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Komomo Confiserie GN 5
Komomo Confiserie is a nicely compact shojo romance of only five volumes, and this final book wraps things up very sweetly.
― Over the course of its five volumes, Maki Minami's Komomo Confiserie has touched on many of the various tropes that make shoujo manga recognizable – from the abusive love interest to the fanciful fashions to the Cinderella storyline. That in itself isn't particularly remarkabl...
The Asterisk War Novel 1
The first volume of The Asterisk War's original light novel series is a breezy read with more complex characterization than its adaptations. Rebecca Silverman takes a look.
― I suspect that I'm not the only one who is sick of tsunderes, those characters who appear to be prickly and harsh on the outside but have warm, gooey, emotional centers. So it was a pleasant surprise to discover that not only is...
Absolute Duo BD+DVD
It seems like every new season is awash with light novel anime these days, but does Absolute Duo rise above the pack? Theron Martin breaks things down.
― This series' debut last year was not well-received here on ANN; its first episode was one of the lowest-rated of the season amongst ANN staff and readers alike (only World Break and Unlimited Fafnir fared worse), and it did not poll well enough to m...
My Hero Academia GN 5
My Hero Academia's strongest students face off in the sports festival finals, bringing many character arcs to an explosive climax. Nick Creamer explores this standout volume.
― What does it mean to stand in the shadow of those who've come before you? None of My Hero Academia's stars can avoid those shadows. Be it familial duty or simply the pro heroes chanting from the crowds, their past, present, an...
Barakamon BD+DVD
This down-to-earth slice-of-life comedy has some surprising insights about what it means to be an artist, with lots of laughs to be had along the way. Jacob Chapman dives in.
― Common wisdom regarding critics is often contradictory. "Everyone's a critic," but at the same time, "no one loves a critic." It might seem like madness at first, but it makes more sense when you consider that the creative pro...
Guilty Crown BD+DVD
This divisive and explosive mech series from Production I.G. and renowned animation director Tetsuro Araki definitely turned a few heads back in 2011, but is it any good today? Theron Martin investigates.
― In one of the included interviews for Funimation's rerelease of this series, one of the show's producers specifically mentions Neon Genesis Evangelion as a personal inspiration. That's not surpris...
Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Crystal Blu-ray/DVD Set 1
Now that this divisive reboot of Naoko Takeuchi's beloved creation is out on Blu-ray, do the changes from the broadcast version enhance the material? Rebecca Silverman has the answers.
― Sailor Moon Crystal has received more than its fair share of criticism, much of it initially aimed at this first arc, the Dark Kingdom storyline. This Blu-ray/DVD release of the first fourteen episodes does a lot to ...
Yowamushi Pedal GN 3
This omnibus volume slows things down a bit from the heady days of the Welcome Race, but its exploration of the cast's emotions proves just as interesting.
― Competitive sports are a divisive pasttime, which is especially strange because they really don't have to be. Very few people are going to get into the sort of burning feud that Red Sox vs Yankees inspires over whether Dairy Queen or Baskin Robi...
Please tell me! Galko-chan Episodes 1-12 Streaming
Rose Bridges takes a look at this underrated short gag series from earlier in the year and discovers a surprisingly educational (and filthy) anime like nothing else out there.
― When I was in high school, there was one huge girls' bathroom in the main hallway. For some reason, there was no such equivalent for the guys. This place became a sort of social gathering spot for all the girls in school, reg...
Nisekoi 2 Sub.Blu-Ray 2
Nisekoi's second season comes to a close with no romantic resolution in sight, but is the journey more important than the destination? Theron Martin investigates.
― This release covers the second half of the series – episodes 7-12. This run of episodes is average by franchise standards, including both the weakest entries of the season and one of the strongest. Aside from a sad magical girl parody don...
That Wolf-Boy is Mine! GN 1
This first volume of Yoko Nagiri's supernatural shojo story is a cut above the pack thanks to its thoughtful take on old tropes. Rebecca Silverman takes a closer look.
― Literature is rife with mildly embarrassing titles obscuring really enjoyable books – just look at the romance section of any bookstore. Yoko Nagiri's That Wolf-Boy is Mine joins their ranks with this first volume. Despite its title,...
Charlotte Blu-Ray 1
Renowned visual novel writer Jun Maeda returns to anime for his first series since Angel Beats! Nick Creamer investigates the opening beats of Charlotte.
― Jun Maeda is one of the more high-profile creators in anime circles, though he didn't initially build his reputation in anime at all. Maeda is instead largely famous for his visual novels - he was a central player in building KEY's reputation, whe...
Kuroko's Basketball GN 1
Even though it gets off to a slow start, this compilation of Kuroko's Basketball's first two volumes lays a strong foundation for a story that will only get stronger as it grows.
― If you pick up one new shonen sports title this year, it should probably be Haikyu, but if you're in the mood for more than one, Kuroko's Basketball is definitely worth a look. That's not an entirely fair comparison, of co...
A Certain Magical Index II BD+DVD
Despite a bevy of pitfalls, the wide range of subplots explored in the final season of the Index franchise will definitely give fans plenty to chew on while they wait for more. Theron Martin dives in.
― The Certain Magical Index franchise has four anime series and one movie to date, of which this was the third installment, airing in Fall of 2010. Although I consider it to be the weakest series in the...
Corpse Party: Blood Covered GN 1
Corpse Party's manga adaptation isn't quite as good as it could be due to some issues with both art and story, but it still seems like it has potential.
― Based on the updated version of the horror visual novel/adventure game, Corpse Party: Blood Covered feels like When They Cry's younger sibling. It's trying really hard to hit all the same horror highlights, with some lighter moments thrown in to ke...
The Devil is a Part-Timer! GN 6
If you've been wondering what happened to Maou and his merry band post-anime, now's your chance to find out, when a mysterious little girl falls from the sky and claims the devil king as her father!
― Covering the first part of volume three of the novel series, volume six of The Devil is a Part-Timer's manga adaptation picks up pretty much where the anime left off. If you've been waiting for new mate...
Sweetness & Lightning GN 1
Comfort food takes on a new meaning in the endearing and adorable first volume of Sweetness & Lightning, even as it stumbles a little when combining its genres.
― Manga has always excelled at creating genres you might not have expected to see, much less enjoy, and Gido Amagakure's Sweetness & Lightning is no exception. It combines “single dad raising a daughter” literature with a cooking story, and t...
Yona of the Dawn Part Two BD+DVD
Yona's first season concludes open-ended, but the journey is still well worth the price of admission. Rebecca Silverman explores the twists and turns of this shojo adventure.
― If part one of Yona of the Dawn's anime adaptation was about Yona's journey from pampered princess to a young woman who could survive in the world, part two is about her realization of what she wants to do in that world as she...
My Monster Secret GN 2
Asahi's life gets more complicated when the monster secrets in his life just keep piling up! But as its harem expands, how does this offbeat romcom hold up overall?
― There's something inherently charming about a good manga romcom. You know the character relationships are probably going to stagnate, and you know any steps toward true romance will likely be walked back in a chapter's last few panels, ...
The Irregular at Magic High School Novels 1 & 2
Although it suffers from some overwriting, The Irregular at Magic High School's first two novels generally go to show that sometimes the book really is better.
― After the release of its anime version and two manga variants, the original light novels of Tsutomu Satou's The Irregular at Magic High School have arrived in English, courtesy of Yen On. While they aren't likely to win over any readers who ...
ReLIFE
This season's offbeat dramedy about an unemployed 27-year old getting a second chance at high school was released to Crunchyroll as a full series for binge viewing, but is it worth a 13-episode marathon?
― The Summer 2016 anime season has given us a number of unusual releases – one series that's only five episodes long (Planetarian), two concurrent series from the same franchise meant to be viewed si...
Queen Emeraldas GN 1
Queen Emeraldas runs the risk of only appealing to fans of Matsumoto or older manga, but it is worth giving a chance even if neither of those are within your usual purview.
― Technically, this review could simply consist of the words “lady space pirate” and possibly “Leiji Matsumoto” and pique a prior fan's interest in Queen Emeraldas. But as with most, if not all, Matsumoto titles, there's far more ...
Yatterman Night Sub.DVD
Despite some pitfalls along the way and a shaky final episode, Yatterman Night comes together well enough overall. Theron Martin explores this unusual reboot.
― The original Yatterman TV series aired in the late '70s as the second and longest installment of the Time Bokan franchise. It featured a 13-year-old boy and his like-aged girlfriend who took on the identities of Yatterman-1 and Yatterman-2 to...
Magi: Adventure of Sinbad
This Magi spinoff about Sinbad's early adventures has some rushed pacing problems, but its combination of adventure, humor, and backstory still tally up to a good time. Rebecca Silverman dives in.
― Thirty years before Aladdin, Alibaba, and Morgiana meet in Balbadd, a boy was born in Parthevia to a wounded soldier and his wife. Does that sound a bit melodramatic? So is the very beginning of this spin...
Yurikuma Arashi BD+DVD
This yuri series of yesteryear can often be too weird for words, but its artistic ambition and thought-provoking ideas must be seen to be bear-lieved. Jacob Chapman explores this unusual gem.
― Yurikuma Arashi is a show about lesbians, written and directed by a man. For some people, this might not mean anything one way or the other. Countless other yuri anime have been written or directed by men, alo...
Ten Count GN 1
Despite a slightly uncomfortable premise, Ten Count's first volume treats its characters well in a slow but enjoyable first volume.
― Upon simply hearing the premise of Rihito Takarai's Ten Count, you could be forgiven for worrying that it would be just another exploitative yaoi series driven by an unequal relationship. That, however, would be allowing yourself to miss out on at least a first volume ...
Lucky Star Blu-Ray
Lucky Star took the otaku world by storm and became a sensation nearly a decade ago - now that the entire series is out on bluray, how does it hold up? Nick Creamer takes it on.
― It's difficult to conceive of a show that better exemplifies “a product of its time” than Lucky Star. Airing just one year after the mega-hit The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, it was the first dedicated slice-of-life serie...
Wandering Island GN 1
From its sweeping scenes of a biplane's flight to its mystical adventure plot, Wandering Island's first volume is the kind of book you can get lost in. Rebecca Silverman explores its depths.
― Whether you call it Brigadoon, Shangri-La, or Electric Island, legends and dreams of a mystical place just slightly removed from reality abound in both fiction and folklore. This fabled paradise is the backbone...
When They Cry: Rei Blu-Ray
These five bonus episodes in the Higurashi franchise may not be must-see, but they're a neat treat for fans looking to spend a little more time in Hinamizawa.
― Spoiler Warning for the ending of When They Cry: Kai Based on a fan disc released in late 2006, this 2009 OVA is the third of five When They Cry anime – the remaining two are When They Cry: Kira (licensed by Sentai but with no release date ye...
Black Clover GN 1 & 2
Despite its reputation, Black Clover isn't the worst manga ever, but it sure is clumsy! Rebecca Silverman breaks down where this shonen adventure stumbles.
― How picky should we be when a new series feels like a compilation of series we've read before? To a degree, it really depends on how well the new one melds its influences together; after all, prevailing wisdom says that there are only six plots ...
Under the Dog
Kinema Citrus' action-packed dystopian sci-fi adventure is available now to the folks who helped get it made, so it's time for Mike Toole to dive in. Does the film live up to its lofty expectations?
― Full disclosure: I backed Under the Dog on Kickstarter at the “special agent” level. Look for my name in tiny print in the credits! Just two years ago, I sat in a packed ballroom at Otakon, waiting to h...
Re:ZERO Novel 1
This first volume of the light novel behind the hit anime series is finally available in English, but are Subaru's earliest adventures still worth reading? Theron Martin breaks it down.
― The Re:Zero anime has become a low-key hit over the past two seasons, so naturally the first of its source novels is now being released in the States. Given the timing, the novel was probably slated to come out rega...
A Good Librarian Like a Good Shepherd Sub.Blu-Ray +DVD
This overlooked harem anime from 2014 has more charm than meets the eye. Rebecca Silverman details what makes this forgotten series special.
― A Good Librarian Like a Good Shepherd is not a title designed to catch you with its first episode. The show begins by introducing us to Kyotaro Kakei, a self-contained bookworm with the ticket to a magical library given to him by a mysterious man in his childh...
QQ Sweeper GN 3
It's the end of one story and the beginning of another in QQ Sweeper's final volume. Rebecca Silverman explores this abrupt conclusion.
― This is the final volume of QQ Sweeper, and that's a mixed thing. On the one hand, there's something wonderful about a series so short you can read it in its entirety in one sitting. On the other, this particular series doesn't end, but rather finishes the storylin...
Shonen Hollywood: Holly Stage for 50 Sub.DVD
Shonen Hollywood continues to demonstrate its unique strengths as it moves into its final season. Nick Creamer has the details.
― Shonen Hollywood has always been an unusual idol show. Some entries in the genre do dabble in the ugliness hidden behind the industry's glamor, but many of the show's most popular entries focus on a significantly idealized version of showbiz. Love Live sidesteps the issue ...
Plastic Memories Sub.Blu-Ray Part 1
This sci fi drama about expiring androids is good at bringing the waterworks, but struggles when it comes to the lighter side of things. Theron Martin breaks it down.
― Though I am a sucker for anime tearjerkers, I can easily count on one hand the number of series to get an emotional reaction out of me from their first episode. This original series from the Spring 2015 season is one of them. The firs...
The Asterisk War GN 1
The Asterisk War's manga adaptation makes a perfectly serviceable debut, even if this magic high school adventure is nothing unique. Rebecca Silverman takes a look.
― If you've ever read or watched a Magic High School story before, you'll immediately be able to draw parallels to The Asterisk War. That's not because the manga adaptation of Yuu Miyazaki's light novel series isn't good, but rather becau...
Kagerou Daze Novel 4
Kagerou Daze is slowly improving as a series, but it continues to suffer from less than stellar writing and unlikable characters. Rebecca Silverman breaks down this twisted story.
― Kagerou Daze has the dubious distinction of being one of the most difficult light novels currently being published in English to follow. In part, this is due to the dense language of the first two books, although that tha...
Liselotte & Witch's Forest GN 1
This fantasy romance from Fruits Basket creator Natsuki Takaya weaves a magical blend of sweetness and melancholy, but can it stand apart from her previous work? Rebecca Silverman takes a look.
― Despite several of her other works being translated and released in English, Natsuki Takaya remains best known for her series Fruits Basket, whose light fantasy premise hid surprising emotional depths. Lisel...
Kuromukuro Episodes 1-13 Streaming
This Netflix-licensed spring season anime is finally available for streaming! Was this mecha adventure worth the wait? Theron Martin takes a look.
― We've seen anime about a person from the present being catapulted into the future to become an ace mecha pilot before (see Buddy Complex, among possibly others), but a person from the past coming to the present instead? That's certainly a new twist. It's...
UQ Holder! GN 7
As the stakes and strengths of his opponents climb impossibly high, Tota finally finds himself faced with a real challenge in this seventh volume of Ken Akamatsu's action manga.
― UQ Holder has had a rocky journey up until now, and much of that has come down to the manga's awkward fundamental assumptions. Tota lies near the heart of the story's various problems; not only is he actually immortal, but ...
Selector Spread WIXOSS BD+DVD
This first installment in the WIXOSS franchise comes to a close, with shocking reveals and mixed results. Theron Martin takes a look at what's in the cards for this series going forward.
― Despite its partial name change, this 12 episode series from the Fall 2014 season is a direct follow-up to Selector Infected Wixoss. It assumes and requires full familiarity with Infected for it to make sense, so t...
Genshiken: Second Season GN 8
As Genshiken plows further and further into harem romcom territory, Nick Creamer weighs the pros and cons of putting these characters in an increasingly meta situation.
― Genshiken's claim to fame has always been its ability to capture the unvarnished humanity of its otaku heroes. Whether they were heading to a comics festival or arguing about pairings or introducing one of their members to a new hob...
So Cute It Hurts!! GN 7
So Cute It Hurts is still likely to send you into sugar shock, even though its final pages take things in a disturbing direction. Rebecca Silverman breaks down the twists and turns.
― As far as cross-dressing characters in manga go, Megumu Kobayashi may be one of the least convincing. Go Ikeyamada has a somewhat checkered history with that (one of her previous series, Uwasa no Midori-kun, has an even...
Den-noh Coil Blu-Ray
Despite taking nine years to be released in English, this unique series about how augmented reality tech could change the world is more timely now than ever. Theron Martin dives in.
― Den-noh Coil is an original anime production and the brainchild of Mitsuo Iso, a name that even dedicated anime fans probably aren't familiar with unless they are steeped in knowledge of key animators. (He has done work...
Haven't You Heard? I'm Sakamoto GN 4
Sakamoto walks off into the sunset in this final volume of Nami Sato's breakout comedy manga. But do Sakamoto's adventures come to a surprisingly emotional conclusion instead?
― It's hard to believe, but with this volume of Nami Sato's breakout manga, our time with Sakamoto comes to an end. Whether it was planned this way or not, each volume ends up representing one season of Sakamoto's school life, ...
Gundam Build Fighters Blu-Ray
Lauren Orsini takes a look at the first Gundam series revolving completely around Gunpla models. Is there secretly much more to this series underneath its toy commercial polish?
― Let's address the elephant in the room: Gundam Build Fighters is a toy commercial. However, it's an amazing toy commercial with beautiful animation, innovative mecha designs, humor, and heart—one that I want to watch again ...
The Empire of Corpses BD+DVD
When young John Watson's friend dies, he tries to replicate Frankenstein's reanimation of a corpse in this darkly fascinating 19th-century adventure from Studio Wit. So how does this unusual horror tale turn out?
― When Mary Shelley published her novel Frankenstein in 1818, I wonder if she had any idea how enduring it would become. The tale of Dr. Victor Frankenstein's efforts to create life from dea...
Assassination Classroom BD+DVD Part One
Assassination Classroom takes its bizarre premise to surprisingly sentimental heights in its first eleven episodes. Rebecca Silverman explores just what makes this shonen story so special.
― It isn't a perfect comparison, but in many ways Assassination Classroom is like a combination of Dead Poets' Society and Akame ga Kill. That's what you get when you take a story about a strange, smiley-faced mult...
The Boy and The Beast BD+DVD
The Boy and the Beast is a disjointed but ultimately endearing story redeemed by the strength of its central father-son relationship. Nick Creamer breaks down this film's highs and lows.
― Mamoru Hosoda has a thing or two to say about families. Big families, like the one headlined in Summer Wars, which essentially posited “what if we made this film's protagonist an entire, multi-generational extended...
Wagnaria!!3 Sub.Blu-Ray Part 1
Wagnaria kicks off its third season with the same gentle workplace comedy antics, but have things already begun to change in this more eventful series of episodes? Paul Jensen dives in.
― It feels very appropriate for Wagnaria to take place in a diner-style restaurant, as the series has several things in common with the kind of food you'd expect to find at such a place. It may not be the best thing i...
Cross Ange: Rondo of Angel and Dragon Blu-Ray 1
This controversial mecha action show finally lands on bluray - Theron Martin takes it for another spin to see how it holds up after a year.
― Cross Ange is an anime-original series which focuses on sexy female mecha pilots and is squarely aimed at a male audience. Yona of the Dawn is a fantasy series based on a shojo manga and decidedly skewed towards a female audience. Despite the differing origins,...
Umineko When They Cry Episode 6: Dawn of the Golden Witch Volume 1 GN 13
Umineko heads into meta territory as a new gamemaster takes over. While the mystery rapidly intensifies, real answers finally feel like they're just around the corner.
― And here we are again. This omnibus begins the sixth cycle of Ryukishi07's Umineko: When They Cry manga, which is the second of four “answer” arcs. This is the first time Battler's been in charge of the story, having defeated Beatric...
My Hero Academia
My Hero Academia is a sturdy and consistently rewarding start to the hit shounen adventure, even if it’s not quite as explosive it could have been. Nick Creamer breaks down its strengths and weaknesses.
― Debuting just two years ago, My Hero Academia has swiftly become one of the headline manga of Shounen Jump, a rip-roaring adventure elevated by strong art, charming characters, and consistent master...
Seraph of the End: Vampire Reign BD+DVD
This vampire-slashing action adventure succeeds as reliable popcorn entertainment, but does it have any ambitions beyond the same old predictable blood and spectacle? Theron Martin investigates.
― This release covers the first half of the 24-episode adaptation of Takaya Kagami's manga, which aired on TV in Japan during the Spring 2015 season. In many respects, it is a very typical Weekly Shonen Jump ...
Space Patrol Luluco
Space Patrol Luluco is an uneven but often charming journey into first love and hot-blooded justice.
― Hiroyuki Imaishi's name is almost synonymous with the Studio Trigger brand. After providing dynamic key animation and highlights like FLCL's manga sequences early in his career, he became the flagship director for Gainax's last big hits, handling Gurren Lagann and Panty and Stocking with Garterbelt ...
Haikyu!! GN 1
Haikyu's first volume is just as much about the players as the sport of volleyball as Hinata and Kageyama meet, hate each other, and have to learn to get along if they're ever going to be able to play as a team.
― For non-athletes, it can be difficult to understand the draw of a sports story, and if your memories of gym class (or volleyball) are mostly made up of getting a ball to the face or being p...
Psycome Novel 1
Mizuki Mizushiro's parody of the "special school" and harem genres can be kind of gruesome, but it succeeds more than it fails as a twisted satire. Rebecca Silverman digs in.
― Psycome is not a novel for the faint of heart. Featuring a hero framed for the brutal murders of twelve people and set in a school/penitentiary, there are plenty of moments of physical violence and references to rape. If you c...
School-Live! GN 3
This volume of the manga approaches the end of School-Live's anime-adapted material, but also gets the opportunity to flesh out the world of this zombie apocalypse in greater detail.
― How does the world end? For the four heroines of School-Live's zombie/moe mashup, it ends not with the zombie apocalypse, but with the threat of a simple mistake and a few secrets that perhaps should never have been ke...
Battle Rabbits GN 1
Not-so-ordinary high school boy Kaguya is about to have his world changed when he learns that he's actually a Battle Rabbit, a race of rabbit people from the moon charged with protecting the Earth in this bizarre but fun new series from the creators of 07-Ghost.
― Seven Seas has made a practice of licensing monster girl manga series, so now it's time for something a little different – a monster boy. ...
Complex Age GN 1
Complex Age presents a thoughtful look at how hobbies, such as the heroine's cosplay, can affect the so-called real world in a first volume that promises an interesting series to come.
― Most of us maintain a separation between our work lives and our home lives. Many times that's because we simply need the emotional rest, but sometimes it's because our home lives involve hobbies that we'd just as soo...
7th Garden GN 1
7th Garden's implied future story is more interesting than its surface plot, but this is still an intriguing science fiction/fantasy hybrid with some beautifully detailed art.
― There's sometimes a very fine line between fantasy and science fiction, especially when it comes to basing that designation on the setting. Mitsu Izumi (who wrote the AnoHana manga)'s 7th Garden flirts with this line more and...
Everyone's Getting Married GN 1
Everyone's Getting Married is an interesting examination of relationship goals with nary a school uniform in sight. It won't work for everyone, but it's a neat take on the romance genre.
― A woman who wants to quit her job, get married, and be a housewife? Oh no! Is this manga promoting outdated notions of a “woman's place?” That's the easy knee-jerk reaction to Izumi Miyazono's Everyone's Getting Ma...
Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ Sub.Blu-Ray Collection 2
The formerly comedic MSG ZZ takes an unexpectedly dark turn in its divisive second half. Lauren Orsini explores what went wrong for this unusual Gundam entry.
― In the first half of Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ, there were already signs that this comedy show was verging toward a major tonal shift. If the joking tone was already jarring after the grim events of its prequel, Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam, this show...
Don't Be Cruel [2-in-1 Edition] GN 1
This boys' love double feature contains two complete different stories that happen to star the same characters. Rebecca Silverman examines which of these two romantic tales outshines the other.
― This may sound disingenuous, but Don't Be Cruel's first two-volume omnibus really is two different books. By this I mean that while volumes one and two are about the same characters, the stories they're invo...
Shonen Hollywood: Holly Stage for 49 Sub.DVD
Shonen Hollywood takes a more down-to-earth approach to the idol anime business, but does it succeed in finding its own voice? Nick Creamer investigates.
― Shonen Hollywood is reflective of two major emergent trends in anime: shows about idols and shows about attractive young men aimed at a largely female audience. Given that, it'd be easy for many fans to dismiss the show as “not their thing,” parti...
Gonna be the Twin-Tail!! BD+DVD
This lighthearted parody of otaku fetishes has its moments, but there may be only so many pigtail jokes you can pack into twelve episodes.
― How much do you like pigtails, or twin-tails as they're known in anime? Probably not as much as Soji, the protagonist of Gonna be the Twin-Tail, one of the weirder otaku parodies to come out in recent years. Soji is obsessed with the hairstyle to the point where...
Fairy Tail BD+DVD 20
The beginning of the Tartaros Arc marks a dark shift in tone for the adventures of Natsu and friends. Rebecca reflects on what changes the anime has made to the even grimmer manga version of these events.
― The Tartaros Arc of Fairy Tail is one of the darkest thus far – and that's toning it down quite a bit from the manga. While this show usually takes what I think of as the Soul Calibur Approach to ...
Orange (live-action film)
The critically acclaimed shojo manga Orange is getting an anime adaptation this summer, but Theron Martin has a review of the live-action movie right now! How does this romantic tale translate to the big screen?
― The first two volumes of Ichigo Takano's manga have already been released in the States, and its anime adaptation is one of the most anticipated shows of the Summer 2016 season. Before the ...
The Girl Who Leapt Through Time BD+DVD
Beloved anime director Mamoru Hosoda's first original feature has a brand-new Blu-ray special edition, but how has the film held up over time? Nick Creamer takes a look back into the past to find out.
― Mamoru Hosoda, along with Makoto Shinkai, has the dubious honor of often being referred to as the “next Miyazaki.” There's no real meaning to this description, of course - it generally just means “an ...
Nisekoi: 2 Blu-Ray Part One
Nisekoi continues with an underachieving set of episodes that drive the series further into harem territory. Theron Martin explores what this sequel gets right.
― Nisekoi: is the 12 episode 2015 follow-up to 2014's Nisekoi, and familiarity with the predecessor series is expected. (The intervening OVAs, which are not available in English in any official form, are less important, since some of their ev...
Review: Zero Time Dilemma
The latest installment in Kotaro Uchikoshi's ambitious story-driven series is a riveting sci-fi tale that takes no prisoners.
― Zero Time Dilemma is a game that almost didn't happen. Development was put on hiatus in 2012, citing poor sales of the Zero Escape series in Japan as the cause. The previous game, Virtue's Last Reward, ended on a tremendous cliffhanger that looked like it could be forever un...
Yona of the Dawn BD+DVD Part One
Yona of the Dawn sets a new high bar for eastern-themed fantasy shojo, but not without some hiccups along the way. Theron Martin takes a look at this adventure's highs and lows.
― Based on its first half, Yona of the Dawn may become the new standard-bearer for Eastern-themed shojo fantasy adventure. Despite some irksome quirks, its tale of a young heroine who must become empowered through hardship do...
Concrete Revolutio: The Last Song
In its final season, Concrete Revolutio fully embraces its fantastical storytelling and biting historical commentary to thunderous impact. Nick Creamer dives into this ambitious series.
― Concrete Revolutio's first season ended in fiery riots, as the student supporters of superhuman vigilantes demanded both greater government accountability and greater superhuman autonomy. But the house won that batt...
Saekano: How to Raise a Boring Girlfriend Sub.Blu-Ray Set 2
The second half of Saekano seeks to be a clever commentary on otakudom and almost succeeds, but it definitely gets bogged down by some of the very tropes it tries to lampoon.
― There are risks inherent to making an anime about the creation of another anime-like product. One of them is becoming too absorbed in the intricacies of the process, which Saekano manages to steer clear of. They are not so luc...
Psycho-Pass The Movie BD+DVD
Production I.G.'s hit franchise gets its first big screen adventure, with Gen Urobuchi back in the writer's seat. Jacob Chapman delves into the Blu-ray release to see what this movie has to offer returning fans.
― If you were hoping to see the Sibyl system shaken by the events of this theatrical Psycho-Pass adventure, you may want to curb your enthusiasm. Production I.G. clearly knows when they have ...
To The Abandoned Sacred Beasts GN 1
In this alternate-history take on the US Civil War, soldiers become legendary monsters to fight humanity's battles and find there's nowhere left for them to go after the war. Theron Martin analyzes this unusual story.
― Manga-ka duo Maybe has seen their first effort adapted into an anime licensed in English (Dusk Maiden of Amnesia) and their second picked up by Crunchyroll Manga (Tales of Wedding Rin...
My Favorite Song - The Silver Siren
A girl is transported to a strange new world and becomes its most feared villain in this popular web novel. If you're ready for a more shoujo approach to light novel adventure, this is definitely worth checking out.
― While the increased interest in publishing light novels has been a boon for many readers, there's also been a definite trend towards picking up series aimed at a male demographic – many...
After War Gundam X Sub.DVD
In the latter half of this less-than-beloved Gundam entry, a surprising shift in pace takes the series to a new level. Lauren Orsini takes a look at what changed for After War Gundam X.
― Getting canceled just might be the best thing that could have happened to After War Gundam X, because the difference in entertainment quality between its first and second halves is like night and day. When the show ...
Belladonna of Sadness
After decades of being lost to obscurity, this highly controversial X-rated anime has been restored in high definition for a limited theatrical release. Gabriella Ekens takes a look at this long-lost cult classic.
― An X-rated anime classic newly remastered for the screen, Belladonna of Sadness is one of animation's premiere psychedelic experiences, brought over to North America for nearly the first ...
Shirobako Collection Two Blu-Ray
Shirobako returns for a second half that builds on the series’ core strengths to arrive at cathartic, inspiring truths about the search for meaning and career happiness.
― Shirobako's first half ended with Aoi Miyamori just barely saving the production of Exodus, thanks to a handy tip from none other than Hideaki Anno himself. Having clearly proven herself as one of the most competent and enthusiasti...
Black Butler: Book of Circus + Book of Murder BD+DVD
Black Butler's anime may never again be as visually arresting as it once was, but for fans still invested in the story of Ciel and his monstrous manservant, these releases can't be recommended enough.
― Eight years, three seasons, and a dozen OVAs into its run, Black Butler sports a franchise history more transparently twisted than most, coming off equal parts passion and pandering to its faithful fa...
A Silent Voice Vol. 7
In its seventh and final volume, a great manga comes to a somewhat unsteady conclusion.
― A Silent Voice reached its climax at the end of the fifth volume, as Shoya's efforts to “pay back” his bullying of Shoko were dramatically articulated through his almost trading her life for his own. The sixth volume nearly put the story's active drama on pause - taking the form of something like Neon Genesis Ev...
When They Cry: Kai Blu-Ray
The second season of When They Cry finally sees the light of day! It tones down the source material just a bit, but overall was worth the wait, even without a dub.
― Spoiler Warning! If you don't know who is behind everything and don't want to find out, you may want to skip this review. I've tried to minimize spoilers, but… It has been a long time coming, but finally the second season of When They Cr...
Masamune-kun's Revenge GN 1
The bullied kid returns to school as Mr. Hot and Popular with one goal: to get revenge on the girl who crushed his soul.
― Few things are as painful as being picked on in school. As an elementary school student, Masamune, who then went by the family name Hayase, was the perfect victim: he came from a prestigious, wealthy family and he was, shall we say, rotund. He muddled through, however, until one ...
Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam: A New Translation Sub.DVD
It's Zeta Gundam! In movie form! Now with awkwardly re-animated sequences that clash with the original 1980s footage! Lauren takes a strange trip through three very unique Gundam flicks.
― The story of Zeta Gundam is more than three decades old, and the Zeta Gundam compilation movies won't let you forget it. Watching 2005's Heirs to the Stars and Lovers and 2006's Love is the Pulse of the Stars is li...
Gakkyu Hotei: School Judgment GN 2 & 3
School Judgment never quite gets itself off the ground, though it sure does try. The third and final volume is by far the strongest, even as it is plagued by some recurring issues.
― Some series need a bit longer than others to get off the ground. Gakkyu Hotei: School Judgment turns out to have been one of those, and while it never really “takes off,” so to speak, it does by its third and final volum...
UQ Holder! GN 6
UQ Holder finally adds some intimate human drama to its reliably epic battles in its sixth volume.
― The Academy City arc comes to an end in this volume, as Santa squares off against his long-time friend Sayoko in a battle with the fate of the world at stake. UQ Holder certainly doesn't hold back in illustrating the desperate terms of this battle; with Kirie's power to rewind truly unacceptable carna...
Overlord Novel 1
The skull-faced hero from 2015's popular fantasy series Overlord is back in the first volume of the light novel series the anime was based on. Theron Martin sees how it stacks up to the adaptation.
― The 13 episode Overlord anime series aired during the summer 2015 TV season, but first came this novel (the first of 10 to date) by author Kugane Maruyama. It was originally published online in 2010 and ...
Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ Blu-Ray
It's a direct sequel to Zeta Gundam, and it's hilarious! Lauren Orsini discovers the hidden pleasures of this otherwise somewhat confounding entry in the Gundam franchise.
― The first two Gundam shows were serious business. In Mobile Suit Gundam and Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam, director Yoshiyuki Tomino wasn't afraid to kill off even beloved main characters to prove a point. So it must have been a major ...
Your Lie in April Vol. 2 Blu-Ray
The tragic conclusion of Your Lie in April is out on bluray now - Theron Martin takes the long view on a show that generated plenty of controversy as it aired.
― Let's cut to the chase: the second half of Your Lie in April is, at least in part, a tragedy, somewhat in the spirit (though definitely not the style) of major “tragic girl” tales like Air and Kanon. Enough hints were dropped about this dire...
Yamibo DVD
This 13-episode mind-bending series based on an adult visual novel is a true oddity in more than one way.
― This 13-episode series is a true oddity in more than one way. It originally aired in 2003 but then languished for 9½ years before finally being picked up by Media Blasters in 2013. They originally solicited the title for a late 2013 release, but the title then languished again with unspecified ...
Gakuen Alice DVD
Nozomi's re-release of this deceptively cute series from 2004-05 proves that Gakuen Alice is still a show worth watching.
― Outwardly adorable, Gakuen Alice, based on the manga of the same name by Tachibana Higuchi, is actually one of the darker children's anime to be released in English, even though the anime is a bit lighter than the original manga. The story is set in a special school, Alice Acade...
orange: The Complete Collection 2 GN 2
Orange's final volume brings things to a bittersweet but satisfying conclusion, but comes with a big trigger warning for suicide. Also included is an aggressively adorable five-chapter romance, Haruiro Astronaut.
― Manga, and fiction in general, is not always the best portrait of real life. It often hits upon truths, but ultimately people read fiction to escape, to live a fantasy for a while. Ichigo ...
Baccano! Novel 1
Years after the Baccano! anime found success with fans and critics alike, the first volume of the original novels has finally been published in English. Gabriella Ekens takes a look at how it holds up after all this time.
― The Baccano! series is already fairly well known amongst Western anime fans for its anime adaptation. Released in 2007, it led to a brief Ryohgo Narita fandom that followed into D...
After War Gundam X Sub.DVD
Gundam X has never been highly regarded, and yet it features a sentient dolphin. Lauren Orsini discovers what's holding this show back from true greatness.
― A full twenty years after its release in Japan, After War Gundam X has finally made it to English speaking audiences. This show came out in 1996, just a year after Gundam Wing, and has continued to live in its shadow. Gundam Wing was not only su...
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