Kagami Koji lives a simple life: He beats up monsters and collects the rewards. Apparently he’s trying to save up 5,000 gold for something, but he’s got a long way to go. In the interim, his town is visited by the Hero, who is trying to build a harem party in order to defeat the… Read More First Impression: The Villager of Level 999
Carolina Sanchez is the second daughter of a powerful duke, who suffers greatly because of her incredibly callous and vain older sister. Carolina views herself as insignificant compared to Flora, who’s so magically gifted that she’s expected to become a saint. Even apart from magical abilities, Carolina doesn’t seem to have any other talents she… Read More First Impression: The Oblivious Saint Can’t Contain Her Power
Violence and poverty are part of everyday life for villagers during the Nanboku-chō period, during which a decades-long civil war has broken out between the Kyoto Northern and Southern Courts. Desperate for distraction, people turn to the theater, including the form called sarugaku. Kan’ami is a master of this medium—which combines acting, music, singing, and… Read More First Impression: The World Is Dancing
The year is 2029, and the world is in the throes of cyberization as humanity upgrades itself with physical and mental enhancements. Tech corporations have extended their reach to the stars, yet the distinctions of nations and ethnic groups have not yet been left behind. And in the metropolis of Niigata, there is a high-risk… Read More First Impression: The Ghost in The Shell (2026)
A wise cat of the magical Cait Sith race has just birthed her kittens, but she’s about to discover another infant to add to her brood—a baby dragon who had been orphaned, but hatches because of the magic that spills over from the kitten births. Defenseless and not having the smell of a threat, he… Read More First Impression: The Cat and the Dragon
After his party defeats the demon king, Eftal the sage is recognized as one of the four greatest mages in the realm. Then he gets old and trains a new generation of young magic users. Eftal reveals to Merlin (one of his students) that he was never truly satisfied because he was never the strongest;… Read More First Impression: From Overshadowed to Overpowered: Second Reincarnation of a Talentless Sage
Another anime season is upon us, and that means it’s time once again for our first impressions! Over the next several weeks, our writers will be sampling a wide range of new and returning shows and sharing their early thoughts—what excites us, what surprises us, and what might be worth adding to your watchlist. This… Read More Summer 2026 Anime First Impressions
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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.