News

List of 2011 Fall Season TV Anime in Japan
Our Spotlight shows are up, but there's much more anime coming out this season. Here's the big list, with the important points on each. 2011-09-21

If, Then, Or: One Piece
There never seems to be a shortage of One Piece media to consume, but that doesn't mean its fans never itch for something else. If/Then/Or is here to offer up some alternatives those fans may not have considered before! 2011-10-18

Astro Toy - Nendoroid Madoka Kaname
David finally gets his hands on some Madoka Magica merchandise; this time, it's a nendoroid of the title character (with added Kyubey!) 2011-10-16

Gia's List: The 8 Most Intriguing Uses of Western Music in Anime
It may be a contracting nightmare when the shows get licensed, but every once in a while Japanese producers match an anime up with a western musician. Sometimes it works, and sometimes it's...odd. 2011-10-15

ANNCast - Omega Men at Work
Everyone's at New York Comic-Con - except Zac and Justin, who hang back to talk about movies and anime and take your questions! Also: Deb Aoki drops by to talk about the rattling noises coming out of Tokyopop. FUN! 2011-10-14

Hanasaku Iroha streaming eps 14-26
The premise and events that occur may be mundane, but exceptional writing and technical merits, some light touches of humor, and a wonderful final episode help the series close out amongst the ranks of the year's elite series.

Naruto GN 52
Volume 52 of Naruto is not actually filler. The plot is moving forward … yet it's a bloated piece of hack-work where Masashi Kishimoto shamelessly recycles the same story templates he's used in previous arcs.

Bad Teacher's Equation GN 1
Bad Teacher's Equation is a confused, confusing tangle of a story that drags when it isn't uncomfortable. Chalk it up as evidence that even the most accomplished storyteller needs time to hit her stride and read one of her later works instead.

Legend of the Millennium Dragon Blu-ray/DVD Combo Blu-Ray
Though it sometimes looks great and should have a broader appeal than just anime fandom, this production's inconsistent visual and musical merits and formulaic storytelling prevent it from being considered a top-tier title.

Blue Exorcist DVD 1
Although Blue Exorcist may have the look and feel of a typical shonen action series, it makes the tried-and-true formula of a misfit learning to develop his powers and play nice with others work better than most.

Monster Episodes 61-74 Streaming
The simple truth is that no conclusion could ever live up to Monster's build-up. That said, the battle for Ruhenheim comes pretty close.

The Art of Vampire Knight Artbook
Overall, this book is stunning. Interesting compositions, breathtaking color, and good use of line, shape, and space make this volume a very satisfactory experience. While the similarities of character design can be off putting, the fact that this book is in full color makes it easier to appreciate Hino's artwork than in the manga itself.

The Story of Saiunkoku GN 4
All in all, this is the first real stand-out volume of the series. It has humor, romance, and intrigue, both political and otherwise, and with some interesting character development and blossoming plot, the stage is set for it to continue on in this vein.

Kamisama Kiss GN 5
This is a charming entry into an already fun series. The seeds for two major plot developments are sown, showing that Suzuki still has plenty of places left to visit in the spirit world. With humor, grace, and the only partially-familiar world of Japanese mythology, Kamisama Kiss continues to be an entertaining tale of one girl's journey into godhood.

Book Girl and the Captive Fool Novel 3
Up until this point the Book Girl series has been a vaguely forgettable experience, but this installment promises more development of Konoha and some of the recurring side characters. It isn't terrific, but Book Girl and the Captive Fool is an enjoyable, slightly atmospheric read.

Gurren Lagann GN 1
It's no surprise when a hit anime series gets converted to manga form. So it should also come as no surprise that, after comparing the two, the original is better.