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My Youth Romantic Comedy Is Wrong, As I Expected Novel 1
The first novel that spawned the cult success anime series "My Teen Romcom SNAFU" is as divisive as it is unique. Rebecca Silverman weighs the ups and downs of Hachiman's adventure.
― As far as annoyingly unrealistic statements made to children by adults go, “these are the best years of your life” is probably one of the worst. Apart from the fact that you (hopefully) have a lot of life to live post-h...
This Art Club Has a Problem! ‒ Episode 11
"Not only did this episode present one cohesive storyline, but it also offered us a tantalizing glimpse of life outside of the art club."
Twin Star Exorcists ‒ Episode 23
"While the results are definitely a little uneven, the episode still absolutely delivers an entertaining, emotional, and effective story."
Answerman - How Do Franchises Keep English Translations Straight?
How does a mega-franchise like Pokemon or One Piece keep their English-language names and translations straight? Justin gets into it.
― Jennifer asks: I've been watching the Pokemon anime recently, and it's made me wonder about the translations of pokemon names, which are different between Japanese and English, and how they keep the same name though the different media Pokemon can be consumed throug...
Cheer Boys!! ‒ Episode 10
"This week's episode balances a massive cast while carefully training the spotlight on two of the cheerleaders' engaging and relatable struggles."
NTR Netsuzou Trap GN 1
Less sweet and consensual than most yuri series translated into English, NTR's first volume has some issues but is a decent read nonetheless.
― If you like your yuri sweet and focused on the emotional relationship between the protagonists, like in Whispered Words or Sweet Blue Flowers, NTR Netsuzou Trap is not the series for you. It has much more in common with Citrus in its more sexually aggressive ...
Danganronpa 3: The End of Hope's Peak High School: Future Arc ‒ Episode 10
"Despite not getting much closer to the truth, episode 10 delivered the most emotionally resonant content from Future Arc yet."
D.Gray-man Hallow ‒ Episode 11
"With two full episodes and only one manga chapter left before the scene many fans suspect to be the closing point for this adaptation, it's time to speculate where Hallow will leave things."
Yona of the Dawn GN 1
The source manga for the 2014 anime is finally available in English! With its focus on Su-Won and Hak, it offers an interesting look at the start of Yona's journey.
― Spoiler Warning: if you don't want to know the identity of Yona's betrayer before reading the book, perhaps skip this review. All of us know that life is full of changes, some good, some less so. Very few, however, actively plan for tho...
Taboo Tattoo ‒ Episode 11
"The plot is too convoluted to invest in, and almost all of the characters we're dealing with have only been introduced in the past couple episodes."
Sweetness & Lightning ‒ Episode 11
"This week's episode finds both Tsumugi and Kotori in precarious positions with their respective peers."
New Game! ‒ Episode 11
"The trip to the convention is a nice change of pace from New Game's usual office antics."
Mob Psycho 100 ‒ Episode 10
"I doubt this series will end up finding satisfying answers for all its underlying questions, but I'm still thoroughly enjoying the ride."
Answerman - What's Up With Dollar Store Anime Releases?
Justin takes a journey through the world of dollar store anime - just where do all those random old anime DVDs come from?
― Charles asks: I've occasionally come across anime on the kind of DVDs that go straight to dollar stores and discount bins as if they're public domain. Some examples I've seen are The Little Mermaid (1975), The Wonderful Galaxy of Oz, and even Captain Harlock. They usually look ...
The Morose Mononokean ‒ Episode 11
"It's one of the best episodes of The Morose Mononokean yet, making me eager to see what the last two episodes have in store for a final conflict."
One Piece ‒ Episode 756
"This episode isn't exceptional like the last few have been, but it's solid nonetheless."
Shelf Life - Children Who Chase Lost Voices
Paul takes a look at a recent Makoto Shinkai movie with a more Ghibli flavor to see what it can offer anime fans both old and new. Plus, all this week's new releases!
― I had an introduction all ready for this week, and then the news about Crunchyroll and Funimation forming a partnership showed up. Serves me right for trying to get my work done early for once. This Answerman article explains things ...
When Supernatural Battles Became Commonplace Blu-Ray
Although it's less a supernatural battle story and more a slice-of-life dramedy, this 2014 series still has a lot of fun to offer. Rebecca Silverman has the details.
― If you go into When Supernatural Battles Became Commonplace expecting a show about supernatural battles, you're probably going to be disappointed. This series, based on the inevitable light novels, is basically the introduction to a la...
Berserk ‒ Episode 11
"This episode's focus on spectacle that it couldn't portray dragged it down a little, but the haunting visual metaphors and terrific characterization helped bring it back up."
Danganronpa 3: The End of Hope's Peak High School: Despair Arc ‒ Episode 9
"Despair! These cliffhangers have left me in despair!"
Re:Zero -Starting Life in Another World- ‒ Episode 24
"Seeing how Subaru acts on what he learned from the last couple of episodes is still quite satisfying, along with the way the relationship between him and Julius has evolved."
Orange ‒ Episode 11
"Overall, this episode of Orange did a lot to alleviate my growing concerns about the show's direction."
Love Live! Sunshine!! ‒ Episode 11
"This You episode has been a long time coming, and it's great to finally get her time in the spotlight."
DAYS ‒ Episode 11
"Returning Tsukushi to his starring role makes this story leagues better than it's been for several weeks."
Tales of Zestiria the X ‒ Episode 11
"I can't help but feel that Tales of Zestiria the X didn't quite think things through when it came to distribution of content."
Food Wars! The Second Plate ‒ Episode 11
"Soma's work over the week of his first stagiaire gives him the chance to explore the idea of what other chefs want for their food."
Rewrite ‒ Episode 11
"The setup for the big finale looks like it's now complete, so the overriding question is whether or not Key is going to pull out something great and emotional to finish this story off."
Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? Novel 6
This first novel of DanMachi to cover the story post-anime adaptation may be the best one yet! Theron takes a look.
― The 6th DanMachi novel marks the point where the main storyline fully extends beyond the 2015 anime adaptation, picking up just a couple of days after the 5th novel and anime both leave off. For those who loved the anime version but don't want to traipse through the rehashes of the fi...
91 Days ‒ Episode 9
"This week provided enough insight into Avilio's emotional state to overwrite the coldness I felt for him mid-series."
Thunderbolt Fantasy ‒ Episode 10
"This episode was entirely setup for Thunderbolt Fantasy's climactic sprint to the finish line."
The List - 7 Heart-Pounding Tournaments
From friendly tests of skill and prowess to no-holds-barred death matches, here are just seven of anime's most memorable battle tournament arcs.
― When trying to discover the best of the best, anime pits contenders against one another to see who will reign supreme. Many a shōnen anime has a tournament competition of some sort. Most are physical showdowns where protagonists reveal new powered up abil...
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Diamond Is Unbreakable ‒ Episode 24
"The ensuing beating that Kira delivers is one of the best scenes I've seen in Diamond is Unbreakable yet."
World Break: Aria of Curse for a Holy Swordsman BD+DVD
It's another magic fighting high school series based on a light novel! Can World Break manage to cram six books worth of plot into a scant twelve episodes? Rebecca Silverman finds out.
― At this point in anime history, light novel adaptations are inevitable. World Break debuted in the same season as Absolute Duo, Saekano: How To Raise a Boring Girlfriend, and The Testament of Sister New Devil, as wel...
Handa-kun ‒ Episodes 9-10
"The cast of Handa-kun gets quite a workout in these two episodes."
Amanchu! ‒ Episode 10
"While not quite as poignant as last week's installment or as funny as episode 8, the Diving Club's latest outing is a relaxing (though slightly underwhelming) good time."
Alderamin on the Sky ‒ Episode 10
"A well-done episode in a series that is now running at the top of its game."
ANNCast - Gurren Lagann
Zac, Jacob and guest Eryn Dearden drill to the center of the 2007 smash Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann to discover if, after a whole decade, this bombastic blockbuster still has that burning manly spirit.
― ANNCast Episode 271: Gurren Lagann Zac, Jacob and guest Eryn Dearden drill to the center of the 2007 smash Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann to discover if, after a whole decade, this bombastic blockbuster ...
Battery the Animation ‒ Episode 9
"The introduction of this secondary couple has done a lot to make Battery the Animation more interesting."
Naruto Shippuden ‒ Episode 475
"While lacking in action, this week's Naruto Shippūden propels the story forward in a major way."
Answerman - Why Are Funimation And Crunchyroll Getting Married?
It's chaos! Up is down! Left is right! Crunchyroll and Funimation are partnering up! Justin breaks it down and looks at some of the reasons why yesterday's news was so big.
― Anonymous asks: The recent news that Crunchyroll and Funimation are partnering up sure seems like a really good thing for fans (we only have to subscribe to one service now, unless we want dubs). But why did it happen? Is conso...
The Secret of Love Live's Success
Love Live has a passionate, devoted audience and demonstrably broad appeal, but what makes this silly idol show so entertaining? Nick Creamer has a few ideas.
― So recently I've been thinking about a question I get from time to time: “what's the deal with Love Live?” It's not a surprising question. I'm normally a person who gravitates towards really personal character dramas, or thematically heavy sh...
Garo The Animation BD+DVD
Garo's second half offers an inconsistent narrative conclusion but satisfying action-packed entertainment that's well worth checking out. Nick Creamer has the details.
― Garo's first half offered a distinctive and engaging slice of fantasy-action. The show's vaguely Inquisition-era setting and beautiful art design matched perfectly with its sordid tale of justice and revenge, offering rip-roaring adv...
This Art Club Has a Problem! ‒ Episode 10
"Having a single theme unite the three segments makes this episode feel like a continuous whole, even though the plots don't line up in a linear fashion."
This Week in Games - What's NeXt for Nintendo?
In the wake of yesterday's Super Mario Run news, Dustin considers Nintendo's next move. PLUS: next week's new releases, including Psycho-Pass and Valkyrie Drive!
― You might notice that the news section is more than a little lacking this week, and that's not just because the massive pile of new games took up all this column's space. I'm actually writing to you from the past. As you're reading this I'...
Twin Star Exorcists ‒ Episode 22
"Twin Star Exorcists digs deeper into its anime-only arc this week, delving into the mysterious Kegare-fueled infections plaguing Narukami."
Phoenix Wright Ace Attorney: Spirit of Justice
In Phoenix's sixth adventure, he travels abroad to take on cases in a country where defense attorneys have been outlawed! Todd Ciolek puts his own lawyer skills to the test.
― Phoenix Wright needs a vacation, a transfer, or to use apt terminology, a change of venue. Throughout five major Ace Attorney games and several spin-offs, Capcom's presented Wright with fiendishly complex murders, help in the f...
Danganronpa 3: The End of Hope's Peak High School: Future Arc ‒ Episode 9
"It seems like we finally have all the pieces necessary to solve the mystery of the Final Killing Game."
Answerman - Why Are UK Releases Slower Than North American Releases?
Christopher asks: I live in the UK and one thing that has been bugging me for a while now is why there is such a big gap in releases of anime Blu-rays/DVDs between US and UK of the same series? One prime example of this is "One Piece". If a series is been released only in the US and not in the UK, that's different. But when the discs is been sold in both countries, why is the UK so far behind our...
Cheer Boys!! ‒ Episode 9
"This week's episode depicts a surprisingly touching story of family and friendship without becoming too cloying."
Interview: Nami Sano, Author of Haven't You Heard? I'm Sakamoto
The mangaka behind the smash hit comedy Haven't You Heard? I'm Sakamoto speaks out about her influences, how she got her start, and what she thinks of the recent Sakamoto anime!
― Nami Sano, the manga creator of Haven't You Heard? I'm Sakamoto made her first visit to an overseas comics convention at Anime Expo 2016 in Los Angeles earlier this summer, as a guest of BookWalker Global. While she didn't ...
Love Live! The School Idol Movie Premium Edition Blu-Ray
The Love Live movie is finally out on home video, and Nick Creamer has the details on its shiny, sparkly premium edition!
― Love Live! has never been the most emotionally scouring or thematically challenging production. It's grasped at drama, with both of its seasons attempting to top themselves off with some kind of poignant internal dilemma, but these moments are almost uniformly the weakest parts ...
New Game! ‒ Episode 10
"As Aoba points out, even a fun and exciting job can still suck from time to time."
The Best and Worst of the Season So Far: Week of Aug 26-Sep 1
Mob Psycho shoots to the top of the heap, while Re:Zero takes a significant dive from its eight-week streak at the top. Find out where your favorites stack up this week!
― Our team of reviewers are following 30 anime series of the Summer 2016 season and readers are rating each episode as the reviews go up. So let's have a look at what ANN readers consider the best (and worst) of the season. Keep in ...
D.Gray-man Hallow ‒ Episode 10
"Allen's resolve as an Exorcist and the Noah's desire to understand are proof that it's possible to stay true to the role life cast them in without losing their human identity."
One Piece ‒ Episode 755
"I'm loving all of these Zou episodes so far, and this one is probably my favorite."
Komomo Confiserie GN 5
Komomo Confiserie is a nicely compact shojo romance of only five volumes, and this final book wraps things up very sweetly.
― Over the course of its five volumes, Maki Minami's Komomo Confiserie has touched on many of the various tropes that make shoujo manga recognizable – from the abusive love interest to the fanciful fashions to the Cinderella storyline. That in itself isn't particularly remarkabl...
Vice & Luna - #12
Vice works out his issues the only way he knows how - with a few too many rounds of Smash Bros!
―
Sweetness & Lightning ‒ Episode 10
"I've been hoping for Sweetness & Lightning to change up its formula for a while, and for the most part, episode 10 gave me what I wanted."
Taboo Tattoo ‒ Episode 10
"More and more each week, Taboo Tattoo is becoming a series of decently animated vignettes that can barely justify their own existence."
Mob Psycho 100 ‒ Episode 9
"Given the expectations of a less visually exuberant episode, this was still a fine installment of Mob Psycho 100."
Tales of Zestiria the X ‒ Episode 10
"To some degree, it feels like the real star of Tales of Zestiria the X is the scenery rather than the characters."
The Morose Mononokean ‒ Episode 10
"I'm fine with this repetition of The Morose Mononokean's formula, but I'm not sure how well this particular iteration succeeded."
Answerman - What Is The Homeless Situation Like In Japan?
Satoshi Kon's Tokyo Godfathers is the only exposure most American fans have had to the concept of homelessness in Japan - so what's the real situation? Justin gets into it.
― Jake asks: I had recently re-watched Satoshi Kon's Tokyo Godfathers and it has me curious about homelessness in Japan. I realize homelessness is a problem that every country has, but I find it they way anime depicts homelessnes...
Food Wars! The Second Plate ‒ Episode 10
"For this week, we wrap up the Autumn Elections."
Shelf Life - Punch Line
Paul tumbles down a wormhole of panty panic when faced with the mystery/comedy madness of Punch Line. Plus, all this week's new releases!
― By the time you read this, I'll be on my way home after going on vacation over Labor Day weekend. That means I'm writing this column earlier than usual in order to get it done before I leave, so hello from the distant past! It turns out time travel's easy as lon...
The Asterisk War Novel 1
The first volume of The Asterisk War's original light novel series is a breezy read with more complex characterization than its adaptations. Rebecca Silverman takes a look.
― I suspect that I'm not the only one who is sick of tsunderes, those characters who appear to be prickly and harsh on the outside but have warm, gooey, emotional centers. So it was a pleasant surprise to discover that not only is...
Re:Zero -Starting Life in Another World- ‒ Episode 23
"Re:Zero has had some nasty twists throughout its run, but this one may be the most shocking to date."
This Art Club Has a Problem! ‒ Episode 9
"This isn't the most original story the show's ever done or even the episode with the best character interactions, but it's funny in a more nostalgic way."
Orange ‒ Episode 10
"In the end, this was a perfectly reasonable episode of Orange that nonetheless left me feeling a little underwhelmed."
DAYS ‒ Episode 10
"No matter how much onlookers hype the athletes and plays, all I see is back and forth, back and forth."
The Mike Toole Show - gdgd Gravy
Mike's attempt at creating his own animation leads him to an encounter with gdgd fairies, one of the strangest cult comedy anime in recent memory.
― Did I ever tell you all how I myself became an animator? It's true! I am totally someone who has made original animation that has appeared on television. If you follow me on twitter or keep tabs on my incessant nerd behavior in general (lately: playing S...
Love Live! Sunshine!! ‒ Episode 10
"This week's episode is a good chance for fans to catch a quick breath of air after last week's emotional episode."
Absolute Duo BD+DVD
It seems like every new season is awash with light novel anime these days, but does Absolute Duo rise above the pack? Theron Martin breaks things down.
― This series' debut last year was not well-received here on ANN; its first episode was one of the lowest-rated of the season amongst ANN staff and readers alike (only World Break and Unlimited Fafnir fared worse), and it did not poll well enough to m...
Danganronpa 3: The End of Hope's Peak High School: Despair Arc ‒ Episode 8
"Just as this week's Future Arc stumbled, the Despair Arc followed suit with an episode that introduced some worrisome developments."
Rewrite ‒ Episode 10
"Despite the ragged start, it's another pretty solid episode."
91 Days ‒ Episode 8
"Following a one week break, the show is once again in top form, telling its story of human brutality with meticulous artistic delicacy."
Thunderbolt Fantasy ‒ Episode 9
"Thunderbolt Fantasy is getting into the thick of it as the narrative reaches its climax."
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Diamond Is Unbreakable ‒ Episode 23
"It's as exciting an action episode as you could expect from this series."
Berserk ‒ Episode 10
"This week, all hell breaks loose, and while I'd normally say "and it sure ain't pretty," this episode was easily the prettiest this series has ever been in terms of art and animation."
Alderamin on the Sky ‒ Episode 9
"Intrigue and the nastiness of the campaign aside, the episode's other most entertaining scene comes from a rare truly light-hearted moment."
The List - 6 Families You Don't Want to Cross
From packs of mobsters to long lineages of tyrants, these broods spell bad news for anyone who runs afoul of their plans! It's best to keep your head out of these family matters...
― The phrase "blood is thicker than water" is widely used to demonstrate that familial allegiances trump all else, but these families stretch that oath to the breaking point. Rites of inheritance or generational power can...
Amanchu! ‒ Episode 9
"Episode 9 changes things up by giving us a glimpse into Futaba's immediate past—something that's barely been touched upon until this point."
My Hero Academia GN 5
My Hero Academia's strongest students face off in the sports festival finals, bringing many character arcs to an explosive climax. Nick Creamer explores this standout volume.
― What does it mean to stand in the shadow of those who've come before you? None of My Hero Academia's stars can avoid those shadows. Be it familial duty or simply the pro heroes chanting from the crowds, their past, present, an...
Battery the Animation ‒ Episode 8
"Overall, the introduction of these high school characters has served as a step up for Battery the Animation."
Answerman - How Have Anime DVDs and Blu-rays Changed Over The Years?
That anime bluray in your hands is the product of many changes and improvements over the years - Justin gets in to just how much our current physical media has changed.
― Jake asks: By now DVD's have been on the market for over 20 years and Blu-ray disks for over a decade and I have been thinking about how much technology has changed in that time. It has me wondering about the technical, under the h...
Thirty Years Ago: The Best Anime of 1986
1986 wasn't just another year in the anime industry - from Castle in the Sky to Megazone 23, countless iconic and influential productions were released. Daryl Surat takes you on a journey through the year that was.
― The amount of new anime released every year is staggering. It's now the norm in the 2010s that every few months there are at least thirty new series starting, but ask yourselves: on aver...
Barakamon BD+DVD
This down-to-earth slice-of-life comedy has some surprising insights about what it means to be an artist, with lots of laughs to be had along the way. Jacob Chapman dives in.
― Common wisdom regarding critics is often contradictory. "Everyone's a critic," but at the same time, "no one loves a critic." It might seem like madness at first, but it makes more sense when you consider that the creative pro...
Naruto Shippuden ‒ Episode 474
It's the end of the fight against Kaguya and Amy McNulty's 100th episode review of Naruto Shippuden! So how did this incredibly long battle wrap up?
This Week in Games: Nioh, Dead or Alive
A new Dark Souls-style game is in beta on Playstation 4, and Dustin's ready for it. PLUS: Dead or Alive VR controversy, Resident Evil 7, a new Phoenix Wright game for the 3DS and much more!
― It's been another week in games, and that means it's time for another column here to try and make sense of it all. The news brings us some long-awaited plot details on Resident Evil 7, a sneak preview of the lat...
Guilty Crown BD+DVD
This divisive and explosive mech series from Production I.G. and renowned animation director Tetsuro Araki definitely turned a few heads back in 2011, but is it any good today? Theron Martin investigates.
― In one of the included interviews for Funimation's rerelease of this series, one of the show's producers specifically mentions Neon Genesis Evangelion as a personal inspiration. That's not surpris...
Danganronpa 3: The End of Hope's Peak High School: Future Arc ‒ Episode 8
"After spending so much time with Makoto, fans had been clamoring for an episode with Kyoko instead. Be careful what you wish for."
Twin Star Exorcists ‒ Episode 21
"Any fears I had that the show would rest on its laurels were put to rest this week, and I couldn't be happier."
Cheer Boys!! ‒ Episode 8
"It's been a couple weeks of mediocrity, but Cheer Boys!! is finally getting its groove back."
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