Although I would really like to watch anime with people, I tend to ruin the experience by commenting on everything I see. Also, even if I keep my big yapper shut, I can’t get people to sign up and sign in, so a lot of shows end up on the back burner, until I get a reminder of it. Such is the case for the second season of “The World God Only Knows”. (“Kami Nomi zo Shiru Sekai”, abbreviated as “Kaminomi”). (more…)

I enjoy Free Comic Book Day. I live close to one of the last remaining comic book stores in the US, and it is a big, big event. It also gives me a chance to check out the latest in comics. I remember when they were 12 cents an issue, so you know how old I am. One of the free issues they had contained a chapter from the manga for “My Hero Academia”. Well, I could not tell where it was in the whole story line, so it was a bit of a bust. It also had a chapter from “RWBY”. Well, that was a bust as well. This chapter was so deep into the narrative, they were a well-oiled machine at that point, so I hadn’t a clue as to who’s who. (more…)

If you have ever caught an episode of Robot Wars or BattleBots, or even seen the opening of “Big Hero 6”, there is something exciting about metal-on-metal competitions, as they proceed to rip each other apart. And, to a larger extent, isn’t that what ALL mecha anime is about? However, in this case, this is more of a school vs school approach, seeing which team has the wherewithal to best the other in a more specific competition than merely doing 137 picks at your enemy. This is “Robomasters – The Animated Series”. (more…)

We have, for your perusal, another in the long and grand tradition of “Girls Who Save the World” shows. On its face, this is no different. No, seriously, it is no different than “Symphogear” or “Yuuni Yuka” or “Battle Girl High School”. Gee, even “Panty and Stocking” could fall into this category. Anyway, “Toji No Miko” (“Katana Maidens” or “Sword-wielding Shrine Maidens”) actually tells two parts of the same story, neatly divided at episode 12/13 (there is a recap episode at 12.5, which might make for a good lead in for the seconds part. I usually don’t do recap shows). But we will get to that break point later. Let us take up the sword, so to speak, and relate our tale. (more…)

Not only is it a sports anime, it’s a driving anime and it is estrogen-heavy! What were they thinking? Well, you know me, I’ll look at almost anything, so I took in the oddness of “Two Car” (“Tsūkaa”). (more…)

I was commenting on the sudden influx of outdoor animes. This is another of those outdoor shows, but, boy howdy, what a place to be going to! “A Place Further than the Universe” (“Sora Yorimo Tōi Basho”) is certainly grand in its scope and reach, although certain aspects fizzled a bit. But, let us venture forth! (more…)

I am not certain what starts a trend, but there is some trigger. Usually, one company does a particularly themed show, it really takes off and then everyone else rushes to produce a show in that area or sub-genre. I had this with a ton of biking shows a couple of years ago and now, I am seeing it with outdoor shows. I ran into a short pull series about girls who hike up mountains and now, I am given “Yuru Camp”(“Laid-Back Camp”). (more…)

Rating systems are always odd, as it is someone else’s opinion as to what that threshold is between being a child and being an adult (of sorts). It also varies by country so what is OK for one land is verboten in another. I bring this up, as this is kind of the plot of “R-15”. (more…)

I will never understand the Japanese mind, especially in the anime way. It’s that a lot of shows I see tend to reinforce the idea that the government is going to take care of you, but it comes off as quite authoritarian. So, you have no say in how the government takes care of you. It’s good for society, but not necessarily for you. Despite this rather dour opening, we look at the dramedy of “Koi to Uso” (“Love and Lies”).
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When you were in high school, there was a ton of stuff to worry about: getting into college, being popular, seeing your name in the school newspaper. But the most important one was having a girlfriend. And if you didn’t have a girlfriend, what’s wrong with you, man? Well, I have a girlfriend, but she doesn’t know she’s my girlfriend. *sigh*. Yeah, we’ve all been there. But what if you got one of the popular ones? Such is the thought behind “Hajimete no Gal”, (“My First Girlfriend Is a Gal” or “Hajimete no Gyaru”). (more…)