Author: Roderick J "Jay" Friz

Devil May Cry is the Anime I Never Knew I Needed

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Devil May Cry Season 1 Review

Adapting video games into other mediums can be a tricky subject, but Netflix seems to have done a good job. Over the past few years, they’ve managed to churn out hit after animated hit based on video games, including Castlevania, Arcane, & Tomb Raider. Now, thanks to Studio Mir and director Adi Shankar, they get to add Devil May Cry to that list. And thank all that is holy for that, because I never knew how badly we needed a Devil May Cry animated series until we got it. Especially when you consider some of the talent behind the roles.

Based on Capcom’s popular video game series of the same name, Devil May Cry tells the story of Dante, a human-demon hybrid with cool weapons and an even cooler longcoat. He makes his living by hunting down demons before they can harm his fellow man, but all of that changes when he attracts the attention of two very powerful people. On one side, there’s DARKCOM, led by Baines, the Vice President of the United States, who’s made it their life’s work to hunt down demons. On the other side, there’s the White Rabbit, a being who’s determined to tear down the walls separating Earth from the Demon Realm and bring forth an apocalypse.

The Truth is Often More Complicated

Beyond the initial premise, most of my knowledge about Devil May Cry. doesn’t go beyond the premise of humans fighting demons. Most demons are supposed to be the bad guys we root against, with the exception being Danteโ€™s father for turning on his kind. However, few conflicts are ever that black-and-white in real life, so the same applies here. And while it is true that several of the demons found in the show are ruthless, cold-blooed killers, it also makes us ask an important question: are people born evil, or do they become evil due to what they experience? In other words, the nature vs. nurture debate.

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Over the course of the first season, it’s slowly revealed that the place that humans call Hell is more than deserving of its title…because it’s like that for even its own inhabitants. As it turns out, many of the demons from Hell, or Makai, as they call it, are miserable in their home dimension and want nothing more than to leave. And while Earth is far from a paradise, to them, it’s lightyears better than living in a place where the air’s too dangerous to breathe! The White Rabbit’s entire motivation behind breaking down the barriers is so he can lead the normal demons to a better life. It’s like a dark, twisted version of Moses trying to lead his people to the promised land. Except this time, the suffering of those already living there will end up being more overt. It’s the kind of scenario is which somebody is going to end up suffering, and everyone can wind up losing.

If any of that sounds political, there’s a good reason for that. Over the course of the first season, it becomes more and more apparent that Devil May Cry is drawing from real-life history to fuel its own story. In this case, it’s taking heavy inspiration from the United States’ post-9/11 foreign policies during the 2000s. The main anti-demon force, DARKCOM, is very gung-ho about hunting down and killing demons. And the mere idea that any other demons could be good, or at least not an enemy, is enough to be considered blasphemy or treason. And it doesn’t help that DARKCOM’s leader, an original character named VP Baines, is like a scarier version of a certain Vice President at the time.

The scariest part about him, though? He’s voice by Kevin Conroy.

WE MISS KEVIN CONROY!!!!

At its heart, Devil May Cry is a largely character-driven story. It’s how they interact with each other that helps drive the plot along, and for that to work, the show needs the right people playing the right roles. And did Netflix hit jackpot, because they got two voice acting legends to play leading characters.

Firstly, there is Baines, leader of DARKCOM and Vice President of the United States, played by the late Kevin Conroy. If you don’t know who that is, he was Batman. The GOAT Batman. The voice that everyone thinks of when they think of Batman. Kevin Conroy would provide the voice of Batman off and on for thirty years before passing away from cancer in Novmeber 2022. And, in a surprising move, he had also done the lines for Baines before he died. And he absolutley nailed them! It may not be noticeable at first, but once you recognize the distinctive voice of the caped crusader, you start to see Baines the same way criminals see Batman: fear, awe, and even respect. Kevin gives Baines this air of someone of great faith and belief in his cause, but also someone who is not afraid to be incredibly ruthless. And as time goes on, you start to realize that Baines is far darker than initially thought. It really is a tragedy that Kevin died. If he hadn’t, he could’ve made a new name for himself voicing more sinister characters, just like Mark Hamill did as Joker.

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Then we the man playing Dante. In lieu of getting his voice actor from the games, Netflix decided to get none other than Johnny Yong Bosch. That has proven to be a very good decision. Not only does this mark the second time Johnny’s played a badass gunslinger in a red longcoat, but he manages to bring this snarky, dry wit to the role of Dante. He’s very sarcastic, loves to make quips and pop culture references, and acts like a very chill and confident person, overall. Emphasis on the acting part, because his backstory is as sad as it is in the games, and that’s not even including what he goes through during the show.

GIVE ME MORE!!

Netflix has likely struck gold with its adaptation of Devil May Cry, and it looks like that vein still has some more to be tapped into. The first season of the show ends on a rather grim cliffhanger with a full-blown war between humans and demons set to start. And worse, Dante is in no position to do anything to stop it! It’s clear that Netflix is hoping to make this into a multi-season story…and I’m all for it. I want to see more of this show ASAP.

The first season of Devil May Cry was an absolute banger from start to finish and is worthy of all the praise it’s getting. If you have a Netflix account, I highly recommend that you go check out the show for yourself. It’s well worth the time it would take to binge-watch it.

Shinichirล Watanabe Presents Lazarus

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Lazarus Ep 1 Review

Shinichirล Watanabe, one of the greatest directors in anime history. The director of Cowboy Bebop, Samurai Champloo, and Space Dandy. Next to the late Akira Toriyama, no other man’s works did more to help anime gain a foothold in the West than Shinichirล Watanabe. As longtime fans of Toonami and lovers of anime in general, it wouldn’t be right if the D&A Anime Blog didn’t cover his newest creation, Lazarus. And judging by the first episode, we are going to be in for a banger!

A Doctor Decides to End Humanity

The year is 2055, and humankind is facing potential extinction. Three years earlier, a man named Dr. Skinner released a painkiller called Hapna, a miracle drug that could potentially end all disease and pain. Most of mankind started taking the drug, and a while, it looked like the world was on the path to utopia. But then Skinner, who had gone into hiding a year earlier, gave mankind a message: Hapna was a giant trap.

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In a nutshell, Skinner said โ€œscrew all of humanity, weโ€™re unworthy to keep living. You have a month to prove me wrong.โ€

From the outset, Lazarus is already showing all the hallmarks that make Watanabeโ€™s works great. The cyberpunk, retro-futuristic aesthetic. The use of smooth jazz as background music. The incredibly attractive main characters with cool attitudes. It feels very much like Lazarus is meant to be a spiritual successor to Cowboy Bebop, and nowhere is this better seen than with the main male lead, Axel Gilberto.

The Second Coming of Spike Spiegel

If Spike Spiegel was the Lupin III of the 90s, then Axel could very well be the Spike of the 2020s. Hes got parkour skills that would make an Assassinโ€™s Creed lover green with envy. He’s got Spikeโ€™s amazing sense of fashion and the confidence that made him a great husbando. And he’s got Lupinโ€™s uncanny ability to talk his way out of any situation. In the span of the first episode, he proceeds to break out of the prison he’s in, outrun the police, and outsmart a police officer that doesn’t recognize him until itโ€™s too late. The best part? He was serving 888 years in prison because he kept escaping like it was a game to him. The only reason he gets caught by the task force being assembled is because he’s caught off-guard.

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While Axel serves as the main focus of the episode, the premiere does introduce viewers to the other members of the titular Lazarus. Each of them is quirky in their own way, and they all seem to have their own unique talents. One is a college student who’s great with drones. Another is this girl who’s a master hacker. There’s a man whose good with guns, and we have this woman who feels like an expy of Faye Valentine. I can’t remember who is who yet, but I’m sure that will change in the next episode or so.

This is Gonna be Fun

Overall, Lazarus looks to be another big hit from the mind of Shinichirล Watanabe, but there’s another reason why the anime could be one of the big hits of the spring season: its name. Lazarus is often a name associated with the act of resurrection. There’s the biblical Lazarus, who was raised from death by Jesus. There’s the Lazarus Pits from DC comics, able to grant long life and revive the dead. And now we have the team, formed in order to save mankind from possible extinction. Itโ€™s possible that Dr Skinner is bluffing and that this is one big test to see how humanity will react to potential annihilation. However, I doubt that anyone would make such an announcement without be willing to back it up. Either way, this si going to be one fun adventure.

I Give โ€œGoodbye Cruel Worldโ€ a 4/5

Baby Arthur Almost Dies

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The Beginning After the End Ep 2 Review

The Beginning After the End is only in its second episode, but the Internet seems to hate it already. The two most common complaints are that a.) it’s copying Mushoku Tensei, and b.) the animation is terrible. They’re not wrong; TurtleMe admitted Mushoku Tensei was a big inspiration for TBATE. And when comparing TBATE to the mega-hit that is Solo Leveling, the animation is severely lacking. But to encourage people to at least read the web novel and comic, we’ll keep reviewing the show.

The Anime-Original Scene is Decent

Like the first episode, the second episode of TBATE includes an original scene that helps shed light on Arthur’s past life as King Grey. This memory shows Grey dealing with an attempted assassin from a foreign country as well as his family. Knowing that they will all face death upon returning home, Grey chose to spare the assassin’s wife and child a horrific end by killing them with his own weapon.

This moment might seem cruel and heartless to others, but it actually speaks volumes about Grey’s true character. Were he truly as cruel as everyone (even himself) thought he was, he would’ve let them all face the cruel death that awaited them. Instead, he chose to give them a mercy killing. This moment shows how Grey was a good person at heart but had to be ruthless to survive in his dangerous world. Furthermore, it provides further context about Grey’s ultimate decision during the episode’s climax.

Unfortunately, the rest of the episode proves to be severely lacking when it comes to adapting the story.

After realizing just how gifted Arthur is, his parents argue what they should do about his future. Reynolds wants him to study in an elite school, while Alice thinks he’s too young to leave his parents behind. Arthur solves things with a “here’s a bright idea” moment: they all move to the big city together. It’s a little funnier in the webcomic, with images of the parents fighting with armies made out of their dinner, though.

On the Road

This decision to move leads to the introduction of the Leywin’s former adventuring party, Twin Horns, who help escort them to their new destination. However, I’m not even sure if the name of the city they’re headed is brought up. If it wasn’t, that was one of several minor details and moments from the webcomic that helped to flesh out the world and its inhabitants that the anime chose to leave out. It might seem like a good idea to cut out things like the group bonding over things beyond eating together or Arthur helping their youngest, Jasmine, train. However, when you’re going to be telling a story that requires extensive world-building and character development, that’s not a good idea. Taking the time to develop everything early on will help maintain interest in the long run.

The moments that the anime does choose to focus on are the fighting scenes, which normally wouldn’t be a bad thing. When done right, a good fight scene can carry an entire episode. However, the anime is hindered by the fact that it’s very poorly animated. The worst example is during the sparring match between Arthur and Twin Horns member Adam. It’s neither exciting nor eye-catching, which doesn’t help things.

The one good thing that I could say about all this is the fact that we get to see Arthur do a ninja run from Naruto. As a Naruto fan, seeing this get referenced will never not make me smile.

Sadly, Arthur’s family trip to the city gets cut short by what could be described as either a turning point or canon event as their group is ambushed by bandits. In the fight that ensues, Arthur is ordered to take his mom to safety, as she’s pregnant with her and Reynold’s second child. Sadly, a mage catches them in their crosshairs, and, to save his mom’s life, Arthur’s forced to sacrifice himself.

Okay, the Anime Helped This Moment, at Least!

This is the moment that that anime-original scene helps elevate in importance. As he’s falling off that cliff, Arthur notes the irony of him now being in the same position as that assassin from his first life: giving up his life for the ones he loved. Since he had to close himself off from others, this is another important milestone in his life. And, to his credit, it’s a lesson that Rudeus took longer to understand. The sad thing is, it comes right as he’s apparently about to die. And for extra tragedy points, right as he learned he was about to be a big brother.

Thankfully, there’s a post-credits scene revealing that Arthur survived the fall. But as with other examples in this episode, the anime cut out a few things for the sake of time and to set up the next episode.

Studio A-Cat, You Have Some ‘Splainin to do

For the second week in a row, TBATE fails to meet expectations. This time, though, it feels even worse, considering how they cut out so much from the webcomic. If they were going to do it, then maybe they should’ve split things up into more than one episode. In addition, I think everyone’s reactions to Arthur’s apparent death could have been more emotionally distraught. As distraught as Eris was when she saw Rudy almost die at the hands of Orsted.

Here’s hoping that things start to get better in the next few episodes. Otherwise, this show is going to become infamous for doing a disservice to the source material.

In the meantime, go read the novel and webcomic!

I Give โ€œThe King, Under Attackโ€ a 2.5/5

TBATE, I know you can do Better

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The Beginning After the End Ep 1 Review

In my time on this blog, you have heard me mention something called “The Seven Summits of Isekai.” Putting it simply, it’s a term I use for what I consider to be the titans of the isekai genre. The series that put in the legwork to make the worlds the protagonists get summoned and/or reborn into feel real. In other words, the good stuff that stands mountains above the usual isekai fare. Mushoku Tensei is among those seven, and, after reading over the webcomic, I was looking forward to adding its spiritual younger brother, The Beginning After the End, to the group. However, after seeing the first episode, I may need to rethink its membership.

For those who haven’t already, I highly recommend you head over and read my initial overview of the series, as it does a good job of explaining the basic premise. This way, I can dive in, review the first episode, and explain why TBATE is going to be fighting an uphill battle.

A Small Divergence from Mushoku Tensei

Over the years, TBATE has been accused of being too similar to the likes of Mushoku Tensei, and its detractors aren’t wrong. As the first episode deals with King Grey’s death in his first life and the beginning of his new life as Arthur, it copies a lot from the start of Mushoku Tensei. Like Rudeus before him, Arthur milks his time as a baby for all its worth to help give himself an early advantage in life. Which eventually leads to both of them revealing their apparent genius in the most explosive way possible.

While it may seem like this is a word-for-word copy of the moment when Rudy blew a hole in his childhood home. However, there’s one major difference between him and Arthur that changes how things play out: their reactions. Unlike Rudy, who was never in any real danger afterwards, Arthur almost dies thanks to some falling debris, only for his dad to save him. It was this experience that finally made the former king-turned-baby realize something that Rudy wouldn’t fully understand until he was an adult: Alice and Reynolds are his parents. They love him, and he loves them, and this realization leads to all them having this very heartwarming moment together. The kind of moment that Rudeus wishes he could have had with his own family before he left Buena Village. It’s very sweet to see…

Is what I would say. Except there’s one problem with this anime that’s so bad, even I notice it: the animation.

The animation…is trash

There’s no easy way to say this about The Beginning After the End: the animation is trash.

I normally don’t put that much attention onto the animation quality for a series, as I usually care more about the storytelling. It allows me to overlook moments that may not have the best animation in order to enjoy the story to its fullest. However, when the animation quality is so bad that even I notice it, then there’s something very wrong.

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Everything about the animation in the first episode only serves to fuel the allegations that TBATE is a cheap knock-off of Mushoku Tensei. That, in turn, will only harm its reputation in the long run. I know how stressful the the anime industry can be, but the people behind this should at least have some level of standard that they’re trying to uphold. Mushoku Tensei was able to get an entire studio founded just so it could succeed in being the best, so why can’t TBATE?

I have become a fan of The Beginning After the End, but it’s seeing the anime in action that makes me question whether this will be worth watching or not. This might be a rare instance in which the webcomic or manga might be better than the anime, and that’s not something that I like to see take place. That being said, I’m going to keep reviewing the anime anyway. If we’re lucky, the story will help to offset the poor animation long enough for it to gain traction. Until then, though…

AARON! Solo Leveling stays the manwha king!

I Give “The Rebirth of the King” a 2/5

The Beginning After the End Has a Long Road Ahead of it

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The Beginning After the End Initial Overview

A month ago, Aaron and I were talking on Discord about the then-upcoming spring 2025 season of anime. Somewhere in the conversation, he brought up an upcoming isekai anime that, he claimed, could be bigger than Solo Leveling. It was called The Beginning After the End, and it was something that I had vaguely recalled hearing about. Despite being skeptical about his claims, they still intrigued me. Thus, I found myself jumping online and binge-reading through the webcomic that the anime would be adapting. Within a few days, I had read through the majority of the chapters currently out. And, while I still remain skeptical about its ability to be better than Solo Leveling, I do think The Beginning After the End is a good read.

A Western Isekai

Firstly, let us clarify some things: while The Beginning After the End, or TBATE, has gotten an anime adaptation, it doesn’t originate from Japan. In fact, its author, who goes by the moniker TurtleMe, is American. He’s been writing the ongoing TBATE web novel since 2017, with the webcomic coming a year later. If you want to check out the latest chapters, find them on Tapas, or join his Patreon for early access.

As its name suggests, The Beginning After the End is an isekai, and it begins with an essential moment in the protagonist’s life: his death. The protagonist, Grey, was a man who had risen to become the King of his nation on a potential future version of Earth. However, his life was miserable, with his status as King depriving him of any family or friends. Worse, it gets cut short in his mid-thirties by a death so sudden, not even he knows why he died. Being an isekai, his death only means he gets reincarnated into another world filled with swords and magic. While initially unhappy with being a baby in such a medieval setting, Grey, now going by Arthur Leywin, soon sees the second chance he’s been given. Thus, he resolves to make sure his new life is everything that his old one isn’t. IE, one filled with warmth and kindness and surrounded by the friends and family he never really had his first time around.

This is Not Like Rudeus…mostly.

If the synopsis sounds similar to Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation, there’s a good reason. In an interview with IGN, TurtleMe said that Mushoku Tensei was one of the biggest inspirations behind The Beginning After the End. Both center around a protagonist who had an unhappy first life before suffering from a premature death. Both are reborn as babies to loving parents in a world dominated by the use of magic and medieval technology. And both use their prior knowledge to help them get ahead in life in order to ensure they live their new lives to the fullest. While some may see this as TurtleMe merely copying Mushoku Tensei’s formula, there are several differences that become apparent as time passes.

Firstly, while they both had similarly unhappy lives and premature deaths, Arthur is radically different from Rudeus. Rudeus had plenty of chances to better himself and open up to others in his first life and wasted them. While Grey also chose to cut himself off from others past a certain point, it was so he couldn’t be manipulated by others once he became king, leaving him little choice in the matter. In addition, there’s how both see their families in their new lives. Rudeus never considered Paul and Zenith his parents until after Paul’s death, something he regrets. In contrast, Arthur initially keeps his distance due to not knowing what familial love is due to being an orphan in his first life. Once he understands the feeling, though, he doesn’t hesitate to consider Alice and Reynolds his mom and dad and becomes fiercely protective of them.

Secondly, while their plots start off similiarly, past a certain point, TBATE diverges from Mushoku Tensei. While Mushoku Tensei will come to encompass this grand plot involving the future for the world, it remains largely focused on the life of Rudeus and his growing family. In contrast, Arthur begins to find himself involved in a conflict that’s bigger than he ever thought possible. The kind of conflict that has the potential to end the world if things go bad. Rudeus will go on to fight great battles in the future, but none will be on the scale of what Arthur and his allies will come to face.

Lastly, and this is the most important part, is the fact that Arthur is nowhere near as flawed as Rudeus was starting out. In other words, Arthur is not as h**ny as Rudeus can be. In fact, that can apply to the entire world of TBATE. They’re nowhere near down bad as Rudeus’ new world is!

There’s Always the Web Novel and Comic

I can’t reveal anything further regarding the plot of TBATE without spoiling things. However, while the anime might not be as good as it could be, I do still think that the webcomic is worth the read. If you want to give it a shot yourself, then I highly recommend going to TAPAS and helping to support TurtleMe. He’s also got a patreon where he releases chapters of the web novel early. I might end up supporting him myself if it means he can keep making this story.

Warm Up This Spring With Some New Anime

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RJ Writing Ink’s Picks for Spring 2025 Anime to Look Out for

The sakura blossoms are in bloom, and that means that spring is finally here! While that means that it’s time for anime lovers to say goodbye to the winter’s big hits like Solo Leveling, Zenshu, Sakamoto Days and more, there’s no reason to fret. Spring 2025 is packed with potential hits. From newcomers trying to make their mark to returning veterans, there will be plenty of anime to binge this spring.

I’m RJ Writing Ink for the D&A Anime Blog, and this is a list of some of the anime that people will likely be paying attention to this spring. Yes, I’m going to be watching most of it. Yes, there’s a chance I’m going to review some of this. And yes, I am aware that by the time this goes up, many of these will be out! That’s a consequence of covering four series at once over the course of the winter!

The Beginning After the End, April 2nd

Isekai anime might be dime a dozen these days, but that doesn’t mean there won’t be a diamond in the rough. For the Spring 2025 season, that diamond might be The Beginning After the End, or TBATE. Based on the Korean-American Web Novel and Webcomic of the same name, TBATE is about Arthur Llewyn. Formerly known as Grey, Arthur was a powerful king in his first life before abruptly dying a mysterious death and waking up in a world of swords and magic. Now going by Arthur, the former king strives to master the powers that govern this new world while also making sure to enjoy everything that he missed out on in his first life.

Full disclosure: I’ve binge-read most of the webcomic after Aaron reccomended it to me, saying it could become the next Solo Leveling. While I wouldn’t got that far, the series certainly lives up to TV Tropes description of it being “Mushoku Tensei meets Naruto.” Since I love both of them, that makes it worth my time. The one downside is that everyone is complaining how basic the animation is compared to the likes of Mushoku Tensei and Solo Leveling. Hopefully, that won’t be too much of an issue.

Wind Breaker, Season 2, April 3rd

Let’s get ready to rumble!!! Wind Breaker, the deliquent anime of spring 2024, is back for round two. This time, Haruka Sakura and the members of Bofurin are up against a ruthless gang going by the name of KEEL. And from the looks of the trailer, the boys of Bofurin are going to be in for one heck of a challenge.

Despite seeming like another series extolling how cool the rebel deliquent life seems to be, Wind Breaker turned out to be an anime with a surprising amount of depth to it when it first aired. The fights themselves are well-choreographed and often serve as a means for the story to elaborate on why the characters are fighting in the first place. It may still be a series about fighitng, but sometimes, the questions of why people fight and what’s worth fighting for can be just as interesting as the fights themselves.

Devil May Cry, April 3rd

DMC fans, your prayers have been answered. Capcom’s popular half-human, half-demon Demon Hunter is getting another anime. And from the looks of things, it’s going to be an absolute banger. Set in an alternate contiunity from the games, Devil May Cry will follow Demon Hunter Dante as he comes face to face with the villainous White Rabbit as he attempts to stage a demonic invasion of Earth.

I know very little about Devil May Cry beyond the basic premise, but that doesn’t stop me from thinking this series has the potential to be one of the big hits of the season. Firstly, the animation looks absolutley gorgeous, brought to life by Studio Mir of Kipo and My Adventures with Superman fame. Secondly, the voice cast has multiple legends among it, with Johnny Yong Bosch voicing Dante this time around. However, it’s the inclusion of the late Kevin Conroy and Tony Todd that’s gotten plenty of people talking. Having recorded their lines for the show before their passings, this will likely be the final chance people will get to hear the GOAT Batman and Candyman. And I’m going to take full advantage of it.

One Piece, April 6th

It’s only been six months, but if you’re a One Piece fan, it’s felt like an eternity. After going on a vacation for the first time in its history, One Piece is returning with the second half of the Egghead Island Arc. When we last left off, the anime had just finished going over all of the major events that were taking place in the world at large while the Straw Hats are busy on Egghead Island. With everything abroad now wrapped up, though, the series is ready to focus on the Straw Hats as they try to defend the island and the genius Dr. Vegapunk from the forces of the World Government.

And things are only going to get crazier from here.

I’ve been covering every chapter of the One Piece manga on my own blog for years, so I know what’s going to happen with the rest of this arc. I am not exaggerating when I say fans are in for an absolute emotional rollercoaster. I can’t even say anything about what happens without veering into spoiler territory. What I will say is that you should be prepared for some of the most exciting moments in One Piece history as well as some of the most heart-breaking, tearjerking ones. Keep tissues ready!

Witch Watch, April 6th

This rom-com on Netflix is about Morihito Otogi, an ogre who looks like a human who’s loving his best high school life. Until, that is, his childhood friend, the witch-in-training Nico Wakatsuki, moves in with him and decides to make him her familiar. While Morihito is supposed to guard Nico, his job gets harder due to the fact that a.) she lets everyone know she’s a witch, and b.) she is madly in love with him.

After the end to 100 Girlfriends, I’m going to be needing a new rom-com fix. And judging by the description to Witch Watch, this series looks to be right up my alley. I’m a big sucker for the childhood friend romance trope, so I’m sure to enjoy whatever will happen here!

Lazarus, April 6th

If something seems too good to be true, that’s because it is. That is the lesson that the world learns when they discover the wonder drug, Hapna, will soon kill everyone who took it. The only way to prevent this is to find its creator, Dr. Skinner, in the next thirty days. Thus, the worldโ€™s best hope for salvation is in the hands of the task force known as Lazarus.

If this series feels like the second coming of Cowboy Bebop, that’s because it is. This series was created by none other than Shinichirล Watanabe, AKA the creator of Cowboy Bebop. Considering how instrumental the adventures of Spike Spiegel were in bringing anime westward, having Watanabeโ€™s next work come to Toonami is a big deal. This has the potential to be this generationโ€™s Cowboy Bebop, and I am all in for that idea! Bring on the gunfights!

My Hero Academia: Vigilantes, April 7th

The story of Deku and Class 1-A might be winding down, but there are still plenty of stories to tell in the world of My Hero Academia. Nowhere is this shown better than with the new prequel series, MHA: Vigilantes. Taking place five years before the events of the main series, Vigilantes follows a pair of aspiring heroes who, after various things happen, wind up becoming unlicensed Heroes. Now they have to fight evil while staying outside the reach of the law.

The big irony of the world of My Hero Academia is that the concept of superheroes has become a profession rather than an ideal. In most works of fiction, superheroes are often vigilantes operating outside the law; people let them do this because they tend to be good at it. If the original MHA focuses on world-ending threats, then Vigilantes is going to be the series that focuses more on the streets, like Batman and Daredevil would. Either way, this should tide people over until the final season hits this fall.

Any anime we missed? I know that there are going to be anime we missed, so let us know in the comments below!

All Hail Sung Jin-woo, our Glorious King

Aside Roderick J "Jay" Friz Anime, Anime Reviews, Crunchyroll , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Solo Leveling: Arise from the Shadows S2 Ep 13 Review

It pains me to say this, but the second season of Solo Leveling has come to a close. But after everything that has happened this season, there’s likely not an anime fan out there who hasn’t heard about it. After seeing what he managed to do in the last episode, there won’t be a person in Korea who doesn’t know about Sung Jin-woo, the hero of Jeju Island. Since Solo Leveling is such a good story, though, the falling action is as good as the climax. However, the anime did manage to miss a few details that feel like a mistake to leave out. And for good reason.

Why did the anime skips this?

Looking back on last week’s episode, one problem with its ending (besides being horribly timed) was it left out a key part of Jin-wooโ€™s thoughts. He later acknowledges this to Chairman Go, but in the manwha, Jin-woo spends the time after his failed attempts to save Cha Hae berating himself. He acknowledges that Hunters like Byung-Gu wouldn’t have died if he had chosen to go on the Raid from the start. Itโ€™s an important self-criticism that serves as a reminder that, despite now being the strongest in Korea, Sung Jin-woo is still human. It feels like a mistake not to include that in the anime, and that’s only the first one the episode makes.

The second has to do with how it portrays the way Jin-woo saves Cha Hae. I can’t remember if the anime brings it up, but Jin-woo actually has a moral code regarding his necromancy. Having learned he can revive dead humans, Jin-woo vowed to never use that power on another human unless they were evil or deserved it. Kim Chul proved to be a horrible man, so he got that treatment. In contrast, Byung-Gu was an incredibly kind person who hated violence. The fact that Jin-woo was willing to break his own rule is meant to highlight how serious and desperate he was about saving Cha Hae. In addition, whereas he revived him on the first try in the anime, he almost fails to do so in the manwha. Jin-woo has to actually convince Byung-Gu to come back to save someone one last time before it works.

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Beyond that, though, the outcome remains the same. Cha Haeโ€™s life is saved, and Jin-woo agrees to let Byung-Gu rest in peace. Itโ€™s a very emotional moment that earns him a great deal of respect from Byung-Guโ€™s comrades.

Besides, Byung-Gu is nothing in comparison to the real reward: the Ant King himself. Or should we say, Beru?

Welcome to the force, Beru

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The anime does a really good job of capturing the importance of Jin-woo reviving the Ant King. The fact that he can already talk, something no other Shadow can do, emphasizes how special this Shadow is. Also, Beru is a combination of two names: Bernard Weber, a French author who wrote a fiction series about ants; and Meruem, AKA the OG Ant King. Beru more than proves worthy of being Jin-wooโ€™s first shadow general, helping to wipe out most of the remaining ants. Thanks to Jin-woo and the Hunters of Korea, most of the leaderless ants are easy pickings. What could’ve spelt the end of Korea becomes a huge victory for the country.

As for Japanโ€ฆwell, the man in charge brought what happened upon himself. Now he has to live with the fact that 70% of his countryโ€™s S-Ranks are dead. And will likely lose his job in the near future.

By the way, Jin-woo does try to revive the Ant Queen in the manwha, but he abandons that when he realizes that the Queenโ€™s useless as an undead Shadow. That, and it divides the loyalty of the Shadow Ants.

Commence the Praise!

With Jeju Island no longer a threat, Korea is free to mourn those lost. While people give him valid criticism (which he acknowledges), everyone says that Sung Jin-woo is the hero of Jeju Island. While he could’ve helped from the start, joining at such a critical moment saved Korea from destruction. Thus, most people are giving him all the glaze (like I have been.) He’s now the apex predator of the country; the strongest.

So, what now?

Thanks to the experience from the Raid on Jeju Island, Jin-woo has hit an important milestone: Level 100. He’s stronger than he’s ever been. And while some might sit on their throne and reap the rewards, Jin-woo isn’t like that. He’s already making plans to form his own guild with Jinho. And at that this point, he doesn’t need to hide the fact that he can solo an entire dungeon. Yet, not everything is well.

During the cleanup on Jeju Island, one of the teams of Hunters were attacked by two unknown beings. I can’t say who they are without spoiling things, but let me make this clear: Jin-woo will need to fight them in the near future. And right now, not even he may be enough to win. Which is why he needs to keep getting stronger. Not to protect his title, but to protect the people he cares about.

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Now we Wait

Sadly, this is where the season of Solo Leveling comes to an end. At this time, there is no news that can confirm nor deny whether there will be a third season. However, given its meteoric rise to prominence in the anime world in just over a year, people are going to want to see the rest of the story animated. Its not a question of if it will happen, but when. And with the fights only going to get crazier (trust me), Solo Leveling could wind up being one of the biggest anime of the decade.

Until that day comes, though, feel free to go and read the manwha for yourself. Or stick around for a review of the game Solo Leveling Arise. Or go watch YouTubers like AniNews or Anime Balls Deep as they break down the series.

Edit: Third Season drops next year.

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I Give “Onto the Next Target” a 4/5

Until Next We Meet, 100 Girlfriends!

Aside Roderick J "Jay" Friz Anime, Anime Reviews, Crunchyroll , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The 100 Girlfriends Who Really, Really, Really, Really, REALLY Love You S2 Ep 12 Review

Last time on 100 Girlfriends Z, Karane Inda willingly gave up her tsundere-ness due to her own insecurities. But everyone quickly agreed that they preferred Karane the way she was and tried to restore her former self. When Kusuriโ€™s reversing drug failed to solve the problem, it was up to Rentaro to come up with a way to restore the Karane everyone knows and loves. Will his solution make any sense, or will it parody one of the greatest shonen anime of all time? What sort of crazy hijinks will ensue on the season finale? And will we get a third season? All of those questions, except for that last one, get answered now!

Operation: Get Our Tsun On

If the above introduction sounded like the intro to an episode of Dragon Ball Z, then that was the point. The 100 Girlfriends has already garnered attention by its parody of DBZ earlier in the season. However, it’s not done; instead, it double dips in the finale with the Rentaro Familyโ€™s attempts to return Karane to normal. Instead of trying to explain it myself, lets just have the anime sum things up:

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That’s right. They’re going to make a tsundere spirit bomb and throw it at Karane. And it is as hilarious as it sounds! But since 100 Girlfriends is a parody, they can do this sort of thing!

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In all seriousness, though, this episode does a good job of continuing the seriesโ€™ deconstruction of the tsundere. While the last episode showed us how hard being a tsundere can be on oneโ€™s mental state, this episode shows us just how amazing Karane is. When Rentaro is holding the tsundere spirit bomb, he’s barely able to withstand the sheer power it radiates and starts saying the opposite of what he really means. The fact that Karane has to overcome this sort of thing every time she expresses her love for Rentaro is nothing short of superhuman. To put it simply, Karane isn’t just a tsundere; she’s the Queen of Tsunderes! And it is great to have her back halfway through the episode.

We Really, Really, Really, Really, Really Love Rentaro

The remainder of the season finale can be best described as the anime just having fun with itself and breaking the fourth wall like never before. The fact that the show acknowledges its doing a chapter out of order so it can include Meme and Mimimi, who weren’t there in the manga, is hilarious. The series gives absolutely no fโ€™s about what its doing; it just wants to have fun with its ridiculous premise.

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However, nothing can compare to the final moments of the episode as the anime recreates one of the greatest moments from the entire manga.

This is one of the greatest moments in the history of the harem and rom-com genres. If we had to make a comparison, this is harem equivalent to the legendary Seven-Page-Muda from JoJoโ€™s Bizarre Adventure. Some people openly criticized the anime for apparently skipping over this scene. However, having it wait to use until the finale was genius. And yes, this actually happened in the manga, cementing Rentaro as a CHAD among CHADS!! The ultimate boyfriend that every woman deserves!

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Here’s Hoping We Get a Season Three

Sadly, this is where we must part ways with the 100 Girlfriends Who Really, Really, Really, Really, Really Love You. Unfortunately, there is no news as to whether or not the anime will be getting a third season. Which is sad, because that means we wonโ€™t get to see all the girlfriends that have yet to be revealed. Then again, if they tried to follow the series to the end, the anime industry might not have enough people to voice everyone.

If this is the end, though, Iโ€™d recommend going to read the manga. Because the girlfriends are going to get even crazier from here on out. Some of them you will absolutely adore, while others you will end up hating. However, that’s part of the fun for this series! And I, for one, Really, Really, Really, Really, Really Love The 100 Girlfriends Who Really, Really, Really, Really, REALLY Love You.

I Give “100 Girlfriends Who Really, Really, Really, Really, REALLY Love You (89 to go)” a 4/5

Karane Lost her Tsundere?!?

Aside Roderick J "Jay" Friz Anime, Anime Reviews, Crunchyroll , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The 100 Girlfriends Who Really, Really, Really, Really, Really Love You Season 2 Ep 11 Review

It’s sad to say it, but the second season of The 100 Girlfriends is almost at an end. We’ve met all the new girlfriends, ranging from the big eater to the super shy girl, as they’ve joined the Rentaro Family. However, the show would be remiss to end its sophomore outing without another big arc. Last season ended with the Family saving Hakari…and having her mother join the Family. However, this season is ending with a potentially greater crisis that could change Karane forever: she loses her tsundere-ness!

Karane’s Insecurities Boil Over

Karane Inda was one of the first two girlfriends and serves as the Rentaro Familyโ€™s resident tsundere. Whenever she gets flustered or embarrassed, she reacts in a defensive manner and goes, โ€œItโ€™s not like I *insert whatever she is being a tsundere about*!โ€ In keeping with the series deconstructing waifu archetypes, she also serves as the Familyโ€™s straight man. She will not hesitate to call out everyone when their nonsense goes too far, and biting remarks are legendary. She is, frankly, the both the ultimate personification and antithesis of the tsundere, an archetype that I adoreโ€ฆbut Karane herself hates.

One of the recurring themes surrounding Karane is how deeply insecure she is about herself. Whenever she gets flustered, she says the opposite of what she really feels, and she fears that this might drive Rentaro and the others away for good. And the more she falls in love with Rentaro, the harder it gets for her to express herself, and the worse her insecurities get. So much so that when Kusuri leaves a drug meant to un-tsundereify a person, she takes it. The result? Karane becomesโ€ฆsuper nice and normal?!?!

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We Want our Karane Back

After getting over their initial shock (and Hakari enjoying Karane’s newfound honesty), everyone quickly agrees they hate this new, timid Karaneโ€”so much so that they want to get started on making a reversing drug right away. However, they’re even more shocked when Karane adamantly refuses to consider taking such a drug. She thinks that she, and everyone else, would be better off if she wasn’t a tsundere, showing just how little self-esteem she really has.

While 100 Girlfriends is first and foremost a comedy/parody, what makes it stand out is its willingness to deconstruct the pitfalls of different waifu archetypes. In this case, Karane is a strong example of how being a tsundere can potentially negatively impact one’s self-esteem. They have to try even harder than most people to express themselves properly. Even then, many protagonists have often been unable to pick up on a tsundere’s true feelings, which only makes things worse.

Thankfully, Rentaro is built different from most harem protagonists. He’s genre-savvy enough to understand that when Karane says she hates something, she usually means the opposite. More importantly, he finds her mixture of pride and shyness to be incredibly endearing, which I wholeheartedly agree with. So, using his CHADtaro powers to remind her that he fell in love with her despite her flaws, Rentaro convinces Karane to restore her normal self.

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There’s one problem: the drug doesn’t work.

This is Going to be Tougher than we Thought

In an interesting twist, the reversing drug doesn’t work. In order for it to take affect, the others need to subject Karane to enough external stimuli to provoke the proper response from her brain. In other words, they have to get her so flustered that she starts tsund-ing again. Sadly, all their efforts while staying at the Hanazono home manage to do is prove two things:

  1. Hakari’s body is incredibly sensitive to touch.
  2. Hahari gets so many nosebleeds, her staff has blood transfusion equipment on standby.
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This is going to be harder than the Family thought, but with one episode left in the season, they’re bound to help Karane return to her usual, lovable self. Without her, the Family won’t have its straight man, which could be disastrous with how they are.

I Give “Tsundere Lost” a 4.5/5

Zenshu Gets a Happy Ending! TAKE THAT, HAG BIRD!

Aside Roderick J "Jay" Friz Anime, Anime Reviews, Crunchyroll , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Zenshu Ep 12 Review

And thatโ€™s a wrap, people! After three months, twelve episodes, and a ton of shout-outs to great anime and the people who made them, Zenshu is over! And what an ending it was! At the end of the last episode, it looked as though Kametaroโ€™s horrendously depressing ending was going to come true. In his grief over the loss of Natsuko, Luke had destroyed the final Soul Future, heralding the arrival of the Ultimate Void. Yet, thereโ€™s something that that old bag of a director never understood about humanity: that no matter how bad things may get for us, we keep looking for a light in the dark. In this case, that lightโ€™s name is Natsuko Hirose.

Don’t put too much stock into Destiny

Picking up where the previous episode left off, the transformation of Luke into the Ultimate Void helps us to understand why the mindless monsters are called Voids. In a nutshell, theyโ€™re the personification of the despair that people can hit when they begin to think that nothing they do matters. Itโ€™s something that everyone will experience at some point in their lives, and theyโ€™re left with two options. They can either give into despair like Luke, or they can do what Natsuko does: roll up their sleeves and tell despair to shove it. And does Natsuko tell despair and hopelessness to shove it.

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Even as the entire world begins to fall to pieces and everyone gets the Thanos dusting treatment, Natsuko refuses to give up. She draws harder than sheโ€™s ever drawn anything before. She draws an army of Lukes and throws them at the personification of hopelessness and despair. Thereโ€™s probably some sort of deeper meaning behind it, but itโ€™s hard to find over the sheer amount of awesome animation.

Despite being the last one standing, Natsuko gets some unexpected aid from someone she thought was gone for good: QJ! Memeln and her friends gathered the fragments of his body and rebuilt him just in time for him to come to Natsukoโ€™s aid. And together, the two of them manage to do the impossible. They change the ending of the story.

Not the first time I’ve seen a world remade

Some people might complain about how Natsuko effectively rebuilt the entire world into one where the Voids no longer exist. They may take Kametaroโ€™s side and say that itโ€™s a lame cop-out that makes no sense. I, on the other hand, think that itโ€™s the right kind of deus ex machina. Then again, this isnโ€™t the first time Iโ€™ve seen a protagonist recreate the world from nothing, nor will it be the last.

Sadly, the happy ending is mired by the fact that Natsuko returns to her world, with Luke vowing to come find her, somehow. No explanation as to how the film was capable of creating an alternate world given, nor any explanation as to why Natsuko got summoned to it or got her powers. Nor do we get a chance to see Luke and Natsuko kiss. In fact, the only proof that this wasnโ€™t a dream brought on by a near-death experience is that Natsuko kept Unioโ€™s horn as a hairpin.

That being said, this is still a monumentally better ending than what A Tale of Perishing was in the film version.

Top-Tier Ending for a Top-Tier Anime

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Debunked dream theories aside, I was right about this whole experience changing Natsuko for the better. The ending has her adopt a more open nature towards her coworkers, symbolized by the fact that she no longer hides her face behind her hair. And because sheโ€™s learned how to work in a team, her rom-com film becomes a massive success. However, the ending leaves things ambiguous regarding whether or not Luke finds his way to her world, which is a little frustrating. But not enough to take away from the fact that this was a good ending. A bit cliche, maybe, but still a good ending!

And with that, Zenshu has come to an end. It may have had its ups and downs at times, but as whole, it was one of the great shows of 2025. You can tell that Studio Mappa put a lot of love into this original creation of theirs. It pays tribute to the Isekai genre in a unique way. It pays tribute to the people who make anime possible. Most importantly, though, it shows a great deal of respect for the fans that drive entertainment forward and how they can find ways to improve on what has come before. In this case, that means taking a terrible ending by a woman who didnโ€™t  know what she was doing and make it into an uplifting story about first love and daring to hope in the face of impossible odds.

Also, it proves that sometimes the fans can do a better job than the creators!

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I Give “Zenshu” a 4.5/5