AniFem Round-Up
Cosmic Princess Kaguya – Movie Review
Vocaloid, fairytales, and major sapphic energy combine to create an early contender for best anime film of 2026.
I Have No Enemies: Vinland Saga and the ethics of political nonviolence
The series examines the relationship between nonviolent resistance as an individual moral act and as part of a collective struggle, the power of such acts, and the cost of them.
Bayonetta 3 Validates Every Insecurity About My Life, Relationships, and Sexuality
Meditation on how Bayonetta 3 is a betrayal to the queer and kinky communities that championed the franchise.
Chatty AF 240: NANA Watchalong Part 2 – Episodes 8-17
Tony, Vrai, and Destiny return for Part 2 of their NANA watchalong, where they discuss Hachi’s sexuality, Junko-bashing, and the reality vs the mystique of Nana O!
What pre-2000 shojo would you most like to see adapted?
The sky’s the limit, hopefully!
Beyond AniFem
Animation Documentary: Iwata’s Grandma (NHK)
A short documentary about an atomic bomb survivor’s experiences. Available until July 31st, 2026.
Why does Iwata’s Grandma refuse to be in photos? This animation documentary is based on a picture book about the atomic bomb tragedy but conveys kindness and hope rather than fear and anxiety.
From “curing” chuunibyou teenagers to typing away emotional trauma: Japanese indie games about mental health (Automaton, Carlos “Zoto” Zotomayor)
Some upcoming bite-sized games..
The Second Reality Room: Unspoken Truths is a game for anyone who has ever been or dealt with a teenager. As the director of the Second Reality Room, you interview several chuunibyou (adolescents with delusions of grandeur) as you get to the bottom of their supposed “illness” and ultimately understand them.
Gameplay is divided into three actions: Talk, Mind Read, and Translate. “Talk” allows you to choose topics and gather clues from the chuunibyou. Since what they’re saying is usually incomprehensible, “Mind Read” lets you step into a “Second Reality” to see the world through their eyes. Finally, “Translate” lets you combine everything you’ve learned and decipher the chuunibyous’ histories and motivations.
The game is told in chapters, with each chapter having a good and a bad ending. Featuring character designs and illustrations by Japanese illustrator Shikimi and a soundtrack by Sumire Murasaki (who is also behind the stellar music of the indie hit visual novel Urban Myth Dissolution Center), The Second Reality Room: Unspoken Truths is a feast for the eyes and ears.
Developed by Shadow Glove (makers of the mystery indie game Yokai Landlord: Monster Mystery!) and published by FINE Co., the game is set to release next year for Windows (Steam).
JAPANESE COURSES: FEB-MAY 2026 (Orange Blossom Education)
A sliding-scale Japanese language-learning course whose proceeds will be donated to survivors in Palestine.
Each course includes:
20 hours of language classes
10 hours of weekly seminars
20 hours of weekly help sessions
Homework and feedback
During the first two weeks, you’re welcome to switch to another course, if you feel the course level is not right for you.
The net proceeds from this round of Japanese courses will be donated to verified Palestinian families in Gaza listed with OBE.
Please reach out to [email protected] if you have any questions that have not been answered in Frequently Asked Questions.
To receive information about our future course offerings, sign up for our newsletter at the bottom of our website or follow our Instagram account.
Rest in peace, Bayonetta (Mothership, Maddy Myers)
Why queer fans disliked the third game so much (paywalled).
By the time Bayonetta 3 came out, the title heroine had very much become a queer icon. This was the lens through which a lot of queer fans fans saw the character. It’s easy to see why if you look at her character design. She has heavily exaggerated feminine features — extraordinarily long hair, for example, and a Barbie doll body with mega-long legs. If you create a character, any character, with extremely exaggerated feminine features (like Bayonetta, or Lara Croft) — or exaggerated masculine features (like Duke Nukem) — it’s likely that character is going to be claimed by the queer community. Thus, Bayonetta is both a sex symbol for straight men, and a drag icon. This is also why Duke Nukem can be both a hyper-masculine ideal for straight men as well as a drag king.
This creates a complicated dynamic in the world of video games, where so many characters are exaggerated in this fashion. (The same thing happens with pro wrestling, by the way.) Straight male fans often do not understand this dynamic, if they see it at all. The ones who are bigoted get scared when queer fans claim characters in this way, because it forces them to confront their own insecurities about sexuality and identity. A person who is afraid of confronting any of that is probably also very freaked out at the idea that there’s anything queer about Bayonetta, whom they see as a sexy lady meant for straight men only. Hence the response to my review of Bayonetta 3.
“Out of 100 artists, 98 were basically there to mass-produce.” Japanese devs discuss harsh reality of working as an in-house game illustrator (Automaton, Amber V)
The topic of hiring has been a hot topic with the recent release of a “guidebook” on the industry.
Noriba, who now works as a manga author, wrote on February 2, “When I used to work at a major game company, I remember thinking how brutal it was to be an illustrator. There were about 100 illustrators, but there were only 2 lead artists among them, and the remaining 98 people were essentially there to mass-produce art based on the two leads’ work. Incidentally, one of the two lead artists was a freshly graduated new hire who’d only joined the company a few months prior. They were insanely talented.”
Noriba added that their post isn’t meant to mock the “98 artists” or diminish the type of work they were doing by any means. On the contrary, they say that even these artists were “the cream of the crop, who’d beaten out thousands of applicants” to join the company. The implication is that competition in the industry is so intense that even the most skilled artists have slim chances of landing positions that will grant them creative/stylistic authority. Additionally, since assets like experience and mileage can easily be trumped by the raw skills of a newcomer, simply powering through the less glamorous work does not guarantee you’ll eventually “get there.”
On the other hand, a Japanese illustrator who describes themselves as “a subcontractor positioned even lower than those 98 artists” shared some interesting insights in response to Noriba’s post, offering a more optimistic outlook.
“If seeing this story made you feel hesitant about becoming a company-employed illustrator, listen to this first,” they said. The artist, who goes by Kimiori, explains that there are major benefits to seeking work at companies as an artist, even if (or especially if) you plan to go freelance at some point.
Yuko Yamaguchi, Hello Kitty’s Primary Artist, To Step Down After 46 Years (Tokyo Weekender, Aya Sato)
Yamaguchi was the head of character design during her tenure at Sanrio.
Kitty’s primary issue was a lack of variety: the character had very few variations in poses, outfits and colors. Yamaguchi truly revolutionized her image.
“Before I took on the role as Hello Kitty’s character designer, Hello Kitty only ever wore overalls. Since then, I have poured a lot of thought into Hello Kitty’s fashion and given her vibrant clothing with variety,” said Yamaguchi in Vogue Hong Kong.
Hello Kitty isn’t just loved by children; the character has been embraced by people from all backgrounds. Yamaguchi said that when she was first appointed, Hello Kitty fans were around 10 years old; today the average fan is 34 — a shift that Yamaguchi wanted to reflect by drawing Kitty in various styles and roles, from a high school student to an office worker.
Overseas celebrities like Paris Hilton began declaring themselves Hello Kitty fans, and exchanges with Hilton inspired Yamaguchi to incorporate the latest fashion trends into Kitty’s designs.
Hello Kitty began participating in fashion subcultures like gyaru and kogal, cementing the character’s seat as a cultural tastemaker.
Yamaguchi is also a kawaii style icon, expressing herself with colorful hair, bold patterns and hyper-girly aesthetics.
“No matter what age you are…you are kawaii,” she once said.
In the Clear Moonlit Dusk Episodes 5-6 (Anime News Network, Caitlin Moore)
Sadly, the story has increasingly stalled in its exploration of gender roles..
I must admit, class, I am struggling to take a step back from my personal reaction and examine this arc from an academic lens. This is a recurring theme in romantic shoujo series: a new boy shows up, and though the protagonist only has eyes for the male lead, he goes wild with jealousy. It’s just so… toxic. And yet, it is apparently a popular fantasy for women who are not me. I must take a step back and look at it from an objective perspective.
Sorry, that pounding on the door is making it hard to focus. While I collect myself, here are some discussion questions:
Shoujo is discussed both as a safe space for women to explore unsafe fantasies and a manual for teenage girls to learn how to love. Are these dual roles in conflict with each other? As adults engaging with this material, is it our responsibility to help young women understand the separation?
In shoujo manga, jealousy is often treated as a sign that the male lead truly cares about the protagonist. In many cases, if he’s too laid-back, the protagonist will get upset and demand to know why he isn’t jealous. In the case of In the Clear Moonlit Dusk, this is treated as a sign that Ichimura truly cares about Yoi, when he saw his previous girlfriends as little more than diversions.
In preparation for this lecture, I did some brief research into whether jealousy really can be considered love. The results were… mixed, with some asserting that jealousy is a sign of insecure attachment, with others claiming that the desire to protect one’s relationship is inextricable from love. Other studies have found jealousy’s role in a relationship to be culturally determined. In a culture like Japan, where homosociality is predominant over heterosociality, it may be seen as more justifiable and appropriate to treat a romantic partner’s bonds with members of the opposite sex as a potential threat.
But that doesn’t mean I have to like it.
Amber’s Quest – Gay Visual Novel (Kickstarter)
The third project from an LGBTQ+ indie team.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION: Amber, Gabriel, and Mateo journey deep into South America, chasing the legend of the Lost City of Caesars. Join them as they uncover hidden truths, explore newfound romance, and chase the treasures buried beneath the jungle.
PREMISE: In the early 20th century, the promise of fame and fortune fuels humanity’s hunger to explore the unknown. Among these dreamers is Amber, a young archaeologist desperate to prove himself. When he uncovers an ancient inscription hinting at a hidden city of unimaginable riches deep in South America, his path becomes clear: he will be the one to find it.
SYNOPSIS: Driven by ambition and adventure, Amber sets out with his companions Gabriel and Mateo to navigate the treacherous Colorado River in search of the Lost City of Caesars. Explore their perilous journey in this mature visual novel of adventure, discovery, and unexpected intimacy.
Ibaraki offers cash for tips on undocumented foreign workers (The Asahi Shimbun, Morio Choh, Tomonori Asada and Chika Yamamoto)
Ibaraki has the highest recorded number of undocumented immigrant workers in Japan currently.
A similar national system has existed since 1951, offering up to 50,000 yen ($320) if a tip leads to a deportation order.
However, according to the Immigration Services Agency, no rewards were paid out between 2021 and 2025.
The Ibaraki prefectural announcement has drawn criticism from Jiho Yoshimizu, head of Nichietsu Tomoiki Shienkai, a Tokyo-based nonprofit organization that supports Vietnamese in Japan.
Yoshimizu said many foreigners his group supports have lost their place to live after being fired from their trainee placements or fleeing abusive workplaces. Unable to afford a flight home, they have ended up overstaying their visas, he said.
Yoshimizu argued that the reward system will make it harder for such foreigners to seek help for fear of being reported, potentially pushing them toward commiting other crimes.
“The number of foreigners who choose to hide rather than seek help may increase,” he said. “Creating a safe environment for them to solicit advice early is more important than a mechanism to increase reports.”
Eriko Suzuki, a professor at Kokushikan University specializing in immigration policy, called Ibaraki Prefecture’s measure “a form of official xenophobia” that risks attracting inaccurate information.
Himitsu no AiPri Anime/Game’s Concert Canceled Due to Threats, Hours Before Start (Anime News Network, Egan Loo)
Details regarding the threat are not currently available.
The staff for Himitsu no AiPri (Secret AiPri), the fifth main project in TAKARA TOMY A.R.T.S and syn Sophia‘s Pretty Series game and anime franchise aimed at girls, announced on Saturday morning that the project’s “Ring Ring Live in Osaka” concert event has been cancelled. The event would have started just hours later at 2:30 p.m.
The project’s website explained that the staff confirmed online posts demanding the event’s cancellation, as well as threats emailed to companies tied to the event. After consulting the authorities, those companies filed a formal complaint to the police, who are conducting an investigation. In the meantime, the staff decided to cancel the event to prioritize the safety of the attendees, performers, and all those involved (including people not just in the Umeda Arts Theater venue, but also the surrounding area).
In addition to the event, the staff canceled the planned sale of tie-in goods, CDs, Blu-ray Discs, and DVDs at the venue. The event organizers are offering refunds to ticket holders.
An Inside Look Into Anime Dubbing (Anime By the Numbers, Klaudia Amenábar)
Interview with dubbing producer Reuben Lack.
Klaudia: Are there any trends or developments in anime dubbing and localization that you’re either concerned or excited about? How would you ideally address them?
Reuben: Dubbing workflows have always been extremely fast—my old VP called dubbing “post-post production,” with localization as a constant afterthought-—but the demand for ever-crunched show launches has now increased to a dangerous degree. I’ve heard of some productions purposefully recording English dubs against non-final, fully-animatic videos, and then not going back to fix sync issues when mouth-flaps are finalized. Some companies are turning to vendors with zero anime experience, which leads to awkward, clunky dubs. There seems to be a growing sense that fans will just accept slop quality, which I think is unfortunate. For me, the answer is for fans to continue to be vocal about what they want to see in dubbing, and call out when companies produce sloppy work.
Klaudia: Anime dubs are so ubiquitous now, but many fans and industry professionals still don’t really know what goes into making them. Walk us through the basic process of how an anime dub is produced.
Reuben: Once a dub has been commissioned, a producer (like me) puts together the creative team and selects a vendor to work on the title. This varies wildly depending on the company: Crunchyroll, of course, has in-house staff, where other distributors rely on third-party studios.
Several things then start in parallel. A translator begins working through the original Japanese script to produce a translation the production team can use, while at the same time the production team begins the casting process. (I’ve written an in-depth explainer for the casting process here.) Once a translation is finished, an adapter is brought in to conform the translation for suitability in the actual recording process. The adapter’s job is to appropriately write a dubbing script that serves several competing goals at once: (1) authenticity, (2) flow of conversation, (3) distinct characterization, and (4) lip-sync.
‘Unbelievable’: 12 of Japan’s 47 pref. police forces had zero whistleblower reports in 5 yrs (The Mainichi, Koji Endo)
Seven other departments only had one report in that time period.
Hiroshima Prefectural Police had the most reports at 173, followed by Hyogo Prefectural Police with 83, Aichi Prefectural Police with 63, and Tokyo’s Metropolitan Police Department with 62.
Police forces with relatively high numbers of reports often had the organization’s top leaders or relevant departments regularly encourage reporting. Many of them also established external reporting channels or dedicated reporting forms to reduce the psychological and procedural burden of whistleblowing.
The median total number of police officers and general staff across all prefectural police forces was about 3,500 as of April 2025. In a fiscal 2023 survey by the Consumer Affairs Agency targeting private companies, only 2.2% of 367 companies with more than 3,000 employees had zero internal reports in a year. Only 8.2% reported one to five cases — a stark contrast with the low number of whistleblowing reports within the police.
Regarding the results, the Consumer Affairs Agency’s counselor office in charge of public interest reporting noted that when there are no filings in a year, “many employees may feel anxious about reporting.”
SHORT: How cats became part of politicking in the Ooku.
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/eU89dA2f0Lc
VIDEO: Retrospective on Ultra Maniac.
VIDEO: Character customization problems in Starsand Island.
VIDEO: On antiblackness in anime fandom (includes screenshots of examples).
VIDEO: The problem of bigotry in alternative fashion spaces.
REEL: Intro to trans idol AI Haruna.
REEL: Black genderbent cosplay from xeno.cos412.
REEL: A Black cosplayer tribute dedicated to the late Ash Gail Paxton.
AniFem Community
May every series out there be treated with the love and care it deserves.
From Far Away would be incredibly cool, but ANY Moto Hagio story would do!
— No blasphemy before tea (@silentsong.bsky.social) February 17, 2026 at 3:32 AM
Kaze Hikaru and Tokyo Crazy Paradise!!!
— samoyedloverforev.bsky.social (@samoyedloverforev.bsky.social) February 17, 2026 at 8:00 AM
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a better attempt at adapting 7SEEDS would be great thanks
— Pawz/PatchworkAphrodite (@pipimioden.bsky.social) February 17, 2026 at 1:14 AM
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