This show is just naked consumerism. It would be akin if Disney had a show about guys who were in love with the Princesses and each one of them followed their personal kink, although the Arielholic and the Bellelunatic would have run-ins all the time:

Arielholic: Belle talks to sheep!
Bellelunatic: Ariel talks to fish!
Arielholic: Yeah, but they answer back!

You won’t get that here, but you will get a lot of passion and fervor with “Sanrio Boys”. (more…)

It’s a drinking show. There is nothing more cuter than seeing a lady drink…..unless it’s a bunch of ladies drink! This one isn’t much different than “Osake wa Fūfu ni Natte kara”, except it’s times four. “Takunomi” (“Drinking at Home”) tells the story of 20-year-old Michiru Amatsuki (lower right). She arrives in Tokyo, where she will start a new job and enjoy a big-city lifestyle. (more…)

It’s a drinking show. There is nothing more cuter than seeing a cute lady drink. “Osake wa Fūfu ni Natte kara” (“Love is Like a Cocktail”) tells the tales of the married Mizusawas: Sora (him) and Chisato (her). (more…)

What is it with food shows? It seems that practically every time I turn around, there is another food show. But you have to be careful. I mean, to me, it is more than just seeing people eat endless plates of food or trying to learn the cultural and geographic difference that makes the same dish not really the ‘same’ dish. This is kind of the mixed approach to “Ms. Koizumi Loves Ramen Noodles (“Rāmen Daisuki Koizumi-san”). (more…)

I honestly did not expect a second season of “Mr. Osomatsu” (“Osomatsu-san”) and, to some degree, they might not have, either. But they decided to take it in a pointedly slapstick direction, so they are more unhinged, more worthless and more destructive than ever before. (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…)

Calloo callay! Our favorite demon bureaucratic wonk is back for a second season of marvelous mayhem in “Hozuki’s Coolheadedness 2” (“Hōzuki no Reitetsu”). (more…)

Another Japanese obsession I cannot wrap my noggin around is the theme café/maid café fetish. OK, I have never been to Japan and I don’t even do the Maid Cafes that pop up at anime conventions. It’s a bit of a culture clash for me. And though this show doesn’t define it any better for me, “Blend S” (“Burendo Esu”), was fun to watch. (more…)

I caught this delightful entry at AX 17, where we were the first to see it, which also spurred me to eschew a couple of other offerings to take advantage of actual ballroom dancing classes at the Pony Canyon booth. Even if you know nothing about competitive ballroom dancing, this series, “Bōrurūmu e Yōkoso”(“Welcome to the Ballroom”) will introduce you to it. Yes, the story is as old hat as it gets, but it is executed with a great deal of heart and vigor. (more…)