Views
— Archives —
- All
- •
- Anime
- Manga
- Novels
- Games
- Music
- Merch
- Events
- Industry
- People
- Live-Action
Text-only Compact View
Text-only List View
Text-only Grid View
List View with Images
Grid View with Images
Dragon Ball Super ‒ Episode 107
"I was already happy with the Master Roshi episode we got a few weeks back, but I think I like this one even more."
The Mike Toole Show - All About 'I Give My All'
Mike's quest for unlicensed anime leads him to the strange case of "I Give My All", a racy OVA from the 80s that was very nearly released here... until it wasn't!
― As part of the work I do with the Discotek gang, I occasionally work on some cool shows that were once licensed, but never really released on video in the west—you know, the really good anime, like Fighting Foodons. As the years pass, the...
Welcome to the Ballroom ‒ Episode 11
"Everyone ought to have learned a little something from this exercise, which we should see going forward into part two of the story."
Katsugeki! Tōken Ranbu ‒ Episode 12
"With everyone from the First and Second lined up to get their moment of glory, I'm concerned the show won't have enough time to give us much insight into its characters' feelings."
How Mari Okada Went From Shut-In to Anime Director
The inimitable screenwriter behind Hanasaku Iroha, anohana, and Anthem of the Heart just released her autobiography. Kim Morrissy shares the recent director's enlightening story.
― Mari Okada recently became a topic of discussion when it was announced that she was directing an original anime film at P.A. Works. For many, this news came as a surprise, because unlike most anime directors, Okada has no ...
Generation Witch GN 1
These episodic adventures of modern, everyday witches are charming if a little light on lasting impact. Theron Martin delves into Generation Witch.
― Witches as commonly portrayed in anime and manga – flying around on a broomstick sporting a long pointy hat – are decidedly a Western phenomenon, but that hasn't prevented them from popping up in Japanese media on a regular basis over the years. Generat...
Series Finale: Re:CREATORS ‒ Episode 22
"The finale of Re:CREATORS may not be the most exciting of episodes, but it's the absolute perfect ending for this series."
My Hero Academia ‒ Episode 36
"The students' Final Exams continue as we knock out the remaining challenges in the lead-up to Midoriya and Bakugo's match against All Might."
Altair: A Record of Battles ‒ Episode 10
"Things are really heating up for Torqye, and Mahmut's going to have to really step it up if he wants to be successful."
Rage of Bahamut: Virgin Soul ‒ Episode 22
"This episode continues the final quarter's fairly steep downward trajectory, delivering not much in the way of action to make room for a lot of character reveals that don't make much sense."
Vatican Miracle Examiner ‒ Episode 11
"While this episode is about three times sillier than anything from the Hitler arc, it's only about ten percent as entertaining."
Made in Abyss ‒ Episode 11
"With only an episode's worth of screen-time under their belt, Nanachi has already managed to become a delightful and essential addition to Made in Abyss' universe."
No Game, No Life Zero
Despite being a far-flung film prequel to its source material, No Game No Life Zero might just outshine the original TV series. Kim Morrissy breaks down what makes this movie shine.
― No Game No Life Zero isn't like the No Game No Life you've seen before. It takes all the interesting themes of the original TV series and peels away all the fanservice and frivolities, resulting in a tonally different n...
ANNCast - Little Witch Academia
Zac and Jacob smack their brooms together and head on a magical journey through Studio Trigger's foray into family-friendly fantasy: it's Little Witch Academia!
― ANNCast Episode 305 - Little Witch Academia Zac and Jacob smack their brooms together and head on a magical journey through Studio Trigger's foray into family-friendly fantasy: it's Little Witch Academia! You can listen to the show on our ...
Answerman - What's The Worst Anime Release You've Ever Seen?
There have been a LOT of really screwy anime releases, discs with the wrong subtitles and audio tracks, but what's the WORST one? Justin has one in mind...
― Anonymous asked: Just curious, what's the single worst anime home video release you've ever seen? From any era, VHS, DVD, bluray, whatever the single worst one you can think of is. In Japan, the worst release has to be of the film Gundress, whi...
Kimi no Koe o Todoketai
Those looking forward to Studio Madhouse's first original movie in years may find themselves disappointed by this sweet yet ultimately clumsy film. Kim Morrissy has the details from its theatrical run in Japan.
― The first thing that you need to know about this film is that it very explicitly revolves around the Shinto concept of kotodama. The word translates literally to “the spirit of words” and re...
Gamers! ‒ Episode 10
"There are a lot of neat ideas here, so it's a shame that their presentation ends up being so rushed."
91 Days ‒ Episode 13
Last summer's gangster drama series returns for one last OVA. Does it add anything worth watching for 91 Days fans?
Sakura Quest ‒ Episode 24
"For a next-to-last episode that makes a point of downplaying its own stakes, it's still very affecting and enjoyable."
Boruto: Naruto Next Generations ‒ Episode 24
"At the end of the day, this is far from a weak episode, but it's also a far cry from what last week's preview promised."
This Week in Anime - What the Heck is 18if?
It's hands-down the weirdest anime of the summer season, but does its uniqueness alone make this indescribable oddity worth watching? This week in anime, we delve into the mysteries of 18if.
― Slipping under the shadow of bigger titles this season is 18if, an inscrutable little Gonzo series that doesn't really look like anything else out there, because it looks totally different from episode to episo...
Assassination Classroom Season 2 Part 2 BD+DVD
Class E's tutelage under Koro-sensei comes to an end, and Rebecca Silverman picks up the pieces. Was this series finale everything its premise promised?
― Mild Spoiler Warning for the series' last quarter: We can't say we didn't know how this was going to end. It's right there in the title - Assassination Classroom. From episode one, it's been said that when the end of the series came, so would the e...
Season Finale: My First Girlfriend is a Gal ‒ Episode 10
"Overall, this was by no means a memorable romantic comedy, but it was decent enough to have its moments and play out less trashy than expected."
Classroom of the Elite ‒ Episode 10
"Classroom of the Elite continued to revel in seedy dealings this week, as Class D settled in for a long week of competitive camping."
Fastest Finger First ‒ Episode 11
"This episode had good pacing, but it worries me that we haven't seen the final showdown yet."
Answerman - What Are School Culture Festivals Really Like?
The cultural festival is a staple of many slice-of-life anime, but are their depictions true to life? Justin Sevakis has the answers.
― Nadia asked: I was wondering if Japanese school cultural festivals are really a thing and if so are they really like they are in anime? So will there be the usual maid café/haunted house, and does everyone stay over at the school? Who's allowed to attend them (as a ...
In Another World With My Smartphone ‒ Episode 10
"This beach fanservice excursion is probably the most decent episode of the series yet."
Interview: Amica Kubo
The director of next season's URAHARA discusses her first TV anime work and the road she took to get to this milestone.
― Amica Kubo is one of the best animation directors that anime fans have probably never heard of. She has dealt primarily with commercial animations for TV programs and short animation films, many of which have won prizes at international film festivals. Her short film Bloomed Words...
The Best (And Worst) Of Studio Ghibli
Our team of critics name their two favorite (and their least favorite!) film in the long and storied Studio Ghibli catalog - and we can't wait to hear your picks!
― "What's your favorite Studio Ghibli movie?" is a common question to ask any anime fan, but it's surprisingly hard to come up with an answer - the Ghibli catalog contains a long list of beloved classics, movies that have touched and inspi...
Dimension W Limited Edition
Dimension W was intended to be the next action anime darling on Toonami, so where did it go wrong? Nick Creamer takes a look at the special edition release for answers.
― Dimension W was intended to be a pretty big deal. As one of very few shows chosen to air simultaneously on Japanese television and Toonami, and the first to be co-produced by Funimation, its origins were nothing if not optimistic. T...
Magical Circle Guru-Guru ‒ Episode 10
"With a solid balance of comedy, action, and plot progression, this week's episode is one of the series' best offerings yet."
New Game!! ‒ Episode 10
"New Game has proven that it can handle a modest amount of drama, and it's time to put those strengths to work."
Tsuredure Children ‒ Episode 11
"Tsuredure Children is as strong as ever moving into its final episodes, solidifying its position as one of my favorite shows of the year."
Love and Lies ‒ Episode 11
"Not only was this entire episode pointless within the grand scheme of things, but Love and Lies is quickly demonstrating that its entire story has been a complete waste of time."
Elegant Yokai Apartment Life ‒ Episode 11
"Apart from some emotional whiplash along the way, things progress in a pretty formulaic manner this week."
This Week in Anime - Does Made in Abyss Have to Be So Disturbing?
Made in Abyss has always been a little gruesome around the edges, but its newest episode took Riko and Reg's quest to a much darker place shockingly fast. Will all this pain and hardship be worth it in the end?
― Made in Abyss has always been a little gruesome around the edges, but its most recent episode took Riko and Reg's quest to a much darker place shockingly fast. This week in anime, Nick and S...
All About The Los Angeles Anime Film Festival
America finally has its own anime film festival, and it's happening in Los Angeles this weekend! The folks behind it all tell us what to expect.
― On September 15th, the first-ever Los Angeles Anime Film Festival begins in Downtown Los Angeles with the English Dub premiere of No Game No Life Zero, a hotly-anticipated follow-up to the smash anime series. That same weekend, a raft of anime films both c...
Vice & Luna - Convention's End
Luna helps Maybell discover the best way to have a great time at comic-con.
―
Napping Princess
Director Kenji Kamiyama's first family film reaches for the stars and the audience's heartstrings all at once, but does it succeed? Rose Bridges has the answers straight from its screening at AnimeFest!
― Did you ever wonder what a Mamoru Hosoda-style story would be like if it were directed by Kenji Kamiyama of Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex and Eden of the East? That's basically the easiest...
Restaurant to Another World ‒ Episode 11
The series finally delivers an episode for Kuro fans—sort of.
Interview: Keiichi Sigsawa
The author of Kino's Journey discusses the legacy of his classic light novel series and what fans can expect from this fall season's anime remake!
― As the author of one of the most beloved long-running light novel series ever, Keiichi Sigsawa has been telling the story of Kino's Journey, one volume per year, for almost two decades now. After receiving an anime series in 2003 and an aborted publishin...
Clean Freak! Aoyama kun ‒ Episode 11
"This episode had some winning gags and moments, but overall it felt like a blatant attempt to run out the clock."
Answerman - How Are DVD and Blu-ray Subtitles Made?
It's something so common you may never think about how it gets done, but exactly how do english subtitles get on anime blurays and DVDs?
― John asked: What are the technical differences between creating subtitles for DVDs and Blu-ry Discs? And were HD-DVDs any better or worse? Subtitles are a pain in the ass. No other part of making a DVD or Blu-ray is as complicated, error-prone, or as likely to be...
A Centaur's Life ‒ Episode 10
"Following last week's serious foray into world affairs, A Centaur's Life returns to its basic mode: the schoolyard antics of horny monster girls."
Shelf Life - Chihayafuru Season 1
Paul discovers the surprisingly wide appeal of this heartfelt josei story about an obscure sport. Plus, all this week's new anime releases!
― I started a new job this week. Considering that it's an entry-level part-time thing, the amount of paperwork and documentation required has been astounding. At one point, I'm pretty sure I had every form of official identification known to mankind collected in...
Sound! Euphonium: Welcome to the Kitauji High School Concert Band Novel
Does this original novel still hold up against Kyoto Animation's high-gloss adaptation? Nick Creamer compares these two versions.
― I'm not particularly precious about adaptations myself. Even if I liked a particular work's source material, I understand that different mediums have different strengths, so a great adaptation won't necessarily prioritize the same things I love in the original. This exte...
Knight's & Magic ‒ Episode 11
"This episode is a lot more balanced than last week's, with more even pacing and generally more engaging material."
Welcome to the Ballroom ‒ Episode 10
"On a character level, Welcome to the Ballroom feels like it's beginning to try harder."
Princess Principal ‒ Episode 10
"Although there is an overt mission at stake here, it once again takes a back seat to secondary objectives and developing interpersonal relationships between the spies."
The Reflection ‒ Episode 8
"The Reflected has managed to overcome its animation and direction struggles to become a surprisingly engaging character drama."
Katsugeki! Tōken Ranbu ‒ Episode 11
"The confrontation between Hijikata's swords is a climactic moment, but it's not quite as emotionally rewarding as it could have been."
Vatican Miracle Examiner ‒ Episode 10
"This series shows just how tedious and interminable a bad mystery can be."
The Best and Worst Pokemon Movies Of All Time
With over 20 years of franchise history and 20 different films to choose from, Callum May runs down which legendary Pokemon adventures are worth watching and which are best left in the past.
― There's a lot to love about Pokemon movies. With twenty different big-screen stories told so far through this world-famous franchise, each movie has its own fun and exciting way to represent the ideals of the P...
Grimgar of Fantasy and Ash Novel 4
The novel series begins the exploration of grief that defined its anime adaptation, as the party struggles to recover from another death. Rebecca Silverman delves deeper.
― If you watched the anime version of Grimgar of Fantasy and Ash, chances are you remember the extended exploration of the grieving process following the death of Manato. In the novels, his passing was treated with much less detail,...
My Hero Academia ‒ Episode 35
"We continue the students' final exams, knocking out another handful of rounds in the beginning of this episode, but the primary focus is on Momo and Todoroki's team-up against Aizawa."
Re:CREATORS ‒ Episode 21
"Re:Creators set itself up for a powerful climax and it fully delivers."
Rage of Bahamut: Virgin Soul ‒ Episode 21
"The narrative has been wobbling back and forth for a while now, but now it's pretty definitively gone off the rails."
Altair: A Record of Battles ‒ Episode 9
"This episode would have had more impact and intrigue if it had played out over two episodes, and I do feel that the show's rushed pacing has dragged it down in recent weeks."
Made in Abyss ‒ Episode 10
"This is as harrowing a turning point as any Riko and Reg have experienced so far, the first true test of the limits of their physical and psychological endurance."
The List - 6 Classic Anime Tropes
As a medium, anime has its own bevy of familiar storytelling tropes. These are just six decades-old devices to expect from your favorite (and least favorite!) shows.
― The word "trope" has negative connotations, easily mistaken as a synonym for "cliche". Tropes aren't necessarily cliches but they are story writing scenarios and character traits that are considered very familiar, sometimes to the poi...
Kigurumi Guardians GN 1
What would you do if you suddenly found yourself saving the world with a six-foot-tall plush mascot who lives in your room and transforms into a hot guy? Rebecca Silverman finds out.
― Somewhere in between the magical girl and the super sentai team are the Kigurumi Guardians. There's transforming – but it's not done by the girls. There's a team of diverse characters – but they don't really work toget...
Answerman - Why Are There Statues Of A Reading Boy And A Dog In Japan?
Plenty of schools in Japan have a statue of a boy reading a book in front of them - what's up with that? PLUS: the story of Hachiko!
― Jake asked: I was recently thinking about some of the school anime I have watched over the years and have noticed there are two or three statues I tend to see a lot pop up. One of the most common is a statue of a man reading a book with a bundle of wood on his back i...
Interview: Studio Ghibli Key Animator Hiroshi Shimizu
A legendary animator with credits ranging from the best of Studio Ghibli to a bundle of Lupins to Michiko & Hatchin and Yuri!!! on ICE shares his life and incredible career with us.
― It isn't often you're given the chance to sit down and talk to someone like Hiroshi Shimizu. As a key animator, his work spans virtually the entire history of anime most fans these days are familiar with, from Studio Gh...
The History of Tokusatsu in Anime
With the announcement of another GARO series from MAPPA, the worlds of tokusatsu and anime continue to grow closer. Chris Farris explores the relationship between these two mediums and how anime fans can get into the world of tokusatsu!
― You see news about Kamen Rider pop up on Anime News Network from time to time. You see that Crunchyroll has subtitled episodes of some show called Ultraman availabl...
Warriors All-Stars
This colorful cast of characters spanning a dozen different Tecmo titles have come together for a crossover musou extravaganza! Dustin Bailey finds out if the gameplay can fulfill its promising premise.
― Tecmo has a deceptively large roster of franchises. There's the big stuff, like the Warriors games, Dead or Alive, and Ninja Gaiden. There's more niche RPGs and weird action hybrids like Atelier, Ni...
Gamers! ‒ Episode 9
"Now that Chiaki knows about her longtime gaming connection to Keita, it's no surprise that the cast of Gamers is in for another round of relationship roulette."
This Week in Anime - How Did Love and Lies Become So Boring?
This teen romance started off with a premise too ridiculous not to be entertaining, but recent episodes have dragged it into the doldrums. This week in anime, we try to figure out what went wrong.
― Love and Lies started off with a premise too ridiculous not to be entertaining, but recent episodes have dragged the series into the doldrums. This week in anime, Nick and Jacob try to figure out what wen...
Interview: Mugi Tanaka
The character designer behind the kinetic aesthetic of this fall's URAHARA talks about illustrating Harajuku, surviving Comiket and more.
― Mugi Tanaka has a full-time job at a printing company, but that doesn't get in the way of her passion for drawing cute manga art. A long-time participator of Comiket, her art was noticed by the otaku goods and apparel shop PARK, located in Tokyo's Harajuku distri...
My First Girlfriend is a Gal ‒ Episode 9
"It may be anime-original, but this is also easily the best content of the series to date."
This Week in Games - Utawarerumono: Mask of Truth
Dustin checks out the third installment in the Utawarerumono trilogy to see if it can improve on the second's shortcomings. Plus, this week's biggest Japanese gaming news and releases!
― The world as we know it is falling apart. Humble Bundle is running a special on trashy softcore VNs, and while I'm totally willing to admit that HuniePop is some okay smut, the presence of those infinitely-reproducin...
Sakura Quest ‒ Episode 23
"This episode marks the beginning of the end of the story, as it forgoes its opening theme in favor of a quiet, atmospheric start: a smart choice to kick off the final act."
Review - One Piece: Unlimited World Red
The PS4 version of this combat-based collect-a-thon is just one of many available on nearly every console and even PC! Sam Leach finds out if the most accessible One Piece game is worth playing.
― Unlimited World Red Deluxe is a re-release of the 2013 game originally made for the 3DS, the most recent in a series of One Piece “Unlimited” games. At this point, Red is out for nearly all Sony and Nintend...
Boruto: Naruto Next Generations ‒ Episode 23
"Despite the titular character's absence, Boruto's second big storyline proved to be one of the best animated adaptations of Kishimoto's work in recent memory."
Classroom of the Elite ‒ Episode 9
"Offering a mix of propulsive drama and occasional self-effacing levity, this episode was Classroom of the Elite at its best."
The Best and Worst of the Season So Far: Week of Aug 26-Sep 1
Princess Principal continues to rise up the charts while Rage of Bahamut begins to tumble. Find out where your favorites ranked this week!
― Our team of reviewers are following 28 anime series of the Summer 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 ba...
Fastest Finger First ‒ Episode 10
"It's time for round three of the Regular Meet, and with it come the most esoteric quiz rules Fastest Finger First has featured so far."
Magical Circle Guru-Guru ‒ Episode 9
"Nike, Kukuri, and their party members finally make their way into the Endless Tower in another eventful installment of Magical Circle Guru-Guru."
Answerman - Is There A "Tooth Fairy" In Japan?
Anime sometimes references folk traditions surrounding baby teeth and the disposal of them, but never the "tooth fairy". Why is that? Justin does a little folklore research.
― Thomas asked: I was watching the newest episode of Sakura Quest and one of the children in the show has one of her last baby teeth fall out. When talking about it to her Mum, she suggests throwing it out the window and I think...
In Another World With My Smartphone ‒ Episode 9
"A whole new setting had the chance for a whole new Smartphone, but so far, they've utterly wasted it."
Vatican Miracle Examiner ‒ Episode 9
"This is the exact variety of earnest, naïve ridiculousness that Vatican Miracle Examiner has been missing ever since it blew up Hitler's psychotic son."
Kumamiko Sub BD/DVD
This charming story of a country bumpkin and her talking bear friend ended on a surprisingly sour note. Theron Martin deduces whether or not it's still worth watching.
― In recent years, there have been a spate of anime comedies and slice-of-life emphasizing rural life in Japan. This manga adaptation from the Spring 2016 season squarely falls into that category. It's also a forerunner to the more rec...
Tsuredure Children ‒ Episode 10
"After a somewhat less satisfying ninth episode, Tsuredure Children rallied back this week with a terrific set of new skits."
New Game!! ‒ Episode 9
"For now, New Game appears to be stuck in a holding pattern until it figures out what to do with Naru and Momo."
This Week in Anime - What Is The Reflection Mutating Into?
Now that its growing pains are finally behind it, what kind of superhero story has The Reflection decided to become in such a crowded market? Nick and Steve are about to find out.
― The Reflection started out somewhat unsure of what kind of superhero story it wanted to be, but it seems to have found its footing in recent episodes. This week in anime, we delve into how this anime has found its way for...
Love and Lies ‒ Episode 10
"This episode sees the characters asking the same questions of their society that they've been parroting for weeks now, with little sign of any meaningful growth for anyone."
Vice & Luna - The Perfect Crime
Vice, Perry and Blume are nearly in the clear after their big Comic-Con escape - there's only one person they need to get past now...
―
Mobile Suit Gundam Thunderbolt: December Sky Blu-Ray
This passionate and shocking entry in the UC canon will make a strong visual impression on Gundam fans, but its emotional resonance is a little shakier. Lauren Orsini has the details.
― “Even as we curse war, we become more and more obsessed with it.” Io Fleming's line near the end of the film puts the whole story of Mobile Suit Gundam Thunderbolt: December Sky into perspective. War hasn't done Flemi...
Elegant Yokai Apartment Life ‒ Episode 10
"Considering that Yushi takes on his first supernatural case, this was a surprisingly boring episode."
Restaurant to Another World ‒ Episode 10
"Recent improvements have brought the restaurant back to a place where it can be used to explore cultures rather than just watching people discover cool new food."
One Piece ‒ Episode 804
"Flashbacks are akin to holy territory in One Piece, and you can always tell that the anime wants to go the extra mile in getting them right."
Clean Freak! Aoyama kun ‒ Episode 10
"The show is Clean Freak! Aoyama kun, but I keep getting Haven't You Heard? I'm Sakamoto instead."
Knight's & Magic ‒ Episode 10
"This arc is still solid overall, it just needs to get a better handle on its pacing moving forward."
The Mike Toole Show - Alternate History Makers
Mike takes a tour through the wild world of alternate history anime where everything from World War II to the British Invasion gets scrambled up.
― For the past couple of anime seasons, everything's been coming up “isekai,” with a plethora of stories about regular people crossing over into bizarre fantasy worlds. We've had kids causing trouble with their smartphones, dimension-hopping family restaura...
For all articles, see the archives