Thanks to the Power of the Internet, a columnist says farewell...but not before doing one last isekai seasonal roundup!
Coop
Hey there, readers! Before we start today's column, I've got a little bittersweet news to share. This'll be my last regular appearance on This Week in Anime for the foreseeable future. I've had the good fortune of leaning a little more into the industry side of things, including my role as Features Editor over at the MediaOCD blog. You can still catch me over there every so often, but that doesn't mean I'm completely leaving ANN. You'll still be seeing the occasional manga review and investigation from me in this neck of the woods. So long story short: this is my last TWIA, but I'll still be around. © 坂木持丸・riritto・戸賀環・講談社／「世界最強の魔女、始めました」製作委員会 But before I go, Lucas... You've probably noticed that I've masterfully dodged a few recent Narou/Fantasy/LitRPG/Isekai/Whatever -Pedantic-Genre-Name-They'll-Give-It-Next round-ups through a deft combo of circumstance and coincidence. I'm well overdue to pay the piper (and Rebecca really wants to know what I think of Rayearth ), and I couldn't think of a better compadre to bring it home with than you! Hey there, readers! Before we start today's column, I've got a little bittersweet news to share. This'll be my last regular appearance on This Week in Anime for the foreseeable future. I've had the good fortune of leaning a little more into the industry side of things, including my role as Features Editor over at theblog. You can still catch me over there every so often, but that doesn't mean I'm completely leaving ANN. You'll still be seeing the occasional manga review and investigation from me in this neck of the woods. So long story short: this is my last TWIA, but I'll still be around.But before I go, Lucas... You've probably noticed that I've masterfully dodged a few recent-Pedantic-Genre-Name-They'll-Give-It-Next round-ups through a deft combo of circumstance and coincidence. I'm well overdue to pay the piper (and Rebecca really wants to know what I think of), and I couldn't think of a better compadre to bring it home with than you!
Lucas
Coop, while I'm thrilled for MediaOCD 's next editorial era and wish you nothing but the best in this and all of your future ventures, you ain't getting out of the TWIA crew that easily! You gotta pay your pound of flesh if you want out of this posse, and one last isekai round-up is just the right price to pay, as well as a terrific exit initiation. © 坂木持丸・riritto・戸賀環・講談社／「世界最強の魔女、始めました」製作委員会 Thankfully, though, this is a better isekai season than most and a pretty good one for you to dip out on! While the Fall 2026 season doesn't have too many hits that break through the ceiling, this season has definitely raised the floor. So, while I wouldn't say any show we're about to talk about is an anime of the year contender, most of them are interesting and exactly the kind of works that get folks like you and me into the industry side of this biz! Coop, while I'm thrilled for's next editorial era and wish you nothing but the best in this and all of your future ventures, you ain't getting out of the TWIA crew that easily! You gotta pay your pound of flesh if you want out of this posse, and one last isekai round-up is just the right price to pay, as well as a terrific exit initiation.Thankfully, though, this is a better isekai season than most and a pretty good one for you to dip out on! While the Fall 2026 season doesn't have too many hits that break through the ceiling, this season has definitely raised the floor. So, while I wouldn't say any show we're about to talk about is an anime of the year contender, most of them are interesting and exactly the kind of works that get folks like you and me into the industry side of this biz!
© 坂木持丸・riritto・戸賀環・講談社／「世界最強の魔女、始めました」製作委員会 The World's Strongest Witch is a rock-solid example. The "banished from the family for having a weird skill we don't understand but is actually amazing" trope is a dime a dozen in anything approaching a Narou work, but when it's done competently and doesn't linger on established trappings, it can be a pleasant little time. Though, I'd say this one goes above and beyond the baseline by giving thoughtful visual representation to all its RPG influences, with multiple text boxes and a surprising amount of pixel art. © 坂木持丸・riritto・戸賀環・講談社／「世界最強の魔女、始めました」製作委員会 © 坂木持丸・riritto・戸賀環・講談社／「世界最強の魔女、始めました」製作委員会 © 坂木持丸・riritto・戸賀環・講談社／「世界最強の魔女、始めました」製作委員会 © 坂木持丸・riritto・戸賀環・講談社／「世界最強の魔女、始めました」製作委員会 Absolutely! With a few exceptions, these are the kind of shows you'd dream of as your first advertising or production job in the industry space. Maybe nothing earth-shattering, but a solid foundation for the rest of your career to come if things work out.is a rock-solid example. The "banished from the family for having a weird skill we don't understand but is actually amazing" trope is a dime a dozen in anything approaching a Narou work, but when it's done competently and doesn't linger on established trappings, it can be a pleasant little time. Though, I'd say this one goes above and beyond the baseline by giving thoughtful visual representation to all its RPG influences, with multiple text boxes and a surprising amount of pixel art.
The World's Strongest Witch in ANN's weekly streaming reviews, and I can't believe I'm saying that about a LitRPG series! © 坂木持丸・riritto・戸賀環・講談社／「世界最強の魔女、始めました」製作委員会 Rather than be a video game-flavored male power fantasy, Strongest Witch is firmly an anime for people who like playing and thinking about video games, and made by people who like playing and thinking about video games. Case in point, I cannot even begin to describe how this anime's left-field "arrow to the knee" joke ripped a laugh out of me in the year of our lord 2026! © 坂木持丸・riritto・戸賀環・講談社／「世界最強の魔女、始めました」製作委員会 © 坂木持丸・riritto・戸賀環・講談社／「世界最強の魔女、始めました」製作委員会 Between the kinds of gaming culture (only the good parts, I swear!) informed gags, the 16-bit cover-ups of its limited animation budget, and the premise of a LitRPG protagonist having access to the wiki/walkthrough for her game world (which is how many people play games today!), Strongest Witch is a nerdy delight in both its conceit and execution! I am SO GLAD I landedin ANN's weekly streaming reviews, and I can't believe I'm saying that about a LitRPG series!Rather than be a video game-flavored male power fantasy,is firmly an anime for people who like playing and thinking about video games, and made by people who like playing and thinking about video games. Case in point, I cannot even begin to describe how this anime's left-field "arrow to the knee" joke ripped a laugh out of me in the year of our lord 2026!Between the kinds of gaming culture (only the good parts, I swear!) informed gags, the 16-bit cover-ups of its limited animation budget, and the premise of a LitRPG protagonist having access to the wiki/walkthrough for her game world (which is how many people play games today!),is a nerdy delight in both its conceit and execution!
© 坂木持丸・riritto・戸賀環・講談社／「世界最強の魔女、始めました」製作委員会 The fact that our lead has no idea what the Internet is makes the joke on its own. Honestly, it's a refreshing change of pace knowing about series like the one about the dude and his iPhone. Since most people know the internet fairly well these days, it's amusing to watch her troubleshoot problems that we've all dealt with a time or two. © 坂木持丸・riritto・戸賀環・講談社／「世界最強の魔女、始めました」製作委員会 Like when obnoxious ads pop up all over the game wiki you're trying to look at. I'm not a part of that fandom in the least. The fact that our lead has no idea what the Internet is makes the joke on its own. Honestly, it's a refreshing change of pace knowing about series like the one about the dude and his iPhone. Since most people know the internet fairly well these days, it's amusing to watch her troubleshoot problems that we've all dealt with a time or two.Like when obnoxious ads pop up all over the game wiki you're trying to look at. I'm not a part of thatin the least.
© ひかわきょうこ・白泉社／彼方から製作委員会 And speaking of backing things up, there are a good number of throwback isekai this season! One of which is the iconic shojo series From Far Away and, while it's thankfully better than this year's Red River adaptation, it still feels less than remarkable outside of a career-defining vocal performance from Tomoyo Kurosawa . I used to be, and all I can say is...people better be backing up those wikis because it's felt like we're one bad quarter away from a tentpole of nerd knowledge on the internet going away for the past four years.And speaking of backing things up, there are a good number of throwback isekai this season! One of which is the iconicseriesand, while it's thankfully better than this year'sadaptation, it still feels less than remarkable outside of a career-defining vocal performance from
From Far Away might've been the weakest of the bunch, and it's no fault of the source material. There's been a bit of scuttlebutt regarding alleged changes to the language element at the heart of the series. Additionally, this one is not a looker in the slightest. © ひかわきょうこ・白泉社／彼方から製作委員会 In the long-overdue jump to the small screen, it feels like the core creative team has treated From Far Away like just another Isekai series to churn through before moving on to the next. I know that's an incredibly uncharitable reading, but I always think back to something I was told when I got started in the industry: "Everything is someone's favorite." Even if I don't care for something while I'm working on it, I'm not going to let that bleed into my work. In fact, I'm going to perform my duties to the best of my ability. Unfortunately, I can't sense that ethos in From Far Away . I've gotta tell you, Lucas...might've been the weakest of the bunch, and it's no fault of the source material. There's been a bit of scuttlebutt regarding alleged changes to the language element at the heart of the series. Additionally, this one is not a looker in the slightest.In the long-overdue jump to the small screen, it feels like the core creative team has treatedlike just another Isekai series to churn through before moving on to the next. I know that's an incredibly uncharitable reading, but I always think back to something I was told when I got started in the industry: "Everything is someone's favorite." Even if I don't care for something while I'm working on it, I'm not going to let that bleed into my work. In fact, I'm going to perform my duties to the best of my ability. Unfortunately, I can't sense that ethos in
From Far Away actually had a rock-solid start! The visuals were passable in the first episode, and the setup of competing political factions trying to capture a young woman transported to this fantasy world who doesn't even understand anyone trying to help or hurt her was super appealing! © ひかわきょうこ・白泉社／彼方から製作委員会 But then it started coming apart at the seams by the midpoint of the second episode, and the consensus among longtime fans is that this version might not even be worth watching. This is such a shame for several reasons, with women in this community deserving quality media that's explicitly geared for them being chief among them. Thankfully, though, we have another shojo heavy hitter this season that's more than living up to the hype so far! © CLAMP・ST/講談社・TMS・テレビ朝日 The new Magical Knight Rayearth is legit, and I'm so glad it's giving me an excuse to finally properly experience this iconic story! Adding insult to injury,actually had a rock-solid start! The visuals were passable in the first episode, and the setup of competing political factions trying to capture a young woman transported to this fantasy world who doesn't even understand anyone trying to help or hurt her was super appealing!But then it started coming apart at the seams by the midpoint of the second episode, and the consensus among longtime fans is that this version might not even be worth watching. This is such a shame for several reasons, with women in this community deserving quality media that's explicitly geared for them being chief among them. Thankfully, though, we have anotherheavy hitter this season that's more than living up to the hype so far!The newis legit, and I'm so glad it's giving me an excuse to finally properly experience this iconic story!
Rayearth , I couldn't help but be reminded of Dragon Quest: The Adventure of Dai . This isn't only because both are classics with modern interpretations, but because they're wonderful little fantasy adventures aimed squarely at kids. Yes, the olds who grew up with the original series are along for the ride, but they're not the focus. I absolutely adore Rayearth for fully leaning into what it is instead of bending over backward to appeal to those older audiences like so many reboots do. © CLAMP・ST/講談社・TMS・テレビ朝日 Is it also drop-dead gorgeous? While watching, I couldn't help but be reminded of. This isn't only because both are classics with modern interpretations, but because they're wonderful little fantasy adventures aimed squarely at kids. Yes, the olds who grew up with the original series are along for the ride, but they're not the focus. I absolutely adorefor fully leaning into what it is instead of bending over backward to appeal to those older audiences like so many reboots do.Is it also drop-dead gorgeous?
E&H production clearly understands how and why this series is special to so many people. Not to mention that today's young people deserve to have CLAMP character designs awaken something in them, too! © CLAMP・ST/講談社・TMS・テレビ朝日 While I understand why people lambast remakes as being somewhat creatively soulless, the relatively greenclearly understands how and why this series is special to so many people. Not to mention that today's young people deserve to havecharacter designs awaken something in them, too!
© CLAMP・ST/講談社・TMS・テレビ朝日 Speaking of a show that might gel with the youngins, Overgeared seems like just the VRMMO romp for the Solo Leveling loving masses. © TEMPAL Animation Partners Didn't exactly blow me away (shocker), but the production values are solid, has an easy-to-understand one-word title, and is competently enough made. And yes, I think the word "competent" might end up being the word of today's column. And this is probably how they'll respond lol.Speaking of a show that might gel with the youngins,seems like just the VRMMO romp for theloving masses.Didn't exactly blow me away (shocker), but the production values are solid, has an easy-to-understand one-word title, and is competently enough made. And yes, I think the word "competent" might end up being the word of today's column.
dub that's punching far above its weight class! Not to mention that it has an Englishthat's punching far above its weight class! While the subtitled version of Overgeared didn't inspire much of a reaction in me, this is now my go-to example for how an inspired English dub can elevate an anime, and how English dubbing is an artistic craft in and of itself.
Overgeared in English. Even if my initial impression of it was "better-than-average." © TEMPAL Animation Partners I know not everyone's a fan of it, but sometimes a little punch-up to the original dialogue (as long as it's true to the spirit of what's being said) works wonders on an otherwise fairly dry script. After scrubbing through those clips, I'm definitely up for revisitingin English. Even if my initial impression of it was "better-than-average."
Full Clearing Another World under a Goddess with Zero Believers ! © 大崎アイル・オーバーラップ／信者ゼロ製作委員会 This anime...is bad! I wish it made enough of an impression that I could have a more nuanced opinion of it, but nope! Zero Believers feels like zero people wanted to work on it, and I want to devote about as much time and energy to talking about it! Hey, "better-than-average" is pretty good for an isekai! After all, this season it's competing with the likes ofThis anime...is bad! I wish it made enough of an impression that I could have a more nuanced opinion of it, but nope!feels like zero people wanted to work on it, and I want to devote about as much time and energy to talking about it!
© 大崎アイル・オーバーラップ／信者ゼロ製作委員会 Again, the "my skills suck, and people treated me poorly until I learned this one weird trick" trope has been done to death. I'm looking at my notes for this one, and it says, "Just incredibly rote stuff."Again, the "my skills suck, and people treated me poorly until I learned this one weird trick" trope has been done to death.
© Asa Rokushima, Gyomuyoumochi, kisui, KODANSHA/Chi-fuyo Project The Laid-Off Cheat-Granting Mage Enjoys a Second Lease on Life is something like a One-Punch Man / Mashle take on isekai, where the main character, Rein, is as overpowered as he is a little weirdo! While it's by no means groundbreaking, it does show how much a bit of enthusiasm and a few actually good jokes can elevate familiar ideas! © Asa Rokushima, Gyomuyoumochi, kisui, KODANSHA/Chi-fuyo Project Or, I don't know, maybe I'm just a sucker for shows that let Justin Briner (famously the voice of Deku but forever my go-to Cloud Strife VA thanks to Team Four Star 's Final Fantasy 7 Machinabridged) cut loose as an actor. © Asa Rokushima, Gyomuyoumochi, kisui, KODANSHA/Chi-fuyo Project Wow, English dubs are putting in a lot of work this season! (and no, the irony isn't lost on me that Briner is once again playing a character whose weapons and/or body are destroyed after one or two attacks) And yet, that one weird trick can work so well when the team behind the production actually gives a damn and decides to have fun with it!is something like atake on isekai, where the main character, Rein, is as overpowered as he is a little weirdo! While it's by no means groundbreaking, it does show how much a bit of enthusiasm and a few actually good jokes can elevate familiar ideas!Or, I don't know, maybe I'm just a sucker for shows that let(famously the voice of Deku but forever my go-to Cloud Strife VA thanks to's) cut loose as an actor.Wow, English dubs are putting in a lot of work this season! (and no, the irony isn't lost on me that Briner is once again playing a character whose weapons and/or body are destroyed after one or two attacks)
© Asa Rokushima, Gyomuyoumochi, kisui, KODANSHA/Chi-fuyo Project © Asa Rokushima, Gyomuyoumochi, kisui, KODANSHA/Chi-fuyo Project At first, I thought that Cheat-Granting Mage was going down that aforementioned trope trail too, but I was pleasantly surprised when it bucked my expectations. © Asa Rokushima, Gyomuyoumochi, kisui, KODANSHA/Chi-fuyo Project Instead of wallowing in the series' inciting incident for episodes to come, Rein gets over it and moves on after taking a few moments to get himself back together. It's another breath of fresh air since most shows with a similar setup see their leads seething over the huge slight to them instead of cutting their losses. Magic Repo Man has a very similar setup, but I'm sure it goes down the wallow revenge route once that Potato-kun gets his mana-sucking powers. As for Rein, he just gives his old guild the middle finger and gets on with it! © Masakichi, Singou Iijima, Flex Comix Inc./Magic Repo Man Committee Seriously, I'm glad that one of these works outright rejects the mean-spirited shock tactics of a setup like this. Many protagonists in this sort of setup get bitter and rageful fast, perhaps reinforcing similar behavior in some groups of viewers and riling them up. Young dudes who feel like potato-kuns themselves come to mind. Life sucks sometimes, y'all, but dwelling on it to destructive ends does no one any good. Actors in the studio this season.At first, I thought thatwas going down that aforementioned trope trail too, but I was pleasantly surprised when it bucked my expectations.Instead of wallowing in the series' inciting incident for episodes to come, Rein gets over it and moves on after taking a few moments to get himself back together. It's another breath of fresh air since most shows with a similar setup see their leads seething over the huge slight to them instead of cutting their losses.has a very similar setup, but I'm sure it goes down the wallow revenge route once that Potato-kun gets his mana-sucking powers. As for Rein, he just gives his old guild the middle finger and gets on with it!Seriously, I'm glad that one of these works outright rejects the mean-spirited shock tactics of a setup like this. Many protagonists in this sort of setup get bitter and rageful fast, perhaps reinforcing similar behavior in some groups of viewers and riling them up. Young dudes who feel like potato-kuns themselves come to mind. Life sucks sometimes, y'all, but dwelling on it to destructive ends does no one any good.
Magic Repo Man is that, as someone who adores the first Bravely Default game, I respect and will shout out a good evil fairy design when I see one! © Masakichi, Singou Iijima, Flex Comix Inc./Magic Repo Man Committee © Masakichi, Singou Iijima, Flex Comix Inc./Magic Repo Man Committee Outside of this Tinkerbell-sized loan shark, though, there's nothing of worth in this anime, and it's yet another rinse-and-repeat story where an aggrieved young man rages against the people who wronged him, instead of doing the internal work that would help him realize that his own actions are at least partially responsible for this current situation! © Masakichi, Singou Iijima, Flex Comix Inc./Magic Repo Man Committee TL:DR; while it might spend a explain he concept of interest at length, Magic Repo Man is far from interest-ing. The nicest thing I can say aboutis that, as someone who adores the firstgame, I respect and will shout out a good evil fairy design when I see one!Outside of this Tinkerbell-sized loan shark, though, there's nothing of worth in this anime, and it's yet another rinse-and-repeat story where an aggrieved young man rages against the people who wronged him, instead of doing the internal work that would help him realize that his own actions are at least partially responsible for this current situation!TL:DR; while it might spend a explain he concept of interest at length,is far from interest-
At least the next one has an all-time classic theme song. Oh wait... Goblin, not Alien. © 三木なずな・荒木宰／集英社・「転ゴブ」製作委員会
So What's Wrong with Getting Reborn as a Goblin? ! It's aggressively sexist, contains a magic system that either doesn't hold up under scrutiny or is actively changed between episodes one and two, and feels like it was written by someone who has only ever experienced narou isekai media. © 三木なずな・荒木宰／集英社・「転ゴブ」製作委員会 Contrary to its title, there's a lot wrong withIt's aggressively sexist, contains a magic system that either doesn't hold up under scrutiny or is actively changed between episodes one and two, and feels like it was written by someone who has only ever experienced narou isekai media.
It also baffled me that our dude didn't wash his damn hands after dropping a deuce on that extravagant throne. I'm sure I saw a sink!
Reborn as a Goblin is bad, Coop. In fact, I'd call it the worst isekai of the season if Reborn as a Space Mercenary weren't also airing right now! © 2026 リュート・鍋島テツヒロ／KADOKAWA／project-Krishna Beyond looking ugly as sin, the protagonist of Space Mercenary's primary goals include: 1. Owning a house someday and 2. (totally reluctantly) having sex with underage girls. Beyond being actively gross, it is incredibly grim that these would be the driving motivations of a male power fantasy protagonist for several social and economic reasons. I'm afraid that the only explanation is thatis bad, Coop. In fact, I'd call it the worst isekai of the season ifweren't also airing right now!Beyond looking ugly as sin, the protagonist of Space Mercenary's primary goals include: 1. Owning a house someday and 2. (totally reluctantly) having sex with underage girls. Beyond being actively gross, it is incredibly grim that these would be the driving motivations of a male power fantasy protagonist for several social and economic reasons.
Space Mercenary's premiere made me think, "I could be watching Outlaw Star right now." Particularly when there's a rather flaccid dogfight near the middle of the episode. CG dogfights in space can be done well, but that wasn't one of them. © 2026 リュート・鍋島テツヒロ／KADOKAWA／project-Krishna
Space Mercenary, and it's lucky to even be mentioned in the same breath as Outlaw Star . I quite literally would rather talk about any other anime... © 十夜/アース・スター エンターテイメント/黒竜騎士団 Even if that anime is A Tale of the Secret Saint , which, uh, I watched via screeners more than a month ago now and don't really remember much about! That's probably not a good sign for its long-term popularity, huh? Nothing is well done in, and it's lucky to even be mentioned in the same breath as. I quite literally would rather talk about any other anime...Even if that anime is, which, uh, I watched via screeners more than a month ago now and don't really remember much about! That's probably not a good sign for its long-term popularity, huh?
© 十夜/アース・スター エンターテイメント/黒竜騎士団 Secret Saint pulls off a neat trick by presenting its flashbacks in 4:3, but yeah...it's another well-worn reincarnation story. Our heroine's secret identity as a saint will probably lead to some drama later on, but the opening episode isn't particularly thrilling. Oh, and she has a dragon buddy too. © 十夜/アース・スター エンターテイメント/黒竜騎士団 If it's felt like we've rapid-fired through the last handful of titles, it's because watching most of these Narou-based titles has been like eating rice cakes. There might be slightly different flavors here and here, but eventually there comes a point when if you've had one cinnamon sugar rice cake, you've had them all. Worst-case, a cake is either stale or moldy; otherwise it's just a food-shaped object...or "anime-shaped object" if you will. © 小田ヒロ・Tsubasa.v/KADOKAWA/弱気MAX製作委員会 As such, I'd have to put Even Though I’m a Super Timid Noble Girl, I Accepted the Bet From My Cunning Fiancé in the anime-shaped object boat. It's cute that the main love interest kid is head-over-heels for Pia here, but eh? pulls off a neat trick by presenting its flashbacks in 4:3, but yeah...it's another well-worn reincarnation story. Our heroine's secret identity as a saint will probably lead to some drama later on, but the opening episode isn't particularly thrilling. Oh, and she has a dragon buddy too.If it's felt like we've rapid-fired through the last handful of titles, it's because watching most of these Narou-based titles has been like eating rice cakes. There might be slightly different flavors here and here, but eventually there comes a point when if you've had one cinnamon sugar rice cake, you've had them all. Worst-case, a cake is either stale or moldy; otherwise it's just a food-shaped object...or "anime-shaped object" if you will.As such, I'd have to putin the anime-shaped object boat. It's cute that the main love interest kid is head-over-heels for Pia here, but eh?
Timid Noble Girl is a two-for-one genre special, I like the gag where the MC's love interest thinks a fossil is poop because he has zero frame of reference for what a fossil is! Other than that, though? Even in a more lukewarm anime season, I don't know anyone with the bandwidth to prioritize this release. © 小田ヒロ・Tsubasa.v/KADOKAWA/弱気MAX製作委員会 Similarly, can folks in the comments let me know if/when Psyren is supposed to get good? I thought this one was supposed to have some heat behind it, but that is NOT coming across in the first few episodes, which are about as empty as the wasteland the protag is transported to. © 小田ヒロ・Tsubasa.v/KADOKAWA/弱気MAX製作委員会 As I noted in last week's romcom round-up, sinceis a two-for-one genre special, I like the gag where the MC's love interest thinks a fossil is poop because he has zero frame of reference for what a fossil is! Other than that, though? Even in a more lukewarm anime season, I don't know anyone with the bandwidth to prioritize this release.Similarly, can folks in the comments let me know if/whenis supposed to get good? I thought this one was supposed to have some heat behind it, but that is NOT coming across in the first few episodes, which are about as empty as the wasteland the protag is transported to.
The Matrix. © Toshiaki Iwashiro,Shueisha/PSYREN Secret Society I know PSYREN fans were a little more than taken aback when its anime adaptation was randomly announced out of the blue, considering it'd been on ice for a good while, but dunno if this was what they were hoping for. I have no clue how closely these opening episodes adhere to the manga's pacing, but they felt as if they were barreling toward the big twist without taking a moment to breathe. There's solid meat on PSYREN 's bones, but the good ol' shonen approach doesn't seem to gel with what the material is trying to cook up. © Toshiaki Iwashiro,Shueisha/PSYREN Secret Society Still, the initial payphone confrontation had some gas. I, too, likedI knowfans were a little more than taken aback when its anime adaptation was randomly announced out of the blue, considering it'd been on ice for a good while, but dunno if this was what they were hoping for. I have no clue how closely these opening episodes adhere to the manga's pacing, but they felt as if they were barreling toward the big twist without taking a moment to breathe. There's solid meat on's bones, but the good ol' shonen approach doesn't seem to gel with what the material is trying to cook up.Still, the initial payphone confrontation had some gas.
Psyren anime makes clear just how high the bar for spooky shonen is now that Jujutsu Kaisen is one of the biggest anime and manga in the world. Most titles playing in that sandbox would pale in comparison, but Psyren 's limited animation prowess and its almost antiquated-feeling story aren't doing it any favors. © Toshiaki Iwashiro,Shueisha/PSYREN Secret Society Hell, I don't even like Magical Explorer , but I think I'd rather watch it than Psyren simply because it commits harder and executes better on its premise of being an isekai that's overtly taking place in an eroge RPG. © 入栖・神奈月昇/KADOKAWA/「マジカル★エクスプローラー」製作委員会 When you frame it like that, more than anything, theanime makes clear just how high the bar for spooky shonen is now thatis one of the biggest anime and manga in the world. Most titles playing in that sandbox would pale in comparison, but's limited animation prowess and its almost antiquated-feeling story aren't doing it any favors.Hell, I don't even like, but I think I'd rather watch it thansimply because it commits harder and executes better on its premise of being an isekai that's overtly taking place in an eroge RPG.
Magical Explorer isn't a hentai . Don't get me wrong, the fanservice is generally pointed in the right porny direction, but an ideal version of this show should be OceanVeil 's killer app. © 入栖・神奈月昇/KADOKAWA/「マジカル★エクスプローラー」製作委員会 I'd also be curious to hear the expert opinions of ANN eroge expert and now-fellow TWIA alum, Jean-Karlo, because he might have more than a few things to say about this one. If you're an eroge enjoyer, Magical Explorer features solid animation and feels appropriately tongue-in-cheek for what it is. © 入栖・神奈月昇/KADOKAWA/「マジカル★エクスプローラー」製作委員会 © 入栖・神奈月昇/KADOKAWA/「マジカル★エクスプローラー」製作委員会 But it could really stand to be pornier. For being an eroge isekai, I'm shocked thatisn't a. Don't get me wrong, theis generally pointed in the right porny direction, but an ideal version of this show should be's killer app.I'd also be curious to hear the expert opinions of ANN eroge expert and now-fellow TWIA alum, Jean-Karlo, because he might have more than a few things to say about this one. If you're an eroge enjoyer,features solid animation and feels appropriately tongue-in-cheek for what it is.But it could really stand to be pornier.
I'm Dating a Dark Summoner and Even the Student Council Has Its Holes! , Magical Explorer would have benefited from going all in on the bit. Also, even in a more fallow year for sexually charged anime, eroge enjoyers will just go play another eroge instead of watching an anime that intentionally bails out before getting to what are often some of the best parts of an eroge! © 入栖・神奈月昇/KADOKAWA/「マジカル★エクスプローラー」製作委員会 Yeah, especially in a season that features the likes ofwould have benefited from going all in on the bit. Also, even in a more fallow year for sexually charged anime, eroge enjoyers will just go play another eroge instead of watching an anime that intentionally bails out before getting to what are often some of the best parts of an eroge!
© 入栖・神奈月昇/KADOKAWA/「マジカル★エクスプローラー」製作委員会 It's the sort of premise you've really gotta go balls out for—literally.
Nia Liston: The Merciless Maiden is an anime-ass anime in the best way possible, and I'm so glad we can close out this convo with it! © 南野海風・ホビージャパン/凶乱令嬢ニア・リストン製作委員会 Ostensibly about a mythic hero whose one regret is not being able to die in the heat of battle, who is reincarnated into the body of a sick four-year-old, this anime rapidly shifts gears when the titular Nia Liston becomes a child actor and is wrapped up in a plot to popularize the budding telecommunication technologies of this fantasy world to help the Kingdom she now calls home establish domestic and international soft-power efforts. © 南野海風・ホビージャパン/凶乱令嬢ニア・リストン製作委員会 As someone who quite literally went to school to study the intersection of politics and media, and who now gets paid to write about anime, this might be the most MY SHIT any anime has ever been, and I'd absolutely watch it every week even if I wasn't on the hook for weekly episode reviews! Thankfully, there's one isekai this season that is certifiably made by and for sickos airing this season!is an anime-ass anime in the best way possible, and I'm so glad we can close out this convo with it!Ostensibly about a mythic hero whose one regret is not being able to die in the heat of battle, who is reincarnated into the body of a sick four-year-old, this anime rapidly shifts gears when the titular Nia Liston becomes a child actor and is wrapped up in a plot to popularize the budding telecommunication technologies of this fantasy world to help the Kingdom she now calls home establish domestic and international soft-power efforts.As someone who quite literally went to school to study the intersection of politics and media, and who now gets paid to write about anime, this might be the most MY SHIT any anime has ever been, and I'd absolutely watch it every week even if I wasn't on the hook for weekly episode reviews!
Nia Liston's the only show in this round-up that's on HIDIVE —everything else is on Crunchyroll . However, that might be good for the physical media sickos out there since most of Sentai's titles get a home video release eventually, which you can't say for CR's offerings. It's crazy to think that's the only show in this round-up that's on—everything else is on. However, that might be good for the physical media sickos out there since most of Sentai's titles get a home video release eventually, which you can't say for CR's offerings. Nia Liston's also the only show here that lets its opening do all the talking if you're looking to sell someone on it. Little girl beating the snot out of thugs while becoming a TV star? Cool. I've also got to give the team at KONAMI animation (yes, that Konami ) for not being weird about our very young heroine and her similarly young friends. It'd be all too easy for a show like this to hit creeper territory fast if in the wrong hands.
Crunchyroll ... © 南野海風・ホビージャパン/凶乱令嬢ニア・リストン製作委員会 But Nia Liston is more than worth engaging with on its own merits, and is worth checking out either weekly on HIDIVE or later when it, hopefully, comes to physical media. There's so much happening at any given time in any given episode, and I like everything it's doing so much that I don't even mind that it can sometimes become less than narratively and thematically consistent. © 南野海風・ホビージャパン/凶乱令嬢ニア・リストン製作委員会 I'm so glad that Konami decided to be an entertainment company again, lol. You know, it might just say something about current trends in the anime industry that the isekai/LitRPG title that I would recommend the most enthusiastically is the only one of these not airing on...Butis more than worth engaging with on its own merits, and is worth checking out either weekly onor later when it, hopefully, comes to physical media. There's so much happening at any given time in any given episode, and I like everything it's doing so much that I don't even mind that it can sometimes become less than narratively and thematically consistent.I'm so glad thatdecided to be an entertainment company again, lol.