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Brave Witches ‒ Episode 11
"This episode is all heavy planning and action leading up to the featured battle scene, where the Witches have to protect their big guns as they make their shots at Grigori."
Sound! Euphonium 2 ‒ Episode 12
"The Nationals performance resulted in a sturdy episode that felt like a fitting conclusion to a broad array of character arcs."
Girlish Number ‒ Episode 11
"Girlish Number isn't coming to the most graceful conclusion, but it's still an insightful and witty show with a cast that continues to be likable in spite of themselves."
Nanbaka ‒ Episode 12
"I thought I knew what to expect from this show, but with Musashi's full story, Nanbaka surprised me once again."
Season Finale: Natsume Yūjin-Chō Go ‒ Episode 11
"The latest volume of Natsume's story exited our screens as abruptly as it came, leaving behind only fallen petals and bittersweet memories."
Overlord Limited Edition BD+DVD
Overlord's got just enough tricks up its sleeve to make it an interesting take on the "trapped in a game" scenario. Rebecca Silverman investigates.
― By this point, the fantasy subgenre of “trapped in an MMORPG” is beginning to wear thin, so what is it about Overlord that makes it worth your time? Well, if you've already written this genre off, the series isn't likely to change your mind, but if you ...
Trickster ‒ Episode 12
"I can't really say I'm eagerly waiting for Trickster's next act to begin, even with such a cliffhanger ending."
Snow White with the Red Hair Season One BD+DVD
This lackadaisical shojo fairytale offers a softer and more thoughtful take on fantasy romance. Theron Martin explores what makes this series special.
― The name for this 2015 manga adaptation comes from Shirayuki translating into English as “Snow White,” and a few pointed references to the classic fairy tale Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs do pop up: the opening line of the series is the famous “Mir...
Answerman - Why Can't I Watch This Trailer?
You're excited about a new anime series and the trailer is finally here - but you can't watch it because it's restricted in your country! Why do companies do this? Justin has the answer.
― Branko asks: It seems to be common practice for some Japanese companies to region lock their promo videos on Youtube. What exactly is the incentive behind this? Fans will just upload a pirated version immediately....
Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans ‒ Episode 37
"This was an episode where I could see the strings being pulled for the good of the plot, and it didn't feel natural."
Shelf Life - Aquarion Logos Part 1
James Beckett returns to the world of Aquarion with its third series, while Paul breaks down all this week's new releases!
― The constant flow of new anime on disc still amazes me from time to time. You'd think most folks would already be at the bottom of their wallets after all that holiday shopping, and yet we've still got new stuff coming out this week like any other. There are even a handful of ...
Dragon Ball Super ‒ Episode 71
"After the filler shenanigans of the past few weeks, it's nice to be reminded that this show has the capacity to be thoughtful too."
One Piece ‒ Episode 769
"From this point forward, Luffy's journeys will all be about connecting us to the end of the story."
Poco's Udon World ‒ Episode 11
"It looks like Poco's inability to remain in human form may finally give way to some genuine consequences."
Occultic;Nine ‒ Episodes 10-11
"As it enters its conclusion, let's hope that Occultic;Nine stops dawdling and just let its characters do things."
ClassicaLoid ‒ Episode 11
"Episode 11 puts this cast and their relationships front and center and lets them run amok, making it a pure hilarious joy to watch."
Kiss Him, Not Me ‒ Episode 11
"Episode 11 brings the Asuma-centric mini-arc to a funny and satisfying conclusion that provides Mutsumi with the character depth he's lacked throughout most of the series."
Season Finale: Magical Girl Raising Project ‒ Episode 12
"With just three magical girls left, it's finally time to close the curtain on this game of survival."
Series Finale: Izetta: The Last Witch ‒ Episode 12
Despite a troubled journey, Izetta wraps up all its story threads successfully and accomplishes its goals as an alternate history adventure.
March comes in like a lion ‒ Episode 10
"It's clear from its very first moments that sound and place are crucial in this episode."
WWW.WAGNARIA!! ‒ Episode 12
"With several relationships approaching the point of no return, the main characters of WWW.Wagnaria have plenty of emotional minefields to navigate this week."
Flip Flappers ‒ Episode 11
"Whatever Flip Flappers has become now, it no longer resembles the show we started with."
Lostorage incited WIXOSS ‒ Episode 11
"This episode contains so much of everything that Lostorage incited WIXOSS does right and a good bit of what it does wrong."
Season Finale: Bungo Stray Dogs ‒ Episode 24
"Thank goodness the manga is now coming out in English, because I'm not quite ready to say goodbye to this series just yet."
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Diamond Is Unbreakable ‒ Episode 38
"After a showy fight on the streets of Morioh, the Josuke and Kira fight changes gears in this penultimate episode."
The List - 7 Women Who Changed Manga History
Women you may never have heard of have been shaping the history of manga since it began. Meet the generation that created some of your favorite genres!
― Few manga artists are lucky enough to leave an indelible stamp on the industry to the point where their names are synonymous with changing the medium, like Osamu Tezuka, Leiji Matsumoto, Go Nagai, and Fujiko Fujio. Now all of those pioneers were me...
Super Mario Maker for Nintendo 3DS
Can the portable version of this addictive nostalgia-bomb live up to the success of its predecessor? That might depend on what kind of Mario Maker you're looking for.
― Every once in a while, there's a game that comes along that makes me say “who wanted this?” Well, sure, I bet there were plenty of folks out there who said “Yeah, I love Super Mario Maker, but it'd be really cool to have a portable ve...
Drifters ‒ Episode 11
"With so much of the last eleven episodes feeling like protracted setup, I've started to burn out on Drifters a little bit."
All Out!! ‒ Episode 11
"Thanks to Gion becoming less annoying and more likable with every week, I'm fully invested and looking forward to his journey to Hanazono."
Keijo!!!!!!!! ‒ Episode 11
"Even if the broad outline of this episode's events is obvious, the sheer imagination, creativity, and audacity with which it's handled makes the content a joy to watch."
Answerman - Why Are Some Releases Retailer Exclusive?
Exclusive versions of anime releases available only at certain stores - with bonus content and cool packaging - show up all the time. How does that happen? Justin explains.
― Parker asks: How do retailer-exclusive anime releases (like the recent Hunter x Hunter SteelBook at Best Buy) come about? How does a licensor like Viz pick the right retailer to work with and how do both companies benefit from ...
Naruto Shippuden ‒ Episode 486
"Assuming next week's finale can live up to the episode that preceded it, we're looking at one of the show's best non-manga-inspired story arcs."
Rise of the Dark Magical Girls
This season's Magical Girl Raising Project has a heavy body count - and is only the latest in a long line of dark, serious magical girl shows. Paul Jensen explores the genre's roots.
― If you showed this season's Magical Girl Raising Project to an anime fan from around ten years ago, they probably wouldn't know what to make of it. The series has the kinds of character designs that you'd expect to see...
Asterisk War: The Academy City on the Water [Limited Edition] Blu-Ray 2
Despite glossing over important information, Asterisk War's second set of episodes is still a decently entertaining magic high school story.
― The second half of The Asterisk War's first season is both an improvement on its first and more of the same. In part this is achieved by focusing a little less on series male protagonist Ayato in favor of Kirin, the younger girl introduced towards the end of t...
Yuri!!! on Ice ‒ Episode 11
"Like its characters, Yuri!!! on Ice has fallen victim to sky-high expectations."
Brave Witches ‒ Episode 10
"Takami is back in action, having finally made it to the 502nd. Unfortunately, that also means Hikari doesn't have a place there anymore."
Twin Star Exorcists ‒ Episode 36
"Twin Star Exorcists got off to a rough start this week, but putting the focus on Shimon and Chijiwa's fight helped this episode make a solid comeback in the end."
This Week in Games - Shantae: Half-Genie Hero
Dustin takes the latest Shantae game for a spin, and catches up with the still-in-development Shenmue III! PLUS: more on the Nintendo Switch, next week's new releases and more!
― We're inching ever closer to the end of the year, and that means the tide of news and new releases has slowed to a mere softly lapping trickle. So have fun catching up on Final Fantasy XV and the Last Guardian before your fa...
Seraph of the End BD+DVD Collector's Edition
The full series of Seraph of the End gets the deluxe treatment in this glossy release, but how does the show hold up overall? Theron Martin investigates.
― Note: Because I have previously separately reviewed the first half of the series, this review and its rating will almost entirely concentrate on the second half and collector's edition bonuses. The first half of Seraph of the End was passable as a...
Sound! Euphonium 2 ‒ Episode 11
"Reina's crush on her teacher has been a bit of an albatross for Sound! Euphonium."
Girlish Number ‒ Episode 10
"Girlish Number's reflections on the anime industry have been underwritten at times, but its understanding of people and the trials they face have been sharp from start to finish."
Answerman - Why Isn't There More Sumo Wrestling In Anime?
There's a metric ton of sports anime - so why is there hardly any anime about sumo wrestling? Justin gets into it.
― Jake asks: I was recently thinking about all of the sports anime that have come out over the years and it occurred to me that there is practically no anime about sumo wrestling. There are plenty of anime about western style wrestling, kickboxing, kendo and judo but not sumo. One of th...
Nanbaka ‒ Episode 11
"Episode 11 is designed as a combination of comedy and drama, but the shifts here make it feel like it's trivializing one or the other."
ANNCast Series Discussion: Gankutsuou: The Count of Monte Cristo
The ANNCast crew revisits Gonzo's eye-popping 2004 re-imagining of The Count of Monte Cristo. How does it hold up 13 years later?
― ANNCast Episode 279: Gankutsuou: The Count of Monte Cristo Zac, Jacob and ANN's managing interest editor Lynzee Loveridge revisit Gonzo and Mahiro Maeda's lauded, gorgeous and gripping 2004 re-imagining of The Count of Monte Cristo. How does it hold up 13 years later? Y...
Understanding Japan's Light Novel Rankings
Every year, the "Kono Light Novel ga Sugoi!" rankings provide a snapshot of the books Japanese fans love most, from SNAFU to Re:Zero. LN expert Kim Morrissy breaks down this year's list!
― What is Kono Light Novel ga Sugoi!? Every year, Takarajimashima publishes a light novel guide book called Kono Light Novel ga Sugoi! (This Light Novel is Amazing!) which lists the top 10 light novel series of the y...
Natsume Yūjin-Chō Go ‒ Episode 10
"After four seasons, this show is expanding its world in a big way, sharing stories and answering questions about characters who were always in the background."
Hunter × Hunter Blu-Ray 1
Mike Toole gets his hands on the special edition blu-ray release of Hunter x Hunter's first story arc. Does this 2011 remake of the shonen classic live up to its hype?
― Right from the beginning, Hunter x Hunter trades in adventure. The show's narrator darkly invites the viewer to seek out monsters, hidden treasures, and evil haunts. (Evil haunts are my favorite type of haunts.) It's a series rooted ...
Trickster ‒ Episode 11
"At this point, I'm secretly hoping for more campy hilarity to fight the boredom stemming from my inability to care about any of these poorly fleshed-out characters."
The Best and Worst of the Season So Far: Week of Dec 3-9
One Piece impresses this week while Drifters takes a dive. Find out where your own favorites rank!
― Our team of reviewers are following 27 anime series of the Fall 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 mind that these rankings are based on how people rated individual episode...
Owarimonogatari Sub.Blu-Ray 1
Owarimonogatari’s first few arcs turn inwards, offering new insights into Araragi’s character. Nick Creamer takes a look.
― For as much as his voice often dominates the narrative, Monogatari rarely dedicates an arc to Araragi's own apparitions or history. The only arc up until now that you could truly call “his” is Kizumonogatari - drenched in self-loathing and guided by his self-sacrificing spirit, ...
One Piece ‒ Episode 768
"I've got high hopes that the show will keep delivering on that something special that One Piece has always had."
Answerman - Why Do Subtitle Styles From The Same Company Differ?
Name changes, honorifics, grammar - sometimes subtitles within the same company's simulcasts will be inconsistent and kinda confusing. How does that happen? Justin gets into it.
― Wonchop asks: One things that's been noticeable in this age of internet streaming is that even within the same distributor (be it Crunchyroll or Funimation etc), there are differences in the format of the subtitles dependi...
Shelf Life - Omamori Himari
Paul takes a look at a forgotten little catgirl harem comedy from 2010 to see if its old motor still purrs. Plus, all this week's new releases!
― Earlier in the season, I noted that I was trying to keep up with around a dozen shows (not counting the ones I'm doing episode reviews for), and I wondered if I'd be able to keep up with them all. Well, we're in the home stretch and I'm still staying curre...
Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans ‒ Episode 36
"The next episode is primed to be action-packed, and hopefully it'll make a little more sense than this week."
God Eater Blu-Ray 1
God Eater's first half takes a bit to get going, but proves to be a pretty good watch for those with a taste for action RPG storytelling. Rebecca Silverman takes a look.
― Based on the series of popular action RPGs, God Eater's first seven episodes have the unenviable task of convincing viewers that this series can either live up its source material or stand separately from it. Since this isn't alway...
Izetta: The Last Witch ‒ Episode 11
"It's just a shame that the series took until its penultimate episode to finally crystallize what it does right again."
The Mike Toole Show - What's "Teekyu" Anyway?
Mike takes a tour through the weird, wild world of Teekyu, a long-running cult favorite that'll melt your brain inside only a few animated minutes.
― It's been a banner year for short anime series, to the point that you could make a pretty creditable top 5 just using shorts that range from three to twelve minutes per episode. My personal favorite is a toss-up between Please Tell Me! Galko-chan and Sp...
Dragon Ball Super ‒ Episode 70
"Of these three filler style episodes, this one's probably my favorite."
Poco's Udon World ‒ Episode 10
"Rinko's character arc enters its next phase in an emotional Poco's Udon World."
Magical Girl Raising Project ‒ Episode 11
"Magical Girl Raising Project has had its share of flaws and missteps, but I give it a lot of credit for being able to invite so much speculation this late in the game."
March comes in like a lion ‒ Episode 9
"This week's March comes in like a lion was consumed by Rei's encounter with the sixty-five year old Mr. Matsunaga."
WWW.WAGNARIA!! ‒ Episode 11
"The show's main couple brings the comedy in a big way this week."
The Ghost and the Lady GN 1
From Scotland Yard's Black Museum to the battlefields of the Crimean War, The Ghost and the Lady's first volume is a fascinating piece of historical fiction with an engrossing art style.
― This is a manga about things that really happened, wrapped in a layer of things that didn't. In other words, it's historical fantasy – fictionalized historical events with a touch of the supernatural. The Ghost and...
ClassicaLoid ‒ Episode 10
"We had Mozart and Beethoven focus episodes, and it's now time for the next one in the line-up—Chopin!"
Kiss Him, Not Me ‒ Episode 10
"Now that the rest of the harem has had a turn in the spotlight, Kiss Him, Not Me shifts the focus to Mutsumi Asuma, the second-least prominent member of the group."
Season Finale: Haikyu!! 3rd Season ‒ Episode 10
After five exhausting and pulse-pounding sets, Karasuno's finals-qualifying match against Shiratorizawa has finally come to an end. But which team came out victorious?
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Diamond Is Unbreakable ‒ Episode 37
"Things are a rollercoaster right now for our dear little antagonist, as his luck seems to be spiraling back and forth."
Lostorage incited WIXOSS ‒ Episode 10
"This back third of WIXOSS has embodied a weird kind of paradox, where too much is happening and not enough is happening all at once."
Bungo Stray Dogs ‒ Episode 23
"Although Dazai and Kyouka both put in token appearances, it's really all about Atsushi, Akutagawa, and Fitzgerald this time."
The List - 7 Anime About Women in Sports
While most sports shows these days are sausagefests, there are still a handful of sports anime about the feminine side of the equation in this classic edition of The List.
― We're approaching the end of Keijo!!!!!!!!, so it seems a perfect time to revisit a classic list about women in sports. Keijo has really taken a twist on these classic approaches, and we've also gotten a multitude of other women...
Drifters ‒ Episode 10
"This is one of the better “cooldown” episodes the show has had so far."
Goblin Slayer Novel 1
As a light novel fantasy that isn't based on someone being transported to a game world, Goblin Slayer's first volume is well worth a look. Rebecca Silverman dives in.
― Goblin Slayer stands alone among other fantasy light novels released in English (with the exception of the now out-of-print Slayers novels) in that it doesn't feature a world entirely based on gaming. Yes, there is mention of “experie...
Flip Flappers ‒ Episodes 9-10
"We're finally getting all the concrete answers the show has been holding back from us since it began—but your mileage will definitely vary on how those answers make you feel."
ANNCast - What's My Name (Video)
Zac and Jacob spend the entire first video episode of ANNCast talking spoiler-free about Makoto Shinkai's amazing movie, your name., plus Yuri!!! on Ice and much more!
― ANNCast Episode 278: What's My Name Zac and Jacob spend the entire first video episode of ANNCast talking spoiler-free about Makoto Shinkai's amazing movie, Your Name, plus Yuri on Ice and much more! You can listen to the show on ou...
Why Does Pokemon Look So Different Now?
Pokemon Sun and Moon introduced a brand new visual style to the franchise that's left fans divided! Callum May explains how and why Pokemon's style has shifted so much over the years.
― The anime industry is constantly changing. In the past 20 years, we've seen new studios rise and old guards fall, we've lost extraordinary veteran talents and welcomed new hopeful faces, we've seen entirely new ways o...
Review: Sailor Moon S Blu-Ray/DVD
One of the most beloved seasons in this classic anime is finally available to own with a brand-new dub! Rebecca Silverman explores how well Sailor Moon S holds up after all these years.
― Sailor Moon S is hailed as one of the best seasons of the five-season series, and even just from the first few episodes, you can see why. Unlike its predecessors, Sailor Moon S gets right down to business introducin...
All Out!! ‒ Episode 10
"Gion might still be struggling to find his undying love for rugby, but Ōharano is probably the last person on the team to help with this problem."
Keijo!!!!!!!! ‒ Episode 10
"Every time you think Keijo has outdone itself with its over-the-top antics, it pulls yet another brazen stunt."
Naruto Shippuden ‒ Episode 485
"Featuring action, intrigue, and a healthy dose of comedy, the second entry in Sasuke's Story: Sunrise embodies Naruto's best qualities."
Brave Witches ‒ Episode 9
"Naoe has gotten as much attention as anyone in the secondary role throughout the series so far, but this episode marks the first time that she has been the focal point character."
Yuri!!! on Ice ‒ Episode 10
"This pen-penultimate installment, which consists of one last restful moment before the Grand Prix final, serves as a reflection on the cast's growth over the past in-show year."
This Week in Games - Let It Die
It's Dark Souls by way of creative powderkeg Suda 51, and Dustin has strapped in for a weird, bloody ride. PLUS: Death Stranding, Final Fantasy XV, Super Mario Run and much more!
― It's the end of the year, and that means it's time for game releases to start winding down—but don't worry, January is already packed. There's only one release of any note this week, but don't think the lack of new games m...
Maria the Virgin Witch BD+DVD
This unusual historical fantasy anime might have gotten lost in the shuffle of bigger titles over time, but it's still one of a kind today. Theron Martin explores just what makes this series special.
― Maria the Virgin Witch is a remarkable series in many respects. It's nearly as raunchy as a high-end fanservice anime – even being assigned a TV-MA rating despite not having any detailed nudity – and y...
Twin Star Exorcists ‒ Episode 35
"Hijirimaru returns to torment the Twin Stars this week, and from the opening of the episode, I was excited to see what he had in store for our heroes."
Nanbaka ‒ Episode 10
"It might not affect the characters well in-universe, but Nanbaka seems to be at its strongest when it divides up its cast."
Sound! Euphonium 2 ‒ Episode 10
"While shows are often described as “greater than the sum of their parts,” Euphonium 2 has had the opposite problem - terrific individual scenes, less than stellar narrative composition."
Answerman - Why Is Workplace Romance So Taboo in Anime?
Workplace romances are often treated like an unforgivable offense in many anime - what's up with that? Justin gets into it.
― Jennifer asks: relationship between coworkers is unacceptable even if they are in different departments. In Fune no Amu, we see Nishioka-san and Miyoshi-san in a relationship but they can't be seen together out in public. Why is that? Is it a distraction? I don't see it as a ...
Girlish Number ‒ Episode 9
"After a pair of episodes spent humanizing the show's very sympathetic secondary characters, the focus at last returned to Girlish Number's two huge idiots."
Mixing Fact and Fiction: Historical Fiction in Anime
Like this season's Izetta: The Last Witch, historical fiction anime plays fast and loose with real events to spin some fantastic yarns that nevertheless teach us plenty about real history!
― Though it has never been a dominant anime genre, historical fiction has nevertheless persisted in anime since its earliest days. These days hardly a season goes by without some new interpretation(s) of Sengoku-er...
Natsume Yūjin-Chō Go ‒ Episode 9
"An undeserving yokai gets one of the season's happiest endings, but the really fascinating part comes from how Madara reacts to it."
Summer Wars [Hosoda Collection] BD+DVD
The extras are insightful in this new release of Summer Wars, even if the story may not hold up the way it once did. Rebecca Silverman offers her take on Mamoru Hosoda's breakout film.
― Time is the greatest test of any work. Poems written by Heian era women over a thousand years ago are still intimately relatable to modern readers, novels by men in the 19th century still have a lot to say about soci...
Trickster ‒ Episode 10
"Hanasaki's unsurprising abduction/adoption by Twenty Faces is followed by an equally by-the-book mental torture session."
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