The Misfit of Demon King Academy ‒ Episode 9

This is an insane amount of ground to cover in a single episode. Three or four of these scenes could have been taken, lengthened, and turned into a full episode with little problem.

source http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/the-misfit-of-demon-king-academy/episode-9/.163470

Food Wars! Shokugeki no Soma: The Fifth Plate ‒ Episode 9

The cookery has been on a downhill slide, to the point that I've resigned myself to it as each episode trims yet more off of what used to be the chief allure of the series.

source http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/food-wars-shokugeki-no-soma-the-fifth-plate/episode-9/.163466

Fire Force ‒ Episode 33

The real centerpiece of the episode, though, is Tempe's fight with Ogun, which sees Fire Force rolling up its sleeves for a good old-fashioned bout of sakuga braggadocio.

source http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/fire-force/episode-33/.163453

A Certain Scientific Railgun T ‒ Episode 21

Academy City has some sick and twisted things going on in its dark underbelly, but as demented experiments go, this one ranks high up the list.

source http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/a-certain-scientific-railgun-t/episode-21/.163449

PREVIEW: Bandai Namco Games' Action RPG Scarlet Nexus

Heidi has the lowdown on Bandai Namco Games’ “brainpunk” adventure...and she can't wait to get her hands on the full game. Find out why!

source http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/feature/2020-08-31/preview-bandai-namco-games-action-rpg-scarlet-nexus/.163450

How Fan Translators Made Virtual YouTubers a Global Phenomenon

By this point in 2020, a mere four years after Kizuna AI's debut, there's just so much VTuber content out there that it gets a little overwhelming figuring out where to begin watching.

source http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/feature/2020-08-31/how-fan-translators-made-virtual-youtubers-a-global-phenomenon/.162925

EX-ARM Anime Reveals Staff

The official website for the television anime of Shinya Komi and HiRock's EX-ARM manga revealed the show's staff on Monday. Yoshikatsu Kimura, who has...

source http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/daily-briefs/2020-08-31/ex-arm-anime-reveals-staff/.163478

EX-ARM Anime to Premiere in January 2021

This year's 39th issue of Shueisha's Weekly Shonen Jump magazine revealed on Monday that the television anime of Shinya Komi and HiRock's EX-ARM manga...

source http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/daily-briefs/2020-08-30/ex-arm-anime-to-premiere-in-january-2021/.163445

Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear Novel 1

Wealthy Yuna gets sucked into a game world and finds herself wearing an OP bear onesie!? Check out the review of the light novel that's inspiring an anime series this October!

source http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/kuma-kuma-kuma-bear/novel-1/.162825

Rent-A-Girlfriend ‒ Episode 8

If you've seen even a single romantic comedy before this one you can tell 5 seconds in that no, Chizuru isn't actually on a date and that this will all be explained as an innocent misunderstanding.

source http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/rent-a-girlfriend/episode-8/.163430

No Guns Life ‒ Episode 20

In this week's meeting of the quasi-mechanical minds, the newly-iron-willed Tetsuro stares down the ambitions and philosophy of Professor Wachowski and his anti-cyborg terrorist cell.

source http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/no-guns-life/episode-20/.163431

No Guns Life ‒ Episode 20

In this week's meeting of the quasi-mechanical minds, the newly-iron-willed Tetsuro stares down the ambitions and philosophy of Professor Wachowski and his anti-cyborg terrorist cell.

source http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/no-guns-life/episode-20/.163431

Seven Deadly Sins: Imperial Wrath of The Gods

While King and Diane get swept into the past to learn some of the truths behind the Holy War, Gowther deals with his own trip down memory lane and Merlin searches fervently for Arthur in demon-controlled Camelot

source http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/seven-deadly-sins/imperial-wrath-of-the-gods/episodes-1-24/.162960

My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU Climax ‒ Episode 8

With this week's episode we see not only the end to the drama surrounding the creation of the prom but also the end of Hachiman and Yukino's relationship as we know it.

source http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/my-teen-romantic-comedy-snafu-climax/episode-8/.163395

Hunting for Anime Fandom in Puerto Rico

Puerto Rican native Jean-Karlo Lemus discusses the flourishing fandom on the island despite hurdles of availability and a slice of the series that thrived on local TV.

source http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/feature/2020-08-28/hunting-for-anime-fandom-in-puerto-rico/.162846

Thursday, August 27, 2020

This Week in Games - Hard Drop

Get the skinny on the latest Nintendo Direct announcements, a surprise revamp of the once forgotten Monster World IV, and the unfortunate implosion of Lab Zero Games.

source http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/the-x-button/2020-08-27/this-week-in-games-hard-drop/.163342

Nana to Kaoru's Ryuta Amazume Draws New 1-Shot Manga in September

The official website for Hakusensha's Young Animal magazine revealed on Thursday that Ryuta Amazume will draw a new one-shot manga tentatively titled "Ano...

source http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/daily-briefs/2020-08-27/nana-to-kaoru-ryuta-amazume-draws-new-1-shot-manga-in-september/.163307

The Strongest Sage With the Weakest Crest GN 1

Rebecca Silverman finds that while there are unique elements in this isekai tale, it's also a retread of similar power fantasies before it.

source http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/strongest-sage-with-the-weakest-crest/gn-1/.162841

Black Clover ‒ Episode 140

In all, there's nothing terribly exciting about either vignette, but both are solid bits of storytelling about pushing people to adjust their thinking in more benevolent directions.

source http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/black-clover/episode-140/.163308

Wolf's Rain ‒ Episodes 29-30

I'd go so far as to argue that the finale of Wolf’s Rain is nearly good enough on its own to cement the series' place in the popular anime canon.

source http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/wolf-rain/episodes-29-30/.163149

Muv-Luv Alternative Manga Debuts in English on Friday

aNCHOR announced on Monday that it will release the first volume of Azusa Maxima (Azusa Makishima) and âge's Muv-Luv Alternative manga digitally in English...

source http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/daily-briefs/2020-08-25/muv-luv-alternative-manga-debuts-in-english-on-friday/.163281

The Girl With the Sanpaku Eyes GN 1

Amane Mizuno leans into her "scary" disposition, but inside is someone protecting herself, because inside she's desperately shy and uncertain.

source http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/the-girl-with-the-sanpaku-eyes/gn-1/.163078

This Week in Anime - Great Pretender is a Devious Joyride

Edamura, a small-time crook, quickly finds himself pulled into the high-stakes world of fleecing millionaires alongside the devious Laurent. Also, did we mention there are cats?

source http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/this-week-in-anime/2020-08-25/.163271

Real-Life Corgi Befriends Life-Sized Pokémon Yamper Plush

A Japanese couple posted an adorable video last month of their pet corgi, named Mugi, who recently celebrated his second birthday by getting a new friend:...

source http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2020-08-25/real-life-corgi-befriends-life-sized-pokemon-yamper-plush/.163284

One Piece ‒ Episode 938

This episode was more emotionally resonant than visually resplendent. It's mostly setup for what is coming down the pipe in the near future.

source http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/one-piece/episode-938/.163219

Princess Tutu ‒ Episodes 25-26

Princess Tutu is a remarkable story. It melds folkloric themes, ballet and opera plots, and the myriad ways to tell a tale into a triumphant, hopeful finale.

source http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/princess-tutu/episodes-25-26/.163169

Ouran High School Host Club ‒ Episodes 25-26

That's a lot of complaining from me about a story that was summarily ‘fine’, just not really effective in what I'd expect from an Ouran finale.

source http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/ouran-high-school-host-club/episodes-25-26/.163143

Boruto: Naruto Next Generations ‒ Episode 162

With every thief and mercenary in the Land of Silence out to get them, our heroes find themselves hopelessly surrounded, and it seems their only option is to fight.

source http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/boruto-naruto-next-generations/episode-162/.163223

Uzaki-chan Wants to Hang Out! ‒ Episode 7

What I'm really trying to get at is that, in a remarkable twist of fate, I liked this week's episode! And not just one segment or anything, either; the whole thing was pretty good

source http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/uzaki-chan-wants-to-hang-out/episode-7/.163208

Official Mr. Osomatsu Video Explains Season 2 in 66 Seconds

In anticipation of the third season's debut in October, the Mr. Osomatsu anime's official YouTube account has released a 66-second explainer video covering...

source http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2020-08-24/official-mr-osomatsu-video-explains-season-2-in-66-seconds/.163181

Fire Force ‒ Episode 32

It's a very traditional shonen-manga story of Good vs. Evil, but that's okay, and Fire Force is continually improving the more establishes what its world is, and why we should care about saving it

source http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/fire-force/episode-32/.163209

A Certain Scientific Railgun T ‒ Episode 20

Rakko's hunt for Saten and Frenda provides the most substantial sustained action that the series has seen in a while.

source http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/a-certain-scientific-railgun-t/episode-20/.163191

No Guns Life ‒ Episode 19

Specters from the past waft like smoke from a gun barrel in this heavily expository installment of No Guns Life.

source http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/no-guns-life/episode-19/.163188

Kaiji: The Ultimate Millennial

Writer Norbert Daniels Jr. details how Kaiji's long and dangerous path out of debt is all too relatable for an entire generation.

source http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/feature/2020-08-24/kaiji-the-ultimate-millennial/.162406

Aspiring Animation Creator Alleges Corporate Bias Against Diverse Creators

Alleges that a certain company balked at accepting pitches of 'diversity themes' after backlash against title that only advertised diversity without releasing trailer

source http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2020-08-24/aspiring-animation-creator-alleges-corporate-bias-against-diverse-creators/.163228

Syrup GN 1

As an anthology, Syrup succeeds in bringing together a variety of stories and art styles, and it certainly has a high level of name recognition with Milk Morinaga, Naoko Kodama, Yukiko, and Kana Yoshimura, among others.

source http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/syrup/gn-1/.161768

Saturday, August 22, 2020

3rd Disney Twisted-Wonderland Animated TV Ad Highlights Octavinelle Dorm

The Disney Twisted-Wonderland smartphone game released its third animated television ad on Thursday. The ad highlights the Octavinelle Dorm, which is inspired...

source http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2020-08-22/3rd-disney-twisted-wonderland-animated-tv-ad-highlights-octavinelle-dorm/.163184

Yakuza Kiwami 2

Yakuza Kiwami 2's recent release on the Xbox One means that the title is now accessible everywhere, and if you love Yakuza, there's no reason not to play it.

source http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/game/xbox-one/yakuza-kiwami-2/.163171

Translucent Parts Breathe New Life into Classic Gunpla

As part of the Gundam Online Expo an unheard of amount of over 60 exclusive Gunpla are available for purchase—including both new exclusives and Gundam Base Limited exclusives.

source http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/advertorial/2020-08-22/translucent-parts-breathe-new-life-into-classic-gunpla/.163085

Fate/Grand Order Releases Phone Charger Shaped Like Mash's Shield

The Fate/Grand Order Absolute Demonic Front: Babylonia anime is releasing new merch, including a wireless smartphone changer shaped like Mash's shield....

source http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2020-08-21/fate-grand-order-releases-phone-charger-shaped-like-mash-shield/.162876

My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU Climax ‒ Episode 7

The first two-thirds of this episode serve to show just how hard Hachiman is going to have to work to keep his head above water.

source http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/my-teen-romantic-comedy-snafu-climax/episode-7/.163158

What's the Point of Isekai? The Cultural Implications of the Genre

Fiction doesn't exist in a vacuum. Writer NineOuh digs into the rapid growth of isekai stories and what its popularity says about current otaku culture.

source http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/feature/2020-08-21/what-the-point-of-isekai-the-cultural-implications-of-the-genre/.163140

Tokyo Comic Con 2020 Event to be Held Online in December

The staff for the Tokyo Comic Con 2020 event announced on Thursday that the event will be held online this year on December 4-6. The event will be the...

source http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/daily-briefs/2020-08-21/tokyo-comic-con-2020-event-to-be-held-online-in-december/.163155

Wednesday, August 19, 2020

Black Clover ‒ Episode 139

Vanessa goes back to the place that she thought she had left behind: the Witches' Forest, where she seeks to gain access to more powerful magic from the Queen.

source http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/black-clover/episode-139/.163070

Mob Psycho 100 II BR/DVD Limited Edition

The only bad things James can say about Mob Psycho 100 II are "not every episode is a stone-cold knockout" and "it eventually ends."

source http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/mob-psycho-100-ii-br/dvd-limited-edition/.162462

Outlaw Star ‒ Episode 25-26

It was inevitable that the series would run into trouble when it came time to conclude all this Galactic Leyline drama, but boy I wasn't prepared for just how haphazard this whole finale would be.

source http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/outlaw-star/episode-25-26/.163064

Wolf's Rain ‒ Episodes 27-28

Aesthetically, Wolf’s Rain has generally been excellent across the board, and its first two OVAs continue the show's fine tradition of looking and sounding incredibly cool.

source http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/wolf-rain/episodes-27-28/.162928

Is the order a rabbit? Anime Seaso 3 Premieres on October 10

The official website for the Gochūmon wa Usagi Desu ka? (Is the Order a Rabbit?) anime franchise revealed on Wednesday that Gochūmon wa Usagi Desu ka?...

source http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/daily-briefs/2020-08-18/is-the-order-a-rabbit-anime-seaso-3-premieres-on-october-10/.163060

The God of High School ‒ Episode 7

The God of High School is sitting close to the 140-minute mark, which means it's taken more than two-and-a-half hours to go from being “forgivably basic” to “absurd, frustrating, and pointless.”

source http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/the-god-of-high-school/episode-7/.163025

Venus In The Blind Spot

Ito's manga regularly blends the comically absurd with unsettling horror but all of his stories have a through line of picking up on particularly common anxieties and blowing them up.

source http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/venus-in-the-blind-spot/.161037

Digimon Adventure: ‒ Episode 11

Plowing through all the Ultimate evolutions while trying to follow and resolve the main plot is going to be a daunting task this early in the series, and its ambitions may be getting the better of it.

source http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/digimon-adventure/episode-11/.162992

Strike Witches: Road to Berlin TV Anime Premieres on October 7

The official website for the World Witches franchise announced on Tuesday that the Dai-501 Tōgō Sentō Kōkū-dan Strike Witches: Road to Berlin (501st Joint...

source http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/daily-briefs/2020-08-18/strike-witches-road-to-berlin-tv-anime-premieres-on-october-7/.163054

Boruto: Naruto Next Generations ‒ Episode 161

The gang comes one step closer to obtaining the highly sought-after Hashirama Cell in an eventful Boruto: Naruto Next Generations.

source http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/boruto-naruto-next-generations/episode-161/.162996

Ouran High School Host Club ‒ Episodes 23-24

Having seemingly given up on developing Mori entirely even as this story started with him, the series instead pivots to Tamaki.

source http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/ouran-high-school-host-club/episodes-23-24/.162932

This Week in Anime - Is the New My Hero Academia OVA Killer or Filler?

I know we all miss the comfort that a school schedule can bring. Oh, not that one. I'm talking about UA and the Quirk-y heroes in training of My Hero Academia!

source http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/this-week-in-anime/2020-08-18/.163020

Square Enix Trademarks 'Dragon Quest Tact' in U.S., Europe

Square Enix trademarked the title "Dragon Quest Tact" in Europe on July 7, and in the United States on July 14. Dragon Quest Tact is a tactical role-playing...

source http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/daily-briefs/2020-08-18/square-enix-trademarks-dragon-quest-tact-in-u.s-europe/.163029