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Love Tyrant ‒ Episode 6
"Not everything works perfectly, but everything that does is entertaining enough to carry the lesser material, rather than being dragged down by it."
KADO - The Right Answer ‒ Episode 6
With the conflict over the Wam mostly resolved, Shindo's next task is to find a new location for zaShunina's giant Kado cube.
Answerman - Who Are Subtitles Written For?
Justin discusses how subtitles have changed over time, and how translators have to make tough calls between subtitles written for a broad audience and those written for a niche one.
― Asiko asks: I've noticed with a lot of anime that when a character is speaking translators often leave Japanese words in the text when there are English equivalents. For example, in Naruto, rather than have the transla...
Clockwork Planet ‒ Episode 6
"We're six episodes into a twelve episode show, but I think I know less about what's going on than I did when this whole thing started."
Tsukigakirei ‒ Episode 6
"Overall, this episode demonstrated Tsukigakirei at its awkward, heartfelt best."
Saekano: How to Raise a Boring Girlfriend Flat ‒ Episode 5
"Episode 5 delves into an issue that's been on the periphery so far: Eriri's difficulty keeping up with the artistic load."
Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid — Episodes 1-13 Streaming
This slice-of-life monster girl comedy serves up plenty of humor and heart in surprising ways. Nick Creamer explains what makes Kyoto Animation's Dragon Maid special.
― There are few word pairs more likely to elicit raised eyebrows than “dragon maid.” The pairing sounds like fandom fetish word salad - like you threw two darts at a board of things the kids are into and landed on “maids” and “I dunno, ...
Revolutionary Girl Utena ‒ Episode 6
"These filler episodes, while comical in nature and lighter on subtext than the dueling episodes, are used not only to explore Nanami, but her brother as well."
Sagrada Reset ‒ Episode 6
"The series still isn't particularly compelling, but at least there are stakes and hints of an overall story this time."
Sakura Quest ‒ Episode 6
"There's a feeling of increased ambition to go along with Episode 6's cinematically-focused plot."
Smokin' Parade GN 1
This hyperviolent action manga from the creators of Deadman Wonderland has some unique elements but encounters a little trouble standing out from the pack. Rebecca Silverman digs in.
― If you've read Jinsei Kataoka and Kazuma Kondou's previous work, Deadman Wonderland, you have some idea of what to expect from Smokin' Parade: a dark, bloody, and violent story about a hapless teenage boy whose life ta...
Boruto: Naruto Next Generations ‒ Episode 6
"The series delivers its first episode-length battle this week, as Boruto, Shikadai, and Mitsuki face off against the possessed Shino."
Natsume Yūjin-Chō Roku ‒ Episode 5
"After waiting a week for the conclusion to last week's exquisite episode, I have to say I'm pretty disappointed in this follow-through."
The Royal Tutor ‒ Episode 6
"The moment has come to shed some light on the secrets and troubles of the youngest son (and most distant in the line of succession): Licht."
Akashic Records of Bastard Magical Instructor ‒ Episode 6
"Despite the attention to detail, it just didn't feel like this plot came together in dynamic fashion for some reason."
Momotaro, Sacred Sailors BD+DVD
If you're a historian, an animation buff, or just looking for a movie that's like nothing you've seen, you'll find Momotaro, Sacred Sailors well worth watching. Mike Toole explains this 1940s-era anime's significance.
― Watching anime from bygone eras will teach you about the medium. Track down those early Precure episodes directed by Rie Matsumoto, and you'll see her strong visual aesthetic taking s...
SukaSuka ‒ Episode 5
"For the most part, this episode is a clunky continuation of an ill-advised detour, a dull blend of half-hearted moral debate and dumb comedy."
Grimoire of Zero ‒ Episode 5
"This episode makes notable improvements on some of the complaints I've brought up over the past few weeks, but not before forcing its way through a slog of a first half."
Sakura-Con: Hiroshi Nagahama & The Reflection
The ambitious director of Mushi-Shi unveils his newest project, a Western-styled superhero anime collaboration with Stan Lee! Learn more about "The Reflection", airing this July.
― Director Hiroshi Nagahama is best known to Western audiences for working on critical and fan favorites like The Flowers of Evil, Mushi-shi, and Revolutionary Girl Utena. Perhaps less known is the man's love of American com...
Yowamushi Pedal New Generation ‒ Episode 18
"It's here! After a bunch of setup, the Inter High has actually begun!"
One Piece ‒ Episode 787
"I knew it was bound to happen soon enough, but for the first time in a while, we got an episode that's just all around not-great."
Attack on Titan: Junior High BD+DVD
This silly parody of the titanic hit has its ups and downs, but how big a fan do you have to be to get any of its jokes? Theron Martin investigates.
― Some parody series are funny enough on their own merits that viewers don't have to be more than vaguely familiar with the source material in order to appreciate most of the humor. This is not one of those shows. Attack on Titan: Junior High expects vie...
Atom The Beginning ‒ Episode 4
"It's a good thing that the festival itself has some interesting signs and displays, because looking for those fun little details is part of what saves this episode."
Answerman - How Do I Introduce Anime To My Kids?
It's every nerd parent's conundrum - how and when do I introduce my kids to my hobby, and more importantly, WHAT do I show them? Justin has a few ideas.
― Jason asks: I'm a new father. While I will be limiting screen time for my child, at some point I will be inclined to let her watch cartoons. A joy for me, as a child, was seeing adapted anime series that were brought to America. Rediscovering show...
Dragon Ball Super ‒ Episode 89
"The bulk of this episode, the Tien and Roshi stuff, is still more of the same when it comes to this recruitment arc."
Shelf Life - Actually, I Am...
Gabriella Ekens explores a world of old-school monster girls in this overlooked harem comedy. Plus, all this week's new releases and a Vocaloid-tastic Shelf Obsessed!
― For some reason, I've been on a mid-2000s anime comedy kick recently. It started off with a few episodes of School Rumble, and has progressed into Cromartie High School now that I've unearthed my old DVD set of that series. Not every...
Review: The Red Turtle
Theron Martin takes a look at this unique creation from Studio Ghibli and French animation studio Wild Bunch that snatched the Oscar nomination from Your Name. How does it compare as an experience?
― Calling the 2016 Academy Award nominee The Red Turtle a true anime movie may be dubious, since it's a co-production between Studio Ghibli and the French studio Wild Bunch, directed by Dutch-British anima...
The Eccentric Family 2 ‒ Episode 5
"What begins as a tanuki conflict ends up pulling in some of Kyoto's most distinguished tengu, and violence swiftly ensues."
Granblue Fantasy the Animation ‒ Episode 6
"This episode is the one that has felt the most like a game adaptation, and it isn't doing the series any favors."
My Hero Academia ‒ Episode 19
"Todoroki, the fire & ice kid of 1-A, has been hinted to have all sorts of issues when it comes to his his father, and this week we finally get some insight as to why."
Attack on Titan ‒ Episode 31
"I think this shocking anticlimax is delivering the message that Attack on Titan has been building up to for dozens of episodes."
Re:CREATORS ‒ Episode 5
"The entertainment factor is once again largely in the details and character interactions this week. Fortunately, there's a lot of detail and character to go around."
Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? Novel 8
The spotlight pulls away from Bell and Hestia just enough to spotlight other characters' feelings on god/mortal love in this relaxing volume of DanMachi. Theron Martin has the details.
― At 394 pages, the eighth novel of the main DanMachi storyline is the longest novel of the series released in English to date. Rather than using a continuous narrative, it operates within the loose framework of the at...
Eromanga Sensei ‒ Episode 5
"There are a lot of missteps in this episode, and it's not necessarily the fault of the fanservice."
Rage of Bahamut: Virgin Soul ‒ Episode 5
"Virgin Soul is fully a continuation of the first series in its aesthetics, worldbuilding, and comedic sensibilities, but the storytelling style is totally different."
Sword Oratoria ‒ Episode 4
"While I'm not entirely convinced that Sword Oratoria is going to live up to my expectations, this episode does give me a bit more hope."
Berserk ‒ Episode 18
"Episode 18 was enjoyable not just as supplementary to the manga, but in its own right, offering a gripping, fast-but-well-paced presentation."
The List - 6 "Bad" Endings that Were Actually Fitting
Your favorite characters die, the world ends, the bad guy wins - but you wouldn't have it any other way. Here are 6 times the "bad ending" was the best ending.
― Ask and you shall receive! As you might be able to tell from this week's column title, this was the most requested List topic from last week's poll and it was a bit of a doozy. There are two main paths for a bad end to follow to make it int...
The Rising of the Shield Hero Novel 7
Major plot points are revealed in the densest novel yet of this increasingly good fantasy series.
― With this seventh volume of Aneko Yusagi's increasingly good fantasy light novel series, we at last begin to not only establish a larger plot beyond “summoned heroes save the world,” but also begin to learn some of the secrets behind what's been happening with the Waves, the heroes, and all of the ench...
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 ...
Answerman - Why Doesn't Yaoi Anime Get Dubbed?
There isn't that much yaoi anime out there, but what there is rarely ever gets dubbed into English - why is that? Justin gets into it.
― DL Warner asks: I see this lament on every Page or Blog dedicated to BL every time there is a new BL Anime simulcast. Why isn't BL ever dubbed? Is it because there is more of a stigma in the West for Voice Actors to do Gay roles? Or is it more of a money issue? BL ...
Clockwork Planet ‒ Episode 5
"Things haven't really improved much for Clockwork Planet, but they haven't gotten demonstrably terrible either."
Living Swords and Pretty Boys: What Is Touken Ranbu?
It's a hugely popular mobile game, a manga,and not one but TWO anime series - but what exactly IS Touken Ranbu? We interviewed the men behind the phenomenon to find out.
― Tōken Ranbu first caught my attention in the last few days of 2014 as an obvious response to the popularity of DMM's other title, Kantai Collection. The trend of turning inanimate objects into attractive characters was just hittin...
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."
The Best and Worst of the Season So Far: Weeks of Apr 1-28
You've voted on the best and worst of the Spring 2017 anime season so far, and the results are in! Find out how your favorite anime fared in our weekly user rankings!
― Our team of reviewers are following 27 anime series of the Spring 2017 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 min...
This Week in Games - Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
Dustin kicks the tires on the glossy, gorgeous Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, which arrives just in time to fill out the Switch library. PLUS: Darksiders returns, next week's new releases and much more!
― I've spent the past week on one of my nerdiest projects yet—rebuilding a Windows 98 PC for the express purpose of playing old video games. Wildly unnecessary? Heck yeah. But also super fun and the only way I'...
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."
Q&A: Legendary Mangaka Kenichi Sonoda
The man behind Gunsmith Cats, Riding Bean and some of the most iconic designs in anime & manga candidly discusses his life and career in a Q&A session at Sakuracon.
― Manga creator and character designer Kenichi Sonoda is well known to anime viewers who joined the fandom is the late 80s and early 90s. His signature style touched some of the era's most popular works including Bubblegum Crisis, which i...
Answerman - Why Are Anime Torrent Sites Disappearing?
Most of the major anime torrent sites shut down in the last few days; why is this happening now? Justin provides facts and context.
― Brooks asks: Why is the anime industry suddenly going after the big name anime Bittorrent websites after they've been up for years now and what kind of impact do you think this sudden decision is going to have on the anime industry and anime fandom? For those unaware,...
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."
This Week in Anime - How to Cook (for Forty) Humans
Attack on Titan spirals into absolute horror, suspicious aliens invade in KADO, and Nick and Micchy try to explain what Love Rice is even about on This Week in Anime!
― You can read last week's Titan-Sized First Edition here, and be sure to share your feedback on this new feature with us in the forums! Nicholas Dupree got into anime in high school, and manga even earlier. From One Piece to The Promis...
Vice & Luna - 05/02/2017
Nerd culture is ubiquitous, but how much geek merch is too much geek merch? Vice is just about to find out!
―
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."
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