Reviews - April 2015

Kill Blue Volumes 1-2 Manga Review

Aug 28, 12:00

manga

By its second volume, Kill Blue isn’t quite as good as it started. ― There are a lot of stories about second chances spanning all demographics of manga, anime, and light novels. In most of those cases, the protagonist of the story desperately wants a chance to go back and fix a mistake or rectify a problem, and many others wallow in the nostalgic notion that life was somehow better in high school. Bu...

column

Intern Annika - The ANN 25th Anniversary Special - The Cure is Pretty

Aug 28, 11:00 just for fun

Can one magical intern defeat The Blade of Michelob? ― Surprise, it's a special comic celebrating Anime News Network's 25th anniversary. Artist Robin Sevakis returned to draw a short series of comics focusing on Anime News Network's mascots of the past and present and what would happen if they all met. Enjoy the finale to the limited comic run! How will Azure turn the tide against her most formidabl...

news

13 comments

Voice Actor Takaya Hashi Dies at 72

Aug 28, 10:26

13 comments

people

Voice of Fist of the North Star's Toki died on August 27 ― Apte Pro announced on Thursday that its President, CEO, and voice actor Takaya Hashi died from a heart attack on August 27. He was 72. Hashi was born on January 8, 1952 in Tokyo. He joined the Seinenza Theater Company before becoming a voice actor. He later became the President and CEO of talent agency Apte Pro. His roles include Fist of the ...

column

This Week in Anime - American Manga Awards 2025

Aug 28, 10:00

manga

The winners of the American Manga Awards are in! Coop and Lucas take a look at them and share their thoughts. ― The winners of the American Manga Awards are in! Coop and Lucas take a look at them and share their thoughts. Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by the participants in this chatlog are not the views of Anime News Network. Executive editor Lynzee Loveridge is a judge for the Ameri...

news

Hypnosis Mic Writer Yūichirō Momose Launches New Datewars Franchise

Aug 28, 02:55

music games manga anime

Franchise centers on criminal girls fighting time-traveling terrorists using songs from 70s to 2000s ― Hypnosis Mic franchise writer Yūichirō Momose announced a new project titled Datewars on Thursday, with Hanaharu Naruko (Kamichu, Gargantia on the Verdurous Planet, Kandagawa Jet Girls) as character designer, and Mino as music producer, video creator, and music commentator. The "timeless music IP pr...

news

5 comments

Boku to Gyaru ga Fūfu ni Naru Made Manga Creator Shino Dies

Aug 27, 12:30

5 comments

manga

Creator died in June ― The official X (formerly Twitter) account of Kadokawa's Monthly Comic Dengeki Daioh magazine announced on Wednesday that manga creator Shino had died in June. The magazine serializes Shino's current Boku to Gyaru (Kimi) ga Fūfu ni Naru Made manga. The manga launched in Monthly Comic Dengeki Daioh in December 2022. Kadokawa published the manga's first compiled book volume in Aug...

review

16 comments

mono Anime Series Review

Aug 27, 12:00

16 comments

anime

mono is an anime where the slice of life is done right, and makes for a worthy successor of its sibling series Yuru Camp. ― When I shipped up to Anime Boston this year, I distinctly remember a big banner advertising mono on display for any ongoers mozying their way up the escalator. Its display almost seemed boastful, as if it wanted to swallow people going further and further up the escalator with m...

convention

20 comments

The Legal and 'Soft' Censorship Affecting Manga in America

Aug 27, 09:30

20 comments

manga

Daniel Cruz of PEN America emphasized the toll censorship can take on authors: “Authors stop writing the content that's getting censored.” ― Panels about manga being targeted by book-banning campaigns have had a regular presence at anime conventions for as long as I can remember. In light of the current political climate (be sure to read Coop Bicknell's deep dive into the state of manga censorship in...

interview

Tower of God Creator SIU Looking Back on the Series a Decade Later

Aug 27, 09:00

korean

Since its debut, the series has evolved into a full-fledged franchise, with adaptations in anime, mobile games, and other formats. Despite its immense popularity worldwide, its creator, SIU, had never met his North American fans in person before. ― Tower of God, one of the most iconic titles on WEBTOON, has captivated global readers with over 1.3 billion cumulative views. Since its debut, the series ...

news

55 comments

Japan Post, Good Smile to Suspend Most Package Deliveries to U.S. Due to Tariffs

Aug 26, 14:00

55 comments

industry

Packages over US$100 in value no longer accepted beginning on Wednesday ― The Japan Post announced that effective on Wednesday, it will temporarily suspend package delivery to and from the U.S. for packages exceeding US$100 in value and consumer goods, citing recent legislation surrounding import tariffs. Personal items under US$100 in value, as well as small EMS packages will still be accepted for ...

column

This Week in Anime - Sekiro, AI, and Auteur Directors

Aug 26, 13:00

anime

As Steve says, "A studio does not make an anime. People make anime." But what tools should those people be using? Chris and Steve discuss. ― As Steve says, "A studio does not make an anime. People make anime." But what tools should those people be using? Chris and Steve discuss. Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by the participants in this chatlog are not the views of Anime News Network.S...

review

To Sir, Without Love: I'm Divorcing You Novel Review

Aug 26, 12:00 novels

If you’re looking for true love, it’s in short supply in this series – in a healthy way, at least. ― Last year, I reviewed the first volume of the manga adaptation of To Sir, Without Love: I'm Divorcing You. I said at the time that the story was somewhat uncomfortable, and that, paradoxically, it would have benefited from being slightly more explicit, and that I was curious to read the original light...

review

Farewell, Daisy: Jun Mayuzuki Short Story Collection Manga Review

Aug 25, 12:00

manga

Mayuzuki’s sheer unpredictability and gleefully ribald storytelling are a breath of fresh air. ― Jun Mayuzuki is one of my current favorite manga authors, mainly for her most recent work on the still-ongoing Kowloon Generic Romance (the excellent single-season anime adaptation concluded only last season). I jumped at the chance to review this collection of her early manga work, some of which predate ...

column

61 comments

Answerman - Why is Demon Slayer So Popular in Japan?

Aug 25, 11:01

61 comments

anime

What's the secret behind Demon Slayer's intense popularity? According to experts, it's a lot of things. ― Lynzee asks: “Why is Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba anime and manga so popular in Japan?” Demon Slayer is popular in Japan for the same reasons it is popular everywhere else, and that is a good thing because not many of my Japan-based anime industry friends wanted to comment either on or off the...

game review

Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar Game Review

Aug 25, 09:00

games

If you've never played a farm sim before, Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar might be a great place to start. ― There's a major difficulty when it comes to reviewing Story of Seasons games: they're slow. Moment-to-moment gameplay is repetitive (you're doing the same tasks daily over and over), the game can take a long time to throw new wrinkles in the formula at you, and even fervent playing means that i...

interview

Influencers Gigguk, Dillon Goo, and OtakuVS On Making Their Own Anime

Aug 25, 09:00

anime

One might scoff at the notion: “Influencers are making anime now?” Such reductive thinking conflicts with the reality that the lines between industry professionals and content creators have been steadily blurring. ― GeeXPlus made waves here at Anime Expo by announcing GeeXProductions, a new IP division. As an internet influencer talent agency, GeeXPlus has been a supportive home for a range of varie...

game review

Shinobi: Art of Vengeance Game Review

Aug 25, 08:00