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ep. review

Dead Account ‒ Episode 8

Some boring fights that are coupled with a bunch of flashbacks that add nothing? Yep, this is what we in the field call “a nothingburger."
ep. review

The Invisible Man and His Soon-to-Be Wife ‒ Episode 8

Yakou sleeping over had some funny jokes that leaned into more adult territory.
ep. review

Trigun Stargaze ‒ Episode 8

Well played, you magnificent bastards, well played.
ep. review

Roll Over and Die ‒ Episode 8

As much as I enjoy Roll Over and Die for how it feels like a respite from its genre, the series sadly remains beholden to some of the Narou scene's ickiest impulses.
ep. review

Fire Force Season 3 ‒ Episode 20

The fact that Fire Force has tried to thematically justify Tamaki's ridiculous fanservice with its cuckoo world-building is legitimately so insane that I can't help but have a little respect for the gumption of it all.
ep. review

Sentenced to Be a Hero ‒ Episode 8

The trope of “we have to pretend to be married for the mission” is well-beloved for a reason.
ep. review

Chained Soldier Season 2 ‒ Episode 8

We've got action, some story development, fun new characters, boobs, a couple of good jokes, and even more boobs. What more could you ask for?
ep. review

Champignon Witch ‒ Episode 9

It’s adorable when Lize pretends not to know what kissing is, but that’s the brief moment of light in the darkness.
ep. review

Tamon's B-Side ‒ Episode 9

This episode made me realize that Ouri is kind of a tragic character.
review

Puniru is a Cute Slime Season 2 Anime Series Review

The show went out on a limb and took a big swing for some heavy subject matter. ― Season one of Puniru is a Kawaii Slime was pretty solid. In a lot of ways, the show felt very nostalgic from its setup, to its comedy, to its animation. Season two continues many of the elements I enjoyed about the show before. The animation is above average with very creative directing. There are throwbacks and referen...
ep. review

Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3: The Culling Game Part 1 ‒ Episode 55

Put simply, this episode is everything I want from Jujutsu Kaisen and it would be my favorite anime of all time if every episode were this good.
ep. review

The Holy Grail of Eris ‒ Episode 8

When have men in power ever cared about seventeen-year-old girls' wellbeing?
ep. review

SHIBOYUGI: Playing Death Games to Put Food on the Table ‒ Episode 8

The tragedy of SHIBOYUGI comes from the girls knowing full well that they are little more than dolls to be played with until they are too worn out and must be tossed aside.
ep. review

Sakuna: Of Rice And Ruin ‒ Episodes 14-15

This two-part special doesn't offer much beyond an extra 40 minutes of the show's usual vibes, but it's nice to see that those vibes are still pretty charming.
ep. review

Oshi no Ko Season 3 ‒ Episode 7

Hey Sis, would you support me in delivering the secret we’ve guarded for the last 14 years to the scummiest paparazzo I can find?
ep. review

The Darwin Incident ‒ Episode 8

That's a lot of grousing I can do about these details in this episode, since so much of this week's entry is that sort of setup before the Lucy Kidnapping Arc presumably sees Lucy get kidnapped.
column

This Week in Anime - Stunt-Casting

Is it worth it to throw a big name Hollywood actor into an anime dub to get more eyes on the project? Chris and Coop discuss. ― Is it worth it to throw a big name Hollywood actor into an anime dub to get more eyes on the project? Chris and Lucas discuss. Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by the participants in this chatlog are not the views of Anime News Network.Spoiler Warning for discus...
ep. review

Hell Teacher: Jigoku Sensei Nube ‒ Episode 21

The unknown and mysterious is often far more frightening than any number of daft-looking monsters.
ep. review

Yoroi-Shinden Samurai Troopers ‒ Episode 8

Having this Lucky Charms box of a cast shotgunned at the screen with wildly varying tones and paces across the board causes whiplash
ep. review

In the Clear Moonlit Dusk ‒ Episode 7

It's a beautiful scene, and I truly wish I felt something for these characters and their romance so I could fully immerse myself in it.
ep. review

Journal with Witch ‒ Episode 8

I don't know if I've seen another story so eloquently express the paradox of grief. Our hearts ache for company, yet we walk this leg of the journey by ourselves.
review

My Awkward Senpai Anime Series Review

This is an adorkable anime in every way. My Awkward Senpai is a workplace anime that often denies its romantic comedy flavorings even when they are so obvious and in the audience's faces. I went into this series blind, so naive me expected a more grounded story about the 9-to-5 grind and the relationships that form between senpai and kohai. That proves foolhardy by the end of the first episode. The...
your score

Your Anime Rankings - Best of Winter 2026, Feb 12-18

The Invisible Man and His Soon-to-Be Wife is softly conquering hearts and climbing the rankings. Find out how your favorite shows fared in our weekly user rankings. ― Let's have a look at what ANN readers consider the best (and worst) of the season, based on the polls you can find in our Daily Streaming Reviews and on the Your Score page with the latest simulcasts. Keep in mind that these rankings a...
game review

Resident Evil Requiem Game Review

It may not be the best of the Resident Evil adventures to come out these last few years, but Requiem probably represents most Resident Evil experience that this new generation has cooked up so far. ― We've been enjoying the fruits of Capcom's Resident Evil Renaissance (their REnaissance?) for several years now, and I feel like Resident Evil Requiem represents a fascinating culmination of everything t...
ep. review

Hell's Paradise Season 2 ‒ Episode 7

The action was already pushing this episode for me, but there is also a lot of good story and characterization to be extrapolated from Yamada and Tamiya's fight with Tao Fa.
interview

Anime Fits Metal Like a Powerglove

Since 2005, Powerglove has made the headbanging-est power metal covers of your favorite songs—from video games to anime. To learn more, ANN sat down with the band to talk all things metal, anime, and their upcoming album. ― Since 2005, Powerglove has been making the headbanging-est power metal covers of your favorite songs from video games and Saturday-morning cartoons. They've performed around the w...
ep. review

My Hero Academia: Vigilantes Season 2 ‒ Episode 21

This three-episode flashback distraction is finally done, and my final verdict is…this should've been an OVA .
ep. review
ep. review

Hana-Kimi ‒ Episode 9

The episode's structure is undeniably odd: start with the big emotional epiphany, then end with the stock shoujo “lost together in the wilderness” plot.
review

Easygoing Territory Defense by the Optimistic Lord Volumes 4-6 Manga Review

Wealth and magic can make life easier, but making friends can save the world. ― In Volume 1-3, we were presented with a kind of manga The Sims scenario, as Van gathered around him people willing to help him transform this “unnamed” village into a prosperous town. In Volume 4-6, the story continues to build on Van's blueprints, as the town builds defenses, weapons, and a military capable of wielding t...
column

This Week in Anime - Running on Empty

Coop and Sylvia discuss anime burnout and how to handle it. ― Coop and Sylvia discuss anime burnout and how to handle it. Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by the participants in this chatlog are not the views of Anime News Network.Spoiler Warning for discussion of the series ahead. @RiderStrike @BWProwl @LucasDeRuyter @vestenet Coop I don't know about you, Sylvia, but I've been feeling l...
ep. review

Golden Kamuy Final Season ‒ Episode 57

This episode is a distillation of everything I love about Golden Kamuy, and I’m so glad we get to see these lovable idiots partake in some low-stakes, but meaningful, misadventures, before the finale draws near!
ep. review

Wash It All Away ‒ Episode 8

This episode has a delightful sense of “turn your brain off” that just worked on me.
column

The ANN Aftershow - We're Still Here

Did you know that James, Lynzee, and Jacki have continued to host the ANN After Show weekly for the last eight months? If not, that's my fault. ― Oshi no Ko, What Are You Doing?! Did you know that James, Lynzee, and Jacki have continued to host the ANN After Show weekly for the last eight months? If not, that's my fault. Audio editing a podcast is time-consuming, and while I got my skillset "good en...
column

This Week in Mobile Games - The Years Start Walkin' and They Don't Stop Walkin'

Josh looks at how the RAM shortage affects mobile and game developers, the latest Genshin Impact update, and a deep dive into the Simogo Legacy Collection. ― Hello, and welcome once more to another issue of This Week in Mobile Games, and the last installment of February, the worst month of the year (allegedly). I wouldn't know about all that; I live in the tropics, so the main thing distinguishing F...
review

Dark Moon: The Blood Altar Novel Review

Dark Moon: the Blood Altar is the literary equivalent of a Twinkie. ― You've read the manhwa and watched the anime – why not read the novel as well? Possibly because it's 888 pages long. Like the BTS novel 7 Fates Chakho, Dark Moon is an exercise in Wattpad madness – a story that ties in with a K-pop boy band and casts them all as various supernatural versions of themselves in a complicated story. Th...
ep. review

Fate/strange Fake ‒ Episode 8

If it weren't clear already, this episode makes the point that Flat is far from your average mage.
feature

Exploring Studio ENGI, the Anime Studio Behind Medalist

During the PacSet “ANN in Japan 2025” tour, anime fans from around the globe were granted the exceedingly rare privilege to see how and where the sausage gets made. ― This past autumn, as part of the PacSet “ANN in Japan 2025” tour, about a dozen other anime fans from around the globe were granted the exceedingly rare privilege to tour a brick-and-mortar anime studio. It was a chance to see how the s...
ep. review

You and I Are Polar Opposites ‒ Episode 7

Now that she's got a second wingwoman in her corner, perhaps the extra support will be enough for Nishi's brain to properly register her newfound crush
review

Trigun Maximum Manga Review

The world Vash lives in is so well fleshed-out in its manga incarnation, and the stakes for survival of its populace much higher. ― You know when you've been overdoing something when aspects of it begin to bleed into your dreams. So it has been the past few weeks for me and Trigun. Not too long after closing my eyes, my mind is filled with images of spiky-haired red-trenchcoat-wearing gunslingers, cr...
ep. review

Trigun Stargaze ‒ Episode 7

Seems like Knives’ lackeys have a severe lack of workers’ rights baked into their contracts. This is why unionization is important, folks.
ep. review

Dead Account ‒ Episode 7

If a tree falls in the forest and it’s poorly animated, do you even care?
ep. review

Fire Force Season 3 ‒ Episode 19

It brings me no small amount of childlike joy to discover that this show's endgame essentially boils down to, "What if we just did Third Impact from Neon Genesis Evangelion, except if it was triggered by Roger Rabbit instead of Shinji Ikari?"
ep. review

Champignon Witch ‒ Episode 8

Black magic users filter out the impurities in the world so that people can live. White magic users encourage the untainted world to flourish.
review

Private Tutor to the Duke's Daughter Anime Series Review

There's not much to Private Tutor to the Duke's Daughter beyond girls crushing on Allen as he helps them overcome their issues. ― You can't talk about this series without addressing the elephant in the room. Much of this series' drama and humor revolves around our three female magic students and their crush on Allen. Tina, Ellie, and Lynne constantly get jealous of each other and pretty much every ot...
ep. review

Tamon's B-Side ‒ Episode 8

If housekeeping doesn’t work out for her, Utage’s got quite a future in printing, graphic design, merchandising, or something adjacent to those industries ahead of her.
ep. review

Medalist Season 2 ‒ SEASON PREMIERE

I'm happy to say that in spite of Michael Mouse’s best efforts to prevent people from watching it, Medalist remains as good as ever.
column

Answerman - BritDubs Explained

Why aren't there more British anime dubs? Jerome explains. ― Eric Stimson asks: "Why are there so few British anime dubs? There are several anime set in Britain (JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Season 1, The Ancient Magus Bride, Once Upon a Witch's Death) or involving British characters (KinMoza, Cultural Exchange with Game Centre Girl). There are also often Spanish dubs from more than one country (and may...
ep. review

Sentenced to Be a Hero ‒ Episode 7

The horizons for the show just keep expanding.
ep. review

Chained Soldier Season 2 ‒ Episode 7

Yuuki is, at this point, getting passed around to one girl after another like that one spare Nidoking who gets used as a stock trading stud so other trainers can evolve their Haunters and their Kadabras.
ep. review

Roll Over and Die ‒ Episode 7

The surprise star of this week's Roll Over and Die installment is Ottilie, lieutenant general of the royal army and disaster lesbian extraordinaire.
ep. review

The Holy Grail of Eris ‒ Episode 7

In all of the years since Scarlett last walked the earth as a human, it seems like she’s the only one who ever had Cecilia’s number.
ep. review

The Invisible Man and His Soon-to-Be Wife ‒ Episode 7

This episode didn't give me exactly what I wanted, but it gave me everything that I needed.
review

Frieren: Beyond Journey's End Volumes 10-13 Manga Review

After the first-class mage examination, mighty demons take on Frieren and Denken in both the present and the past. Frieren: Beyond Journey's End continues to surprise and entertain and has established a process to do so. Every large arc will require Frieren and Fern to understand magic just that much better. They will come up against their own limitations and analyze their enemies' weaknesses. Star...
column

This Week in Games - Dot Hackers, Demon Attackers, and Sony's State of Play

There are some major franchise returns to report this week, from .hack to God of War and beyond! ― Welcome back, folks! I normally try to have something witty prepared for the column intros, but I've been caught on the back foot this week. I will say, I've been catching up on my reading lately; I recently wrapped up the first volume of Heaven Official's Blessing, and I'm looking forward to starting T...
feature

Is it Really Impossible to Make a Living as an Animator in Japan?

There have been numerous horror stories about working as a newbie animator in Japan—namely, the inability to earn a living wage. To find out if this was still the case, ANN met freelance and studio-employed animators, studio heads, and animator-rights advocates. ― From reports of monthly salaries as low as 160,000 yen (US$1,034) in 2015 to the examples of scant wages seen with 2020's #AnimationPaidMe...
ep. review

In the Clear Moonlit Dusk ‒ Episodes 5-6

In the Clear Moonlit Dusk thus far has failed to live up to my expectations or hopes in any way.
ep. review

Oshi no Ko Season 3 ‒ Episode 6

It was supremely rewarding to see Kana gather her courage and become her own savior.
review

I Want Your Mother to be With Me! Volumes 1-2 Manga Review

This is ultimately a story about recognizing that you don't have to stubbornly tackle everything on your own. ― Being a single parent is never easy. Raising a child demands a lot of time, expenses, and responsibilities that most couples would find difficult to manage. But being a single parent means that you're trying to fill all of those responsibilities by yourself, which naturally comes with sacri...
column

This Week in Anime - Industry Insight

Chris and Lucas explore the anime marketing machine in the age of Crunchyroll. ― Chris and Lucas explore the anime marketing machine in the age of Crunchyroll. Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by the participants in this chatlog are not the views of Anime News Network. Crunchyroll streams Frieren, My Awkward Senpai, Miss Kuroitsu From the Monster Development Department, Gridman Universe,...
ep. review

The Darwin Incident ‒ Episode 7

Those are all just mechanical components of the storytelling to be impressed by, though, as the thematic and emotional elements continue to run dry for The Darwin Incident with this arc.
ep. review

Hell Teacher: Jigoku Sensei Nube ‒ Episode 20

Rejoice, yuki-onna lovers! Ice maiden Yukime returns in time for the Winter Olympics with… a beach episode?
ep. review

SHIBOYUGI: Playing Death Games to Put Food on the Table ‒ Episode 7

I found this to be an emotional and riveting episode of television, just as every chapter of SHIBOYUGI has been thus far. Nonetheless, some cracks, however small they may be, have begun to surface.
review

April Showers Bring May Flowers Anime Series Review

With the deliberate pacing of the romance plot, there's plenty of room for character introspection. ― No one in April Showers Bring May Flowers is perfect. That might not sound important, but it truly is, particularly as the series goes on. There's a tendency in this style of high school romance to make a few people seem larger than life, as if their outer beauty reflects an inner saintliness that ma...
feature

Okay, So What's VOTOMS?

VOTOMS is always waiting to be discovered, as a story that has been continually added to for decades, with a style and vibe that speak to anyone who likes their robots just a little more real. ― Last month, a surprise trailer dropped for an unexpected project: a new anime in the Armored Trooper VOTOMS franchise, from owner studio Sunrise, with collaboration from Production I.G, and helmed by storied ...
ep. review

Yoroi-Shinden Samurai Troopers ‒ Episode 7

Their base may currently be on rails, but the plotting of Yoroi-Shinden Samurai Troopers feels like it's jumping the tracks sometimes.
ep. review

Isekai Office Worker: The Other World's Books Depend on the Bean Counter ‒ Episode 7

In another series, Aresh would come across as a walking red flag. But within the context of this series, Aresh is painted more as overwhelmed with concern for a man who seems hell-bent on self-destruction.
game review

PARANORMASIGHT: The Mermaid's Curse Game Review

While its story elements come together in a snug, fantastical narrative, the first entry's gameplay shortcomings remain, and this new game's shift away from spookier, creepier plot beats left me wanting. Anime News Network was provided an advanced review copy of this game. Nearly three years since the release of PARANORMASIGHT: The Seven Mysteries of Honjo, Square Enix and developer Xeen are back w...
ep. review

Journal with Witch ‒ Episode 7

The notion of motherhood hangs over the entirety of Journal with Witch, like uncertain clouds that might unleash a torrent of rain at any moment.
ep. review

Hell's Paradise Season 2 ‒ Episode 6

I have to be honest, I'm not really sure how they're going to get out of this situation given the way the episode ends.
ep. review

My Hero Academia: Vigilantes Season 2 ‒ Episode 20

I want to make it clear that I didn't hate this episode...but.
ep. review

Golden Kamuy Final Season ‒ Episode 56

As the end draws near, it’s never been less certain where some of Golden Kamuy’s characters stand, and there’s no telling quite how this powder keg will blow!
ep. review

Wash It All Away ‒ Episode 7

This episode’s social media-centric premise was stretched out a little bit too thin for me.
review

Holy Boy Novel Review

I can already tell Holy Boy is one of those titles that is going to stay with me for a long time. When I first began reading it, I realized I’d need to close the covers or else I’d be up all night following its characters into the most unsettling recesses of their distorted minds. ― You don't need to look very far into real life events to see how idol singers bring out the worst in a select few of th...
ep. review

Hana-Kimi ‒ Episode 8

Without Umeda around, I suppose someone has to be the one to point out to Mizuki that she's being silly.
ep. review

You and I Are Polar Opposites ‒ Episode 6

Miyu's reunion with her “ex” isn't exactly high-stakes melodrama, but for a show as fluffy as this one, it might as well be
column

This Week in Anime - Gatchaman Standing Out in CROWDS Waving their Insights

This week, Coop and Sylvia take a look at 2013 anime Gatchaman Crowds, and its sequel—which predicted the future we're now living in. ― This week, Coop and Sylvia take a look at 2013 anime Gatchaman CROWDS, and its sequel—which predicted the future we're now living in. Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by the participants in this chatlog are not the views of Anime News Network.Spoiler War...
ep. review

Frieren: Beyond Journey's End Season 2 ‒ Episode 5

I think we've all had a time or two in our lives where we're left facing the hard decision of which would be worse: ruining somebody's fun or letting them be disappointed in the end.
ep. review

Fate/strange Fake ‒ Episode 7

"Philia" could well be the most dangerous wild card in this entire Grail War.
ep. review

Gnosia ‒ Episode 18

Okay, we can all agree that there's no way that this is the real ending of Gnosia, right?
feature

I Played the Never-to-be-Released Danganronpa 2x2 Special Trial Version

Made specifically for the Danganronpa 15th Anniversary Event, this short, 15-minute vertical slice was designed to give the most hardcore Danagaronpa fans an original mystery never to be seen again. ― Earlier this month, I was able to visit Spike Chunsoft headquarters in Tokyo to try out the Danganronpa 2x2 Special Trial Version on the Nintendo Switch 2. Made specifically for the November 2025 Dangan...
review

There's No Freaking Way I'll Be Your Lover! Unless… ~Next Shine~ Episodes 13-17 Anime Review

Originally, the series was a bit unclear about why Renako was in denial or always quick to run away from the romantic advances of others. This arc makes it explicitly clear that she does not think she is a good person who is deserving of any of that love. There's No Freaking Way I'll Be Your Lover! Unless… was an interesting series that mixed funny comedic hijinx with solid character writing. While...
your score

Your Anime Rankings - Best of Winter 2026, Feb 5-11

Despite starting second from the bottom with middling reviews, The Villainess Is Adored by the Prince of the Neighbor Kingdom has surged to #5 this week. Consider my curiosity well and truly piqued by this week’s rankings. ― Let's have a look at what ANN readers consider the best (and worst) of the season, based on the polls you can find in our Daily Streaming Reviews and on the Your Score page with...
feature

Lovely Angels Done Dirty? The Dirty Pair Kickstarter Saga

Dirty Pair fans came out of the woodwork to back this project—to the tune of US$731,406 what they got were years of delays, authoring problems, and a disc wrapped in a napkin. What happened? Full Disclosure: Coop regularly works with Justin Sevakis and MediaOCD, including the modern incarnation of AnimEigo. His opinions given here are purely his own and do not reflect those of his employers. On Oc...
review

Drops of God: Mariage Volume 8-10 Manga Review

To find the perfect match of food and wine, we must travel the world and try new things, then come home and appreciate the familiar. ― Twice in Volume 9, someone rolled their eyes at someone else's melodrama during the big showdown, and I was 100% there for it. It actually made me like the whole story better. The first half of this arc is spent redeeming Chef Mikasa, the accomplished French chef whos...
ep. review

Dead Account ‒ Episode 6

Finally, some good-ish things are happening here.
ep. review

The Invisible Man and His Soon-to-Be Wife ‒ Episode 6

There's no point in being jealous about something that you can't have or of someone that you aren't, because all it does is distract from the fact that you can still lead a happy and fulfilling life as you are.
ep. review

Sentenced to Be a Hero ‒ Episode 6

The sub-theme of the two of things being more alike than different, and that being the source of Xylo’s angst, is a compelling one, something I hope the show explores more of in the future.
ep. review

Trigun Stargaze ‒ Episode 6

Oh yeah, Knives is awake now and he’s ready to bring on the apocalypse.
ep. review

Roll Over and Die ‒ Episode 6

I believe Flum, Milkit, and the audience all deserve some fluffy domestic lesbian bliss, and this week, Roll Over and Die agrees with me.
review

Firefly Wedding Volumes 2-4 Manga Review

With richly detailed art and well-considered characters, Firefly Wedding is a traffic accident that you can’t look away from. ― If the first volume of Firefly Wedding set off warning bells in your head with its harsh story and themes of unwilling marriage and sexual predation, you may want to skip the rest of this series. It is hard to think of another ostensible romance that has as many flashing red...
feature

The Winter 2026 Manga Guide After Dark (18+)

Happy Valentine's Day, and welcome to the steamy side of ANN's Winter Manga Guide! ― Welcome to the steamy side of ANN's Winter Manga Guide. All of these titles are intended for readers 18 and older, ranging from spicy to something a bit more, and featuring a variety of tropes, groupings, and fetishes. Come find your next adult read - there's plenty to choose from. DECEMBER The Cuckolding Wizard's A...
ep. review

Fire Force Season 3 ‒ Episode 18

This episode sees Fire Force blazing at its best and brightest.
feature

The Camphorwood Custodian Event Report

The cast shared their memories working on the whimsical series and what they would take care of if they were "custodians." ― 2026 is off to a strong start with anime films, with the release of The Camphorwood Custodian on January 30. Adapted from Keigo Higashino's 2020 novel of the same name, the story follows Reito Naoi as he takes on the duties of the titular Camphorwood Custodian. The film has a w...
ep. review

Tamon's B-Side ‒ Episode 7

I’m not sure if I want to laugh or sob at the idea of Utage taking Tamon to a showing of a documentary about the competition that sent him spiraling.
ep. review

Chained Soldier Season 2 ‒ Episode 6

I do like this Kuusetsu gal that's so gleefully stealing the spotlight whenever she's on screen. She's a pesky little gremlin who can transform on a dime and obliterate the rib-cages of anyone stupid enough to talk smack to her face.

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