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ANNCast - Kemono Replicants
Zac and Jacob spit a whole ocean of hot takes on the Blade Runner anime, the untimely betrayal of Kemono Friends, One-Punch Man Season 2 and your Twitter questions!
― ANNCast Episode 307 - Kemono Replicants Zac and Jacob spit a whole ocean of hot takes on the Blade Runner anime, the untimely betrayal of Kemono Friends, One Punch Man Season 2 and your Twitter questions! You can listen to the show on ...
This Week in Anime - Where Did "My First Girlfriend is a Gal" Go Wrong?
Straddling the line between romcom and fanservice show is no easy feat, but this gal-stacked effort falls on its face. We break down where this milkshake turned sour.
― My First Girlfriend is a Gal could have straddled the line between romcom and fanservice show gracefully, but the end result was less than successful. This week in anime, Jacob and Steve suss out where things went sour for these gals....
Column - Why Don't Manga Publishers Announce When Books Go Out Of Print?
Manga volumes go out of print all the time with no warning - why does it work that way? Justin gets into it.
― Bill asked: Why are manga licensees so cagey about when books are close to going out of print? Usually theres no way to tell If something is on its way out, or even fully out of print, until it's only available for jacked up prices on eBay. As consumers we tend to think of physical media --...
Answerman - What's With All the Bondage Humor in Anime?
Why is something as risqué as S&M such an easy go-to for comedy even in family-friendly anime? Justin Sevakis has the answers.
― Brandi asked: what is up with anime and the S&M fetish? I'm not talking about hentai. It mostly comes out in the form of one of the men on the show turning out to be some kind of over the top masochist. I've seen this joke over an over again. Most recently in D-Frag! and i...
Shelf Life - Fruits Basket
Gabriella Ekens revisits the classic shojo romcom on blu-ray, and Paul Jensen breaks down this week's huge heap of new releases!
― We've got a pretty wide variety of new releases this week, which means we also have a whole lot of options to explore. Let's jump right into it! Welcome to Shelf Life. Jump to this week's review: Fruits Basket On Shelves This Week Crusher Joe - OVA Collection DVD Discote...
The List - 7 Drastic Character Design Changes
When a manga's art is too complex to animate or a series has been on the air for a long time, artistic changes are bound to arise. Here are seven of the most striking shifts in a character's style.
― The transition from manga to anime isn't always a seamless process. Projects hire character designers to reinterpret static artwork into something that can be animated in a manageable way. This can mean...
ANNCast - Nap Squad
Zac and Jacob tackle Kenji Kamiyama's Napping Princess, plus the end of summer anime, new movies, and plenty of your questions!
― ANNCast Episode 306 - Nap Squad Zac and Jacob tackle Kenji Kamiyama's Napping Princess, plus the end of summer anime, new movies, and plenty of your questions! You can listen to the show on our player here, direct-download the MP3 version here, check out the show on Stitc...
Answerman - Why Don't Anime Musicals Get US Releases?
Japan has an ocean of stage musicals based on anime, from Naruto to Sailor Moon - why don't they ever get released in the States? Justin considers the angles.
― Bunny asked: Sailor Moon's new musical cast were guests at a state anime convention, but I don't see it getting much further than that. We only have fansubs as a source, but I'd like to support it legally. I was wondering what would it take ...
This Week in Anime - The Best and Worst Moments of Re:Creators
Now that Re:CREATORS has concluded, did it live up to the promise of its premise? This week in anime, we break down where the series soared and where it sank.
― Now that Re:CREATORS has come to an end, did the show live up to the promise of its premise? This week in anime, Nick and Jacob break down where the series soared and where it sank. Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by the particip...
This Week in Games - Senran Kagura: Peach Beach Splash
Dustin gets wet and wild with the girls of Senran Kagura on the PS4, along with this week's biggest news and other new game releases!
― You may have heard that homebrew developers—hackers, if you're feeling nasty—found a fully emulated version of NES Golf on board every shipping Nintendo Switch. After seemingly endless mystery surrounding why the ROM was there, they eventually discovered how to activ...
Answerman - Why Is Sentai Filmworks Phasing Out DVDs?
Sentai Filmworks made a big announcement about phasing out DVDs forever - but why? Justin has a few ideas...
― Jake asked: I was reading a recent article that stated Sentai Filmworks was essentially phasing out their DVD releases by 2019 and are primarily going to release Blu-ray only with a few exceptions. I know you have got this question in the past on who buys DVD's Vs. Blu-rays which seems to b...
This Week in Anime - How Meta Does Re:Creators Get?
What did this anime about fictional characters confronting their makers have to say about the creative process? This week in anime, we tackle the conclusion of Sota and Altair's story.
― Re:CREATORS is a story about fictional characters meeting the people who created them, but just how far does its metafictional rabbit hole go? This week in anime, Micchy and Steve follow Sota and Altair's tale all th...
Answerman - What is "Video Post-Production"?
You see it in the credits of anime blurays and DVDs all the time - but what does "video post-production" actually entail? Justin has the answer.
― Craig asked: Just finished watching the third Berserk film, The Advent and in the credits I saw your name. for Video post production. What exactly do you do in terms of post production(clean up, video/audio compression, restoration?)? Do all companies who...
Shelf Life - Hyouka Part 1
Paul Jensen takes a look at the long-awaited blu-ray of Kyoto Animation's unusual mystery series, along with a rundown of this week's new anime releases!
― I went to a screening of Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro last week. It was my first time seeing the movie, and I have to say it was a blast. If you're a Lupin fan or are interested in Hayao Miyazaki's early work as a director, it's definitely...
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...
The List - 7 Worst School Teachers
School is back in session for the fall, but you'd better hope your new instructors aren't anything like these terrible tutors!
― It's the final week of summer, although most retail stores skipped straight to pumpkin season a few weeks ago. Deny it all you want, but the back-to-school grind is here which means notebooks, packed community college parking lots, and a handful of new instructors trying t...
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...
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...
This Week in Games - Final Fantasy XIV: Dad of Light
An MMO-themed J-drama comes to Netflix, and Nintendo Direct unleashes a slough of new announcements like Project Octopath Traveler. All this and your new game releases with Dustin Bailey!
― I finished up Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle a few days ago, and it was a rad bit of tactical adventure throughout. In the column a couple of weeks ago, I mentioned that its relative lack of randomness makes it fe...
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 ...
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...
Vice & Luna - Convention's End
Luna helps Maybell discover the best way to have a great time at comic-con.
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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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
―
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...
Shelf Life - Tamako Love Story
Paul takes on this somewhat-standalone sequel to KyoAni's Tamako Market that sets aside the series' comedy adventures to resolve its central romance. Plus, all this week's new anime releases!
― I went on a vacation of sorts this past weekend, by which I mean that I went to a place and spent money but never actually stopped working. This was my second year in a row attending the IndyCar race in Watki...
The List - 7 Essential Sentai Teams
These multi-colored superhero groups have been around for almost as long as anime has existed! Here are just seven of the most influential or interesting sentai teams.
― Superhero teams like The Avengers or The Justice League are comic book staples. These crossover works bring together the genre's most powerful fighters for an 'ultimate team' to face off against imminent doom on a planetary scale; B...
ANNCast - Kleckstarter
FIRST: Zac talks to Right Stuf CEO Shawne Kleckner about his enormous Aria Kickstarter. THEN: Zac and Jacob take your questions on fall 2017 anime, Netflix Death Note, Crunchyroll Expo and more!
― ANNCast Episode 304 - Kleckstarter FIRST: Zac talks to Right Stuf CEO Shawne Kleckner about his enormous Aria Kickstarter. THEN: Zac and Jacob take your questions on fall 2017 anime, Netflix Death Note, Cr...
Answerman - Why Aren't Opening And Ending Themes Subtitled?
Since companies like Crunchyroll are already subtitling full episodes of anime, how come the lyrics to each show's theme songs aren't translated? Justin has the answers.
― KidaYuki asked: I really love the opening and closing theme songs of anime. Back when most of the anime online seemed to be through Fansubs alot of them (or at least the ones I liked) would have their songs subtitled. Usually a Ja...
This Week in Anime - What Makes Princess Principal So Engrossing?
Combining cute girls and steampunk for a convoluted spy plot told out-of-order should make Princess Principal a tough sell, but it's shockingly easy to binge-watch. Jacob and Steve suss out what's in this show's secret sauce.
― As far as anime premises go, Princess Principal should be a niche within a niche, combining cute girl clubs with steampunk espionage in a plot told out-of-order. This week in ...
This Week in Games - Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle
Dustin falls in love with the X-Com style strategy combat that apparently comes about when you smash two cuddly mascots together. PLUS: it's a Yakuza-palooza!
― Partly inspired by the upcoming release of Samus Returns, I've played a lot of Metroid this week. I finally played through AM2R, and that thing is good even if it lacks the polish and variety of the games it's building off of. That point only...
Answerman - Quick Answers Part 4
Justin answers a handful of short questions, mostly about kissing. Indirect kissing, censored kissing, illegal kissing - all the kissing you can handle, really.
― Got lots of good questions this week, but most of them don't have answers that are very long, so let's just do a ton of them at once! Larry asks: In anime and manga the main character always gets flustered over an indirect kiss. Do people ...
This Week in Anime - Can Anime Fans Enjoy Netflix's Death Note Movie?
While most critics have panned this new film adaptation of the hit manga, is there anything worth seeing in Adam Wingard's Death Note for prior fans? Nick and Steve explore the movie's simpler pleasures.
― On August 25th, Netflix's live-action Death Note film debuted to wildly contentious reviews. This week in anime, we discuss whether fans of the original material can get anything out of the experie...
Vice & Luna - The Spoils of War
Perry learns that sometimes the best Comic-con experiences are the ones where you have to run from the cops.
―
Answerman - What Is A "Love Hotel?"
You see them in anime all the time - hotels that charge an hourly rate and are doused in kitsch. Are they real? Do people really use them? Justin explains.
― Albatros asked: In romance manga and anime there is often a scene involving a 'love hotel'. Is it common in Japan to go to a love hotel with your lover, instead of going to a regular hotel? And is it considered like an ordinary place, or is it ...
Shelf Life - Food Wars! Shokugeki no Soma
Paul finds out if Food Wars' flavor can match up to the hype, plus all this week's new anime releases!
― Watching Food Wars! Shokugeki no Soma for this week's review reminded me of my recurring problem with shows about cooking: they always make me ravenously hungry. The power of suggestion is a scary thing, especially in video form. Welcome to Shelf Life. Jump to this week's review: Food Wars! Shoku...
The List - 5 Years of Listing: Lynzee's Column Retrospective
After five years of writing The List, Lynzee Loveridge shares her most memorable contributions and a few hints about what lies ahead for the column!
― For the last five years, I've sat down every week and put together lists of anime forgotten, character quirks, and sometimes, really weird merchandise. The funny part is that every time I think I've wracked my brain for the very last idea to write abo...
Answerman - Do Anime Studios Own The American Shows They Contributed To?
Anime studios like Toei did a lot of work on classic American cartoons like Muppet Babies - do they own any piece of that? Justin explains.
― BJ asked: I have a weird question about contract work like what Toei did back in the 1980s on shows like Muppet Babies. Does a company like Toei own a small piece of whatever animation work they did on the show, or does it depend upon the terms of the contract...
This Week in Anime - Was Little Witch Academia Worth the Wait?
After months of buildup, the first season of Trigger's newest project is finally out on Netflix! Nick and Steve set aside the hype to explore what this show has to say about the anime industry and childhood dreams.
― After many months of waiting, fans can now enjoy the full first season of Little Witch Academia on Netflix! This week in anime, we examine whether Trigger's newest project lives up to th...
This Week in Games - Eight Great Things Yet to Come in 2017
It's been an incredible year for gaming so far, but it still feels like we're just getting started! Dustin Bailey runs down all the things he's most excited for in 2017's last quarter.
― 2017 has already been an embarrassment of gaming riches, and that's especially true for fans of Japanese development. The best Yakuza yet made it to the West, Team Ninja put together perhaps the best Souls derivative...
Answerman - Do Japanese People Use Beds Or Futons?
Justin breaks down the practical difference between these two very different ways of sleeping for people living in Japan.
― Kitty asked: I was reading a manga where the main characters at first slept on futons but later got a Western style bed. And it reminded me of a thing I've been wondering many times before when we see characters' bedrooms in anime and manga. Fairly often they have Western style...
This Week in Anime - Is WorldEnd (Suka Suka) Worth Watching?
Last season, Nick and Micchy were following last spring's sleeper light novel hit week to week, but they never got to discuss the ending. Now that it's over, how does the entire series hold up?
― What do you do at the end of the world? Are you busy? Will you save us? This light novel sleeper hit from last season has an incredibly unwieldy title, but was it worth watching in the end? This week in anim...
Vice & Luna - Party Over Here
Not even Blume and Perry - nor the entire Comic-Con Star Wars line - can escape the power of Mr. Goodtimes.
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Answerman - What Was A "MovieCD"?
Justin takes a look back at all the crazy formats anime has been released on in America, including "MovieCD", a CD-Rom with a 300x240 AVI file on it.
― Anonymous asked: I was in a thrift store the other day and found a copy of this Cyber City OEDO "MovieCD". What was this format? Was it at all successful? How many different formats over the years has anime been released on? MovieCD was a short-lived...
Shelf Life - Beyond the Boundary: I'll Be Here
Paul Jensen finds out if these movies can give Beyond the Boundary a more satisfying ending, plus all this week's new anime releases!
― I'm happy to see that the English dub project for Aria the Animation is doing well on Kickstarter. I own all of the old DVD sets of that series, and while its absurdly slow pace isn't for everyone, it's a delightful little slice of life show. Since it'll be a while ...
The Mike Toole Show - Holding Out for a Heroman
The Reflection is only the latest in a long and zany history of anime and manga projects involving Stan Lee. True Believer Mike is ready with a history lesson.
― A few months back, I was at Sakura-con out in Seattle. There was plenty to see and do at that convention—I got a close look at the adroit and skilled puppeteers of Pili International, the wizards who cooked up Thunderbolt Fantasy. I caught u...
The List - 8 Anime That Were Isekai Before It Was Cool
Before "transported to another world" light novels were all the rage, anime was still milking this premise in wildly different ways. These "classic isekai" titles are still worth checking out.
― Isekai or "transported to another world" scenarios are huge in light novels, manga, and anime right now. Sword Art Online may be the most popular as a video game variation on the concept, but there's also Lo...
Answerman - Why Are Age Ratings On Anime So Inconsistent?
Age ratings across anime releases from multiple publishers can be wildly inconsistent with one another - why is that? Justin digs in.
― Phineas asked: Is there a stricter bias towards anime age ratings in the United States simply because they're animated? Someone in the Answerman thread two columns ago noted the fact that Monster was 18+ by Viz but was rated M (the equivalent of a PG-13) in Australi...
ANNCast - Back from the Grave
Zac returns with a full report from Otakon in Washington DC while Jacob hashes out My Hero Academia and Welcome to the Ballroom.
― ANNCast Episode 303 - Back from the Grave Zac returns with a full report from Otakon in Washington DC while Jacob hashes out My Hero Academia and Welcome to the Ballroom. You can listen to the show on our player here, direct-download the MP3 version here, check out the s...
This Week in Anime - Why is Stain's Capture Actually Good for the League of Villains?
My Hero Academia's good guys defeated Stain, so why does it feel like they're the ones who lost? Nick and Micchy uncover the real evil that's only growing stronger.
― Everyone in My Hero Academia is recovering after their terrifying encounter with Hero Killer Stain, but maybe they shouldn't be getting too comfortable. This week in anime, we explain why the real battle is only beginning. Disclaimer: T...
This Week in Games - Sonic Mania
Sonic returns in a revved-up revival of his glory days on the Sega Genesis, but how well does it recreate the past? PLUS: Kirby's 25th anniversary, Okami HD and more!
― Kirby, likely Nintendo's most versatile mascot, turned 25 this month. Kirby's Dream Land, the original Game Boy game, is in hindsight kind of a bizarre little thing—an experiment in casual games for children, something with cute chara...
Answerman - Why Does Classic Anime Get Re-dubbed?
They're dubbing Gundam Seed in English again, just like they did for Escaflowne - Justin goes in-depth on why this happens.
― Justin (not Answerman Justin) asked: Why is Gundam SEED and Gundam SEED Destiny getting re-dubbed? There is already a dib available for these shows that is well liked by many. There are several standard reasons why the English dubbed version of a classic anime can't be used i...
This Week in Anime - Why is Tsuredure Children So Relatable?
It may be a wacky 4koma comedy about puppy love, but Tsuredure's observations on infatuation can cut surprisingly deep. Nick and Jacob figure what makes this show feel so honest.
― Tsuredure Children may be a wacky 4koma-style comedy about teens in puppy love, but its observations on infatuation can cut surprisingly deep. This week in anime, we piece together just what makes it so feel so honest. Dis...
Vice & Luna - Escape 2000
Can Mr. Goodtimes continue to evade justice at Emerald Grove Comic-Con?
―
Answerman - What Is That Tipping Bamboo Water Spout In Traditional Gardens?
You've seen it before, you've heard the iconic THUNK - but what's that bamboo fountain you always see in anime actually FOR?
― Joseph asked: What is that bamboo thing in anime that fills with water until full and then empties? I see it used a lot and it seems mostly used for transitioning to a new screen or delivering more emotion to an intense revelation by suddenly hitting the ground. Other than t...
Shelf Life - The Big O
The noirish mecha action show that captivated countless anime fans in the early 2000s is back on bluray for the first time, and James Beckett is ready for showtime!
― You've probably already heard about the technical troubles we've had on the site lately. One side effect is that any Shelf Obsessed submissions that were sent to the Shelf Life email address over the past few days won't reach me. If yo...
Answerman - What Happens To Japanese Students Who Don't Make It To The Top?
Anime and manga are filled with elite students attending the most prestigious schools, but how accurate is that struggle to real life in Japan?
― Jose asked: We know the pressure to get into a top school (and get a top job) is a recurrent theme in anime and in Japanese culture in general. But I was wondering: what happens to the Japanese people that *don't* make the top cut? I would think that the t...
This Week in Anime - What's Missing From Welcome to the Ballroom's Characters?
Ballroom's visuals can be dazzling, but its cast of characters hasn't quite been clicking for many viewers. Nick and Micchy take the stage to suss out what's amiss.
― Welcome to the Ballroom has dazzled audiences this summer with its immaculate ballroom dancing animation, but people haven't seemed quite as enchanted by its story so far. This week in anime, we try to suss out what's holding the charac...
This Week in Games - Mega Man Legacy Collection 2
It's the one-year anniversary of This Week in Games, and what better way to celebrate than with the legacy of Mega Man. Is this second collection as nostalgic as the first?
― This week marks a full year since I took over ANN's weekly gaming column, and I hope that despite the loss of the X Button's trademark image alt-text, you've all enjoyed that time as much as I have. Things might be a little weir...
Answerman - Why Is Daisuki Shutting Down?
Anime streaming service Daisuki is shutting down at the end of this year. Justin discusses some of the reasons why.
― invalidname asked: What happened with Daisuki anyways? With all those Japanese original rights-holders involved, shouldn't they have had a natural advantage over licensors like Crunchyroll that have to pay for content? Daisuki.net, the anime streaming website that was started by a gr...
This Week in Anime - Just How Trashy is NTR?
Netsuzou Trap's title alone has been raising plenty of eyebrows, but is it just trashy enough to be treasure? Micchy and Steve sail straight into the eye of this smut-storm...
― Netsuzou Trap -NTR- started raising eyebrows based on the title alone, but is there any treasure buried in its trashy premise? This week in anime, Micchy and Steve sail into the eye of this season's smut-storm. Disclaimer: Th...
Answerman - Why Do They Sometimes Remove On-Screen Japanese Text?
The Shin Godzilla bluray is missing Anno's trademark giant text, replaced with simple subtitles - how and why does something like this happen?
― Tormaid asked: In Funimation's recent Blu-ray release of Shin Godzilla, they chose to remove Anno's trademark on-screen text and added a multi-line, unstyled translation at the top of the screen. This promoted a discussion I became involved in about the rea...
Shelf Life - GATE
Paul Jensen finds out if this military otaku's dream soars or tanks across two seasons of action. Plus, all this week's new anime releases and a stacked edition of Shelf Obsessed!
― I picked up the first eight volumes of the Nichijou manga on sale recently, and I've been speeding through them at a ridiculous pace. If you enjoyed the anime adaptation (or are just in the market for a good comedy), I r...
The Mike Toole Show - Gundam of the Century
With Gundam MS IGLOO finally arriving on Blu-ray, it might seem like the entire UC library is finally at Western fans' fingertips, but Mike Toole has thoughts on some Gundam gems you might still be missing!
― Last month, MS Igloo, the oddball 3DCG member of the Mobile Suit Gundam family, came out on Blu-Ray, finally replacing the long out-of-print Bandai Visual USA release. I mentioned this on my Twi...
The List - 6 Anime to Remake Like It's 1999
These anime series from just before the 21st century could use a little love with a modern-day reboot.
― Consider me one of the many people that did a double take when Young Jump magazine announced Ryu Fujisaki's Hoshin Engi (aka Soul Hunter) manga is getting a remake. I have vague memories of watching the series on DVD in my teens on my white CTR television (with built in VCR, mind you) and remembe...
Answerman - Why Do Fans Ask Inappropriate Things At Convention Panels?
Fans ask weird, awkward and inappropriate things at anime convention Q&A panels all the time. Why does it happen so much?
― Jake asked: I enjoy attending conventions once or twice a year and one of my favorite things is attending panels with the Japanese animators, directors, producers, and voice actors. I find it interesting to find out more about there experiences in the industry and their influen...
ANNCast - Kemono Friends
Zac, Jacob and special guest Paul Chapman bushwhack their way through Japari Park in an attempt to understand the international phenomenon known as Kemono Friends.
― ANNCast Episode 302 - Kemono Friends Zac, Jacob and special guest Paul Chapman of Crunchyroll News and The Greatest Movie Ever podcast bushwhack their way through Japari Park in an attempt to understand the international phenomenon know...
This Week in Anime - Should You Give The Reflection a Second Chance?
First reactions to Stan Lee and Hiroshi Nagahama's new superhero anime have been mixed at best, but is this unusual project worth a closer look? Nick and Steve share what they love about The Reflection.
― The Reflection might not be the prettiest girl at the dance this season, but is there a great personality hiding under its unusual sense of style? This week in anime, we give this potential diamond ...
This Week in Games - Miitopia
Dustin dives in to the wild world of Miitopia, a sort-of sequel to the quirky Tomodachi Life. PLUS: Persona 5 spinoff-a-rama, Dragon Quest XI and much more!
― The New Nintendo 2DS XL—a name which remains a downright upsetting configuration of bizarre branding—released in North America this past Friday, and while there's still life in the 3DS line it seems very likely that this console will mark its f...
Answerman - What Should We Expect from the Sony - Funimation Deal?
Sony Pictures TV is absorbing Funimation. What should we expect? Justin provides the facts (and some informed speculation).
― Lots of people asked: I just saw the big news that Sony Pictures TV is going to acquire a 95% stake in Funimation, and I am really concerned. What will this mean for Funimation releases, their deal with Crunchyroll, their dubs, and their streaming platform? Press releases abo...
This Week in Anime - What the Hell Just Happened in Vatican Miracle Examiner?
From two-headed babies to a cryogenically frozen Hitler, this Catholic-flavored mystery series has gone off the rails. Nick and Jacob make it their sacred mission to figure out how we got there.
― It may have seemed like a normal mystery series on the surface, but there's more than sacrosanct sleuthing going on in the world of Vatican Miracle Examiner! This week in anime, we try to exorcise the madne...
Vice & Luna - Let The Good Times Roll
Vice's secret identity has been uncovered - and now he'd better make a quick escape from Comic-con!
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Answerman - What Is That Little Stamp That Japanese People Use To Sign Papers?
You often see characters in anime using a little stamp for signing documents. What's the deal with that stamp?
― Qashmal asks: I realized from watching Girls und Panzer (also mentioned in Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid) that people in Japan have something called "personal seal," which, I assume, works like an autograph or signature. If it's an organization, I can understand why a seal is needed, but w...
Shelf Life - Monster Musume
Gabriella Ekens dives into the lewd and wacky world of monster girls, plus all this week's new anime releases including Sword Art Online!
― I went to a screening of The Ancient Magus' Bride last week (one advantage of living in a big college town is that the local theaters pick up a lot of anime events), and I have to admit I was pretty impressed. The art and animation were both strong, and the thre...
The List - 7 Wildly Impractical Giant Robot Designs
These mecha might win the gold for creativity, but they're hardly combat-ready. Would you pilot any of these automated oddities into battle?
― Big robots routinely mean big business, maintaining a place in anime fandom thanks in no small part to Gundam creator Yoshiyuki Tomino and staples like Voltron, Macross, Neon Genesis Evangelion, Eureka 7, Escaflowne, and Patlabor. While many series remain nos...
ANNCast: Resurrection
Zac, Jacob, and Discotek's Brady Hartel round up the summer 2017 anime season, plus Anime Expo, San Diego Comic-Con, Castlevania and much much more!
― ANNCast Episode 301 - Resurrection Zac, Jacob and Discotek's Brady Hartel round up the summer 2017 anime season, plus Anime Expo, San Diego Comic-Con, Castlevania and much much more! You can listen to the show on our player here, direct-download the M...
Answerman - What Do Manga Artists Think Of Dirty Doujinshi?
There are mountains of smutty doujinshi for every anime, manga and game under the sun - but what do the original artists think of it in Japan? Justin explains.
― Aloysia asks: I understand that there's several mangaka that create BL/yuri doujinshi but there's also who don't. So how do they react to BL/yuri shipping? Do they get angry "My characters are not gay!" or just ignore it? Doujinshi, or smal...
This Week in Anime - What's Really Going On In A Centaur's Life?
This world of mermaids, satyrs, and centaurs may seem peaceful at first, but are there more complex politics in play under its surface? Wild horses couldn't drag us away from solving this mystery!
― The world of A Centaur's Life is populated with six-limbed wonders like angelkin, goatmen, mermaids, and of course centaurs instead of the four-limbed humans of our world. But is there something deeper go...
This Week in Games - Remember That Ghost in the Shell Shooter?
Dustin straps in for a look at the recently-relaunched Ghost in the Shell online shooter to find out if it's still worth joining Section 9. PLUS: Pokemon GO, Dragon Ball FighterZ and much more!
― Splatoon 2 is out, and it's great. It's been dominating game time for me since the weekend, and that's been across every single mode—casual, ranked, single-player, and Salmon Rush. But just because there's a...
Answerman - Why Aren't Tezuka and Ishinomori Anime Popular In The West?
Fans of Astro Boy, Cyborg 009 and other timeless classics have long asked: why isn't this stuff more popular with American audiences?
― Nik asks: Osamu Tezuka and Shotaro Ishinomori are two of my favorite manga/anime creators. My favorite aspect of their works is the "retro" and "rounded" look of the characters. Properties like Cyborg 009, Kikaider, and Astro Boy are extremely appealing to me in an ...
This Week in Anime - What's Stain's Real Problem With Heroes?
My Hero Academia's newest villain is bloodthirsty to a shocking extreme, but does he have a good reason to hate heroes so much? This week, we take a look at the world through his creepy red eyes.
― Welcome to our new twice-weekly format for This Week in Anime! Going forward, two members of our team will discuss just one hot new anime topic in each column, starting off with a discussion of My Hero Aca...
Vice & Luna - The Leaked Jedi
Perry's dedication to the True Fan Comic-Con Experience wavers when the footage he's waiting to see leaks while he's in line...
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Answerman - Is It Ethical To Import Anime From Other Countries?
Anime fans in the UK will often import low-price American anime box sets - but is that ethical? What's the impact on their own local anime distributors? Justin gets into it.
― Jason asks: What do Japanese licence holders think of people in the UK importing US region 1 discs? How legal is this? Some times a show never seems to get a UK release and isn't available for streaming either. Japanese produc...
Shelf Life - School-Live!
James Beckett discovers surprising thrills and chills in this slice of life drama that's more than it seems on the surface. Plus, all this week's new releases and a new Shelf Obsessed!
― My daily streaming review shows for this season have a suspicious number of things in common. Both New Game and Gamers are video game-themed slice-of-life comedies (one about the people who make them, one about the ...
The Mike Toole Show - The Magnificent 1997
Mike straps in to his time machine for a trip back to the year 1997 to revisit some of his old favorites, from Battle Athletes to a little show called Berserk!
― This week, I'm finding myself stuck between stations. I've got a couple of pieces in the early stages, and one column that's almost done but just needs a little more detail to really make it work. Retrospective pieces are always good in a pi...
The List - 6 Fantastic Female Friendships in Anime
Whether they're taking down monsters or just surviving the trials of high school, these gal pals have each other's backs through the best and worst of times.
― Hello readers! As you may or may not know, I'm approaching my fifth anniversary as the author of The List. With the exception of brief hiatuses and reprints over the last year or so, that's roughly 250 columns written about anime and manga to...
Answerman - Why Aren't Anime Sales Figures Made Public?
We'd really love to know exactly how well our favorite anime sold on Bluray and DVD. Why do they keep these numbers from us? Justin gets into it.
― Michael asks: I was wondering if you could explain the mindset behind why anime companies seem to be so secretive with their sales numbers. I could be wrong about this, but I don't see any benefit to not releasing how many units "title x" sold or how man...
This Week in Games - Accel World vs. Sword Art Online
The unimaginably popular worlds of light novel author Reki Kawahara collide in a new RPG. Dustin takes it for a spin. PLUS: Toy Story Kingdom Hearts and much more!
― Last column, I mentioned that Dream Daddy: A Dad Dating Simulator would be out this week, and that's still true despite a very last-minute delay. The developers put out a statement explaining that there were further bug fixes that needed...
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