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The Ideal Sponger Life GN 2
This steamy isekai adventure continues detailing the thrills and perils of becoming a kept man to the queen in another world. Theron Martin has the details.
― The first volume of this manga adaptation established the story's unique angle on the standard isekai story, where the protagonist is transported to another world specifically to father a child by a queen rather than to perform heroics. As eye-...
Little Witch Academia: The Nonsensical Witch and the Country of the Fairies Novel
This extra adventure in Akko and friends' academic year is a charming addition to LWA's world, even if it skews a little young and lightweight. Rebecca Silverman has the details.
― For many viewers, Akko, the heroine of Little Witch Academia, is either the major draw or the major turn-off; there don't seem to be many opinions that don't lean towards one of these two extremes. Even if you're of the fo...
Cocoon Entwined GN 1
This eerie yuri manga is more focused on spooky atmosphere than romance, feeling like the prelude to a much darker story. Rebecca Silverman has the details.
― There's a very uneasy air about the first volume of Yuriko Hara's Cocoon Entwined yuri manga. It feels more like yuri-themed creeping horror than the Class S story it at first appears to be, and the combination of the two seemingly disparate ge...
Kakuriyo -Bed & Breakfast for Spirits- Blu-ray Part 1
If you enjoy lower-key dramas with an emphasis on character and cuisine, this may just be the series for you. Rebecca Silverman has the details.
― Kakuriyo -Bed & Breakfast for Spirits- is remarkable in a few ways. For one thing, it's an anime adapting a series of josei light novels, meaning that it has an adult female target audience, which is not something we see particularly often. For another, it...
Grass GN
This detailed account of the experiences of a "comfort woman" during Japan's occupation of Korea isn't an easy read, but it's worth the effort. Rebecca Silverman has the details.
― Learning the basics of history isn't always enough. There's a vast difference between reading about the practices of an invading army and how it affected the lives of everyday people and seeing it play out before your eyes...
REVIEW: Robotics;Notes DaSH
The newest Science Adventure visual novel seeks to bring the worlds of Robotics;Notes and Steins;Gate together, as Daru takes a trip to Tanegashima Island. Richard Eisenbeis has the details on how these storylines converge from the game's Japanese release.
― The Science Adventure Series is a franchise of Japanese visual novels that mixes grounded science with pseudoscience to create sci-fi adventures...
Saint Young Men GN 1
What happens when Buddha and Jesus rent a crappy apartment in Tokyo together for the summer, and does this wild premise result in a manga worth reading? Faye Hopper has the answers.
― A couple years ago, I watched the first episode of Arakawa Under the Bridge at an anime club. Even now, its offbeat, peculiar, and instantly endearing sense of humor still lingers in my mind, making me wonder if I shoul...
Labyrinth Angel Novel 1
This dark and twisted romance may be a little too macabre for some readers, but there's plenty of intrigue hiding in its digital-only pages. Rebecca Silverman has the details.
― Labyrinth Angel may not be the darkest title Cross Infinite World has released, but it certainly does approach it. Falling under the demographic heading of New Adult (for a college-age audience as opposed to Young Adult's hig...
DARLING in the FRANXX part 2 BD+DVD
This explosive mecha series finally brings its divisive conclusion to blu-ray for fans and haters alike to revisit. Theron Martin offers his own verdict on last year's controversial hit show.
― The second half of Darling in the Franxx is commonly regarded as a mess, and not without some justification. After all, it throws out many themes that do not always intersect smoothly, leaving most of its idea...
Enter The Anime
Netflix's new documentary attempts to explain "what anime is" - but how close does it get? Callum May has the "edgy" details.
― Even without much hype, it's clear that Netflix's new Enter the Anime documentary will likely be the most prominent film covering this topic. Presented by NX on Netflix, the streaming giant's promotional brand for science fiction, fantasy, and anime, Enter the Anime introduc...
86 Novel 2
This unexpected sequel to the first volume's thought-provoking fantasy war saga makes up for in content what it lacks in page-count. Theron Martin has the details.
― The way the epilogue of the first novel in this series played out had such a sense of finality to it that I was shocked to discover that there were actually more novels to the series. Author Asato Asato's comments in the Afterword of thi...
The Bride & the Exorcist Knight GNs 3-4
This series concludes just well enough to be worth a look for fans of age-gap romance. Rebecca Silverman has the details.
― These two volumes conclude Keiko Ishihara's The Bride & the Exorcist Knight fantasy romance, and the same basic warning applies as to the first half: if you're not comfortable watching a twelve-year-old French a seventeen-year-old (and at one point kiss her breasts), this is not...
Escape Journey GN 3
The concluding volume for this brief BL romance addresses a rare topic for the genre: coming out of the closet. Rebecca Silverman has the details.
― Escape Journey had, in a way, to escape from itself, or at least its first volume, which was fairly reliant on the kind of tropes that can make some readers turn away from a romance, BL or otherwise. It's one of those series that has gotten better as it'...
Somari and the Guardian of the Forest eBook 1
Before the anime adaptation comes out this fall, Rebecca Silverman checks out this stunning fantasy manga, well worth reading even as a digital release.
― In Jewish folklore, golems are inhuman, animated beings created by someone close to divinity, typically a rabbi. The most famous, of course, is the Golem of Prague, who defended the Ghetto from anti-Semitic attackers, but there are also tales of go...
The Night is Short, Walk on Girl Novel
How does Tomihiko Morimi's original book compare to Masaaki Yuasa's film adaptation? Rebecca Silverman has the answers.
― The Night is Short, Walk on Girl is written almost as a series of interconnected short stories. Each section takes place during a different season, beginning with the spring and ending with the winter, and although each is only loosely connected via its cast to the stories around ...
Monster And The Beast GN 1
This risqué take on BL romance takes some turns that might not entice all fans of the genre, but at least offers something different from the norm. Rebecca Silverman has the details.
― Renji's Monster and the Beast is a story that, while interesting in its own right, caters to two very specific tastes. The first is that one of the romantic partners in this BL fantasy is somewhere around forty years o...
Sailor Moon Sailor Stars Limited Edition Part 1
The final arc of the original series is finally available on blu-ray for the first time! Rebecca Silverman analyzes the highs and lows of this ultimate chapter's beginning in this collector's edition set.
― You may have read Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon's final story arc before or seen it in fansubs of questionable quality at some point, but there's a good chance that you've never seen it on Blu-ray w...
Tokyo ESP Blu-ray
This X-Men-adjacent action series boasted a broad cast of colorful characters and an ambitious storyline, so what went wrong on the production side that's left it forgotten in the years to follow? Theron Martin has the answers.
― I originally did partial episode reviews for this 12 episode manga adaptation when it first aired back during the Summer 2014 TV season, but I have long wanted to go back an...
My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom! Novel 4
While not as strong as the first three volumes, this series remains a standout in the otome game isekai genre. Rebecca Silverman has the details.
― What's a girl who expected to have to fight to survive her role as a villainess to do once she's survived her storyline and being kidnapped? In the case of one Katarina Claes, it's try her best to keep enjoying her second life with her friends while figur...
KILL la KILL - IF
The iconic cast of TRIGGER's KILL la KILL is back in a brawler for consoles and PC - but is the return worth your time? Heidi's here with the verdict!
― Kill la Kill is a beloved anime series for a very good reason: fantastic art design, memorable characters, a weird and fascinating setting, and – perhaps most importantly – fantastic action sequences. Fans have clamored for a Kill la Kill game for ye...
Side-By-Side Dreamers eBook
This light novel about battling monsters that live within dreams is beautifully written but perhaps too thinly plotted. Rebecca Silverman has the details.
― If you had to read Shakespeare's Macbeth in school (or you just have the good taste to enjoy that particular play), you may remember the line in Act 2, Scene 2: “Sleep no more! Macbeth hath murdered sleep!” Now substitute “suiju” for “Macbeth” an...
MEGALOBOX Limited Edition Blu-ray
This futuristic reinterpretation of the classic Ashita no Joe story is finally available on a collector's release packed with extras. James Beckett breaks down the appeal of this too-cool series in our full review.
― You don't need to be familiar with the classic manga series Ashita no Joe (or, “Tomorrow's Joe”) in order to enjoy this 2017 series, even though it was made as an explicit tie-in to 50th...
REVIEW: Weathering With You
Makoto Shinkai's next film after the unprecedented global success of Your Name has a ton of pressure riding on its shoulders. Kim Morrissy has our full review of this following feature from its theatrical debut in Japan.
― I feel for Makoto Shinkai—the pressure on his shoulders must be immense. In 2016, he went from a director of niche films to a mainstream name in Japanese households within the span...
7SEEDS - Part One
Netflix's newest dystopian sci fi series was based on an award-winning manga, but can Studio Gonzo's adaptation live up to the potential of its source? Theron Martin has the answers.
― Netflix has commonly labeled anime titles it licenses as “Original Netflix Productions” even when they have aired on Japanese TV, but occasionally one of its titles actually is made specifically for Netflix. This serie...
Secretly, I've Been Suffering About Being Sexless GN
This autobiographical comic about the woes of an author unsatisfied with her sexless marriage may not appeal to all readers, but it offers a unique perspective worth exploring. Rebecca Silverman has the details.
― The autobiographical graphic novel seems to have taken off, and English-language releases of them are a nice trend that Yen Press is getting in on with its release of Togame's Secretly, I'v...
One Piece Episode of Sabo BD+DVD
This TV special earns its place on the shelf of One Piece completionists, but doesn't offer much else for casual fans. Sam Leach has the details.
― The “One Piece: Episode of ______” series, which currently spans both TV specials and theatrical films, can be a frustrating endeavor at times. I can't say with any confidence that these movies are actually for anybody. Theoretically, they're recounts of ...
The Hero Is Overpowered but Overly Cautious Novel 1
This tongue-in-cheek take on isekai tropes for the kind of adventurer who quicksaves every five seconds brings warmth and heart to what could have been a cynical premise. Rebecca Silverman has the details.
― Of all of the self-aware isekai novels that seem to be the latest trend within the genre, The Hero is Overpowered but Overly Cautious might take the cake. Narrated by the novice goddess Ristarte ...
Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World- BD+DVD
The full first season of this smash hit isekai series is finally available on Blu-ray! Rebecca Silverman breaks down just what makes Subaru's adventures so memorable.
― Before isekai stories became quite as ubiquitous as they presently are, Re: Zero, based on the light novels of the same name, took the concept of an ordinary guy being transported to a fantasy world and ripped off the plot armor. Unli...
Samurai Champloo Complete Series Blu-Ray
Fifteen years after its debut, how has Shinichiro Watanabe's classic hip hop samurai road trip aged in high definition? James Beckett has the answers.
― It's nearly impossible to talk about Samurai Champloo without discussing director Shinichiro Watanabe's more famous project, Cowboy Bebop. Both series are episodic action-adventure tales that seek to blend stylized Western influences into the Japanes...
Dances with the Dragons Blu-ray
This fantasy action series has fallen by the wayside since it originally aired a year ago. Theron Martin finds out if there's anything about this light novel adaptation that's worth revisiting on blu-ray.
― This 12 episode anime from the Spring 2018 season did not get a lot of attention in the West, perhaps in part because its source novels (29 in all since 2003) do not have even full fan translation...
Junji Ito "Collection" BD+DVD
This haphazard adaptation of a horror manga master's beloved works is more depressing than shocking. Faye Hopper has the details.
― How do you make Junji Ito boring? Is it even possible? Well, in case you are one of the few who ever pondered such a question, congratulations! You have an answer. It's called Junji Ito Collection, and it is pure unadulterated tedium. But how? For one, it's notorious how...
Pokémon the Movie: Mewtwo Strikes Back EVOLUTION
This full CGI remake of the first Pokemon movie may seem redundant on the surface, but does this update add anything to the original experience? Callum May has our review from the film's theatrical run in Japan.
― It's not often that you sit through an entire film waiting for it to justify its own existence, but that was my experience watching Pokémon the Movie: Mewtwo Strikes Back EVOLUTION, an exac...
Saint Seiya: Saintia Shō GN 6
This volume brings Saint Seiya's story back to its true focus, after several prior chapters of stumbling. Rebecca Silverman has the details.
― While Saintia Sho is a direct spin-off of the original Saint Seiya series, the past few volumes might have done a bit better to forget that fact. Beginning with the tournament, where Shoko briefly meeting Seiya is the highlight, the series has been relying too...
Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? On the Side: Sword Oratoria Novel 9
Aiz gets some detailed backstory in this otherwise lackadaisical entry in DanMachi's story. Theron Martin has the details.
― Over the last two volumes Sword Oratoria has explored the backgrounds of three of its other key members, including how they came to join Loki Familia. With this volume author Fujino Omori finally deals with the person in the franchise whose background has most conspicuously bee...
Master of Ragnarok & Blesser of Einherjar Blu-ray
Is this forgotten Norse-themed isekai series from last year worth a second look on blu-ray? Theron Martin has the answers.
― Whether or not this 12-episode light novel adaptation should properly be called an isekai series is a matter of some debate, as it may instead actually be a time travel tale. However, its structure and virtually all of its other characteristics are consistent with isekai storie...
Neon Genesis Evangelion: The End of Evangelion
EVA's controversial theatrical conclusion comes to Netflix to horrify, baffle, and inspire a whole new audience. Nick Creamer offers his perspective on this landmark film.
― After twenty-four episodes spent building up to the cusp of a roaring apocalyptic crescendo, the Neon Genesis Evangelion TV series ended on an unexpected tonal whisper. The promised devastation of the Human Instrumentality Projec...
Neon Genesis Evangelion
This legendarily influential mecha series has finally arrived on Netflix! Nick Creamer offers his perspective on why Hideaki Anno's very personal apocalypse story is so widely beloved.
― An apocalyptic vision of the end of humanity, or perhaps just a window to a personal apocalypse. Glorious battles that exemplify mecha action's appeal, tethered to a protagonist who'd like nothing more than to never ...
Daytime Shooting Star GN 1
This eccentric character drama takes a while setting up its central love triangle, but that just leaves more time to spend developing its cast. Rebecca Silverman has the details.
― Daytime Shooting Star's back copy (not reproduced above) makes it sound like a love triangle for a hapless heroine. While that may later develop, the introductory volume definitely doesn't feel like one, or even like much ...
Eve x Eve GN
This yuri anthology covers a broad range of topics and pairings in many tantalizing sci fi scenarios. Rebecca Silverman has the details.
― While yuri as a genre has definitely gotten much more common in English translated manga, much of it remains in the realm of the sweet and sexually innocent. Even series with higher sexual content, such as Citrus or Transparent Light Blue, still steer more on the ...
Saving 80,000 Gold in Another World for my Retirement eBook 1
Prolific light novel author FUNA shakes up the isekai formula yet again with a story about reselling our modern conveniences to the denizens of—you guessed it—another world! Rebecca Silverman has the details.
― It isn't all that often that a single author has multiple works translated at once, although it is a bit more common at this point with manga than light novels. That makes Sol Press' release o...
I Married My Best Friend To Shut My Parents Up GN
This yuri dramedy with a cheeky title tells a slight yet thoughtful story that's sure to satisfy fans of adult romance. Rebecca Silverman has the details.
― However you felt about Naoko Kodama's previous English-language release NTR probably isn't a good gauge for whether or not you should read I Married My Best Friend to Shut My Parents Up. Although both stories feature same-sex couples, even Kodama...
Midnight Occult Civil Servants
This supernatural mystery series doesn't do much to go above and beyond its familiar premise, but there's enough charm and forethought here to keep fans entertained. Theron Martin has the details.
― Sometimes the polls that determine what titles will be covered for streaming reviews on ANN miss a title worthy of greater attention, and Midnight Occult Civil Servants is a good example. Though the serie...
REVIEW: Lupin the IIIrd: Mine Fujiko no Uso
This third installment in the trilogy of new Lupin films from Takeshi Koike does justice to its featured femme fatale for fans and newcomers alike. Kim Morrissy has the details.
― It's easy to jump into this film if you've got a passing familiarity with the Lupin III series. Although Lupin the IIIrd: Mine Fujiko no Uso is the third in a series of films directed by Takeshi Koike (Redline, Lupin III: T...
Sword Art Online Alternative: Gun Gale Online Blu-ray Parts 1-2
GGO manages to tell its own unique story in the SAO universe without overstaying its welcome. Paul Jensen has the details.
― While it carries the SAO name and shares a universe with the main series, Sword Art Online Alternative: Gun Gale Online functions more as a standalone story than as a spinoff. The first story arc of Sword Art Online plays a significant role in one character's backstory, and the...
Ao Haru Ride GN 5
This volume continues the central romance story where the anime adaptation left off, resuming a romance it's easy to get caught up in. Rebecca Silverman has the details.
― Volume five of Io Sakisaka's second English-language release (Viz previously released Strobe Edge) picks up more or less where the 2014 anime adaptation cut off. Given that the anime went down the route of “read the manga, kids!” a...
Little Miss P GN
This collection of short stories on the subject of menstruation explores a touchy subject from numerous angles. Rebecca Silverman has the details.
― If the very thought of menstruation is uncomfortable for you or grosses you out, Little Miss P is not the book for you. That may seem obvious, given that the eponymous character is an anthropomorphized period, but it's also part of the manga's mission in...
REVIEW: Ride Your Wave
This newest film from Masaaki Yuasa combines tragic romance with the supernatural for a refreshing if familiar story of love and loss. Richard Eisenbeis has the details from the movie's debut in Japan.
― Ride Your Wave is the newest work from acclaimed director Masaaki Yuasa, the man behind The Tatami Galaxy, Lu over the Wall, and most recently, Devilman Crybaby. Imbued with his unique visual style, ...
GeGeGe no Kitarō—Episodes 52-61 streaming
This ambitious adaptation of Shigeru Mizuki's classic spooky saga continues to update its material for a modern family audience with charm and grace. Rebecca Silverman has the details.
― GeGeGe no Kitaro marked its first year of revival by introducing a new villain and a bad bargain for Kitaro – and there's a very good chance that those two things will eventually come together in ways that are danger...
REVIEW: Rascal Does Not Dream of a Dreaming Girl
This film brings all the major themes and characters of Rascal's greater story full circle in a hilarious and tear-jerking climax. Kim Morrissy has the full details on this movie from its theatrical run in Japan.
― Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai was a sleeper hit last year. The anime told a surprisingly thoughtful story about relationships and problems of growing up through the lens of su...
My Hero Academia GN 19
MHA embraces the scholastic side of its premise for the first time in many volumes, in the lead-up to the U.A. school festival. Nick Creamer has the details.
― My Hero Academia has expanded in a variety of new directions in the wake of its post-All Might turning point, from its increasing focus on adult heroes to its broader emphasis on how law and justice work in a superheroic society. But in the co...
High School DxD Hero BD+DVD
Between its action, fanservice, and big hooks for future story arcs, this fourth season provides a largely satisfying dose of not-so-clean fun. Theron Martin has the details on this special edition release stuffed with extras.
― For those who did not follow the series weekly, Hero is a little different from previous installments in the DxD franchise, in that it does not start where High School DxD Bo...
Another World's Zombie Apocalypse Is Not My Problem! eBook
This flesh-rotting twist on isekai tropes sees its heroine purifying the bodies of the undead—in another world. Rebecca Silverman has the details.
― You may think that getting reincarnated as an inanimate object is scraping the bottom of the isekai barrel, but Mizuha would beg to differ. She's been dropped smack dab in the middle of another world's zombie apocalypse, and this high school girl is so n...
Kaiju Girl Caramelise GN 1
This offbeat romcom stars a girl who sprouts kaiju parts when she's upset, making relationships very awkward indeed. Rebecca Silverman has the details.
― No matter who you are, you've probably felt like a monster in your own skin sometimes. Whether that comes from plain old adolescent angst or something much more serious, everyone has those days when you just can't bear to look in the mirror or to be...
Hakata Tonkotsu Ramens BD/DVD
This off-beat comedic crime thriller takes a little time to get off the ground, but delivers enough entertainment to be memorable in the long run. Rebecca Silverman has the details.
― The hitman comedy is perhaps not so obscure a genre as you might think, and Hakata Tonkotsu Ramens, based on the light novel series of the same name, has an interesting approach to it. In some ways it could be framed as...
REVIEW: Children of the Sea
Studio 4C's newest film based on an award-winning manga boasts incredible imagery but a surreal plot that may be hard to understand. Kim Morrissy has the details from this stunning film's theatrical run in Japan.
― It's hard to review Children of the Sea, because I can't even begin to explain what I just watched. It's dense with imagery and symbolism, and the events of the plot don't seem to connect ...
Bungō Stray Dogs Novel 1: Osamu Dazai's Entrance Exam
The story behind Osamu Dazai joining the Armed Detective Agency is a fun read, but it's not without some needless digressions into fanservice. Rebecca Silverman has the details.
― Viewers of the anime adaptation of the manga and novels of Bungo Stray Dogs, both written by Kafka Asagiri, may remember this story – it was the source material for episodes six and seven of the first season. That shouldn't...
Mobile Fighter G Gundam Blu-Ray Ultra Edition
Wild, wacky, and over-the-top, this series is unlike any other entry in the Gundam multiverse. Lauren Orsini has our full review of the extras-packed Ultra Edition!
― Yasuhiro Imagawa never wanted to reinvent Gundam. But that was exactly the task Sunrise had given him along with the directorship of Mobile Fighter G-Gundam. For 15 years, every previous Gundam show took place in the same timeline—the U...
Hakyū Hōshin Engi Blu-ray
This Shonen Jump adventure about the fall of the Shang dynasty could use an aesthetic facelift and a few rewrites when it comes to pacing. Theron Martin has the details.
― This 23-episode series from 2018 is the second anime adaptation of the late '90s manga by Ryu Fujisaki, which was itself a loose adaptation of the classic Chinese novel Investiture of the Gods. That novel provided a mythological ve...
Whenever Our Eyes Meet GN
This anthology of short love stories between women in the workplace offers an engrossing variety for yuri enthusiasts. Rebecca Silverman has the details.
― Short story collections are like a grab bag, and that's part of what's wonderful about them. Fortunately Whenever Our Eyes Meet…is more hits than misses, and it has a unique aspect that stands to endear even the less stellar stories to readers: it...
Torture Princess: Fremd Torturchen Novel 1
This unconventional isekai series takes gothic horror to the extreme when its hero must serve as the butler to a demonic mistress of torture. Theron Martin has the details on this sordid series.
― This novel series, which currently spans eight volumes in Japan, is technically an isekai reincarnation title, but the “reborn in another world” aspect is more an excuse for the protagonist to be where he i...
That Blue Sky Feeling GN 2
Noshiro's feelings for his classmate Sanada continue to develop in the thoughtful continuation to this coming-of-age romance. Rebecca Silverman has the details.
― Although awakening sexuality may be read as a theme of Okura and Coma Hashii's That Blue Sky Feeling, volume two makes it clear that it may not be so much “awakening” as it is “awareness.” That's a word with at least two potential connotati...
Death Note: Light up the NEW world BD+DVD
This live-action sequel to the end of Death Note introduces six deadly notebooks to the world and a race against time to stop the new villains they've created. James Beckett has the details in our full review.
― Death Note: Light Up the New World begins with a pitch perfect setup. A beleaguered Russian doctor named Alexey discovers one of the new Death Notes on his way to tend to a terminally ill pat...
Overlord II Limited Edition BD+DVD
Despite an anti-climactic stopping point before the third season, this arc of Overlord is sure to please fans of Ains, Sebas, and a host of other wicked heroes. Rebecca Silverman has the details.
― There's a fairly substantial gap between seasons one and two of Overlord (although nothing like the wait between seasons of Fullmetal Panic), but despite that it's pretty easy to get back into the adventur...
My Hero Academia GN 18
An abrupt conclusion to the yakuza invasion arc is followed by a variety of narrative odds and ends in this rambling collection of chapters. Nick Creamer has the details.
― Don't be fooled by the dramatic cover art of My Hero Academia's eighteenth volume. Though that cover promises a climactic battle between Midoriya and Chisaki, the tragic reality is that Midoriya actually cleans up this fight withi...
REVIEW: Hibike! Euphonium: Chikai no Finale
The final film in the Sound! Euphonium movie trilogy explores Kumiko's journey as a leader in the brass section alongside the personal drama of all her new classmates. Kim Morrissy has our full review.
― It's been a while since we last saw the world of Sound! Euphonium through Kumiko's point of view. The last time her story progressed was in the second season of the TV anime, which came out in 2016. ...
For the Kid I Saw in My Dreams GN 2
The tight plotting and clear thought that goes into this series will make it an interesting read for mystery fans. Rebecca Silverman has our full review of this new manga from the author of ERASED.
― Even if there wasn't an interesting mystery and emotional narrative to go with it, the way that Kei Sanbe has planned out this volume of For the Kid I Saw in My Dreams is truly impressive. The book opens...
Reincarnated as a Sword eBook 1
This isekai series sees its hero snug in the sheath of an adventuring catgirl, after being reincarnated as a sword rather than a swordsman. Theron Martin has the details.
― We've had at least two isekai about characters being reincarnated as vending machines, and the concept of sentient weapons is no stranger to fantasy, so an isekai series about a character getting reincarnated as a sword is hardly ...
Konosuba! Novel 8: Axis Church vs. Eris Church
The absurdity continues to ramp up for Kazuma's party, in this isekai comedy where nothing ever seems to go right for anyone. Rebecca Silverman has the details.
― Spoiler Warning: This review will contain spoilers for volume seven of the novel series. “For those of you thrilled that we've finally got some proper harem light-novel developments,” author Natsume Akatsuki writes in his afterword to this ...
REVIEW: Promare
This theatrical adventure from Studio TRIGGER in the spirit of Gurren Lagann and Kill La Kill delivers enough spectacle and hot-blooded spirit in two hours to rival its predecessors. Kim Morrissy has our full review straight from Japan!
― Right from the moment Promare was first announced, it was explicitly positioned as a successor to Gurren Lagann and Kill la Kill. Trigger's output has branched out ...
REVIEW: My Hero Academia: Two Heroes BD+DVD
MHA's theatrical debut exudes the energy and heart of the beloved shonen jump series, standing as a winning example of a tie-in film done right. Nick Creamer has the details.
― It can be difficult for the films attached to long-running shonen properties to feel like a cohesive, much less essential part of their parent franchise. Not only are they generally inventing new stories whole cloth, but witho...
One Piece 3D2Y BD+DVD
This TV special is a fun watch for fans of Ace or Boa, but hardly essential viewing beyond diehard One Piece fandom. Rebecca Silverman has the details.
― The One Piece TV specials are interesting animals in that they don't necessarily come chronologically in terms of what's currently airing and they aren't strictly all-new material. In the case of this particular entry, One Piece 3D2Y: Overcoming Ace...
Black Torch GNs 2-4
These middle volumes of this mononoke-themed action manga are good enough for an enjoyable read, but could stand to be more ambitious. Rebecca Silverman has the details.
― It's a shame that there's only one more volume of Tsuyoshi Takaki's Black Torch after these volumes, because despite its issues, the story this time is touching on some very interesting issues. Primary among them is the idea that J...
Hatsu*Haru GNs 6-7
As this shojo romance enters its second arc, it continues to be satisfyingly funny, heartwarming, and serious. Rebecca Silverman has the details.
― It could reasonably be said that part two of Shizuki Fujisawa's shoujo romance Hatsu Haru begins with these volumes. For the first five books of the series, we watched point-of-view character Kai try desperately to first reconcile his feelings for Riku an...
Sword Art Online Novel 16
Asuna steps back into the spotlight as war rages with Kirito unable to join the fight, in this dense volume of Alicization. Theron Martin has the details.
― After plodding along through the middle parts of the first arc, the series has dropped bombshell developments in the last two volumes, ones which shake the overall fabric of the series to its core. This volume, which will probably serve as the so...
The Promised Neverland GN 9
This fantasy thriller offers tactics and spectacle in equal measure in its most action-packed volume yet. Nick Creamer has the details.
― The Promised Neverland has taken an exceptionally long and winding path towards direct confrontation with its demonic antagonists. Though their threat is introduced in the very first chapter, for volumes after that they are largely just alluded to, a vague and unim...
Kitaro's Yokai Battles GN
Fans of the new Gegege no Kitaro reboot should be sure to check out this fascinating volume of stories that inspired many of the remake's best episodes. Rebecca Silverman has the details.
― While a new volume of Drawn&Quarterly's curated collection of stories from Shigeru Mizuki's GeGeGe no Kitaro series is always interesting, this particular book, Kitaro's Yokai Battles, may be of particular interes...
DARLING in the FRANXX Part 1 Limited Edition BD+DVD
This controversial mecha series from A-1 Pictures and Studio Trigger has finally arrived in a special edition loaded with extras. Theron Martin has the details in our full review.
― This 24-episode original anime production debuted in the winter 2018 and quickly became one of the most controversial titles of the last couple years. In this case, the controversy was not over blatantly objectionable con...
Made in Abyss: Wandering Twilight
This second film adapts Made in Abyss' most devastating material to beautiful effect while setting up new details for a continuation. Theron Martin has the details in our full review.
― Wandering Twilight, the compilation film that covers episodes 9-13 of the Made in Abyss TV series, had its U.S. debut at Anime Central, complete with the attendance of director Masayuki Kojima, music director Kevin Pe...
Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress: The Battle of Unato
This zombie-busting adventure continues the story where season one left off. Richard Eisenbeis has the details on this high-octane movie straight from its theatrical run in Japan.
― Note: this review contains major spoilers for the Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress TV series. Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress: The Battle of Unato is the theatrical sequel to 2016's 12-episode TV anime, Kabaneri of the Iron Fo...
Crest of the Stars Complete Series DVD
Light on action but heavy on drama, this sci fi classic is a must-see for diehard fans of the genre. Nick Creamer has the details.
― First airing back in 1999, and based on a trilogy of acclaimed novels from three years earlier, Crest of the Stars belongs to a different era of anime space operas, and stands apart even from many of its contemporaries. There are no epic robot battles or clashes between...
Umineko When They Cry Episode 8: Twilight of the Golden Witch GN 19
This murder mystery heads into its final arc as the story's many indulgent threads threaten to become too much to handle. Rebecca Silverman has the details.
― As an author, Ryukishi07 has one particularly bad habit: he's entirely too enamored with his own schtick. That's hardly a sin unique to him as a creator, but it does make Umineko: When They Cry a much less tightly-plotted series, and that's som...
The Magnificent KOTOBUKI
Aeronautics enthusiasts will love this fantasy series' attention to detail, but its story and characters could use a little tune-up. Theron Martin has the details.
― The last year or so has seen an upsurge in a subclass of aerial combat series that could generally be called “girls with planes” series. Following in the footsteps of last year's Dragon Pilot: Hisone and Masotan, the Winter 2019 season i...
Konohana Kitan BD+DVD
This slice-of-life yuri series doesn't have lofty story ambitions, but it will provide a thoughtful healing respite from the more high-octane anime in your library. Rebecca Silverman has the details.
― Konohana Kitan has the somewhat unusual honor of being based on not one, but two manga series of roughly the same name by Sakuya Amano. Originally running for two volumes in a yuri-centric anthology, t...
Collide—Chapters 1-4
This new fantastical melodrama from artist Wann is immediately engrossing despite a smattering of structural hiccups. Rebecca Silverman digs into this web-published manhwa.
― Netcomics, online translator and purveyor of official manhwa releases, has previously mostly kept its serialized stories on its own website with its proprietary reader. While that reader is easy to use, their payment system and ...
My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom! Novels 1-3
This isekai otome series may be aimed at an audience familiar with reverse harem stories, but its engaging characters, fun plot, and breezy writing style make it a good fit for anyone seeking a quality romcom. Rebecca Silverman has the details.
― The third of three currently (as of this writing) serializing titles in the “reborn into an otome game” subgenre of isekai, Satoru Yamaguchi's My Next Life ...
O Maidens in Your Savage Season GN 1
Mari Okada's frank exploration of female sexuality is a refreshing read for those seeking a story about adolescence with a little more bite. Rebecca Silverman has the details.
― Frank discussions of female sexuality in young adult literature are no longer quite so rare as they once were and have certainly come a long way since Judy Blume wrote Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret and Forever, which ...
Burst Angel Blu-ray
This frequently forgotten fanservice action series is back on blu-ray! Theron Martin finds out if this slice of early 2000's cheese has aged well.
― Dial the clock back to 2004 and this 24-episode series was a hot property, with a popular run in Japan and plenty of hype in the West. It's easy to understand why Burst Angel would have been a hit; it was produced by a prominent studio at the height of t...
Blood Blockade Battlefront & Beyond BD+DVD
This wild supernatural action series loses some visual luster in its second season, but makes up the difference by doubling down on its story strengths. Nick Creamer has the details.
― When I initially heard Rie Matsumoto wouldn't be returning to direct Blood Blockade Battlefront's second season, my expectations for the show sharply dropped. Matsumoto's Kyousogiga is one of the most creative and visu...
REVIEW: Pokémon Detective Pikachu
The most electrifying cinematic event of the year is almost upon us! Callum May has the full scoop on this refreshingly entertaining video game adaptation.
― It only took me a few minutes to start missing the world of Detective Pikachu. Being the same age as lead actor Justice Smith, Pokémon has been a constant throughout both of our childhoods. I can't tell you how much I used to wish that I'd sudde...
The Ideal Sponger Life GN 1
This steamy isekai adventure explores the thrills and perils of becoming a sugar baby to the queen in another world. Theron Martin has the details.
― The manga version of The Ideal Sponger Life is an adaptation of a light novel series that's not yet been released in English. It differs from most isekai titles in that both of its leads are full-grown adults, but otherwise it gives every impression up ...
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood Blu-Ray Box Set 2
The second half of Hiromu Arakawa's fantasy saga comes to Blu-ray in this special edition boxset. James Beckett compares how this epic story concludes with its previous adaptation.
― While the first volume of Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood contained plenty of deviations from the anime-only material of the first adaptation, this second volume is where I was really able to appreciate just how differe...
ReLIFE Final Arc BD+DVD
ReLIFE's dramatic conclusion puts too much emphasis on the weakest aspects of its premise, but still offers a satisfying end to a charming romance. Nick Creamer has the details.
― The first season of ReLIFE was hampered by a variety of issues, from its middling visual execution to its general lack of dramatic focus. But one of its issues, at least, was a product of its format: the anime simply didn't...
Obsessions of an Otome Gamer Novel 2: The Middle School Years
One of the most charming and underrated isekai light novels gets even stronger in its second volume. Rebecca Silverman has the details.
― After the heart-breaking end of the first novel (for Sou fans, anyway), the story of Rika, an eighteen-year-old who died and has been reborn as the heroine of her favorite otome game Hear My Heart, continues as she begins middle school, the equivalent of grades 7 –...
Ingress—Episodes 1-3
This CG anime based on Niantic's first hit augmented reality game is arriving on Netflix soon. Theron Martin has our early review of this supernatural mystery series.
― With an initial release in December 2013, Ingress was among the earliest location-based, augmented reality mobile games (the direct forerunner of Pokemon Go by Niantic). This anime series seems to be connected more to its revamped ver...
Dame×Prince Anime Caravan Blu-ray
This lighthearted parody of reverse harem fantasy tropes offers a pleasant balance of story and silliness that will please the genre's diehard fans. Rebecca Silverman has the details.
― You know the story – a lone princess surrounded by a host of handsome, eligible males ranging from princes to knights, all of whom desperately want to attract her favorable attention. It sounds nice on paper, but what...
REVIEW: Birthday Wonderland
This new film from the director of Miss Hokusai delivers a coming-of-age take on Alice in Wonderland, but is it too lackadaisical to hold its intended audience's attention? Kim Morrissy has the answers straight from Japan.
― Birthday Wonderland is a film with a remarkable pedigree. Director Keiichi Hara's previous film Miss Hokusai won film awards internationally, but he's also well-known for directi...
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