The Toei team is back to spoiling us again with another amazing twenty minutes of weekly television. There were a few negatives to contend with before we get into the good stuff: there was a slightly longer than usual recap sequence of prior episodes' animation, and quite a few repeated sequences. In the latter's case, it was particularly egregious with the Yamato hallway running sequences, which we saw two to three times shot for shot. But that did not detract from the highs this episode had, which were just phenomenal.
The Ulti versus Luffy fight is the big bombastic centerpiece of the episode. The sibling bickering shtick getting replayed was slightly annoying, but once Ulti and Luffy got to their standoff, everything really ramped up. The actual fight between them, replete with high-flying headbutts and thunderous throws, was jaw-dropping and of the quality we have come to expect during Wano's big moments. There was plenty of gorgeous animation and dazzling effects to go with each bone-crunching blow.
Yamato's arrival is also a welcome one. Anime viewers finally get to see the son of Kaido arrive on the scene and begin one of the most interesting character arcs in recent memory. Wano is full of terrific characters, but in my opinion, Yamato is perhaps the truest culmination of everything at play in the setting locally and globally. Not only that, we get to see Yamato deliver an absolutely terrific home run hit in Thunder Bagua, one of my favorite sequences in an arc already hitting top-shelf quality again and again.
Even some of the slower moments like Ulti and Luffy conversing were very well done visually. I thought the softer linework the Toei team used in those moments was reminiscent of the Baron Omatsuri film (and the trademark visual flair of many of Mamoru Hosoda's works) in the best way. Other visual flairs like the recurring motif of eyes in close-ups and through masks – windows to the true soul and determination of the many characters involved in these world-shattering events – were more icing on the cake.
Nick and Lucas use last week's Chainsaw Man manga chapter as a springboard to discuss sex and sexuality in manga, from messy to raunchy to endearing depictions.― Nick and Lucas use last week's Chainsaw Man manga chapter as a springboard to discuss sex and sexuality in manga, from messy to raunchy to endearing depictions. Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by the participants in this chatl...
If the first part of Code Geass: Rozé of the Recapture was bringing the story back to its roots, this second part is all about reminding us what sprang from those roots.― If the first part of Code Geass: Rozé of the Recapture was bringing the story back to its roots, this second part reminds us what sprang from those roots. Lelouch inadvertently and intentionally changed the world, and many things c...
Mei Nagano, Takeru Satō star as Red, White Blood Cells― The official X (formerly Twitter) account for the live-action film of Akane Shimizu's Cells at Work! (Hataraku Saibō) manga posted a "early teaser trailer" on Tuesday. The teaser announces the film's main cast and December premiere. Mei Nagano (live-action My Broken Mariko, Ni no Kuni, Peach Girl, Burn the House Down, Teasing Master Takagi-san)...
Voice actor admitted to 4-year affair with acknowledged abuse last month― Atlus announced on Tuesday that it has removed voice actor Tōru Furuya from the cast of its upcoming Metaphor: ReFantazio fantasy role-playing game "due to various circumstances," and will announce the replacement cast member sometime in July. Atlus had not previously announced which character or role Furuya would be playing i...
Even if some small details are still missing, when finished, Look Back should, without a doubt, be acclaimed by most people.― Creating a manga is like creating a TV series: every week, readers wait for a new chapter to be published in their favorite magazine, and then they can also buy a full "season" when a compiled volume is published. Tatsuki Fujimoto is very familiar with this process as he seri...
Anime News Network's editorial team is digging deep into their repressed anime memories to trudge up the moments that left them in tears. What was the first anime to make you cry?― Anime News Network's editorial team is digging deep into their repressed anime memories to trudge up the moments that left them in tears. Below are some of the most affecting moments, from major character deaths to bitte...
Visual revealed for new season― The staff for the Spy x Family anime revealed on Sunday that the anime is getting a third season. The staff also revealed a visual for the third season. Anime character designer and chief animation director Kazuaki Shimada drew the below visual. Art director Yuni Yoshida designed the visual. The first anime season's first half premiered in April 2022. Crunchyroll stre...