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JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Golden Wind ‒ Episode 21
"We've dedicated a lot of time to establishing the gang's values of trust and loyalty, and now it's time to put them to the test."
Domestic Girlfriend ‒ Episode 8
This episode introduces a hilariously stereotypical American comic relief character, with understandably mixed results.
Boogiepop and Others ‒ Episode 14
"This series is written like a jigsaw puzzle; you might not always know where all the pieces fit at first, but as it goes on, more of them start clicking into place."
Kaguya-sama: Love is War ‒ Episode 8
"This wacky romcom continues its winning streak with an episode chockfull of big laughs, well-timed punchlines, and a little bit of warmth."
Magical Girl Spec-Ops Asuka ‒ Episode 8
"If things up to this point have been borderline too much for you, this may be the episode that pushes it over the edge."
Shelf Life - Just Because!
James dives into the turbulent waters of mushy teen romance with this curiously named series, while Paul breaks down all this week's new blu-ray releases!
― This season is shaping up to be a good one for comedies. The Quintessential Quintuplets is proving that an old-fashioned harem comedy can still be entertaining, Kaguya-sama: Love is War is excellent across the board, and I guess Domestic Girlfri...
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood Blu-Ray Box Set 1
Aniplex's special edition box of this shonen fantasy classic delivers the series' first 30 episodes in style. James Beckett has the lowdown on all this release's exciting features.
― There's not much I can say about Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood that hasn't already been said over the past ten years. Studio Bones' adaptation of Hiromu Arakawa's manga is at least a massive aesthetic improvement over...
A Certain Magical Index III ‒ Episode 21
"The perspective nimbly bounces around between all three protagonists in one of the better-edited episodes so far for this series."
The Quintessential Quintuplets ‒ Episode 8
"This episode lacks the consistent pacing and narrative focus of the last few arcs, and you can practically hear the story shift gears as it starts building up new conflicts."
Girly Air Force ‒ Episode 8
"At least this week, Girly Air Force was able to just relax and have fun with itself, so I was too."
Karakuri Circus ‒ Episode 19
"The series' insistence on jumbling things across different perspectives only makes things that much harder to follow."
The Rising of The Shield Hero ‒ Episode 8
"This episode's climactic scene should have been one of the series' strongest to date, but I couldn't muster much more than a "meh" reaction."
My Roommate is a Cat ‒ Episode 8
"We already know a lot of the specifics of Subaru's childhood, so episode 8 digs into how he's continuing to process it."
Kemurikusa ‒ Episode 8
"This was yet another super solid episode of Kemurikusa, expanding both the breadth of its world and its heart through the high-pitched beeps of the cutest robot family I've ever seen."
A Bride's Story - Volume 10
This volume brings stunning beauty to the strong foundation laid by Kaoru Mori's story so far. Nick Creamer has the details.
― After a lengthy break since the last published volume, I was thrilled to finally see a continuation of Amir and Karluk's beautifully illustrated and altogether charming journey. Kaoru Mori's artistic talents are stunning, and beyond this story's unimpeachable visual appeal, M...
The Promised Neverland ‒ Episode 8
"Isabella makes it clear that she's been holding the power over everyone all along."
Boogiepop and Others ‒ Episodes 10-13
"Ultimately, Boogiepop at Dawn feels like the most cohesive of the show's three arcs so far, and it does the most to illuminate the larger story's themes."
The Promised Neverland GN 6
All is revealed about the true nature of the world outside Grace Field House in this riveting volume. Nick Creamer dives in.
― Through the past several volumes, The Promised Neverland has been undergoing a dramatic upheaval of nearly all its fundamental narrative variables. Grace Field House has been burned to the ground, Isabella has been outwitted and escaped, and our heroes have found themselves o...
This Week in Anime - How Does Alita: Battle Angel Compare to its Source Material?
Battle Angel Alita was a classic '90s cyberpunk manga long before it became a big-budget Hollywood movie. Andy and Steve compare this blockbuster to its source material to discover how Cameron and Rodriguez created the most successful live-action anime adaptation yet!
― Battle Angel Alita was a classic '90s cyberpunk manga long before it became a big-budget Hollywood movie. This week, Andy and Steve...
Maquia: When The Promised Flower Blooms Blu-ray
Mari Okada's directorial debut film is finally available on Blu-ray! Theron Martin gives his full review of this underappreciated fantasy feature.
― This feature film was far and away my pick for the best anime of 2018 based on a theatrical screening, and a second view on Blu-Ray only reaffirms my feelings on it. It's a movie packed with cathartic potential, telling a story that's very much an ode to...
This Week in Games - Pokemon Sword and Shield
Heidi explores Nintendo's avalanche of news items this week, from Reggie's departure to Detective Pikachu to a new generation of Pokemon!
― This has certainly been an interesting week! I feel like diving right into all of the big news that's landed, so let's go! SO LONG, REGGIE Nintendo has a habit of dropping big news almost immediately after this column gets set to publish. Just a few hours after l...
Black Clover BD+DVD Season 1 Parts 2-3
Asta and Yuno's quests to become the Wizard King hit a snag when the capital city comes under attack. Theron Martin compares this set of arcs to Black Clover's shonen peers.
― These volumes of Funimation's DVD/BD releases of Black Clover cover episodes 11-29, spanning two major arcs and some padding in between; for the second volume, the feature is the Dungeon Expedition arc, while the third volume f...
Run with the Wind ‒ Episode 19
The Hakone Ekiden gets underway with Prince, Musa, and the twins tackling the first leg of the marathon.
That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime ‒ Episode 21
"If we'd spent more time in the classroom and less time wining and dining merchants with funky hairstyles, this could've been a real winner."
Mob Psycho 100 II ‒ Episode 8
"Honestly, I'm still in too much shock to give this episode a proper rating."
Dororo ‒ Episode 8
"With an announced 24 episodes, this adaptation may be the most thorough exploration of the story yet."
Boruto: Naruto Next Generations ‒ Episode 95
"It's fitting that this story arc closes out on Boruto enjoying some quality time with his old man."
GeGeGe no Kitarō ‒ Episode 45
"This week's episode takes a while to get around to its sinister point."
One Piece ‒ Episode 874
"The anime has delivered another strong episode to help send this arc off right."
Fairy Tail: Final Season ‒ Episode 297
"Although there's a lot going on in this episode, the balance has returned to normal, and it doesn't feel like anything is being rushed through."
Answerman - What Happens When A Japanese Licensor Goes Out Of Business?
What could happen if a Japanese Licensor went out of business while their shows are still licensed? Justin gets into it.
― Tristan asked: What could happen if a Japanese Licensor went out of business while their shows are still licensed? Like, for example, back when Funimation had Fullmetal Alchemist, what would've happened if Aniplex went under? Would Funimation have kept the license or would it ha...
Shut-In Shoutarou Kominami Takes On the World Omnibus
This wacky comedy gets a little too mean-spirited to carry its central joke. Rebecca Silverman breaks down this omnibus' highs and lows.
― Comedy, it has often been said, is among the most subjective of genres. What's funny to one reader is unutterably cruel to another, and while there's not always such a stark divide in purportedly funny stories, that's definitely the case with Dan Ichikawa's Shut-I...
This Week in Anime - The Quintessential Quintuplets: Nino is Best Girl
This comedy series delivers harem-flavored comfort food in a cold and barren season. Nick and Micchy share the parts of this trifle they've enjoyed and the parts that leave a bad taste in their mouth.
― The Quintessential Quintuplets delivers harem-flavored comfort food in a cold and barren season. This week, Nick and Micchy share the parts of this trifle they've enjoyed and the parts that leave a b...
Cooking with Wild Game Novel 1
This more survivalist take on the cooking genre is sure to get your mouth watering, even if the story moves at a less-than-optimal pace. Rebecca Silverman has the details.
― It's always interesting when popular genres collide, and while we've seen the foodie story mix with the perennial isekai tale before, EDA's Cooking with Wild Game still brings something new to the mash-up. Unlike in similar works...
The Morose Mononokean II ‒ Episode 8
"For all The Morose Mononokean's colorful settings and fun cast of episodic characters, the partnership between its two main characters is the beating heart of this story."
ENDRO! ‒ Episode 7
"We're back with the precocious Princess this week, for a string of running gags that display little of the creativity or depth of the past couple episodes."
W'z ‒ Episode 8
"At this point, I'd take watching ten of Hand Shakers' worst action scenes over having to sit through much more of this flavorless mush."
Sword Art Online: Alicization ‒ Episode 19
"This episode focuses entirely on two conversations between two different sets of characters, but it's still one of the season's best to date."
Kaguya-sama: Love is War ‒ Episode 7
"Although Kaguya and Miyuki don't psychologically wear each other down this week, the ensemble stories are entertaining enough to warrant taking a break from business as usual."
Magical Girl Spec-Ops Asuka ‒ Episode 7
"'Dark magical girl' doesn't really seem like the proper designation for this show. It's a magical girl dystopia, where beautiful dreams of saving everyone go horribly awry. "
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Golden Wind ‒ Episode 20
"This is an exciting turning point for Golden Wind that really captures the rawness and honesty that made this season's criminal underworld so endearing."
Domestic Girlfriend ‒ Episode 7
"It's only appropriate that Domestic Girlfriend would finally crank the Incest Shenanigans dial up to 11 now that the season has crested its halfway point."
The Price of Smiles ‒ Episode 8
"An intense and entertaining episode, at least the best Soleil-focused one of the show so far."
A Certain Magical Index III ‒ Episode 20
"This could be the point in the storyline where Accelerator stops leaning toward being a hero and actually becomes one."
Boogiepop and Others ‒ Episode 9
"Boogiepop and Others closes its VS Imaginator arc with a bang, tying it beautifully together like all of Boogiepop's magic threads."
The Quintessential Quintuplets ‒ Episode 7
"Even with some potential humor and drama left on the table, this still works perfectly well as a mid-season climax."
Girly Air Force ‒ Episode 7
"The thematic points being repeatedly hammered home this week aren't really necessary in a story about cute girl planes shooting down drones."
Interview: Boruto Manga Artist Mikio Ikemoto
The hard-working illustrator behind the adventures of Naruto's son Boruto answers a few questions about their incredible career.
― Mikio Ikemoto has been involved with the Naruto almost from the very beginning; he was an assistant on the manga for fifteen years. In 2016, he began drawing the artwork for the Boruto: Naruto Next Generations manga, which is written by Ukyō Kodachi and supervised by Naru...
Karakuri Circus ‒ Episode 18
"It's sloppy and logically shaky melodramatic storytelling that speaks to my sappiest instincts in spite of the show's shortcomings."
My Roommate is a Cat ‒ Episode 7
"I hope that Haru's attention and love can help Subaru gain more confidence and learn that he isn't as unsociable as he thought, and it looks like he's already getting there, step by step."
Shelf Life - Urahara
Gabriella takes a look at an underrated magical girl show that takes place in the streets of Harajuku, while Paul runs down all this week's new blu-ray releases!
― Ever wake up on a Saturday and realize the last seven days have all been a blur? That happened to me this week. I know I wrote some reviews, finished reading a couple books, and drove a 500-mile round trip to visit some relatives, but I c...
Beauty and the Beast Girl GN
This is a sweet and romantic tale that works well even for audiences new to yuri. Rebecca Silverman digs in.
― No matter what the folklorists say, for most people “Beauty and the Beast” is simply a story about learning to see the beauty someone has within. That's what Neji's yuri manga Beauty and the Beast Girl is working with, and they more than do it justice. The story follows Heath, a “monster” of...
Sword Art Online novel 15
Alicization's second act gets underway with this novel, which covers a major turn in the story just ahead of the anime's current pace. Theron Martin has the details.
― Although Sword Art Online is, first and foremost, Kirito's story, it has on occasion shown that it can manage just fine with Kirito not being the viewpoint character and/or relegated to a supporting role for a time. This, however, is t...
The Promised Neverland GN 5
This shonen thriller upends its initial premise in a thrilling volume that sees the story’s world expand in all number of directions. Nick Creamer has the details.
― The Promised Neverland has always been a relatively interesting Shonen Jump property, in that its base premise naturally implies instability and coming change. Unlike a property like Naruto or One Piece's relatively stable, often episodi...
Kemurikusa ‒ Episode 7
"This may be the start of the gang's final journey, with a striking episode full of the wistful vistas and weird charm that have come to define the anime."
The Best and Worst of Winter 2019, Feb 12-18
ENDRO strikes upward while One Piece strikes out. See how all you favorites fared in our weekly user rankings.
― Our team of reviewers are following 27 anime series of the Winter 2019 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 how people rated indi...
The Promised Neverland ‒ Episode 7
"Given how much focus she gets this week, the issues with Krone mar the episode, but it's still a taut and compelling piece of the puzzle that leaves us with even more questions to tease us for another week."
Black Clover ‒ Episode 71
"This looks to be a decent transition into a training arc, one that probably would have fallen flat much quicker without a character like Mereoleona to pump up our heroes."
Manga Answerman - How often do English manga publishers sell at a loss?
Not every manga series published in English will be a hit, but how often do the publishers themselves sell books at a loss? Deb digs in to it.
― How often do English publishers sell at a loss? Viz and Kodansha have so many different series and there has to be a good amount that they aren't making money on. Nearly a decade ago, Viz Media dropped Hitman Reborn, Gintama and a few others and I often sti...
City Hunter: Shinjuku Private Eyes
As the first new City Hunter movie in twenty years, this blast of '80s future detective action is a welcome surprise on the big screen, but how has the material underneath aged? Kim Morrissy has our review straight from Japan.
― City Hunter: Shinjuku Private Eyes is a classic City Hunter tale, except the setting is now modern Shinjuku. Like the recent Banana Fish anime, it takes characters from an '8...
This Week in Anime - Is the Reboot of Osamu Tezuka's Dororo Worth Watching?
This classic supernatural samurai adventure manga hasn't been adapted into animation since the 1960s! Nick and Andy find out how this influential story has held up in Studio MAPPA's ambitious retelling.
― Dororo, Osamu Tezuka's classic supernatural samurai adventure manga, hasn't been adapted into animation since the 1960s! This week, Nick and Andy find out how this influential story has held up in ...
The Rising of The Shield Hero ‒ Episode 7
"The gradually growing number of artistic inconsistencies in the series is getting worrisome."
This Week in Games - Reanimated
Nintendo might be resurrecting a long-dead game - plus some fighting game news straight out of EVO Japan, Steins;Gate and more!
― Why, hello again! I'm back from Europe, I'm still kinda tired, and I missed a lot of gaming news that happened last week when it happened. No, I'm not going back on Twitter to catch up on The Discourse, because that never ends well. ANYWAY. This week brings us no big bombs...
Run with the Wind ‒ Episode 18
"Though this episode covers a lot of ground, it delivers a well-paced story that doesn't feel rushed."
Citrus BD+DVD
This salacious yuri melodrama is anything but Class S. Theron Martin weighs the pros and cons of this bittersweet romance title on blu-ray.
― Before Domestic Girlfriend came along to stir the pot of stepsibling love, there was this Winter 2018 series based on a yuri manga. The two are alike in some basic ways; they both feature the noxious “surprise stepsibling” gimmick, where the new housemates show...
Mob Psycho 100 II ‒ Episode 7
"It feels like a privilege to watch an anime that's both this cool and this compassionate each week."
Answerman - Why Is Alice In Wonderland So Popular In Japan?
Countless anime and manga are based on the classic story Alice in Wonderland - why is that? Justin gets in to it.
― James asked: I have noticed that there have been a significant number of Japanese adaptations (manga, anime, and video games) of Alice in Wonderland; why are the Japanese so fond of that story? If you ask an average Japanese person why the country loves Alice in Wonderland so much, the...
Saga of Tanya the Evil: The Movie
This sequel film pits Tanya against a literal Mary Sue as her war games engulf the neighboring Russy Federation. Kim Morrissy breaks down how this movie expands on the TV series, straight from its theatrical run in Japan.
― Saga of Tanya the Evil was such an odd show. Ostensibly a fantasy military story starring the world's most conniving little girl, the series is really an extended argument between...
Character Spotlight: The Cast of Devil May Cry 5
Meet the main cast of Devil May Cry 5. They're all here, Nero, Dante, V, Lady, Trish and Nico.
― NERO The Young Devil Hunter The young Devil Hunter operating out of the mobile Devil May Cry. Having lost his demonic arm (the Devil Bringer) before the events of the game, he stands against the invading demonic forces with a new power provided by Nico. DANTE The Strongest Demon Slayer The proprietor of ...
Dororo ‒ Episode 7
"This week, Dororo swaps its usual violent action for a sweet “opposites attract” love story."
That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime ‒ Episode 20
"If you've been longing for a return to the original formula of friendly encounters in a fantasy world, this story arc may be just what the doctor ordered."
Boruto: Naruto Next Generations ‒ Episode 94
"While far from the franchise's funniest episode, this is an entertaining piece of sitcom fluff that helps lighten the mood after a mostly-serious five-month-long arc."
This Week in Anime - What the Hell is VIRTUAL-SAN LOOKING?
This absurdist comedy is the first anime made by Virtual YouTubers like Kizuna Ai and Mirai Akari. Micchy and Steve will be your guide to this strange new world inhabited only by the Extremely Online.
― VIRTUAL-SAN LOOKING is the first anime made by Virtual YouTubers like Kizuna Ai and Mirai Akari. This week, Micchy and Steve will be your guide to this strange new world inhabited only by the Extreme...
GeGeGe no Kitarō ‒ Episode 44
"Being true to yourself is important and good for you, and that's a message worth hearing no matter who you are."
One Piece ‒ Episode 873
"This was a serviceable send-off to the Vinsmoke kids, with brief yet potent moments of tenderness to keep the more complicated aspects of their role from weighing us down too much."
The Mike Toole Show - This Year's Model
The long and proud history of giant robot model building is forever connected to the anime industry. Mike's ready to build a robot - are you?
― I was surrounded. On all sides, people from a disconcertingly wide variety of age groups crouched in their chairs, as if ready to leap into action. They gripped a variety of sharp tools in their hands, and concentrated intensely, waiting for the right moment ...
Fate/Apocrypha Limited Edition Blu-ray Part 1
This epic Holy Grail War doubles the number of heroic spirits on the playing field, but does this twist enhance the story or leave it feeling overcrowded? Rebecca Silverman weighs in on Aniplex's deluxe release.
― While Fate/Apocrypha does share some basics with the game that started it all, Type-Moon's Fate/Stay Night, it's really best to think of it as totally separate from the story of Shirou, Rin...
ENDRO! ‒ Episode 6
"This episode finally puts Mao front-and-center for the first time in a while."
W'z ‒ Episode 8
"The characters might technically be more developed, and the action is less nauseating than in Hand Shakers, but how much does any of that matter when the story has yet to justify its own existence?"
Kaguya-sama: Love is War ‒ Episode 6
"The elusive fourth member of Shuchiin Academy's student council makes his grand entrance in one of Kaguya-sama's funniest outings yet."
The Morose Mononokean II ‒ Episode 7
"I'm glad that Keshi's story seems to be taking us back to the heartwarming dynamic of last season's episodes, but I remain curious about the darker main story."
Fairy Tail: Final Season ‒ Episode 296
"Fairy Tail typically excels at mixing action with exposition, but this week doesn't quite live up to its standard."
Magical Girl Spec-Ops Asuka ‒ Episode 6
"This week we truly get an idea of the global scale of the Disas War."
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Golden Wind ‒ Episode 19
"Golden Wind has a lot of emotional richness at its foundation, but I think its strengths are done a disservice by episodes that try to draw from that well to compensate for poor action and plotting."
Domestic Girlfriend ‒ Episode 6
"Miu isn't a bad character, but she's the first young woman we've met so far who doesn't yet feel like she belongs in this story."
The Price of Smiles ‒ Episode 7
"This war drama still works great when it's confident in its goals, but chafes a bit when it tries too hard for tragedy."
A Certain Magical Index III ‒ Episodes 18-19
"So much is going on in this ever-chaotic story, but at least this time the turn of events seems more coherent."
Answerman - What Do Actor's Unions Actually Do?
What's the difference between a "union dub" and a "non-union dub" and why does it matter? Justin digs in to the details.
― Anonymous asked: This might come across as a naive question but what does it mean when a role is 'non-union' and why are so many anime roles non-union? For clarity I am a trade union rep myself but for an office job in the UK and I have an idea of what SAG, Equity and the other ...
Shelf Life - Space Runaway Ideon
James takes a look at an '80s mecha classic, while Paul breaks down this week's new blu-ray releases, along with a Yuri!!! on Ice-tastic Shelf Obsessed collection.
― I'm sure I'm just adding to an already loud chorus here, but y'all really should be watching Mob Psycho 100 (or catching up on the first season if you missed it). I can already tell I'm going to go back through this show a second or thi...
Mobile Suit Gundam Narrative
This Universal Century timeline film works well as a complement to Gundam Unicorn, but struggles to stand out as its own story. Kim Morrissy has the details in our full review.
― The only thing I knew about Mobile Suit Gundam Narrative before I watched it was that hilarious key visual showing three characters striking an awkward pose together. You might have seen it too because it was an Internet mem...
Boogiepop and Others ‒ Episode 8
"Everyone is now in place for a final confrontation between the Imaginator and Boogiepop."
Alita: Battle Angel
James Cameron and Robert Rodriguez spent 200 million dollars and roughly 20 years trying to bring Yukito Kishiro's beloved cyberpunk manga to life. Now that it's finally here, is it any good? Let's find out!
― It's been a long, long, long and rocky road to release for Alita: Battle Angel. First announced in 2003 by a post-Titanic, pre-Avatar James Cameron who'd spent his Oscar afterglow making nerdy ...
Kakuriyo: Bed & Breakfast for Spirits GN 2
Our feisty heroine has some choice words for a tengu who doesn't know how to treat his bride, as this soothing otherworldly romance continues.
― It feels very clear that Odanna (also known as Kijin) is playing a long game with Aoi. Whether he initially planned it that way or not is much more up in the air, because it seems as if he honestly didn't realize that the young woman wouldn't be thrilled to ...
Nyankees GN 1
Gang warfare between delinquents in Japan can be a dog-eat-dog world, but what if all the street toughs are actually adorable stray cats? Rebecca Silverman checks out this feline twist on classic gangster manga.
― If the cult '80s song “Stray Cat Strut” had a manga adaptation, it would look an awful lot like this. Nyankees is a gag manga about street toughs who are actually stray cats living in urban...
Double Decker! Doug & Kirill ‒ Episode 14
"Remember the halcyon days when Double Decker was a simple buddy-cop comedy? This first bonus episode of the series remembers."
Girly Air Force ‒ Episode 6
"Phantom's presence has pushed the show just beyond the bare-bones antics of its first arc, making this the most interesting episode yet."
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