I’m Quitting Heroing – Episode 1
Ping-ponging between “trash boy comedy” and “bitter boy dramedy,” Quitter Hero really doesn’t seem to know what kind of show it wants to be.
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Healer Girl – Episode 1
There’s something nice about the idea that an artform like song can have physical, literal healing powers—maybe that’s the vibe the series itself is going for. A little bit of simple, yet effective, emotional healing against the backdrop of the world, perhaps.
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Trapped in a Dating Sim: The World of Otome Games is Tough for Mobs – Episode 1
Trapped in a Dating Sim offers some potentially interesting ideas but is helmed by a disagreeable protagonist and, through him, a general sense of disdain for the genre it’s supposedly inhabiting.
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ESTAB LIFE: Great Escape – Episode 1
I have a weakness for high-concept shows that are this blithely earnest and excited about what they’re making (while also being at least a little gay).
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Fanfare of Adolescence – Episode 1
Even if there’s something kinda funny about seeing realistically-rendered horses next to stylized anime humans, the aesthetic of the show overall is really nice.
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Thermae Romae Novae – Episode 1
If it can get back to business and commit to being silly, Novae might hit its stride. But aside from offering me an artistic glimpse into the ancient world, this premiere hasn’t done much.
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Love All Play – Episode 1
A moment of silence for Love All Play, which has started airing just in time to be The Other Badminton Anime. There’s really nothing wrong with it if you’re a dedicated sports anime fan, but there’s not a lot unique to recommend it to anyone but genre diehards.
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Aharen-san wa Hakarenai – Episode 1
When they go to a games arcade after school and Aharen smushes her chubby cheeks up against the glass of a crane game machine, it looks more like Raido is babysitting a young relative rather than… setting up the initial character beats of a rom-com. I hope I don’t have to explain why that’s an issue!
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The Executioner and Her Way of Life – Episode 1
A yuri fantasy series that looks like a gem and is well worth going into unspoiled.
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Ya Boy Kongming! – Episode 1
Come for the plot, and absolutely stay for the plot because Ya Boy Kongming is one part humor, one part historic isekai, and all around heartwarming and fun.
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Chatty AF 159: Dear Brother Watchalong – Episodes 8-15 (WITH TRANSCRIPT)
Vrai, Mercedez, Chiaki, and special guest Diana continue their watchalong with episodes 8-15 of the quintessential anime melodrama, Dear Brother!
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Unsung Heroes: The women of The Heike Story
The creators of The Heike Story go a step further beyond tribute with the character of Biwa: by presenting her as the epic’s original author-performer, the anime adaptation places the theme of female agency front and center in what is otherwise a male-centric work.
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In the Name of Art: Academic burnout in Blue Period
The detrimental effect of academic burnout can be easy to overlook. While the media has had a hand in normalizing these behaviors, stories are starting to crop up that examine the issue critically. Blue Period is an excellent study in the behavior that leads to burnout and the consequences that follow.
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Kotaro Lives Alone – Episode 1
As an initial vibe check, I’d describe Kotaro Lives Alone as “deeply odd, but potentially (???) charming”.
