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Altair: A Record of Battles ‒ Episode 4
"Zaganos is rapidly becoming one of the most interesting characters in the series."
Rage of Bahamut: Virgin Soul ‒ Episode 17
"Ultimately, it looks like it'll be up to Nina to stop her idiot boyfriend from destroying the world."
My Hero Academia ‒ Episode 30
"The children's fight with Stain continues as the action kicks itself up a notch this week in My Hero Academia."
The Reflection ‒ Episode 2
"If you were really turned off by The Reflection's first outing, that's completely understandable, but this second episode goes a long way to make up for that premiere's mistakes."
Welcome to the Ballroom ‒ Episodes 4 & 5
"I'm not sure why Amazon put both episodes four and five up this week, but I'm not going to complain – especially since episode five marks a major change for Tatara"
Vatican Miracle Examiner ‒ Episode 4
"This mystery-concluding episode leaped into a car and drove what little sense remained in its plot straight off a cliff at a hundred miles per hour."
Vampire Knight Memories GN 1
This collection of vignettes recounts the continuing adventures of Vampire Knight's cast as Kaname slumbers. Rebecca Silverman breaks down the best and worst of these epilogue stories.
― The main story of Vampire Knight left us with the basic idea that Yuki and Zero would end up together while Kaname slept in a case of ice for a thousand years, and that, essentially, life would go on. If that wasn't ...
Made in Abyss ‒ Episode 4
"Riko and Reg have finally reached the Forest of Temptation, and the Abyss will only go deeper from here."
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...
Gamers! ‒ Episode 3
"Instead of following the standard practice of having all the female characters fawn over one guy, Gamers! is building a much more tangled web of mixed feelings and romantic tension."
My First Girlfriend is a Gal ‒ Episode 3
"Thanks to the way this episode was handled, the series is at least showing a little more promise."
Sakura Quest ‒ Episode 17
"Each time Sakura Quest starts feeling a little too cozy, it goes and surprises me with new ideas and energy."
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...
Boruto: Naruto Next Generations ‒ Episode 17
"The filler train keeps on rolling as this week's Boruto: Naruto Next Generations shines a spotlight on Sarada."
Classroom of the Elite ‒ Episode 3
"Classroom of the Elite's third episode revealed more about the show's overall intentions, while generally plugging away at its larger game."
Fastest Finger First ‒ Episode 4
"After a momentous first three episodes with consistently rising action, Fastest Finger First has reached a dull interlude."
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 ...
In Another World With My Smartphone ‒ Episode 3
"For much of this third episode, things actually threaten to happen in this series, only to amount to nothing at all."
High School Life of a Fudanshi GN 1
This first volume about the life of a BL-loving straight boy struggles to be funny without too much cruelty. Rebecca Silverman weighs this comedy's pros and cons.
― If you distill it down to its most basic message, The High School Life of a Fudanshi is about all of the issues that come with being the “wrong” gender for a fandom. That's something plenty of people have experienced, from just not fittin...
Magical Circle Guru-Guru ‒ Episode 3
"While Magical Circle Guru-Guru remains as amusing as ever, the rapid-fire pacing of the show's humor doesn't work quite as well when applied to the overall plot."
New Game!! ‒ Episode 3
"We're only three episodes in, and it already feels like Aoba and company have faced as many challenges as they did throughout the first season."
Elegant Yokai Apartment Life ‒ Episode 4
"Yushi now has to decide how "normal" and free of troubles he wants his life to be."
Restaurant to Another World ‒ Episode 4
"I still like the premise of this series, but I shouldn't be starting to find it dull only four episodes in."
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...
Interview: The Staff of Welcome to the Ballroom
We sat down with the talents behind the anime adaptation of this hit shonen manga to discuss what it was like bringing competitive dance to life through animation.
― Shortly before its first two episodes premiered at Anime Expo, we sat down with the staff behind this season's Welcome to the Ballroom, a visually ambitious action drama about the world of competitive dance. Animation Director Takahiro C...
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...
―
Garo Season Two: Crimson Moon BD+DVD
Garo's second season never quite manages to redeem itself, resulting in a finale that's difficult to care about. Rebecca Silverman conducts her autopsy.
― It is a sad day when a series' explication takes so long that the monsters themselves get tired of listening to it and just attack. While that's not literally true of Garo: Crimson Moon, it still feels like the best explanation we've got for its ev...
One Piece ‒ Episode 798
"Suddenly, my exhaustion with the Seducing Woods vanishes as we're able to set our sights on one very clear and challenging conflict."
Love and Lies ‒ Episode 4
"While I appreciated learning more about this government's unsettling practices, there was simply too much flat exposition and not enough soapy angst and romantic entanglements this week."
Princess Principal ‒ Episode 3
"This week gave us nothing that wasn't fairly predictable, but it was still well-done nonetheless."
The Summer 2017 Anime Preview Guide
Looking for a fresh Summer anime? Our complete guide to the entire season is available now.
Reviews Include: Gamers! - Classroom of the Elite - My First Girlfriend is a Gal - Magic Circle Guru-Guru - In Another World with my Smartphone - New Game!! - Angel's 3Piece! - Chronos Ruler - Princess Principal - A Centaur's Life - Hitorijime My Hero - Action Heroine Cheer Fruits - and much more! ― Welcome t...
Reviews Include: Gamers! - Classroom of the Elite - My First Girlfriend is a Gal - Magic Circle Guru-Guru - In Another World with my Smartphone - New Game!! - Angel's 3Piece! - Chronos Ruler - Princess Principal - A Centaur's Life - Hitorijime My Hero - Action Heroine Cheer Fruits - and much more! ― Welcome t...
Clean Freak! Aoyama kun ‒ Episode 4
"There are no real laugh-out-loud moments this week, and I blame this undercurrent of anxiety on a show that doesn't quite know what it wants to be."
A Centaur's Life ‒ Episode 3
"It's time for our weekly dose of monster girl slice-of-life antics, along with the looming threat of totalitarianism!"
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...
Knight's & Magic ‒ Episode 4
"Thankfully, Knight's & Magic was willing to meet me halfway this week by spreading its focus around more."
Interview: Attack on Titan's Trina Nishimura and Yui Ishikawa
The voices behind Mikasa Ackerman come together to discuss what it's been like to be part of Attack on Titan's legacy!
― As Attack on Titan's second season came to an end, and Cartoon Network's Adult Swim block aired a supersized marathon of episodes from the series over the weekend, both the Japanese and English voice actresses for Mikasa Ackerman convened at Anime Expo to celebrate this mega-series...
Dragon Ball Super ‒ Episode 100
"I enjoy the Universe 6 Saiyans, but the writing here is so bizarre and half-baked that I couldn't tell you what they were going for."
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 ...
Review: Saga of Tanya the Evil
This unusual series combines dark comedy and war drama to shockingly entertaining effect. Nick Creamer delves into Tanya's cynical world.
― Saga of Tanya the Evil's first episode largely confirmed all my worst suspicions regarding the title. Framed from the perspective of a tiny girl who'd somehow risen to officer status within a faux-German military, it seemed to revel in nastiness, playing up the g...
Katsugeki! Tōken Ranbu ‒ Episode 4
"Now that the full team has been assembled, it remains to be seen if the show will find enough to do with them to tell a story beyond these pretty but only partly connected events."
Welcome to the Ballroom ‒ Episode 3
"We know Tatara's determination through dance, but seeing him with his family, we get to know a little bit about who he is as a regular person."
My Hero Academia ‒ Episode 29
"Last week left us off the Iida confronting the villain, and this week throws Midoriya into the mix along with Todoroki."
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...
Series Premiere: The Reflection
Studio DEEN and Stan Lee team up for this summer's new superhero anime, with a controversial artistic style. Our weekly series reviews begin here!
The Controversial Legacy of Final Fantasy XII
Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age is an ambitious remaster of a game with a notoriously rocky development and release. Dustin turns the pages of Ivalice history for a look back.
― There is perhaps no Final Fantasy game—and certainly no 3D entry in the series—which has been uncontroversial. Maybe that's the cost of a franchise where each iteration is wildly different from its predecessor, making group...
Genshiken: Second Season GN 9
Genshiken seeks to steer its most questionable plot arc into safer waters in its surprisingly thoughtful ninth volume.
― Genshiken Second Season has been a bit of a mess. In contrast with the original series' sensitive and remarkably grounded approach to fandom circles, Second Season has shifted from a promising setup into outright harem comedy territory, its characters moaning about their own cliche...
Altair: A Record of Battles ‒ Episode 3
"Each episode has built on the previous one to make this an engaging story with a fascinating political and historical fantasy background."
Revolutionary Girl Utena ‒ Episodes 15-16
"It's been a while since the last review, so let's continue our journey through the Black Rose Arc by getting a little personal."
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...
Rage of Bahamut: Virgin Soul ‒ Episode 16
"Our heroes are finally en route to forming a concentrated force against Charioce."
Fate/Apocrypha — Episodes 1-3
While we wait for the newest animated entry in the Fate series to arrive on Netflix, Kim Morrissy has a look at the first three episodes straight from Japan. How does this "Great Grail War" compare to its predecessors?
― Note: While Fate/Apocrypha is not yet available streaming in English, this review comes courtesy of our Tokyo correspondent who watched these first three episodes in Japan. Fate/Apoc...
Series Premiere: Vatican Miracle Examiner — Episodes 1-3
"It's just trying to do so much, in a sandbox that it might be too unfamiliar with, that it comes across as a campy cheese-fest with little depth to speak of."
Series Premiere: Made in Abyss — Episodes 1-3
"Riko is this story's Dante, Reg is her Virgil, and together they've set off to find out what really hides in the shadows at the center of the world."
Interview: Tokyo Ghoul (live-action) Director Kentarō Hagiwara
The director behind this challenging action/horror manga adaptation discusses the process behind bringing the shock and wonder of Tokyo Ghoul to life on the big screen.
― Just before its wide Japanese release, the live action Tokyo Ghoul film premiered at Anime Expo on July 3rd, 2017. Hundreds of people waited hours in line for a chance to see the film, whose screening filled the JW Marriot's Diamond...
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...
Why Affordable Housing for Animators Matters (and What You Can Do to Help)
Callum May takes an inside look at the Animator Supporters Dormitory Project that aims to give affordable housing to overworked animators. Find out how you can help support the lifeblood of the anime industry!
― If you're interested in finding out more about the anime industry, you'll undoubtedly come across numerous reports of struggling animators. For the most part, anime is not a practical way to ...
School-Live! Blu-Ray
This one-of-a-kind combination of slice-of-life and horror starts strange and finishes strong. Theron Martin explores just what makes this series so special.
― The first episode of this series is one of the biggest cases of misdirection in anime history, as both the opening theme and first twenty minutes suggest that this is going to be a high-spirited slice-of-life series about schoolgirls. Sure, th...
Series Premiere: Gamers! — Episodes 1-2
"With sharp comedy and surprisingly strong character writing, Gamers! has a good chance at standing out in a crowded genre."
Boruto: Naruto Next Generations ‒ Episode 16
"Denki and Iwabe's unlikely friendship helps drive home the theme of using individual strengths to overcome weakness and sheds some additional light on both characters' personalities."
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...
Interview: Ali Project
The idol royalty behind a string of hit anisong themes from Code Geass to Kizumonogatari answers a few questions about her incredible career (and her incredible fashion!)
― ALI PROJECT doesn't have a hard time getting recognized – if you're not familiar with their signature aristocratic fashion style, then odds are you've heard at least a few of their unique, chart-topping anime theme songs, seen in ...
Series Premiere: My First Girlfriend is a Gal — Episodes 1-2
"While these first two episodes definitely wallow in crudeness most of the time, they also show flashes of potential substance."
Sakura Quest ‒ Episode 16
"After one more misguided misadventure from Kadota clues the Tourism Board team into something lurking beneath the surface of Sakura Pond, they set out in search of answers."
Haruchika: Haruta & Chika BD+DVD
Haruchika is just good enough to set viewers up for disappointment when it fails to deliver on its potential. Rebecca Silverman explains what went wrong.
― There are some shows that tease you with their mediocrity, occasionally showing flashes of, if not brilliance, than at least intrigue before turning around and slumping back into uninteresting and disappointing you all over again. Haruchika is one...
Series Premiere: Classroom of the Elite — Episodes 1-2
"If it can navigate the intersection of melodramatic school drama and incisive cultural commentary, this could be a pretty great show."
Series Premiere: Fastest Finger First — Episodes 1-3
"A show that might seem middle-of-the-road to some is actually my pick of the summer so far."
Answerman - Why Do People Make Curry Rice When Camping?
According to anime, it's possible - and common - to make Japanese-style curry when camping. But is it all just an elaborate, mouth-watering fantasy? Justin chimes in.
― Cole asks: What's up with curry and rice being the camping meal of choice? Seem like cooking rice and making curry (chopping vegetables and meat) make this meal one of the most inconvenient and more difficult meals to prepare outside...
Interview: Konomi Suzuki
She's the rising star behind a solid stack of anisong hits, including themes for Re:Zero, Akashic Record of Bastard Magic Instructor and more, and we had a few questions for her.
― Konomi Suzuki's road to stardom has been sudden and swift; the winner of the Animax All-Japan Anisong Grand Prix in 2011, Suzuki's theme songs started showing up in front of new anime almost immediately. 2012 saw the relea...
Kakegurui — Episodes 1-3
While this psychosexual thriller about high-stakes high school gambling won't be available on Netflix for a few more months, Kim Morrissy's got the scoop on its first three episodes straight from Japan. Is Kakegurui worth hyping up?
― Note: While Kakegurui is not yet available streaming in English, this review comes courtesy of our Tokyo correspondent who watched these first three episodes in Japan. ...
Series Premiere: In Another World With My Smartphone — Episodes 1-2
"This series starts with the bare minimum of ambition and hasn't even managed to fulfill that."
Series Premiere: Magical Circle Guru-Guru — Episodes 1-2
"Magical Circle Guru-Guru is a must-see for RPG enthusiasts, nostalgic 90s anime fans, and anyone who enjoys a good fantasy comedy."
Season Premiere: New Game!! — Episodes 1-2
"New Game's appeal as a moe workplace comedy remains intact, and the show's newfound dramatic ambition has already yielded an impressive result."
Series Premiere: Elegant Yokai Apartment Life — Episodes 1-3
"Despite my criticism of the execution, the show is progressing in an interesting direction, and I'm happy to be more invested now than I was after the first episode."
Series Premiere: Welcome to the Ballroom — Episodes 1-2
"This is an engaging start to the show and a pretty good adaptation of the manga."
Interview: Walküre's Minori Suzuki and JUNNA
The passionate idols of Macross Delta's Walküre were in Los Angeles for the first time ever this summer, breathing fire on stage for an ocean of thrilled fans. We had a few questions for them.
― The latest in a long line of idols birthed by the legendary Macross franchise, Minori Suzuki (as Freya in the series) and JUNNA (as Mikumo Guynemer) flew in to perform for their overseas fans as part of the A...
Vice & Luna - The Best Part of the Convention
At every convention big or small, there's a place you can go where everybody knows your pain...
―
Outlaw Star BD+DVD
The '90s action classic has finally arrived on Blu-ray, but have Gene's adventures aboard the Outlaw Star aged gracefully? Chris Farris finds out.
― Outlaw Star occupies an unusual space in western anime fandom. The show ran on Cartoon Network's Toonami block around the turn of the millennium, enjoying repeated success through re-runs of its 26-episode season. It also featured heavily in Toonami's ad...
Series Premiere: Restaurant to Another World — Episodes 1-3
"There's something undeniably wonderful about a dish you only get to eat every so often."
Series Premiere: Love and Lies — Episodes 1-3
"Despite my initial misgivings, I wound up unexpectedly invested in the soap-opera levels of romantic entanglement these teenagers are getting themselves into."
Series Premiere: Clean Freak! Aoyama kun — Episodes 1-3
"This is certainly an unusual entry in the soccer anime genre and, thanks to its comedy-sports combo, a memorable one too."
One Piece ‒ Episode 797
Happy 100th One Piece review to Sam Leach! The Whole Cake Island arc is just getting started, as we approach the 800th episode of the show!
Interview: THE IDOLM@STER CINDERELLA GIRLS
The dazzling pop idols of THE IDOLM@STER CINDERELLA GIRLS spill the beans on their first-ever American performance.
― THE IDOLM@STER is a massive mixed-media pop franchise that needs very little introduction. With more than a decade in the limelight, dozens of games, a handful of well-received anime series and countless live idol events, THE IDOLM@STER has long held its place among the most revered i...
Answerman - Why Can't Some Older Anime Be Remastered?
Some older anime get sparkling, crystal-clear remasters, while others have muffled audio and compromised video - why is that? Justin gets into it.
― Geoffrey asks: There are some older series (especially Toei series) that can't be properly shown in HD because the original materials (usually the audio) were lost or junked. Why is that? Why would they get rid of the original masters? For Saint Seiya, ...
Shelf Life - Magi: The Kingdom of Magic
Paul dug the first series of Magi, but can the second series live up to its predecessor's quality? Plus, the complete rundown on all this week's new anime releases!
― My parents are shopping for a new car to replace a twenty year-old SUV that's on its last legs. I tagged along with them on a trip to a couple of dealerships during my most recent visit, and I remembered something important: even for a...
Review: Pokémon the Movie: I Choose You!
This reimagining of Ash's origins as a Pokemon Trainer in Kanto has the unique opportunity to entertain nostalgic fans and newcomers alike. Callum May finds out if this exciting Pokemon project can stick the landing.
― Aside from the increased production values, Pokemon the Movie: I Choose You! is a clearly distinct experience from the original tale. For example, Brock and Misty make no appearance wi...
Series Premiere: A Centaur's Life — Episodes 1-2
"A Centaur's Life is the first monster girl anime I've seen to get into the geopolitical situation of a world populated by fauns, angels, and merfolk."
Series Premiere: Princess Principal — Episodes 1-2
"This alternate-history spy series freely mixes standard anime conventions with early 20th-century aesthetics to create one of the season's most distinctive titles."
Series Premiere: Knight's & Magic — Episodes 1-3
"It remains to be seen if the series can become anything other than well-designed wish-fulfillment."
Series Premiere: Katsugeki! Tōken Ranbu — Episodes 1-3
"This show's slick ufotable action is not only very pretty but also surprisingly newcomer-friendly."
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