Philip WEBER

Otakon 2013
We're live from Otakon 2013! Check back daily for convention panel reports and more.
Available now: TM Revolution Q&A; - Closing Ceremonies - Viz Animation - Funimation - Vertical - Daisuki - Viz Media - Crunchyroll - Aniplex of America - Sentai Filmworks - Opening Ceremonies 2013-08-09

ANN 15th Anniversary - Win A Trip to Japan!
ANN is celebrating its 15th anniversary, and we want to give someone the chance to win a trip to Japan! 2013-07-03

The Mike Toole Show - Sakura Wars: What Is It Good For?
Mike climbs in his giant pink trashcan robot thing and takes a tour of the dating sim/strategy phenomenon known as Sakura Wars! 2013-08-12

Appleseed XIII BD+DVD
The first series version of Masamune Shirow's renowned manga deserves credit for its ambitious use of CG, symbolism, and allusions to Greek mythology, but it wields its symbolism like a blunt weapon and its episodes vary too widely in quality. 2013-08-12

The List - 8 Essential Time-Travelling Heroines
Whether it's a magic key, a good, old fashioned time machine, or a walnut; girls will find a way to travel through time and save the world 2013-08-10

Answerman - Extras Don't Get Any Respect
Who owns the rights to DVD extras when a company goes bust? Why aren't we getting all the Japanese extras? How much are anime TV broadcast rights worth? The answers lie within! 2013-08-09

Appleseed XIII BD+DVD
The first series version of Masamune Shirow's renowned manga deserves credit for its ambitious use of CG, symbolism, and allusions to Greek mythology, but it wields its symbolism like a blunt weapon and its episodes vary too widely in quality.

Dragon Ball [3-in-1 Edition] GN 1
Akira Toriyama's talents are clear to see, with the ever-growing roster of characters, a joyful sense of adventure, and visuals that are cuddly and cute yet action-packed.

Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic GN 1
It is clear that this series is only just getting started. There are some pacing and story issues that look as though they will even out as the tale continues on, and overall Magi's first volume has a lot of promise.

Valvrave the Liberator eps 7-12
While the second quarter of this series offers plenty of dramatic twists and turns and lots of mecha action and new mechas, it will probably be most-remembered for one particularly daring scene.

Muromi-san Episodes 1-13 Streaming
Just wants us to laugh, and tries plenty hard to make it happen.

Dragon's Crown
Dragon's Crown suffers from a stubborn refusal to hold anything back, yet it's worth a look beneath its controversial surface. There's an uncommonly well-crafted brawler lurking there.

Bleach DVD Set 16
What would happen if a hero's weapon came to life? The answer to that open-ended question deserves a better treatment than this one.

Doubt GN 1
Doubt is a more mystery-centric variation on the game made real theme that seems to be popular these days, and as such manages to be intriguing even as it retreads some ground we've spent a lot of time covering in recent months.

Crimson Empire: Circumstances to Serve a Noble GN 1
On the whole, Crimson Empire: Circumstances to Serve a Noble is not off to a terrific start, but it is still interesting enough that fans of otome game adaptations or reverse harems in general should find themselves something to enjoy.

Leviathan: The Last Defense Episodes 1-13 Streaming
Frothiness is both Leviathan's great strength and its ultimate weakness. It's effortlessly fun to watch, but also about as memorable as, well, something that I can't quite remember right now.

Zipang DVD 7
An inconclusive ending may harm the series' status as one of 2007's best American anime releases, but its writing, visuals, and thoughtful, well-balanced treatment of historical issues are too good to deny.