Young Alec learns magic from a chap named Eldas, who warns him never to become a court magician. Flash forward several years; Alec resolves to become a court magician and push for reforms. Flash forward again several years, and he’s getting fired from being a court magician, just like his mentor was. The crown prince… Read More First Impression: The Banished Court Magician Aims to Become the Strongest
Light says goodbye to his family and sets off to become…wait for it…an Adventurer! This looks like a pretty typical lighthearted (ha!) fantasy story… Oh, humans are treated like scum by the other races and have a pathetic literacy rating? Ah, but surely his OP gacha gift will turn things around… Oh, it’s literally pathetic… Read More First Impression: My Gift Level 9999 Unlimited Gacha: Backstabbed in a Backwater Dungeon, I’m Out for Revenge!
A demure young lady is enjoying a picnic alone on a park bench when a middle-aged man with a retinue approaches her, mouth watering, and asks her a question: Can he eat some of her sandwich? Unperturbed, she opens up her picnic basket to reveal a second sandy, delighted that someone should enquire after her… Read More First Impression: Pass the Monster Meat, Milady!
Athanasia has blue jeweled eyes from her father and a bold name and dying blessing from her mother. She also has only one person in the whole world who loves and cares for her, her mom’s best friend, Lily; that is, until Lily manages to replace all the horrible maids with nice ones during one… Read More First Impression: The Fated Magical Princess: Who Made Me a Princess
Chinese animation has exploded onto the Western screen in recent years. Along with The Girl Who Stole Time from this summer, we now have The Legend of Hei 2, releasing in America months before the rest of Asia! Now, don’t be afraid of that tiny little 2 at the end of the title—the film was… Read More Film Review: The Legend of Hei 2
In the age of The Matrix Resurrections and The Rise of Skywalker, sequel disappointment is like the common cold. Continuations of great stories must attempt to walk the tightrope of making us feel the magic once again while avoiding treading the same ground. Many try, a few succeed; most are mercifully forgotten, but some even bring the original… Read More The Promised Neverland and the Mass, I: Sequels, Pagans, and Evil Blood
Salesman Shigeru “Uglymug” Yoshioka used to think of his ridiculous face as a blessing in disguise. He would use it to make people laugh and move the conversation forward. His life had no romance, but he would play visual novels and hope for the future. Not anymore. Things changed suddenly when he was accused of… Read More First Impression: Uglymug, Epicfighter
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.