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Elegant Yokai Apartment Life ‒ Episode 15
As our episode coverage of this series comes to a close, Anne Lauenroth reflects on its highs and lows.
Season Finale: The Reflection ‒ Episode 12
"I'm glad to have watched The Reflection, even if its reach exceeded its grasp more often than not."
Netsuzou Trap -NTR- Episodes 1-12 Streaming
This salacious short yuri series peppers its story with thoughtful threads, but it ultimately works best as trashy erotica. Theron Martin explores the ups and downs of NTR.
― The most dedicated fanservice series of the Summer 2017 season was undoubtedly My First Girlfriend is a Gal, but it's nowhere near as salacious in content as this adaptation of Naoko Kodama's yuri manga of the same name. Over th...
Natsume Yūjin-Chō Roku ‒ Episode 12
Crunchyroll adds this relaxing bonus episode to Natsume Yujin-Cho's sixth season just in time for the announcement of a new movie!
Answerman - What Is "Digipaint"?
People say the term "digipaint" all the time when discussing old anime from the early 2000s - but what do they mean? Justin breaks it down.
― George asked: What exactly is digipaint? Why was it so prevalent in anime production during the 00s, and why does it make anime made with it so hard to remaster into HD? Has this product essentially made a part of anime's existence, the 00s, relegated to DVD, ...
Season Premiere: Love Live! Sunshine!! ‒ Episode 14
"It's not the most exciting of first episodes, but it's a reasonable start to a new season, which will hopefully pick up steam once the singing and dancing moves back to the forefront."
Hitorijime My Hero Episodes 1-12 Streaming
Despite rough animation and a weak first three episode prologue, this is a solid and enjoyable story for BL fans old and new. Rebecca Silverman has the details.
― Hitorijime my Hero is actually a compilation of two series by the same manga creator – the first three episodes are an adaptation of the single-volume Hitorijime Boyfriend, while episodes four through twelve follow its sequel, which shares ...
Season Premiere: Gintama ‒ Episodes 329-330
"For the next few months, Gintama will get a reprieve from being a sci-fi action drama with comic interludes and return to being an irreverent gag comedy."
Dragon Ball Super ‒ Episodes 109-110
Dragon Ball Super's one-hour special lands with a bang and a high watermark for the whole franchise!
Plum Crazy! Tales of A Tiger-Striped Cat GN 1
If you only read one cute cat manga, this should be it. Rebecca Silverman sinks her claws into this special volume.
― If you only read one cute cat manga, Plum Crazy! Tales of A Tiger-Striped Cat should be it. Less saccharine than Chi's Sweet Home or its companion Fuku Fuku manga but still cuter than Junji Ito's Cat Diary: Yon & Mu, Natsumi Hoshino's story about tabby cat Plum and her daily life mana...
Nanbaka ‒ Episode 26
The inmates of Building 13 are back for a school-themed bonus episode!
The List - 6 Unique Takes on Edogawa Ranpo
Ranpo Edogawa is a well-known mystery author in Japan, but western whodunnit fans may be less familiar with him. Here are just six anime that have taken on its legacy.
― The first week of prime spook month is over and as we edge closer to Halloween, I'm going to attempt to make every List column focus on the macabre. This week we'll take a look at mystery and horror novelist Edogawa Ranpo, a househo...
Nirvana GN 1
What happens when a heroic volunteer girl dies in a plane crash and is reborn as a goddess into another world? Rebecca Silverman finds out in this intriguing isekai adventure.
― Stories about teenage boys being transported to another world are heavily present in current anime, manga, and light novels. Stories about teenage girls being transported to another world? Not so much, at least not in English...
Answerman - Where Did The Idea Of 100 Ghost Stories Come From?
It comes up in anime from time to time: telling 100 ghost stories in a single night. Is that a real thing? Justin explains.
― Ian asked: I wanted to ask if the 100 ghost story night idea from xxxHolic is a real cultural aspect of Japanese society. Or did CLAMP make it up? If not, are there any reports of events where literally 100 ghost stories are told? The idea of 100 ghost stories has made an app...
Blade Runner's Unbelievable Influence On Anime
Daryl Surat explores the mindblowing amount of influence Ridley Scott's Blade Runner has had on the way a tremendous amount of anime looks, sounds, and feels.
― In 2017, it's very easy to forget that 1982's Blade Runner was neither a commercial success at the time of its release nor the mainstream critical darling it is nowadays. Although it derailed director Ridley Scott's film career for many years...
Dragon Ball Super Part One Blu-ray
This initial Battle of Gods arc can't compete with its theatrical counterpart, but it still has its moments. Sam Leach has the details.
― It feels appropriate that after finishing off the Final Chapters of DBZ Kai, I'm watching the beginning of Dragon Ball Super, the anime-original sequel series that picks up almost immediately where the last show left off (aside from the epilogue that's still ten ye...
This Week in Anime - Will Bakugo Become a Hero or a Villain?
As My Hero Academia's second season comes to a close, Bakugo's future still seems uncertain. Is there anything that could turn him over to the dark side?
― My Hero Academia's second season has come to a close, and Bakugo's future seems uncertain as the League of Villains begins to reform. This week in anime, Nick and Micchy predict what might be in store for U.A. High's most fiery student. Disclaimer...
This Week in Games - Gundam Versus
The entire Gundam franchise gets crammed into an arena combat blender in Gundam Versus, plus Nioh on PC, Breath of the Wild production secrets and more!
― As if 2017's nonstop parade of excellent video games wasn't already enough, the past few weeks have seen the Switch's indie line-up upgrade from “good” to “positively bonkers.” Most of these games are out on other platforms, but the option of porta...
Super NES Classic Edition
With heaps of 16-bit classics to choose from including the never-before-released Star Fox 2, the Super NES Classic is a retro gamer's dream. Todd Ciolek has the lowdown on every title in this collection.
― Last year's NES Classic Edition was a finely crafted piece of nostalgia: an authentically miniature Nintendo Entertainment System with thirty built-in games, ranging from enduring classics to dispo...
Boruto: Naruto Next Generations ‒ Episode 27
"This installment is meant to serve as the calm before the storm, but taken on its own, it's pretty boring."
Food Wars! The Third Plate — Episode 1
"Let's hope that we're in for another season of great food, interesting characters, and exciting cook-offs. It looks like we're off to a pretty good start."
Answerman - Why Are Sentai Titles Showing Up On Anime Strike?
Sentai Filmworks titles have been showing up on Amazon's Anime Strike service - what might we expect from this partnership? Justin considers the angles.
― Austin asked: Within the last few days/week, Sentai Filmworks has announced 4 new show licenses for the coming season (including the second season of Umaru-chan). They said in the press release that these shows will be made available through Anime...
Interview: Made in Abyss Composer Kevin Penkin
The man behind the tearjerkingly beautiful soundtrack of this past season's sleeper hit discusses his work writing music for anime and games.
― When interviewing anime creators, it's not common to talk to someone from outside Japan, and it's even less common to interview someone from my own country of Australia. Kevin Penkin's score for Made in Abyss is already being hailed as one of the most captiva...
HYOUKA BD+DVD Part One
This slice-of-life mystery series unfolds with richness and beauty that reaches beyond its low-key subject matter. Nick Creamer delves into what makes this show special.
― Hyouka starts as many anime do, with a droll monologue from a know-it-all high school boy. Reflecting on the vivid colors of the new year, he seems to sneer at the idea of a “rose-colored” life or even personal investment in genera...
Elegant Yokai Apartment Life ‒ Episode 14
"Let's see what these new characters will be able to add now that summer is coming to a close."
Anime Spotlight - The Ancient Magus' Bride
Chise is a 15-year-old girl who has nothing except one special power she was born with. An odd-looking magus named Elias takes in Chise as his apprentice, planning to eventually make her his wife.
― The Ancient Magus' Bride Official Website: http://mahoyome.jp Official Twitter: @mahoyome_project Introduction Story Characters Cast & Staff Gallery Premiere Date: October 8, 2017 Streaming available at:...
The Best and Worst of the Summer 2017 Season
It's the final user ranking of the Summer 2017 anime season! Which shows came out on top? Which of your favorites ranked highest?
― 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 based on ho...
This Week in Anime - Made in Abyss Made Us Cry Like Little Babies
Made in Abyss' first season ended this week, leaving behind an ocean of tears for many fans. This week in anime, Nick and Steve pick up the pieces in the wake of its emotional conclusion.
― Made in Abyss' first season ended this week, leaving behind an ocean of tears for many fans. This week in anime, Nick and Steve pick up the pieces in the wake of its emotional conclusion. Disclaimer: The views and...
Vice & Luna - "Vice Writes an Isekai Novel"
ANYONE could write one of those novels where an ordinary teen gets sucked into another world - right?
―
The Night is Short, Walk On Girl
Director Masaaki Yuasa adapts another work from author Tomihiko Morimi in this surreal and enchanting film. Dawn H dives into its magical world.
― The movie starts with a premise most anime fans will be familiar with: a bumbling Senpai is so infatuated by a college classmate he's got a crush on, he's been purposely trying to bump into her as often as possible “by coincidence” to get her to notice him...
Anime Spotlight - Black Clover
In this world where magic is everything... A boy named Asta who hasn't been able to use magic since he was born aims to become the Wizard King—the head of the Magic Knights—in order to prove himself and fulfill his promise with his friend!
― Black Clover Official Website: http://bclover.jp/ Official Twitter: @bclover_PR Introduction Story Characters Cast & Staff Gallery Premiere Date: October 3, 201...
Answerman - Why Do Dub Voice Actors Stick To The Same Studios?
Most anime studios in the US have a "stable" of regular voice actors that you'll hear in most of their dubs, without much crossover - why is that?
― Justin asked: Over the years, I've seen many voice actors stay in one circle only (Viz, Funimation, Sentai, or 4Kids). I've asked myself some questions and created scenarios in my head which gives an idea of the kind of things I've wanted to see, but ha...
Shelf Life - The Boy and the Beast
Paul Jensen takes a look at Mamoru Hosoda's most recent film along with all this week's new anime releases, and Shelf Obsessed is officially open for submissions once more!
― I was briefly tempted to buy a model kit the other day, but then I remembered one of my favorite stories from the old Calvin and Hobbes newspaper comic. Calvin buys a model plane, struggles with the tiny parts and incomprehensi...
The Ancient Magus' Bride: Those Awaiting a Star OVAs
This three-part side story fills in the gaps of Chise's childhood for prior fans and offers a pleasant entry point for new fans. Theron Martin investigates.
― Those Awaiting a Star is a three episode OVA series based on a side story written specifically for the anime production by Kore Yamazaki, the creator of The Ancient Magus's Bride manga. Its episodes were originally released in Japan with volume...
Welcome to the Ballroom ‒ Episode 13
"How you feel about Chinatsu may very well color your impression of this new story arc."
Altair: A Record of Battles ‒ Episode 12
"This feels like a pivotal moment for Mahmut."
The Mike Toole Show - When Anime Was "Cool"
The Blade Runner 2022 anime short sends Mike back to the early 2000s when everyone was very excited about both The Matrix and the internet, and anime was a very specific kind of "cool"...
― There was a brief period of time in the early 2000s when anime was cool. It wasn't just cool with dorks like me and you, the true tastemakers, but also cool with the general entertainment-consuming public in North...
The Reflection ‒ Episode 11
"Despite this being the ostensible climax of the show, I can't help but feel like The Reflection is finally starting to crumble beneath the weight of its own ambitions."
One Piece ‒ Episodes 807-808
"This "special" is Toei's adaptation at its best and worst, really pushing my patience with all the flashbacks and filler, but also giving me all the depth of feeling I could ask for when the direction really pulls it off."
Golden Kamuy GN 2
The violence and drama escalate in this surprisingly anthropological action-adventure. Rebecca Silverman gets into the gory details.
― This series has everything – fascinating Ainu culture, engrossing recipes and flavors, giant wolves, and a guy getting his face ripped off by an enraged bear. It's absolutely not for the faint of heart, because Satoru Noda pulls exactly zero punches when it comes to g...
Season Finale: My Hero Academia ‒ Episode 38
"Season two has been a season of immense highs, and you can feel the conversation around it exploding as it starts to truly earn the torch-passing it received from past hit series."
Series Finale: Rage of Bahamut: Virgin Soul ‒ Episode 24
"Rage of Bahamut: Virgin Soul flamed out hard, and as someone who liked so much about its beginning, I never want to think about this show again."
Season Finale: Made in Abyss ‒ Episode 13
"I can't remember the last time I encountered an anime that affected me so much, or so thoroughly managed to break my heart."
The List - 7 Excellent Exorcists
If you've got a demon infestation in your neighborhood, these onmyouji may be just what the doctor ordered. Plus, your rankings of the best CLAMP series!
― Something seems different about your best friend. They hardly ever sleep, they're unsettlingly flexible, their voice has changed drastically, and they have a bad habit of projecting pea soup from their face. Not to mention they keep saying really...
The Devil is a Part-Timer! Novel 8
The story enters its first larger continuity arc, bringing the stakes much higher for this previously episodic series. Theron Martin has the details.
― I haven't been doing reviews on the last few volumes of The Devil is a Part-Timer! because frankly, there hasn't been much to comment on. The overall story has been creeping along as it continues to drop hints of some bigger metaphysical conflict invo...
Interview: Atsumi Tanezaki
The voice of Chise in the upcoming Ancient Magus' Bride anime discusses her new starring role and recent past work.
― The odds that you've heard veteran voice actress Atsumi Tanezaki in one of your favorite recent anime are pretty high – she's appeared in Mob Psycho 100, Sound! Euphonium Season 2, Keijo!!!!!!!!, Monster Musume and even for a moment in Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron Blooded Orphans. You'll ...
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 ...
Answerman - How Can You Tell If An Anime Is Popular?
Can you tell if an anime is popular by relying solely on disc sales? With so many different revenue sources, how do production committees determine "success" in 2017? Justin gets into it.
― Ricardo asked: More times than not, Anime Fans seem to take sales figures as gospel of a series's popularity, if there's a chance to hope for a sequel, etc... but I've seen some authors, among them Durarara!'s, s...
Our Most Anticipated Anime of Fall 2017
The upcoming fall season is overflowing with promising new shows that our team of critics can't wait to sink their teeth into! Here are our most anticipated autumn picks.
― The upcoming fall season is overflowing with promising new shows that our team of critics can't wait to sink their teeth into! Here are our most anticipated autumn picks, and be sure to share your own most-hyped new premieres with...
The Irregular at Magic High School Novel 5
Despite the usual writing issues, this volume of short stories is a nice breather between arcs for the characters. Rebecca Silverman has the lowdown.
― Chronologically speaking, this fifth novel in the Irregular at Magic High School franchise fits in-between the second and third arcs of the anime – after the Nine Schools Competition and before the Yokohama Disturbance. Skipping over it in terms of an...
Season Finale: Gamers! ‒ Episode 12
"This series had a few rough edges, but it offered more than enough entertainment to justify some kind of a sequel."
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....
This Week in Games - Blue Reflection
What if the Persona games had magical girls in them? Dustin Bailey seeks to answer this question in his first look at Blue Reflection on the PS4.
― I'm finally filling in the holes in my Yakuza series knowledge, largely thanks to that reprint earlier this year that finally made the second game affordable again. I finished Yakuza 2 this week, and it deserves its fan-favorite position in the series. De...
She and Her Cat GN
Makoto Shinkai's story of a young woman's life through the perspective of the cat she rescued is uniquely poignant. Rebecca Silverman explores this heartwarming tale.
― Have you ever seen the bumper sticker shaped like a pawprint that reads, “Who Saved Who?” That is the essence of Makoto Shinkai and Tsubasa Yamaguchi's manga version of Shinkai's short anime She and Her Cat. The story is told from the...
Boruto: Naruto Next Generations ‒ Episode 26
"So far, the field trip arc has proven to be about Kagura, with Boruto and his crew serving as prominent supporting characters."
Season Finale: Classroom of the Elite ‒ Episode 12
"This episode managed a tricky balance, simultaneously coming off as both a conclusive ending and the opening act of a much larger drama."
The Best and Worst of the Season So Far: Week of Sep 16-22
Sakura Quest makes a surprise climb up the charts as the summer season winds down in the last few weeks of our user rankings. Find out where your favorites are settling in!
― 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 ...
Season Finale: In Another World With My Smartphone ‒ Episode 12
"It seems fitting for a series like Isekai Smartphone to wrap by avoiding resolution for a conflict that should be easy to solve."
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 --...
Interview: The Staff Behind Yuri on Ice
Director Sayo Yamamoto, writer Mitsurou Kubo, and character design/animation director Tadashi Hiramatsu discuss how their story became a phenomenon at this year's AnimeFest.
― Yuri!!! on Ice is one of the biggest anime hits of the last few years. Its messages of love and overcoming self-doubt, alongside its stirring portrayals of competitive figure skating, have reached global audiences well outside ...
The Best and Worst Anime of Summer 2017
The heat of summer is beginning to die down, which means it's time for our critics to pick the best and worst shows of this past anime season!
― The public pool sits empty, theme parks are closed during the week, and school is back in session, which means the summer is officially over! So it's time to decide: which shows were the best - and the worst - from this summer's anime? We asked our critics t...
K: Return of Kings BD/DVD
This second season is a slight improvement over the first, with a little more story under its flashy style. Theron Martin has the details.
― If you have seen the first TV series of K but have not seen the movie K: Missing Kings then you should not begin this sequel, as starting right after the season-opening fight scene (which is either a flashback or a dream sequence) a lot of things will not make m...
Magical Circle Guru-Guru ‒ Episode 12
Our coverage of Magical Circle Guru-Guru wraps for the season as Nike and Kukuri complete a major quest in preparation for their fight against the final boss.
Elegant Yokai Apartment Life ‒ Episode 13
"This episode isn't bad, but it left a bit to be desired to go beyond merely being pleasant."
Season Finale: New Game!! ‒ Episode 12
"This is a very strong ending, partly because it feels like New Game saved the best for last."
This Week in Anime - What the Hey is Wrong With Heybot?
This brain-meltingly stupid kids' show has been a punchline on This Week in Anime since it started, but was there secretly a method to Heybot's madness in the end?
― It's been a go-to punchline on This Week in Anime since the column began, but now that Heybot! has ended, just what the hey was this series anyway, and why was it so incredibly weird? This week in anime, Micchy and Steve put this bizarre...
Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite
Several changes have been made to this fighting game's new installment, but not all of them are for the better. Dustin Bailey gets into it.
― The new story mode in Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite has all the characters trapped in a pair of worlds awkwardly smashed together out of pieces from their respective universes. Marvel's AIM laboratories host not only MODOK, but also the BOWs of Resident Evil, smu...
The Beginner's Guide to Danganronpa
Want to get into the hit whodunnit game series but don't know where to start? Heidi Kemps' (spoiler-free) overview of all the franchise's biggest titles has you covered.
― Where to start with this murderous series? Don't despair -- our guide will help! Danganronpa is something you've probably heard of if you follow anime or video games. What began as an under-the-radar visual novel series has blossom...
Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony
To call the end of Danganronpa "shocking" would be an understatement! Jacob Chapman takes on the controversial final chapter in this SPOILER-FREE review.
― Prior to the release of this (second?) conclusion to the main Danganronpa trilogy, series creator Kazutaka Kodaka was emphatic in several interviews that this "new semester" would be completely open to newcomers. While it would bring closure to th...
Anime Spotlight - Recovery of an MMO Junkie
Moriko Morioka, 30 years old, single, unemployed. A dropout from reality. Seeking a place of respite, she arrives in the world of the worldwide web.
― Recovery of an MMO Junkie Official Website: http://netoju.com Official Twitter: @netoju_anime Introduction Characters Cast & Staff Gallery Premiere Date: October 10, 2017 (JST) Key Staff Director: Kazuyoshi Yaginuma ("Bokurano"(TV) as episode director...
One Piece ‒ Episode 806
"Its general tone is the most distinctly One Piece out of all the Whole Cake Island episodes yet."
Season Finale: A Centaur's Life ‒ Episode 12
"It's a pretty low-key affair, one final celebration of all the most prominent characters, and a chill way to send off the whole thing."
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...
Dragon Ball Super ‒ Episode 108
"Universe 7 is down three members in the Tournament of Power, and as they move on up to fighting tougher and tougher opponents, they'll need all the help they can get."
Season Finale: Knight's & Magic ‒ Episode 13
"It was nice to watch K&M build, developing and improving in the same way as many of the machines it focused on."
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...
Season Finale: Princess Principal ‒ Episode 12
"While I came away from the episode feeling like they could have done more, the show definitely delivered a satisfactory ending nonetheless."
Chihayafuru Season 1 Premium Edition BD+DVD
This adaptation of the award-winning manga about karuta is finally available to own in a fancy special edition box! Bamboo Dong explores just what makes this series so special.
― On paper, Chihayafuru would probably be considered a sports anime. The characters spend most of their time training for, talking about, and playing sports. And most of the action and tension revolve around the outcome of spo...
Welcome to the Ballroom ‒ Episode 12
"The show returns from the Brink of Despair this week by introducing new female characters who aren't just wilting wallflowers and actually using ballroom music during dance scenes."
Season Finale: Katsugeki! Tōken Ranbu ‒ Episode 13
"Katsugeki! Touken Ranbu wasn't the most emotionally sophisticated or thematically intriguing show, but it ended well enough to tell its story in a rewarding manner."
My Hero Academia ‒ Episode 37
"This episode delivers all the emotional thrust you might expect from this scenario, although it never quite reaches the spectacular highs that I was ready for."
The Reflection ‒ Episode 10
"I've never quite known what was really going on in The Reflection, but this week is the first time it's actually affected my ability to enjoy the show."
Platinum End GN 2
Ohba and Obata's newest manga thriller expands its cast and slips into a comfortable rhythm for its second volume. Nick Creamer dives in.
― Platinum End's first volume established a cheekily cynical platform for a thriller. Opening with our suicidal hero Mirai, it proposed a scenario where twelve human candidates for godhood would have to fight it out, each of them blessed with some mix of angelic po...
Season Finale: Vatican Miracle Examiner ‒ Episode 12
"Vatican Miracle Examiner has been many things over its twelve-episode run, but I don't think “miraculous” is a word I would use to describe any of them."
Altair: A Record of Battles ‒ Episode 11
"All of this is leading up to a wedding worse than anything dreamed up by George R. R. Martin."
Rage of Bahamut: Virgin Soul ‒ Episode 23
"At this point in the series, I am exclusively invested in the fates of several characters who are extremely unlikely to get happy endings."
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...
That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime GN 1
This isekai adventure takes a turn for the slimy as its protagonist enters a fantasy world in perhaps the worst form possible. Theron Martin has the details.
― Isekai stories are pervasive in the Japanese light novel market these days, and stories where the world-jumping involves reincarnation with mind and memories intact are swiftly becoming more popular. We've already seen some odd twists on that ...
Made in Abyss ‒ Episode 12
"Even when the vignettes of Made in Abyss don't tie together in a tidy manner, everything ends up connected in the end."
Review: Neo-Yokio
It's an original anime by Vampire Weekend frontman Ezra Koenig and famous actor Jaden Smith, along with a celebrity voice cast. What could possibly go wrong? Mike Toole investigates Netflix's latest original.
― They finally did it, folks: they animated Jaden Smith's Twitter account. That was what I thought after hearing Smith's character, Kaz, unwind the first of many bizarre pronouncements, in a bid...
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 ...
Interview: God Eater and Code Vein's Yusuke Tomizawa
The producer behind these anime-style action RPGs shares his inspirations as a developer and his ambitions for the simultaneous worldwide release of Code Vein!
― A long-time employee at Bandai Namco Entertainment, Yosuke Tomizawa is best known as the producer for the God Eater franchise. The God Eater games feature co-op multiplayer monster hunting within a story-focused experience. He is currently w...
The Controversial Politics of Classroom of the Elite
So besides T&A, what is this season's Classroom of the Elite really about? Gabriella Ekens explores its takes on Nietzsche, Rousseau, and even other anime!
― What's the best way to organize society? How much power should be vested in the general population versus an elite leadership? And how should people be educated as to their best interests and true capabilities? Political philosophers have been m...
Dragon Ball Z Kai: The Final Chapters Blu-Ray Part Three
DBZ's saga comes to a close as heroes gather from across the universe to defeat Buu once and for all. Sam Leach dives into the conclusion to Toriyama's original epic.
― It's time for the final installment, not just of The Final Chapters, but of DBZ Kai as a whole. Before the recent movies and Dragon Ball Super, this was the definitive climax of Akira Toriyama's work. Appropriately, the Buu saga is ma...
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