All posts by Brittany Vincent

Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? continues the Japanese RPG anime tradition.

Anyone about to watch a series called Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? has to have a few questions floating around in their heads. Why is the title so long? What kind of dungeon are we talking about? And …Read more »

Getting to Know the Dark Side of Magical Girl Anime

January 14, 2017

Brittany Vincent

When you think of a “magical girl,” what do you think about? A sugary sweet young woman with a penchant for all things cute? Maybe Sailor Moon and the Sailor Guardians come to mind. Or maybe you’re more of a Cardcaptor Sakura person, and your …Read more »

Nineteen Years Later, Cowboy Bebop Feels Just as Vital

December 3, 2016

Brittany Vincent

Hailed by its director Shinichiro Watanabe as a series that is a genre unto itself, Cowboy Bebop has enthralled millions of fans around the world. Debuting in 1997, the series rocked the world of anime with its impeccable pacing, imaginative and believable world, and well-defined …Read more »

[Review] Good Luck! Ninomiya-kun

November 30, 2016

Brittany Vincent

You've probably seen Good Luck! Ninomiya-kun before, from its tired set of tropes to its recycled character designs, in just about every other harem series ever. All that's different here are the names and the premise—kind of. Unfortunately, that just isn't enough to elevate it …Read more »

[Review] Persona 3

November 27, 2016

Brittany Vincent

Persona 3 was a groundbreaking game in the Shin Megami Tensei franchise, and influenced every game in the series from that point onward. The manga adaptation is just as good, though it might be a little inaccessible for readers who aren't familiar with the source …Read more »

Overlord is an Interesting Twist on the Trapped-in-a-MMORPG Format

November 7, 2016

Brittany Vincent

Anime series have just about covered the entire “player gets stuck in video game” spectrum of stories from A to Z, from reluctant players to those who want to pretend to be in-game gods. So much, it’s almost gotten to the point that it’s downright …Read more »

My Love Story is Sweet and Earnest without Pandering to Anime Clichés

October 22, 2016

Brittany Vincent

We’ve all got that one friend who simply isn’t “traditionally” what women are into. Maybe he’s got a bit of an annoying voice. Maybe he’s too short. Maybe he’s a little creepier than he intends to be. Not that any of that should matter to …Read more »

[Review] Hakuoki: Demon of the Fleeting Blossom

October 8, 2016

Brittany Vincent

Hakuoki: Demon of the Fleeting Blossom was one of my first introductions to otome games. An avid visual novel fan, I had always gravitated toward those games, but I had never truly put the time into one and experienced it before. This particular offering flourished …Read more »

With New Seasons On the Horizon, We Revisit What Makes Gainax’s FLCL So Special

August 27, 2016

Brittany Vincent

Gainax’s FLCL only spans six episodes, but to fans it’s the equivalent of hundreds of epic episodes like those of Naruto or Bleach. It’s a coming of age tale without being preachy. It’s vulgar, yet refined in other aspects. Most of all, it’s fun. But …Read more »

[Review] Bravely Second: End Layer

August 24, 2016

Brittany Vincent

The Bravely Default series to date has suffered from several issues over its shelf life, many of which harken back to a frustrating second half of the game. While the inventive job system is engaging and open even to new players, the second half is …Read more »

Scum’s Wish [Manga Review]

August 24, 2016

Brittany Vincent

It’s easy to find a romance manga that coddles and flaunts its star couple, but how often do you find one that exploits a seemingly “perfect” couple with deep, dark secrets? Scum’s Wish does just that, with a fervor that’s matched only by titles such …Read more »

[Review] Kuma Miko: Girl Meets Bear

August 14, 2016

Brittany Vincent

Sometimes you need to take a step back, relax, and read a manga that’s not all about sexy bodies, “pushing the boundaries of the medium,” or ridiculous gags. When normal life is too chaotic already, I like to sit back and read something quiet like …Read more »

[Review] Yoshitaka Amano: Illustrations

August 13, 2016

Brittany Vincent

Yoshitaka Amano is revered the world over as one of the world’s greatest illustrators, having contributed to properties like Final Fantasy , Vampire Hunter D , Gatchaman , and others. He’s a remarkable artist whose work is immediately recognizable. Yoshitaka Amano: Illustrations is a gorgeous …Read more »

[Review] Dead or Alive Xtreme 3

August 9, 2016

Brittany Vincent

The Dead or Alive Xtreme games have always been mired in controversy, but for what? Because we should be made to feel bad for playing games that feature women in bikinis? The only true reason they should ever be pooh-poohed is their lack of content …Read more »

[Review] Franken Fran

July 2, 2016

Brittany Vincent

© Katsuhisa Kigitsu 2007, 2008 As a horror manga connoisseur, I’ve always stuck to the classics: Junji Ito, Shintaro Kago, and Hideshi Hino. Katsuhisa Kigitsu’s Franken Fran was always one series that called out to me, however, after untranslated images hit the Internet and I …Read more »