What are your plans for the summer? Are you headed to the beach (I’m literally there as this post goes up!)? Planning some other vacation? Just doing the typical, like work or school? Taking care of the kids during their summer break? Just trying to stay cool?
Is anime in your plans? Well, it should be! After all, the spring season is concluding and over the next few days, the very first summer 2025 anime will be premiering! By next week, the new season will be in full swing, with a ton of anime dropping right around the time Americans are blowing everything up (er, celebrating our independence!)—and we’ve got you covered! As the new shows premiere, we’ll be writing short “first impression” reviews of on the site and then adding snippets from those fuller reviews to this one; as usual, you can read the entire review by clicking on the “Read More” links below, with this master post giving you just a glimpse of our impressions, but also screencaps, streaming links, and additional thoughts by our other writers.
So, what are you looking forward to this season? It is a huge season for returning anime, with new seasons of Dandadan, Kaiju No. 8, My Dress-Up Darling, Rascal Does Not Dream…, Call of the Night, A Couple of Cuckoos, Rent-a-Girlfriend, and The Rising of the Shield Hero among those on tap! I love seeing this balance of recently aired, newer series with longer-running ones! But new anime are on the way, too, including GACHIAKUTA, Secrets of the Silent Witch, Cleavatess, Watari-kun’s ****** Is About to Collapse, and The Summer Hikaru Died.
Whatever your taste, there’s likely to be something airing this coming season that’ll meet it. Let us know what you’re planning to watch! And keep coming back here to see our thoughts. Happy viewing!
Apocalypse Bringer Mynoghra: World Conquest Starts with the Civilization of Ruin • Bad Girl • Betrothed to My Sister’s Ex • Call of the Night (Season 2) • City the Animation • Clevatess • A Couple of Cuckoos Season 2 • Cultural Exchange with a Game Centre Girl • DAN DA DAN Season 2 • Dealing with Mikadono Sisters Is a Breeze • Detectives These Days Are Crazy! • Gachiakuta • Hotel Inhumans • Kaiju No. 8 Season 2 • Kamitsubaki City Under Construction • Leviathan • My Dress-Up Darling (Season 2) • Necronomico and the Cosmic Horror Show • New Saga • Nyaight of the Living Cat • Onmyo Kaiten Re:Birth Verse • Private Tutor to the Duke’s Daughter • Rascal Does Not Dream of Santa Claus • Ruri Rocks • Sakamoto Days (Part 2) • Scooped Up by an S-Rank Adventurer! • Secrets of the Silent Witch • See You Tomorrow at the Food Court • The Shy Hero and the Assassin Princesses • Solo Camping for Two • The Summer Hikaru Died • Takopi’s Original Sin • There’s No Freaking Way I’ll be Your Lover! Unless… • Tougen Anki (Legend of the Cursed Blood) • Turkey! • Uglymug, Epicfighter • Watari-Kun’s ****** is About to Collapse • The Water Magician • Welcome to the Outcast’s Restaurant! • With You and the Rain
Apocalypse Bringer Mynoghra: World Conquest Starts with the Civilization of Ruin
First Impression: twwk
Episode one of this light novel adaptation is an interesting mix: It’s very typically isekai, but the inclusion of the dark elf storyline right at the start is unique. And while there are hints of a horror tale, the first episode is mostly charming and cute; the interactions between the pajama-clad Takuto and his servant, Atou, are very, very kawaii—as is the otherwise terribly ugly creature that she creates as their first warrior…. At the very least, I think fantasy fans will enjoy the initial episode; whether they’ll continue to like this story of the “King of Ruin,” well, you’ll just have to wait and see.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
Bad Girl
First Impression: twwk
The humor here is simple—it’s based both on Yuu’s inability to truly be bad and on misunderstandings. The jokes for both landed pretty well in episode one, from Yuu’s fake tattoos getting her in trouble to her thinking that Suzu and Mizutori have a thing going on. All three characters featured in this opening episode are charming and full of life; although relatively new seiyuu voice them, they all do a wonderful job, particularly Azusa Tachibana in the lead role (Kay-hoo!). The episode comes across as sweet for the most part, though it does like to dip into the spicy pretty often; I believe that because it’s GL, the series takes the license to delve a little into ecchiness and to highlight some sexual content (roleplaying being the primary joke in the final part of the episode) while still feeling wholesome. That’s something to note in what’s otherwise a silly little series.
Streaming on HIDIVE.
Betrothed to My Sister’s Ex
First Impression: Jeskai
There’s an evergreen appeal to Cinderella stories. No matter how many of them come along, the next one can still be moving and heartwarming. Those themes of being chosen, raised out of one’s circumstances, and finding comfort after undeserved suffering just resonate with all of us. That holds true here as well. Marie’s plight tugs at one’s heartstrings, and it’s gratifying to see her elevated into a better situation. I don’t expect anything revolutionary here—it is just another Cinderella story—but I do expect I’ll have a lovely time watching Marie heal and grow and find happiness. I recommend this one.
Josh
Okay, it’s honesty time. When I first saw the title of this episode, the first thought that went through my mind was, “What in the name of Jerry Springer is this anime about?” Thankfully, this show did not go in that direction. While watching this one, I tried to think of a show it reminded me of. And then, when I read Jeskai’s comparison to Cinderella, it dawned on me: this is My Happy Marriage without the mythical elements! If you’re going to imitate something, imitate one of the best, I guess. Don’t get me wrong, I liked this one, and it’s always prodigious to see a character grow out of their trauma and mistreatment, but I’m starting to think that this is going to be one of those shows where, by the time the credits roll on episode 13, you’ll be thinking “hmm…yeah, it was okay…But My Happy Marriage did it better. Also, I’m not sure if it’s a stylistic choice, but why is there a perpetual green hue surrounding Marie? Is this something related to her character — the green represents her oppression and mistreatment, but once she meets Count Kyros, it will dissolve and fade away, showing her rebirth? If that’s the case, I’m sorry, but it’s a little too distracting! I might give this one another episode, but I have a feeling it’s going to drop off my list like so many others. Sorry, Cinderella.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
Call of the Night (Season 2)
First Impression: Josh
It’s always awesome when a show can pick up right where it left off after taking a multi-year break between seasons. Sometimes it feels like the writers can’t get back in that groove after a long time of being away. Call of the Night, for better or worse, does not suffer from that as we are thrown right back into the world of Ko and Nazuna, and their relationship feels much as it did when we left them three years ago. It almost felt as though we left our two dorks in that one-room apartment playing Street Fighter…on a Generation 1 PlayStation. Go figure that one. Remember when I said “for better or worse” above? Well, here’s the worst part: I was bored with all the exposition, as this first episode primarily featured our characters sitting around talking and drinking. Typically, I forgive this as most returning anime have an exposition-heavy first episode, which is used to reintroduce the characters and the world we left behind. But in this case, Call of the Night just plops us back where we left off. We don’t get any reintroduction to who these characters are or their underlying relationships. I forgot the names of the other vampires that Ko hangs out with and had to look them up. It’s been three years, guys.
Streaming on HiDive.
City the Animation
First Impression: Josh
If you liked Nichijou, you’ll like this. If you enjoy wacky 4-koma-style shenanigans, then you’ll thoroughly enjoy this. However, as much as it pains me to say it, if you’re looking for something original and different, then you might have to skip this one. Much like life in a small city, there’s nothing groundbreaking or new here. But also like a small city, the quirks and oddities of the people in town might make things a lot more interesting. To that end, I’m willing to keep up with this one for a while longer…and at least for today, I hope I never see the word “city” again. Ugh.
claire
Josh is totally on point here: It’s a lot like Nichijou, but not as good. The animation is stellar, as to be expected from KyoAni, and the music is great, but it feels like the cast is…well, cast a little too widely. And I don’t even really mean that the various groupings of characters have totally disparate storylines, which they do, but rather, that the feel of them is also rather detached. In Nichijou, the different sets of characters and their sketches still felt like they hung together. Here, although I know they’re all in the same city, everything just feels so unrelated. I’m sure things will gradually spiral together into a glorious fulcrum, but I’ll be honest, it’s too frenetic and frantic for me to want to stick around for any more. At the end of the day, this put me on edge, so I’m giving it a miss. But if you’re looking for a zany, high-energy Where’s Waldo replete with insider jokes that you need to work for a bit, but which can ultimately be rewarding, this will be a goldmine for you!
Streaming on Amazon Prime.
Clevatess
First Impression: twwk
The final 15 minutes of the episodes are a little less interesting as they advance the plot forward, both in the responses of the humans at demonic devastation in the world and the trio that comes together as the central players in the story, but the rest of the episode was so intensely creative and fun that I’m giving the more “regular” storytelling a bit of pass. I should note, though, that there appears to be the possibility of this being a truly epic story in scope, with this initial episode pointing toward a long journey for the main characters and hinting that each of the kingdoms will play a heavy role in the politics and warring that is to come. Here’s hoping that Clevatess can handle the storytelling as well as all the other artistic elements; if so, this could be the anime of the year.
claire
Against my better judgement, I’ll give this one another couple episodes, because I do see some potential, ironically, in the final fifteen minutes, and not at all in the first half hour, in exact contradiction to Twwk! The first 24 minutes were consumed with three intros, neither of which I found satisfying, though I could see why they couldn’t use what I personally would have done for the intro, due to a reveal about half an hour in. It just felt like a really awkward way to start an epic tale (over and over again). I also found the prolonged and painfully unfunny breastmilk joke excruciating(ly unimaginative), which was a giant strike against it in the categories of “humor” and “compelling character dynamics”. Now that the dragon isn’t a dragon anymore, though, I find him not quite so eye-rollingly irksome. And what I do like about this is the found family setup in the final stretch, a kind of “enemies to family” arc in the making—which, if it doesn’t already exist as a trope, absolutely should.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
A Couple of Cuckoos Season 2
First Impression: twwk
A Couple of Cuckoos has virtually no structure—it just throws tropes into the mix, one after another. In this episode, that means a new girl, guy-girl living arrangements, bad cooks, arranged marriages, and more. It’s supposed to generate doki-doki moments and laughs; admittedly, there are some humorous moments, but the romance is pretty much relegated to fanservice-y shots of characters who are mostly obnoxious. When the show settles into moments of extended dialogue, like Sachi’s conversation with Nagi at the end of the episode, it leads to inane, boring blabber. The two talk about marriage, and princes on white horses, and “I might get married, too”, and blah blah blah. I felt several IQ points stupider for paying attention to the entire thing. And as that scene ended and the episode concluded by revealing a bit more of the new girl, Ai, I suddenly remembered why I’d forgotten that I had watched all 24 episodes of season one: This show just isn’t worth remembering.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
Cultural Exchange with a Game Centre Girl
First Impression: Jeskai
So, first off, the whole time, the unknown but apparent age gap between Renji and Lily bugged me. I mean, it’s anime, so it’s totally possible they’re the same age, but it sure looks like she’s fairly young and he’s at least in high school, which makes the prospect of a romantic relationship uncomfortable. That niggling issue aside, the episode is fine. It introduces the premise (a foreigner hanging out at a Japanese arcade) adequately. There’s not much in the way of a plot, and character development is naturally hampered by the communication barrier. I can’t strongly advocate for this one, but overall, the premiere was enjoyable enough that I’ll give the show at least one more episode, so you might want to try it too.
WacOtaku
I’m a bit higher on Game Centre Girl than Jeskai is, but that’s more because of this series’ pedigree than anything specific to this opening episode. The original mangaka is Yu Saito, creator of Pseudo Harem, which was a remarkably enjoyable romantic comedy about two lovable dorks, so hopefully we’re in for more of the same. Also, the leading voice actress is a personal favorite, the Japanese-American Sally Amaki (most famous as Carol of Tomo-chan Is A Girl!), although why she keeps getting cast to play British characters is beyond me. British English and Freedom English are two very different things (Noah Webster can fill you in on the details) but I suppose the average Japanese viewer can’t be expected to know the difference any more than the average American can tell the difference between the Tokyo and Osaka dialects of Japanese. Anyway, I plan to stick around for this one.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
DAN DA DAN Season 2
First Impression: twwk
Dandadan (DAN DA DAN) is back! And man, what a perfect first episode to start the season! New arc. New characters. New enemies. A new situation concluding episode one that seems impossible for our young heroes to navigate through—all handled with the creative and humorous flair that Science Saru provides.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
Dealing with Mikadono Sisters Is a Breeze
First Impression: Michel
This is not usually the type of set up I’m interested in, but this anime had more charm than I expected. The flashback scenes with his late mother were done tactfully and with nuance. She had a wish for Yuu to have a happy family life, and I hope the anime will be going in that direction instead of leaning too much into the harem side, especially because the main character doesn’t seem fit for that direction. The comedy is not for everyone, but I thought it was at least endearing most of the time. The characters are fun, and getting to know them promises for some entertaining episodes ahead. Beyond that, I wonder if the story will stay engaging, but so far so good.
Josh
When I read the premise of this one, I was less than enthusiastic. It just seemed like another hapless boy takes care of several beautiful girls, a setup like so many others we’ve had…and while it does have that base, right down to the stereotypical tsundere character, it does enough to keep things interesting for me. I love that our male lead has a fleshed-out personality. He’s not just a doormat for the others, nor is he a pervert sleazeball. He’s just a kid who wants to share a happy family life with these three girls who, in my humble opinion, really need a kick off their high horse. Seriously, these girls were so horrible to Yu that it almost took me out of the anime entirely. However, PA Works was kind enough to give us a double-episode premiere, which shows our characters begin to soften towards our little red-haired orphan, so I’m entirely open and willing to give this show a few more episodes to see how it goes.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
Detectives These Days Are Crazy!
First Impression: twwk
Viewers who miss series from the late 90s and early 00s (Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo and Full Metal Panic came immediately to mind) will appreciate the comedy, which, for me, was mostly fine, occasionally making me laugh. The problem is that the series isn’t anything special beyond its throwback quality (which also includes harmonica music!), but I could see including this anime in my watch list as an “easy listening” sort of watch, a series that brings a quick smile to your face and helps you find peace at the end of the day. Otherwise, you’re not likely to miss much by skipping this silly comedy.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
Gachiakuta
First Impression: Gaheret
At the beginning, I thought the dramatic monologues about trash and waste were quite overdramatic and downright silly. Nevertheless, the execution of this theme is so good that I soon found myself completely invested in Rudo’s story. The upper class disposing of things that could still be used and fiercely guarding their garbage is a poignant, indicting image. The worldbuilding is interesting, the colors are beautiful, and the music and art direction are on point. This world has a distinct tone: grimy, dirty, but still with a heart. The budding romance is believable, and the scars of Rudo’s past hit hard. You can feel how the rejection of his peers has made him into a vulnerable, hurting, angry mess. I watched in awe until the end. My only concern is the ending, which I won’t spoil. I’m afraid that it may take things in a direction that may make me lose my sympathy for our protagonist, and the show might end up being too unpleasant to watch.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
Hotel Inhumans
First Impression: claire
This one caught me off guard in a couple of ways, narratively and emotionally, and ultimately in a good way. First, there was the bait and switch: The set-up is full-on yakuza action drama, but when the OP bursts onto the screen after the bike messenger arrives at the hotel, he is nowhere to be seen, and the intro is dominated by the concierges we have only just barely met. But the shift onto these new MCs, well into the episode, nevertheless works, largely because of the subsequent emotional arc offered for the messenger, bringing his life story to a satisfying resolution. Which is the second unexpected element here: For a series about a secret hotel whose clients are exclusively killers, the emotional journey was compelling, effectively humanizing a character who traded away his humanity years ago. It even strikes a hopeful note in the final instance, which was a pleasant surprise.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
Kaiju No. 8 Season 2
First Impression: Gaheret
Kaiju No. 8 seamlessly blends nightmares out of Godzilla and Evangelion with quotidian comedy about dreams at the endpoint of youth, and does camaraderie and military life as well as any show I’ve seen. The first season was increasingly great, and I’m overjoyed to announce that this continuation takes the baton and continues at full force. The episode introduces new characters and shakes up the status quo, maintaining the tension while also giving us time to breathe. The glimpses we get into each of our characters are fascinating. The music is strong. The art is just as stunning. I think I’ll never tire of the kaiju alerts appearing on the phones and the news of the citizens of a world so much like ours, yet so different. I think this story may become one of the classics. The only problem is that I’ll have to wait another week now.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
Kamitsubaki City Under Construction
First Impression: claire
The CGI is decent, not too uncanny valley, and softened by the trick of using blue for contours rather than stark black. The worldbuilding is interesting, with some quasi-physics underpinning the new clean energy source, and thus the monsters too. Kafu’s initial trauma is well-done, but her second recovery is skipped over here—there must have been a little time jump, so maybe we’ll come back to it later. The theme of the power of music/song may sound a little cheesy, but actually, there are some details to the lore that could see this having some salient spiritual parallels, such as Laplace, who tells Kafu that he will always walk with her, or Kafu’s song itself, which bubbles up from her unconsciously and centers on themes of faith. The OP and ED (which has some pretty cool 3D CGI) promise that Kafu will team up with four more Girls Who Sing over the coming episodes, and frankly, I’m intrigued enough to tune in, at least until we’ve met them all.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
Leviathan
First Impression: Gaheret
Even though I have not read Scott Westerfield’s novel, which this anime is adapting, I can feel the care and the texture of the time. Many details made me nod in agreement. I think the Dieselpunk twists really add to the story: For the people at the time, the new, disturbing war machines could just as well have been flying whales and giant robots. I think our characters are positioned perfectly to help us explore the two sides of the conflict. My only gripe is that the Germans seem to have the same role they did in the Wonder Woman movie: Are we the baddies? I’d love to see a story grapple with the complexities of the situation for once. My other complaint is the animation: Come on, Netflix, in the era of Arcane, Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, and the Spiderverse movies, things should not look this videogamey. Nevertheless, none of this makes the story unbearable so far, and I certainly want to see where this goes.
Streaming on Netflix.
My Dress-Up Darling (Season 2)
First Impression: Josh
From a production standpoint, this second season of My Dress-Up Darling has adopted a more stylistic approach in certain scenes. There are numerous unique angles and transitions, and while it seems like a lot to some, it is somewhat distinctive, and I like it. CloverWorks has gone all out with this one, and it looks noticeably different than their other offerings this season, especially The Fragrant Flower Blooms with Dignity. Placing the ending credits at the beginning of the episode was a very unique choice! I was confused when the episode ended with the “Next Episode” title card and no ending credits, and only when I went back to watch the episode a second time did I realize what was going on! Well done, show. You caught me off guard there!
Streaming on Crunchyroll!
Necronomico and the Cosmic Horror Show
First Impression: Jeskai
The episode is so utterly bonkers that I’m unsure how horrifying it’ll really be. The combination of wonky 2D animation and deliberately goofy CGI visuals makes it hard to take anything seriously. The episode was also undermined by multiple errors in the subtitles, like names being spelled inconsistently…Will the show live up to its title’s promise of “cosmic horror,” or will it prove more farcical than frightening? I wish I knew just how much actual horror there was going to be, but I have absolutely no idea based on this demented premiere.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
New Saga
First Impression: Jeskai
I worry I’m being unfair to the episode, because I wouldn’t say it has any glaring flaws, but I feel pretty blah about it. The whole thing had a familiar vibe, and the few bland characters we met did little to hold my interest. The only real point of intrigue is captured by the screenshot above: why did the Demon Lord want to go back in time? I don’t see myself continuing to watch this show.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
Nyaight of the Living Cat
First Impression: claire
This premiere hits all the right beats of a zombie (comedy) horror, but with 100% felines, and everyone knows that cats make everything better. (Witness: Jurassic Park but with a Cat.) Seriously, it’s dramatic, it’s comedic, it’s infinitely relatable. The angst, the inner conflict, the heartbreak! What is a cat lover to do when the fur balls become humanity’s Enemy No. 1? (The meme harvest will be plentiful with this one—see below for the firstfruits.) The full range of emotions is on display here, with compelling character acting in the animation and voice performances. The cat animation is some of the best I’ve seen, even when CG is used. Which is saying something, because there are some pretty funky-looking felines out there in anime land. Meanwhile, the nods to horror film conventions peppered throughout make it a rewarding watch even if you aren’t a huge cat fan, with a thread of mystery as well, in the form of the strong, silent type who doesn’t know who he is, having recently lost his memory completely, apart from his encyclopedic knowledge of felis catus.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
Onmyo Kaiten Re:Birth Verse
First Impression: Jeskai
Well, despite being ridiculously fast-paced, the episode was surprisingly comprehensible, which is not something one can say about all anime. So far, Takeru seems like a Great Value Shonen Protagonist, but the unusual and mysterious combination of other elements mixed through his antics held my interest all the way to the end of the episode. This could just end up being Yet Another Shonen Anime, but for the moment, I’m intrigued enough to want to come back. I recommend giving this one a shot; I think it might turn out to be pretty fun.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
Private Tutor to the Duke’s Daughter
First Impression: Jeskai
So, uh, dense harem anime protagonist teaches younger girls magic? Seems like it…but there are clues that more is going on. For one thing, there are some curious discrepancies between the way Allen characterizes himself and the way other people talk about him. Another hint is how evasive or vague Allen is about certain things, like why exactly he failed the court sorcerer’s exam. On a different note, I found it interesting how the setting appears to be equivalent to the late 19th or early 20th century, with tech such as railroads, automobiles, and telephones in addition to magic. Personally, I enjoyed the light novel, so I plan to keep watching for now.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
Rascal Does Not Dream of Santa Claus
First Impression: twwk
I’m not sure it really matters if you’ve watched the previous movies. I’ve been critical of the light novels and eventually dropped them in large part because there are so very many contrivances. They drive me crazy. But they’re less obvious in anime, and because of them, strangely enough, you can kind of tune in and piece things together without worry since nothing makes total sense in the Aobuta world in the first place. And in fact, I encourage you to watch Rascal rather than read it because of how much better it flows on the screen. This season should be fun as well, though the other reason that I ended up dropping the LN series is on display in episode one: There are too many characters. Besides Uzuki and others introduced in the previous movies, like mysterious singer Touko Kirishima and Sakuta’s students, new ones are already being brought into fold, like Miori Mito and…Santa Claus? There are just too many characters now, and I don’t especially like the college ones—at least not as much as the OG gang.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
Ruri Rocks
First Impression: claire
…I definitely jive with the way Nagi embraces the opportunity to fan the flames of the next generation’s interest in her research topic! And props for the way she firmly establishes boundaries for the rampaging Ruri, who is used to getting her own way. The educational interludes are handled deftly, being integrated smoothly into dialogue and ad breaks in a manner comparable to Yuru Camp. What’s more, for the uninitiated like myself at least, they are pretty interesting! Can’t say that I’ve ever considered the movement of stones before, but now I’ll be thinking of it the next time I go for a trek. And that’s reason enough—especially when combined with the artistry of the animation and the promise of some character growth—for me to look forward to tuning in again. Rock on, Ruri!
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
Scooped Up by an S-Rank Adventurer!
First Impression: Jeskai
At this point, I think “underappreciated support role banished from the hero’s party” is getting to be its own genre. Just the other day we got Welcome to the Outcast’s Restaurant! and now we get this show with the same initial premise. If I had to pick just one show for you to watch this season, I’d probably say try Outcast’s Restaurant first, because its protag Dennis had a more appealing personality. But I also think this show looks pretty decent and plan to come back for at least another episode or two. It does look like the two shows are set to go in pretty different directions, even if they start from the same basic place.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
Secrets of the Silent Witch
First Impression: Jeskai
That was excellent. The premise is interesting, Monica’s adorable, the magic looks awesome, the backgrounds were pretty, and the soundtrack was strong. This is the whole package. It’s the most impressive premiere I’ve seen so far this season. I’m not as diligent a follower of the series as some of my colleagues, but I have read the first couple light novels (they’re great, FYI), so I was very much looking forward to this adaptation, and this episode did not disappoint! Don’t miss this one. I think it’s going to be fantastic, one of the best of the summer.
twwk
I am so pleased with this opening episode. Secrets of the Silent Witch has been one of my favorite properties of the past few years, and this adaptation seems to get it just right, particularly in the character of Monica. In episode one, we get how clumsy and lovable she is, but we also get a glimpse of how freaking awesome she can be, too. I was smiling all throughout the episode—except during the scenes between her and Isabel, which had me near tears considering the relationship they’ll develop, and during the OP that ends the episode, and gives us little sneak previews of Monica’s relationship with her dad and with the student council. I am so pumped!
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
See You Tomorrow at the Food Court
First Impression: claire
You know what, this was pretty charming! The leads’ dynamic is fun—zany and random with a solid base of trust and affection. Definite odd couple vibes, and it works! Yamamoto is not afraid to call her friend out when she needs it, and Wada has enough self-awareness to let her. The “personality gap” each one sports is also entertaining, and in fact, could make or break this as a series. That is to say, as diverting as Wada’s mental gymnastics may be, they’re not enough to carry multiple episodes. But if we get to see more of the girls at school, operating in their “public personas” and being misunderstood (and possibly eventually better understood??) by their classmates, then that should be enough to keep this entertaining. If it’s just sitting and chatting in a food court every episode, though…well, no one’s banter is interesting enough for that, I’m afraid!
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
The Shy Hero and the Assassin Princesses
First Impression: claire
This one was a tragically mixed bag. Tragic, because of the multiple BDSM sequences thrown into the mix, which completely ruin the recipe of an otherwise surprisingly funny, sweet, and warm-hearted episode…. So why, oh why, the BDSM?? Shaking my head. If it was just a little wink or two, I’d be tempted to overlook it for the sake of the rest of the story, which will no doubt be labelled “wholesome” on the interweb. But you know what, it isn’t wholesome if it’s a foil for images of exploitation and sexual violence, period. Let alone for extended sequences, as it is here. So, regretfully (in that this could have been a really entertaining series if it weren’t for that one ingredient), I’m out. Can’t recommend this one, I’m afraid, folks.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
Solo Camping for Two
First Impression: Josh
It’s been a while since an anime’s premiere episode has actively made me angry. I mean, straight up ANGRY. But Solo Camping for Two has found a way to do it. I found myself growing increasingly frustrated, and I put that squarely on our female lead, Shizuku. EVERY SINGLE THING she’s done in this first episode has infuriated me….This is going to be a PRODIGIOUS “No” from me, dawg. This show has enraged my Cajun soul too much. I typically try to think of who might get something out of this one, but honestly, I can’t come up with any ideas, unless you really like camping anime. If, by some chance, you enjoyed this first episode and found Shizuku to be a perfectly likable character, then more power to you; I genuinely hope this anime brings you every satisfaction. For me and my house, however, the first episode was just too infuriating, and I couldn’t recommend it to anyone in good conscience.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
Sakamoto Days (Part 2)
First Impression: Michel
The new cour of Sakamoto Days comes back strong with a well-animated, stylish new opening. The first half of the episode is a bit slow, but that’s fine, because I enjoyed seeing all the characters again. Each side character seems to have a solid place in the story, which I think is one of the anime’s strong points. I also enjoy the action scenes, especially when we see Sakamoto bring out the special skills of the others, such as Shin’s mind-reading ability. However, this episode doesn’t have any of that. It has something better. I don’t want to ruin the surprise, so all I’ll say is that the twist in this episode will make the action a lot more interesting moving forward! This has only made me more confident that this series is worth continuing.
Streaming on Netflix.
The Summer Hikaru Died
First Impression: claire
This first episode boasts all the strengths of the first volume of the manga and solves its greatest weakness, too. The strengths: It’s beautifully animated, with a lot of investment in the backgrounds and still montages of the village that really convey a sense of place and season, and it’s chock-full of mystery and creepiness, building a sense of tension straight out of the gate on multiple levels. The major flaw this episode overcomes is in the characterization of Yoshiki. It does so by conveying his frustrated romantic feelings for his friend more directly than the manga, so that his agreeing to keep quiet comes across as a type of implicit “deal with the devil” where he trades his silence for a chance to be liked by his crush, or rather, something essentially cosplaying as his crush. This makes Yoshiki’s motives more understandable, while his conflictedness at the end of the episode makes him more sympathetic; but no way is this gonna end well.
Josh
When I first heard about this story, I thought it was going to be like Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day — a guy who comes to terms with the loss of his friend. Or perhaps a story where he must solve the mystery of his friend. I wasn’t expecting a full-on horror slice-of-life anime! If I were to compare this to last year’s Uzumaki, I have to say that this one does the horror aspect a bit better in its premiere episode. Now, will I continue with it? I doubt it seriously. While it does look interesting, I don’t think it has enough to hold my attention. I will say, however, that this looks like it would be a good fit on the Toonami timeslot during Halloween, as, at least in terms of this first episode, it’s much better than their recent offerings…which ain’t saying much.
Streaming on Netflix.
Takopi’s Original Sin
First Impression: Michel
Personally, I’m not the biggest fan of anime that lean into the shocking and disturbing side of things, but this first episode manages to strike the perfect balance between hope and despair. Takopi might be ineffectual in his efforts to help Shizuka, but his pure intentions and tenacity keep me invested. The beautiful character design and background art help me empathize with Shizuka, while Takopi’s goofy antics manage to be funny without making light of the tragedy and trauma. There was a moment halfway through the episode where I became genuinely frustrated, but the good kind of frustrated. I realized this will be tough to watch, but that I’ll have no choice but to continue watching because of how well crafted it is.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
There’s No Freaking Way I’ll be Your Lover! Unless…
First Impression: twwk
Let’s start with that animation. You’ll notice immediately that Studio Mother—an upstart studio with an interesting backstory—goes all-in with the art. In fact, it felt a bit too much at first, with a scene animated from Renako’s point of view that moved so swiftly back and forth that I started to get nauseous. But I appreciated the effort because it was done to help us really feel Renako’s panic attack. The rest of the episode is also highlighted by interesting angles, beautiful and vivid colors, and very individualized expressions painted on the characters’ faces…Mai is a really interesting character; she isn’t just the picture of a somewhat cold school idol (a different friend character actually plays that role)—she’s confident bordering on arrogant, but in that naive, dense sort of way that’s usually played for laughs by the male romcom lead… I do find it strange that the series lets Mai get away with a little more than a male would in that same role—I think it’s because she’s feminine, because it feels “softer” when a woman holds another’s wrist down and kisses her than when a boy does the same. It’s something to consider when watching this anime—is “romance” from Mai’s point of view meant to just be physical and about the doki-doki feels you get? Or will the series delve into how friendship is vital in a relationship?
Streaming on It’s Anime powered by REMOW (YouTube).
Tougen Anki (Legend of the Cursed Blood)
First Impression: claire
Ugh. This was just…boring. The production quality is fine—nothing to critique there, except that all the adult men look alike, but hey, samey character design is not unusual in anime. The full-blown Oni mode design is decent enough, but nowhere near the level of Dandadan, though the opening historical sequence, reminiscent of ink painting, is nicely done. The voice actors are doing their best with flat, one-note characters, while I didn’t even notice the music, which is unusual. That’s about it: It’s just flat and unmemorable.
Streaming on Netflix.
Uglymug, Epicfighter
First Impression: Gaheret
Okay, this one has some good points, but I’m afraid it ultimately lands in generic isekai territory. It starts well. Ugliness and the social costs of ugliness are powerful, uncomfortable themes. We see Shigeru’s trust in others broken despite his best efforts. We watch him become discarded by society. I thought that the portrayal of an embittered and lost protagonist, unable to speak clearly to others or look them in the face even after his isekai reincarnation, was not only a rarity, but spot on, too. The production values are good. The story was flowing, though the web novel roots were clearly visible. During the first fight, I held my breath. Was Shigeru actually going to struggle? Would he have to earn his place in the new world, rely on the kindness of his comrades, learn to trust again, and find his way out of the hole? Would this be the isekai version of Bocchi the Rock or Welcome to the NHK? Well, no. Sure, having a trillion in all your stats and thunderbolts at your fingertips doesn’t make it any less easy to trust others, but it puts you at the top of the food chain.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
Watari-Kun’s ****** is About to Collapse
First Impression: Josh
While this has the makings of a carbon copy harem romp, there’s something here that I can’t quite put my finger on, which makes me want to see how this show plays out. If you’re looking for a show that breaks down the harem genre or offers a profound commentary on how love is fleeting but true love is eternal, then go elsewhere. Watari-Kun’s ****** is About to Collapse is an off-the-shelf, trope-filled anime with no initial ambitions of being anything beyond that. Stick around if you’re a fan of harems, but if the mystery of Satsuki and Naoto’s past doesn’t interest you after the first episode, you can let this one go without a guilty conscience.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
The Water Magician
First Impression: claire
The most exciting thing about this episode is the OP, which makes this out to be a pleasant, “just hanging out with friends” kinda dealio. Relaxing! Friendly! Easy peasy entertainment. But the episode is more like, “just narrating while I do really unimaginative stuff with H2O until my clothes are suddenly gone and I become very, very wise.” Sigh. I really wish that a bit more thought could be put into adapting this kind of magic-system dependent isekai. I mean, we really don’t need to see every tiny millimeter of progress the MC makes in learning the world’s magic rules. Especially when there aren’t even any rules to speak of. We’re clever viewers; we can fill in blanks.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
Welcome to the Outcast’s Restaurant!
First Impression: Jeskai
Aww! I liked it! Dennis just comes across like a really good, slightly goofy, guy, and I am all on board with seeing more of him. Besides the fact that Dennis is just so charming that I want to keep watching, there’s also a hint of intrigue—a moment where Vigo intimates that his nefarious plans won’t stop with casting out Dennis. There’s no isekai aspect to the story, but the setup so far reminds me of Restaurant to Another World, which I loved, and the comparison further feeds my goodwill toward this show. I have high hopes that this one could prove quite yummy, and definitely recommend giving it a taste.
NegativePrimes
I went into this hoping for another Restaurant to Another World, but this ain’t it. Instead—and this is not a bad thing per se—this is a more generic “fired from my fantasy job and found a better life” story, at least based on the first episode. Yet although it’s not as charming (to me) as RtAW, the show has its own merits; in particular, I want to highlight how its handling of slavery goes beyond the usual “well I’m against slavery but circumstances force my hand” you so often find in these fantasy tales; instead, as the title of episode one reflects, the purchased slave is set free with no strings attached (a rather Christ-like image, come to think of it). The one thing I didn’t like was the ethnic stereotypes that one of the villainous characters seemed to embody. On the whole, the series seems like it will be an enjoyable experience, so I’ll give it another episode or two.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
With You and the Rain
First Impression: twwk
When I reviewed volume one of the original manga, I found it to be mid—it was mildly funny, a little heartwarming, and rather boring. All that is also true of this anime adaptation. Look, the tanuki is pretty cute—he acts like a dog, just a really, really smart one. But the “I’m a dog” joke got old pretty quickly, though the series still used it another half-dozen times in just this one episode. The action is very slow, and the animation soporific. That’s largely by intent, and the series admittedly does use rain as effectively as any I’ve seen since another anime with that weather in the title: After the Rain. I’m also intrigued by the possibility that Fuji is more than lonely, that there’s something at her core that this “dog” is here to help correct. But I’m not intrigued enough to return to the show—not unless I need something to help me fall asleep.
Josh
Throughout this anime season, it feels as though I’ve been comparing new premieres to older shows, and it doesn’t appear to be stopping with this one. While I love the rainy-day atmosphere of this one, and while it did garner a couple of laughs out of me, I couldn’t help but compare this one to 2019’s My Roommate is a Cat — a writer who has a mysterious past suddenly finds a new pet entering their life, and shenanigans ensue. I also agree with TWWK that this is a pretty slow-burning premiere episode, and this looks to be the order of the day for the rest of the series. Honestly, this show would be great to have on in the background while you’re working, thanks to the beautiful ambient sounds of rain and the soft dialogue. But as a show to come back to week after week? Well, if this premiere episode is anything to go by…don’t expect much.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
- Reader’s Corner: Oshi no Ko (Vol. 12), Dandadan (Vol. 16), and Maid to Skate - 12.16.2025
- 12 Days of Christmas Anime, Day 3 x Kissing Frieren Figure Giveaway! - 12.16.2025
- Reader’s Corner: Sword Art Online: Ordinal Scale (Vol. 3), Secrets of the Silent Witch (Vol. 7), and Kaiju No. 8: Relax - 12.09.2025
Are you going to review Lord Of Mysteries? I have to say I am incredibly impressed with the show visually and I don’t mind a show with mysteries at the start (assuming they get explained as we progress!) – something this show has in spades.
But seriously – just LOOK at it! There are huge empty rooms with two sofas and a coffee table – the whole world is packed with incredible detail in a depth and quality that makes me positive that someone who can REALLY drive it has got a good AI GAN program running on this. But there are no weird artefacts or inconsistencies that suggest AI has been used as a quick shortcut so maybe they really did do this one by hand? In which case I am utterly enthralled and beyond impressed. Also this is in real widescreen format, which completely fills my quad-VGA curved monitor in a way that even Blu-Ray cinema releases don’t and I love it for that.
As for the plot – it rattles on quickly and takes few prisoners – the puzzles arrive thick and fast and questions outweigh answers by a large factor, but I am along for the ride…
Hmmm, so many “helpful” AI agents around that it’s hard to tell if I goofed or was sabotaged but I meant to say – and thought I said – “There are none of the standard anime huge empty rooms with two sofas and a coffee table – the whole world is packed with incredible detail …”
Hey, Richard! Thank you for the response and the excellent promotion for this new series hehe. We did have it on our selection of series, but no one picked it up. We always miss a few this season. But you’re not the only one who’s recommended this to me—I hope I’ll get around to checking it out, even if we don’t do an FI on it!!