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anime

15 Sep

How the Live-Action Cowboy Bebop Will Stay Faithful to the Anime

Netflix, New DVD release, , , ,
Ask anybody about their favorite anime and if Cowboy Bebop—a sci-fi Western about the misadventures of a gang of bounty hunters on a ship called the Bebop—isn’t at the top of their list, it probably won’t be too far down. Although the series aired its entire run of 26 episodes on Adult Swim way back in 2001, there’s never been anything else quite like it. With its dynamic animation, its mashup of genres, and its vibrant jazz soundtrack, it’s a singular artistic triumph. The text displayed during the show’s opening titles even asserts that it’s “a new genre itself.” Even…
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10 Sep

Sonny Boy: The Weird, Original Sci-Fi Anime You Should Be Watching

New DVD release, , , , ,
The past few years have brought us some huge anime blockbusters. My Hero Academia has become this generation’s gateway anime in the same way that Naruto was for the previous one. Jujutsu Kaisen reminded us of what was possible in shonen battle scenes. And, of course, Demon Slayer broke records all over the world. But when we focus on only a few standout series, we sometimes forget other approaches to anime exist… Sonny Boy premiered this past July, as part of an otherwise quiet summer 2021 anime season. Details were scarce before the first episode aired: It was an original…
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01 May

Yasuke Creator LeSean Thomas on Breaking the Anime Mold

New DVD release, , , , ,
Yasuke is the latest anime series from maverick creator LeSean Thomas. With the voice talents of Oscar-nominated LaKeith Stanfield (Sorry To Bother You), Ming-Na Wen (The Mandalorian), Darren Criss (Glee), and Keone Young (Men in Black 3) to name a few, plus a soundtrack by Grammy-nominated artist Flying Lotus, Yasuke is an imaginative fantasy world of mechs and demons, set against the backdrop of feudal Japan. The titular character of Yasuke is based on a real historical figure, the first known Black samurai who lived in the mid-sixteenth century.  Previously in 2019, Thomas delivered another well-regarded Netflix anime titled Cannon…
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19 Apr

Yasuke Review: Netflix Anime Reclaims The Story of a Black Samurai

New DVD release, , , , , ,
This Yasuke review contains no spoilers. What’s supposedly last known about Yasuke, the documented 16th-century Black samurai of Japan, is that he was brought back into the hands of his former Jesuit owners after his samurai employment was cut short. From there, the African-originated warrior, who remarkably rose to impressive status under the warlord Oda Nobunaga despite his being a foreigner, appears to vanish from history. Both historical and legendary, Yasuke had nary a chance to grace onscreen media, although he allegedly inspired the protagonist of the densely shaded neo-noir Afro Samurai manga-based anime. He was the star of an…
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19 Apr

Demon Slayer the Movie: Mugen Train Review – Anime Hit is a Smooth Ride

New DVD release, , , , , ,
“No matter how many precious lives the demons take…A strong will can never be taken.”  It’s become a common tradition for the most popular anime series to get theatrical adaptations. It’s not surprising then that Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba is the latest to make this leap considering the tremendous success of the anime and manga. These cinematic endeavors can sometimes be a mixed bag due to a tendency to function as recap compilations or entertaining sagas that ultimately become unnecessary filler in the context of the anime.  Demon Slayer’s movie, Mugen Train, chooses the best route possible here with…
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18 Mar

The Legacy of Women in Anime with Funimation

New DVD release, , ,
This virtual panel is presented in partnership with Funimation. Anime has grown by leaps and bounds over the past decade as it’s progressively evolved from a niche interest into mainstream entertainment. There are now more places than ever to consume anime, whether it’s on broadcast television or any of the available streaming services, some of which are devoted entirely to anime content. It’s truly exciting to see the medium’s continued success, but part of the reason that it’s found such universal acclaim is because often anime is just as concerned about representation as it is with entertainment. Anime doesn’t just speak…
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09 Mar

Link Tank: Funimation Celebrates Women in Anime

New DVD release, , ,
Funimation celebrated International Women’s Day yesterday with a look at women in anime. Watch the trailer below: For more, here’s Funimation’s archive for Women’s History Month. With WandaVision over, here’s what Kathryn Hahn has to say on Agatha Harkness’ time in Westview, her Marvel future, and more. “One thing is true about WandaVision, and it’s that Kathryn Hahn’s introduction to the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Agatha Harkness is one that fans absolutely loved. Many of us knew she was Agatha from the start, but still, the reveal that she was the famed witch was worth it and gave us one…
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27 Feb

Best Anime On Amazon Prime Video

New DVD release, , ,
Isn’t it just the worst when you’re out with friends at your favorite restaurant (masked up, of course) and everyone’s discussing Inuyashiki but you’re unable to jump in? How about when you’re waiting for the bus to arrive and people are discussing the latest Happy Sugar Life plot twist? Or when your cashier at the supermarket tries to make small talk and naturally namedrops the eternal equalizer, Re: Creators, and you just have to quietly look at your shoes? Okay, so anime’s presence might not be quite at that level, but the popularity of the once-niche area of the animation industry only continues to blossom and become…
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25 Feb

High-Rise Invasion Review: Bloody Anime is a Satisfying Character Study

Netflix, New DVD release, , , , , ,
This review contains no spoilers and is based on all 12 episodes of High-Rise Invasion season 1. “I refuse to die. I won’t lose to a world like this.” There’s nothing quite like a good, heightened mystery, especially if it’s working in tandem with something like the horror genre. Audiences have become increasingly savvy towards and desensitized by even the most extreme examples of each genre, which pushes entertainment to go even further.  This isn’t always the right approach, but it can sometimes be just the right kind of crazy and High-Rise Invasion succeeds in finding that balance. The new…
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18 Feb

Celebrating Black Voices in Anime with Funimation

New DVD release, , , ,
This virtual panel is presented in partnership with Funimation. The anime industry only continues to grow larger and more mainstream with each passing year. It’s remarkable to see the growth, whether it’s through the wider prevalence and variety of dubbed content or the number of anime-based streaming services. Anime has alway been on the fringe of pop culture’s interests, but part of what makes it such an exciting form of art is that it doesn’t just entertain audiences in unpredictable ways, but it often excels with its inclusion of underrepresented groups. This has helped anime become such a universal product…
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05 Feb

Anime For Beginners: Best Genres and Series to Watch

New DVD release, , , ,
The past decade has seen anime’s popularity increase in dramatic ways, whether through a much broader spectrum of series receiving dubs, the growing success of anime feature films in theaters, or the sudden prominence of streaming services. There’s never been a better time to be an anime fan and the medium has become more accessible than ever. There’s a lot of anime out there, but the wealth of new series can often blend together or not be given a fair chance. Additionally, there are definitely certain types of anime that are more prominently showcased outside of Japan.  Read more TV…
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22 Jan

Demon Slayer Review: Netflix Anime Reinvents Classic Action Tropes

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This Demon Slayer review contains no spoilers. There are a lot of anime about the slaying of demons. Almost too many, in fact. If someone was supposed to make an anime, but then forgot and had to quickly rush something together at the last minute, they’d make it about demon slaying. At this point it’s a little exhausting whenever a new demon-slaying anime gets announced, but it’s for this very reason that the series that work are especially effective.  Koyoharu Gotouge’s Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba doesn’t just touch on familiar storylines and ideas, even its title is bland and…
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22 Jan

How to Watch Anime Online: The Best Legal Anime Streaming Options

New DVD release, , , , ,
It’s been amazing to witness the growth of the anime industry in America. It used to be extremely difficult to find anime in the country and even then, it was a very select handful of programs that were only available with questionable dubs. Over the course of a few decades this niche genre of animation hasn’t just become a mainstream obsession, but it’s now actively sought by streaming services. Anime’s popularity in America has reached a point where there are now multiple streaming services that offer ways to consume this content. There’s no need to get unnecessarily overwhelmed with all…
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08 Jan

Upcoming Anime 2021: New and Returning Series to Watch

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A new season of television is upon us, even if it may not exactly feel like it due to COVID-19 slowing many productions. Despite these setbacks, the animation world has been able to forge ahead more successfully than the rest of television. And anime in particular is set to premiere many new series this year that were previously delayed.  Each TV season is full of new and returning anime and it can often be overwhelming to determine which of the lot are worth the investment. Winter 2021’s anime season is just starting to begin, so here’s a helpful rundown of…
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28 Oct

What Makes Eden Netflix’s First “Japanese Original Anime”?

New DVD release, , , , ,
Earlier this week, Netflix re-released the promising trailer for Eden, a science fiction anime series coming to the streamer in May 2021. The four-episode, Japanese-language series is set thousands of years in the future in a robot city known as “Eden 3.” When two farming robots accidentally awaken a human baby girl from stasis during a routine assignment, they begin to question everything they thought they knew about the myth of humanity and decide to raise the child secretly on their own. Great premise, right? Well, the production has some great creative talent to drive it too. Eden comes from…
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22 Oct

Best Horror Anime To Watch on Crunchyroll

New DVD release, , ,
One of the best things about October is how every content provider gets infected with Halloween madness and succumbs to horror-centric programming. Some networks even curate a full 31 days of scary content to prove just how gung ho they are about this spooky holiday. At this point you’ve likely already made a checklist for all of the big horror films that are on the horizon and all of the older classics that you need to catch up on. However, if you’re still starved for even more horror-based content, then look no further than Crunchyroll and their catalogue of frightening…
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16 Oct

Best Horror Anime To Watch on Netflix

New DVD release, , ,
Come every October, audiences can be guaranteed that programming will shift over to horror-centric content to fit with Halloween. With the litany of streaming services that now exist, it’s gone from being difficult to fill 31 days of content to it being a serious struggle to fit everything in. There’s horror programming everywhere at the moment and this is also true when it comes to anime.  Netflix has built up an increasingly impressive library of anime content  that includes some moody horror selections that are perfect for the season (or anytime really). However, with so many titles out there it’s…
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08 Oct

New Godzilla Anime Coming to Netflix

Netflix, New DVD release, , ,
You just can’t keep Godzilla down. We’ve gotten several animated Godzilla films in the past, including Godzilla: Planet of the Monsters, Godzilla: City on the Edge of Battle, and Godzilla: The Planet Eater but now we’re getting an all-new Godzilla anime series! Coming from director Atsushi Takahashi who worked on Doraemon the Movie 2017: Great Adventure in the Antarctic Kachi Kochi and the anime studio bones (My Hero Academia) in partnership with studio Orange (Beastars, Land of the Lustrous.) This new series will be produced using hand-drawn and CG animation styles. The creative team will also include composer Kan Sawada…
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30 Jul

Splinter Cell Anime Series Coming to Netflix from John Wick Writer

Netflix, New DVD release, , , , ,
Ubisoft may not be ready to bring Sam Fisher back to the world of video games, but Netflix is keen on making him the star of a new Splinter Cell anime series. Based on the series of stealth action games by Ubisoft and endorsed by late military fiction author Tom Clancy, the new anime is poised to explore a secret world of espionage, government conspiracies, and terrorist plots. The news comes from Variety, which also reports that John Wick and The Falcon and the Winter Soldier writer Derek Kolstad will pen the script and serve as executive producer. According to…
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28 Jul

New Rick and Morty Anime Short is Very Fun and Very Anime

New DVD release, ,
Fans of Rick and Morty have gotten used to being neglected. Whenever a season wraps up, we assume we won’t be getting more sci-fi rigamarole adventures for at least a year. Well, color me surprised, because it’s been less than two months since the season four finale and Adult Swim has already blessed us with a peek at an animatic for a scene from season five and now they’ve followed it up with an 8-minute short that reimagines Rick and Morty as an anime. It’s written and directed by Takashi Sano who most recently directed the TV adaptation of the…
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DVD Guide reviews current dvd releases of movies and TV shows. The reviews of these dvd releases are my thoughts and understandings of the movie, dvd releases or TV show and not be taken as fact.

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