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SPY×FAMILY Code: White Anime Film Review
The anime dub premieres tonight in Los Angeles, but is the Spy x Family film a must-see or an easy skip?
― Let's start this review with a bit of a litmus test to see whether you'll enjoy this film or not. Does the idea of an extended sequence about a little girl trying desperately not to poop—to the point where she starts having surreal hallucinations—sound like the height of comedy? If yes, you've f...
Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint Volume 1 Manhwa Review
This is for the ones who knew the Red Wedding was coming, gleefully chuckled when the film Bridge to Terabithia grossly misled parents, and always read the book before seeing the movie.
― This one's for the smug readers, the ones who knew the Red Wedding was coming, who gleefully chuckled when the film for Bridge to Terabithia grossly misled parents as to what it was about, and who always read the bo...
Godzilla: Here There Be Dragons Graphic Novel Review
It's kaiju and pirates in this ahistorical take on the dragons found on old treasure maps—but it doesn't quite deliver on its fantastic elevator pitch.
― The elevator pitch for Godzilla: Here There Be Dragons is fantastic—a voyage of Sir Francis Drake to find the Dead Bishop's treasure, only to find forbidden seas filled with the kaiju of the Godzilla franchise, presented as a pirate's tall tale by a...
Canine Detective Chris: The Shiba Inu Detective Tracks Down the Stolen Jewels! Novel Review
Canine Detective Chris, one of the four launch titles for Yen Press' middle-grade light novel imprint, digs into several of the trends in middle-grade mystery that make it so appealing, chief among them the intelligent animal of its title.
― Mystery is one of the staples of middle-grade fiction, alongside fantasy and school stories. From The Westing Game and From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. F...
Banished from the Hero's Party Season 2 Anime Series Review
A new, compelling villain and a pleasant romantic backdrop makes for a deeply satisfying show.
― Despite the off-putting, typical-for-light-novels word salad of its full 15-word title, the first season of Banished from the Hero's Party, I Decided to Live a Quiet Life in the Countryside was one of my highlights of the Fall 2021 season. For one, it wasn't an isekai, and it mixed low-stakes slice-of-lif...
Bottom-Tier Character Tomozaki 2nd Stage Anime Series Review
As before, Second Stage's biggest strength is in its complex, nuanced character development and dynamics.
― I was a little surprised when Bottom-Tier Character Tomozaki 2nd Stage failed to win enough ANN reader votes for weekly streaming reviews of its second season, as I'd been under the impression the first season was pretty popular. I guess I was wrong. To several of my internet buddies, each succ...
Ya Boy Kongming! Road to Summer Sonia Anime Film Review
Some of the best-looking musical sequences are so heavily improved upon their original versions that they alone justify watching this film, even if you know the original by heart.
― Compilation films are such a weird thing in anime, are they not? We accept their existence because there are a million of them. If American TV shows started cutting up full seasons into 2 hours and throwing five minutes o...
High Card Season 2 Anime Series Review
High Card is a show that seems to live by the rule of cool, but the problem is that the lore of High Card isn't always that interesting at best and downright perplexing at worst.
― The first half of High Card had an issue with establishing an identity. My biggest problem with the first handful of episodes was that it felt like the show couldn't decide what kind of story it wanted to tell. Did it want...
Doctor Elise: The Royal Lady with the Lamp Anime Series Review
In many ways, watching this show is at least mildly annoying.
― In case you missed it, Doctor Elise: The Royal Lady with the Lamp is making a very real attempt to align its heroine with real-life nursing pioneer Florence Nightingale. Her last name, Clorence, is meant to rhyme with "Florence" (and the manhwa translation spells it "Clarence," so the subtitles are trying to play this link up), her count...
Weakest Tamer Began a Journey to Pick Up Trash Anime Series Review
Unfairly overshadowed during the Winter 2024 season by heavyweight titles The Weakest Tamer Began a Journey to Pick Up Trash is a surprisingly high-quality fantasy.
― Unfairly overshadowed during the Winter 2024 season by heavyweight titles Frieren and Delicious in Dungeon, The Weakest Tamer Began a Journey to Pick Up Trash is a surprisingly high-quality fantasy anime from Studio Massket – it's their...
Sasaki and Peeps Season One Anime Series Review
In its animated incarnation, Sasaki and Peeps is Overstuffed Smörgåsbord – The Anime.
― Sasaki and Peeps surely represent the end stage of the Japanese light novel explosion. We've run out of endlessly iterative and overcomplicated isekai power fantasy concepts, flashy and violent psychic battling's getting old, and magical girls have been deconstructed over and over until there's nothing left but ru...
Cherry Magic! Thirty Years of Virginity Can Make You a Wizard?! Anime Series Review
It could look better, but don't let that stop you from watching this kind, mature romance.
― Cherry Magic! Thirty Years of Virginity Can Make You a Wizard?!: it's like My New Boss is Goofy, but actually gay. It would be easy to glibly write this series off that way, and there are distinct similarities between the two, not the least of which is that both series explore the bonds between men who work a...
Tis Time for "Torture," Princess Anime Series Review
Despite its best efforts, Torture Princess' humor is mostly one-note and has little to leave audiences wanting more.
― The more jaded fans among us would be forgiven for fearing the worst for this anime that prominently features the loaded word “torture” in its title. After all, the series composer is Kazuyuki Fudeyasu, the same screenwriter who composed such infamous anime adaptations as Redo of Hea...
The Demon Prince of Momochi House Anime Series Review
The Demon Prince of Momochi House absolutely could have been more than this and I'm sorry it isn't, but to damn it with faint praise, “mediocre” is at least better than “bad.”
― It's difficult not to watch The Demon Prince of Momochi House and compare it to Sacrificial Princess and the King of Beasts. That's not because they're similar stories – apart from falling under the shoujo demographic and fan...
Tales of Wedding Rings Episodes 1-12 Streaming Anime Review
What you're left with is a dull fantasy with stock, underdeveloped characters with uninteresting relationships that never look as good as they insist they should.
― The isekai subgenre is no stranger to harems. These days, it seems like every Tom, Dick, or Harry who gets transported to a fantasy world is instantly gifted with a gaggle of giggling girls glomming over his gormless gonads. Tales of Wedd...
Rascal Does Not Dream of a Knapsack Kid Anime Film Review
The second part of a double-feature currently in U.S. theaters, when Sakuta finds he's become invisible, he'll have to face some significant changes in his life to create the future he wants.
― As an overarching story, The Rascal Does Not Dream series hit its central climax in the 2019 film Rascal Does Not Dream of a Dreaming Girl. The previous film to this one, Rascal Does Not Dream of a Sister Vent...
Rascal Does Not Dream of a Sister Venturing Out Anime Film Review
In theaters as a double-feature, Rascal Does Not Dream of a Sister Venturing Out changes up the formula for a unique yet satisfying film.
― As a fan of the previous Rascal Does Not Dream anime, this film is not at all what I expected. Up until this point, the series has followed a set pattern. Our protagonist Sakuta becomes involved with a young woman who is dealing with some aspect of growing up—be ...
Rooming With My Two Lovers Volume 1 Manga Review
Rooming With My Two Lovers does something that I wish a lot more BL stories would do: the characters sit down and have a proper conversation like adults.
― Rooming With My Two Lovers is a series that I wouldn't say I liked when it started. In many ways, it falls into the typical conventional trappings you'd see in most other adult BL stories. There is this emphasis on teasing and gaslighting in a way...
My Ultramarine Sky Manga Review
My Ultramarine Sky is a slow burn, which may drag for some readers, but it's ultimately a very rewarding reading experience.
― Nagisa Furuya excels at writing gentle, yearning BL stories. Her previously released titles, The Two Lions from Seven Seas and My Summer of You from Kodansha, have demonstrated this knack, and My Ultramarine Sky is no exception. The story follows two friends, Kai and Ren, who...
A Kingdom of Quartz Manga Volume 1 Review
Sometimes, with an exceptional manga, all it takes is a few pages to fall hopelessly in love.
― Sometimes, with an exceptional manga, all it takes is a few pages to fall hopelessly in love. That was my early experience with Canadian mangaka BOMHAT's first published manga A Kingdom of Quartz. I'd describe it as Witch Hat Atelier meets Haibane Renmei by way of The Ugly Duckling. Initially published (wi...
Blood Blade Volume 1 Manga Review
Fans of The Case Study of Vanitas and Undead Girl Murder Farce are likely to find much to enjoy in this classic monsters-turned-manga characters tale.
― Chapter two of this dark supernatural fantasy begins with the words, "Why does Vlad the Impaler look like a young girl?" The obvious, facetious answer that immediately springs to mind is "because Japan." If Oda Nobunaga can be reborn in multiple form...
Kowloon Generic Romance Manga Volume 1-6 Review
What started as a lushly drawn nostalgia piece about a long-gone city soon delves into sci-fi mystery material and a burgeoning sense of dread.
― This is one of those mystery-focused manga that's almost impossible to discuss without some significant spoilers for at least the first volume. Author Jun Mayuzuki holds her cards incredibly close to her chest, so if there's even a chance you'd consider rea...
The Blue Wolves of Mibu Volume 1 Manga Review
Soon to be an anime series, The Blue Wolves of Mibu is a safe bet for fans of the Shinsengumi historical subgenre.
― The Shinsengumi is pretty inescapable in Japanese fiction, and I fully admit that most of my reading about them in the manga and visual novel sphere has been on the shōjo side – the Hakuouki franchise and the incomparable Kaze Hikaru, in particular. But there's undoubtedly more than ju...
Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? Novels 17-18 Review
The conclusion of the "Fertility Arc" drags in places, but it's bittersweet and remarkably fulfilling, and that makes up for many of its deficiencies.
― Spoiler Warning: This review will contain spoilers for volumes sixteen and seventeen of the light novel series. Freya is tired of waiting. She's decided that if she can't have Bell through fair means (or at least "fair" in her mind), she'll resort to...
Bocchi the Rock! Anime Series Blu-ray Disc Review
One of "the most unorthodox and innovative" anime is out on Blu-ray in this subtitled-only release. We'd like more extras, but you can't say no to Bocchi.
― Unless you're a brand-new anime fan, you probably have heard of Bocchi the Rock!. If you are a new fan, welcome! When it came onto the scene in the fall of 2023, it was an easy crowd-pleaser with the way it combined cute girl hobby anime aestheti...
A Returner's Magic Should Be Special Volumes 1-3 Manhwa Review
Despite hitting a lot of very familiar beats, there's something about A Returner's Magic Should Be Special that's incredibly readable.
― Despite hitting a lot of very familiar beats, there's something about A Returner's Magic Should Be Special that's incredibly readable. Yes, our hero Desir Herrman is the typical overpowered protagonist seen in so many isekai and time loop stories, and yes, he's faci...
Love, a Kitten, and a Salty Dog Manga Review
Love, a Kitten, and a Salty Dog is, by and large, a pleasant read, but it feels like a story that was shoved into a one-volume format when it might have benefitted from having two.
― BL series about veterinarians seems to be a budding, if not booming, subgenre. Alongside Therapy Game and Honey Darling we now have Seven Seas' release of Love, a Kitten, and a Salty Dog. Like Honey Darling (released by ...
Fairy Princess Minky Momo Episodes 16-30 Anime Review
With this second batch of episodes released for Western audiences, Fairy Princess Minky Momo feels like it really hits its stride.
― With this second batch of episodes released for Western audiences, Fairy Princess Minky Momo feels like it really hits its stride. By this point, the formula is well-established: Momo, in her guise as the daughter of an Earth couple in an unnamed European country, finds...
Pokémon Horizons: The Series Anime Episodes 1-12
With Ash's story done and its focus on new adventures and characters, can Pokémon Horizons live up to its legendary predecessor?
― With the end of one era comes the beginning of another. We saw the original Pokémon anime officially come to an end with the wrap up of Ash Ketchum's journey. None of us thought for a second this would be the end of Pokémon anime as a whole because the Pokémon Company had...
Marginal Prince Anime Series Review
It's far from groundbreaking, and every episode is filled with so much cheese that you risk getting indigestion, but I think if you take your time digesting it like I did, there's a lot of fun here.
― Crunchyroll recently added Marginal Prince to their streaming service. It's an adaptation of a love simulation game of the same name from the early 2000s. Boy, does it feel like it! It's always interest...
Tokyo These Days Volume 1 Manga Review
Taiyo Matsumoto turns his talents to exploring the manga field from various creative angles and the inescapable hold creative work (and manga, in particular) has on us.
― Many authors and illustrators have tried to write about what it means to work in a creative field. For my money, John Kendrick Bangs' 1896 novel A Rebellious Heroine best captures the writing life, and that's illustrious company for...
SAND LAND: THE SERIES Anime Episodes 1-6 Review
This visually stunning action-adventure is another reminder of why Toriyama was a world-builder with boundless creativity.
― Coming straight out of the mind of the beloved Dragon Ball's Akira Toriyama, the original Sand Land manga is a short, one-volume work published all the way back in the year 2000. This past year, it was adapted into a feature film. Sand Land: The Series takes the 106-minute movi...
My Boss Is a Giant: He Manages My Every Need With Enormous Skill! Manga Review
Unfortunately, the steamy story is undermined by abandoned plot threads leaving fairly non-graphic sex scenes to entice readers.
― The title says it all as far as major content warnings go with this one: it's a romance manga about a woman who becomes involved with her boss. It's hardly novel in the genre, but it's also one of those tropes that doesn't work for all readers, so the good news is that yo...
Tekkonkinkreet: Black & White 30th Anniversary Edition Manga Review
Taiyō Matsumoto's Tekkonkikreet is a powerful manga, one unique and beautiful in its off-beat presentation and heartbreaking/warming in its characters and themes.
― I knew next to nothing about Taiyō Matsumoto or his work before reading Tekkonkikreet, and with the manga in question, I only knew of Treasure Town, coming across it when looking up cool anime cities. I'm glad I ended up going in blind to...
Pokemon Adventures: Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire Volume 1 Manga Review
This manga is best read with prior knowledge of the characters and the base games, but inside is a worthwhile, fast-paced adventure.
― I will always take advantage of any opportunity to talk about the Pokémon Adventures manga because I genuinely think it is fantastic. Composed of dozens of volumes, the Pokémon Adventures manga series is the closest thing that fans have to a dedicated expansion of the...
Seven Deadly Sins: Four Knights of the Apocalypse Episodes 1-11 Anime Review
The Seven Deadly Sins: Four Knights of the Apocalypse's first cour is a bit of a mixed bag that doesn't yet live up to its popular predecessor.
― Welcome back to the Arthurian-inspired shounen world of The Seven Deadly Sins. In this adaptation of the Nakaba Suzuki's sequel manga, it's been sixteen years since the Sins' final battle, and the focus shifts to their children – or at least to a random kid...
The White and Blue Between Us Manga Review
This is only a one-volume story, and it simply doesn't have the space to give us the needed depth of emotion, especially for lead character Mishima.
― So many love stories in fiction begin or end with a lie. That's not surprising when you think about the genre; its very nature means that any antagonistic actions need to be either ridiculously huge (kidnapping, war, etc.) or small enough to be a fixtu...
Ako and Bambi Volume 1 Manga Review
From one the creators behind Horimiya, an up-and-coming writer meets a ghost haunting his new apartment, but there are still mysteries lingering behind her death.
― You may recognize HERO as one of the creators behind Horimiya, and for some readers, that will be enough to merit picking this up. But Ako and Bambi's first volume stands on its own two feet even without that endorsement, and it is striki...
Ufouria: The Saga 2 Game Review
Ufouria: The Saga 2 delivers a long-overdue comeback for a cult classic from the NES era, but can it live up to a legacy?
― Ufouria: The Saga 2 delivers a long-overdue comeback for a cult classic from the NES era, but can it live up to a legacy? The original Ufouria: The Saga was one that got away. Its North American release was canceled back in 1991, and even though the game made it out in Japan an...
Mario vs Donkey Kong Game Review
The most interesting part of Mario vs Donkey Kong is trying to figure out why Nintendo released this title, in this way, at this time.
― Mario vs Donkey Kong is fine. I should probably open this review by talking about the mechanics of the game, how much should or should not change in a remake, or if this title is worth its $50 price point; but, several hours after seeing the credits roll, I remain f...
The Klutzy Witch: Fukka and the Witch of Darkness Anime Movie Review
There are some fun moments of slapstick, but the humor fades as the film goes on, and the action is never particularly impressive or memorable.
― The Klutzy Witch: Fukka and the Witch of Darkness screened at the 2024 New York International Children's Film Festival as a double bill with the short film Magic Candies. Despite the festival's name, many of the anime movies screened there have also held st...
Lovely Complex Anime Blu-Ray Review
Fans of romantic comedies with human characters, people who love and relate to weirdo protagonists, and long-time Lovely Complex admirers, pick up this Blu-ray.
― Lovely Complex seems like an unlikely candidate for a dubbed Blu-ray release, even from a company that specializes in releasing older anime like Discotek. It first came out in 2007, natively animated in 480p, and the simple, frequently off-...
Sympathy Kiss Game Review
Sympathy Kiss is guaranteed happy escapism despite its workday setting and sometimes awkward writing. This is a nice low-key treat for otome game fans.
― Some otome games go all in on the escapism factor, putting their playable protagonists in various fantasy or dangerous situations where finding love and survival go hand in hand. That's not the kind of game Sympathy Kiss is. Otomate and Idea Factory...
God Bless the Mistaken Volume 1 Manga Review
Bloom Into You's Nio Nakatani is no one-trick pony as she takes on a gentle slice of magic realism life tale in God Bless the Mistaken.
― Sometimes, a creator works on a series that is so good that it risks shadowing all of their other works. For Nio Nakatani, that series is Bloom into You, and fans of that one might find themselves a little dismayed that God Bless the Mistaken isn't a similar gentle...
Smoking Behind the Supermarket with You Volume 1 Manga Review
The award-winning manga hinges on the humorous rapport between an overworked salaryman and the biker-chic woman who smokes behind the supermarket.
― Let me start by admitting that I think cigarette smoking (in fact, any kind of nicotine inhalation, whether cigar smoking, e-cig vaping, or snuff… uh… snuffing?) is gross. It's not just the myriad of horrific health complications, nor the hideous stench ...
holoX MEETing! Volume 1 Manga Review
This is probably a must-buy for holoX fans. However, I think it also functions perfectly well on its own.
― VTubers have exploded as a form of online entertainment in the past couple of years and it makes sense why. On a corporate and professional level, they have tapped into the appeal of mainstream idol cultures. This has given birth to various forms of media, from music to animations and even mang...
Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island Game Review
Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island could very well become someone's "forever" game: even if you reach the peak and obtain all the riches...maybe you'll be down for one last romp through the dungeon.
― In one run through the mystery dungeon, my sword and shield had been rusted to -1 stats by a ninja using water jutsu. I was low on health, and I had accidentally wandered int...
Taking Care of God Manga Review
Like the best science fiction, Taking Care of God posits an absurd situation to illuminate our present or near future: how will we care for our aging population?
― Fans of Chinese sci-fi may recognize the name Cixin Liu, the Hugo award-winning author of the short story that inspired this manga. The 2019 theatrical adaptation of his novel The Wandering Earth broke records as the highest-domestic-gross...
All You Want, Whenever You Want Manga Review
If you want your BL to be equal parts graphic raunchiness and sweet romance, All You Want, Whenever You Want is the perfect recipe.
― If there's one thing I very much appreciate about Tokyopop's current incarnation (apart from the fact that they've been doing quite well with their BL licensing choices), it's how they list content warnings on their product pages. Rather than simply noting that a book ...
Whoever Steals This Book Volume 1 Manga Review
A manga about fiction coming to life, Whoever Steals This Book's art for each new fictional world is distinct and captivating.
― Fiction about fiction is a weird, woolly, postmodern fantasy genre I tend to enjoy. The best examples from the Western comic oeuvre I can think of would either be Neil Gaiman's The Sandman or Mike Carey's The Unwritten. Both play with the structures and tropes of fantasy st...
Gazing at the Star Next Door Volume 1 Manga Review
Gazing at the Star Next Door takes on a coziness and warmth that many other series lack. If you like sweet shoujo goodness, this is a series to pick up.
― With this second series released in English, Ammitsu has officially become one of my favorite creators. In Gazing at the Star Next Door, she takes the childhood friend trope, combines it with the celebrity romance, and somehow manages to come out w...
Jujutsu Kaisen Cursed Clash Video Game Review
Cursed Clash is a retelling of the first couple of arcs from the franchise, and right off the bat, there is something undeniably cheap about the presentation.
― What's this? A 3D arena-based fighting game with tag team mechanics based on the current most popular shonen anime? Where have I seen this before? Cursed Clash is a game that will feel familiar to fans of anime video game adaptations that hav...
Sword Art Online the Movie -Progressive- Scherzo of Deep Night
Asuna's story continues in the second Progressive film, now streaming on Crunchyroll. Find out more about her and Kirito's growing friendship and see the continuation of her rocky relationship with Mito.
― Sword Art Online the Movie -Progressive- Scherzo of Deep Night is the second Sword Art Online Progressive film, and it picks up the story a bit less than a month after the end of Aria of a Starless...
In the Name of the Mermaid Princess Volume 1 Manga Review
Yoshino Fumikawa and Miya Tashiro's manga tackles ableism and racism via a fantasy lens.
― In the kingdom of Blognig, it doesn't do to be anything but human. People born with animal features are not tolerated, even though they're a perfectly natural occurrence. Even if neither parent has them, and according to both law and custom, such "unhumans" are transported to other, more tolerant countries. Pos...
What's Wrong with Secretary Kim? Volumes 1-3 Manhwa Review
A kidnapping incident, a possible romantic triangle, and family business politics make What's Wrong with Secretary Kim? a page-turner.
― Although there are plenty of differences between manga and manhwa, a modern trend seems true for both: originating as a novel. What's Wrong with Secretary Kim? began its life that way in 2013. GyeongYun Jeong's book has been adapted into a live-action television ser...
Granblue Fantasy Relink Video Game Review
Gorgeous visuals highlight Granblue Fantasy Relink as an ambitious title that is exceptional in most categories and solid in the rest.
― Granblue Fantasy Relink is an ambitious title that is exceptional in most categories and solid in the rest. At this point, there's a good chance that if you are plugged into the gaming space, you have heard of Granblue Fantasy in some capacity. Granblue Fantasy Reli...
Bloody Escape -Jigoku no Tōsōgeki- Anime Film Review
The cyborg vampire ninja isn't enough to keep this film above merely mediocre.
― Bloody Escape -Jigoku no Tōsōgeki- is a film of tremendous highs and lows on nearly every level. On the one hand, its world is wonderfully over-the-top. The mixture of future technology, magic, and fantasy races leads to wildly fun clashes in tone and style. Kisaragi, our main protagonist, is a cyborg vampire ninja who h...
Bullbuster Anime Series Review
If you're looking for a story that uses giant robots to do something different, something smart, maybe even something a little political, this is worth your while.
― Yes, this is an anime named Bullbuster that was produced at Studio NUT. Two things that sound like a testicle reference! Dohohohoho. Now that we've gotten that sensible, if slightly puerile, chuckle out of the way, let's move on to talki...
Tekken 8 Video Game Review
Tekken's bombastic story continues in this latest franchise entry, coupled with an impressive soundtrack and a story that doesn't take itself too seriously.
― I love Tekken! It's such a fun, dumb franchise where the same three people constantly try to kill each other, but it's over-the-top fun in all the best ways. I have not played every iteration, but I wanted to dive into the latest installment si...
Gachiakuta Manga Volume 1 Review
Gachiakuta looks like a promising entry to satisfy readers with Mad Max-esque itch.
― From the outset, Gachiakuta's heavily graffiti-inspired art is striking – with deceptively simple and immediately cool-looking character designs depicted with clean, thick line-work contrasting with a grimy, lived-in world. The opening chapter, in particular, plays with perspective and warped proportions to instantl...
All About My Two Dads Manga Review
Together, the two men struggle with the highs and lows of raising a child in a story that, despite its title, is much more about being human than anything else.
― Ask any parent, and they'll tell you – raising a child isn't easy. It doesn't matter what your gender or sexual orientation is or if it's your first or fifth baby; every child is their own person. Roji's All About My Two Dads takes this tru...
KONOSUBA - God's Blessing on this Wonderful World! Love For These Clothes Of Desire! Game Review
KONOSUBA - God's Blessing on this Wonderful World! Love For These Clothes Of Desire! offers plenty of wonderful content for existing fans of Konosuba but some aspects of the game make it rather unsuitable for newcomers.
― Are you the kind of fan who can not get enough Konosuba? Have you read the books and watched the anime—including the film and Megumin spin-off—multiple times? Did you even watch Ise...
Another Code: Recollection Game Review
What does it mean to die? What does it mean for the people left behind? What does it mean for a memory to die? These questions and more are answered in this remake of a 2005 cult classic.
― What does it mean to die? What does it mean for the people left behind? What does it mean for a memory to die? These weren't questions people were ready to answer when Trace Memory was first released in the United...
Blade & Bastard: Warm Ash, Dusky Dungeon Novel Review
Blade & Bastard is reminiscent of the heyday of Forgotten Realms and Dragonlance novels, and like those, you don't have to be familiar with the source game.
― There may be other light novel authors as well suited to penning an adaptation/spin-off of the popular RPG series Wizardry than Kumo Kagyu of Goblin Slayer fame, but after reading the first volume of Blade & Bastard, it's hard to think of one. ...
Ennead Manhwa Volume 1 Review
Ennead is undoubtedly a must-read if you're interested in Ancient Egypt and its mythology, but it's also just an interesting story in its own right.
― Although it isn't fair to say that Egyptian mythology gets no exposure in pop culture, it certainly doesn't have the same recognizability as Greco-Roman or Norse mythologies regarding ancient cultures. Authors like Pauline Gedge and Danielle S. LeBlanc...
Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? Audiobook 1 Review
The Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? audiobook is a standard fantasy experience primarily kept afloat by a few novel ideas and strong performances from the narrators.
― The Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? audiobook is a standard fantasy experience primarily kept afloat by a few novel ideas and strong performances from the narrators. It should be noted that this is m...
Fairy Princess Minky Momo Episodes 1-15 Anime Review
This a great series to watch while scarfing down a bowl of sugary cereal in true 1980s fashion.
― Before we get going, yes, this is that series with the infamous episode forty-six, which shaped the darker elements of the magical girl series that came after it. As of this writing, Crunchyroll hasn't licensed anything beyond the first fifteen episodes, and although they still contain some moments that ...
Our Dating Story: The Experienced You and the Inexperienced Me Anime Review
Our Dating Story: The Experienced You and the Inexperienced Me is… fine. Had the story been more nuanced, the script more engaging, the direction more impactful, it could have been good, great even.
― Our Dating Story: The Experienced You and the Inexperienced Me is somehow both ambitious and completely lacking in ambition. It initially caught my attention because I have a soft spot for the dynamics ...
Soaring Sky! Pretty Cure Episodes 37-50 Anime Review
Every one of the Cures in this season is a hero by the end, saving the worlds, each other, and themselves.
― Every story starts somewhere. It sounds sophomoric to say, but the truth is that we often don't think about where something really began, especially if the story we're watching or living is exciting and tangled in its own right. That's more or less the case with the Cures in their fight agains...
Steel of the Celestial Shadows Volume 1 Manga Review
This slow-burn supernatural series will test reader's patience, but the reveal is worth the wait.
― Perspective is everything. That's more than just a pat statement in the case of samurai Konosuke Ryudo, who has suffered (as he sees it) from an inability to interact with metal since childhood. In his mind, it's a curse – he's a samurai who can't use a steel blade, a man who can't even get a close sha...
Kaina of the Great Snow Sea: Star Sage Anime Film Review
Kaina's closing chapter is hindered by a stereotypical villain and predictable plotting, where the destination was emphasized over the journey.
― Kaina of the Great Snow Sea was the latest televised collaboration between manga author Tsutomu Nihei and CG animation studio Polygon Pictures. This team-up had previously produced adaptations of Knights of Sidonia and Blame!, and Kaina stood out as their f...
Witch's Life in a Micro Room Manga Volume 1 Review
Witch Life in a Micro Room is about standing out while not standing out. It's a story that effectively combines the slice-of-life, fantasy, and underdog genres in a digestible package.
― Have you ever felt outdated? Have you ever felt like you were constantly being compared to those more marketable than you? This is an existential crisis that most of us go through in this world of social media and in...
Mobile Suit Gundam SEED FREEDOM Anime Film Review
After languishing for years, Gundam SEED FREEDOM is out in theaters in Japan. When Orphee joins the story, Lacus and Kira face the line between free will and fate.
― I'll be honest. Part of me was certain this film would never be completed. It was announced way back in 2006 only to be put on hold due to the chronic illnesses plaguing Gundam SEED's creator, scriptwriter Chiaki Morosawa. Little was sai...
I'm in Love with the Villainess Audiobooks 1-2 Review
Shaw's impressive vocal range — from the imperious Claire to the timid Lily, makes this audiobook version the best way to enjoy I'm in Love with the Villainess.
― One of my favorite shows of the fall 2023 season was the animated adaptation of INORI's light novel series, the latest in a string of isekai anime revolving around the concept of video game "villainess" characters redeeming themselves. Anim...
King in Limbo Omnibus 1 Manga Review
From the creator Apple Children of Aeon, Ai Tanaka, comes a fascinating story if you're up for reading about a pandemic.
― It's important to note that King in Limbo was originally published in 2017, before the COVID-19 pandemic, making this feel just a teensy bit prescient. Predicting conspiracy theories surrounding a global pandemic is probably no great feat. It reads differently today than it would...
MARRIAGETOXIN Volume 1 Manga Review
When everything is so bloodthirsty, and everyone has an ulterior motive, you appreciate the mundane much more, which gets us into the mindset of our protagonists very well.
― What's more dangerous, living life as a deadly assassin or trying to find the love of your life as quickly as possible? I can't speak for everybody, but I'm pretty sure the answer to that question would be the latter if we were ...
Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth Game Review
A strong contender for one of the best games in the series, Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth is most enjoyed not blitzing toward its credits but basking in the depths of its detours.
― As a fan of the Yakuza series, Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth's announcement felt like fondling a Christmas present and trying to discern the quality of its contents by the grooves of its packaging. Although Infinite Wea...
My Hero Academia Season 6 Part 1 Anime BD+DVD Review
Long-held fan theories finally reveal themselves. If you've stuck with the franchise, then there are a multitude of moments that will make you happy.
― The best way to describe the beginning of season six of My Hero Academia is that shit is finally going down. It is a shame that the popularity of My Hero seems to have waned in the past year or two because we're finally approaching the beginning of th...
Apollo Justice Trilogy Video Game Review
This is the perfect way to complete your Ace Attorney collection, with lots of extras and features that will delight long-time fans and give newcomers a look into all the talent and creativity that goes into these games.
― You don't know how to get into all the Ace Attorney games? OBJECTION! In 2024, there is simply no excuse not to play through the entire Ace Attorney catalog — every mainline game, ...
BLUELOCK BD+DVD Anime Series Review
BLUELOCK exemplifies why soccer garners such an intense fandom worldwide.
― There is something uniquely tragic yet beautiful about unrequited sports fandom—passionate fans who stick by their teams through the sporadic highs and lowest lows, fervently hoping every year that this year— this year— is going to be the year they go all the way. It's a universal experience shared by fans around the globe, e...
Good Night World Anime Series Review
Initially, Good Night World seems like another VRMMORPG anime with little originality. Until episode six, when specific plot points, throwaway lines, and unusual concepts culminate in a stunning twist.
― Normally, I'm allergic to Sword Art Online-esque VRMMORPG anime, or at least they leave me cold. Other than a brief dalliance with impersonating a hot cat-girl in Final Fantasy XIV, I've steered clea...
A Girl and Her Guard Dog Anime Series Review
The story is meant to indulge the fantasy of a sexy older man returning your feelings. However, I doubt many people's fantasies involve hands that look like flesh-colored gloves, or facial features that warp from moment to moment.
― Let's get this out of the way, one last time: nothing I have to say about A Girl & Her Guard Dog is a moral or ethical judgment against the real humans who made it or th...
Kizumonogatari: Koyomi Vamp Anime Film Review
Despite the low-quality reputation that compilation films tend to have, I'd go so far as to say it's the best single compilation film I've ever seen.
― While anime compilation films are nothing new, Kizumonogatari: Koyomi Vamp, isn't made up of footage from a TV show. Rather, it is the combination of three films: Kizumonogatari Part 1: Tekketsu (2016), Kizumonogatari Part 2: Nekketsu (2016), and Kizu...
Anonymous;Code Game Review
Less beefy than it's Science Adventure predecessors, Anonymous;Code nevertheless introduces an interesting gameplay mechanic to keep players engaged.
― Anonymous;Code is the newest title in the Science Adventure series of games and is in the same world as Steins;Gate, Robotics;Notes, and Chaos;Head. If you've played any of these visual novels (or seen their anime adaptations), you likely know what to...
Vexations of a Shut-In Vampire Princess Anime Series Review
It's hard to decide what to focus on in this tonally inconsistent anime series starring a young vampire constantly bombarded by her horny maid.
― From the outset, The Vexations of a Shut-in Vampire Princess is a lot. The first episode throws so much scattershot world-building jargon at the viewer, along with some very uncomfortable, non-consensual fetishistic yuri fanservice, that if it weren't for m...
Arknights: Perish in Frost Anime Series Review
while it also doesn't escape all the trappings that held back its first season, Perish in Frost still shakes out to be a more confident and complex installment.
― Arknights, my gacha of choice when it comes to hiring lizard ladies with magic rock cancer, returns to the anime world with Perish in Frost. In terms of continuity, this second leg of the adaptation is direct and unsurprising, and that's a ...
Maboroshi Anime Film Review
You'll never age. You'll never die. Your child will never be born. The newest thought experiment from the mind of acclaimed writer Mari Okada is centered around living in the hell that exists in a truly static world. Now streaming on Netflix.
― Alice to Therese no Maboroshi Kōjō is the newest thought experiment from the mind of acclaimed writer Mari Okada (Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day, Mobile ...
The Dreaming Boy is a Realist Anime Series Review
A middle-of-the-road school romance story, Dreaming Boy lives and dies on whether you can connect to its main character, Wataru, as he disentangles himself from his romantic interest.
― I think we've all had that moment where we realize things aren't like the movies. The good guy doesn't always win, and persistence isn't some magic spell that grants ultimate victory. As a wise man once said, "It is p...
Ayakashi Triangle Anime Series Review
This boundary-pushing ecchi series has a surprising amount of emotional intelligence behind it.
― Which anime of 2023 was most unjustly ignored by the masses? While my vote would probably go to fall's Migi & Dali, a fantastic and uncomfortable comedy thriller that seemed to pass most anime fans by, I also harbor a soft spot for ecchi comedy Ayakashi Triangle, murdered by severe production woes. Initi...
My Dress-Up Darling Anime Series Limited Edition BD+DVD Set Review
The characters' vulnerability is a significant part of what makes the ensuing blossoming relationship so sweet and cute; they're both odd puzzle pieces that fit together.
― When I first watched My Dress Up-Darling, I remember it feeling much different than other romance anime, and upon rewatching via My Dress Up Darling: The Complete Season Limited Edition, I can whole-heartedly confirm it has someth...
Stardust Telepath Anime Series Review
Stardust Telepath is the embodiment of a gorgeous-looking, feel-good anime.
― It can be hard to open yourself up to other people. We all have an inner voice, and some people can project that voice better than others. Sometimes, it's easier to think that no one in the world will be able to understand us, so why don't we look up to the stars and the great unknown instead? Sometimes, it's easier to thin...
My New Boss Is Goofy Anime Series Review
Not all slice-of-life shows hit the sweet spot between soothing and emotionally resonant, but My New Boss is Goofy manages to do it.
― Not all slice-of-life shows hit the sweet spot between soothing and emotionally resonant, but My New Boss is Goofy manages to do it. The story follows Momose, a young man in his twenties who spent his first years working for what is known as a black company, a workpla...
Great Pretender Razbliuto Anime Movie Review
Your enjoyment of this new caper will heavily depend on how the ending of the Great Pretender anime series made you feel.
― The Great Pretender anime was…pretty good. When I watched the original anime on Netflix in 2020, I thought it was a fun, stand-out show with a likable cast of characters, a distinct style, and a gorgeous soundtrack. A Robin Hoodish heist series will always be fun with tight writ...
Pokémon Concierge Anime Series Review
This is a beautifully rendered, laid-back look into another unique aspect of the Pokémon world. I'm not sure if we'll get a continuation at the time of this writing, but more projects like this in the future will certainly be welcomed.
― The only thing that makes me happier than The Pokémon Company making spinoff content to showcase other elements of the expansive world they've created is their uniqu...
Dropkick on My Devil!!: Apocalypse Day Anime OVA Review
If this anime series can be credibly accused of being a money-funneling scam at this point, well, at least it's a pretty funny one that's still unlike anything else out there.
― The ongoing unethical experiment that is Dropkick on My Devil's animated existence is shifting in real-time. When it was still the prestige exclusive that Amazon hoped to sell its anime-streaming catalog on, the series would ...
Tokyo Revengers: Tenjiku Arc Anime Series Review
Despite its dumb characters and sloppy writing, Takemichi and his friends have a lot of heart and are easy to root for.
― Sometimes, it seems like Tokyo Revengers is the forgotten modern anime blockbuster. Back when its two-cour first season streamed on Crunchyroll in 2021, it was one of that year's most popular shows. It's impressive how much its visibility was affected by the series' international ...
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