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ep. review

One Piece ‒ Episode 1097

One Piece episode 1097 is a solid entry, though it is almost entirely exposition with mixed levels of engagement.
ep. review

The Apothecary Diaries ‒ Episode 23

Lakan's history is wholly tragic, from his father's rejection to the de facto loss of his would-be wife and daughter.
ep. review

The Dangers in My Heart Season 2 ‒ Episode 23

If Kyotaro is supposed to be the insecure teenage boy who tries to hide behind a veneer of dark complexity, then Adachi is the type who tries to hide his insecurities with bravado.
ep. review

Ninja Kamui ‒ Episode 6

It's one thing for the show to fridge Higan's family for motivation but it's another thing to do the same to Emma.
ep. review

Bucchigiri?! ‒ Episode 9

Arajin has distanced himself from his Matakara so much that he has to be pushed into even speaking to his friend again.
ep. review

The Wrong Way to Use Healing Magic ‒ Episode 11

The Wrong Way to Use Healing Magic is the right way to defeat the Black Knight!
ep. review

Delicious in Dungeon ‒ Episode 11

The party's plan to take down the dragon is a pretty smart one.
ep. review

Blue Exorcist: Shimane Illuminati Saga ‒ Episode 11

Rin's attempt to “bring Renzo back” by impersonating him was the highlight of the episode.
ep. review

Mashle: Magic and Muscles Season 2 ‒ Episode 22

It's not just about the strong protecting the weak, it's about accepting and respecting others and using your power for them.
ep. review

A Sign of Affection ‒ Episode 11

This week transitions through several different plot points without changing or resolving much of anything and winds up feeling pretty aimless.
ep. review

Brave Bang Bravern! ‒ Episode 10

We get a preview of the bad ending so to speak, a vision of things going awry should Lulu, Bravern, and Isami fail.
ep. review

Undead Unluck ‒ Episode 23

As with every other Negator in Undead Unluck, Akira's powers manifested in the exactly perfect way to ruin his life forever.
review

Bocchi the Rock! Anime Series Blu-ray Disc Review

One of "the most unorthodox and innovative" anime is out on Blu-ray in this subtitled-only release. We'd like more extras, but you can't say no to Bocchi. ― Unless you're a brand-new anime fan, you probably have heard of Bocchi the Rock!. If you are a new fan, welcome! When it came onto the scene in the fall of 2023, it was an easy crowd-pleaser with the way it combined cute girl hobby anime aestheti...
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This Week in Games - The Gaming World Says Good-Bye to Akira Toriyama

Jean-Karlo invites us to take a look at Akira Toriyama's influence and legacy in the gaming industry. There are also good/bad news for Puyo Puyo and The Super Mario Bros. ― Welcome back, folks! I didn't get a chance to plug it last week, but my column on monster-collecting games came out last week! The timing on that column was... something. That weekend turned out to be the 25th anniversary of the D...
ep. review

The Witch and the Beast ‒ Episode 9

Unfortunately, the smartest writing in the world can't salvage this episode's “climactic” battle scenes.
ep. review

Gushing Over Magical Girls ‒ Episode 11

In this episode alone, the anime breaks new ground by featuring giant nun feet and characters getting swallowed up by giant slime monsters.
ep. review

Urusei Yatsura ‒ Episode 33

While it doesn't feel like any development is carrying over from one episode to the next, I do find myself respecting Ataru more as a character from episode to episode.
ep. review

Chained Soldier ‒ Episode 11

I have to give the segment props for one of the most idiotic and absurd power-ups I've ever seen. It involves Himari unleashing her fury and might with what I can only describe as An Afro Made of Guns.
ep. review

Metallic Rouge ‒ Episode 10

Watching a Metallic Rouge episode with an intelligible thematic and emotional core is a welcome surprise.
column

The ANN Aftershow - And the Anime Oscar Goes To..

Lynzee and James discuss the Oscar results, the untimely passing of Dragon Ball creator Akira Toriyama, Solo Leveling, and more! And the Anime Oscar Goes To.. Lynzee and James discuss the Oscar results, the untimely passing of Dragon Ball creator Akira Toriyama, Solo Leveling, and more! The ANN After Show streams live on YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter Spaces on Tuesdays at 6pm PT/9pm ET. You can l...
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This Week in Anime - How Would You Like Your Fantasy Anime Served?

Chris and Steve discuss all the ways a fantasy anime can get it right and the shoddy mimics that catch viewers in their traps. ― Chris and Steve discuss all the ways a fantasy anime can get it right and the shoddy mimics that catch viewers in their traps. Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by the participants in this chatlog are not the views of Anime News Network. Delicious in Dungeon and...
review

Love, a Kitten, and a Salty Dog Manga Review

Love, a Kitten, and a Salty Dog is, by and large, a pleasant read, but it feels like a story that was shoved into a one-volume format when it might have benefitted from having two. ― BL series about veterinarians seems to be a budding, if not booming, subgenre. Alongside Therapy Game and Honey Darling we now have Seven Seas' release of Love, a Kitten, and a Salty Dog. Like Honey Darling (released by ...
ep. review

The Wrong Way to Use Healing Magic ‒ Episodes 9-10

I've been saying it all season: Too little, too late.
ep. review

Sengoku Youko ‒ Episode 10

This episode does a lot to make up for the faults of the previous episode—putting our main characters back in the driver's seat while providing some solid spectacle.
ep. review

Shangri-La Frontier ‒ Episode 22

There's some nice setup and some cute moments but this feels like nothing more than a transitional episode overall.
your score

Your Anime Rankings - Best of Winter 2024, Mar 4-10

Villainess Level 99 has been doing consistently great for the past few weeks, and climbed the cumulative up to #10 as a result. Find out how your favorite shows stacked up according to viewer votes. ― 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. ...
review

Fairy Princess Minky Momo Episodes 16-30 Anime Review

With this second batch of episodes released for Western audiences, Fairy Princess Minky Momo feels like it really hits its stride. ― With this second batch of episodes released for Western audiences, Fairy Princess Minky Momo feels like it really hits its stride. By this point, the formula is well-established: Momo, in her guise as the daughter of an Earth couple in an unnamed European country, finds...
feature

Who Can Beat Goku? The Monumental Legacy of Akira Toriyama

When we shout Kamehameha, we speak the same tongue. ― On March 1, 2024, Akira Toriyama passed away. He was a husband, a father, and a friend to many. Those closest to him – including many of his industry peers – have shared fond memories of their interactions and deep sadness at his passing. To be loved in life and mourned in death by those nearest us is often the greatest legacy many can hope for, a...
ep. review

Villainess Level 99 ‒ Episode 10

Unlike other villainess/otome isekai stories, the game's plot is alive and well in this one, and it's forcing Alicia's hand.
column

This Week in Anime - The Rise and Fall of Rooster Teeth

Lucas and Nick reflect on Rooster Teeth's legacy, from RWBY to gen:LOCK to Red vs. Blue following Warner Bros. Discovery's decision to dissolve the production company. ― Lucas and Nick reflect on Rooster Teeth's legacy, from RWBY to gen:LOCK to Red vs. Blue following Warner Bros. Discovery's decision to dissolve the production company. Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by the participants...
review

Pokémon Horizons: The Series Anime Episodes 1-12

With Ash's story done and its focus on new adventures and characters, can Pokémon Horizons live up to its legendary predecessor? ― With the end of one era comes the beginning of another. We saw the original Pokémon anime officially come to an end with the wrap up of Ash Ketchum's journey. None of us thought for a second this would be the end of Pokémon anime as a whole because the Pokémon Company had...
ep. review

Ninja Kamui ‒ Episode 5

Despite a warning from his mysterious benefactor that this is a trap, Higan is so juiced up on revenge that he rushes in and starts carving up ninja mooks left and right.
ep. review

Solo Leveling ‒ Episode 9

With this new inner calmness, Jinwoo questions his humanity.
ep. review

Urusei Yatsura ‒ Episode 32

There's a surprising amount of guilt swirling around Ataru throughout this episode.
ep. review

The Dangers in My Heart Season 2 ‒ Episode 22

"Are we dating?" I nearly fell out of my seat from pure cuteness overload just hearing that line because those three simple words perfectly sum up this entire episode.
review

Marginal Prince Anime Series Review

It's far from groundbreaking, and every episode is filled with so much cheese that you risk getting indigestion, but I think if you take your time digesting it like I did, there's a lot of fun here. ― Crunchyroll recently added Marginal Prince to their streaming service. It's an adaptation of a love simulation game of the same name from the early 2000s. Boy, does it feel like it! It's always interest...
ep. review

Bucchigiri?! ‒ Episode 8

This is the beating heart and personal tragedy the show has needed for a long time.
feature

Mobile Suit Gundam: Where to Start and What's Worth Watching [2024 Edition]

Lauren Orsini is back with an update to our Gundam guide. If you're not sure where to start in this mecha franchise, start here. ― Forty-five years ago, Mobile Suit Gundam was a cartoon designed to sell robot toys to kids, and it initially received such low viewership ratings that it ended up being canceled. It was only later that the anime's hardcore fans, many of whom were teens and young adults a...
ep. review

7th Time Loop: The Villainess Enjoys a Carefree Life ‒ Episode 10

She has been forcibly reminded of Michel's dangerous discovery – black powder.
ep. review

Blue Exorcist: Shimane Illuminati Saga ‒ Episode 10

Izumo gets one final, emotional opportunity to connect with her mother.
ep. review

The Witch and the Beast ‒ Episode 8

Helga gets her first kiss, and Guideau prepares to step out of the coffin for the first time since the premiere.
ep. review

A Sign of Affection ‒ Episode 10

When Itsuomi just casually brought the phone to Yuki without playing interference, it was genuinely a shock.
review

Tokyo These Days Volume 1 Manga Review

Taiyo Matsumoto turns his talents to exploring the manga field from various creative angles and the inescapable hold creative work (and manga, in particular) has on us. ― Many authors and illustrators have tried to write about what it means to work in a creative field. For my money, John Kendrick Bangs' 1896 novel A Rebellious Heroine best captures the writing life, and that's illustrious company for...
ep. review

Undead Unluck ‒ Episode 22

This episode takes a more abstract route by focusing on a duel between psychic incarnations of Andy and Victor.
ep. review

The Apothecary Diaries ‒ Episode 22

The most important reveal this week is that Lakan has prosopagnosia or face blindness.
ep. review

Mashle: Magic and Muscles Season 2 ‒ Episode 21

His simple-minded reaction to the reveal, even in the face of the superpowered opponent he's staring down, maintains the series' approach to flippant comedy.
ep. review

Frieren: Beyond Journey's End ‒ Episode 26

Rather than an endless stream of zoltraak magic, we see spells unlike anything we have seen before.
ep. review

Delicious in Dungeon ‒ Episode 10

The party meticulously plans an attack on graph paper that will inevitably go sideways the second they step into the room.
ep. review

Brave Bang Bravern! ‒ Episode 9

A giant mecha robot lady experiences human emotions for the first time and has a magical space climax.
review

SAND LAND: THE SERIES Anime Episodes 1-6 Review

This visually stunning action-adventure is another reminder of why Toriyama was a world-builder with boundless creativity. ― Coming straight out of the mind of the beloved Dragon Ball's Akira Toriyama, the original Sand Land manga is a short, one-volume work published all the way back in the year 2000. This past year, it was adapted into a feature film. Sand Land: The Series takes the 106-minute movi...
ep. review

Chained Soldier ‒ Episode 10

This week's “reward” was maybe the least sexy bit of fan service that Chained Soldier has ever delivered.
ep. review

Gushing Over Magical Girls ‒ Episode 10

Utena's going to get someone together canonically in this show, and if that includes a full-on lesbian sex scene, well, at least she's taking care of all of you in the audience as well.
ep. review

Metallic Rouge ‒ Episode 9

The plot moves, but it moves too fast to find footing. The characters are all here, but they're flattened. The themes and social commentary are apparent but neutered, simplified, and frequently contradictory.
column

This Week in Games - Nintendo Stamps Out Emulator Yuzu Devs

Jean-Karlo discusses the recent emulator debacle, some of the most interesting games from the Microsoft Partner Stream, and KOS-MOS creator Monolith's 25th anniversary! ― Welcome back, folks! Over the weekend, I saw Dune Part 2. It was really fun, but it reminded me of how disappointing it is that we haven't gotten a new Dune real-time strategy game to tie in with it. Dune II: The Building of a Dynas...
review

My Boss Is a Giant: He Manages My Every Need With Enormous Skill! Manga Review

Unfortunately, the steamy story is undermined by abandoned plot threads leaving fairly non-graphic sex scenes to entice readers. ― The title says it all as far as major content warnings go with this one: it's a romance manga about a woman who becomes involved with her boss. It's hardly novel in the genre, but it's also one of those tropes that doesn't work for all readers, so the good news is that yo...
feature

Collect 'Em All: Other Video Games About Catching Monsters

On the heels of Pokémon and Palworld, Jean-Karlo looks back on years of monster collecting, from Megami Tensei to Dragon Quest Monsters. Pokémon is undoubtedly the king of the mountain when it comes to the collectible monsters subgenre of RPG—or "Mons" games, as fans call them. And while it's also currently the world's leading multimedia franchise, there's still something to be said about the many ...
review

Tekkonkinkreet: Black & White 30th Anniversary Edition Manga Review

Taiyō Matsumoto's Tekkonkikreet is a powerful manga, one unique and beautiful in its off-beat presentation and heartbreaking/warming in its characters and themes. ― I knew next to nothing about Taiyō Matsumoto or his work before reading Tekkonkikreet, and with the manga in question, I only knew of Treasure Town, coming across it when looking up cool anime cities. I'm glad I ended up going in blind to...
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This Week in Anime - AI Is Here, But Who Is It Helping?

If this tech is making things worse for the people who work on this material and those who want to enjoy it, then who exactly is it for? ― Following Crunchyroll president Rahul Purini's confirmation that the company is already testing generative A.I. uses on subtitling and closed captioning, Chris and Lucas discuss where the technology could benefit more broadly and management's misjudgment on how t...
ep. review

Sengoku Youko ‒ Episode 9

This should be a pivotal, emotionally compelling sequence for the audience as all the disparate parts of Jinka's arc come to fruition, but it falls terribly flat.
column

The ANN Aftershow - Are the Anime Awards Broken? (Podcast Edition)

Lynzee and James discuss the Crunchyroll Anime Award winners and try to explain why a single show can sweep so many categories. Plus: Solo-Leveling and more Delicious in Dungeon food! Are the Anime Awards Broken? (Podcast Edition) Lynzee and James discuss the Crunchyroll Anime Award winners and try to explain why a single show can sweep so many categories. Plus: Solo-Leveling and more Delicious in...
review

Pokemon Adventures: Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire Volume 1 Manga Review

This manga is best read with prior knowledge of the characters and the base games, but inside is a worthwhile, fast-paced adventure. ― I will always take advantage of any opportunity to talk about the Pokémon Adventures manga because I genuinely think it is fantastic. Composed of dozens of volumes, the Pokémon Adventures manga series is the closest thing that fans have to a dedicated expansion of the...
feature

Why Dragon Quest: The Adventure of Dai is One of the Greatest Shonen Anime

Now streaming on Netflix, Jairus Taylor makes his case for Dragon Quest: The Adventure of Dai and why it deserves a moment in the shonen spotlight. ― The landscape of shonen anime has changed a lot over the years, and largely for the better. In the past, anime adaptations of hallmark shonen titles like Naruto or Bleach were notorious for suffering from slow pacing, inconsistent animation quality, an...
ep. review

Villainess Level 99 ‒ Episode 9

Patrick's not her only friend, which may be confusing to her, mostly because she's reluctant to see Eleonora as a friend.
your score

Your Anime Rankings - Best of Winter 2024, Feb 26-Mar 3

While the rankings have been on an unplanned hiatus over the past few weeks, our top 3 has remained unchanged with Dangers in My Heart ruling the season. Check out our latest 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 m...
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This Week in Anime - Are the Anime Awards Broken?

What were the biggest snubs of the Anime Awards, and did what earned their rightful place as one of the best? Or is the whole thing a cover for marketing and business relationships? ― Nick and Steve are here with your after-awards banter. What were the biggest snubs of the Anime Awards, and did they earn their rightful place as one of the best? Or is the whole thing a cover for marketing and busines...
review

Seven Deadly Sins: Four Knights of the Apocalypse Episodes 1-11 Anime Review

The Seven Deadly Sins: Four Knights of the Apocalypse's first cour is a bit of a mixed bag that doesn't yet live up to its popular predecessor. ― Welcome back to the Arthurian-inspired shounen world of The Seven Deadly Sins. In this adaptation of the Nakaba Suzuki's sequel manga, it's been sixteen years since the Sins' final battle, and the focus shifts to their children – or at least to a random kid...
ep. review

One Piece ‒ Episode 1096

Just 10/10 stuff all around.
ep. review

Shangri-La Frontier ‒ Episode 21

From the little that we've seen, Katzo is a professional gamer, and it would be cool if we could see that expertise play a part in the game, comparing them to Sunraku's game exploit intuition and Arthur's trickery.
ep. review

The Dangers in My Heart Season 2 ‒ Episode 21

Love can be dangerous, as Kyotaro and Anna have to face a stalker.
ep. review

Urusei Yatsura ‒ Episode 31

My favorite joke in the episode is the game of spot-the-difference, where it just became a case of "Hey, look at this," and most of it wasn't very funny.
ep. review

Ninja Kamui ‒ Episode 4

Without the dazzle of cool ninja fights to distract from it, all of the issues with the show's writing are laid bare.
ep. review

Frieren: Beyond Journey's End ‒ Episode 25

It's not the planning or magic slinging that is the highlight of the episode. Rather, it's the flashback to the last meeting of Frieren and Serie.
feature

Anime to Watch on Funimation Before They Disappear from Streaming

Crunchyroll is sunsetting the Funimation streaming service on April 2, and with it, these anime will disappear from streaming services. Watch these before they're gone! ― Funimation's days as an anime streaming service are numbered! And while much of their catalog is available on Crunchyroll or other anime streaming sites, a surprising number are not. With April 2 looming, here are our editorial team...
ep. review

Solo Leveling ‒ Episode 8

The episode also looks back at the characters who went with Jinwoo into the double dungeon to see how their goals have changed—or haven't—due to their harrowing experience.
review

The White and Blue Between Us Manga Review

This is only a one-volume story, and it simply doesn't have the space to give us the needed depth of emotion, especially for lead character Mishima. ― So many love stories in fiction begin or end with a lie. That's not surprising when you think about the genre; its very nature means that any antagonistic actions need to be either ridiculously huge (kidnapping, war, etc.) or small enough to be a fixtu...
ep. review

Bucchigiri?! ‒ Episode 7

Instead of advancing any of our characters' arcs after the climactic fight, it returns to the same holding pattern as before.
ep. review

7th Time Loop: The Villainess Enjoys a Carefree Life ‒ Episode 9

To Kyle, Arnold is the embodiment of shadow, cloaking any potential help under a dark surface that adds a chill to the air.
ep. review

Mashle: Magic and Muscles Season 2 ‒ Episode 20

As roughly 50% of tournament stories in shonen anime do, the one in Mashle has been forcibly formatted into an open battle against a terrorist attack.
ep. review

The Apothecary Diaries ‒ Episode 21

There's something lovable about Lihakuand, and part of that is down to his overgrown puppy energy.
ep. review

Blue Exorcist: Shimane Illuminati Saga ‒ Episode 9

This story hasn't been without its flaws, and some of those flaws remain present this week, too. The direction remains just a little too flat and sterile for the nature of the material.
review

Ako and Bambi Volume 1 Manga Review

From one the creators behind Horimiya, an up-and-coming writer meets a ghost haunting his new apartment, but there are still mysteries lingering behind her death. ― You may recognize HERO as one of the creators behind Horimiya, and for some readers, that will be enough to merit picking this up. But Ako and Bambi's first volume stands on its own two feet even without that endorsement, and it is striki...
ep. review

A Sign of Affection ‒ Episode 9

I'm pretty sure if he sees Yuki at Itsuomi's apartment wearing his clothes, my dude is going to rupture an organ.
ep. review

The Witch and the Beast ‒ Episode 7

Despite her goofiness, she takes her duty as ward of the sword seriously.
ep. review

Brave Bang Bravern! ‒ Episode 8

What if you had to make love to a giant sentient robot villainess to save your friends?
game review

Ufouria: The Saga 2 Game Review

Ufouria: The Saga 2 delivers a long-overdue comeback for a cult classic from the NES era, but can it live up to a legacy? Ufouria: The Saga 2 delivers a long-overdue comeback for a cult classic from the NES era, but can it live up to a legacy? The original Ufouria: The Saga was one that got away. Its North American release was canceled back in 1991, and even though the game made it out in Japan an...
ep. review

Delicious in Dungeon ‒ Episode 9

He doesn't place importance in weaponry, he places it in cookware.
ep. review

Undead Unluck ‒ Episode 21

Hundreds of years ago, Andy (who didn't even go by “Andy”, then) ran with a gang of vigilantes across the United States as they tried to clean up the chaos left behind in the wake of the Civil War.
ep. review

Chained Soldier ‒ Episode 9

Yuuki's reunion with his long-lost sister is going to test his bond with his Master back in the 7th Squadron.
ep. review

Metallic Rouge ‒ Episode 8

Metallic Rouge spends most of this episode teetering into stupidity.
game review

Mario vs Donkey Kong Game Review

The most interesting part of Mario vs Donkey Kong is trying to figure out why Nintendo released this title, in this way, at this time. Mario vs Donkey Kong is fine. I should probably open this review by talking about the mechanics of the game, how much should or should not change in a remake, or if this title is worth its $50 price point; but, several hours after seeing the credits roll, I remain f...
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This Week in Games - How Zygarde Got His Game

Jean-Karlo goes over all the good news from this year's Pokémon Day and worrying developments in the world of emulation. ― Welcome back, folks! It's been a fun week on my end; some good stuff came in the mail (I finally have a nice copy of the Valis collection). I still really want that one LGR physical edition of VA-11 Hall-A; it sure would be nice to find one at not-price-gouge-y prices. I also nee...
feature

Roleplaying in Re:Zero, the Dark Souls of Isekai

How I engage with games like Dark Souls, and how Subaru approaches his ordeals in Re:Zero are similar: they both hinge on roleplay. ― As someone who used to play games more actively, watching Re:Zero – Starting Life in Another World dredged up old memories of playing Dark Souls. Fans of both franchises could probably draw some easy comparisons. They're both dark and often bleak fantasy series known f...
ep. review

Sengoku Youko ‒ Episode 8

With last week's sudden loss, it would only be natural for some or all of our party to want to repay their enemies, but there's a lot more nuance than simple bloodlust.
ep. review

Gushing Over Magical Girls ‒ Episode 9

Even some standby gags like Sayo's struggles with her emergent masochism feel a bit funnier and more clever with their setup now.
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This Week in Anime - Previously On Final Fantasy VII

Before you boot up Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, let's remember Squaresoft's foray into feature films, including Spirits Within and the divisive Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children. ― Before you boot up Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, let's remember Squaresoft's foray into feature films, including Spirits Within and the divisive Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children. Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed...
review

The Klutzy Witch: Fukka and the Witch of Darkness Anime Movie Review

There are some fun moments of slapstick, but the humor fades as the film goes on, and the action is never particularly impressive or memorable. The Klutzy Witch: Fukka and the Witch of Darkness screened at the 2024 New York International Children's Film Festival as a double bill with the short film Magic Candies. Despite the festival's name, many of the anime movies screened there have also held st...

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