Because anime didn't start with streaming.
Eddie "Mokusen" Promotional Still for Summer Pockets © VISUAL ARTS/Key/Torishiro Island Tourist Association. North American License Holder: Crunchyroll. Used for editorial purposes. An Exploration of Nostalgia and Maternal Bonds Summer Pockets is the latest heartbreaking offering from the visual novel studio Key, responsible for titles such as Kanon, Clannad, Angel Beats, and The Day I Became a God. … Read more
I’ve made my feelings clear that most isekai anime are trash. Apocalypse Bringer Mynoghra reinforces this conviction with painful clarity. Allow me to issue a fair warning upfront: this review contains more spoilers than I typically include, as the anime’s numerous flaws require detailed examination. Promotional Still for Apocalypse Bringer Mynoghra © Fehu Kazuno,Jun,MICRO MAGAZINE/MYNOGHRA Project. … Read more
The Perfect Rainy Day Discovery Promotional Still for With You in the Rain ©Ko Nikaido, KODANSHA/With You and the Rain Project. North American License Holder: Crunchyroll. Used for editorial purposes. On the type of rainy day that she loves, an author known to us only by her family name of Fuji discovers an animal that … Read more
A key Japanese concept essential for fully appreciating anime is wa (和), translated as “harmony.” This refers to peaceful unity and accord within a social group, where members prioritize the community’s well-being over individual interests. While this sounds inherently positive, wa’s application in anime narratives often reveals its darker implications—serving as a lens through which … Read more
Six episodes of genuine friendship that showcase cultural differences and natural dialogue. Promotional Still for See You Tomorrow at the Food Court © ©2024 Shinichiro Nariie/KADOKAWA/Project See You Tomorrow at the Food Court. North American License Holder: Crunchyroll. Used for editorial purposes. Overview: When Less is More (Unfortunately) Although not a true example of mono no … Read more
Promotional Still of Apocalypse Hotel © Original Creator: CyberAgent and CygamesPictures. Production Studio: CygamesPictures. North American License Holder: Crunchyroll.Used for editorial purposes. Overview: CygamesPictures’ Original Vision During the Spring 2025 anime season, CygamesPictures released Apocalypse Hotel, an original anime that wasn’t derived from any pre-existing source material. This imaginative sci-fi series showcases a hotel run … Read more
Promotional Still of Reincarnated as a Neglected Noble: Raising My Baby Brother With Memories From My Past Life, abbreviated as SHIROHIYO © Original Creator: Yashiro. Production Studio: Studio Comet. Publisher: TO Books. North American License Holder: Crunchyroll. Used for editorial purposes. Anime streamer ratings have become a joke. Take Crunchyroll’s handling of SHIROHIYO. At first, … Read more
Image from The Eminence in Shadow, episode 1: “The Hated Classmate” © Original Creator: Daisuke Aizawa. Production Studio: Nexus. Publisher: Kadokawa. North American License Holder: Sentai Filmworks. Used for editorial purposes. The most formulaic genre in anime continues to dominate—and there’s a reason why Isekai has become anime’s junk food: predictable, creatively bankrupt, and somehow … Read more
Image from Non Non Biyori Repeat, episode 4: “I Made a Teru-teru Bouzu” © Original Creator: Atto. Production Studio: Silver Link. Publisher: Kodansha. North American License Holder: Sentai Filmworks. Used for editorial purposes. Sometimes the most profound cultural discoveries come from the simplest observations—like wondering why your poncho seems to make the rain stop. When … Read more
A reflection on childhood wonder, cultural discovery, and the power of a single show to change everything The Ritual of After-School Television When I got home from elementary school, I always looked forward to one thing: homework. I’m kidding. I couldn’t wait to get home and watch cartoons. Those precious hours between arriving home and … Read more