Nikki Asada Draws New 1-Shot in September

The September issue of Kodansha's Be Love magazine revealed on Friday that Nikki Asada will draw a one-shot manga titled "Tsukuyomi-kun no Kindan Oyashoku"...

source https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/daily-briefs/2021-07-31/nikki-asada-draws-new-1-shot-in-september/.175720

Children of the Sea's Daisuke Igarashi Draws New 1-Shot

The September issue of Kodansha's Be Love magazine revealed on Friday that Daisuke Igarashi is drawing a new one-shot manga titled "Kamakura Bakeneko Kurabu"...

source https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/daily-briefs/2021-07-31/children-of-the-sea-daisuke-igarashi-draws-new-1-shot/.175721

The Detective Is Already Dead Novel 1

The book does suffer from its tenuous use of actual mysteries, a couple of which rear their heads and are almost painfully obvious in their solutions.

source https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/detective-is-already-dead/novel-1/.175407

My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom! X ‒ Episode 5

Oh, Geordo, you may be her official fiancé, but you just broke the rules of the (reverse) harem, and if you think you're going to just trot out the old excuse and get away with it, I don't think even Jeffrey can help you.

source https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/my-next-life-as-a-villainess-all-routes-lead-to-doom-x/episode-5/.175743

Sonny Boy ‒ Episode 3

Sonny Boy's third episode opens with its protagonist nearly dying inside of a toilet. I think that's as good an encapsulation as any of the series' dry sense of humor.

source https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/sonny-boy/episode-3/.175745

The aquatope on white sand ‒ Episode 4

All of this plays into their main objective this episode: setting up the interactive touch pools, which are a personal favorite of mine anytime I visited an aquarium in Japan.

source https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/the-aquatope-on-white-sand/episode-4/.175734

The Case Study of Vanitas ‒ Episode 5

And because you're probably expecting it, yes, Mina's Victorian undies are more period-correct than we typically get in anime, although her drawers (bloomers) probably would have had an open crotch.

source https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/the-case-study-of-vanitas/episode-5/.175738

Ergo Proxy: Purpose in the Apocalypse

Humanity perpetually exists within an existential crisis, which exhibits no signs of ever reaching a legitimate conclusion. Matthew Roe tackles life's biggest question through the lens of Manglobe's original series, Ergo Proxy.

source https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/watch/2021-07-30/ergo-proxy-purpose-in-the-apocalypse/.175735

Tsukimichi -Moonlit Fantasy- ‒ Episode 4

If I were grading Tsukimichi on its ability to thrill and excite me with its storytelling prowess, this would be a C-tier episode, at best.

source https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/tsukimichi-moonlit-fantasy/episode-4/.175700

This Week in Games - Cotton Candy

Heidi tries out the classic 90s arcade series Cotton, a witch-led game where fairies' lives (and exotic candy) are on the line!

source https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/the-x-button/2021-07-30/this-week-in-games-cotton-candy/.175712

Peach Boy Riverside ‒ Episode 5

This week's entry sees Sally's odd little RPG party arrive in another town that looks basically the same as the other ones we've seen them stop in, except this one apparently has a vampire in it!

source https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/peach-boy-riverside/episode-5/.175698

Anti-Gravity Boy GN 1-3

The story may be full of basic shoujo plot events (A trip to Okinawa! Romantic rivals!), but it lets its characters come to their own emotional conclusions.

source https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/anti-gravity-boy/gn-1-3/.175449

Higurashi: When They Cry – SOTSU ‒ Episode 6

What made this finale standout is the exceptional visuals and the dedication to taking the brutality to a point beyond what we've seen from this continuation so far.

source https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/higurashi-when-they-cry-sotsu/episode-6/.175687

BEASTARS Season 2 ‒ Episode 3

If there is one single lesson that we all should have taken away from BEASTARS by now it is this: Louis and Legoshi are two extremely weird dudes.

source https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/beastars-season-2/episode-3/.175661

This Week in Anime - The Isekai Saturation Heightens

Nick and Nicky wade through this season's otherworldly offerings to search for at least one gem in a trove of trash.

source https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/this-week-in-anime/2021-07-29/.175650

Stellvia

Stellvia has long been a series that I thought deserved more love than it got.

source https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/stellvia/streaming-1-26/.175588

Why Could the Meta Liberation Army Be MHA's Best Villains Yet?

Honestly, the scariest thing about The Meta Liberation Army is most likely their secrecy. Any, and I mean any, of the pro heroes could be believers of The Meta Liberation Army's philosophy.

source https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/watch/2021-07-29/why-could-the-meta-liberation-army-be-mha-best-villains-yet/.175648

That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime Season 2 ‒ Episode 40

As the credits roll on this episode, one thing has become hard to ignore: the fact that we just spent the first four episodes of this cour watching what amounts to an hour-and-twenty-minute-long conversation.

source https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/that-time-i-got-reincarnated-as-a-slime-season-2/episode-40/.175616

BanG Dream! Episode of Roselia II: Song I am.

As glimpsed in the previous movie, this is a franchise where the characters can be shown to grow gradually – and surprisingly realistically – over relatively long periods of time.

source https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/bang-dream-episode-of-roselia-ii/song-i-am/.175539

Fatal Frame: Maiden of Black Water Game Launches on October 28

Koei Tecmo announced on Wednesday that it will release the Fatal Frame: Maiden of Black Water game for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox...

source https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/daily-briefs/2021-07-28/fatal-frame-maiden-of-black-water-game-launches-on-october-28/.175633

Looking Back on the Twisting Plot of Pandora Hearts

The series had a way of vacillating between goofy comedy and dark fantasy; it should have been jarring in any other context, but in the case of Pandora Hearts it just somehow worked.

source https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/feature/2021-07-28/looking-back-on-the-twisting-plot-of-pandora-hearts/.175380

To Your Eternity ‒ Episode 15

To be blunt, most of the episode barely even feels like it is animated, and the editing is frequently sloppy and jarring as well.

source https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/to-your-eternity/episode-15/.175603

How a Realist Hero Rebuilt the Kingdom ‒ Episode 4

While I certainly don't mind a bit of character and setting development, it felt like the elements that got most of the screen time here were (to my mind) the least interesting.

source https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/how-a-realist-hero-rebuilt-the-kingdom/episode-4/.175584

Tokyo Revengers ‒ Episode 16

It's also pretty nice to be reminded that these are still teenagers, with the crew either drooling over the saddest beach butts ever put to animation and trying to look cool in swimming races.

source https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/tokyo-revengers/episode-16/.175582

Battle Game in 5 Seconds ‒ Episode 3

After experimenting with such lavish storytelling dalliances as 'character development' last week, Battle Game in 5 Seconds realizes that wasn't playing to its strengths, and thus opts to switch back to its standard superpower showcase.

source https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/battle-game-in-5-seconds/episode-3/.175576

Seirei Gensouki - Spirit Chronicles ‒ Episode 4

Interestingly enough, Latifa seems to feel the loss of her previous life more keenly. Possibly this is because her current one lacks almost everything that she seemed to have before, most notably a loving family.

source https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/seirei-gensouki-spirit-chronicles/episode-4/.175574

The ANN Aftershow - The Todoroki Family Tragedy Hits Home

In possibly the most awkward family dinner ever, Deku and Bakugo head home with Todoroki for a family dinner. Emotions run high as Shoto's brother lays it all out on dear ol' dad and his paternal failures.

source https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/aftershow/2021-07-27/.175602

Belle

Mamoru Hosoda's Belle is a feast for the eyes and ears. At the same time, it is a meaningful look into the lingering effects of loss and the seemingly hopeless struggle to overcome it.

source https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/belle/.175589

Vivy: a Robot Ode to Life Vividly Lived

Vivy is, through a life and a song, a different tale of a journey of robots becoming more human, and what these journeys of robots communicate about humanity.

source https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/feature/2021-07-27/vivy-a-robot-ode-to-life-vividly-lived/.174459

Remake Our Life! ‒ Episode 4

I found that the fanservice we get—it's mostly your typical beach scenario titillation with a bikini top coming undone thrown in—felt less smarmy and more like mid-00s anime antics.

source https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/remake-our-life/episode-4/.175535

Kageki Shoujo!! ‒ Episode 4

It's not often that you see such a candid exploration of abuse in anime: it's even less often that you see someone actually have to pay penance of sorts for being a problem.

source https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/kageki-shoujo/episode-4/.175534

Girlfriend, Girlfriend ‒ Episode 4

While the whole setup was pretty bland to the point where I could call out almost every single story beat that was about to happen, I'd be remiss to not say it was the third segment that got the biggest laughs out of me.

source https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/girlfriend-girlfriend/episode-4/.175540

One Piece ‒ Episode 984

The road to Onigashima has been long, and it's important to contextualize why the battle is important through events past and present.

source https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/one-piece/episode-984/.175541

The Detective Is Already Dead ‒ Episode 4

So I'll start the review of this week's The Detective Is Already Dead with the positive: The actual mystery-solving does, in fact, make sense this time! Kinda! If you squint!

source https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/the-detective-is-already-dead/episode-4/.175544

NEO: The World Ends With You

Well, it took fourteen years, but NEO: The World Ends with You is finally here, and it's every bit as stylish, engrossing, and outright fun as its predecessor.

source https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/game/nintendo-switch/neo/the-world-ends-with-you/.175542

Anime & Hip-hop with Rapper Kirk "Aztech" Yi

Aztech has created tracks for Jujutsu Kaisen, BEASTARS, Dr. Stone and the upcoming anime Sakugan. Find out how anime soundtracks gave the hip-hop veteran a new avenue for his art.

source https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interview/2021-07-26/anime-and-hip-hop-with-rapper-kirk-aztech-yi/.173690

My Hero Academia ‒ Episode 105

If there's any resolution to be had here, it needs to be through the characters speaking and taking action outside the strictures of an action cartoon.

source https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/my-hero-academia/episode-105/.175524

Welcome to Demon School, Iruma-kun Season 2 ‒ Episode 15

Are heroes born? Or are they made? Or are they maybe forced into it by their psychotic teacher who thinks that giant monsters attacking a theme park is an “attraction?”

source https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/welcome-to-demon-school-iruma-kun-season-2/episode-15/.175523

The Honor Student at Magic High School ‒ Episode 4

After two episodes of heavy focus on the extended cast of the series, this one comes back to centering on Miyuki, giving us a different look at the relationship between her and her brother.

source https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/the-honor-student-at-magic-high-school/episode-4/.175527

Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin

It's easy to say that Monster Hunter Stories 2 provided the most enjoyable gameplay experience I've had within the genre in recent years.

source https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/game/nintendo-switch/monster-hunter-stories-2/wings-of-ruin/.175509

Friday, July 23, 2021

The Case Study of Vanitas ‒ Episode 4

One of the most fascinating elements of The Case Study of Vanitas is the way that it takes tale types, folklore, and philosophy and twists them just a little bit to create its world and mythos.

source https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/the-case-study-of-vanitas/episode-4/.175511

Uma Musume Pretty Derby Game Reaches Over 9 Million Downloads

The official Twitter account for Cygames' Uma Musume Pretty Derby game revealed on Tuesday that the game has reached over nine million downloads. The game...

source https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/daily-briefs/2021-07-23/uma-musume-pretty-derby-game-reaches-over-9-million-downloads/.175503

The aquatope on white sand ‒ Episode 3

Episode 3, “Life Begins in the Ocean,” starts with penguins, which while only slightly relevant to the larger plot this episode, still serve as a mildly...

source https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/the-aquatope-on-white-sand/episode-3/.175452

Sonny Boy ‒ Episodes 1-2

Incendiary in its impenetrability, and pugnacious in its pretentiousness, Sonny Boy stands as this season's weird anime experiment for weird anime watchers. In other words, I'm once again in my element.

source https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/sonny-boy/episodes-1-2/.175506

Tsukimichi -Moonlit Fantasy- ‒ Episodes 1-3

Out of all of its main ingredients, I'd say Tsukimichi's secret sauce is its cast, especially the chemistry between our hero Makoto and his dragon partner/girlfriend/maid/bodyguard/bully/slob roommate, Shen.

source https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/tsukimichi-moonlit-fantasy/episodes-1-3/.175470

This Week in Games - Burn It All Down

The State of California has filed a lawsuit against the company for what is being called “frat boy culture,” but that phrase, to me, minimizes the abuse far too much.

source https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/the-x-button/2021-07-23/this-week-in-games-burn-it-all-down/.175466

Reborn to Master the Blade Novel 1

For all of its strengths and interesting decisions, Reborn to Master the Blade does have its issues as well. The volume is one of the more repetitious light novels I've read recently.

source https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/reborn-to-master-the-blade/novel-1/.175098

Best Summer 2021 Openings

Summer is the time for pool parties, beach hang outs, and desperately trying not to melt into a puddle. But a season of so much fun deserves a matching set of tunes.

source https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/watch/2021-07-23/best-summer-2021-openings/.175457

Higurashi: When They Cry – SOTSU ‒ Episode 5

It feels like SOTSU is more interested in getting back to the primary confrontation after these loops. The pacing here is going at a breakneck speed but it never had to set itself up in this format in the first place.

source https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/higurashi-when-they-cry-sotsu/episode-5/.175462

Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid S ‒ Episode 3

Lucoa gets in big sister mode to help integrate Ilulu into the group which also pushes the dragon to decide to solve her own social problems instead of having Kobayashi force an easy resolution.

source https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/miss-kobayashi-dragon-maid-s/episode-3/.175453

Welcome to Demon School, Iruma-kun Season 2 ‒ Episode 14

There are plenty of urban legends, internet rumors, and ghost stories about Disney World, so it would make sense that Walter Park would have its seamier side – and that in the Netherworld, all of those stories would turn out to be true.

source https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/welcome-to-demon-school-iruma-kun-season-2/episode-14/.175233

Words Bubble Up Like Soda Pop

Kyōhei Ishiguro's debut feature film was the unfortunate victim of COVID-19 delays in 2020, but if you do manage to watch this, it is absolutely the perfect pick-me-up for a depressing year.

source https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/words-bubble-up-like-soda-pop/.166125

This Week in Anime - Is the Alice in Borderland Death Game Anime Any Good?

After a boost in relevancy from Netflix, the three-episode Alice in Borderland anime is now available for streaming! It's an isekai but not that kind. How do the murder shenanigans pan out?

source https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/this-week-in-anime/2021-07-22/.175410

The Case Study of Vanitas ‒ Episodes 1-3

It's a beautiful mishmash of about fourteen different texts, and more than just working, it makes this weird combination look good. Welcome, in short, to the anime adaptation of The Case Study of Vanitas.

source https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/the-case-study-of-vanitas/episodes-1-3/.175371

To Your Eternity ‒ Episode 14

It's going to be difficult to fully balance my temperament, because this marks the first time that my enjoyment of To Your Eternity has been so hampered by its production values.

source https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/to-your-eternity/episode-14/.175370

Tokyo Revengers ‒ Episode 15

Things kick off with that mysterious sixth man from Toman's founding, Kazutora, just walking into Takemichi's class and taking our hero on a field trip to Valhalla's hideout.

source https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/tokyo-revengers/episode-15/.175332

My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom! Novel 9

After a return to form in volume eight, My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom! takes another slide downhill in the ninth novel.

source https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/my-next-life-as-a-villainess/all-routes-lead-to-doom/novel-9/.174820

Higurashi: When They Cry – SOTSU ‒ Episodes 1-4

SOTSU hasn't done anything particularly unexpected yet in its first four episodes except raise a few red flags. I'm cautiously awaiting episode five.

source https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/higurashi-when-they-cry-sotsu/episodes-1-4/.175376

Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid S ‒ Episodes 1-2

For the mainstream audience, or anyone otherwise not interested in fanservice that involves creeping on kid characters, a show like Dragon Maid can be frustrating.

source https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/miss-kobayashi-dragon-maid-s/episodes-1-2/.175373

Tuesday, July 20, 2021

Love Live! Superstar!! ‒ Episodes 1-2

Having Jukki Hanada and Takahiko Kyōgoku back to helm this new entry is in many ways a long-awaited reunion. And so far the same magic that made School Idol Project the runaway success it became is here in spades.

source https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/love-live-superstar/episodes-1-2/.175365

How a Realist Hero Rebuilt the Kingdom ‒ Episodes 1-3

The real charm in watching isekai stories is seeing which tropes a work leans into and what twists it adds to the formula. How a Realist Hero Rebuilt the Kingdom splits the difference, and ends up decidedly average with signs of potential.

source https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/how-a-realist-hero-rebuilt-the-kingdom/episodes-1-3/.175349

This Week in Anime - Resident Evil Goes to War

With thinly veiled commentary on the U.S.'s involvement in the Middle East, the latest entry in Capcom's survival horror franchise brings Claire, Leon, and the zombies to the White House.

source https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/this-week-in-anime/2021-07-20/.175368

Remake Our Life! ‒ Episodes 1-3

I'll readily admit, episode 1, “Nothing Was Working,” is table-setting: fifty minutes of table-setting that during my first watch of Remake Our Life, I didn't particularly enjoy consistently

source https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/remake-our-life/episodes-1-3/.175322

Kageki Shoujo!! ‒ Episodes 1-3

Ai feels the most real, in a very intimately painful way. Her story and the abuse committed against her feels like the story of many of the girls and young women who are devoured by the idol industry, and while her story isn't connected to her work as an idol, it is deeply connected to why Ai became an idol so willingly.

source https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/kageki-shoujo/episodes-1-3/.175337

The ANN Aftershow - Is My Hero Academia: World Heroes' Mission Just a Rehash?

The anime original, girl-focused episode is all set-up for next month's new movie which has a lot of similarities to the Meta Liberation Army plot. Most importantly, is the new villain hot?

source https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/aftershow/2021-07-20/.175367

The aquatope on white sand ‒ Episodes 1-2

I'm hopeful that aquatope can deliver on its pleasant combo of magical realism, aquariums, soft sapphics searching for themselves, and introspective, realistic character growth.

source https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/the-aquatope-on-white-sand/episodes-1-2/.175321

Seirei Gensouki - Spirit Chronicles ‒ Episodes 1-3

If there's one thing Seirei Gensouki has going for it, it's the way it's handling its subgenre of isekai. This series falls under the “reborn in another world” heading, but it takes a slightly different approach than the bulk of the stories we see.

source https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/seirei-gensouki-spirit-chronicles/episodes-1-3/.175362

Raise a Generation of Sentai Heroes With Kamen Rider Tamagotchi

This year marks both the 50th anniversary of the long-running Kamen Rider tokusatsu franchise and the 25th anniversary of Bandai's popular Tamagotchi handheld digital pets.

source https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2021-07-20/raise-a-generation-of-sentai-heroes-with-kamen-rider-tamagotchi/.175237

The Game Designers Behind NEO: The World Ends With You

To celebrate the release of this hotly-anticipated sequel, we chatted directly with producer Tomohiko Hirano, Square Enix character design legend Tetsuya Nomura, and key character designers Gen Kobayashi and Miki Yamashita.

source https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/feature/2021-07-20/the-game-designers-behind-neo-the-world-ends-with-you/.175292

The Honor Student at Magic High School ‒ Episodes 1-3

Set during episode one and two of The irregular at magic high school's first season, this episode does something I thought impossible: make Honoka likeable.

source https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/the-honor-student-at-magic-high-school/episodes-1-3/.175347

Akiba's Trip: Hellbound & Debriefed

Akiba's Trip: Hellbound and Debriefed is a cheeky romp through anime fandom mecca with plenty of fun references. But sadly, it's also just shy of the mark to make it a must-have.

source https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/game/nintendo-switch/akiba-trip/hellbound-and-debriefed/.175326

The Detective Is Already Dead ‒ Episodes 1-3

The primary issue one could take with Detective is that the actual sleuthing is handily the least interesting part of the whole show.

source https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/the-detective-is-already-dead/episodes-1-3/.175293

Sunday, July 18, 2021

The IDOLM@STER Million Live! Producer: TV Anime Needs More Time

In an interview with the Famitsu.com website, The IDOLM@STER Million Live! producer Wakako Hazama said that the game's upcoming television anime adaptation...

source https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/daily-briefs/2021-07-19/the-idolm@ster-million-live-producer-tv-anime-needs-more-time/.175267

Dr. Stone Manga Takes 1-Issue Break So Authors Can Do Research

This year's combined 33rd and 34th issue of Shueisha's Weekly Shonen Jump magazine revealed on Monday that Boichi and Riichirou Inagaki's Dr. Stone manga...

source https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/daily-briefs/2021-07-18/dr-stone-manga-takes-1-issue-break-so-authors-can-do-research/.175238