONOGATARI: Monster Tale Novel 1
While this book makes a fine treat for Monogatari diehards, it might not be the best place to start the franchise. Nick Creamer explains.
― It's something of a truism in fandom circles that “the original is always better.” Whether it's your favorite comic being adapted into a TV series, or your favorite novel being adapted into a film, the source material generally earns a kind of assumed reverence. ...
Sword Oratoria ‒ Episode 3
"Sword Oratoria is starting to make moves in the right direction, and hopefully Lefiya's confidence has been inspired to the point where we can shift the focus away from her worshipful crush on Aiz."
The List - 7 Eras of Japanese History as Told Through Anime
Beyond the many anime set in fantasy worlds and high school, some series cover an enormous swath of Japan's history in ways both mundane and fantastical! Plus, vote on next week's List subject in this week's poll!
― Hmm, yes. It's about time for the "con crud" to kick in. Sadly, I am laid up with some sort of horrid nauseous stomach that I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy. In place of a new list, I p...
School-Live! GNs 4-6
School-Live's mix of cute girl moe and zombie survival horror continues to make it a stand-out of both genres. Rebecca Silverman explains how these three volumes differ from the anime's conclusion.
― It's been clear that the anime adaptation of School-Live! differed from its source material for a while now, and two of these three volumes continue to make that evident – books four and five were covere...
Rage of Bahamut: Virgin Soul ‒ Episode 4
Surprising love triangles begin to form after a series of revelations throw the series into new and unusually horny territory.
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."
Answerman - What Is The Lifestyle Of A Manga Artist?
Just what kind of hours do manga artists keep and how much do they get paid? Justin explains it all.
― Fredrik asks: Given how I've noticed that there is an unfortunate pattern of some manga authors dying at young ages, that has lead me to wonder: what is the lifestyle of a mangaka actually like? Generally, is writing/drawing their main source of income, or is writing only a side-job for most author...
Clockwork Planet ‒ Episode 4
"The more Clockwork Planet delves into its own premise, the more questions I end up left with."
Interview: CoMix Wave's Koichiro Ito
Koichiro Ito has been there with Makoto Shinkai on every one of his films since 2003. We asked him what it was like working with Shinkai, and if success will change CoMix Wave.
― Producer Koichiro Ito has been working alongside director Makoto Shinkai at CoMix Wave Films Inc. for more than a decade. He's been there, deep inside the creative process, for each one of Shinkai's films since Voices of A D...
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."
Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress (compilation movies)
Crunchyroll's first Anime Movie Night event kicked off with a Kabaneri double feature! Theron Martin has the details on the screening itself and how these movies stack up to the TV series version.
― Film compilations of anime series aren't that unusual; a number of series have gotten them over the years, from Blue Gender and Kiddy Grade back in the day to Madoka Magica and Overlord more recently. How...
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."
This Week in Games - Puyo Puyo Tetris
It's Tetris! It's Puyo Puyo! It's charming as heck, that's what - Dustin takes the Switch's new competitive puzzler out for a spin. PLUS: Night Trap and Vanquish rise from the grave, and much more!
― Let's not beat around the bush here, folks. There is precisely one important thing to talk about this week, and that is the end of our long national nightmare—Puyo Puyo Tetris is finally out in the West....
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."
Answerman - Why Are OVA Episodes Seldom Licensed?
Popular shows like To Love Ru get OVA episodes that sometimes take forever to get licensed for release in the US or just never show up at all - what's the deal?
― mattrinstl asks: Why is it so hard for companies to license OVA's? There are any number of series with plot moving events that happen between series in OVA form, and most of the time we have to end up looking at Quasi legal sites to watch ...
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."
The Biggest Animated Moments of Winter 2017
Now that the winter 2017 anime season has had time to settle, it's time to run through the finest moments of animation from the season! Kevin Cirugeda will be your guide.
― It's been a few weeks since most winter 2017 TV anime offerings came to an end. And that means we're due a rundown of the titles that stood out from an animation standpoint – not just the series with the most movement, but the mos...
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."
This Week in Anime - Titan-Sized First Edition
There's so many new shows this season that we had to create a whole new feature to contain them all! Nick D and Micchy break down the biggest and smallest moments in anime this week.
― For this new feature on ANN, we're trying something a little different! There's so much anime airing every season now, and so many ways to discuss it, that we wanted to offer a more casual way to stay caught up with th...
Vice & Luna - 04/25/2017
What do you do with a stained waifu? Vice is about to find out the hard way.
―
Dragon Quest Heroes II
Dragon Quest Heroes II layers thoughtful strategy on top of a solid action-RPG base, but is it enough to stave off musou fatigue? Dustin dives in.
― Here is yet another entry in the pantheon of “Dynasty Warriors but with [blank]” from Omega Force, a single-developer genre that's produced its share of hits and misses, though there's come to be a certain baseline reliable quality that's made these game...
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."
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