In the first episode ofNichijou, high schooler Yuuko holds up the final octopus weenie in her lunchbox, smugly announcing that she saved the best part of her meal for last. She moves to eat it—only to have it slip from her chopsticks. With DRAMATIC slow motion and INTENSE music, we watch Yuuko and her friends’ FUTILE ATTEMPTS to save the sausage from the floor, followed by … [Read more...] about [Feature] Nichijou and the everyday epics of high school girls
[Feature] A Girl Worth Fighting For: Kingdom Hearts III and the mystery of the missing heroines
MAJOR SPOILERS for the entire Kingdom Hearts franchise, including the end of Kingdom Hearts III. The first Kingdom Hearts game launched just over seventeen years ago, and I’ve been an avid fan and sometimes-apologist of the series ever since. Despite its (in)famously convoluted storyline, the character relationships and emotional blend of melancholy, hope, and … [Read more...] about [Feature] A Girl Worth Fighting For: Kingdom Hearts III and the mystery of the missing heroines
[Feature] Lady Leads & Sidekick Lads: Flipping the script in Team Rocket’s “Training Daze”
The Team Rocket trio have never been your typical villains. With a tenacity only matched by their incompetence, an enduring love for one another, a closet full of exquisite crossplay, and enough puns to sink the St. Anne, they’re about as charming as "bad guys" can get. So perhaps it’s no surprise that their special backstory episode defies as many conventions as they do, … [Read more...] about [Feature] Lady Leads & Sidekick Lads: Flipping the script in Team Rocket’s “Training Daze”
[Review] Sirius the Jaeger – Episode 1
What's it about? In 1930, a group of European monster hunters known as the Jaegers arrive in Tokyo to track a gang of vampires. Meanwhile, Japan's own police force has their hands full finding an escaped serial killer and dealing with a group of Robin Hood-esque thieves. Could the sudden flurry of crime be related? … [Read more...] about [Review] Sirius the Jaeger – Episode 1
[Feature] All Folks Bright and Beautiful: The casual gender diversity of Heaven’s Design Team
The Heaven’s Design Team manga follows God’s R&D Department as they take requests from on high (literally) to populate the earth with new animals. Similar to Cells at Work!, it’s an edutainment series that balances comical interactions between coworkers with mini-lessons about some of the world’s most unique, clever, or just plain terrifying critters. As the kid who … [Read more...] about [Feature] All Folks Bright and Beautiful: The casual gender diversity of Heaven’s Design Team
[Review] Karakuri Circus – Episode 1
What's it about? After his father's mysterious death, 11-year-old Masaru Saiga is fleeing from a nefarious group who seem to be after his family's company. He meets Narumi Kato, a man with impressive combat skills who will die if he doesn't regularly make people laugh. Then, just when all seems lost, a powerful puppeteer called Shirogane appears to serve as Masaru's bodyguard. … [Read more...] about [Review] Karakuri Circus – Episode 1
[Review] Radiant – Episode 1
What's it about? In a world where demons called "Nemesis" corrupt everything they touch, those who survive the encounter become magic-wielding sorcerers. Humanity fears and hates the sorcerers, but the young apprentice Seth is determined to change that. … [Read more...] about [Review] Radiant – Episode 1
[Review] Boarding School Juliet – Episode 1
What's it about? There's an ongoing feud at the prestigious Dahlia Academy between the "White Cat" West Dormitory, led by Juliet Persia, and the "Black Doggies" Touwa Dormitory, led by Romio Inuzuka. As powerful fighters, the two leaders have been rivals since childhood. But Romio has a secret: He's actually been in love with Juliet the entire time! CONTENT WARNING for … [Read more...] about [Review] Boarding School Juliet – Episode 1
[Review] Hinomaru Sumo – Episode 1
What's it about? Ushio Hinomaru's dream is to become a yokozuna, but he's too short to be allowed into professional sumo wrestling. He's not going to let that stop him, though. By becoming the greatest high school sumo wrestler, the pros will have no choice but to change the rules so he can join! CONTENT WARNING for discussion of sexual harassment. … [Read more...] about [Review] Hinomaru Sumo – Episode 1
[Feature] Emma’s Choice: The gender-norm nightmare at the heart of The Promised Neverland
CONTENT WARNING: Discussions of sexism and violence against children; disturbing imagery. SPOILERS for The Promised Neverland, Volumes 1-5 (Chapters 1-38). Since it began serialization in Viz’s Shonen JUMP, The Promised Neverland has garnered well-deserved praise for its twisting narrative, tense story beats, and compelling characters. But this series is more than a … [Read more...] about [Feature] Emma’s Choice: The gender-norm nightmare at the heart of The Promised Neverland
[Review] We Rent Tsukumogami – Episode 1
What's it about? In Edo-period Japan, siblings Okou and Seiji run the rental shop Izumoya, but they've also gained a reputation for solving problems and mysteries (many of the supernatural kind). This is thanks to their collection of tsukumogami—old, cherished objects that have become deities over time—who can see and hear what others might miss. … [Read more...] about [Review] We Rent Tsukumogami – Episode 1
[Review] Grand Blue Dreaming – Episode 1
What's it about? 20-year-old Iori moves to his uncle's seaside town for college, where he quickly gets roped into joining a bro-tastic diving club who primarily spend their time drinking and stripping. … [Read more...] about [Review] Grand Blue Dreaming – Episode 1
[Review] Holmes of Kyoto – Episode 1
What's it about? High schooler Aoi works part-time at an antiques shop in Kyoto, observing and learning from the young shopkeeper nicknamed "Holmes" who has a keen eye for people and artwork alike. … [Read more...] about [Review] Holmes of Kyoto – Episode 1
[Review] Late Night! The Genius Bakabon – Episode 1
What's it about? The classic manga The Genius Bakabon gets its first new anime adaptation since the 1970s. Is there still a place for its cast and their brand of comedy in the modern world? … [Read more...] about [Review] Late Night! The Genius Bakabon – Episode 1
[Review] Phantom in the Twilight – Episode 1
What's it about? Inspired by the letters her great-grandmother sent home, Ton and her best friend Shinyao decide to study abroad in London. When Ton chases after a strange thief who's stolen their luggage, she soon finds herself embroiled in a paranormal battle involving three young men who all work at a cafe founded by her own great-grandmother. What is this organization, and … [Read more...] about [Review] Phantom in the Twilight – Episode 1
[Review] Planet With – Episode 1
What's it about? After an accident that killed his parents, high schooler Soya wakes up with no memory in a household run by a girl in a maid costume and a giant talking cat. Nevertheless, his life is pleasant enough—until a UFO appears in the sky and a group of superheroes arrive to fight it. Soya's adopted family urges him to fight as well, but it's not the UFO they're after. … [Read more...] about [Review] Planet With – Episode 1
[Review] Harukana Receive – Episode 1
What's it about? When high schooler Haruka moves to Okinawa to live with her cousin Kanata, she's quickly introduced to (and falls in love with) beach volleyball. But her cousin seems to have a complicated history with the sport. Can the two come together to form a team? … [Read more...] about [Review] Harukana Receive – Episode 1
[Review] Seven Senses of the Re’Union – Episode 1
What's it about? In the virtual reality MMO Union, a group of six grade-school kids calling their group "Subaru" are known for being unstoppable players—until one of them dies both in-game and out of it. Six years later, Fighter Haruto reluctantly returns to the game's sequel Re'Union to help a classmate with a beginner's quest. But when he opens the chest at the end of the … [Read more...] about [Review] Seven Senses of the Re’Union – Episode 1
[Review] Yotsuiro Biyori – Episode 1
What's it about? Four young men run a Japanese-style tea house called the "Rokuhoudo" where people in need of a break from their daily lives can come to relax, sip a warm drink, and enjoy a rotating menu of sweets. … [Read more...] about [Review] Yotsuiro Biyori – Episode 1
[Review] Cute High Earth Defense Club HAPPY KISS! – Episode 1
What's it about? Five high school boys who belong to the "Earth Defense Club (lol)" spend their afternoons goofing around together, but all that changes when a talking otter calling himself Prince Karl appears in the local bathhouse. Karl "hires" them as his (unpaid) Magic Knights so they can bring happiness to the land—and help him become king in the process. … [Read more...] about [Review] Cute High Earth Defense Club HAPPY KISS! – Episode 1