Even questionable execution can’t rob the plot of its key point: Oriana’s desperation to save Vincent’s life. ― Time loops are fickle things. As any reader of the isekai subgenre can tell you, most of them only grant memories to the person doing the looping – as far as everyone else knows, they're living their lives for the first time. For Oriana, the heroine of Re-Living My Life with a Boyfriend Who...

game review

3 comments

Hello Kitty Island Adventure Game Review

Jan 30, 11:00

3 comments

games

Even if you’re not a Sanrio fan, it’s easy to get pulled into the gentle world of the game, and if you enjoy the cozy exploration experience, this is a good choice, no matter what your age. ― Traveling to a tropical island resort is the dream of the winter months for many people living in colder climates, and Hello Kitty Island Adventure is very well aware of that. The story invites players to join H...

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This Week in Anime - How ZENSHU Is Breaking the Isekai Mold

Jan 30, 10:00 anime

Steve and Lucas discuss what makes Zenshu stand out from the isekai herd as one of the breakout titles of the winter anime season. ― Steve and Lucas discuss what makes Zenshu stand out from the isekai herd as one of the breakout titles of the winter anime season. Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by the participants in this chatlog are not the views of Anime News Network.Spoiler Warning f...

review

2 comments

Tower of God: Workshop Battle Anime Series Review

Jan 29, 12:00

2 comments

anime

It doesn't look as bad as Return of the Prince—however, that is an incredibly low bar to set and damning with faint praise more than anything else. ― Workshop Battle is a major step up from Return of the Prince. It is a far more focused story with an understandable core conflict. Bam is trying to keep everyone he cares about safe at his own expense. At the same time, his new friends and Khun are putt...

feature

24 comments

Was D.Gray-Man Actually Any Good?

Jan 29, 09:00

24 comments

anime

I think part of the reason that D.Gray-man, as a series, stood out to so many people is that it used death as an overarching aesthetic and theme. ― There are plenty of things that a lot of long-running shonen series have in common, from over-the-top fights to themes of friendship and perseverance. One common complaint often thrown at some of the bigger shounen series is the lack of permanence and wei...

column

32 comments

This Week in Anime - Snuggling in with Cozy Anime

Jan 28, 12:00

32 comments

anime

Chris and Coop discuss their comfort watches for those days when you just want your anime to be the equivalent of a mug of hot cocoa. ― Chris and Coop discuss their comfort watches for those days when you just want your anime to be the equivalent of a mug of hot cocoa. Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by the participants in this chatlog are not the views of Anime News Network.Spoiler War...

review

Living With Him Manga Review

Jan 28, 12:00 manga

If you want something a little less spicy and a little bit more wholesome, there’s plenty here to make your heart flutter as a smile creeps across your face. ― I've never been to Japan, so I can't comment on how its society at large views same-sex relationships. But there seems to be a consistent theme in these stories where people never seem to entertain the notion that two guys could be romanticall...

column

31 comments

Answerman - What are "Gyaru," and Why are They Popular in Anime Again?

Jan 27, 14:00

31 comments

anime

Jerome defines "gyaru" and their place in the anime landscape. ― The internet asks: What are "gyaru," and why are they popular in anime again? I love talking about Japanese subcultures, and I love assessing their impact on broader global pop culture at home and overseas. I hadn't thought much about gyaru since my first encounter with a couple of “gyaru girls” back in Shibuya in 2007. It was during o...

feature

17 comments

The Depiction of Hikikomori in Japanese Pop Culture: Can the Anime Industry Help 'Social Recluses' Break out of Their Shells?

Jan 27, 13:00

17 comments

anime

Maja Djordjevic compares the real struggles of hikikomori with their depictions in anime and how Japan is trying to offer solutions to families. ― Distorted representations are endemic to pop culture. By definition, the latter upholds the target ‘popular’ narrative and its basic purpose — instant gratification delivered by means of entertainment. When tackling complex concepts, pop culture prevalentl...

review

14 comments

The Rose of Versailles Anime Film Review

Jan 27, 12:00

14 comments

anime

How do you adapt a seminal classic that took 14 volumes of manga and 40 episodes of TV to tell into a feature film? You make it a musical. ― The Rose of Versailles is one of the seminal works of early shōjo manga. With over 23 million copies sold worldwide, it's no surprise that it still holds a place in popular culture over 50 years since its original release. This brings us to this new MAPPA-animat...