Love stories are central to anime, which is why it's no surprise that the best romance anime they are also some of the best periods of anime. Whether low-key and adult or loud and juvenile, romance anime are endlessly appealing and have a huge fan base for good reason. Even fans of straight-action shonen series might want to give romance anime a try, given how many solid series there are. One advantage that romance anime have over their more action-oriented counterparts is that focus on characters is an absolute requirement. While a sci-fi or fantasy series might be able to…
Author: J.R. Waugh
In Dragon Ball DaimaAkira Toriyama’s creative direction is more apparent than ever thanks to the return of one of his classic tricks: an iconic, simplistic talent for planet naming. This has been especially prominent in the days of Dragon Ball Zwith Piccolo, Vegeta and more characters fundamentally affected by Toriyama’s nomenclature. Now this even appears in its latest official anime. In Dragon Ball Daimathe latest confirmation comes with more references to Supreme Kai Shin’s ancestral home, Kaishin, and its vital resource, Katchinite. These references appear as Shin identifies the Magic Necklace as made from Katchinite, a metal found only on…
While Tower of God may have moved at a snail’s pace for much of season 2, the upcoming release of episode 22 hints at a rewarding set of developments for those who stuck around. Bam’s predicament and secrecy may finally come to an end when Khun devises a plan for a proper reunion as they pry him from the FUG’s deadly clutches and with the help of some key defectors. With Tower of God Season 2, Episode 22, hope still shines for an emotional reunion between Khun, Bam, Rak and their new team members as well. Despite the pacing, lighting,…
With the debut of Hell’s Paradise: Jigokuraku season 1 on April 1, 2023, acclaimed studio MAPPA has completed its Shōnen Dark Trio alongside Jujutsu Kaisen and chainsaw man adaptations. But out of these three animes, Hell’s Paradise It features the most concise and focused plot, along with Yuji Kaku’s exceptional art that combines beauty and horror. With Season 2 just around the corner, Crunchyroll has released Hell’s Paradise Season 1 with a limited edition Blu-ray and DVD package in late summer 2024 as a powerful incentive for avid anime collectors. Hell’s Paradise separates itself from the Shōnen Dark Trio by…
The Clover Kingdom’s finest could never truly be prepared for how Asta would upset the status quo in Black Cloverwhile the boy unloved by magic makes a splash among the Magic Knights. By sheer courage and acquisition of the Five-Leaf Clover Grimoire, Asta could suddenly stop any threat in a society built and largely sustained by magic. This, combined with Black Clover Being a battle shōnen anime and manga series, it allows Asta to present a fascinating take on the Stock Shōnen Rival trope. Asta also didn’t take long to find rivals, his first and most important rivalry being with…
As Taiki Inomata’s ambitions encounter a cruel obstacle in Blue Boxhis indomitable spirit prevents him from disappearing completely in the face of recent adversity. Despite a recent crushing defeat that prevented his advancement to the national championship and his joining Chinatsu, Taiki does not lose sight of his chances for self-improvement. At the launch of Blue Box episode #9, Taiki’s determination meets a reasonable limit as the increasing stress of competitive sports and his schoolwork causes him to become unwell. Like a sports, coming-of-age, and romance anime, Blue Box presents a compelling and grounded look at teenage life, told through…
Although Yusei Matsui had a stellar year with his latest manga adaptation of The Indescribable Samurai gaining acclaim, his previous hit, Murder ClassroomIt’s seen better days. As reported by WMBF News November 15, 2024 Horry County School District recently moved to take over Murder Classroom out of their libraries, with no possibility of challenge for five years. The request was initially made by a concerned mother of a ninth-grader who checked out the book, with the mother citing “photos of violence, weapons, and other content that she believes are inappropriate for students her daughter’s age” in the series. Despite Murder…
Warning: spoilers ahead for the Neo Heroes arc in One-Punch Man! One-Punch Man The Hero Association developed well until the reveal of Blast as their best S-Class fighter, with his immense powers not yet fully explored, as suggested by interested readers. Blast’s introduction in the Monster Association Arc was the start of his most exciting adventures. While he is unlikely to surpass Saitama’s powers, his potential may remain unrevealed. Despite the last chapter suggesting Blast’s downfall in One punch manthe partial removal of his costume, similar to that of Boros from the Alien Conquerors Arc, could unleash his true power.…
Following the news of Akira Toriyama’s tragic passing in March 2024, the world that clung to his Dragon ball franchise never intended to abandon. The love for Son Goku manifests itself in hundreds of millions of manga copies sold, merchandise, and clothing. It’s gotten to the point where the orange color overlaid with a kame symbol is ubiquitous to the point of instant recognition, with fans around the world raising their hands for the Genki Dama in light of Toriyama’s passing. But Dragon ball is much more than the fights of Dragon Ball Zthe debates about the canon surrounding GT,…
Warning: spoilers ahead for Blue Box episode 7! Taiki Inomata has been making expert progress in his search for love in Blue Boxespecially with how welcoming Chinatsu is to your company. In the last few chapters, Taiki made his first outing to the aquarium with his crush, took her to a shrine to pray for luck in national competitions, and even enjoyed mundane moments like sharing snacks. But with the launch of Blue Box episode #8, Taiki will soon see a real challenge to his rapid rise among Eimei’s badminton players. Eimei Academy is Taiki’s home school in Blue Box.…