What’s it about? Three screw-up yakuza are forced to transition in order to perform as female idols and make money for their boss. For a while now, Netflix has had an irritating habit of branding anime that they have exclusive streaming rights to as “Netflix Originals,” even if their sole involvement with the series is as distributors. I’ve always found that a little bit … [Read more...] about [Review] Back Street Girls -GOKUDOLS- – Episode 1
[History] Flowers for Zoisite: How Sailor Moon’s iconic queer villains raised the bar
CONTENT WARNING: Discussions of homophobia and transphobia. SPOILERS for Sailor Moon Season One and romances in Please Save My Earth. Sailor Moon turned twenty-five last year and, despite a few rough edges, it’s aged remarkably well. The series has garnered deserved accolades for its strong female friendships, memorable visuals, and forward-looking representation. But … [Read more...] about [History] Flowers for Zoisite: How Sailor Moon’s iconic queer villains raised the bar
[Review] As Miss Beelzebub likes. – Episode 1
What’s it about? Hell is a kingdom staffed by fallen angels and ruled, in Satan’s absence, by the demon Beelzebub—and lower demon Mullin has recently stepped into the job of her attendant. She’s not exactly the imposing figure he imagined, but one thing he can’t get over is how cute she is. … [Read more...] about [Review] As Miss Beelzebub likes. – Episode 1
[Review] My Sister, My Writer – Episode 1
What’s it about? Yu is an aspiring light novel author, but he can’t seem to make it out of the slush pile. His sister Suzuka, on the other hand, just netted the newcomer grand prize for a novel about a little sister in love with her older brother. Worried about breaking school rules against part-time jobs and their parents’ disapproval, Suzuka asks Yu to pose as the book’s … [Read more...] about [Review] My Sister, My Writer – Episode 1
[Review] Anima Yell! – Episode 1
What’s it about? After being captivated by a cheer demonstration, Kohane enters high school determined to join the cheer club—unfortunately, her school doesn’t have one. Looks like getting a team together will be her first big challenge! … [Read more...] about [Review] Anima Yell! – Episode 1
[Review] GOBLIN SLAYER – Episode 1
What’s it about? An unnamed young healer joins her first adventuring party, hoping to save some kidnapped girls from goblins. The inexperienced group is quickly overwhelmed and one by one meet terrible fates, until by chance the healer is saved by an armored man known only as “Goblin Slayer.” … [Read more...] about [Review] GOBLIN SLAYER – Episode 1
[Review] Ms. Vampire who lives in my neighborhood – Episode 1
What’s it about? Akari goes to the woods hoping to find the “doll-girl” of local urban legend—but she finds a vampire instead! Fortunately, Sophie isn’t the people-eating type, and it isn’t long before Akari is visiting every day and dreaming about being together forever. … [Read more...] about [Review] Ms. Vampire who lives in my neighborhood – Episode 1
[Review] DAKAICHI -I’m being harassed by the sexiest man of the year- – Episode 1
What’s it about? Takato Saijyo has been the star of the entertainment world for twenty years, ever since his debut as a child actor. However, his spot as the number-one ranked sex symbol has recently been usurped by young upstart Junta Azumaya. When the two wind up working together on a drama, Junta reveals he’s head over heels for his senpai. … [Read more...] about [Review] DAKAICHI -I’m being harassed by the sexiest man of the year- – Episode 1
[Review] UzaMaid! – Episode 1
What’s it about? Master Sergeant Kamoi Tsubame has recently left military service and is looking for a job, preferably one that will let her work with a “tiny young white girl” she can dress up. She happens across a want-ad for a maid and finds herself the caretaker of Misha, a girl who recently lost her mother and managed to drive off every other maid her father has … [Read more...] about [Review] UzaMaid! – Episode 1
[Review] Bloom Into You – Episode 1
What’s it about? Yuu, an avid reader of romance stories, has been waiting her entire life to fall in love. When her classmate confesses to her at middle school graduation, however, she feels nothing. It appears she’s found someone who understands her in Touko Nanami, a girl who turns down everyone who confesses to her. But Touko soon declares that she is falling in love—with … [Read more...] about [Review] Bloom Into You – Episode 1
[Review] ZOMBIE LAND SAGA – Episode 1
What’s it about? Teenage Sakura’s life is cut short when she’s hit by a truck; next thing she knows, she’s waking up ten years later in a spooky manor full of zombie girls—and she’s one of them! A man named Tatsumi Kotaru tells her he’s gathered them to become a regional idol group that will save Saga Prefecture. With no skills, no training, and most of the group still acting … [Read more...] about [Review] ZOMBIE LAND SAGA – Episode 1
[Review] Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai – Episode 1
What’s it about? Sakuta is a withdrawn social outcast whose life changes when he sees his senpai, former child star Sakurajima Mai, walking through the library in a bunny costume—and no one can see her but him. Mai and Sakuta are both victims of “adolescence syndrome,” an urban legend that causes social perceptions of a person to manifest as physical effects. CONTENT WARNING … [Read more...] about [Review] Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai – Episode 1
[Review] Between the Sky and Sea – Episode 1
What’s it about? After all fish mysteriously vanished from Earth’s seas, Japan created “space fish tanks” in order to preserve sea creatures and the ability to fish for them. Seventeen-year-old Haru is determined to become a space fisher, but winds up in over her head on her first day, and up against naysayers who don’t think girls have any place in space fishing. CONTENT … [Read more...] about [Review] Between the Sky and Sea – Episode 1
[Review] The Girl in Twilight – Episode 1
What’s it about? Asuka and her friends have been coming to the same spot and performing an internet ritual they hope will take them to another world. They’re shocked when it actually works, sending them to a strange digital desert with monsters and a strange swordfighter who looks just like Asuka. The Girl in Twilight has the feel of a throwback in more ways than one. The … [Read more...] about [Review] The Girl in Twilight – Episode 1
[Review] Forest of Piano – Episode 1
What’s it About? Grade-schooler Kai is an outcast at school, looked down on because of his poverty and his single mother’s job as a sex worker. His only solace is an abandoned piano in the forest, which only makes sound for him. When he makes friends with transfer student Shuhei, who’s been training as a pianist since age four, his world slowly begins to open up. If the … [Read more...] about [Review] Forest of Piano – Episode 1
[Interview] Japanese LGBTQ+ fans talk about the legacy of Banana Fish
CONTENT WARNING for discussions of pedophilia, victim-blaming, and sexual assault. SPOILERS for the Banana Fish manga. Banana Fish has been quite the subject of discussion now that the new anime is out, with many Western viewers discovering the series for the first time. That discovery has also sparked a maelstrom of discussion around the chaste love story between Ash and … [Read more...] about [Interview] Japanese LGBTQ+ fans talk about the legacy of Banana Fish
[Review] Frankenstein Family – Episodes 1-2
What’s it about? Tanisu and his siblings are the children of mad scientists; while super-genius Tanisu was able to grow up comparatively “normally,” his siblings were the subject of body modifications and other experiments. Now that their parents have been arrested, the kids have been left to navigate the world on their own. Anime streaming schedules are getting stranger and … [Read more...] about [Review] Frankenstein Family – Episodes 1-2
[Review] Muhyo & Roji’s Bureau of Supernatural Investigation – Episode 1
What’s it about? Pint-sized Muhyo is an executor of magical law, tasked with punishing the crimes of spirits. He and his teenage assistant Roji run a detective agency where those with supernatural woes can seek help. The final also-ran of the summer season, Crunchyroll quietly released this middle-grade horror series a few days ago after the furor of premiere season had … [Read more...] about [Review] Muhyo & Roji’s Bureau of Supernatural Investigation – Episode 1
[Review] Happy Sugar Life – Episode 1
What’s it about? Satou has never loved anyone before, until the day she meets sweet grade schooler Shio-chan and takes her home. Now Shio has become Satou’s one source of happiness, keeping her dark thoughts and violent impulses at bay. But apartments don’t pay for themselves, and the longer Satou is away, the more her veneer begins to crack. CONTENT WARNING:Discussion of … [Read more...] about [Review] Happy Sugar Life – Episode 1
[Review] Lord of Vermilion: The Crimson King – Episode 1
What’s it about? An event called the Great Collapse rendered everyone in Tokyo unconscious; when many awoke a week later, a great plant had grown around the perimeter of the city and a red mist now keeps anyone from entering or leaving. College student Chihiro is the last to wake, five months later, after being plagued with strange dreams and seemingly gifted with strange … [Read more...] about [Review] Lord of Vermilion: The Crimson King – Episode 1