Next week had damn well better be worth the wait. Diamond no Ace – 74 As is too often the case with Daiya no A lately, we have to be patient through an awful lot of twaddle to get to the good stuff. And this time around we didn’t even […] Read more
Anime
Aldnoah.Zero – 23
Aldnoah.Zero is certainly true to itself, right to the end. From the very beginning this has been one of the more perplexing series of the year, seemingly countering every spark of brilliance with a complete headdesk moment. This season has definitely been the better of the two in my opinion […] Read more
Death Parade – 11
Madhouse, thank heaven for you – saving anime one commercial flop at a time. It seems to me that fans of the Onepunch Man manga (and I knew they are legion) ought to be very excited about the news that Madhouse will be handling the adaptation (with Shingo Natsume directing, […] Read more
Tokyo Ghoul √A – 11
For me, there’s no question Tokyo Ghoul is the most vexing show of the season. What a strange series this is. There’s definitely some Kiseijuu in its genes, but the spin it puts on its tragic storyline is novel and interesting. But for every moment where it seems as if […] Read more
Kiseijuu: Sei no Kakuritsu – 23
That was certainly a thoughtful, thought-provoking turn of events. There haven’t been many anime episodes in recent memory that have left me as deeply mired in contemplation as this episode of Kiseijuu did. I certainly wasn’t expecting a neat and tidy conclusion from a moral standpoint (and indeed, this story […] Read more
Binan Koukou Chikyuu Bouei-bu Love! – 11
It’s all happening… It’s always nice when a series finishes with its best stuff, and that’s what seems to be happening with Binan Koukou Chikyuu Bouei-bu Love!. After delivering its comic tour de force last week, it gives is its most serious (though still funny) episode this time, and in […] Read more
Akatsuki no Yona – 23
That wasn’t quite what I was expecting. Let me just start out by noting that last week’s comments section was a disaster – a minefield of manga spoilers. The damage is done, but I’ll ask everyone to please give the spoilers – disguised or not – a pass. Don’t “clarify” […] Read more
Kamisama Hajimemashita◎ – 10
That episode was a thing of beauty in every way. I don’t know why I continue to be surprised by Kamisama Hajmemashita, because it’s not as though it isn’t consistently excellent week-in and week-out. Yet somehow this series never seems to be at the forefront of my consciousness – it’s […] Read more
Yowamushi Pedal: Grande Road – 22
I wonder if Manami is a student of Greek mythology? “Come along, Father,” Icarus shouted over the sound of the wind rushing past them. “Smile, we’ve done it, we’ve escaped and we’re free.” “When my feet are back on solid ground and that island is many, many miles behind us, […] Read more
Haikyuu!! – Jump Festa 2015 Special (OVA)
There are no mysteries and very few surprises with Haikyuu, but that’s certainly not a bad thing. There’s no question in my mind that Haikyuu is the spiritual successor to Ookiku Furikabutte (which is actually still ongoing). They’re both series that celebrate the loveable goofiness of the teenage male to […] Read more