There’s nothing quite like the joy of seeing a faithful adaptation of a manga you love. As spectacular a crowd-pleaser as last week’s episode of Baby Steps was, this one was every bit as true a representation of what this series is, and why it’s the equal of any sports […] Read more
So, wait – you can do that? Diamond no Ace – 42 The Sensen semi-final saw its first pitch this week, just as real-life Koushien qualifiers are wrapping up. But the big news with Diamond no Ace came “off the field”, as Shounen Magazine announced that the anime would be […] Read more
Summer is no longer an afterthought on the anime calendar. 2013 marked the first time since I became an anime fan that Summer was the strongest season of the year. It’s too early to tell if that will be true in 2014 – in fact it’s too early to tell […] Read more
None of you took that scene in the preview at (suck) face value, did you? There’s no doubt that Aldnoah.Zero is airing in the right season, because this is a summer blockbuster if anime ever produced one – a popcorn flick that’s easy on the eyes and ears without being […] Read more
I guess it isn’t surprising, but watching Barakamon has roughly paralleled the stages of grief for me. Denial: “That premiere was really good. They changed a couple of things, but I’m sure it’s nothing. The manga is so could they couldn’t possibly screw it up.” Anger: “Fuck! How could they […] Read more
It’s showtime at last. Thursdays this season have it covered when it comes to big-scale Miyano Mamoru performances and boys with eye patches, that’s for sure. Kuroshitsuji is definitely one of those series that’s easy to take for granted – it never seems to draw much attention in the Western […] Read more
Still fence-sitting… I’m not ready to commit either way on Argovellen – not with it being a two-cour series and all. So if you want, think of this post as a place-holder – a dog-paddle. I’m still tuned in, still considering, still undecided. A few brief, er, impressions: Once you […] Read more
It’s funny the things that are able to touch us emotionally. It may sound odd to say it, but this series (mostly) about non-humans is really the most compelling human story of the season. That’s not unheard of by any means (Uchouten Kazoku certainly leaps to mind) – shedding light […] Read more
Sasuga, indeed. I won’t deny that there are times I wish I loved Zankyou no Terror as much as I admire it. But I do admire it an awful lot. It’s just so relentlessly beautiful in its execution – every episode has moments that leave me just about speechless. The […] Read more
This show is one serious trip in the wayback machine. Panty shots, magical girls, cats who transform into lolis, Hiro Shimono ecchi dudes, disciplinary committee Nazis with armbands – Majimoji Rurumo is pretty much your one-stop shop for retro-styled anime comedy. There’s not an ounce of self-importance or irony to […] Read more