Anime Reviews

Puppet Princess Anime is a Fun Romp of Ninja Escapism

The Puppet Princess anime is a 40-minute OVA that originally came out in 2000, but is getting its first Blu-ray release now from Media Blasters. Taking place in feudal Japan, it follows Princess Rangiku, a very innocent and sweet-natured princess who is, ironically, out for bloody …Read more »

On-Gaku: Our Sound Is a Quirky Indie Film About High School Musicians

March 11, 2021

Danica Davidson

Kenji is a deadpan, lethargic high school boy who hangs out with his friends, plays video games, and has bullies in his life. He barely talks sometimes, and he’ll just stare for long segments without expression. At first it’s a little odd. Then you realize …Read more »

Sleepy Princess in the Demon Castle [Anime Review]

February 7, 2021

Paul Thomas Chapman

She’s a small wonder In the magical kingdom of Goodereste, humans and demons live side by side, but the harmony between these two peoples is shattered when King Twilight, the sovereign of Demon Castle, abducts the beloved Princess Syalis and takes her hostage within his …Read more »

Jujutsu Kaisen [Anime Review]

February 5, 2021

Paul Thomas Chapman

Puts the “beatdown” in narrative beats Just beneath the surface of the ordinary world lurks a spirit realm populated by monstrous curses, dangerous supernatural creatures born of fear, hatred, and other negative human emotions. But none of that mumbo-jumbo means much to Yuji Itadori, a …Read more »

Tezuka’s Phoenix Anime on Blu-Ray is a True Classic

February 1, 2021

Danica Davidson

During his prolific lifetime as a manga creator, Osamu Tezuka declared his best work was Phoenix. The manga remained unfinished when he died and the English adaptation is unfortunately out of print (though you can read it digitally). However, not all is lost: Media Blasters …Read more »

Violence Voyager Is Unlike Any Anime You’ve Ever Watched

January 24, 2021

Evan Minto

There’s a good chance you’ve never seen a “gekimation” film before. Independent director Ujicha has made his name on the stuff, but his latest horror film, Violence Voyager, is the first time anyone had created an entire gekimation feature. The term refers to an unusual …Read more »

The God of High School [Anime Review]

January 2, 2021

Paul Thomas Chapman

Every so often, an anime comes along with qualities that can best be described as “stupefying”, and in the summer 2020 season, that anime is The God of High School. Based on the Korean WEBTOON online comic by Park Yongje, The God of High School …Read more »

Barakamon [Anime Review]

January 1, 2021

Michael Goldstein

John Lyndgate once said, “You can please some of the people all of the time, you can please all of the people some of the time, but you can’t please all of the people all of the time.” Seishu Handa, a prodigy calligrapher at the …Read more »

Healin’ Good Pretty Cure [Anime Review]

November 28, 2020

Brittany Vincent

A magical-girl extravaganza The Pretty Cure franchise is rife with hit after hit when it comes to adorable, heartwarming, and flashy magical girl characters. The seventeenth installment, Healin’ Good Pretty Cure, is no exception, as it delivers exactly what fans have come to expect over …Read more »

Princess Connect! Re:Dive [Anime Review]

November 23, 2020

Brittany Vincent

Travel to the land of Astraea When it comes to anime adaptations of video games, many are often hit or miss. They’re either fantastic expansions of a property that remind you why you fell in love with the game in the first place, or they …Read more »

Demon City Shinjuku [Anime Review]

October 18, 2020

Daryl Surat

Only Trust Your Bokuto 32 years following its release, 1988’s Demon City Shinjuku still remains the greatest anime ever made about a teen chopping up horrible monsters and the occasional buff wizard using a wooden stick, with the sporadic support of a little person grenadier …Read more »

The Millionaire Detective [Anime Review]

September 28, 2020

Kara Dennison

Spend without fear The spring and summer 2020 seasons have been rough on anime, especially those just starting out. Some that were only an episode or two in were cut down in their prime, having to rely on the good-will and patience of viewers to …Read more »

The Helpful Fox Senko-san [Anime Review]

August 28, 2020

Kara Dennison

Calm and refreshed Anime has a glorious sub-subgenre known as iyashikei—literally, “healing” anime. You know those shows with lovely backgrounds, low stakes, calming music, and (occasionally) really gorgeous food? Those shows you can sit and take in despite their minimal plot because they just bathe …Read more »

The Quintessential Quintuplets [Anime Review]

August 27, 2020

Kara Dennison

Harem scarem! At first glance, Negi Haruba’s The Quintessential Quintuplets carries the earmarks of pretty much every other harem series. Guy finds himself unexpectedly entangled with multiple girls, each with a unique look and personality that someone in the audience will like. Each maintains a …Read more »

King’s Game [Anime Review]

August 21, 2020

Kara Dennison

A solid swing There is, if it’s the sort of thing you fancy, no shortage of anime about high-school students killing each other off. Where once the niche was so narrow you could accuse any such project of copying Battle Royale, now you can find …Read more »