If you look up “anticlimax” in the dictionary, you'll see this story arc of That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime listed as an example. ― If you look up “anticlimax” in the dictionary, you'll see this story arc of That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime listed as an example. Honestly, the arc has so much going for it with Mariabell as a villain. She was built up as a looming threat in the previous ...

feature

306 comments

The Summer 2026 Anime Preview Guide

Jul 13, 11:36

306 comments

anime

With nearly all the new shows debuted, we're into episode two territory! Find out how Goodbye, Lara holds up in its sophomore episode along with Black Torch, Sparks of Tomorrow, Chainsmoker Cat and more! ― Welcome to Anime News Network's Summer 2026 Anime Preview Guide! Here's how it goes: our team of critics writes up their impressions instantly, to be posted here as they go along. Each critic will...

column

Answerman - Anime Has Left the Building (And Moved Into Yours)

Jul 13, 10:00 anime

Anime is everywhere now, in case you hadn't noticed. ― ConfusedConfucius asks: "Now that anime is becoming almost ubiquitous at a global level, what are some of the ways it is seeping into the popular consciousness in ways that were never intended?" You are right. Anime is flipping everywhere if you move through life with your eyes and ears open. This is not going to be your usual “anime is mainstre...

column

4 comments

This Week in Mobile Games - What's Up With The Lads?

Jul 13, 09:00

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games

Alas, poor Valko, players were just really divided on your existence and Papergames did not handle it well. ― Hello, and welcome once more to another installment of the column! It has, to put it mildly, been a rough couple of weeks, particularly if you're in or covering the game industry. With new waves of layoffs and controversial (to put it mildly) corporate decision-making, the game industry - or ...

feature

The World is Dancing and the Oldest Performing Art in Japan

Jul 13, 09:00 anime

The World is Dancing fictionalizes the life of Zeami, one of Noh's greatest performers and writers, but what is the history of Noh theater? Marcille Donato delves into the history of Japan's oldest performing art. ― Of all the forms of human expression that have ever existed, it would not be incorrect to say that one of the oldest and most universal is the art of dancing. Humans have been shaking the...

news

4 comments

Enma Akiyama's Noa-senpai wa Tomodachi. Gets TV Anime

Jul 13, 06:13

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manga anime

Senpai is an Otokonoko director Shinsuke Yanagi helms anime at feel. animation studio ― Kadokawa announced on Monday the television anime adaptation of Enma Akiyama's Noa-senpai wa Tomodachi. (Noa is My Senior, and My Friend.) manga, and revealed the anime's teaser visual and main staff members.The manga's story centers on Rihito Ōtsuka — a laid-back and unbothered guy, and an employee in a game comp...

news

5 comments

Kiki's Delivery Service Illustrator Akiko Hayashi Dies at 81

Jul 12, 21:15

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people

Hayashi illustrated many children's books including Miki's First Errand, There's a Hippo in My Bath! ― Japanese news outlet The Mainichi reported on Wednesday children's book author and illustrator Akiko Hayashi died of pneumonia on July 1 in a hospital in Nagano prefecture. She was 81.She was known for illustrating the first novel of Eiko Kadono's children's novel Kiki's Delivery Service, which Stud...

game review

6 comments

Star Fox (2026) Game Review

Jul 12, 12:00

6 comments

games

I was scared it would be just a very safe yet well-produced retread of familiar ground, and I was mostly right. ― It is nearly impossible to talk about this game without explaining the complicated pedigree that precedes it. Star Fox is an established Nintendo IP, but unlike many others such as Mario, Zelda, or even Metroid, the scope of games in Star Fox's library is a little bit muddled. Even though...

news

Mob Psycho 100 III Anime Marks 10th Anniversary With New Short

Jul 12, 10:41 anime

Director Yuzuru Tachikawa, character designer Yoshimichi Kameda reunite for English-subtitled short ― The "Mob Psycho 100 Anime 10th Anniversary Event: Reunion" presented a new anime short at the Fukagawa Mirai Hall in Kawaguchi City, Saitama on Sunday. The short, which is streaming online with English subtitles, features Reigen, Shigeo ("Mob"), Dimple, and Tome at the Spirits and Such Consultation O...

Girls Band Bandwidth: How BanG Dream! YUME∞MITA's Use of Streamers and Social Media Brings Its Story Into the Future

Jul 12, 10:00 anime streamers

The internet is cornerstone of the modern entertainment complex. Creators wanting to get their work out cannot merely be adept in their craft—they must also be able to navigate the multiplicitous lanes and uncertain signage of the information superhighway. So it must go as well for the girls bands in the BanG Dream! franchise, with this season's YUME∞MITA being heavily based in that space. ― The int...

survey

Time to Choose Your Daily Streaming Reviews: Summer 2026

Jul 12, 09:00 anime

Hey. Just checking in. Have you voted in our daily streaming review poll yet?

game review

6 comments

The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales Game Review

Jul 12, 09:00

6 comments

games

A competent and extremely promising first outing, Millennium Tales doesn't overstay its welcome, is a bit too chatty, feels great to play, but it needs just the tiniest kick in the pants. ― Team Asano has yet again moved into a new genre for their HD-2D titles: this time, an action-adventure title. While the title doesn't seem to promise much, and the characters skew a bit too archetypal for my taste...

review

7 comments

Unanswered//Butterfly: Sword Art Online Anime Film Review

Jul 11, 12:00

7 comments

anime

While this film is certainly worth watching to anyone who loves Sword Art Online, the fact that the bar to entry is $110 feels ludicrous. ― Unanswered//Butterfly: Sword Art Online is far from the first anime to be released as a video game extra—in this case, the Echoes of Aincrad Ultimate Edition. However, rather than an extra episode or OVA, Unanswered//Butterfly is a full-on feature film that clock...

review

2 comments

Hide and Seek Manga Review

Jul 10, 12:00

2 comments

manga

Naono Yoshiko’s line of '70s shoujo horror stories is as grisly, harrowing, and all-around entertaining a read as they come. ― My introduction to Hide and Seek went thusly: 70's shoujo manga focusing on children who meet horrible ends. I heard “70's” and “children who meet horrible ends” and immediately thought of Ringing Bell, which (cold take, I know, but) to this day is still my gold standard of o...

column

20 comments

This Week in Games - The Boat Came Back

Jul 10, 10:00

20 comments

games

Jean-Karlo has lots of exciting retro game news for you this week. Are you ready to set out in your nice boat? ― Welcome back, folks! Lots of photos floated around from this past weekend's Anime Expo. Apparently, they really messed up Artist Alley (sad to hear). On the other hand, Shift-Up had a Goddess of Victory: Nikke stall, complete with a Doro mascot. All the love to whoever was in that thing; t...

interview

3 comments

Holding Nothing Back and Giving it Absolutely Everything: A Chat with Wistoria: Wand and Sword Season 2 Director, Hideaki Nakano

Jul 10, 09:00

3 comments

anime

Hideaki Nakano talks about moving into the director's chair for Wistoria's second season and what he loves about the show. ― With its gorgeous visuals, rich world building, and absolutely electrifying direction, Wistoria: Wand and Sword is an obvious standout in the realm of magical school anime. While season one was directed by Tatsuya Yoshihara, who would later go on to direct Chainsaw Man: Reze A...

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