It’s hard to start an anime episode much better than that. OK, I was slightly hesitant after last week’s episode (which was perfectly fine, don’t get me wrong, just a step down), but I’m pretty close to committing after this one. I found it consistently funny from start to finish, […] Read more
While the success of Ushio & Tora isn’t at all surprising, it’s certainly gratifying. I said a couple of days ago that Gangsta was the best new series of the season, but the thing is, Ushio to Tora is so flawlessly executed that it’s hard to make the case against […] Read more
This is one series where the title is kind of deceptive. It’s happening again. I can’t help but find the supporting cast in Ore Monogatari more interesting than the main couple. It’s not their fault, either – I like Takeo and Rinko just fine. But there’s just not much drama […] Read more
This is grown-up anime, in every sense of the word. At this stage I’m about ready to call Gangsta the best new show of the summer, though Ushio to Tora and Akagami no Shirayukihime aren’t too far back. There’s just a maturity to this series that sets it apart. In […] Read more
Parents, once again I beg you – take your children as far away from this place as possible. That stuff about Japan being the safest country in the world? It doesn’t seem to apply to whatever town Kyoukai no Rinne is set in. And the funny thing is, we never […] Read more
Apparently time manipulation is among Overlord‘s powers. And so we turn to the third in this season’s triumvirate of bubble series. Overlord. It’s already the group’s odd duck in that it’s not a comedy, but happily this show stands out as well because unlike Jitsu wa Watashi wa and Joukamachi […] Read more
Just because you can talk to a dog in his own language, that doesn’t mean he has to listen. Joukamachi no Dandelion still hasn’t quite closed the sale for me. It’s close – I get a very positive vibe from this show generally, and the sibling dynamic is especially well […] Read more
When they were handing out the clueless, Kataoka must have stood in line twice. There are very few anime – and even fewer sports anime – that alternately compel me and drive me around the bend the way Diamond no Ace does. We go through cycles where things are exciting […] Read more
Two steps back here, big-time. Charlotte – 03 To be honest, Charlotte always had to pull a bit of an inside straight to make the cut with me – there’s just so much about it that I normally just don’t find appealing. The second episode was pretty good, but this […] Read more
Before the invention of the text message, a person really needed to be creative… If you’re looking for high drama, Akagami no Shirayukihime just may not be the series for you. Even when there’s danger, somehow things don’t quite feel all that dangerous, and I think to some extent that’s […] Read more