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The Summer 2020 Preview Guide
by The Anime News Network Editorial Team,
Welcome to Anime News Network's Summer 2020 Preview Guide! Here's how it goes: our team of critics write up their impressions instantly, to be posted here as they go along. Each critic will cover as many shows as they can handle, giving you alternate takes on most every show.
The guide is ongoing, organized by series and updated multiple times a day. Throughout the next week or two, we'll be updating as often as possible with new perspectives on new episodes from our team of critics. New reviews will be posted as soon as they're written, with each critic's name being added to the roster beneath the show's title. Check back a couple of times every day during the guide, and you're likely to see new shows pop up with multiple takes to enjoy!
Please remember that this is a preview guide. It is designed to give you a taste of the first episode of a show with a preliminary opinion and a few thoughts on whether or not the show has potential. These are not intended to be blanket judgments of these series as a whole. All reviews use the same ratings scale: 1-5, with 1 being the lowest. Shows that are available streaming online will be indicated as such.
Click on the survey at the top of each show's page to vote for your personal score and see how other people scored the show!
1st Dōwa Revengers mini anime episode to retell Momotarō folktale― An event for the Tokyo Revengers television anime announced in Chiba on Sunday that the anime will have a sequel. The event also announced Dōwa Revengers (Fairy Tale Revengers), a mini anime with the premise being the Tokyo Revengers version of various fairy tales. The first episode is based on the Japanese folktale Momotarō. Kodansh...
The first few episodes are so boring and uninspired that I can't recommend the anime. However, the back half is good enough that I am actually looking forward to the second season.― When something is called a "mixed bag," the image conjured up is one of the numerous good and bad aspects, all combined at random. While that phrase could technically be used to describe The Café Terrace and Its Goddesse...
Company reveals wide-scale cyber attack included use of ransomware― Kadokawa Corporation issued a statement on its temporary website on Friday to announce the continued suspension of its Dwango subsidiary's Niconico video services, following the cyber attack on June 8. The company is temporarily suspending Niconico's services in order to fully investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident, ...
This is the strongest Kengan Ashura episode and one of the weakest Baki episodes.― This is the strongest Kengan Ashura episode and one of the weakest Baki episodes. While the interesting match-ups and novel character dynamics elevate Kengan, the lackluster fights and uninspired art and animation bring down the Baki half of this crossover. Still, more Baki is welcome, with there being no confirmation...
Shigeru Morikawa directs anime at Sanzigen, with more info at Anime Expo on July 5― Arc System Works announced on Friday that its Guilty Gear Strive fighting game is inspiring a television anime series titled Guilty Gear Strive: Dual Rulers. Arc System Works revealed the anime's main staff at Sanzigen (BanG Dream!, D4DJ First Mix) studio, and will reveal more details on the project at its Anime Expo...
These games front-load the fun and give the player a type of spectacle and power fantasy that can only really be found within this series.― Samurai Warriors 4 DX is a great Warriors title through and through, and a surprise port dropped out of the blue for us to enjoy. Like hot-blooded warlords mustering armies in past eras, even the mere mention of the Warriors games gets people gathering into warr...
Mori also explained the creative process from inception to realization, shedding light on the collaborative efforts and artistic endeavors that brought Heavenly Delusion to life.― In 2023, Heavenly Delusion captivated audiences with its suspenseful and intricately woven storytelling. The series was highly praised for blending psychological horror and science fiction. Director Hirotaka Mori was at t...
Anime's 1st season ended with 24th episode on Thursday― Kadokawa announced on Thursday that Studio Trigger's television anime of Ryōko Kui's Delicious in Dungeon (Dungeon Meshi) manga will get a second season, and revealed a visual and video of the announcement. The first season's 24th and final episode aired on Thursday. The anime premiered on January 4 worldwide on Netflix, and ran for two consecu...
This is not an anime for people who like martial arts or combat sports; this is an anime for people who like Dana White's Power Slap and enjoy seeing people inflict novel harm on each other.― I finally cracked the code on Kengan Ashura after watching the twelve episodes that make up the first half of its second season. While it likes to style itself as a martial arts series that elevates various fig...
One of the biggest game showcases of the year just wrapped and Jean-Karlo is here with some modern (and nostalgic) highlights.― Welcome back, everyone! A major downside of this column is that the nature of its publication makes it a little hard to cover the news; by the time last week's column went up, Summer Games Fest was already in full swing, after all. While a lot of stuff here might already be...
Our Summer Game Fest coverage continues with a look at the Japanese mythology-inspired Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess tower defense game.― Capcom's upcoming tower defense game, Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess, caught my eye during Summer Game Fest's presentations for its visuals and folklore motifs. The single-player action game combines stellar strategic gameplay, a detailed environment, cloth...
Some of the biggest anime conventions are just around the corner, but things are looking a little off. Chris and Steve discuss the changing landscape and smaller cons folding across the U.S.― Some of the biggest anime conventions are just around the corner, but things are looking a little off. Chris and Steve discuss the changing convention landscape and smaller cons folding across the U.S. Disclai...