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

9 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

9 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

8 comments

The Rose of Versailles Anime Film Review

Jan 27, 12:00

8 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...

your score

7 comments

Your Anime Rankings - Best of Winter 2025, Jan 1-21

Jan 26, 23:55

7 comments

anime

Here comes our first rankings of the Winter 2025 season, and returning favorites such as Orb and The Apothecary Diaries are hogging the spotlight! ― Let's have a look at what ANN readers consider the best (and worst) of the season, based on the polls you can find in our Daily Streaming Reviews and on the Your Score page with the latest simulcasts. Keep in mind that these rankings are based on how pe...

review

6 comments

Demon Lord, Retry! R Anime Series Review

Jan 26, 12:00

6 comments

anime

This is a bad sequel in almost every way. Barely a thing has improved over last season, and many of its flaws have been carried over to here. ― Demon Lord Retry! R is a bad sequel in almost every way. Barely a thing has improved over last season, and a lot of its flaws have been carried over here. The action is as flat as ever. The animation barely moves an inch. The battles are unengaging and anti-...

review

8 comments

As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill Season 2 Anime Series Review

Jan 25, 12:00

8 comments

anime

This is the story of a young man who will do what must be done but nonetheless strives for an unobtainable ideal—not just for his people but also the enemies he comes across. ― The first season of As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill was centered around putting the band together. With Ritsu, Ars gains the ultimate warrior, and with Charlotte the ultimate mage. He gains the ultima...

review

2 comments

Hell is Dark with No Flowers Volume 1 Manga Review

Jan 24, 12:00

2 comments

manga

Somewhere between xxxHoLiC and Hell Girl lies Hell is Dark with No Flowers. ― Somewhere between xxxHoLiC and Hell Girl lies Hell is Dark with No Flowers. If you think I've made that comparison before, you're right – Matsuri's Phantom Tales of the Night can also be described that way. But Hell is Dark with No Flowers, based on the novel of the same name by Yoru Michio, is the better use of the descrip...

column

12 comments

This Week in Games - Remembering David Lynch and His Influence on Games

Jan 24, 11:00

12 comments

games

Jean-Karlo looks at Lynch's influence across video game history, from Zelda to Persona. ― Welcome back, folks! Longtime readers might recall that back in October of 2023, I found an old copy of the Izuna: Legend of the Unemployed Ninja artbook from Japan. I had mentioned that artist Yoshida On had also made a doujinshi featuring some of his early sketches for the characters and how I likely would nev...