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Varlet Game Review
It's above-average dialogue in a below-average, uh, everything else.
― Varlet is a game that is more than the sum of its parts, but it still feels undercooked and overpriced. The core pitch is going to seem familiar if you've played any RPGs of the last few years. It's a school-based RPG with a split between the battle/events and structured downtime. The battles are turn-based, largely traditional co...
Turkey!-Time to Strike- ‒ Episode 11
The group is solving this potentially-fatal problem the only way they know how: bowling.
New PANTY & STOCKING with GARTERBELT ‒ Episode 11
At the best of times, it feels like the crew is simply trying to one-up each other in terms of writing and illustrating the most hilariously blunt dick jokes put to screen.
Apocalypse Bringer Mynoghra ‒ Episode 11
Mynoghra just doesn’t have the guts to be gorier.
Reborn as a Vending Machine, I Now Wander the Dungeon Season 2 ‒ SEASON FINALE
This season finale suffers from one major problem. From a story standpoint, this is really two episodes crammed into one.
Senpai is an Otokonoko: Sunshine After the Rain Anime Film Review
This is a hopeful epilogue to the television show.
― None of us is ever as put together as we seem. For that matter, few people are precisely who we perceive them to be, and these hard truths are at the core of the Senpai is an Otokonoko film, Sunshine After the Rain. Arguably, those have always been themes of the series, particularly as regards two of the three leads, Makoto and Saki. Makoto, althou...
There's No Freaking Way I'll Be Your Lover! Unless... ‒ Episode 11
Did this show just end an episode by invoking a powerful emotional reaction in me?
The Summer Hikaru Died ‒ Episode 10
It doesn't feel nightmarish as much as it feels like an authentic nightmare.
Ruri Rocks ‒ Episode 11
Ruri's enjoyment of and engaging with mineralogy, like the earth itself, has a fair few layers burying it that she needs to dig through before she can commit.
This Week in Anime - To Boldy Shojo Where No TWIA Has Before
From Shugo Chara to Hot Gimmick, Chris and Steve decide to throw Rebecca a bone by looking at the shojo manga bundle offered by HumbleBundle.
― From Shugo Chara to Hot Gimmick, Chris and Steve decide to throw Rebecca a bone by looking at the shojo manga bundle offered by HumbleBundle. Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by the participants in this chatlog are not the views of Anime News Net...
One Piece ‒ Episode 1143
He’s giggling and kicking his feet, I’m giggling and kicking my feet - we’re all having a great time.
Sakamoto Days ‒ Episode 21
This is a great example of how fun Sakamoto Days can be when it hits its stride, and while a lot of it rides on sheer spectacle, sometimes that's all any good action blockbuster needs.
Kaiju No. 8 Season 2 ‒ Episode 21
It all comes together to make a great stretch of character focus for Kafka.
Call of the Night Season 2 ‒ Episode 11
After weeks of flashbacks, mysteries, action, and drama, Call of the Night returns to its roots with long nocturnal conversations about life, love, and dirty jokes.
The Fragrant Flower Blooms With Dignity ‒ Episode 3
Suddenly, Rintaro sees her as Kaoruko, and that’s a person he can talk to.
Toilet-Bound Hanako-kun Season 2 ‒ Episode 23
Is anyone else craving pizza?
My Dress-Up Darling Season 2 ‒ Episode 23
The warm feeling that this episode left me with genuinely makes it one of my top episodes of the entire franchise.
Secrets of the Silent Witch ‒ Episode 10
Bernie is a kid with a superiority complex. Not only is he talented, but he’s been told all his life that he is special. He has taken this to heart in all the good ways and the bad.
Witch Watch ‒ Episode 23
One thing is certain: No matter what else happens, we can't escape thinking about Uron Mirage.
Rascal Does Not Dream of Santa Claus ‒ Episode 11
Touko was the queen of the school before Mai arrived—at which point she was promptly replaced.
CITY The Animation ‒ Episode 11
I struggle to think of any other anime that’s had such a specific and unique voice, while also being so cohesive across every element of its production.
To Be Hero X ‒ SEASON FINALE
While X's impact on the world started the night he gave Cyan her first coin, the story is far more than his own personal tale—which is why we, the viewers, have been witness to it over these past 24 episodes.
Bad Girl ‒ Episode 11
Even if two thirds of this episode wasn’t my jam, the opening act is so good that I can’t help but love this episode and wish more of Bad Girl was like it.
Gachiakuta ‒ Episode 10
I don't need hours devoted to explaining every single character's abilities. Stick to a basic but consistent logic that keeps the fights feeling interesting, fresh, and cool.
With You and the Rain ‒ Episode 11
Every week, With You and the Rain gets at least one thing very right. This week? The allure of reading about bees.
Anne Shirley ‒ Episode 22
It’s the last time Diana Barry will kiss Anne. Sure, Diana Wright will, but she’s not quite the same person.
Bâan -The Boundaries of Adulthood- Anime Short Film Review
Bâan is Garnt “Gigguk” Maneetapho’s attempt to turn his own personal expat experience into an isekai anime designed to convey those feelings—and it succeeds beautifully.
― As the title suggests, Bâan -The Boundaries of Adulthood- is the story of two people on the cusp of adulthood looking for a place to call home. (“Bâan” [บ้าน] is the Thai word for “home” if you were unaware.) Each feels they don't ...
Scarlet Anime Film Review
Mamoru Hosoda’s isekai riff on Hamlet is one of this year’s biggest anime disappointments.
― Once upon a time, Mamoru Hosoda was supposed to direct Howl's Moving Castle before Hayao Miyazaki took it over. On a certain level, Scarlet could now be called Hosoda's Howl, inasmuch as it's an attempt to work his righteous anger at a war in the Middle East into an unrelated piece of English literature and e...
Dr. STONE SCIENCE FUTURE ‒ Episode 22
I don’t think I’ve ever enjoyed the show quite as much as I have done since Senku and his pals reached the Amazon.
The Rising of the Shield Hero Season 4 ‒ Episode 10
If the producers are so insistent on milking this dry to the bone franchise for all it's worth, can the show at least get creative about it?
Hell Teacher: Jigoku Sensei Nube ‒ Episode 11
I’m not sure why the wormy monster thing first manifests from above a field of electrified solar panels. Perhaps the director is anti-renewable energy?
DAN DA DAN Season 2 ‒ Episode 22
Whoever once said that "Cellar Door" was the most beautiful combination of words in the English language was a hack and a charlatan. Obviously, that honor goes to the sentence "Hey, It's a Kaiju."
Your Anime Rankings - Best of Summer 2025, Sep 2-8
Spots 4-7 of the cumulative are in a hot race, with CITY The Animation currently leading. Find out how your favorite shows performed in our weekly user rankings.
― 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 ...
Clevatess -Majū no Ō to Akago to Shikabane no Yūsha- Manga Review
Even though Clevatess isn't covering new ground in these first handful of chapters, I was surprised at how invested I was by the time I reached my chapter quota.
― The presence of dark fantasy stories is vast. It feels like I have read stories that have tackled your typical fantasy setting from every angle. I've seen it tackled from the perspective of kings, children, the hero, and, in this case, the...
This Week in Games - Little Nightmares 3 Preview, and Digimon Stories: Time Stranger Interview
Jean-Karlo sets the record straight on Nintendo's latest patent, plus a preview of two upcoming games from PAX!
― Welcome back, folks! I've been ruminating on my recent review of Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar. I mean what I said, but I worry if I might've been too harsh on the game. I feel like having to play a game like Grand Bazaar for review does it a disservice, because the nature of playing a g...
New PANTY & STOCKING with GARTERBELT ‒ Episode 10
This week's entry hands things over into the noncanonical anthology/pastiche angle, going all Simpsons Treehouse of Horror with a couple of entries in Garterbelt's Cabinet of Curiosities.
King's Maker Creators Share How It's All About Love
Writer and illustrator duo, Haga and Jiyoung Kang, share insights on how they work together on their popular Korean BL series, King's Maker.
― The world of digital Korean comics is infamously demanding as full-colored chapters are released weekly. Writer and illustrator duo, Haga and Jiyoung Kang, share insights on how they work together on their popular Korean BL series, King's Maker. Currently, th...
Clevatess ‒ Episode 11
Even if 'Fake Hero' didn't showcase a thrilling climactic battle between our outmatched heroes and a vengeful demigod, I still would have been on the edge of my seat the entire episode, because Clevatess' lore and worldbuilding is just that good.
Exit 8 Live-Action Movie Review
Playing at the Toronto International Film Festival, Exit 8 turns the indie game into a stylish-but-not-very-substantial movie.
― If that plot summary looks minimal, that's because there's minimal plot to summarize here. In the 95 minutes it takes to watch the Exit 8 movie, you could complete two average-length play-throughs of its video game source material. If you're really good at the “spot-the-dif...
Apocalypse Bringer Mynoghra ‒ Episode 10
Better visuals absolutely could’ve helped to give Mynoghra the edginess it’s so desperately trying to conjure.
There's No Freaking Way I'll Be Your Lover! Unless... ‒ Episode 10
This girl is so deep in the closet, I want her to get Aslan's autograph for me, because she is occupying a separate plane of existence.
This Week in Anime - Unreviewed Gems
No one's infallible, and sometimes the true gems of the streaming season slip through the cracks. Chris and Lucas take a look at what we may have missed.
― No one's infallible, and sometimes the true gems of the streaming season slip through the cracks. Chris and Lucas take a look at what we may have missed. Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by the participants in this chatlog are not the...
Turkey!-Time to Strike- ‒ Episode 10
Let this episode be testament to the value of learning and preserving local history.
Reborn as a Vending Machine, I Now Wander the Dungeon Season 2 ‒ Episode 11
Is simply standing on the sidelines, watching as his friend brutally murders dozens of men (who, admittedly, totally deserve it) something Boxxo can actually do?
The Villainess is Adored by the Prince of the Neighbor Kingdom Game Review
The Villainess is Adored by the Prince of the Neighbor Kingdom is the sort of game you buy on sale.
― It used to be that anime series would be licensed without a whiff of possibility of our ever getting the source manga or light novels to read, to say nothing of the visual novels. But now we've come to the point where we're likely to get at least one version in English. The Villainess is Adored by th...
No Character is Safe in Hell's Paradise
In our interview with creator Yūji Kaku, we learn that every character has a "bad end" route, even protagonist Gabimaru.
― Hells Paradise captured the hearts of many people thanks to its unique setting, likable characters, and gorgeous animation. A great deal of thought went into how the anime presented itself visually and how the story effectively communicated its various potential branching paths. ...
The Summer Hikaru Died ‒ Episode 9
The episode's slow simmer of exposition and character beats suddenly turns boiling when the boys meet up with Old Man Takeda.
This Week in Anime - Webtoons and K-Dramas
Missing brothers, the truth about the KPop industry, and endless cycles of reincarnation are just a few of the things Coop and Steve find when they open the lid of the K-drama box and discover the darkness within.
― Missing brothers, the truth about the KPop industry, and endless cycles of reincarnation are just a few of the things Coop and Steve find when they open the lid of the K-drama box and di...
Sword of the Demon Hunter ‒ Episode 22
It's supposedly a new beginning, but a very middling episode.
Sakamoto Days ‒ Episode 20
If there's one thing any diehard stan won't stand for, it's someone knowing their idol better than they do.
Li'l Miss Vampire Can't Suck Right Manga Volume 1 Review
Everything is focused on Luna and her day-to-day school life with her willing blood-bag Ootori.
― Vampires and anime, eh? An eclectic selection of anime shows feature vampiric protagonists, from the classic (Vampire Hunter D, Hellsing) to the more recent, but superb (Call of the Night), and the appallingly dreadful, best left forgotten (Vlad Love). Worryingly, the manga Li'l Miss Vampire Can't Suck R...
The Fragrant Flower Blooms With Dignity ‒ Episode 2
Those Kikyo girls need a major lesson in judging people by appearances and socio-economic status. I can’t be the only person who wanted to yell at them as they were dragging Kaoruko away.
Kaiju No. 8 Season 2 ‒ Episode 20
The fighting looks cool and is impactful while also fitting the general mood of what has been building up since last week.
Gachiakuta ‒ Episode 9
“No more crap vibes! Let's party.” Talk about words to live by.
Dragon Ball Genkishin Squadra Game Review
I wish the character selection didn't feel so random or that the rewards were actually worth the grind. It makes me wonder exactly how long this game's shelf life is going to be.
― There have been a lot more of these real-time strategy action games popping up in the past couple of years. Honestly, it's a little shocking that it took Dragon Ball this long to jump on the trend. Having a simple team-bas...
With You and the Rain ‒ Episode 10
If there's one unspoken perk of being a writer, it's working from home and the corollary delight of having your pet appear on Zoom calls
Call of the Night Season 2 ‒ Episode 10
It's the big showdown: Nazuna versus Anko. Two ladies with big jackets enter. One lady leaves.
Toilet-Bound Hanako-kun Season 2 ‒ Episode 22
Beneath the supernatural hijinks is a very real story of brotherly envy and love.
Ruri Rocks ‒ Episode 10
Forcing Imari to take point changes the whole vibe of the expedition, and shows that these characters aren't just interchangeable mouthpieces for dispensing mineralogy trivia.
My Dress-Up Darling Season 2 ‒ Episode 22
There were moments during this episode that were genuinely difficult to watch.
PREVIEW: Digimon Story: Time Stranger Bares its Brave Heart
Never mind monster-taming, Digimon Story: Time Stranger is shaping up to be a great RPG, period.
― Bandai Namco has made Digimon Story: Time Stranger impossible to ignore, promoting the game as much as they can. If you haven't seen any of the many videos highlighting specific Digimon and their unique special moves, you've at least seen the news about Digi-riding. We were granted permission by Bandai ...
Bad Girl ‒ Episode 10
I can’t think of any other anime that has an e-girl streamer rizzing herself up while explaining that socialism is the only ethical economic and political model for society!
Villains are Destined to Die Volume 1 Novel Review
Oh, no, I’m sure some of you are thinking. Not another villainess isekai set in the world of an otome game.
― Oh, no, I'm sure some of you are thinking. Not another villainess isekai set in the world of an otome game. I can't blame you. Villainess isekai has become nearly as oversaturated as isekai power fantasies, as ubiquitous as pink-haired heroines and mysterious transfer students. But please, be...
Rascal Does Not Dream of Santa Claus ‒ Episode 10
The purpose of Himeji's mind-reading ability is for her to learn empathy. However, thanks to her long-reinforced self-centered tendencies, she instead uses her powers to seduce every man and boy that catches her eye.
CITY The Animation ‒ Episode 10
Maybe I was just in the mood for an episode like this as I watched it in early September as my own summer comes to a close, but episode 10 of CITY captures exactly what makes the season so special.
Answerman - Is Superhero Burnout at the Box Office Affecting Anime Films?
If superhero fatigue is affecting anime, it's only in a good way. Read on to find out why.
― Mister Terrific asks: "Is superhero burnout at the box office affecting anime films?" Superhero fatigue* is real. Just take a look at the summer 2024 box office results for Captain America: Brave New World, Thunderbolts, The Fantastic Four, and James Gunn's Superman, which I must admit, I really enjoyed. *Su...
To Be Hero X ‒ Episode 23
With the death of one fake hero, two true heroes are born.
One Piece ‒ Episode 1142
Vegapunk’s passing represents an interesting bookend to a very long journey.
See You Tomorrow at the Food Court Anime Series Review
In many ways, the show accomplishes everything it wants to, but I don't think there's much to this compared to other slice-of-life shows.
― Some shows try to replicate a very specific experience. When I was in high school, whenever my friends and I would finish up with classes, we would always go to the local deli or a card shop one or two train stops away from our school. After a long day of dealing...
Anne Shirley ‒ Episode 21
Life always moves on, no matter how much you might not want it to. Anne learned that lesson with Matthew’s death, and again with Diana’s engagement and Ruby’s passing. But I don’t think it ever really occurred to her that Gilbert might move on.
Shuten Order Game Review
Two-thirds of it range from good to excellent… but in a 60-hour game, that still means around 20 hours of mediocre-to-bad gameplay.
― I'm far from an expert on this particular matter, but I'm not sure there's any game out there that's quite like Shuten Order. Created by Kazutaka Kodaka of Danganronpa and The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy fame, it is at its heart a visual novel, first and foremos...
Turkey!-Time to Strike- ‒ Episode 9
This episode felt like a culmination of everything I love about this anime.
Apocalypse Bringer Mynoghra ‒ Episode 9
At its core, this week’s episode was nothing if not full of head pats.
Your Anime Rankings - Best of Summer 2025, Aug 26-Sep 1
We see some tectonic shifts in the cumulative, as Call of the Night grabs #1 and Anne Shirley knocks down My Dress-Up Darling. Discover what else is moving in the rankings!
― 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 ra...
SANDA Volume 1 Manga Review
This is a series about how the innocence of children has become so coveted to the point of becoming perverse, so what better person to set things on the right path then Santa Claus himself.
― From the creator of BEASTARS comes a series about the mythological creature known as Santa Claus. I didn't know what to expect when I read that out loud, but it's about as wacky and zany as you would expect from...
Dr. STONE SCIENCE FUTURE ‒ Episode 21
The tension here comes not necessarily from “oh no, everyone is dead, how terrible,” but from “yeah, okay, despite all the murderings we know they're somehow going to get out of this, but how?”
This Week in Games - Shattered Hands, Ultima in Japan and My Hero Academia: All's Justice
Jean-Karlo tests out the latest MHA game at PAX, shares the tokusatsu history of a retro title, and explains why the American game franchise Ultima is a big deal in Japan.
― Welcome back, folks! I have returned from Seattle, having (distantly) experienced PAX West for the first time! No, I didn't fly out to Seattle for PAX specifically (in fact, I only spent a few hours touring the place); I was in t...
The Rising of the Shield Hero Season 4 ‒ Episode 9
Wow, I felt almost nothing but irritation while watching this episode.
SHUTEN ORDER Creators Open Up About Its Secrets
Writer Kazutaka Kodaka, director Takumi Nakazawa, and artist simadoriru have a new mystery game full of intrigue and psychadelia.
― Spike Chunsoft's SHUTEN ORDER's promises to combine five different gameplay styles with intrigue, mystery, and psychadelia. With the game about to release, Anime News Network was given the opportunity to sit down with three members of its development—director Takumi Naka...
Hell Teacher: Jigoku Sensei Nube ‒ Episode 10
Any object loved and appreciated enough will develop its own sense of self.
Why Chainsaw Man is Going Theatrical with MAPPA President Manabu Ohtsuka, Vice President Hiroya Hasegawa
MAPPA Studio president hopes theatrical release will expand the hit series' audience.
― The familiar faces of Chainsaw Man are set to make their return in the fall with the upcoming movie: Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc. As a direct sequel to the first season, the story will continue from the events following the end of the season. Tatsuya Yoshihara, who was the action director of season one, wil...
DAN DA DAN Season 2 ‒ Episode 21
As we all know by now, a slightly-below-incredible episode of this show that is mostly focused on introducing new characters and setting up future plot points is still going to be a hell of a time.
Lost Souls Meet Under a Full Moon Novel Review
Lost Souls Meet Under a Full Moon is a magic realism exploration of grief and the intersection of life and death.
― What do the living owe the dead? What do the dead do for the living? There's no answer to these questions here. Still, Mizuki Tsujimura, author of Lonely Castle in the Mirror and A School Frozen in Time, encourages readers to think about them in this bittersweet, beautiful story about a...
New PANTY & STOCKING with GARTERBELT ‒ Episode 9
Instead of a neutral character combo, it seems the team stumbled into the most potent crack-ship possible in this show. It has to be healthier than Kneesocks hooking up with her sister.
This Week in Anime - The Best Manga in Young Magazine—U.S. Edition
Could English-language manga magazines be poised to make a comeback? Chris and Coop aren't sure, but Kodansha's English issue of Young is still a lot of fun!
― Could English-language manga magazines be poised to make a comeback? Chris and Coop aren't sure, but Kodansha's English issue of Young is still a lot of fun! Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by the participants in this chatlog are...
Reborn as a Vending Machine, I Now Wander the Dungeon Season 2 ‒ Episode 10
All known immediate threats have been handled. So, what do our heroes decide to do? Take part in a beauty pageant, of course.
Clevatess ‒ Episode 10
The general was a good man once, too, and his friendship with Margo was truly a prime source of their incredible strength.
There's No Freaking Way I'll Be Your Lover! Unless... ‒ Episode 9
Unlike previous plotlines, this has the potential to be a good arc for another potential love interest while also being a good arc for Renako herself.
Yandere Dark Elf: She Chased Me All the Way From Another World! Anime Series Review
Are Dark Elves your fetish? Are yandere girls? Well, if so, congratulations. If not… well, it’s best to simply move on and forget you saw anything at all.
― Are Dark Elves your fetish? Are yandere girls? Well, if so, congratulations. This show is for you. If not… well, it's best to simply move on and forget you saw anything at all. Yandere Dark Elf is one of those shows that knows what it is and who ...
TOUGEN ANKI Producer, Voice Actor Discuss Blood-Soaked Premiere
“I feel that I'm quite a reasoned person. Even when I get angry, I hold it back,” he said. “[Since] I started acting as Shiki's character, I've started to allow myself to let my true self out. It's okay to let your feelings out.”
― TOUGEN ANKI might seem on its surface like a typical shonen work: a young man is told he has a higher calling and is thrust into conflict. He's part of a long line of Oni ...
Call of the Night Season 2 ‒ Episode 9
Anko is Not Okay.
Sword of the Demon Hunter ‒ Episode 21
Forget the technical issues with this episode's roll-out, I was annoyed with how much of a squib it was.
Witch Watch ‒ Episode 22
There isn't really anything off about how this week's shorts have been adapted, but I do wish they'd picked some better ones to place together.
This Week in Anime - Over Hype and Anime Stagnation
Steve and Lucas dissect what's really going on in the anime industry and what needs to change—and how elf ears are an indispensable part of the deal.
― Steve and Lucas dissect what's really going on in the anime industry and what needs to change—and how elf ears are an indispensable part of the deal. Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by the participants in this chatlog are not the views o...
My Dress-Up Darling Season 2 ‒ Episode 21
Creating a situation where Marin is potentially forced to confront somebody who just straight up doesn't like her could be interesting.
Sakamoto Days ‒ Episode 19
We'll have to see how well the show manages to deliver on all these looming threads, but there's at least enough here to work with to help this season go out with a bang
For all articles, see the archives