‘The Way of the Househusband‘ is an original Netflix anime based on Japanese mangaka Kousuke Oono’s series of the same name published in Kurage Bunch magazine. The show is directed by Chiaki Kon and produced by the Tokyo-based animation studio J.C. Staff. Tatsu (Jonah Scott) was a once feared Yakuza hitman known as the Immortal…
Ayako Miura shares her amazing journey from nihilism to Christianity in her autobiography ‘The Wind is Howling: The Autobiography of a Japanese Novelist.’ Following the days of a pre-war Japan, Mrs. Miura takes us on a journey from when she was diagnosed with tuberculosis, an engagement that ended, and her friendship with a fellow patient…
‘Your Name‘ is a 2016 anime fantasy romantic film directed by Makoto Shinkai. Known as ‘Kimi no Na wa‘ in Japan, it was produced by CoMix Wave Films and dubbed via Madman Entertainment. Toho and Funimation distributed it in Japan and the United States respectively. Mitsuha Miyamizu (Stephanie Sheh) is a high school student living…
Ayako Miura (April 25, 1922 – October 12, 1999) was a brilliant novelist, a respected theologian, and one of the most praised Christian writers in Japan. She published eighty works of both fiction and nonfiction with only a handful translated into English. Despite her health troubles, her love for Christ and her call to holiness…
Fans of the hit anime series ‘The Rising of the Shield Hero‘ got a huge bit of good news when it was announced that season two now has a release date of October 2021. Naofumi, Raphtalia, Filo, and the ever-growing team will continue the extra-dimensional waves that are plaguing the world of the Melromarc Kingdom.…
Slice-of-life anime ‘Fruits Basket‘ is preparing to enter its third and final season. The official English Twitter account has confirmed that Funimation will be providing the English dubbing and voice acting as with previous seasons. “Can you believe the last season of Fruits Basket begins in just over a month??” They continued, “Get a refresher…
‘Fruits Basket‘ was recently announced to be entering its final season along with a poster to stir up excitement. Fans of the popular manga and anime were excited at the announcement, despite their despair that the slice-of-life series is coming to an end. Funimation, the company producing the English dub, shared the image on social…
‘The Ramen Girl‘ is a 2006 romantic comedy directed by Robert Allan Ackerman based on a screenplay by Becca Topol. It is co-produced by the film’s star Brittany Murphy. Abby (Brittany Murphy) has moved to Tokyo, Japan to be with her boyfriend Ethan (Gabriel Mann), who breaks up with her after he gets a job…
Fan-favorite manga series ‘One Piece‘ reached an incredible milestone when it published its 1,000th Chapter in the Japanese magazine Weekly Shonen Jump. Created by iconic writer Eiichiro Oda, the series has been running since 1997. For those unfamiliar, the story follows the rubber-powered Monkey D. Luffy, captain of the Straw Hat Pirates, seeking to become…
‘Toradora!’ is a high school “slice of life” romantic comedy anime that ran from 2008 to 2009. The show was created by J.C.Staff, running on TV Tokyo and dubbed by NIS America. It based on the manga by Yuyuko Takemiya. This review is based on the dub. Ryuji Takasu (Erik Scott Kimerer) is a high…
‘A Whisker Away‘ is the English title for the Japanese anime film ‘Nakitai Watashi wa Neko wo Kaburu’ (‘Wanting to Cry, I Pretend to Be a Cat’). It is directed by Junichi Sato and Tomotaka Shibayama, being produced by Studio Colorido. Its English dub was done by Netflix, who released the movie internationally. This review…
Viz Media is releasing the English edition of “Tokyo: Day By Day,” a tour guidebook that “reveals all the hidden treasures the dazzling megacity has to offer for 365 days of the year!” It promises to show not only restaurants and shopping but also some interesting cultural places where you can find inspiring. According to…
Known in Japan as ‘Eien to jidou shuki ningyou’ and directed by Haruka Fujita and Taichi Ishidate, ‘Violet Evergarden: Eternity and the Auto Memory Doll‘ is a spin-off from the anime television series Violet Evergarden. The movie premiered at the AnimagiC 2019 convention in Germany and was released widely in Japan in September 2019. SDI…
Fans of the popular anime series ‘Inuyasha‘ got some good news when it was announced that Viz Media formally announced a new spin-off of the show titled ‘Yashahime: Princess Half-Demon.’ Japanese company Sunrise Inc, who animated the original series, is returning with manga series creator Rumiko Takahashi and episode director Teru Sato of Inuyasha, according…
‘Violet Evergarden’ is an anime television show from Kyoto Animation based on a series of light novels written by Japanese author Kana Akatsuki. The series was dubbed into English by SDI Media and released in the United States by Netflix. Violet Evergarden (Erika Harlacher) was raised as a child soldier in the midst of war.…
The slice-of-life anime reboot Fruits Basket from TMS Entertainment was a surprise hit with viewers thanks in part to its elements of drama and fantasy. Funimation provided the English dubbing for the show and it is returning for a second season. Who would have thought a sweet, kind girl like Tohru could melt the hearts…
Known in Japan as ‘Boku no Hīrō Akademia THE MOVIE: Hīrōzu: Raijingu,’ Funimation did the English version of My Hero Academia: Heroes Rising, directed by Kenji Nagasaki, produced by Studio Bones, and released through the Toho Company. Heroes-in-training and UA class 1-A students are transferred to Nabu Island to work as temporary heroes after the…
2020 is going to be a great year for fan conventions. To kick it off, it was time to head down to the Inland Empire area, California for Anime Los Angeles. Unfortunately, I was not able to attend the entire four-day event, but I managed to catch the festivities of the final day. This event…
Ahead of Toho and Bones Studios releasing ‘Boku no Hīrō Akademia Za Mūb’ also known in English as the film sequel My Hero Academia: Heroes: Rising, it was announced that the movie would introduce two new villains. According to a press release from Funimation, “A pair of brand new villains have been revealed for My…
In the 17th issue of the Japanese manga magazine Weekly Shonen Jump, it was announced that the My Hero Academia: Two Heroes is going to get to get a sequel that will set up the next phase for the acclaimed anime series. ‘Boku no Hīrō Akademia Za Mūb’ also known in English as My Hero…
What better way to celebrate the premier of Dragon Ball Super: Broly than to plug Japanese techno / pop star Inoue Miyu’s 2017 hit single Boogie Back? This song was featured in the closing credits of the popular anime series during the “Tournament of Power” saga and beyond, making it a hit in both Japan and…
Fairy Tail the Movie: Phoenix Priestess is a 2012 Japanese anime film directed by Masaya Fujimori based on the manga and anime Fairy Tail created by Hiro Mashima. Taking place after the ‘Infinity Clock’ story-arc, it is an original story by the staff at the Shochiku movie company with the screenplay being written by Masashi Sogo. This…
Ghost In The Shell is an American remake of the anime film of the same name written by Masamune Shirow. It is directed by Rupert Sanders and written by Jamie Moss, William Wheeler, and Ehren Kruger. Major Mira Killian (Scarlett Johansson) is a product of enhanced cybernetic science created by Hanka Robotics. Humanity has been increasingly…
‘Kite Liberator‘ is a Japanese science fiction anime directed and written by Yasuomi Umetsu. It was produced by the animated studio ARMS and released in North America via Cinedigm Corp. It is 2008 a sequel to the television OVA Kite. Monaka (Xanthe Huynh) is a shy, reserved, and clumsy Tokyo high school student who works…
Kite is a gritty, cyberpunk anime written and directed by Yasuomi Umetsu. Released in 1998, it premiered in Japan as an original video animation (OVA/miniseries) and has a sordid history with censorship. Speaking of which, this review is based on the heavily edited 2000 English dub version. Sawa (Charlie Watson) is an orphaned young girl…
