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Red Data Girl DVD
Opens with a strong, short arc and then continues on as if surprised by its own longevity and uncertain what exactly to do about it.
― If all of Red Data Girl was as good as its opening three episodes it would be a serious contender. Those episodes form a mostly self-contained arc, a dreamlike supernatural mystery where magic and menace are insinuated rather than stated, where mood and atmosphere are...
ANNCast - In the Doghouse (ENG)
Kickstarted anime Under the Dog producer Hiroaki Yura, director Masahiro Ando and writer Jiro Ishii stop by to chat up the project! (This version contains only the English translated answers.)
― ANNCast 198 - In the Doghouse (ENGLISH ONLY VERSION) Get the Flash Player to see this player. Kickstarted anime Under the Dog producer Hiroaki Yura (The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya, Steins;Gate) , direc...
ANNCast - In the Doghouse (ENG + JPN)
Kickstarted anime Under the Dog producer Hiroaki Yura, director Masahiro Ando and writer Jiro Ishii stop by to chat up the project! (This version contains both Japanese language answers and English translation).
― ANNCast 198 - In the Doghouse (ENGLISH + JAPANESE VERSION) Get the Flash Player to see this player. Kickstarted anime Under the Dog producer Hiroaki Yura (The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzum...
The X Button - Tales to Admonish
Todd puts the latest Tales RPG to a turbulent test of typical traits! Plus Pokemon, Terra Battle, Mitchell, and a Street Fighter giveaway!
― The official Street Fighter website recently uploaded a timeline depicting the various forms of Street Fighter IV. It's quite helpful for anyone confused about who's in which game. It's also a merciless tease to me. See how everyone's lined up in the Ultra Stre...
Nekomonogatari White Sub.Blu-Ray
If you think of the Hanekawa stories as a Nekomonogatari trilogy, then this is the concluding installment. If you aren't a Hanekawa fan going in, you will be coming out.
― Nisioisin and Akiyuki Simbo dip once more into the life of unnaturally even-keeled Tsubasa Hanekawa, continuing the process of enriching and complicating her pointedly unnatural persona. Being the third time the series has put Hane...
RIGHT TURN ONLY!! - Cooking Nightmare
Rebecca confuses visitors by leaving volumes of Toriko, Eroica, and UQ Holder out when they come to dinner. Hopefully you will be less perplexed by this week's new and upcoming manga!
― I had one of those weeks – you know the ones. The weeks where you can't win for losing, you can't get out of your own way, and your cat freaks out while you're holding him, scratches the hell out of your arm, and you...
M3 the dark metal Episode 19 - Overlapping Sound of Love 2
Another great episode of M3 the dark metal
― Part 1: Part 2:
To Love Ru Darkness Sub.Blu-Ray
While partly offering more of the same, the third installment in this harem franchise also dramatically escalates its fan service content, shifts character focus, and takes on darker and more serious tones and character development.
― As the third TV series in the franchise, Darkness adapts the eponymous follow-up manga to the original saucy “alien girlfriend/harem” manga by manga-ka team Saki Hasemi...
The Mike Toole Show - Test Pilots
Mike ventures in to the wild world of anime pilots (not the flying kind, the TV kind).
― A couple of weeks back at Otakon, we learned about Under the Dog, an interesting new crowdfunded anime project. The producer's weird editorializing aside, I'm intrigued by Under the Dog, not least of which due to the involvement of Masahiro Ando, the best action animation director working at the moment. They're i...
Arpeggio of Blue Steel GN 1
Arpeggio of Blue Steel's first volume begins an interesting, exciting story of mysterious vessels and warfare on the high seas.
― Of all of the moe-fications of inanimate objects, Arpeggio of Blue Steel's use of female avatars, or “mental models,” for ships makes the most sense. The reason for this is that in several languages, boats are referred to by use of the feminine pronoun, so even if your boa...
The List - 7 "Gateway" Anime Sure to Get Newbies Hooked
Seven series to get your friends watching anime, no matter what their tastes!
― There are several hurdles when you want to introduce the average American viewer, be they a family member or friend, to the world of anime. Like jumping into any foreign art medium, there's a learning curve. Assuming your cousin Ted has had zero exposure to Japanese culture or animated films outside of dubbed Ghibli film...
ANNCast - SuperN.E.R.D.S.
Zac and Justin reteam with supernerds Mike Toole and Daryl Surat to chat about Chaika, Space Dandy, Captain Harlock, Otakon and more, and of course there's always Twitter Time!
― ANNCast 197 - SuperN.E.R.D.S. Get the Flash Player to see this player. Zac and Justin reteam with supernerds Mike Toole and Daryl Surat to chat about Chaika, Space Dandy, Captain Harlock, Otakon and more, and of course ther...
Answerman - Nobody Loves The Weeaboo
Why do Japanese companies have such terrible English? Why did Viz finish dubbing MONSTER? Plus, dealing with themes in writing reviews, and why everyone hates weeaboo.
― I've been eating really healthy for the last week or so. I had a salad for lunch, and a salad with some tacos for dinner. Lots of fish. This is driving me crazy, and I'm absolutely FIENDING for junk food. Needless to say, i'm a litt...
Karneval BD+DVD 1-4
Karneval is a story with interest and potential that ends too soon.
― Fret not, clown phobic viewers – despite the circus theme and all the circus roles for its characters, Karneval is completely clown-free. (This apparently was a concern of the lead adaptive writer J. Michael Tatum, as revealed in the episode one commentary.) Rather than using the actual circus as we think of it, Karneval instead dr...
House of 1000 Manga - Unico
Shaenon takes a magical journey with Tezuka's famously adorable little unicorn, Unico.
― Unico Kickstarter can be a powerful force for good or evil, and not everyone agrees on which is which. When professional companies and Hollywood stars started to use the crowdfunding site to raise money for projects, many observers worried that it would destroy Kickstarter's indie sensibility and undermine its c...
The X Button - Hive Finds
This week brings pitches for dungeon treks, alien bug raids, and a nightmare long thought over. Plus Silent Hills, BlazBlue, and the results of an anime-editing contest!
― It's time to announce the winners of the One Piece: Unlimited World Red Contest, which tasked you all with censoring anime for kid-safe sensibilities. It's also time for some good news: I rounded up extra copies of the latest One ...
Review: Under Night In-Birth Exe:Late
Under Night is an elegantly designed game by people who have been at fighting games for a long time, and who deeply understand what's truly important about them.
― Between the convoluted modern-fantasy setting, a magic-powered cast, and its quite amazing interpretation of the English language, one could not be blamed for mistaking Under Night In-Birth for some kind of Type-Moon knockoff. The truth is...
Terra Formars GN 1
While Terra Formars presents an interesting science fiction story that plays on our innate dislike of cockroaches (and long-standing jokes about how hard to kill they are), it doesn't present it as well as it might.
― In the summer of 2014, Viz Media is having a bug problem. First there were the vampiric mouth spiders of Black Rose Alice, and now, with Yu Sasuga and Ken-ichi Tachibana's Terra Formars...
Pile of Shame - The Enemy's The Pirates!
Justin tries to return to an old 90s favorite that has become more famous for its obscure, awful dub.
― The Enemy's The Pirates! ~The Cat's Banquet~ There's a Japanese tradition of stand-up comedy duos known as "manzai (漫才)." Manzai routines are high-speed, rapid-fire conversations between one person, who's an idiot or a weirdo of some kind (boke), and a straight man (tsukkomi), who's constantly mut...
Now Streaming: M3 the dark metal Episode 18
M3 the dark metal EPISODE 18 THE TRUTH OF YOMIJIMA
― Part 1: Part 2:
Shelf Life - Popular Culture
This week, the challenges of high school, fighting alien menaces, and evil masterminds.
- Gatchaman Crowds
- Terror in Resonance ep. 1-6
- Watamote ― Shelf Worthy Watamote Complete Series BD Gatchaman Crowds Complete Series BD Stream Worthy Terror in Resonance ep. 1-6 Rental Shelf Nothing this week Perishable Nothing this week Even though Otakon was a full week ago, I still feel the side-effects of ...
- Gatchaman Crowds
- Terror in Resonance ep. 1-6
- Watamote ― Shelf Worthy Watamote Complete Series BD Gatchaman Crowds Complete Series BD Stream Worthy Terror in Resonance ep. 1-6 Rental Shelf Nothing this week Perishable Nothing this week Even though Otakon was a full week ago, I still feel the side-effects of ...
anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day [Collector's Edition] BD+DVD
AnoHana is a story of high emotion. There's a lot of screaming, crying, laughing, and soppy emotional weltering of every flavor. It is tough to digest all of that in 100 minutes. In fact, it's not really recommended.
― The best part of AnoHana The Movie and the greatest thing it adds to its source TV series is the film's first fifteen minutes. It is fitting for a story so fixated on the past that its...
Cardfight!! Vanguard GN 1
Overall, Cardfight!! Vanguard is going to be best enjoyed by those who are familiar with the game or just enjoy card battle games in general. It does make a real effort to be generally appealing, though.
― Welcome to the manga series based on a show based on a card game! Cardfight!! Vanguard is the latest in multi-media franchise series (or at least one of them), and thus a somewhat surprising choice...
Astro Toy - Figma Crystal Bowie
He's translucent, he's evil, he's out to get our man Cobra, and now he's a figma.
― Figma Crystal Bowie Series: Space Adventure Cobra Maker: Good Smile Price: $65 Figma, figma. I've been doing this column for years now, my first review was of a figma. I've seen a hell of a lot of them in the meantime and said everything that there is to be said about the line. Every popular character gets a figma, a...
The List - 7 TV Anime Affected by Japanese Censorship
Sometimes your episode is pulled because the series' creator really doesn't like you.
― Over in the states, we're used to television censorship of our favorite anime. It was par for the course, whether cigarettes were replaced with lollipops, swimsuits painted on bathing scenes, or Japanese characters were suddenly in America. Japanese broadcasts get their share of censorship to, with a main focus o...
Baby Steps Episodes 1-12 Streaming
Baby Steps isn't big on thrilling sports action. It's interested in quieter, less immediate pleasures: the simple pleasures of good characters and good relationships moving slowly but surely in good directions.
― Truth be told, Baby Steps isn't big on thrills, or on being arrestingly cool. (With a name like that, how could it?) It's interested in quieter, less immediate pleasures: The pleasures of wa...
Food Wars: Shokugeki no Soma GN 1
Food Wars: Shokugeki no Soma is off to a somewhat uneven start, balancing scrumptious dishes with an obnoxious heroine and some unfortunate choices of fanservice.
― Everyone who's tried their hand at cooking has one of those failed recipes. (We will not speak of the Knife Cookie Incident of 1992.) For Soma Yukihira, squid legs and peanut butter are just one experiment gone awry in his quest to find n...
Answerman - Brighter Days
This week, what's the deal with all of the different audio formats on Blu-ray? Can US companies access the original film masters of old shows? Where are all the OVAs these days? And why companies decide to not release controversial adult material, even if it's demonstrably legal.
― This has to be one of the worst, most depressing news weeks of the year. So rather than continuing to fixate on all the...
ANNCast - Parliament Funkadelic
Roland Parliament, ADR Director of the original DIC version of Sailor Moon and original voice of Melvin stops by to tell tales of the old days and talk about his new book, Sailor Moon Reflections!
― ANNCast 196 - Parliament Funkadelic Get the Flash Player to see this player. Roland Parliament, ADR Director of the original DIC version of Sailor Moon and original voice of Melvin stops by to tell tales...
House of 1000 Manga - Zatch Bell
Jason remembers one of the strangest shonen fighting manga ever to hit it big, Zatch Bell.
― Zatch Bell Want to read about a Pokémon rip-off? First published in Shonen Sunday magazine in 2001, Zatch Bell was one of hundreds of manga competing to be Number Two in the newly established genre of "heroes who fight using cute-but-violent monster/animal/pet companions." But Zatch is an extreme case becaus...
Dr. Slump: The Movies [Films 1-5] Sub.DVD
Random silly adventures, acted out by a silly cast of misfits who live in a silly misfit village and delivered with a lot of surreal nonsense humor and not a whiff of substance or seriousness. In short, Dr. Slump. At long last.
― There's a lot of Dr. Slump out there: TV shows, movies, video games, and, of course, Akira Toriyama's terminally silly manga. It was a bon-a-fide hit for the future DBZ crea...
RIGHT TURN ONLY!! - Love the One You're With
If you had all of the magic power in the world, what would you do? If the one you like doesn't like you back, do you switch who you like? These questions and others might be answered in RTO as Rebecca looks at the latest volume of Wandering Son, the final volume of Demon Love Spell, a digital-only release of a Lily Hoshino manga, and other new and upcoming titles!
― I've mentioned before (although I...
Accel World Novel 1
Accel World's first novel has its moments of repetition and the definite feel of a middle grade novel in its characters and the basic level of its writing. But it is also an interesting science fiction story about the possibilities of technology and how it could effect people, serving as both escape and addiction.
― For those of you who were left with small, niggling questions after watching the Acce...
Hetalia: The Beautiful World DVD
Despite sporting a new director and advertising a "new Kira☆Kira style" for the series, Hetalia The Beautiful World is largely a return to form for the controversial fangirl favorite of yesteryear. There are differences in the updated version, but frankly, every single one is a positive change.
― Despite sporting a new director and advertising a "new Kira☆Kira style" for the series, Hetalia The Beaut...
Interview: May'n
The Macross Frontier sensation and closing act of the 2014 JPOP Summit shares some insights about her career, singing for international audiences and more.
― There are some very recognizable names of singers and musicians in the world of “anison” - the genre of songs made especially for anime production. Many well-loved acts have contributed their music to the anison world, and conversely, the anison...
Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods
Comedy prevails more than action in the first franchise movie since 1996 (and the first canon franchise movie). While not a stellar achievement, it is at least moderately entertaining and has many nice tidbits for long-time fans.
― Battle of Gods is the 18th movie in the Dragon Ball franchise but the first new movie since 1996. It is also the first movie in the franchise whose content is considered c...
The Mike Toole Show - YAS Hands
Mike takes a stroll through the work of illustrious character designer Mr. Yoshikazu Yasuhiko.
― A couple of times a year, I'll go to a convention and run a few panel presentations—usually jaunts through the career of a certain artist or studio, explorations of a particular genre, or one of my mainstays, Dubs that Time Forgot. A few of these have even been featured here on ANN, and the gist is pretty...
The List - 7 Things You Didn't Know About Studio Ghibli
The studio that's captured hearts over its long career has its own fun secrets
― If you were paying any attention to the news this week, you might have noticed an anime community-wide panic about Studio Ghibli. One of the company's co-founder's, director Toshio Suzuki, stated in a television interview that the studio is "restructuring." What that means for animation production post-Goro Miyazaki's R...
Answerman - High On Life
How is it decided where an anime will play in a theater? When does an already-released anime get dubbed? What would happen if Netflix launched in Japan? And what's with shows released on DVD in the US, but not in Japan?
― It's been a pretty bland week. Once I got out of jury duty, it was pretty much business as usual. So, with nothing interesting to report, let's get right down to some questions. Pe...
Comic Artist and His Assistants Episodes 1-12 Streaming
The hash that Comic Artist makes of itself is sad because, prior to opening its vulgar, vapid mouth, the show had potential.
― A dead comedy is a sad thing. Any kind of show with any kind of promise that dies is sad. But comedies are especially so. They're like euthanized kittens. They should be gamboling around, full of life and energy, bringing joy to all. Instead they just lay there, inert and kin...
The X Button - Creature Features
This week, it's an import pile-up of monster hunts, pure horror, and cute creatures! Plus Resident Evil, Hyrule Warriors, the hidden side of Strider, and another contest call!
― The X Button will take a vacation next week, but I'll find time to judge all of the entries for the current contest. You have until the end of next Thursday to get in your submissions and win a copy of One Piece: Unlimited W...
Blade & Soul
While hardly a gem, in the end this fantasy MMORPG adaptation turns out to be a better and stronger series than it initially showed much potential for.
― Anime adaptations of fantasy RPGs and MMORPGs rarely come out smoothly because the producers are so intent on recreating the game world and mimicking its rules and structures that they neglect to actually tell a proper story, one that can function i...
Pile of Shame - MARCO: 3,000 Leagues in Search of Mother
Justin takes a look at a remake of Takahata's World Masterpiece Theater classic. Does it hold up? Ehh...
― MARCO: 3,000 Leagues in Search of Mother We need to declare a new genre of anime, right here and now. There needs to be a separate category for the metric ton of overwrought family fare Japan makes, that aims to be Studio Ghibli in quality, but ends up succumbing to its maudlin sentimentality a...
Now Streaming: M3 the dark metal Episode 16
The latest episode of M3 the dark metal from Daisuki.net
― Part 1: Part 2:
Shelf Life - Flowers For Baudelaire
This week, armored gangsters, sexy cyborgs, giant robots, and stolen gym uniforms.
- Appleseed Alpha
- Flowers of Evil
- Majestic Prince collection 1 ― Shelf Worthy Flowers of Evil Complete Series BD (Sub) Rental Shelf Appleseed Alpha BD Majestic Prince Collection 1 BD Perishable Nothing this week I love convention season, but it is a little exhausting. I feel like I've just barely recovered from Co...
- Appleseed Alpha
- Flowers of Evil
- Majestic Prince collection 1 ― Shelf Worthy Flowers of Evil Complete Series BD (Sub) Rental Shelf Appleseed Alpha BD Majestic Prince Collection 1 BD Perishable Nothing this week I love convention season, but it is a little exhausting. I feel like I've just barely recovered from Co...
Battle Royale: Angels' Border GN
Angels' Border, like Battle Royale itself, is a book that will stick with you, haunting you after the last page is turned.
― There are few things more horrible than a senseless tragedy. Koushun Takami's 1999 novel Battle Royale (recently reprinted with a new translation in English as Battle Royale Remastered) presented us with a dystopian version of Japan known as The Republic of Greater East Asia. E...
Astro Toy - SH Figuarts Mario
It's-a me, Mario! In SH Figuarts form, with a ton of fun accessories.
― SH Figuarts Mario And Accessories Series: Super Mario Maker: Bandai Price: $65 with accessories, $25 without This is an interesting release for Bandai. They've been doing videogame figures for the past few years under the “D-Arts” (D as in Digital) label... but the figures were noticeably inferior to Bandai's usual work in both ...
The List - Anime's 7 Most Dangerous Jobs
The rewards are small and the risks are plentiful, but somebody's got to do it.
― The most dangerous jobs within the United States vary greatly, with many being subject to History Channel drama programming. We have loggers, fisherman, truckers, and pilots putting themselves in physical danger. Other jobs like doctors, dentists, and vets are very emotionally taxing. Anime has its own share of messy, ...
Kamen Rider Battride War II
There is probably a good videogame waiting to burst forth out of Kamen Rider Battride War II.
― Of all the Japanese characters that have been used to make a Dynasty Warriors/Musou game (or just a ripoff of one, as this game is), the long-lived Kamen Rider superhero series is among the most appropriate. You see, beating up hordes of identical henchmen before finishing off their boss with a fancy move ...
Answerman - Pain in the Neck
This week, is it unethical to get around a stream being blocked in your country? Is RWBY being judged unfairly? Why don't consumers use (HD) video tapes? Any why do older manga get new anime?
― I've been trapped in stasis this week, socially at least. You see, I've been tagged for jury duty. The way jury duty works in Los Angeles County is, you get a summons in the mail, and after you register and s...
Spell of Desire GN 1
If you're looking for a new romance about actual grown-up people and you enjoy magic as a plot conceit – or cute kitties and puppies with a little animal rescue thrown in – this is worth checking out.
― Tomu Ohmi has done vampires (Midnight Secretary). She's done werewolves (Kindan no Koi wo Shiyo), weretigers (Barairo My Honey), and she's done ghosts (Flowers for Seri). What's left in the supernatur...
House of 1000 Manga - Danza and Tesoro
Shaenon takes a tour of two works by legendary mangaka Natsume Ono.
― Danza and Tesoro In 2009, I found myself browsing the then-newish branch of the Mandarake manga bookstore in Akihabara, Tokyo's otaku mecca. Never mind how I found myself there; it's one of the job hazards of the professional nerd. Bored by all the Shonen Jump and Shonen Sunday tankobon collections, my husband pulled an unusual-lo...
No Game, No Life Episodes 1-12 Streaming
Has a way of blunting its worst instincts, of undercutting its bad turns with humor and, yes, honest-to-goodness feeling that makes even its bumpiest stretches surprisingly enjoyable.
― No Game begins with unpromise in its premise. The alternate-world aspect serves up tired savior fantasies. The game-made-real aspect offers the naked wish-fulfillment of virtual expertise that translates into real-wor...
The X Button - Equal Crime
This week, we find something to think about with Akiba's Trip and unwholesome rewards! Plus Judas Code, Street Fighter dress-up, and the chance to win some One Piece!
― Is it time for another contest already? I think it is. The last one was about Drakengard 3, which is a fairly gruesome and depressing game even when it's funny. So this contest needs something happy. And what's happier than the froli...
Silver Spoon Sub.DVD
Silver Spoon is a "slice-of-life" with a distinct and deliberate narrative arc just under the surface, clearly a deeply personal work for its creator, and all around a pleasant and thoughtful time in the boonies.
― Right from the start, Silver Spoon offers anime fans a large dollop of acquired taste. Critter humor abounds, but not all of it is cute and fuzzy. The variety of animal feces, births, and ...
RIGHT TURN ONLY!! - Shining Wings
Swords! Idols! VRMMORPGs! Food! There's a little bit of everything in this edition of RTO with new and upcoming manga, including SAO: Fairy Dance, Kaze Hikaru, as well as an untranslated title by Aya Nakahara and a digital release Rebecca read so you don't have to!
― You know what time it almost is? Berry picking time! For reasons unknown to me, I love picking fruit. The raspberries and blackberries...
Now Streaming: M3 the dark metal Episode 15
M3 the dark metal - Vacant Heart of Morning Gray
― Part 1: Part 2:
Ranma ½ Blu-Ray Set 2
Despite a few failed jokes, the second 23 episode set is still largely entertaining fare. With one exception, familiar faces are supplemented nicely by amusing newcomers, though that one exception is especially obnoxious.
― The second Blu-Ray set for Ranma ½ covers what Viz Media numbers as episodes 24-46, which equates to episodes 3-6 and 10-28 of Ranma ½ Nettōhen, which essentially means most of th...
The Mike Toole Show - What's The Criterion?
Mike wonders aloud which anime would be a good fit for the prestigious Criterion Collection.
― Earlier this year, Criterion did something they hadn't ever done in the DVD age: they released an animated movie as part of their Criterion Collection, an imprint known for exacting special editions with exhaustive supplemental materials and bonus features. Was that animated masterpiece a modern classic of ...
Say I Love You. GN 1 & 2
Kanae Hazuki's story treads some ground we don't always see covered to give us a romance that is both a little unsettling and far from sickly sweet.
― If you think you know this story because you watched the anime, think again. Say I Love You's anime incarnation was much tamer than its original form, and the manga was originally published in the magazine Dessert, which is for a slightly older audienc...
The List - 7 Shuttered American Anime Companies
Here's a salute to bygone American anime companies, we knew ye well.
― The face of the anime industry looks a lot different than when I started buying DVDs in 2001. Funimation's reach was growing, but was still known mostly as the "Dragon Ball Z" company, while Viz Media was pretty well established. Bandai could be relied on to bring over everything Sunrise-related, Media Blasters picked up the ligh...
Dynasty Warriors Gundam Reborn
Dynasty Warriors Gundam Reborn does little more than its assigned duty as a playground for battle-mecha carnage. It's enjoyable in quick little brawls, never outright terrible but always a bit tedious.
― Gundam is often at war with itself. At its most meaningful, it's a revolving mythos of savage conflicts amid orbital colonies. It's a space-robot melodrama proving that technology and exploration do ...
Answerman - I Am Not At SDCC
Since Justin isn't at SDCC, he can answer all your questions about anime studios' work on American cartoons, why short TV series don't get licensed, why voice actor commentaries are so rare, and the history of anime theme songs.
― It seems like everyone I know is at San Diego Comic Con this week. I am not at Comic Con, nor do I wish to be at Comic Con. In fact, I am overjoyed at I am not at Comic Co...
Interview: Thomas Sirdey, Co-Founder, Japan Expo
The co-founder of last year's rocky Japan Expo 1st Impact talks about all the dramatic changes to this year's event, what went wrong last time and what to expect from this year's show at the San Mateo Event Center.
― ANN: So let's start with Japan Expo 2013. How would you characterize that event? THOMAS SIRDEY: 2013 was the year of Japan Expo 1st Impact. As the name states, it was a first event. Our ...
One Week Friends Episodes 1-12 Streaming
What begins as an amnesia-seasoned sort-of romance eventually becomes something far richer: a gentle tale of connection and friendship, of evolving feelings and sweetly ordinary bonding.
― One Week Friends may have the preposterous premise of a Lifetime movie, but for the most part it isn't that interested in its own narrative hook. It's far more concerned with everyday happenings, with weekly rhythm...
The X Button - Popular Mecha Nicks
Todd digs into the history of games inspired by Gundam, and he likes what he finds! Plus Ace Attorney, Fatal Frame, Gurumin, and a music game that's all about fighting!
― So what happened to The King of Fighters? Rumors and hiring ads suggest that the fourteenth proper installment of the series now percolates somewhere deep within SNK Playmore, but fans are left to dream and argue at present. I just...
Now Streaming: M3 the dark metal Episode 14
M3 the dark metal - Sounds of Regret
― Part 1: Part 2:
Anime Spotlight - GLASSLIP
A summer fillled with friends, fun and romance?
― GLASSLIP Visit the Official Site › Story Characters Trailer Cast & Staff Gallery Broadcast July 3, 2014(JST) Key Staff Director: Junji Nishimura ( True Tears, Ranma ½, Kyo kara Maoh!) Series Composition: Rika Sato (Tari Tari (TV) (as Screenplay (eps 5-8, 11-12) Junji Nishimura ( True Tears(as Script (eps 2, 5, 9, 11)), Hanasaku Iroha - Blossoms for T...
Knights of Sidonia
While the plot and characters of this 3D CG mecha series may not be especially compelling or fresh, the action, visuals, and setting details are sharp enough to keep viewers coming back.
― The first season of Knights of Sidonia, an adaptation of a manga by Tsutomu Nihei (the creator of Blame! and Biomega), is something of a landmark in the anime market in the West, as it is the first anime series tha...
Interview: Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods with Justin Cook, Chris Sabat, and Sean Schemmel
The longtime English dub director and his leading men from Dragon Ball Z sit down to chat about the new film and their legacy with this historic franchise.
― Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods, the first theatrically released Dragon Ball movie in 17 years, premiered in English over AX weekend in Los Angeles, CA. Justin Cook, Chris Sabat, and Sean Schemmel took some time out of that busy weekend to talk wi...
Pile of Shame - Eiji
Hisashi Eguchi's boxing manga got a short movie treatment back in 1990, but does it hold up?
― Eiji Hisashi Eguchi is probably a guy that's better known among Japanese creatives than among American otaku. As an illustrator and manga artist, he's designed characters for such anime as Roujin Z and Spriggan, heavily influenced the look of Satoshi Kon's characters (Perfect Blue's final look was based on...
Anime Spotlight - Fate/kaleid liner Prisma☆Illya Zwei!
The sequel to the popular Fate/Kaleid series makes it's summer debut!
― Fate/kaleid liner Prisma☆Illya Zwei! Visit the Official Site › Story Characters Trailer Cast & Staff Gallery Broadcast Begins July, 2014 Key Staff Chief Director: Shin Oonuma ( Kokoro Connect TV, Dusk Maiden of Amnesia TV (dIrector), ef: A tale of Memories TV (Director) ) Director: Masato Jinbo (Episode Directpr Valvrave the Lib...
Shelf Life - Multiple Choice
This week, lots and lots of lovely ladies, a healthy mix of pretty boys, and even a few animal-folk as well.
- Date A Live
- Karneval
- Problem Children Are Coming From Another World, Aren't They? ― Shelf Worthy Nothing this week Rental Shelf Date A Live Complete Series BD/DVD Problem Children Are Coming From Another World, Aren't They? BD Perishable Karneval Complete Series BD+DVD In less than a we...
- Date A Live
- Karneval
- Problem Children Are Coming From Another World, Aren't They? ― Shelf Worthy Nothing this week Rental Shelf Date A Live Complete Series BD/DVD Problem Children Are Coming From Another World, Aren't They? BD Perishable Karneval Complete Series BD+DVD In less than a we...
ANNCast - Justin Time
For the first time in ANNCast history, the co-host becomes the guest! Justin Sevakis talks at length about his business authoring blurays for the R1 anime industry, preparing streaming shows for Hulu and more!
― ANNCast 195 - Justin Time Get the Flash Player to see this player. For the first time in ANNCast history, the co-host becomes the guest! Justin Sevakis talks at length about his business aut...
Kill la Kill [Limited Edition] BD+DVD 1
It's easy to understand what Kill La Kill wants to say in every moment because its ideas are simple, but conveyed in ways never quite seen before, and its healthy splashes of humor grow out of its thematic ideas rather than combating them.
― Kill La Kill's first episode begins with an invocation of Nazi imagery and ends with a vow of deadly vengeance from a mostly naked heroine. The minutes in-betwee...
Anime Spotlight - ARGEVOLLEN
Summer mecha fun courtesy of ARGEVOLLEN!
― ARGEVOLLEN Visit the Official Site › Story Characters Trailer Cast & Staff Gallery Broadcast Begins July 3rd(JST) Key Staff Director: Atsushi Ōtsuki (To Love-Ru-Trouble-Darkness, Ladies Versus Butlers, Kanokon: The Girl Who Cried Fox ) Series Composition: Tatsuo Sato (Bodacious Space Pirates, Shingu: Secret of the Stellar Wars, Tokyo Tribe 2) Character Desi...
Astro Toy - Chogokin Hello Kitty
David finds himself impressed with a full-on giant robot Hello Kitty from the Chogokin line.
― Chogokin Hello Kitty Series: Hello Kitty Maker: Bandai/Sanrio Price: $55 So alright, we have a really weird one again this week. Shall I explain the joke? Both Bandai's Chogokin line and Sanrio's Hello Kitty have their 40th birthday this year. These two massive Japanese toy/merchandise lines from the same ...
Kanojo ga Flag o Oraretara Complete Series Streaming
If Her Flag Breaks is giggle out loud (if not laugh) funny in places, enjoyably self-referential in others, and just generally an entertaining show to watch. It may not be top-notch, but it is enjoyable
― If one could sum up If Her Flag Breaks (Kanojo ga Flag o Oraretara) in one sentence, it would probably be, “Well, that escalated quickly.” Part fluffy shounen harem, part intense tale of danger, if ...
Hey, Answerman! - In Search of Stability
Justin pulls away from the news to answer some questions: why are most older DVDs interlaced? What's with all the info-dumps in anime? Why can't you buy anime theme songs on iTunes? And why are people still buying DVDs?
― I am trying not to read the news obsessively, because it's all just terrifying and awful and we are all but uninformed, impotent civilians with neither the power nor information to...
Anime Spotlight - Bladedance of Elementalers
Form a team with the shamanic princesses and win the Bladedance!
― Bladedance of Elementalers Visit the Official Site › Story Characters Trailer Cast & Staff Gallery Broadcast Begins July 14th, 2014 (JST) Key Staff Director: Tetsuya Yanagisawa (High School DXD, Daimidaler the Sound Robot, Shattered Angels) Series Composition: Takawo Yoshioka (Elfen Lied, Ikki Tousen, DearS) Character Design: Maki Fu...
The Battle Royale Slam Book Fanbook
If you have an interest in literary criticism or film studies, or if you're just really fascinated by the thought behind Battle Royale, The Battle Royale Slam Book is a very interesting read.
― You don't need to have read or watched Battle Royale to read this book, but it helps. Published and edited by Viz's Haikasoru prose imprint, The Battle Royale Slam Book is a collection of reflective and analyt...
House of 1000 Manga - One Thousand and One Nights
It's a loose adaptation of 1001 Nights, it's full of bishonen, and it's the first Manhwa ever covered in this column.
― One Thousand and One Nights "You don't need to write what really happened. Why don't you write the ending as you wish it to happen instead?" Poor manhwa. While Japanese comics have enjoyed fame and success in North America and elsewhere, Korean comics have generally been overshadow...
The X Button - Temporal Tempers
This week: fundraisers for shooters, spaceships, and trips through time! Plus Tekken, Smash Bros., and a whole bunch of little pixel things!
― You'll see a lot of old-fashioned sprites this week, be they in Kickstarter projects or Pac-Man's palm. Some contend that neo-retro pixel art is an overused fad, one that leeches off our inbuilt fondness for the games we once played on the NES and Super NES a...
Love Live! School Idol Project Season 2
Love Live! isn't a perfect show, but it is a lot of fun and one of the most enjoyable entries into the idol genre, a position it solidifies with this second season.
― In its first season, Love Live was a charming, peppy story about a group of girls trying to save their beloved school from closing. They did this by forming a pop idol group known as “μ's” and trying to win both attention and a school i...
Exclusive Interview: The New English Language Cast of Sailor Moon
We sat down with the sparkling new cast of Sailor Moon: Stephanie Sheh, Kate Higgins, Cristina Vee, Amanda C. Miller, Cherami Leigh and Robbie Daymond to talk about the new dub!
― Anime Expo was abuzz this year with news of a new Sailor Moon dub cast for Viz's upcoming remastered release of the classic series. We sat down for a short interview with the new voices of the Sailor Guardians and Tuxedo Ma...
Anime Spotlight - Invaders of the Rokujyoma!?
Let the battle for Corona-sou room 106 begin!!!
― Invaders of the Rokujyoma!? Visit the Official Site › Story Characters Trailer Cast & Staff Gallery Broadcast Begins July, 2014 Key Staff Director: Shin Oonuma (Baka and Test-Summon the Beast, C3, ef: a tale of melody) Series Composition: Shogo Yasukawa (Hyperdimension Neptunia, Terra Formars (OAV) ) Character Design: Hideki Furukawa (Watamote) ↑ Top...
RIGHT TURN ONLY!! - Judgement
Who will judge your actions? A creepy recorded voice? School police? Your husband's ex-girlfriend? Choose your justice with new and upcoming volumes of Happy Marriage, Gakuen Polizi, and (of course) Judge, along with an unfinished series that only Rebecca cared about!
― I have, despite how much and how quickly I read, a pretty hefty manga pile of shame – not series I'm embarrassed to own (although I...
Anime Spotlight - LOVE STAGE!!
When showbiz and otaku culture collide hilarity ensues.
― LOVE STAGE!! Visit the Official Site › Story Characters Trailer Cast & Staff Gallery Broadcast July 9, 2014 (JST) Key Staff Director: Kenichi Kasai ( Bakuman, KImikiss Pure Rouge, Nodame Cantabile) Series Composition: Michiko Yokote (Genshiken(TV), Air Master, Hare+Guu) Original Creator: Eiki EIKI (Dear Myself, Train Train, Millennium Prime M...
Shelf Life - All Thinking Men
This week, monsters and demons and bears, oh my! As well as magical powers and a post-apocalyptic tale involving automatic tanks.
- Mekakucity Actors ep. 1-12
- Red Data Girl
- Short Peace ― Shelf Worthy Short Peace BD Stream Worthy Mekakucity Actors ep. 1-12 Rental Shelf Red Data Girl Complete Series DVD Perishable Nothing this week Shortly after Anime Expo, I boarded a plane for southern China to ...
- Mekakucity Actors ep. 1-12
- Red Data Girl
- Short Peace ― Shelf Worthy Short Peace BD Stream Worthy Mekakucity Actors ep. 1-12 Rental Shelf Red Data Girl Complete Series DVD Perishable Nothing this week Shortly after Anime Expo, I boarded a plane for southern China to ...
Now Streaming: M3 the dark metal Episode 13
― Part 1: Part 2:
Black Rose Alice GN 1
Despite not having a single character named “Alice” yet, Black Rose Alice is off to a promising start.
― Let us begin this review with a warning that is not mentioned on the back copy: if you are afraid of or made uncomfortable by spiders, you probably don't want to read this book. Setona Mizushiro, award-winning mangaka behind After School Nightmare and X-Day, has a very unique take on the vampire m...
The Mike Toole Show - Mainstream Anime
Mike takes a stroll through anime for ordinary folks.
― I'm writing this column at the kitchen table of a lovely little house in Sao Paulo, which, after two days of wandering around, comes off like a mixture of every megalopolis I've ever visited-- New York, Toronto, Tokyo, Shanghai, Los Angeles, there's a little of all of them happening at once in Sao Paolo. The place is a riot of high-end departmen...
School Days Sub.DVD
What starts out as a placid little romance gradually turn into an unsettling, more realistic examination of how a harem situation might actually play out in real life. Ultimately that leads to a finale which is as utterly unforgettable as it is justly infamous.
― The TV series version of School Days, which aired during the summer 2007 season, was actually the second anime adaptation of the 2005 adult...
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