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Answerman - How Do You Get Over Anime Burnout?
It can strike when you least expect it: absolute anime burnout! Justin shares his tips for getting out of an otaku slump.
― Michael asks: For about three years, I watched a lot more anime than I ever had before. It was pretty much the only media I was consuming and it wouldn't be uncommon for me to be watching eight to ten shows at the same time. Well, as it happens when you overdo it, I got burned ...
Vice & Luna - Here Comes Mr. Goodtimes
He's the rowdiest convention goer the Enchanted Grove Comic-Con has ever seen, and he might be in really big trouble...
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Answerman - Why Do Some Anime Change Studios Between Seasons?
Justin gets into some of the many reasons why an anime might jump to a different production studio between seasons.
― Jun asks: I noticed that sometimes a show with multiple seasons have different studios working on them. For instance, the first season of My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU is produced by studio Brain's Base while the second season was handled by studio feel. Why does this happen sometime...
Shelf Life - Ultra Maniac
Is this forgotten magical girl romcom from the '90s trash or treasure? Find out after the jump, along with a rundown of all this week's anime releases and a very Maison Ikkoku Shelf Obsessed!
― I live on the second floor of an apartment building, so it's always surprising when one of the neighborhood cats appears on my tiny balcony. I'm not sure if it somehow climbs the fire escape ladder or just ju...
The Mike Toole Show - By the Book
Mike devours the Sound! Euphonium and Legend of the Galactic Heroes novels and then can't help but compare them to their anime adaptations? Which is better: the book or the movie?
― You can tell what a big anime nerd I am because of all of the books I've been reading lately. Just in the past couple of months, I've killed off the first of Hayao Miyazaki's essential two-part essay collection, Starting ...
The List - 6 Worst First Kisses in Anime
Sometimes your first kiss is magical, but if you're an anime character, this adolescent milestone can get too weird for comfort. Here are six first kisses that the smoochers might want to forget.
― A first kiss can be a special, a treasured moment shared between two romantic partners. Or it can be haphazardly stolen by some jerk trying to one-up his friend or caused by a pratfall down a flight of st...
Answerman - How Do Small Indie Theaters End Up Showing Anime?
One of the best places to see anime in the theater is at an independent cinema - but how do these mom 'n pop theaters get the films? Justin gets into it.
― Kevin asks: Going based off the Kizumonogatari movies, Mahouka movies, and plenty others, a lot of anime movies which get theater releases tend to be in small private theaters. How did these theaters get these anime movie screenings? Was it compa...
ANNCast - Rumiko Talkahashi
Zac and special guest Dawn from the Anime Nostalgia Podcast reveal their undying love for Rumiko Takahashi, titan of manga, creator of timeless classics like Urusei Yatsura, Ranma 1/2 and more.
― ANNCast Episode 300 - Rumiko Talkahashi Zac and special guest Dawn from the Anime Nostalgia Podcast reveal their undying love for Rumiko Takahashi, titan of manga, creator of timeless classics like Urusei Y...
This Week in Games - Arms
Dustin goes a few rounds with Nintendo's noodle-armed fighting game for the Switch just in time for the summer. PLUS: Konami controversy, Rap Rabbit's demise, Sega Forever and more!
― Even covering it from the comfort of a home office, the sheer volume of E3 was positively exhausting. My heart goes out to the poor writers in the trenches, and even more to the poor fans who paid money for the mostly u...
Answerman - What Happened To The "Watch This Program In A Well-Lit Room" Warnings?
Ever since one Pokemon episode caused an unanticipated medical emergency, there have been viewer warnings in front of many anime on TV. Why are they starting to go away now?
― Chris asks: Back in the day, after that infamous episode of Pokémon gave viewers seizures, many anime would start with an on-screen warning to watch with the lights on and at a safe distance from the TV. A bunch of my late-90'...
This Week in Anime - Mostly Blood
The biggest shows of the Spring season pull out their biggest twists and bloodiest climaxes this week, but some are more successful than others. From Re:Creators to Kado The Right Answer, Nick and Micchy cover this gory week in anime!
― Previous Weeks in Anime Week 1 - Week 2 - Week 3 - Week 4 - Week 5Week 6 - Week 7 - Week 8 Nicholas Dupree got into anime in high school, and manga even earlier. From...
Vice & Luna - Artist's Alley Blues
Maybell discovers that Artist's Alley is a lot more brutal than she might've been expecting.
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Answerman - Quick Answers Part 3
It's time for another lightning round - theme parks in Japan, live-action anime adaptations, the fate of Yahoo Japan auctions and more!
― It's time once again to tackle the questions that I couldn't get a whole column's worth of information out of! Ready? Let's go! Chris asks: What will happen to Yahoo! Japan after the finalization last week of Yahoo!'s merger with / absorption into Verizon? Some of...
Shelf Life - Valkyrie Drive: Mermaid
Things get steamy on Shelf Life this week as Paul dives into the deep end of a fanservice yuri action extravaganza. Plus, all this week's new anime releases!
― I was going to talk about E3 this week, but then I watched the latest episode of Sakura Quest and decided I really wanted to rave about that show instead. I've been watching it all season, but it only just recently hit me that it's really wel...
The List - 7 Anime About the Woes of the Workplace
Beyond the bubble of high school life lies the 9-to-5 grind of the working world, a place many anime fear to tread. These seven shows are prepared to run the rat race!
― The world of adulthood is wracked with responsibilities. There's the nine to five grind, house maintenance, bills, and sometimes even a spouse or children to take care of at the end of the day. This isn't the world of swords and sor...
Answerman - Will China or Korea Ever Compete With Anime?
You might expect China and Korea to have their own robust slate of anime for Japan and the world to contend with - but why hasn't that happened?
― Marlon asks: It seems that the Chinese and South Koreas want to have their own equivalent of the anime/manga market. With their webtoons and such, Chinese investors seem to be putting a lot into forming their own market like Japan, even licensing or creat...
ANNCast - Programmed To Feel Pain
Friends from the Internet Dave Riley and Graziella Mattie join Zac to stare longingly into the void with Nier: Automata. PLUS: Persona 5 and our most anticipated games from E3!
― ANNCast Episode 299 - Programmed To Feel Pain Friends from the Internet Dave Riley and Graziella Mattie join Zac to stare longingly into the void with Nier: Automata. PLUS: Persona 5 and our most anticipated games from E3! ...
This Week in Games - Seven E3 Takeaways
Dustin has seven major takeaways from this year's E3, and we promise they aren't all about Dragonball FighterZ. PLUS: next week's new releases, including Nintendo's ARMS!
― E3 sure did happen. As always, it was a rough combination of the celebratory creativity of an entire medium and the cynicism its marketing and business has cultivated over the years. But look: video games are cool, the people who ...
Answerman - Is It Still Socially Unacceptable To Be An Otaku In Japan? (Revisited)
Justin takes another crack at his answer to a question from last week - is the social stigma around being an otaku in Japan still prevalent?
― Today we're gonna revisit a question we published last Friday, submitted by James: I have seen a rather large number of anime and manga series in recent years in which a character (either male of female) is extremely popular and successful at school and with ...
This Week in Anime - Yutapon Cubes
My Hero Academia steals the show with a jaw-dropping battle, but the shockwaves just keep coming with dark twists in Attack on Titan, Re:Creators, and even Anonymous Noise. Nick and Micchy have their hands full for this week in anime!
― Previous Weeks in Anime Week 1 - Week 2 - Week 3 - Week 4 - Week 5Week 6 - Week 7 Nicholas Dupree got into anime in high school, and manga even earlier. From One Piec...
Vice & Luna - Based on a True Story
Vice is confronted with the full Comic-Con outdoor line waiting experience, and he may never be the same again.
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Answerman - Why Are Hentai Characters Labeled As Being Over 18 (Even When They're Not)?
Justin explains what might be the oldest trick in the hentai industry localization book.
― Yousef asks: I noticed most DVD and Blu-ray releases of hentai contain a message stating that all participants in the work are 18 years of age or older; however, this seems to be incredibly subjective and in many cases not true (I've heard interesting stories first hand from one licenser on how this has been w...
Shelf Life - Himouto! Umaru-chan
James Beckett faces off with the world's laziest and craziest otaku imouto to see if her comedy adventures are worth owning on Blu-Ray, plus all this week's new anime releases!
― I spent the better part of last week driving around the northeastern US for family stuff, so I don't really have anything interesting to talk about this week. I can compare the quality of highways and drivers from state to ...
The List - 7 Brother-Sister Romances That Went Too Far
Things get incestuous in this edition of The List, with seven couples who might be a little TOO close for comfort.
― This week, we're talking about the elephant in the anime viewing room. It's a particular type of "forbidden relationship" that crops up on a pretty regular basis, where dudes have a chance at sleeping with their sisters. I'm not going to pretend to know why this trope is common beyond...
Answerman - Why Is It Socially Unacceptable To Be An Otaku In Japan?
Generally speaking, Japanese society still shuns the otaku - why is that? Justin has a few ideas.
― James asks: I have seen a rather large number of anime and manga series in recent years in which a character (either male of female) is extremely popular and successful at school and with their friends, but hides the fact that they are an otaku (approximately the Japanese equivalent of a nerd in weste...
This Week in Games - The Modest Life of Virtual Console
In the calm before the E3 storm, Dustin considers the legacy and future of Nintendo's Virtual Console service. PLUS: Pokemon, Final Fantasy Dissidia, more old Mega Man games and much more!
― Good god, E3 starts next week. Though I'm fortunate enough to not be going to LA, there's still a hint of dread mixed in with all the excitement for what's coming. It's a flood a-coming, one which comes in the af...
Answerman - Why Isn't More Anime Shown On American TV?
There are countless hours of US cable television programming to fill, and yet only a few hours a week are filled with anime. Why is that? Justin gets into it.
― Kyle asks: How come some English dubbed anime only get released straight to DVD here in the US and never air on American TV? I know that a handful of them do air on Anime-only channels, such as the FUNimation Channel and Neon Alley, and also...
This Week in Anime - It Came From DeviantArt
Re:Creators takes some fanfic-tastic turns, while the stakes shoot much higher in Rage of Bahamut and The Royal Tutor. Nick and Micchy discuss all this and more in shows from Attack on Titan to My Hero Academia!
― Previous Weeks in Anime Week 1 - Week 2 - Week 3 - Week 4 - Week 5 - Week 6 Nicholas Dupree got into anime in high school, and manga even earlier. From One Piece to The Promised Neverland, ...
Vice & Luna - Comic-Con Justice
Luna strikes a blow for freedom while showing Maybell the ropes at the Enchanted Grove Comic-Con.
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Answerman - Is Shonen Jump Still Popular?
You often hear about Shonen Jump's declining print circulation in Japan - is Shonen Jump's star fading, or are times just changing? Justin explains.
― Jake asks: I had recently read an article on ANN that stated that shonen jump, arguably one of the most well known and popular manga magazines, had recently dipped below 2 million regularly purchased issues. This is down over two-thirds from there hig...
Shelf Life - Free! Iwatobi Swim Club
The boys of summer return for the first time in this unique release of a first season that came out after the second season. Plus, all this week's new releases and a Shelf Obsessed full of figurines!
― I've had a tough time keeping up with all the simulcasts I'm following this season, and I blame it on the warm weather. Not that I'm going outside, of course. It's just that there's so much for a car ...
The List - 7 Questionable Anime-Original Endings
When there's not enough source material to do the job for them, sometimes anime adaptations go in disappointing directions! Here are just seven examples of anime that dropped the ball at the most crucial moment.
― Anime-original ending can be known to cause viewers to uncontrollably gnash their teeth or scratch their heads. For some of the most incongruent cliffhangers, the reasoning is often that a...
Answerman - What Are The Yakuza Like In Japan These Days?
Times have changed a lot since the peak of yakuza activity in the 1960s. So what is yakuza life and business like now in 2017?
― Khada asks: I'm Italian and we have the "Mafia", however the situation with them is different from the past.. Usually they just have abusive property or ask for money in people's shop, but they are not a big treat like in the past, everyday police just find and arrest mafi...
ANNCast (Video) - A Silent Voice
Zac, Jacob and the hosts of This Week in Anime take on both the highly acclaimed manga and the brand-new film adaptation of A Silent Voice.
― ANNCast Episode 298 - A Silent Voice Zac, Jacob and the hosts of This Week in Anime take on Kyoto Animation's adaptation of the smash manga, A Silent Voice. You can listen to the show on our player here, direct-download the MP3 version here, check out the show...
This Week in Games - Valkyrie Drive: Bhikkhuni
Dustin takes a preview copy of Valkyrie Drive for the PC out for a spin and somehow manages to keep his clothing intact. PLUS: Nier: Automata sells like existentially nihilist hotcakes and more!
― The ARMS Global Testpunch happened over the weekend, and I played it. A lot of it, actually, and I ended up hitting nearly every single time slot, even getting up early a couple of days to play through the ...
Answerman - How Are Anime Opening And Ending Themes Chosen?
How exactly do the people involved an anime production go about choosing the songs for their opening and ending themes? It's a little complicated.
― Andrew asks: I was wondering about the process behind Japanese companies licensing songs to be used in anime (openings, endings, insert songs). It seems like a simpler process when the producer of a band is also doing the score, as is the case with Mado...
This Week in Anime - Silent But Deadly
Nick and Micchy take a breather to discuss A Silent Voice, as the tension and violence ramps up in Attack on Titan, SukaSuka, Re:Creators, and My Hero Academia for an explosive week in anime!
― Previous Weeks in Anime Week 1 - Week 2 - Week 3 - Week 4 - Week 5 Nicholas Dupree got into anime in high school, and manga even earlier. From One Piece to The Promised Neverland, he's the man to talk to if it...
Vice & Luna - 05/30/2017
Comic-con doesn't start for nearly a week, but Vice & Perry decide they better get in line right now!
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Answerman - How Is Coffee Brewed In Japan?
In anime, you often see people brewing coffee using unique, single-cup methods - are coffee machines just not that common in Japan? Justin's got the answer.
― Alvin asks: I noticed that in many anime series, characters are depicted brewing coffee either by pouring hot water over the grounds in paper filters or using instant coffee in homes and shops, including coffee shops. Are coffee brewing machin...
Shelf Life - Crusher Joe: The Movie
Paul gets a faceful of '80s action with Crusher Joe and runs down all this week's new anime releases from Haruhi Suzumiya to Umaru-chan!
― After avoiding the bandwagon for as long as possible, I finally played a bit of Overwatch last weekend. I had some fun, I have a better understanding of why people love it, and holy moly I'm terrible at it. More power to anyone who has the reaction time and teamw...
The Mike Toole Show - Hollywood Blues
Mike picks over the bones of the Hollywood Ghost in the Shell, catalogs the best adaptations so far, and wonders where live-action anime might go after this.
― This year's convention season is rockin' and rollin'. This week, I'm on show number three of 2017, enjoying the sights and sounds of Anime North up in Toronto. I come up to Canada for this show, and it's always an interesting time. I admire Ca...
The List - 7 Harem Anime Where All the Choices Are Insane
Being surrounded by sexy love interests might seem like paradise to some, but one fan's heaven is another fan's hell. Here are seven harems with no good apples to choose from!
― Harem anime is a well-established romance sub-genre, and while most incarnations these days put our hero into a magical world outside of his own, romance options have spanned trains, transforming soda cans, and potential lit...
Answerman - Is Netflix A Salve For The Anime Business?
Could Netflix's influence solve the many production and salary woes plaguing the anime industry? Justin considers the angles.
― Earl asks: The trailer for the new Castlevania anime came out today and my coworkers and I were remarking on the animation quality. It's an American production (despite what I thought initially), but it got me thinking... Would Netflix-style contracts/production be a way ou...
ANNCast - Psycho-Pass
Zac, Jacob and special guest Gabriella Ekens stitch their brains together for a deep dive on the entirety of PSYCHO-PASS - both seasons (yes, both seasons) and the film.
― ANNCast Episode 297 - Psycho-Pass Zac, Jacob and special guest Gabriella Ekens stitch their brains together for a deep dive on the entirety of PSYCHO-PASS - both seasons (yes, both seasons) and the film! You can listen to the show...
This Week In Games - Fire Emblem Echoes
An ancient Fire Emblem game from the depths of the Famicom library gets resurrected on the 3DS - but is it worth your time? PLUS: Mario's got a gun, Netflix for games and much more!
― If you've followed this column for a while, you've probably noticed that I've got a taste for a lot of the games Nintendo puts out. Yet I've never delved deep into Fire Emblem. I played the first Western release when it...
Answerman - Why Do Colors In Blu-ray Re-Releases Of Classic Anime Look Different?
Anime on bluray sometimes looks very different from the way we might remember it - Justin explains how it's a little less scientific than we might think.
― Stanley asks: I have a technical question about Blu-ray transfers, particularly the film to Blu-Ray ones. I've been starting up a Blu-Ray collection recently and was looking at some comparison screenshots from a lot of classic anime titles and fi...
This Week in Anime - The Mouth of Madness
Nick and Micchy have a lot to chew on this week as the tension ramps up in everything from Re:Creators to My Hero Academia, and even Boruto and The Eccentric Family! Plus, just what the heck is Heybot, anyway?
― Previous Weeks in Anime Week 1 - Week 2 - Week 3 - Week 4 Nicholas Dupree got into anime in high school, and manga even earlier. From One Piece to The Promised Neverland, he's the man to talk...
Vice & Luna - 05/23/2017
Going to comic-con is EXTREMELY serious business - at least, according to Perry.
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Answerman - What Are Those Radio Exercises Kids Do In Japan?
You see it all the time in anime - the radio plays simple instructions and folks gather to do some basic calisthenics. Is that really a thing in Japan?
― Matt asks: Anime often depict radio calisthenics as something geared toward children or older people, but everyone always appears aware of what it is. Are radio calisthenics as ubiquitous as they appear? And what made them so popular? Radio Taisou,...
Shelf Life - Ajin: Demi-Human
Gabriella Ekens discovers pleasant surprises and wicked twists from this CG adaptation of the popular thriller manga, and Paul runs down all this week's new anime releases!
― With the latest season of Natsume's Book of Friends earning high marks, I decided it was finally time to give the series a try. I'm watching it from the beginning, so I'm a few episodes into the first season as I write this. I'...
The List - 6 Villains That Saved the Day
Sometimes it takes a bad guy to do a good guy's job! These six anime heels embraced the glory of being hero for a day in this Classic edition of The List.
― This week is a repeat! Sometimes antagonists can turn a new leaf and become the anti-hero we all deserve. Take a look at these six examples. The heroes might be the stars of the show, but a work of fiction is really made by an awesome antagonist...
ANNCast - Supernerds United
Justin Sevakis, Daryl Surat and Mike Toole reconvene to take on Berserk, Ghost in the Shell, retro anime rereleases and a whole bunch of your Twitter questions!
― ANNCast Episode 296 - Supernerds United Justin Sevakis, Daryl Surat and Mike Toole reconvene to take on Berserk, Ghost in the Shell, retro anime rereleases and a whole bunch of your Twitter questions! You can listen to the show on our play...
Answerman - Why Is Random English Used So Much In Japan?
You see random English words used all over anime - in the credits, roadsigns, even in the dialogue. Why is that? Justin gets into it.
― "Hiruzawa Nakari" asks: Why do many official anime websites have their main navigation links ("Top, News, On-Air, Story, Cast & Staff," etc.) in English? Are they trying to make site international, or is it because it just looks cool? Those websites are clearly not ...
This Week in Games - Utawarerumono: Mask of Deception
It's a visual novel! It's a strategy RPG! It's a visual novel AND a strategy RPG! Dustin takes the second Utawarerumono game out for a spin. PLUS: The end of Hitman, Rap Rabbit and much more!
― It's tough to pick out a game less anime than the recently rebooted Hitman, but I can't avoid taking a moment to lament the fate of IO Interactive under the Square Enix umbrella. That new Hitman was an utter d...
Answerman - Why Aren't New Dubs Made For Old-School Shows?
There are a few exceptions, like Escaflowne and Sailor Moon, but most older anime don't get new English dubs. Why is that? Justin has an answer.
― Leigh asks: I'd like to know why dubbing companies don't take more chances on old-school anime. I mean, just look at how long it took my favorite character, Locke the Superman, to get a subtitled DVD release for his feature film. There's a market for nost...
This Week in Anime - Worst Pun Contest
Nick and Micchy catch up on some surprisingly adorable escapades in Rage of Bahamut and Grimoire of Zero, and the most colossal ball of them all finally drops in Attack on Titan...
― Previous Weeks in Anime Week 1 - Week 2 - Week 3 Nicholas Dupree got into anime in high school, and manga even earlier. From One Piece to The Promised Neverland, he's the man to talk to if it's Shonen and it Jumps. He co...
Vice & Luna - 05/09/2017
Maybell finally works up the nerve to show Luna her comics - but they're both going to need a little liquid courage!
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Answerman - Is My Sushi Authentic?
Answerman takes a food question that vexes many anime fans - is the sushi I'm eating in America "authentic" at all to the Japanese experience? Justin dives deep.
― Andy asks: As I was sitting in a restaurant having sushi for lunch earlier today, a thought suddenly hit me: How 'authentic' is the sushi I'm actually eating? In almost every sushi restaurant I've been in, there tended to be a few common ...
Shelf Life - Girls Beyond the Wasteland
Is there anything of worth to scavenge from this wasteland of bishoujo game characters? James Beckett is down to find out! Plus, all this week's new releases, and a very plushie-filled Shelf Obsessed!
― I'm watching Tsukigakirei this season, and I have to admit that it's a cute little show. I do, however, find myself constantly wanting to bonk the characters on the head and shout at them to be proac...
The Mike Toole Show - The Soundtrack and the Fury
Mike dives deep on a few strange cases where the music in an anime series mysteriously changed between broadcast and home video - starting with The Big O.
― Last month, after a fifteen year wait, I finally got to see the power-pop duo Puffy (known in these parts as Puffy Amiyumi) again. They were appearing at Anime Boston, which was a good fit; they've actually supplied a good 6 or 7 anime production...
The List - 7 Superb Anime Moms
It's time to celebrate Mother's Day weekend with some of the toughest, sweetest, and most memorable moms in anime!
― It's Mother's Day weekend! I originally planned to write an opposing column for this holiday, focusing on some of anime's very worst matriarchs. However, after I'd added my fourth example of a child-abusing, neglectful parent, it dawned on me how dreadfully depressing the whole thing ...
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...
This Week in Games - Birthdays the Beginning
The creator of Harvest Moon guides you through the evolution of life on Earth in Birthdays the Beginning, and Dustin is ready to god. PLUS: Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and more!
― I mentioned last week that I'd begun setting up a Windows 98 PC for old games, and the project's pretty much done at this point. I'm still shifting parts around and messing with various drivers, but that screamin' Pentium III 500MH...
Answerman - Why Do All The Kids Want To Move To Tokyo?
Your Name and Sakura Quest join the huge pile of anime about young people who want to move to Tokyo. Justin explains why this is such a common theme in anime.
― Jake asks: I have recently watched Your Name as well as Sakura Quest and it has me wondering why every youths do or die goal is to move to Tokyo. It makes me wonder why only Tokyo? I assume that each prefecture has some equivalent of a capit...
This Week in Anime - Hot Dads
The limits of lusting after terrible father figures are tested in My Hero Academia, and other questionable choices abound in shows from Berserk to Frame Arms Girl, as Nick and Micchy break down their week in anime!
― You can read the first two installments of This Week in Anime here (week 1) and here (week 2). Be sure to share your feedback on this new feature with us in the forums! Nicholas Dupree g...
Vice & Luna - 05/09/2017
It's convention season, and Maybell has designs on making it extra special.
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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...
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...
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...
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 ...
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'...
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,...
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!
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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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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....
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 ...
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.
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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 ...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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?
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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...
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...
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...
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