Category: Weekly Summary

Wooper: We interrupt your just-begun spring 2026 impressions with some final thoughts on four just-wrapped winter anime, plus one that began an unceremonious pause after a double-length premiere. There are a handful of winter shows I didn’t cover that will require a fair shake before EOY (ShiboYugi chief among them), but this is all I’ve got for now. Alright, back to the First Impressions grind!

JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure:
Steel Ball Run – 1

I hadn’t tuned in to a JoJo anime since bailing on Diamond is Unbreakable nearly a decade ago, but Steel Ball Run presented an opportunity to give the franchise another spin, since it takes place in a separate universe. Its continuity is so fresh, in fact, that it places more emphasis on the titular cross-country race than any of its familiarly named characters – with the exception of Johnny Joestar, who receives a rather momentum-breaking flashback explaining his paraplegia. That scene’s blunt implementation didn’t inspire much confidence that future flashbacks will blend in well, and there will probably be many of them, since the race started so quickly that a lot of pre-race context will become necessary as the story evolves. This two-parter did keep a lot of other details close to its ridiculously costumed chest, such as the nature of Gyro Zeppeli’s Hamon-like ability and the way Sandman instantaneously developed his ultra-fast running style. I like the decision to preserve some mysteries for the future, though the lack of an airdate for subsequent episodes means that future may be far away.

P.S. Were JoJo’s fifth and sixth parts as scatological as Steel Ball Run? There were three references to poop in this premiere, which is a lot, even for a double length episode. Weird stuff!

Continue reading “Winter 2026 Check-In – Weeks 11-13” →

Wooper: I don’t know why I said I’d write a first impression for Rooster Fighter in the intro to the last check-in post. Maybe I was on drugs – though certainly not as big a dose as I’d need to enjoy the show itself (as befitting an Adult Swim series). It’s just the three regulars plus Ganglion, then, with thoughts on a bunch of episodes crammed into only a handful of paragraphs. The Spring Preview takes priority, I’m afraid – it ought to go up in four days or so, so be on the lookout for that as the winter season begins to wind down.

You and I Are Polar Opposites – 7-9

I’m beginning to get fatigued of all these socially anxious anime characters who find a friend group and learn to express themselves. Polar Opposites’ representative in that field is Nishi, Tani’s co-worker in the library after school – she’s twice as quiet as he is, so the show’s primary strength (conversation) hardly applies to her. Of these three episodes, Nishi only appeared in number 7, and it was a warranted appearance, resolving her encounter with Yamada during the previous episode’s culture festival. Still, she’s my least favorite of the show’s otherwise fun cast – thankfully, the other two weeks in this batch were primarily concerned with our main couple, especially when Tani’s birthday rolled around. Teenage staples like falling asleep on a phone call and celebrating with store-bought cakes brought a smile to my face, but the funniest moment of all came at the very end of episode 9, when Suzuki terastallized in excitement after kissing her boyfriend goodnight. As for the show’s secondary couple, their non-relationship underwent a bit of a stress test the week beforehand, as Taira insisted that Azuma discard her nonchalant persona and “get angry” over her middle school friends’ poor treatment of her. I’m still not sure how I feel about his phrasing, but it made for a sharp change of pace.

Continue reading “Winter 2026 Check-In – Weeks 7-10” →

Wooper: I know this column is about currently airing anime, but have you all seen the surplus of cool shows set to debut next month? Our spring season preview is going to be packed (by my standards), and that’s without counting mid-March premieres like Steel Ball Run and Rooster Fighter (which should show up in a future post this March). Ikoku Nikki is holding me down this winter, and I can easily envision a future where it retroactively outclasses every new spring series, but I’ve got to say, I haven’t been this optimistic about an upcoming crop of anime in a long time. That’s not what you’re here for, though – read on for my thoughts on the usual suspects, plus one new show before the jump.

Oneechan Gokko – 1

I’m not exactly tapped in to the world of indie anime, but the YouTube series Oneechan Gokko (produced at the fledgling Studio Gohan) still found its way onto my desk somehow, and I’m glad it did, as its first episode was much more polished than expected. It doesn’t move at the same speed as a mainstream seasonal anime, but scenes of the main character Akane jogging home from school or riding a bike are still plenty immersive thanks to detailed lighting and autumnal background art. Given the season, red, yellow and brown are the dominant colors here, with Akane’s green-haired sister Sui serving as an exception to the series’ visual palette. That nonconformity makes sense on several levels, because she may be more (or less) than she seems – at several points during this episode, Akane receives phone calls from someone claiming to be the real Sui, who claims that the girl in her house is an impostor. Oneechan Gokko is set in the future, with service robots having been partially integrated into society, so we may be headed toward a “machine supplanting man” theme – one with spooky overtones, as Gokko’s presentation takes that tack at several points (especially in its closing minutes). You can watch the first episode [here] to see whether it sucks you in – just know that the follow-up won’t be out for several months.

Continue reading “Winter 2026 Check-In – Weeks 4-6” →

Wooper: It’s a little late to be reviewing just two episodes of a handful of new series, but that’s what I’ve got for you here. Between AOTY writing that’s progressing in the background, my growing interest in non-animated films, and some personal stuff happening in my life, I’ve been slow to keep up with anime this winter. Shibou Yuugi, whose double length premiere greatly intrigued me, was going to be part of this post, but I decided to just publish what I had and not wait around. It probably won’t show up next time either, but there’s a YouTube series that might make the column in a couple weeks if I end up liking it. We’ll see!

Ikoku Nikki – 2-3

Why was there a hybrid Japanese-English grammar lesson in the first act of episode 3, and why did it make me tear up? I guess that’s the strength of Ikoku Nikki, a grief-themed josei drama composed almost entirely of natural conversations between two or three characters. That third episode has received a lot of praise online, likely because it marked the first major emotional moment for its orphan protagonist Asa, and while it surely deserves the acclaim, I found the second to be exceptional as well. In that sophomore episode, Asa’s aunt and legal guardian Makio invites her friend Daigo over to their apartment, and maybe it’s just because I’m in awards season mode, but Daigo is already my frontrunner for Best Supporting Character of 2026. Her hiccupy laugh, warm yet patient personality, and teasing relationship with Makio made her an object of fascination for Asa, whose unfamiliarity with adult friendships hints at a past frigidity between her deceased parents. In episode 3, Asa was more active and less observant, but Makio still got some nice scenes, including one where she mistakenly addressed the specter of her sister while retrieving Asa’s belongings from her previous apartment. The show’s psychological breadcrumb trail is longer for Makio than it is for her new ward, but I’m enjoying the pace at which it’s following both paths.

Continue reading “Winter 2026 Check-In – Weeks 2-3” →

Wooper: Who’s ready for another 365 days of anime? I’m certainly not, but Japan won’t stop making the damn things, so our Winter First Impressions will start appearing soon. And what do you know, I actually managed to wrap up my thoughts on what I watched last season before the initial impressions post went live! I’d say “new year, new me,” but nobody is that gullible, so you’ll have to settle for the same old Wooper, plus whichever writers are game to keep this operation running (I know Lenlo will be doing some first impressions, at least). Hope everybody has a happy and healthy 2026 – we’ll be back again in a couple days!

Star Wars Visions S3 – 7-9

Of these last three Visions shorts, “The Smuggler” (number 7) was the most ordinary, with genderswapped Han Solo-esque heroine Chita trafficking a wanted prince away from his home planet – only to agree to take him right back at the script’s conclusion. This reversal underscored the shortsightedness of the writing, which prioritized adherence to a mission over character motivations, but the episode still had its positives, one of which was its animation of facial expressions. The character designs were appealing in general, but Chita’s head tilts and eyebrow arches gave her a good deal more personality than she had on the page alone. The quiet strength of the prince’s tall, thin ex-Jedi guardian was another plus, especially in her battle with a bomb-specializing bounty hunter. The Smuggler isn’t the most memorable of this year’s shorts, but it was fun while it lasted.

Continue reading “Fall 2025 Check-In – Weeks 11-13” →

Hyakushou Kizoku S3 – 7-9

Wooper: Last month I speculated about the possibility of Hyakushou Kizoku running out of material, since new chapters are published only sporadically, but the strength of these episodes makes me think I needn’t have worried. The first of the three was good for a couple laughs, as Hiromu Arakawa’s bovine avatar grinded her teeth about the frequency of agricultural theft, but things really ramped up in episode 8 (36 overall), where she dove into farm romance. The script’s list of increasingly strange but still plausible quirks at farmer’s weddings had me smiling the whole way through, from rushing to finish daily chores just hours before the ceremony to a bouquet toss featuring vegetables rather than flowers. There was also a shoujo manga parody toward the start that I thought might extend beyond the title card, Hoshiiro Girldrop style – and speaking of parodies, Initial D got a pair of references in episode 9, which was about road blockages, of all things. There were obvious ones like herds of escaped cattle, of course, but some accidents also had knock-on effects, such as an overturned manure spreader resulting in obstructive overgrowth a year after the fact. No matter how tight your turn radius, you can’t beat the combination of Mother Nature and fertilizer!

Continue reading “Fall 2025 Check-In – Weeks 9-10” →

Wooper: It’s just me this time, I’m afraid, unless another writer edits their seasonal musings into this post from the future. I was fairly pleased with what I watched over the past two weeks, though, so my usual negativity should be at a minimum here. The third volume of Star Wars Visions has gotten the brunt of it thus far, but I’m so hyped for its final episode that I’d trade eight stinkers in a row for the opportunity to watch the ninth. Hope it’s worth it in the end!

Pokemon Concierge – 6

I never thought I’d be bowled over like this by an episode of a Pokemon show. The franchise isn’t exactly known for its character-driven storytelling, so for Concierge to broach the topic of an elderly man’s abandonment of his Sealeo was an unexpected treat. The man in question is Dan, uncle to one of the series’ side characters in Tyler, and the strain in their relationship that resulted from the older man’s decision was just one of several strong human moments here. Another was the way the show humanized Dan – his concerns about growing too old to care for a Pokemon that could evolve at any time felt rooted in Japan’s real world demographic crisis, but regardless of their origin, the storyline was undoubtedly effective. The animation of Sealeo pushing itself along the ground with its fins, too, directly communicated the Pokemon’s need for freer accommodations than it had received at the old man’s apartment, partially justifying his fears. I’d honestly call this one of the most thoughtfully written anime episodes of the year – the fact that it has a feel-good ending (recruiting Dan to live and work at the resort so he can remain close to his beloved Sealeo) is just the Cheri Berry on top.

Continue reading “Fall 2025 Check-In – Weeks 7-8” →

Wooper: Happy November, all! Though behind the scenes we’re catching up on anime from all throughout 2025 (AOTY season isn’t far off), Lenlo and I still made time to type a few words about currently airing series. Actually, “currently airing” may be a stretch (or an outright lie) for some of my selections, but they’re accurate in his case. I’m hoping to keep these posts on a biweekly schedule from here until year’s end, so enjoy this first of four-ish posts, and we’ll see you in another 14 days or so.

Sanda – 2-6

Lenlo: Up until last weeks episode, Sanda was in a really weird place for me. Very much a Paru Itagaki creation, the author of Beastars, it had this weird obsession with underage sex. From child marriages to Fuyumura seemingly having the hots for/finding comfort in a 60+ year old man, I wasn’t sure what to think. But episode 5 really brought it together for me. Sanda is less about kids getting it on and more about the odd obsession people seem to have in controlling who children are, how they grow up, and what they should or should not feel, including Paru herself with her personal focus on children going through puberty and their sex drives. It’s… interesting. Weird, you can definitely see the resemblance to Paru’s other work, but not nearly as off putting to me. I like how each of the kids are interacting growing up in different ways. Fuyumura isn’t concerned about it at all because to her, growing out of her lanky and awkward body would be a blessing, to Ono it’s terrifying because no one else is changing around her, to Sanda it’s about taking on responsibilities and leaving behind that carefree life of a child, while to Principal Ooshibu it’s the most terrifying thing imaginable. Sure, Santa Claus is an odd metaphor to channel it all through, but like… I’m kinda into it. Combine all of this with a solid production and some of the most striking character designs of the season, and I think Sanda could end up as something great. I just need it to not get to weird with it like Beastars did.

Continue reading “Fall 2025 Check-In – Weeks 2-6” →

Wooper: The fall season is in full swing, which means now is the perfect time to offer weeks-late commentary on some summer anime! I’ve actually had most of these entries written for a while, but another collaborative anime project (which I’m hoping to post before year’s end) delayed the finishing touches. Posts on current series (especially Star Wars Visions and the Tatsuki Fujimoto anthology) will start rolling out in a week or so, but for now, here are my closing thoughts on some of summer’s lesser-seen series.

Captivated By You – 3-5

I was wondering when the Junji Ito-looking dude from this show’s original promo poster would show up. Turns out it wouldn’t be until “Nikaido Behind Me,” a two-part story comprising episodes 4 and 5, which featured an entirely different cast than the first three. I’d have been satisfied if the show had remained at its original all-boys high school until the end, continuing to connect all its stories through the inscrutable Hayashi, but I’d say the detour was worth it for episode 4 in particular. Its Rashomon-style presentation created an interesting relationship between Medaka, an ordinary high school kid, and Nikaido, a willfully gloomy classmate of his, with a mid-episode perspective switch revealing that the latter boy modeled his persona on the former’s temporary misfortune. Though the truth regarding that inspiration is never fully revealed to either character, Medaka quickly learns to see beyond Nikaido’s front, allowing the show to effectively comment on the topic of perception versus reality. (The sequel episode, which followed their class on a trip to Okinawa, offered much less to chew on.)

As for episode 3, I found it to be the weakest of the bunch, though it did manage to address the subject of bullying without inventing a puppy-kicking villain to get its message across, as anime often do. Hayashi played a role in giving the episode’s one-off protagonist the courage to face his tormentor, but the story’s resolution was too tidy, and the closing guitar track gave me ‘corporate training video’ vibes. All in all, Captivated By You didn’t exactly captivate me, but its sister series did – thoughts on that show’s final episode can be found after the jump.

Continue reading “Summer 2025 Check-In – Fall Edition” →

Wooper: I’m still alive, and so is the blog. Being this far behind on currently airing anime is nothing out of the ordinary for me, but when you couple that viewing lag with this column’s supposedly “biweekly” schedule, I’ve definitely dropped the ball this summer. The fall season preview will be punctual, though, going up a week from today. It’s likely to be on the shorter side, as there aren’t too many shows we’re looking forward to next season – but hey, at least it’ll come out when it ought to!

The Summer Hikaru Died – 6-8

The Summer Hikaru Died continues to be one of the standout series of the season, with its two median episodes comprising its lightest and darkest material yet. A decent portion of episode 6 served as an excuse for the show’s teenage cast to spend time together, shooting the breeze, lighting fireworks, and nursing crushes on each other. Tertiary character Yuuta deserves a special mention as one of the better class clowns anime has offered in recent years – both his dual-wielding sparkler display and his freestyle rap were good fun, and his voice actor’s command of English has allowed for a couple nice jokes. Things got a lot less lighthearted as the story progressed, however, with Asako’s spiritual sensitivity compelling Hikaru to make an attempt on her life, which he only aborted due to Yoshiki’s arrival.

That fed into the palpable tension of episode 7, where it slowly became clear that Yoshiki was planning to free his hometown from the grip of the entity possessing his best friend. The direction here was excellent, juxtaposing their class’s beautiful rendition of “Shadow of Our Days” with foreboding images like his father’s revving chainsaw and a washcloth obscuring the vision of one of his mother’s customers at her salon (reflecting Yoshiki’s attempt to blindside his friend with a knife). In the wake of that murder plot’s failure, Hikaru ended up relinquishing half of his supernatural power as a sacrificial gesture, and his newfound weakness ended up coming into play during episode 8, where the boys were attacked by a malevolent spirit after spending the day researching local folklore. Even if it’s not obvious from my sporadic coverage, I’m very interested to see how their uneasy alliance will progress from here on.

Continue reading “Summer 2025 Check-In – Weeks 6-8” →