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Series Finale: KADO - The Right Answer ‒ Episode 12
"Calling this an imperfect ending would be an understatement. It's messy, convoluted, and not entirely aligned with the central theme of the story."
Natsume Yūjin-Chō Go ‒ Episode 12
"A week after the conclusion of Natsume Yūjin-Chō Roku, a new OVA for Natsume Yūjin-Chō Go is a pleasant surprise."
Shonen Maid BD+DVD
This slightly unusual dramedy about a boy who becomes a maid has much more heart to it than you might think. Theron Martin unearths the hidden charm of Shonen Maid.
― Anime comedies have proven time and again that they can still be successful without purely being lighthearted, and some comedies can even adeptly turn their serious aspects into achingly deep exercises in sentimentality. In that vein, t...
Sakura Quest ‒ Episode 13
"Episode 13 of Sakura Quest caps off the first cour of the show by shaking up the formula in a way the show desperately needed."
Boruto: Naruto Next Generations ‒ Episode 13
"If the remainder of the first arc's wrap-up episodes continue in this vein, we're in for a satisfying conclusion."
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 ...
Series Finale: SukaSuka ‒ Episode 12
"After stumbling into typical genre pitfalls throughout the season, SukaSuka has successfully avoided one of the biggest ones possible."
Season Finale: Grimoire of Zero ‒ Episode 12
"This was far from a perfect series, but I enjoyed my time with it, and I do hope that I get to spend some more time with these characters again someday."
Season Finale: Yowamushi Pedal New Generation ‒ Episode 25
"Overall, this season was not as satisfying for me as the previous two, and a lot of that has to do with a major character reshuffling."
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...
―
Gangsta. BD+DVD
Gangsta's dark story gets off to an intriguing start before things start to go wrong. Rebecca Silverman digs deeper.
― In ancient Rome, ergastula were pits specifically meant to hold unruly slaves or to punish misbehaving ones. In Gangsta., Ergastulum (the singular form of the word) is a city in an unnamed country that may as well be a pit trap intended to punish the wicked. The world that Worrick, A...
Dragon Ball Super ‒ Episode 96
"This episode is the calm before the storm, letting us stretch our legs before the tournament kicks into high gear."
Season Finale: Alice & Zoroku ‒ Episode 12
"Alice & Zoroku closes out the season with a touching but relatively anticlimactic finale."
Season Finale: The Eccentric Family 2 ‒ Episode 12
"If a tanuki's life is measured in trouble caused and fun experienced, then this episode was a success by all accounts."
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...
Atom The Beginning ‒ Episode 10
"The honeymoon is definitely over for Umataro and Hiroshi as the robo-wres tournament comes to its conclusion."
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...
In Another World With My Smartphone Novel 1
Before its anime adaptation airs next season, is this isekai series worth reading? Rebecca Silverman has the answers.
― If you've ever wondered what exactly Konosuba is making fun of rather than mere genre specifics, take a peek at Patora Fuyuhara's In Another World with My Smartphone. That's not to say that this series is precisely the basis for Natsume Akatsuki's parody, but it is certainly closer ...
One Piece ‒ Episode 794
"Judge's eyebrows are the most exciting thing to happen to me in weeks."
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 ...
Season Finale: Eromanga Sensei ‒ Episode 12
"It's a nicely understated ending for a story that clearly isn't actually over."
Season Finale: Granblue Fantasy the Animation ‒ Episode 13
"GBF wasn't the best show, but it had its own charm."
Kase-san and Morning Glories GN
Shy Yamada falls for school track star Kase-san in the first volume of this sugary-sweet yuri series. Rebecca Silverman has the details.
― In the increasingly diverse world of English-language yuri, Hiromi Takashima's Kase-san and Morning Glories stands out as particularly adorable. While it shares some themes with Milk Morinaga's Secret of the Princess in terms of wondering if having a lesbian relat...
My Hero Academia ‒ Episode 26
"This was not the most eventful episode and probably could have benefited from being sped up."
Re:CREATORS ‒ Episode 12
"It's the ideas behind what's going on that power this series more than anything else, and in the last two-thirds of the episode, those ideas are in full bloom."
Rage of Bahamut: Virgin Soul ‒ Episode 12
"It looks like Rage of Bahamut: Virgin Soul is zooming toward an explosive mid-show climax."
Sword Oratoria ‒ Episode 11
"Hopefully next week will bring us answers and not a “read the novels, kids!” final episode, because a strong ending could at least make things feel more worthwhile."
Season Finale: Berserk ‒ Episode 24
"Even if this last episode ended on a slightly higher note than what we'd seen in recent weeks, my overwhelming impression is still that Berserk deserves so much better."
KADO - The Right Answer ‒ Episode 11
"Given how much this series has focused on exchanging ideas instead of resorting to violence, I'm curious to see how it will handle a battle between its main characters."
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...
My Monster Secret GN 5
My Monster Secret kicks into high gear with a pair of wild rambling adventures in its fifth volume. Nick Creamer digs into the action.
― The last two volumes of My Monster Secret have seen the manga drifting through a variety of chapter-length adventures, before settling into the more long-form and ultimately satisfying trip to Shiragami's parents' house. In light of the events of volume five, it see...
Season Finale: Love Tyrant ‒ Episode 12
"Thankfully, Love Tyrant pulls its many different tones together for this one, and the series goes out strong."
Season Finale: Clockwork Planet ‒ Episode 12
"This isn't the worst anime I've watched during my time writing streaming reviews, but it's easily the most forgettable."
Revolutionary Girl Utena ‒ Episodes 13-14
"Mysteries pile upon mysteries as the Black Rose arc gets off to a shocking start."
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...
Tsukigakirei ‒ Episode 11
"This week's Tsuki ga Kirei was lifted by an unexpected hero - Kotarou's mom."
The Beginner's Guide to The King's Avatar
We're not used to smash hit anime coming from China, but they have a bonafide success in The King's Avatar - here's everything you need to know about the phenomenon.
― It seems fair to say that every country has its own basic style or flavor of animation. When we think of Asian animated works, most of us go immediately to anime, the Japanese variant, and it certainly is among the most prevalent and a...
The Seven Deadly Sins: Seven Scars They Left Behind Novel
Ten years before Princess Elizabeth set out to find Meliodas and the other Sins, her older sister Margaret and Gilthunder struggle to keep a terrible secret in this prequel to The Seven Deadly Sins. Rebecca Silverman investigates.
― If you're a casual fan of Nakaba Suzuki's manga The Seven Deadly Sins or its anime adaptation, you should be aware that this novel is intended to be read either after the...
Season Finale: Saekano Flat ‒ Episode 11
"This final episode isn't Saekano's strongest moment, but it doesn't diminish the things that the season has done right either."
The Best and Worst of the Season So Far: Week of June 10-16
Attack on Titan races up the charts as the Spring anime season closes out! How did your favorite anime fare 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 mind that these rankings are base...
Sagrada Reset ‒ Episode 12
"If there's a high point here, it's that this material might turn out more interesting than everything else that's happened so far, but I'm not placing those types of bets at this point."
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...
Sakura Quest ‒ Episode 12
"Sakura Quest hasn't shied away from "victory lap" stories in the past, but that style feels the most earned this week."
Dagashi Kashi BD+DVD
Is this slice of life comedy about convenience store candy a sugar rush worth indulging, or is it just as frivolously forgettable as its subject matter? Nick Creamer finds out.
― Anime has already offered us long-running dramas about baking bread and entire franchises predicated on idols fighting interstellar wars, so it's tough to be surprised by basically any premise these days. Slice of life in pa...
Boruto: Naruto Next Generations ‒ Episode 12
"Seeing Boruto, various classmates, and the Uzumaki family dynamic through Mitsuki's eyes makes for an interesting if uneventful episode."
Season Finale: The Royal Tutor ‒ Episode 12
"While the whole plot to bring Heine back left a bit to be desired in terms of nuance and creativity, this wasn't a bad episode, just the least interesting one overall."
Season Finale: Natsume Yūjin-Chō Roku ‒ Episode 11
"Even after six seasons, there are still compelling reasons to keep tuning in, and a wealth of new additions to Natsume's story I didn't even know I was missing."
SukaSuka ‒ Episode 11
"With no big narrative stumbling blocks to hinder it, the series is able to deliver one of its best efforts to date."
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'...
The Mobile Suit Gundam Films: The Best, The Worst, and What's Worth Watching
Your complete guide to through the best (and the worst) theatrical feature films the Gundam franchise has to offer.
― Spanning 38 years of giant robot battle action and space opera drama, the Gundam franchise has remained hugely popular. It is also, to put it simply, huge. Between TV series, OVAs, and movies, hundreds of hours of anime bearing the Gundam name has been produced. It's a lot to take in,...
Season Finale: Akashic Records of Bastard Magical Instructor ‒ Episode 12
"The series never achieved great heights, but it definitely managed far better than its rough start initially suggested."
My Hero Academia - Season One Limited Edition BD+DVD
Have no fear, for the Limited Edition blu-ray of My Hero Academia is here! Nick Creamer revisits the strengths and weaknesses of this first season alongside its extras-packed home release.
― Debuting just three years ago, My Hero Academia has swiftly become one of the headline manga of Shounen Jump, a rip-roaring adventure elevated by strong art, charming characters, and consistent mastery of battle ...
Grimoire of Zero ‒ Episode 11
"All of the suspense the series has built up over its last third begins to peter out at the worst possible moment."
Yowamushi Pedal New Generation ‒ Episode 24
"I admire the show for its ability to keep the tension taut for an entire episode, but get to the climax already!"
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.
―
The Irregular at Magic High School Movie: The Girl Who Summons the Stars
The Mahouka movie has just landed in theaters, and Kim Morrissy has an inside scoop! Is this original story worth checking out for longtime fans or even newcomers?
― When the TV series of The Irregular at Magic High School first aired in 2014, its highly technical magic system and overpowered protagonist proved to be polarizing. The anime's dry visual presentation and clumsy pacing only made it more ...
One Piece ‒ Episode 793
"I'm starting to really enjoy seeing Sanji's family in color, though I enjoy seeing what they actually do to poor Sanji a whole lot less."
Atom The Beginning ‒ Episode 9
"Ran may end up being the most important person in Six's life as we approach the season finale."
Alice & Zoroku ‒ Episode 11
"Assuming the finale is able to wrap things up in a satisfying manner, Alice & Zoroku's latter half will prove stronger than its first."
The Eccentric Family 2 ‒ Episode 11
"The Eccentric Family 2 may not be as tightly written or dramatically satisfying as its predecessor, but spending a few hours with these characters is still a lovely time."
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...
Re:CREATORS ‒ Episode 11
"This episode has been too long in coming for some viewers, as Sota finally spills the beans about Setsuna."
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...
Endride BD+DVD part 1
This fantasy adventure based on a mobile game came and went without much fanfare last year, but is it worth a second look? Theron Martin finds out.
― When this mobile game adaptation debuted back during the Spring 2016 season, I was so unimpressed by the first episode that I gave it my lowest rating of that Preview Guide and never bothered to watch another episode. Funimation's announcement of a simu...
Dragon Ball Super ‒ Episode 95
"The big question of "Can we trust Frieza?" is the star of the show this week."
Eromanga Sensei ‒ Episode 11
"For all its frustrating faults, at least I can't say Eromanga Sensei wasn't interesting to watch this week."
Granblue Fantasy the Animation ‒ Episode 12
"As Gran and his crew sail off into the distance, it's made clear that this is just the start of their adventure."
My Hero Academia ‒ Episode 25
"I guess I'll have to wait and see where else this arc is going to fit into the broader story, because I'm pretty surprised at how self-contained it feels right now."
Rage of Bahamut: Virgin Soul ‒ Episode 11
"Charioce's prison seriously needs a better chain of command."
Sword Oratoria ‒ Episode 10
"Sword Oratoria is winding down in terms of episode count, so I'm not sure how much of the Floor 59 story we'll get."
Grimgar of Fantasy and Ash Novel 3
Grimgar's story continues where the anime adaptation left off, becoming far more brutal as our heroes lay siege to an orc fortress. Rebecca Silverman gets into the details.
― Grimgar of Fantasy and Ash's third novel is the first to go beyond what the anime covered, and it brings with it more answers about the past and an increased brutality to the combat aspect of the series. It sees Haruhiro and his...
Berserk ‒ Episode 23
"After the events of the Eclipse left Casca broken beyond the capacity to process her pain, Guts is the only one of the Golden Age trio still holding on to his suffering."
Season Finale: Attack on Titan ‒ Episode 37
"Season 2 of Attack on Titan has been superb, eclipsing the first season in nearly every way. One of the most exciting, visceral, and gut-wrenching anime I've seen in years."
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...
Tokyo Ghoul GNs 11-13
Kaneki must find the balance between monster and man within himself if he wants to succeed in his quest to protect his friends. Rebecca Silverman follows this antihero's darkening path through these three intense volumes.
― A work doesn't need to be subtle to be good, neither in its symbolism nor its references to earlier literature. That's a good thing in the case of Tokyo Ghoul, which is being more...
KADO - The Right Answer ‒ Episode 10
"Kado The Right Answer came into this episode with a lot of explaining to do, which means it's time for a flashback."
Tsukigakirei ‒ Episode 10
"This episode conveyed both the highs and lows of Akane and Kotarou's relationship with sensitivity and grace, firmly establishing this as a relationship worth fighting for."
Love Tyrant ‒ Episode 11
"This is probably Love Tyrant at its most ambitious, but ambition doesn't always equal execution."
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...
Revolutionary Girl Utena ‒ Episodes 11-12
"While I wouldn't call it the highest watermark for this series, the Student Council arc finale is still some of the most cathartic and satisfying stuff in any anime ever."
Clockwork Planet ‒ Episode 11
"Our heroes finally come to the same conclusion everyone else in the world came to in the show's first episode: a planet made of clockwork should not work."
Making First Contact with KADO: The Right Answer
While it's not rare to find space aliens in anime, KADO The Right Answer takes a unique approach to extraterrestrial encounters. Paul Jensen explores the history of first contact with the unknown in anime past and present.
― When visitors from another world show up in an anime series, it's usually not a good sign for the inhabitants of Earth. The typical chain of events involves a sudden burst of vio...
your name. [Hardcover] Novel
The movie may be a phenomenon, but how does Shinkai's novelization of his film hold up? Theron Martin finds out.
― In 2002 Makoto Shinkai effectively shouted his name to the anime industry and fandom with the release of Voices of a Distant Star, an OVA that caught attention both for nearly one-man production team and its simple, potent story about teenage lovers trying to stay in contact even as the ...
Saekano: How to Raise a Boring Girlfriend Flat ‒ Episode 10
"The writing in the last couple of episodes has been particularly sharp, and this one is no exception."
Sagrada Reset ‒ Episode 11
"This show has become ambitious in its capacity for dullness."
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! ...
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