We’re back, baby! Well, Smoking Behind the Supermarket with You never left for some of you, but for those of us who watched all the mini-episodes when they debuted early, we’ve been waiting for new material ever since. And finally, episode seven starts the all-new content—and with it, a series of posts giving brief impressions… Read More Smoking Behind the Supermarket with You, Ep. 7: Raises, Ghosts, and Blushing
Words are powerful. Anyone who’s been emotionally scarred by thoughtless or harsh words from parents, partners, or other loved ones—which is basically all of us—knows this. So does Taira, an insecure and habitually worried character from You and I Are Polar Opposites. Hurtful comments from past classmates have left him a ball of anxious insecurity,… Read More Taira, Azuma, and the Words That Stay With Us
I Became a Legend after My 10 Year-Long Last Stand is a simple story about a mage who was thought dead returning to civilization after a decade-long fight against the demon king. Having emerged victorious, he continues fighting evil while also trying to live a more normal life. I didn’t expect to find anything particularly… Read More From Captive Beast to Master’s Family: A Picture of the Gospel in I Became a Legend
Can anime point us toward truth? At Anime Matsuri 2026, I joined Tiff from Few of the Many for a discussion about the biblical themes woven throughout anime. Together, we explored how stories of redemption, sacrifice, forgiveness, perseverance, humility, hope, and reconciliation appear throughout the medium—and why those themes resonate so deeply with audiences around… Read More Christian Themes in Anime at Anime Matsuri 2026
My next guest on Something Genuine Jennifer Sun Bell, the voice behind White Fox in Marvel Rivals, Tamaki in Suzume, Sirius in Re:ZERO, Caesar King in Zenless Zone Zero, and so many other roles. But besides being a fan of her work, this interview provided an unexpected joy in discover how much Jennifer and I… Read More Something Genuine Season 2, Ep. 7: Jennifer Sun Bell on Hapa Identity, Voice Acting, and Belonging
There’s something comforting about The Angel Next Door Spoils Me Rotten. Whether it’s Mahiru’s quiet kindness, the slow-burn romance, or the reminder that small acts of grace can change a person’s life, it’s become one of our favorites around here—all the more with season two airing and a new English dub! Now we want to… Read More Giveaway Time! Win The Angel Next Door Spoils Me Rotten Light Novels (Vols. 1–7) + a Mahiru Shiina Nendoroid!
One of my favorite things about my favorite anime series, Oregairu, is that while it is, in one sense, a very traditional romcom, in another it stands by the boast of its full title: My Youth Romantic Comedy Is Wrong, As I Expected. It’s something totally different. Part of that difference is how witty the… Read More Even Still, Hikigaya Hachiman Is Seeking Something More Genuine than Secularism
Interested in watching thoughtful, human-centered conversations with people connected to anime?
Watch Something Genuine, our interview series that cuts through the noise and focuses on the people behind the costumes, in front of the mics, and watching anime, just like you and me. Season two premieres on May 27th.