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Goodbye, Eri GN
Imagine reading a story with love, tragedy, suspense, mystery, fantasy, and at least one mindfuck within 200 pages.
― In an era of perpetually ongoing franchises that don't know when to die, it's refreshing to read something that feels like the perfect example of a complete package. Imagine reading a story with love, tragedy, suspense, mystery, fantasy, and at least one mindfuck within 200 pages. The...
Nadia - The Secret of Blue Water
Despite superficial similarities to the works of one of the industry's immortal titans, Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water is the work of the up-and-comers who would go on to produce the single most famous and impactful anime of the last thirty years.
― As a lifelong fan of Neon Genesis Evangelion that is just young enough to have missed his chance to build a healthy collection of classic anime DVD rele...
Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective
While there are imperfections to the game's new lease on life, Ghost Trick remains the utterly unique, earnestly recommendable experience it was thirteen years ago.
― Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective is one of those games that I have been harping on others to play for ages. For well over a decade. So, at last, I have this fresh opportunity to say that if you somehow have still not played Ghost Trick ye...
Charade Maniacs
I played it on the bus. I played it while walking. I played it after I got home from my day job and stayed up later than I should have. I was fully engrossed in the mystery and the characters.
― I've said it before, and I'll say it again: I have a major weakness for death game-style, social deduction adventure games. I'll choose to replay the Danganronpa or Nonary Games series in a heartbeat over the...
Kubo Won't Let Me Be Invisible Episodes 1-12
Kubo is pure fluff, but it's the kind of fluff you want inside a squishy stuffed animal to hug or a throw pillow to prop your head on.
― Some romantic comedies look to push the envelope, break the mold, or purposefully challenge the conventions of their genre. Kubo Won't Let Me Be Invisible is not one of those shows. It is more or less exactly what it says on the tin, and you can tell from episode on...
Tokyo Mew Mew New Season Two
Viewers may be disappointed with its open-ended conclusion, but it exemplifies Tokyo Mew Mew New's environmental call to action.
― Tokyo Mew Mew New's second season makes a good point: humans have been terrible stewards of Earth. Whatever you think of this particular franchise being chosen for a reboot, it's hard to deny that it's a timely one – the planet is not in a good place right now, and humans...
Until I Love Myself GN 1
By no means an easy read, this is a first-hand account of the manga author's life during some of the most difficult moments of gender confusion.
― Learning to love yourself can be hard. That is probably the understatement of the century, but I can't think of a better phrase that sums up Until I Love Myself. This is a first-hand account of the manga author's life during some of the most difficult mome...
Saving 80,000 Gold in Another World for My Retirement GN 1
Mitsuha has hatched the perfect isekai plan: sell modern Japanese goods in a medieval world and save, save, save! Rebecca checks out the manga version of the series to see if its worth its weight (in gold).
― Mitsuha has not been having a good couple of years. When she was in high school, her parents and older brother died in a car accident. While they left her enough to get by, she worries about pay...
Story of Seasons: A Wonderful Life
Just in time for the 20th anniversary, we have Story of Seasons: A Wonderful Life, an updated remaster of that beloved game. Does it live up to its predecessor's memory?
― Back before the Harvest Moon games had their complicated split, A Wonderful Life and its subsequent distaff counterpartAnother Wonderful Life became the introduction for many a farm-sim fan to the genre. While it wasn't too differe...
Honey Lemon Soda GN 2
What sets Honey Lemon Soda apart from its brethren? It's the willingness to understand that it's not a quick or easy thing to break free of the things that haunt you.
― What sets Honey Lemon Soda apart from its brethren? It's the willingness to understand that, even with the help of the most popular boy in class, it's not a quick or easy thing to break free of learned behavior and the things that hau...
Sugar Apple Fairy Tale Novels 2-3
If you've already watched the first season of Sugar Apple Fairy Tale's anime adaptation, is it worth reading the novels? I'd say yes.
― Note: You can find our review of the first light novel here. If you've already watched the first season of Sugar Apple Fairy Tale's anime adaptation, is it worth reading the novels? I'd say yes. Although these two books bring us to the end of the first season (so you...
I Hear the Sunspot: Four Seasons GN 1
A grounded romance, I Hear the Sunspot continues to be a slow-burn that touches on an important message with disability representation.
― It is always worth waiting for a new entry in Yuki Fumino's I Hear the Sunspot BL series. Four Seasons is the latest subseries in the overall tale of Kohei and Taichi, and it continues to move time forward while dealing with the slow-growing nature of their relatio...
Puzzle Bobble Everybubble!
Overall, Puzzle Bobble Everybubble! is a stellar little game. The puzzles are witty and addicting, the co-op mode is sure to ruin friendships, and the Space Invaders mode—while a bit sudden—is a fun surprise.
― Ah, Puzzle Bobble. What a delightful classic of the arcades it is. Puzzle Bobble Everybubble! is similarly a delightful take on the old classic formula. While it's been a while since I've last...
The Centennial Case: A Shijima Story
Are you a murder mystery buff? Then The Centennial Case: A Shijima Story should go on your “to-play” list immediately.
― Are you a murder mystery buff? Then The Centennial Case: A Shijima Story should go on your “to-play” list immediately. Borrowing heavily from the traditions of Golden Age mystery novels (roughly equivalent to the time between WWI and WWII), this is a game that both challenges and r...
Violet Evergarden: The Movie Limited Edition
A love letter to hand-written correspondence, Violet Evergarden: The Movie is gorgeous visually and beguilingly melancholy in its writing and delivery.
― In the language of flowers, a blue (purple) violet means “love” and a white daisy means “innocence.” Although a Japanese film doesn't necessarily adhere to Victorian lore, I can't help but think that maybe there's something to them in the case of Vi...
Gunbuster Blu-ray
Gunbuster is a true classic in every sense of the word: historically important, influential, and a fantastic series decades after it came out. With this gorgeous release, it deserves a place on every anime fan's shelf.
― I wasn't in the room when Discotek announced they licensed Gunbuster at Otakon in 2021, but I have a feeling that if I had been, my eardrums would never be the same. See, this six-ep...
Lupin Zero
The Lupin III franchise gets an accessible introduction in the form of Lupin Zero, the story of Lupin in his youth.
― Lupin III is a name familiar to anime fans worldwide, but not all of them would know what exactly the name entails. I, for one, have been interested in Lupin III for who knows how long, but felt intimidated by how large a franchise it has grown into throughout the last five decades. A...
Saving 80,000 Gold in Another World for My Retirement
Saving 80,000 Gold In Another World doesn't overstay its welcome, though it does make some odd choices that deflate an otherwise strong start.
― Saving 80,000 Gold In Another World is a fun enough show with a solid premise and meandering execution. It doesn't overstay its welcome, though it does make some odd choices that deflate an otherwise strong start. The series is, yes, another isekai fantasy t...
What This World Is Made Of GN 1
Chalk this one up to a "good idea, mediocre execution."
― Chalk this one up to a "good idea, mediocre execution." Shin Yamamoto's third English language release (following Sekiro Side Story: Hanbei the Undying and Monster Hunter Flash Hunter) tells the story of two brothers who have lost everything. First, their parents abandoned them as children, then they were shuffled around between relatives befo...
Don't Call It Mystery Omnibus 1
This omnibus contains three complete cases and the start of a fourth. All of them are intriguing in different ways, and each explores a different trope of detective fiction.
― But then what should you call it? Even creator Yumi Tamura says in her afterword that this series isn't a mystery, despite all evidence to the contrary: there are crimes, clues, and cops throughout the volume, with protagonist ...
Monster Episodes 43-74 Streaming
In the end, I think that Monster succeeded in telling the story it wanted to tell. The difficult pill to swallow may be in learning what kind of story that Monster was meant to be in the first place.
― It is beyond cliché at this point to begin a review of the final episodes of a long-running series with a pithy observation on how a story "is about the journey, not the destination." I honestly can't ...
Kamen Rider Kuuga GN 2-3
Marred by poor editing, stilted dialogue, and missing color art assets, Kamen RIder Kuuga gets by, but the ride is bumpy.
― The end of the second volume of the Kamen Rider Kuuga manga includes, as a bonus, an interview with Toei producer Shinichiro Shirakura. In it, Shirakura talks about some of the decisions made in creating the manga, going with Tohshiki Inoue as the writer, and the mindset that le...
Life GN 2-3
Life often toes the line in terms of going too far. However, it remains a relevant wake-up call about an experience that too many kids have. Read with caution — but if you can, do read.
― There are no easy answers and even fewer easy ways out. Ayumu thought things were starting to settle down for her, possibly even heading in a more positive direction after her former friend's rejection. As readers, ...
How to Win Her Heart on the Nth Try Novel
Find out why this office romance is a great beach read for newbie light novel readers.
― It can, at times, feel even more challenging to find light novels with adult characters than manga with the same. That, plus its real-world setting, makes How to Win Her Heart on the Nth Try by Ichine Kamijo instantly stand out. The story is set in an office setting, and its protagonists are both twenty-seven yea...
Lovely Muco! GN 1
There's a satisfying simplicity in following the life of Muco and her owner.
― I like dogs. Most of the time, they're beautiful majestic creatures that would give their life for the simplest things, but I don't love them because they're often trying to be loyal. I love them because, from our perspective, dogs have perfected the art of finding joy in the most mundane and simplest elements of life. I w...
Small Nozomi and Big Yume GN 1
The novelty of big girl-small girl isn't enough to make for the dragging, unfocused plot.
― Why yes, I did see Honey, I Shrunk the Kids when I was younger. All joking aside, I will start with some positives here. One of the high points of the entire manga is its artwork and panel layouts. The background and character designs are full of life, with exquisite detail and extra shading to give them an ad...
Psycho-Pass Providence
Psycho-Pass Providence is how Akane reaches her breaking point—and, surprisingly, it's not solely the Sibyl System's fault.
― 2019's Psycho-Pass 3 presented a status quo far different from what we expected from the anime up until then. Most of the main cast was absent, having joined Frederica at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and, more shocking still, the main character of the entire Psycho-Pass st...
Street Fighter 6
Street Fighter Six respects what came before and, in some ways, effectively passes the torch onto a whole new generation of fighters.
― With its iconic characters and robust techniques, Street Fighter has gone down in history as one of the most influential fighting game franchises of all time. However, Capcom has not always treated it as such throughout the years, with the release of Street Fighter V...
The Other World's Books Depend on the Bean Counter GN 3
Kondou is making real progress in fixing the kingdom's budget, but not everyone is happy about that, and they're especially salty that he's caught the eye of the prime minister.
― It's a nice thought that everyone grows up sometimes, but sadly not always the case. When this volume opens, three knights, furious about Kondou's balancing of a budget that leaves them without everything they requested, ha...
Oshi no Ko GN 2
That Aqua is the ultimate cynic when compared to his sister is what helps to give this story its edge.
― Warning: spoilers may be forthcoming if you haven't read the manga's first volume or seen the anime's first episode. We all deal with trauma in different ways, and Aquamarine Hoshino has two traumas on his plate: his murder in his past life and the murder of his second-life mother right in front o...
Uma Musume Pretty Derby: Road to the Top
Compared to its longer, denser forerunners, Road to the Top might be seen as a horse anyone can more confidently bet on.
― The Uma Musume franchise already proved it had running legs just in its first season, with the second showing the true ambitions it was capable of realizing. It's also gone on to be a smashing commercial success, so more anime based on these galloping gals was a foregone conclusi...
Fairy Fencer F: Refrain Chord
With Fairy Fencer F: Refrain Chord, we return to the land of Fairies and Furies. How does the newest entry shape up?
― Compile Heart may be best known for the Hyperdimension Neptunia games, but their Fairy Fencer series has quietly chugged along in the background since 2013. With Fairy Fencer F: Refrain Chord, we return to the land of Fairies and Furies. How does the newest entry shape up? Well, for ...
The Witch and the Knight Will Survive GN 1
The book shifts between that storybook-style vibe and acts of vicious fantasy action seemingly effortlessly.
― "Contrast" seems to be the operative approach to The Witch and the Knight Will Survive. Billed as a "dark fantasy" title, this first volume opens with a poetic introduction that would be right at home in any of the old types of famously uncut fairy tales. The book shifts between that storybo...
How to Grill Our Love GN 1
How to Grill Our Love isn't necessarily bad in its nominally comforting attempts at a chill approach. It's fine and inoffensive, but it could have worked better simply as an illustrated cookbook.
― Often, with a series based around providing relaxation and vibes, you have to approach it in the right mood. Coming into a story expecting a denser plot and character communication isn't necessarily fair w...
My Dress-Up Darling GN 5-7
My Dress-Up Darling has a lot going for it as a slice-of-life series. Not only is the main character Wakana incredibly relatable with his anxiety, but it also offers some interesting insight into the world of cosplay.
― My Dress-Up Darling has a lot going for it as a slice-of-life series. Not only is the main character Wakana incredibly relatable with his anxiety brought upon by ridicule, but it also...
Hi Score Girl GN 5-8
Everything in volumes 5-8 is larger and more sophisticated, though the core romantic pull is as simple as it was from the beginning.
― These four volumes of Hi Score Girl continue literally and thematically where the first four volumes left off. Everything in volumes 5-8 is larger and more sophisticated, though the core romantic pull is as simple as it was from the beginning. It creates an engaging d...
Knights of the Zodiac (live-action movie)
Despite its flashy visuals and charming cast, this version of Knights of the Zodiac fails to win over skeptics.
― Toei and Sony's answer to the ceaseless cynical question of "Why" is "Why not?" After all, Knights of the Zodiac is only the latest installment in Saint Seiya's vast media universe of manga spin-offs, TV series, and films. It's more surprising that a live-action adaptation didn't come soo...
Shadows House GN 2-3
Shadows House, now that it has hit its stride, is a fascinating mystery/fantasy hybrid. The clues are all being laid out for us to sort through, and the story is gearing up to let us put our sleuthing to the test.
― It's amazing what's there if you really look. As Shadows House moves into the territory covered by the end of the first anime season, namely the so-called “debut” that all young Shadows a...
Dark Gathering GN 1
I mean it when I say I wasn't expecting to be terrified from reading Dark Gathering. This surprise isn't a downside. That this story was able to genuinely unsettled me is probably the highest praise I can give it.
― When I looked at the cover of this volume and saw a cute little girl with skulls in her eyes, I thought I was going to read a relatively light-hearted story with an edgy, dark aesthetic. ...
SPY×FAMILY GN 9
Despite containing the wrap-up to Yor's first major solo storyline, this volume touches on plots for fan-favorite side characters, Franky, Nightfall, Becky, and more.
― Anya has, for the majority of the series, stolen the limelight from her adult family members. That's by no means a bad thing because she's the perfect combination of precocious and utterly normal, but it's still nice to have this seco...
Papa and Daddy's Home Cooking GN 1-3
Toyota's tale establishes that fathers adjusting to single parenthood and realizing that even if they don't feel like adequate parents, they'll ultimately be just fine, no matter what the rest of the world thinks.
― It is a point that often comes up in my class discussions of children's literature: there's a dearth of competent dads in fiction. Fortunately, that's beginning to change, and that goes f...
I Think Our Son Is Gay GN 4
At its heart, Okura's I Think Our Son Is Gay is about how to be a good ally.
― At its heart, Okura's I Think Our Son is Gay is about how to be a good ally. It may be trickier than it sounds because it involves knowing which battles are yours to fight, and which you must accept as something your loved one needs to handle on their own. Tomoko's journey began when she suspected her older son Hiroki, a s...
My Girlfriend's Child GN 1
My Girlfriend's Child isn't the first manga to tackle a young woman facing a surprise and potentially unwanted pregnancy, but it is one of the few to come out in English and treat the subject with clear, nonjudgmental eyes.
― The title of this one is a little bit misleading, at least in this first volume. Not when it comes to the subject matter – this is a story about teen pregnancy – but inasmuch as...
Love, That's an Understatement GN 1
Love, That's an Understatement's first volume is a strong start to an enjoyable take on the good girl/bad boy romance subgenre, and if you're a fan of shoujo-style romance, you definitely ought to check it out.
― The good girl/bad boy romance trope is almost as old as the romance genre itself. Early versions of the trope, such as in Samuel Richardson's 1748 novel Clarissa, didn't exactly work out. Ho...
Trinity Trigger
Trinity Trigger is a solid game with several interesting elements, held back by a somewhat lackluster and repetitive presentation.
― Trinity Trigger is a game from another time, often to its benefit but at times to its detriment as well. Trinity Trigger draws its line in the sand early: this is a throwback to the action RPGs of the 90s at its heart. If you've played titles like those in the Mana seri...
Welcome to Demon School, Iruma-kun GN 1
The manga that inspired the fan-favorite anime series is now out in bookstores. If you're already a fan of the anime reading this is a no-brainer; but newcomers have the opportunity to discover Iruma's charm all on their own.
― Poor Iruma - his deadbeat parents have just sold him to a demon, which is the latest in a long line of terrible decisions they've made over his fourteen years. From deciding t...
The Girl I Like Forgot Her Glasses GN 1-2
A slow-burn in the romance department, this series stretches reader's suspension of disbelief (and patience).
― If you only want to read the short version of this review, let me ask you this: do you like simple and cute things? If so, then this manga will probably appeal to you. I'm grateful that I'm reviewing the first two volumes of this series instead of just the first one because, unfortunately, ...
Why Raeliana Ended Up at the Duke's Mansion GN 1-3
The mystery elements, which are developed further in each successive volume, blend well with the standard romance plot and the humor aspects, forming a series that is hard to put down.
― While otome games are the norm in most Japanese reincarnated-as-a-fictional-character forms of isekai, in most South Korean and Chinese takes on the genre that I've read, characters are much more likely to find thems...
Princess Principal: Crown Handler - Chapter 3
While the animation sequences are nothing to write home about, the third installment in the Crown Handler film series is the best yet.
― The second Princess Principal film concluded with the major revelation that Prince Richard and his forces from the re-conquered New World were the mysterious third power that entered the spy game between the Kingdom and Commonwealth. This revelation has left Charlot...
Tephlon Funk GN 1
Inspired by Cowboy Bebop and Spike Lee films, Tephlon Funk is a lot, but I think that ultimately that's a good thing.
― Drugs. F-bombs. Street-wise kids, bitter undercover cops, and angels. Welcome to the world of Tephlon Funk, a collaboration between an American writer/creator and two French illustrators. It's an interesting piece, wearing its influences proudly – there's a real grounding in Cowboy ...
D4DJ All Mix
Bushiroad's DJ-centric series doubles its cast and settles into a slice-of-life vibe. This lack of focus lets fans all get a moment with their favorite group, albeit at the expense of a higher-stakes plot.
― Right off rip, it's apparent this assignment was handed down for D4DJ All Mix: Fully introduce all the DJ units who weren't in the first season, and do…something with them. The original D4DJ Firs...
Show-ha Shoten! GN 2
Show-ha Shoten! expands his comedy repertoire with new side-splitting characters.
― Show-Ha Shoten! was a genuine surprise. I always like reading a good comedy that gets me to laugh and distracts me from the world being on fire outside my window. But I never thought I would find so much enjoyment in a series that's literally about breaking down what makes something funny. It's like reading a shonen a...
Princess Principal: Crown Handler - Chapter 2
With an assassin on the loose and the Queen bedridden, the Royal Family is on high alert in this second high-stakes spy romp.
― If the first Crown Handler film is about Ange, this second film is about Charlotte. With an assassin on the loose and the Queen bedridden, the Royal Family is on high alert. This is especially true for those in the direct line of succession. With Richard (the third in line t...
Studio Ghibli: An Industrial History
Concerned about the "mythologization" growing up around Ghibli British academic Rayna Denison offers several alternative perspectives on the acclaimed anime studio and spotlights its less-touted but still wildly talented staff.
― It has been a decade since Studio Ghibli last released a hit film, Hayao Miyazaki's The Wind Rises in 2013. Since then, anime films by other creators have challenged Ghibli'...
Soaring Sky! Pretty Cure Episodes 1-12
Its unusually inclusive official line-up makes Soaring Sky one of the most affirming magical girl series of recent years, as it speaks to the genre's promise that anyone can transform if given the chance.
― From their earliest days, magical girls have always been about using the power within to transform into heroes. I can think of very few magical girl series that use that concept better than Soarin...
Gridman Universe
As a sequel, Gridman Universe successfully ties up the loose ends of SSSS.Gridman and SSSS.Dynazenon, while fan-favorite character Akane looms heavy over the film.
― Gridman Universe is a direct sequel to both SSSS.Gridman. and SSSS.Dynazenon. It continues the plotlines and character arcs of both series, tying up loose ends for some and giving epilogues to others. However, if there is a single main c...
Life GN 1
Two decades after its initial release, Life presents a viciously recognizable picture of the social hellscape that middle and high school can be.
― First published in 2002 and partially released by Tokyopop not long after, it would be easy, and maybe even comforting, to write Keiko Suenobu's Life off as a relic of the past. The art certainly upholds this wishful thinking; Suenobu's style is very much...
The Abandoned Heiress Gets Rich with Alchemy Novel
The slavery trope crops again with little thought or consideration for how its utilized.
― Yes, this is another one – a light novel where one protagonist buys a romantic interest as a slave. By my count, The Abandoned Heiress Gets Rich with Alchemy is the third aimed at a female readership to be released in English, following The Alchemist Who Survived now Dreams of a Quiet City Life and Sugar Apple ...
Turning the Tables on the Seatmate Killer! GN 2-5
Turning the Tables on the Seatmate Killer! blends multiple fiction genres together with mixed results.
― Note: You can read our review of the first volume here. There is, happily, no hard and fast rule that stories have to stay in their own genre lanes. Apart from encouraging entertaining new combos in fiction, this can also lead to some genre mashups that manage to be successful in more than one asp...
My Coworker Has a Secret GN 1
My Coworker Has a Secret isn't anything particularly new or exciting, and it does sometimes feel like creator Mushiro's just pulling tropes out of a rom-com grab bag.
― Stories about secret adult otaku in the workplace are hardly new, but Akari is in a more precarious position than most. That's not just because she's a self-described stan of her favorite musical actor, the acerbic Ren Nishimori (AKA ...
Love's in Sight! GN 1
This fluffy little romance about a blind girl and a former delinquent is replete with very solid messaging about how everyone deserves to be treated with respect.
― "If you don't cram yourself into highly specific roles, society doesn't treat you like a person." Those words, thought by male lead Morio Kurokawa, nicely sum up the point of this book. Morio's an eighteen-year-old high school dropout wit...
Guardian of Fukushima GN
Relaying both hope and hopelessness in the face of disaster, Guardian of Fukushima is a stark telling of one man's unyielding will to save the animals left behind.
― Although he's since stepped back from media appearances, Naoto Matsumura is someone you may have heard of in the aftermath of the March 11, 2011 earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear disaster in Fukushima, Japan. He's the man who stayed behin...
Ragna Crimson GN 8
Ragna Crimson has been a manga defined by over-the-top battles between super-powered beings, and this fight is one of the best in the run.
― Ragna Crimson volume 8 brings to a close the longest battle in the series thus far, and in basically every regard, lives up to the hype. The opening segment with the temptation of the Silverware Princess is interesting. Olto Zora's offer is not particularly comp...
Princess Principal: Crown Handler - Chapter 1
Overall, Crown Handler – Chapter 1 is both a high-stakes spy story and a personally emotional tale all in one.
― At its most basic level, Crown Handler – Chapter 1 is built around setting up a new direction for the Princess Principal series from within a personal story revolving around our main lead, Ange. Set after the events of the TV series, Team White Pigeon continues their clandestine operations...
Technoroid Overmind
Technoroid Overmind is not bad by any stretch of the imagination. The elements are all there for something great, yet the series cannot seem to settle on what it wants to do in the admittedly short window of only twelve episodes.
― I was unsure what to expect when going into Technoroid Overmind, as I do not have much experience with idol-themed anime. After twelve episodes, I… still don't have a good...
To Every You I've Loved Before + To Me, The One Who Loved You
Two romantic stories that are good enough on their own but are hindered by their reality-hopping gimmick.
― Reviewing two animated films at the same time is a little unconventional. At a time when the entertainment industry is starting to grow a rather tiring fascination with Multiverse stories, this is an interesting approach. Let's have two films tied to the idea of Multiverse Theory; the idea is t...
Tatsuki Fujimoto Before Chainsaw Man: 22-26 GN
Before Chainsaw Man is a series of books compiling the self-contained stories that Fujimoto wrote before the serialization of Chainsaw Man, and they paint a picture of how he has refined his writing style throughout the years.
― Tatsuki Fujimoto has undoubtedly made a name for himself these past few years. Between the global success of Chainsaw Man and other critically acclaimed works such as Goodbye...
Makoto Shinkai's Suzume
Finally in theaters in the U.S., this beautifully animated film is emotionally resonate and adeptly scored. Suzume's primary flaw is it feels too similar to Shinkai's previous works, your name. and Weathering With You.
― When it comes down to it, Suzume no Tojimari is the story of a girl on a literal journey to overcome her deeply seated trauma—a trauma she shares with a sizable portion of Japan. Suz...
Re:cycle of Penguindrum
Ultimately, this is still the same Penguindrum people already know and love, just condensed, slightly restructured, and with just a bare minimum of new material.
― When Anime Boston announced they would be premiering the RE:cycle of the Penguindrum movies, I went ahead and did something I'd been meaning to do for a while but hadn't gotten around to: I watched the original Penguindrum anime. Theoreti...
Blue Giant
Blue Giant is one of those films you'll either fall in love with or be bored to tears by, and much of that hinges on your appreciation for jazz music.
― Blue Giant is a relatively straightforward story about three young guys. Dai is that rare person with talent and drive—an innocent person who loves what he does and never lets anything get him down. Unfortunately, this also means he is a relatively s...
The Vampire Dies in No Time Season 2
If you've missed this underrated gem and you need a laugh, definitely make time to check it out.
― John the Armadillo is back, along with those other guys in the show. Yes, it's the second season of The Vampire Dies in No Time, one of the most consistently funny gag anime of recent years. This is largely because it successfully combines several subgenres of comedy. It melds slapstick with wordplay an...
Don't Toy with Me, Miss Nagatoro 2nd Attack
Even if Miss Nagatoro has lost a lot of its hard-top edge, it can still hit a bullseye of a punchline and temper it with an understanding of hormonal teenage mating rituals.
― The first season of Don't Toy With Me Miss Nagatoro was a surprise in several ways. The depiction of fetish bullying was impressive in its craftsmanship, if not emotionally repelling. Beyond portraying particular pornographic m...
The First Slam Dunk
The First Slam Dunk is everything a megafan of the franchise could dream of. Those who can't name the Shōhoku High School starting lineup by heart may leave the theater quietly satisfied while wondering what all the fuss was about.
― If I were to summarize my thoughts on The First Slam Dunk in a single word, it would be 'bizarre.' The choices made when adapting this film to the big screen turn a film...
Melon Journey: Bittersweet Memories
Melon Journey: Bittersweet Memories is a bit deceptive in its title. What we actually get is, for lack of a better phrase, weirder than that. Melon Journey is far more irreverent and yet bizarrely touching, all at once.
― Melon Journey: Bittersweet Memories is a bit deceptive in its title. With a title like that, players expect a much more emotional journey about reminiscing on their past and maybe e...
Dr. Stone: Ryusui
While it's not the most exciting or climactic that the series has ever been, Dr. Stone: Ryusui is a solid continuation of the Dr. Stone story that should allow us to jump into some newfound adventure at the start of the third season.
― When it comes down to it, Dr. Stone: Ryusui serves as an epilogue to the second season while laying the groundwork for the third. Without Tsukasa, his people have been...
The Super Mario Bros. Movie
30 years after the widely panned live-action Super Mario Bros. film, Illumination's newest effort finally does justice to the Mario franchise. But is it actually a good movie?
― Not only is this hands down my favorite movie from Illumination studios, it's squarely above average for a video game adaptation. A lot of this has to do with the creative team's reverence for the source material; it's the ty...
Tista GN 1
From the creator of SpyxFamily comes a difficult story, replete with themes of what we owe those who "save" us and just how much power any one person (or organization) should have.
― Before there was Spy x Family there was Tista. Tatsuya Endo's first serialized work shares some themes with his latest – heroine Tista Lone is an orphan who became an assassin after the Catholic Church experimented on he...
Resident Evil 4 (2023)
RE4 was hailed as one of the greatest games ever made for a damned good reason. This remake takes everything that worked about that original game and makes all of it even better.
― For any of the youngsters or new fans that have only just recently been welcomed into the Resident Evil fold, it might be hard to believe that it wasn't even all that long ago that the entire Resident Evil brand was seen a...
Hi Score Girl GNs 1-4
Hi Score Girl provides a light-hearted romantic comedy grounded in '90s video game culture. Yet despite its particular nuances, the general emotional throughlines are relatable enough that most readers can find something to enjoy here.
― Hi Score Girl provides a light-hearted romantic comedy with a specific sort of appeal. Yet despite its particular main nuances, the general emotional throughlines ar...
Ayashimon GN 1
This volume is packed with everything from yakuza action to twisted backstories to humans against monsters. Does this manga from the creator of Hell’s Paradise manage to bring it all together?
― Most of us have probably tried it at some point. What “it” means varies, but the definition is always “something that works in my favorite story.” Whether that was strapping brushes to your feet and skating a...
Tombs: Junji Ito Story Collection GN
The manga creator's grotesque artwork is in full force here, but unfortunately, there are a good number of stories in this anthology that feel a little bit undercooked.
― From the genius Junji Ito himself, we have another anthology book filled with a majority of short stories drawn and executed in his classic style. When you've read and reviewed enough of Ito's stories, there's always this worry of t...
I Fell for a Fujoshi GN 1
Ichiro's in love with Tae, who's in love with BL, and decides to just go with her misconception about him...will this eventually lead to romance?
― At some point we've probably all done something inspired by the fiction we've read that was, in hindsight, not a brilliant plan. Whether it was testing the theory of gravity or cooking and eating periwinkles, antics brought on by a good book aren't all th...
Raven of the Inner Palace Novel 1
Raven of the Inner Palace's first novel should please fans of its adaptation. It's easy to see what changes were made and understand why they happened, and it never feels like one version negates experiencing the other.
― If you watched the 2022 anime adaptation of Kouko Shirakawa's Raven of the Inner Palace light novels and wondered how faithful it was to the source material, the answer turns out to...
Shin Kamen Rider
Despite its loving connection to the original, you don't need to know anything about the 50-year-running franchise to enjoy and understand this film. However, its reverence for the TV show is also the source of the film's main problem.
― Shin Kamen Rider is both a retelling of and an homage to the original 1971 Kamen Rider TV series. There are many recognizable characters and numerous shot-for-shot r...
Alice Gear Aegis CS: Concerto of Simulatrix
Despite it's huge roster and customization options, Alice Gear Aegis CS remains threadbare in the story department and is hindered by repetitive combat.
― Alice Gear Aegis CS: Concerto of Simulatrix is probably one of the most “ok” games I have ever played. It is perfectly functional and achieves everything it sets out to do. It is stable, runs at a consistent frame rate on the Switch, and has everyt...
She Loves to Cook, and She Loves to Eat GN 2
It's difficult to overstate both how good a chapter this is and how important it is, both for readers and for Nomoto as a character.
― Note: You can read our review of the first volume here. Kasuga and Nomoto are still at it—Nomoto enjoys putting her culinary talents to use in ways she's never been able to before, while Kasuga is happy to eat what she provides, and the two genuinely enjoy spending ti...
Atelier Ryza 3: Alchemist of the End & the Secret Key
Ryza is and always will be that charming, winsome alchemist with an eager smile and boundless joy for seeing the world. And it just feels good to explore the world with her and her friends.
― In the grand tradition of the Atelier games, the series is divvied up into subseries connected by protagonists. With Atelier Ryza 3: Alchemist of the End & the Secret Key, we not only see the end of the unpreced...
Crazy Food Truck GN 3
In its final volume, Crazy Food Truck hones in on a 'live fast, die young' approach that seems at odds with the mood of the previous volumes.
― If the ending to the second volume of Crazy Food Truck had you thinking it would lead into some lengthy, epic story arc that would carry the third volume to the foretold finish for the series, you'd end up surprised. We're still in the opening chapter of this...
Insomniacs After School GN 1
With an anime coming in April, Rebecca Silverman describes Insomniacs After School as a story less about its teen protagonists getting rest and more about how they are able to form a bond over their shared disorder.
― Insomnia – real insomnia and not just the occasional inability to fall asleep – is among the most debilitating conditions you can have. A lack of sleep takes a toll on you both physical...
The Villainess Stans the Heroes GN 1
There's enough potential that it may be worth a second volume, but this isn't likely to hold your interest unless you're deeply invested in the villainess isekai genre.
― Is it even possible to develop twists to the villainess isekai formula anymore? Probably, but the majority of series are more than content to tweak it rather than attempting to make something new. That's both perfectly okay and comp...
Arknights: Prelude to Dawn
The first episode of Arknights: Prelude to Dawn absolutely shook me with its slick direction, ambitious cinematic vision, and gritty storytelling.
― The first episode of Arknights: Prelude to Dawn absolutely shook me with its slick direction, ambitious cinematic vision, and gritty storytelling. I'd never played a single minute of the Arknights mobile game and had no idea what to expect, but after jus...
My Clueless First Friend GN 1
Soon to be an anime, Taku Kawamura's My Clueless First Friend manga offers a ray of sunshine to break through Nishimura's cloudy life. One day a boy named Taiyo Takara transfers into Nishimura's class, and everything changes.
― It's a story that's all too familiar: Akane Nishimura is the focus of bullying in her fifth-grade class. The other kids, led by mean girl Kasahara and her male equivalent Kita...
Downfall
Downfall, adapted from the Inio Asano manga of the same name, is a film that uses one man's midlife crisis to explore the hypocritical nature of both man and the society we have built.
― Downfall, adapted from the Inio Asano manga of the same name, is a film that uses one man's midlife crisis to explore the hypocritical nature of both man and the society we have built. On one level, it is about the c...
Helck GN 2
What started as an over-the-top comedy with great face reactions slowly revealed itself to be much more of a suspenseful and dark story.
― Helck was a pleasant surprise when I first read it a couple of months ago. What started as an over-the-top comedy with great face reactions slowly revealed itself to be much more of a suspenseful and dark story. While I do think the shift to a more dramatic tone c...
Monster Episodes 31-52 Streaming
Monster having so many different plates to balance as it tells its story is an inherent draw of mystery melodramas like these, and pretty much all of these individual parts are compelling in their own right.
― The first 30 episodes of Naoki Urasawa's Monster delivered the opening salvos of a gripping, slow-burning thriller that still feels fresh even now, nearly twenty years on from its initial relea...
The Disowned Queen's Consulting Detective Agency Novel 1
Octavia de Reine is a stellar heroine is this gaslamp mystery but its many elements might be overwhelming to readers jumping in.
― Sarasa Nagase is having a bit of a moment in English translation. The Disowned Queen's Consulting Detective Agency is the second of her light novel series to be translated, following I'm the Villainess, So I'm Taming the Final Boss (Yen Press), and with a third, The Do-Ov...
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