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This Week in Anime - The Danmei Controversy

Coop and Chris discuss the censorship of Chinese novels focusing on the romantic attraction between men and the legal persecution of its authors.

Look Back Director Discusses Artistic Struggles, Anime Adaptation Philosophy, and AI's Role in Creativity

100 Meters Anime Movie Review

Debuting at Annecy, 100 Meters is a gorgeous work from the creative team behind On Gaku: Our Sound and the creator of Orb.

Jinsei Anime Film Review

There is an eclectic collection of influences at play in Jinsei, from acclaimed Norwegian comedy-drama The Worst Person in the World to Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey

The Last Blossom Anime Film Review

The first film from the creator of Odd Taxi makes it clear Baku Kinoshita loves to show the gradual cracks in the shell of a taciturn man.

Your Anime Rankings - Best of Spring 2025, May 27-Jun 2

While The Apothecary Diaries is solidifying its hold on the cumulative, slow-starting series Ninja & Assassin and Too-Perfect Saint are lately picking up steam.

Nobody's Boy Remi Anime Series BD Review

While Nobody’s Boy Remi doesn’t have the fidelity of other World Masterpiece Theater adaptations, it’s still historically important and a solid work in itself.

Merging Western Comics and Anime: An Interview with Batman Ninja vs. Yakuza League Writer Kazuki Nakashima

“I think it's rude for a creator to talk about the essence of a character. What's important is if people can watch the work and feel that on their own."

Answerman - How to Hire a Japanese Studio to Produce Your OVA

Jerome explains the ins and outs of how to get your OVA produced by a Japanese studio.
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ep. review

Apocalypse Hotel ‒ Episode 10

Tamako is an obnoxious and hilarious little stinker who exacerbates every facet of this farce into a full-blown fracas. The apple doesn't fall far.
ep. review

The Too-Perfect Saint: Tossed Aside by My Fiancé and Sold To Another Kingdom ‒ Episode 11

We’ve seen time and time again in this series how Philia will always put herself last, no matter what the cost.
ep. review

Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX ‒ Episode 10

Pronounced shifts between grayscale and color set the mood as the story ramps up.
feature

Onimusha: Way of the Sword Keeps True to its Predecessors

The latest Onimusha game looks modern while simultaneously keeping the charms and unique gameplay mechanics from its previous entries. ― Capcom's Onimusha series had a long run on the PlayStation 2, starting with 2001's Onimusha Warlords. It was basically Resident Evil but with samurai, due to the gameplay's focus on fixed cameras. However, Onimusha didn't really take off nearly as well as Capcom's i...
ep. review

Your Forma ‒ Episode 11

“What a sad electronic junk-heap of wasted concepts and opportunities this show has turned out to be.”
feature

Capcom's Pragmata is Intriguing

The game finally has a release date, and the demo shows that it's worth being excited for. ― Five years ago, Capcom released the announcement trailer for Pragmata, a new sci-fi IP. It was only a cinematic trailer, but it piqued my interest as it showed an astronaut interacting with a small girl. All of a sudden, their surroundings completely warped in zero gravity, with both of them sent flying and a...
feature

Code Vein 2 is Bigger and Better

With a customizable player character and a new bike, Code Vein 2 is looking like a good bet for 2026. ― One of the biggest surprises during Summer Game Fest was the announcement of Code Vein 2, Bandai Namco's follow-up to the 2019 vampiric soulslike RPG. The game is slated to launch sometime in 2026, and I got a chance to learn more about it through a hands-off preview with Bandai Namco. Code Vein 2 ...
ep. review

Aharen-san wa Hakarenai Season 2 ‒ Episode 10

That there aren’t more musical episodes of non-musical anime is a tragedy that you could make a 3–5 minute ballad about.
interview

Look Back Director Discusses Artistic Struggles, Anime Adaptation Philosophy, and AI's Role in Creativity

Kiyotaka Oshiyama discusses AI’s impact on traditional arts and whether anime adaptations should be dogmatically faithful to the source material. ― Studio Durian's film adaptation of Chainsaw Man creator Tatsuki Fujimoto's emotionally resonant one-shot manga, Look Back, is arguably one of the most moving pieces of art to come out of animation in quite a while. As evident by its booming box office su...
ep. review

My Hero Academia: Vigilantes ‒ Episode 10

At last we learn the relationship between Knuckleduster and the bee girl.
feature

Summer Games Fest 2025 Amidst ICE Raids Left Attendees, Vendors, and Staff On High Alert

I felt conflicted being in a position of privilege at a protected trade show while ICE raids and state violence on vulnerable groups were happening within walking distance. ― Summer Games Fest: Play Days took place from Saturday June 7 to Monday June 9, hosted in a venue within Downtown Los Angeles' Fashion District. Despite the anticipation from the announcements and trailers shown during the presen...
feature

Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree is Hades but Japanese

Bandai Namco's newest roguelite is Hades with an Eastern flair - is that enough to make it worthwhile? ― During Summer Game Fest, Bandai Namco revealed a new roguelike game called Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree. While it was a bit difficult to tell what it was just by the gameplay trailer, it looked like Supergiant's massive hit roguelike game Hades, but with an Eastern aesthetic. Turns ou...
column

This Week in Anime - Want Your Bad Romance

Lucas and Steve explore the "Toxic Together" K-Comic special on Lezhin. ― Lucas and Steve explore the "Toxic Together" K-Comic special on Lezhin. Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by the participants in this chatlog are not the views of Anime News Network.Spoiler Warning for discussion of the series ahead. Every manhwa title mentioned in this column is available to read on Lezhin. @RiderS...
ep. review

From Old Country Bumpkin to Master Swordsman ‒ Episode 10

I like Beryl being invested as a parent beyond just food and shelter, as he stays invested in Mewi’s progress at school and promises to help her with reading.
ep. review

Go! Go! Loser Ranger! Season 2 ‒ Episode 21

Does any of this mean that the show is good, again? Oh, goodness, no. It's merely somewhat less bad.
ep. review

Gorilla God's Go-To Girl ‒ Episode 10

At least we got to see Sophia and Louis being adorable this week. I feel that makes up for a lot.
ep. review

Witch Watch ‒ Episode 10

No high school comedy would be completely without a student council, but as always, this show never does anything normally.
ep. review

To Be Hero X ‒ Episode 10

While Trust can beat fear, as we have seen through Lin Ling, it is Hope that is its true weakness.
ep. review

Kowloon Generic Romance ‒ Episode 10

If eyes are the mirrors of the soul, then what does that make eyeglasses?
ep. review

Can a Boy-Girl Friendship Survive? ‒ Episode 10

I certainly didn't expect such an ending.
ep. review

One Piece ‒ Episode 1132

It’s quite charming to watch Kuma grow into fatherhood and raise Bonney.
ep. review

Lazarus ‒ Episode 10

All Lazarus has to offer us at this point is the dramatic equivalent of Lucy pulling the football out from under Charlie Brown's feet for fifty years in a row.
review

Princess Principal: Crown Handler - Chapter 4 Anime Film Review

Princess Principal: Crown Handler Chapter 4 feels like it squanders the tension it gained in the previous installment with a return to the status quo. ― The previous Princess Principal film ended on the mother of all cliffhangers. While Mary was saved, Prince Richard captured and all of our heroes were as well, with even Princess Charlotte revealed as a traitor to the crown. All this left us wonderin...
feature

Hands-on with Anime-Inspired Rogue-like Game Starlight Re:Volvers

Ever wonder what would happen if you took Sailor Moon, Kamen Rider, and Hades, threw them in a blender, and covered the result with hot neon paint? ― Ever wonder what would happen if you took Sailor Moon, Kamen Rider, and Hades, threw them in a blender, and covered the result with hot neon paint? Well, wonder no longer. The answer is Starlight Re:Volver. Recently, I was able to spend a few hours with...
ep. review

Black Butler: Emerald Witch Arc ‒ Episode 10

It’s hard to argue with Sebastian being at his devilish best, simultaneously caring for Ciel and gleefully ripping open a tank like my cat Ollie trying to get into the recycling.
ep. review

Yaiba: Samurai Legend ‒ Episode 10

It's hard not to respect this show's commitment to pumping out the silliest villain concepts imaginable.
ep. review

Anne Shirley ‒ Episode 10

This episode brings us to the end of the first novel, which means that, as some of us feared, both Anne of Avonlea and Anne of the Island have significantly fewer episodes to use.
review

OKITSURA: Fell in Love with an Okinawan Girl, but I Just Wish I Know What She's Saying Anime Series Review

The real star here is Okinawa and its language. ― In case you're not familiar with Okinawa's place in Japanese culture, the US has a convenient analog: Hawaii. Like Hawaii, Okinawa was an independent nation that was annexed by a larger and more militarized empire. Its geographical distance from its colonizer allowed it to maintain its distinct culture; however, it struggles to survive under the threa...
ep. review

Rock is a Lady's Modesty ‒ Episode 10

I understand why Tamaki has been a divisive character, so I just want to say that I was totally right about her, and you doubters owe both of us an apology.
ep. review

Fire Force Season 3 ‒ Episode 10

I found Scop the Talking Mole's return pretty enjoyable, even if the extended chronicles of his fanciful adventure to Tokyo are literally only here to waste everyone's time with a bunch of silly nonsense.
ep. review

The Apothecary Diaries Season 2 ‒ Episode 45

It’s hard to say which of the many disastrous decisions made by the Shi clan truly brought the army to their gates.
ep. review

Wind Breaker Season 2 ‒ Episode 23

I can't believe I'm saying this, but maybe this storyline should have gone on a little longer.
ep. review

Ninja and an Assassin Under One Roof ‒ Episode 9

It was only a matter of time until we got an episode like this where we set some concrete rules about Satoko's powers.
column

This Week in Games - Sony State of Play: The War of the Dead Man

Jean-Karlo goes over all the exciting announcements from this week's State of Play as well as updates on Tango Gameworks and Shueisha Games' newest title. ― Welcome back, folks! I had the pleasure of working on a Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma review earlier this week. The Rune Factory games are routinely some of my favorite titles to cover; I am ashamed to it that I never got around to playing ...
interview

Turning the Justice League into Yakuza: An Interview with Character Designer Takashi Okazaki

The new film Batman Ninja vs. Yakuza League reimagines the JLA as yakuza. Character Designer Takashi Okazaki talks about how he did it. ― The sequel to 2018's Batman Ninja, Batman Ninja vs. Yakuza League follows Batman and the larger Bat Family as they venture into a strange land where the Justice League of America have all been warped into yakuza versions of themselves. While the film itself is part...
review

DAN DA DAN Evil Eye Anime Theatrical Cut Review

Fun as it is, Evil Eye isn't really a movie. You will find plenty of exposition, a rising action, and a falling action—but nothing resembling a satisfactory conclusion. ― Fans of DAN DA DAN have nothing to fear but the Evil Eye as we head into the second season of the supernatural action series. Evil Eye is the theatrical cut of the anime's first three episodes, a now tried-and-true promotional avenu...
ep. review

Your Forma ‒ Episode 10

The moment supposed protagonist Echika Hieda appears, any sense of engagement in this show dissipates for me.
column

This Week in Anime - Bite-Size Anime Series

Steve and Chris talk series where the episodes are short and sweet. ― Steve and Chris talk series where the episodes are short and sweet. Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by the participants in this chatlog are not the views of Anime News Network.Spoiler Warning for discussion of the series ahead. Crunchyroll streams Lycoris Recoil: Friends are Thieves of Time, Umayon, Yamishibai, Infern...
review

Stay By My Side After the Rain Volumes 1-3 Manga Review

Stay By My Side After the Rain is a remarkably well put together story. While each volume is more or less self-contained, they all build together to form a picture of two people overcoming their hurdles and finding happiness together. ― If there are two persistent narratives that queer fiction is beholden to, they're coping with homophobia and coming out. Both are real and significant in fiction and ...
ep. review

The Too-Perfect Saint: Tossed Aside by My Fiancé and Sold To Another Kingdom ‒ Episode 10

Philia’s entrance in Girtonia is her most triumphant moment in the series.
column

The ANN Aftershow - I Totally Called the Gundam GQuuuuuux Twist

Lynzee and James weigh in on CG Chopper from the second season of live-action One Piece. Also, who is hyped up for The Summer Hikaru Died anime series? Plus: I called the Gundam GQuuuuuux twist. You heard it here first. ― I Totally Called the Gundam GQuuuuuux Twist Lynzee and James weigh in on CG Chopper from the second season of live-action One Piece. Also, who is hyped up for The...
ep. review

Apocalypse Hotel ‒ Episode 9

In what might end up the series' greatest accomplishment, the combination wedding & funeral is beautiful, macabre, funny, sad, and a fitting synthesis of its cosmic themes.
ep. review

Aharen-san wa Hakarenai Season 2 ‒ Episode 9

It’s refreshing to see an anime reminding us that it's okay to have hobbies—including hobbies that have little or no connection to your larger goals.
review

Uglymug, Epicfighter Manga Chapters 1-10 Review

OK, what if someone was transported to another world but they were ugly? No seriously, that's it. ― OK, what if someone was transported to another world but they were ugly? No seriously, that's it. Is the story going to be some kind of biting social commentary about how beauty is in the eye of the beholder and how we don't give people a chance due to their physical appearances? Maybe the story is a c...
ep. review

Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX ‒ Episode 9

Is this a Universal Century sequel or an alternate universe or some fanfiction? YES, all of the above!
ep. review

My Hero Academia: Vigilantes ‒ Episode 9

This is probably the best episode of Vigilantes that we've gotten to date.
ep. review

One Piece ‒ Episode 1131

Kuma and Ginny are adorable and tragic in equal measure.
interview

Rockin' Out With Sumiko Arai, The Guy She Was Interested In Wasn't a Guy at All Manga Creator

In her first-ever English-language interview, Green Yuri creator Sumiko Arai talks about WLW stories, the inspiration for her characters, and what's on her music playlist. ― When Sumiko Arai launched The Guy She Was Interested In Wasn't a Guy at All on her Twitter in 2021, she couldn't have predicted its meteoric rise in popularity. From social media to Pixiv Comic, the four-page serializatio...
ep. review

From Old Country Bumpkin to Master Swordsman ‒ Episode 9

This week's adventure hinges on problem-solving that does not require Beryl’s swordsmanship, which helps make him feel like a more complex character and adds variety for the audience.
ep. review

Gorilla God's Go-To Girl ‒ Episode 9

It’s a good thing that the gorilla god is such a fun character, because by this point it feels clear that The Gorilla God’s Go-To Girl is less about Sophia becoming a knight and more about how everyone loves her.
review

The Remarried Empress Volumes 1-6 K-Comic Review

With a drama adaptation announced, now is the perfect time to see why The Remarried Empress is worth the hype. ― It's good that we know how this story ends because it is one hell of a ride to get there. The Remarried Empress, originally written by Alphatart and adapted to manhwa by writer HereLee and artist SUMPUL, opens with heroine Navier being granted a divorce from her emperor husband and immedia...
column

This Week in Anime - Manga, Translation, and the Rise of Machines

Lucas and Coop discuss the insidious rise of AI in the translation space. ― Lucas and Coop discuss the insidious rise of AI in the translation space. Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by the participants in this chatlog are not the views of Anime News Network.Spoiler Warning for discussion of the series ahead. One Piece and JoJo's Bizarre Adventure are available at Viz/Shonen Jump App. Ka...
column

The ANN Aftershow - Can the Anime Awards Be Fixed? Do They Need to Be?

James, Jacki, and Lynzee look at the Crunchyroll Anime Awards and that Solo Leveling sweep. ― Can the Anime Awards Be Fixed? Do They Need to Be? James, Jacki, and Lynzee look at the Crunchyroll Anime Awards and that Solo Leveling sweep. The awards have continued to have "sweeps," where a single show takes home nine or more awards. We'll discuss this year's nominees, our picks to win, and whether thi...
ep. review

Can a Boy-Girl Friendship Survive? ‒ Episode 9

Will this be the final plot of the season?
ep. review

Witch Watch ‒ Episode 9

While Witch Watch’s bread and butter is still comedy, episodes like this do a great job of showcasing that it has more range than just good jokes.
ep. review

Kowloon Generic Romance ‒ Episode 9

Who knew French toast could be such a relationship deal-breaker?
ep. review

Lazarus ‒ Episode 9

For most of its runtime, “Death on Two Legs” makes it feel like Lazarus is just actively screwing with its audience.
ep. review

To Be Hero X ‒ Episode 9

Now that Cyan is free, it looks like the Orphanage Director is trying to make Luo into her villain archrival.
interview

Production +h Want Dark Machine To Be For Gaming What Slam Dunk Was For Basketball

Producer Fuminori Honda and director Tomoyuki Kurokawa discuss working on Dead Dead Demon’s Dedede Destruction and what viewers can look forward to with Production +h’s video game anime Dark Machine. ― Despite being newer on the scene, Production +h is an anime studio already making waves with animated films like Netflix's The Orbital Children and the anime adaptation of Inio Asano's post-apocalypti...
ep. review

Go! Go! Loser Ranger! Season 2 ‒ Episode 20

If the last episode of Go! Go! Loser Ranger! had me feeling like we were suddenly skipping whole episodes in between important scenes, this week, we may as well be leapfrogging over the top of entire seasons.
game review

Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma Game Review

Series fans will definitely appreciate the evolution of long-time mechanics, and newcomers will enjoy the cast and building mechanics. ― The Rune Factory series has firmly established itself as more than just a mere "Fantasy Story of Seasons. However, with every series—and every season—there must come a time of growth and experimentation. Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma notably avoids counting itsel...
ep. review

Black Butler: Emerald Witch Arc ‒ Episode 9

There’s a sort of tragedy about Wolfram.
review

Lost in Starlight Movie Review

This is a movie drenched in color, from the verdant greenery of Seoul’s parkland to the warm reds and browns of its older buildings, not to mention the vibrant, sparkling starscapes and sunsets, many of which would make Makoto Shinkai proud. ― While Korean animation director Han Ji-won's fame has steadily grown in her homeland, Netflix's worldwide release of her latest, most substantial movie, is the...
ep. review

Yaiba: Samurai Legend ‒ Episode 9

While this isn’t the most exciting episode, it provides the show with a much-needed opportunity to slow down before the big showdown.
ep. review

Anne Shirley ‒ Episode 9

Matthew has always made sure that Anne feels loved and wanted. It’s the greatest gift that anyone could give her, and ultimately more important than any scholarship or academic honor.
ep. review

Fire Force Season 3 ‒ Episode 9

In Fire Force, it is impossible to separate the actions of a fate-ordained hero of legend from the barely coherent ramblings of a deeply traumatized idiot. I wouldn't have it any other way.
ep. review

The Apothecary Diaries Season 2 ‒ Episode 44

Almost everyone in this story is wearing a mask of one sort or another, and it's only now that some of those masks are being taken off – or in the case of Loulan, put back on.
review

New Saga Volume 1 Manga Review

If you had the ability to go back in time and relive one of the most difficult journeys of your life, what would you do differently? ― If you had the ability to go back in time and relive one of the most difficult journeys of your life, what would you do differently? If you sacrificed everything for the sake of taking down an ultimate evil, do you think it's possible to accomplish the same goal witho...
ep. review

Rock is a Lady's Modesty ‒ Episode 9

The arresting visuals bring out the best of this battle. The adaptation turns the theatrics up to 11 with a slew of symbolism and a sizzling splash of color.
ep. review

Ninja and an Assassin Under One Roof ‒ Episode 8

While everything about the tone of this screams that it is a gag anime with your typical magic reset button—it's clear by now that it's anything but.
your score

Your Anime Rankings - Best of Spring 2025, May 20-26

The top 5 cumulative is nigh undefeatable, with those same series forming this week's top 5 as well. See how all your favorites fared in our weekly rankings. ― Let's have a look at what ANN readers consider the best (and worst) of the season, based on the polls you can find in our Daily Streaming Reviews and on the Your Score page with the latest simulcasts. Keep in mind that these rankings are...
ep. review

Wind Breaker Season 2 ‒ Episode 22

It's an odd miss for a series that's otherwise done pretty well with doling out drama in the previous few episodes, even more so given that rhythm is a key element of this episode!
review

Dear Hongrang K-Comic Review

Dark, bitter, and intermittently hopeful, Dokjin and Hottu's adaptation of Jang Dahye's original novel pulls you in, even if none of those flavors are your preferred reading, making it nearly impossible to put down. ― Complete at sixty episodes (chapters), Dear Hongrang is a journey. Apart from flashbacks, the prologue, and the epilogue, the entire story takes place over one brief summer during the J...
column

This Week in Games - Theatrical Rings, Dragon Kin, and An Excuse To Talk About Banana Hair

Jean-Karlo discusses the give-and-take of video game IP movies, the latest news on the Dragon Quest remakes, and Capcom's latest contest! ― Welcome back, folks! People who've kept up with my column know about the Mage: The Ascension campaign I've been running for some Discord friends. Because my players need a breather (and I think it's a good enough spot for a minor recap), I'm going ahead with a "s...
feature

An Easy, Step-by-Step Guide to “Getting Gud” at Elden Ring Nightreign

Elden Ring Nightreign is not an easy game—not even for experienced “Sloulsborne” players. So here’s a simple guide to make your runs through the land of Limveld much more fruitful. ― The key to playing Elden Ring Nightreign is not memorizing boss patterns and learning attack windows (though let's not pretend those aren't still important). Rather, it's a game about getting as strong as possible as fas...
interview

Edo Era's Brave Firefighters: Interview with Oedo Fire Slayer Novelist Shogo Imamura & Mangaka Shinobu Seguchi

Discover the history behind Oedo Fire Slayer in our interview with author Shōgo Imamura and manga creator Shinobu Seguchi. ― Japan's history is teeming with everyday heroes, and there may not be a stronger example than the Edo period's firefighters. Known as hikeshigumi, community firefighters rose to meet a 17th-century challenge: protecting the fragile wooden and paper homes in what would become th...
feature

DAN DA DAN Evil Eye World Premiere Packs the House

The compilation's recap will get you up to speed, but you'll have to wait until the television premiere for any sort of conclusion. ― GKIDS premiered the highly anticipated continuation of Science SARU's adaptation of DAN DA DAN on Thursday. Ahead of its debut in Japan, fans in North America were the first in the world to watch DAN DA DAN: Evil Eye, a compilation movie featuring the first three episo...
column

This Week in Anime - Who the GQuuuuuuX is That?

How hard is it for newbies to get into GQuuuuuuX? Chris and Coop investigate. ― How hard is it for newbies to get into GQuuuuuuX? Chris and Coop investigate. Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by the participants in this chatlog are not the views of Anime News Network.Spoiler Warning for discussion of the series ahead. Amazon streams Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX. Hulu streams 08th MS Team....
review

Observation Records of My Fiancée Light Novel Series Review

Although it isn’t as deep as I’m perhaps making it sound, the story is a look at both the metafictional qualities of game-based isekai and an exploration of how an inability to distinguish between reality and fiction can be harmful. ― When a genre, or subgenre in this case, becomes as entrenched as villainess isekai is, you need a twist to make your story stand out. Shiki has hit on a good one for th...
ep. review

Your Forma ‒ Episode 9

I did not expect this tonal – and qualitative – heel-turn, in what is undoubtedly Your Forma’s best episode to date, by a large margin.
feature

Persona 5: The Phantom X Makes Smart Changes to the Traditional Persona Formula

The free-to-play spin-off brings smaller-scaled crimes to your mobile device. Persona 5 was released almost a decade ago in Japan. Since then, we've had many spin-offs: Persona 5 Strikers, Persona 5 Tactica, Persona 5: Dancing in Starlight, and Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth. I'm surprised we haven't had a Persona 5 spin-off fighting game. While the whole world is waiting for even the slightest ...
feature

Best New K-Comics to Read in May

Before May ends, come find your new K-Comic reads in our rundown of the most interesting new titles of the month. From classic Regency romance to lady gangsters selling smuggled cigarettes, there's a little bit of everything to be found. ― Welcome back to our rundown of the best, or at least most interesting, K-Comics released in a given month! April didn't happen because of the Spring K-Comics Guide...
ep. review

Aharen-san wa Hakarenai Season 2 ‒ Episode 8

Raido is anime boyfriend royalty. Bring this king his crown.
ep. review
ep. review

Apocalypse Hotel ‒ Episode 8

A few weeks ago, Yachiyo said that she ired the ability to change. This week, massive upheavals for both the Gingarou and herself create far more complicated feelings.
ep. review

Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX ‒ Episode 8

Nyaan stone-cold vaporizes a dude and everything else is set-up to get to that pivotal moment.
game review

Elden Ring Nightreign Video Game Review

Rather than being a game about “getting gud”—slamming headlong into a big boss over and over again till you learn every tell and attack pattern, Nightreign is a game about “getting fast”. ― In Elden Ring Nightreign, you pick one of eight unique characters and are dropped into the land of Limveld along with two other players with the nebulous goal of defeating the Nightlord. The map is full of locati...
feature

Anime Director Shinichirō Watanabe's Corporate Dystopias

Kambole Campbell looks at the political throughline of Watanabe's work, from Cowboy Bebop's destroyed moon to Lazarus' healthcare crisis. ― Whether it's the sprawling mix of frontier towns and multicultural urban mazes of Cowboy Bebop, or the more clearcut contrast seen in Carole & Tuesday's Martian landscape or “Babylonia City” in Lazarus—familiarity bleeds through the various futurescapes in the wo...
ep. review

My Hero Academia: Vigilantes ‒ Episode 8

Captain Celebrity is the antithesis and also a shining example of what we commonly expect from heroes who act in a public service capacity.
review

BET Live-Action Streaming Series Review

Bet is not a real show, not one worth watching as a curiosity for Kakegurui fans, nor for people just looking for entertaining TV, trashy or otherwise. ― Westernized takes on Japanese media are hardly anything new. They've been around from The Magnificent Seven to The Ring—go ask what the original Star Wars was based on sometime. So something that might seem so profoundly anime in its iteration as Ka...
ep. review

From Old Country Bumpkin to Master Swordsman ‒ Episode 8

Allucia may have had other plans, but Beryl manages to deflect them both in and out of the ring.
column

Answerman - Why is Anime from the '80s so Nihilistic?

Jerome gives us a history lesson in '80s economics, student protest, post-war sentiment, and how it gave us some of anime's most dire storytelling plots. ― guyzer9x asks: “Having watched a ton of '80s to early 90's OVAs and movies over the decades, I've come to an interesting conclusion: many of them were quite nihilistic in nature. I wonder what was the particular reason for this? I know some examp...
column

This Week in Anime - Smoke 'Em If You Got 'Em

This week, Lucas and Steve take a look at the history of smoking in anime, how it is used as a story telling device, and gush about their favorite anime smokers. ― This week, Lucas and Steve take a look at the history of smoking in anime, how it is used as a story telling device, and gush about their favorite anime smokers. Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by the participants in this cha...
ep. review

Yaiba: Samurai Legend ‒ Episode 8

Despite my complaints, I am still having a generally good time here, but the speed at which this show is burning through material isn't doing it any favors
ep. review

One Piece ‒ Episode 1130

We know infinitely more about the God Valley incident than ever before, but not all of our questions are answered nor is everything shown on camera.

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