A Founder’s Thoughts with D.J. Lewis: The Fall of Blockbuster!

Wow, it’s been five years since the once great video rental store giant went belly up. I’m talking about Blockbuster, one of the best video rental stores in North America (as well as across the world). Back when I was growing up in southeast Baltimore County (Baltimore, MD) my mother would take my brother and I there every Friday night. Any movie that I saw in theaters during the 90’s and early 2000’s I rented from Blockbuster the moment it became available to VHS, and eventually DVD. The same can be said about every game I bought for every system I had; NES, SNES, N64, GameCube, GBA, and Nintendo DS – which I still have by the way.

Blockbuster was a key part of my childhood growing up, and if you’re a 90’s kid like A. Goldman and I, then I’m pretty sure it was a part of your life too. I would go there religiously every Friday night to see what new video releases were available. I think the last time I’ve been in Blockbuster was about ten years ago, right around the time I graduated high school back in 2008 – which was 10 years ago (*laughs*). By the early 2010’s Dish Network brought out Blockbuster in order to try and keep up with digital age (as we all are) and remain relevant, but with rise of RedBox, Netflix, Hulu, and others, the once great video rental giant couldn’t keep up.

By 2013 they filed for bankruptcy and closed down the last 300 stores in the U.S. however thanks to Dish Network and their franchise agreements with Blockbuster, there are only a small handful stores that are left. I’ll admit; talking about my 90’s childhood does make me feel a little old, much like seniors talk about how they used to be and what they did during their youth. (Of course our timeline and theirs is totally different.) Blockbuster is and will forever be a part of my childhood, and will go down in history as everyone’s favorite video rental store!

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Mario Kart: 5 Things You Don’t Want To Happen Before Winning a Race!

From Super NES to the Wii-U (pre-Nintendo Switch and post-Nintendo 3DS era), Mario Kart is known as one of the best racing games crated from the Super Mario franchise! Whether you’re a 90’s kid or a part of Generation-Z, we’re pretty sure you’ve played one of the installments of this awesome video game, and if you haven’t – PLAY IT! When Super Mario Kart first came out for the SNES back in the 90’s, it was rather challenging to stay on track – literally. Enter the Nintendo 64 with Mario Kart 64, and to this very day in 2018, it is still an instant classic among millennials such as ourselves.

Then when the GameCube made its debut, the Gameboy Advance made its appearance, and the introduction of the Nintendo DS (and 3DS), you got games like Mario Kart Double Dash, Mario Kart DS, Mario Kart Super Circuit, and Mario Kart 7! (Don’t forget Mario Kart Wii and 8 for the Wii-U!) No matter what version or installment you’re playing, there are five things within this game that no player wants happening to them. So from us to you, we’re gonna highlight the five woes from the Mario Kart franchise you don’t want happening to you right before you cross the finish line.

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5. Lightning Strike on the Final Lap!

Have you ever been so close to the finish line of a big race? Like say, a big race at 150cc (or 200cc if you’re playing Mario Kart 8)? Only to find yourself getting hit with a lightning bolt just 30 feet from the finish line, as Wario or Bowser bursts past you to claim the golden crown of 1st Place? Yep, we’ve been there.

4. Hit From Behind by a Red or Green Shell!

This is totally dodge-able in one of two ways; if you have a banana peel or banana peel combo item in your item box, keep it behind you and let the shells hit their mark. The other is to drive in front of another racer or try to out run it (them if there’s more than one shell after you) entirely. Red shells are heat-seekers while green shells are more ‘free-willed’, so if you got one chasing after you, better stock on bananas or mushrooms.

3. Slipping on a Banana Peel or Crashing into a Fake Item box!

Okay, this is also totally avoidable – unless the holder of the fake item box or banana peel is DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF YOU!

2. Hit From Behind by an Invincibility Star Driver!

Ugh, nothing worse than hearing that all-too-familiar tune speeding towards you just before you cross the finish line…

1. Falling Prey to the Almighty Blue Shell…of Death!

This is a BIG deal to every fan and player of the Mario Kart franchise. There is nothing worse than being less than 30 feet away from the finish line in 1st Place, when the whooshing sound (or siren sound in MK64) of the Almighty Blue Shell, is heard in the background. Nothing will save you from its destructive wrath, as it targets the driver who is the head of the pack, and causes an explosion that covers a 20-foot radius. If you’re within that radius, then you’ll probably catch the explosion too! When it comes to the Blue Shell of Death, it’s better to be the one throwing it – than the one receiving it! That’ll do it for our filler post for now, but don’t worry, because we got more fun comin’ your way! Stick around! ๐Ÿ™‚

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Filler Post: D&A’s Top 5 Anime Rivalries!

When you were growing up going to school was like a 9-5 job; except you don’t get paid and your fellow employees are no older or younger than you. To many of us going through Pre-K and Kindergarten was a walk in the park, but as you made that trek through the public school grade system (1st-12th Grade), things got pretty interesting. You made friends, you unintentionally made enemies, and then somewhere along the line (probably in P.E. or anything that resembled a competitive sport), you made rivals.

A rival is an individual who competes with another individual to try and outdue, outsmart, and even outlast each other in a competitive sport or activity. (This is OUR definition of what a rival to us is.) A rival can be someone who possesses similar skills or can perform any task, mission, or assignment at a much better pace than another individual who can do exactly the same. We’ve all had that one kid in our class who thought he was better than the whole class, but in actuality, he/she wanted to be better than you or I. So while we’re on this particular topic, let’s look at our Top 5 rivalries in the world of anime. Which one will be number one?

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Anime Rivalry No. 5: Ash vs. Gary (Pokemon)

If you’re a 90’s kid, then this is one of the classic rivalries that you have ever come to know! The Ketchum-Oak rivalry will go down as one of the first great rivalries in the Pokemon franchise. From Red & Blue to Sun & Moon, this is one rivalry that will stand the test of time. (The two of them are probably best frienemies by now.)

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Anime Rivalry No. 4: Panty & Stocking vs. Scanty & Kneesocks (PSG)

There were many rivalries between the late 90’s and early 2000’s, but around 2010 we were introduced to one of the most craziest, raunchiest, and most hilarious anime titles ever created! (And yet we still wait on a second season…ugh!) The rivalry between the Anarchy Sisters and Demon Sisters is more like the battle between freedom and dictatorship, or in simpler terms; doing what you wanna do, and doing what needs to be done. Even though they’re fallen angels, Panty and Stocking always seem to have Scanty and Kneesocks’ number whenever they both battle it out!

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Anime Rivalry No. 3: Izuku Midoriya vs. Katsuki Bakugo (My Hero Academia)

MHA fans are quite familiar with this one. After discovering that Izuku got his Quirk from All Might, Katsuki challenges him to a battle at Ground Beta, the place they once battled at before. Both Izuku and Katsuki looked up to and admired All Might, but the real reason behind why Katsuki hated Izuku, was because of his growth. The intensity of this rivalry is one of the reasons why it is number three on our Top 5 list!

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Anime Rivalry No. 2: Naruto vs. Sasuke (Naruto & Naruto Shippuden)

Whether you’re an old school Naruto fan, or if you’re just seeing it for the very first time, this rivalry (like another one we all know) is one of the legendary ones of this series. Much like the Izuku-Katsuki rivalry, the Naruto-Sasuke one goes back as far as when they were kids. Sasuke was the cool guy who excelled at every test that was thrown at him, while Naruto struggled to pass even just one test. However, Naruto’s growth throughout the series pitted him against enemies and foes that Sasuke had a hard time fighting against, and if that don’t stick a kunai in your back, what will?

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Anime Rivalry No. 1: Goku vs. Vegeta (Dragon Ball Z)

Ah, yes. The Greatest Rivalry Of All Time (GROAT)! Goku and Vegeta are both Saiyans, Super Saiyans, and Super Saiyan Blue (SSGSS), but their rivalry can be traced back to the first season of the Z series. Vegeta is the Prince of all Saiyans, so you’d think that he would be the one to achieve the level of a Super Saiyan, right? Well we all know the ending to that story; Goku ended up going Super Saiyan after Krillin’s death at the hands of Frieza, and Vegeta died as a result of calling Frieza’s bluff as him becoming a Super Saiyan. Even during Dragon Ball Super, Vegeta still wanted to make sure that no matter how high Goku’s power level would become, that he would be right there with him.

Well, that will do it for our Top 5 rivalries found in anime! There’s more filler posts and excitement to come next time on D&A Anime Blog! Where anime is a part of you! ๐Ÿ˜‰

Rave On: The 7 Types Of Dancers You’ll See at a Con Rave!

If you’ve ever gotten the chance to go to an anime convention, you would stumble upon a nerd paradise! You would be surrounded by otaku who are just as passionate about anime and manga as you are. You would get the chance to meet the voice actors behind your favorite characters from your favorite shows. Best of all, you would get the chance to see cosplayers that cosplay your favorite characters from your favorite shows. All of that is an awesome sight to see at a con, but when nightfall arrives the real fun of going to an anime convention, is the rave!

From the mid 2000’s to present day, rave parties have been incorporated in mid-size and large anime conventions all across North America (and some in other countries). During the late 90’s rave parties were held in underground establishments (most of which were illegal) where drug usage was eminent. Thank goodness we don’t have to worry about anybody molling out during a con rave. (Drugs are bad kids, don’t do them!)

When it comes to rave parties at cons, you’re bound to run into one of the seven types of dancers found at these in-house discotheques. So without further delay, here they are!

Dancer #1: The Guy with the Finger Lights!

This dancer can be found at rave parties for both mid-size and large anime conventions (Otakon, Anime Expo, etc.) It doesn’t matter what the DJ is spinning during the rave, you’ll always find this guy somewhere in the room putting on his own lil’ techno light show.

Dancer #2: The Breakdancer/Pop-Locker!

Yes, we have had the pleasure of meeting a few otaku with some sick break-dancing moves. You’ll find these guys in the ‘rave circle’ showing off while getting chants from the crowd all around.

Dancer #3: A Dancing Pikachu!

Or as we would call him, a “Ravachu”! This wild pokemon won’t be spotted at every anime convention rave, but depending on which con(s) you go to, you’ll be treated to the sight of the dancing Pikachu. Just make sure you’ve got a big enough pokeball to catch him.

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Dancer #4: The Shuffler!

If a Progressive House or Future House track comes on, be prepared to see these guys and gals in action on the dance floor. They’re really fun to watch might we add.

Dancer #5: That One Girl who likes to Twerk and Grind!

No judgement here! If you wanna “Drop it like its Hot”, then go for it! You’ll probably find at least two or three of these girls at a rave, and if you don’t…then it’s probably you or one of your friends. (Again, no judgement.)

Dancer #6: The One that starts The Conga Line!

Okay, this individual is not really a rave dancer, they’re just the ones who try to start a conga line while at the rave. They’re actually pretty fun once you’re in them.

Dancer #7: The Rave Virgin!

I think somewhere along the line we’ve all been this particular dancer. It’s your first anime convention rave and you’re not sure what to expect once you arrive. The best advice we can give you in this situation, is to just be yourself and have fun! Sure you may run into dancers 1-6 while at your first con rave (if your not already one of the six yourself), but being yourself is the best dancer that you can ever be!

So when you head out to an anime convention and find yourself going to the con’s rave party, it doesn’t matter what type of dancer you are, as long as you have a good time and rave on! ๐Ÿ™‚

 

 

Filler Post: 5 Ways To Handle The ‘Post-Con’ Blues!

Anime conventions are like Summer Camp; you meet great friends and begin to establish friendships that will last a lifetime, and before you know it the school year starts and you never see those friends again for about a year. Yes anime fans, in this filler post we’ll be talking about five different ways on how to handle the dreaded post-convention blues. Before we started this anime blog, we only went to one convention a year. That convention was Otakon. Back when it was in Baltimore, we would look forward to going every July/August to one of the largest anime cons in the East Coast.

A. Goldman didn’t start attending with me (Donte’ Lewis) until 2010, and since then Otakon has been like the cornerstone for all of our full-fledged otaku-ness! Like with every geeky convention, the last day (Sunday) is also the saddest day of the con – for most if not all of us. In fact you’d be lucky if your boss gave you Monday off.

Not to worry friends and fellow anibloggers, because while traveling to different anime conventions throughout our two year journey, we found five different remedies to help ease that dreadful transition from con-life, to real life.

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Number 1: Reflect!

Think about all the good times you’ve had while at the con! Look at all of the pictures and video you’ve taken of your friends both old and new. Remember the set that the DJ was playing during the rave, and how much fun you had shuffling, dancing, and yes, even twerking while you were there. Sometimes looking back and remembering how much fun you had while attending your favorite con, might get you psyched up for the next one.

Number 2: Revisit!

If you bought some anime DVD’s at the Dealer’s Room while attending the convention, crack those suckerz’ open and start watching them! Watching some anime will keep a little bit of that ‘con feeling’ you’ve had all weekend going for awhile, just make sure you don’t watch anything that’s gonna make you cry. (You might wanna avoid You Lie in April and Orange for awhile…)

Number 3: Retrace!

Everyone (including grandma and grandpa) has a social media page, including the new friends you’ve met at the convention. Like them on Facebook, follow them on Twitter, stream them on Youtube. Any place where they may have posted their hilarious con adventures at, find them!

Number 4: Reset!

Who says you only have to go to just one anime convention per year? There are tons of conventions going on Every. Single. Weekend! Save up some money and even start an anime convention fund for yourself (and your friends) so that you’ll have more chances to feel that ‘con feeling’ once again!

Number 5: Restart!

In other words, repeat numbers 1-4. If you do this with every convention you go to, we can assure you that the ‘post-con’ blues will no longer have any lasting effect over you. Yes, we all have to go back to our 9-5 jobs after a con (even us), but at the same time, you’ll be psyching up and preparing yourself for your next con outing with your friends or your girlfriend/boyfriend.

That’ll do it for us on this filler post for now, and remember, you’ve got more power then you think and more smarts than you realize! Life is only as fun as you make it, so if you love going to anime conventions, go to as many of them as you can!

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2018 Convention Season: Here We Go Again!

So we’ve reached the second weekend of the new year, and by now we’re pretty sure that you’ve gone to at least one or two anime conventions by now. Hopefully last year was a blast for many of you guys and gals who’ve gotten the chance to showcase that cosplay outfit that you’ve been working so hard on for the last six months. The Winter weather may be a bit crazy right now, but it’s a good thing that convention season is year-round. If your New Years Resolution is to cosplay at an anime convention, or perhaps even go to one for your very first time, don’t hesitate to check out some of the cons that we’ve got listed on our Cons Near U drop-down page.

Our home base anime convention Animore is less than a week away, as we’ll be making our third appearance there! The convention tour that we did for 2017 was pretty awesome – despite a couple of ‘hiccups’ along the way. This time around for 2018 we’re taking a more direct approach with our fanbase by submitting Q&A and other fan panels to anime conventions, so that you guys can not only see us in action, but to also give you a chance to know us on a personal level too. (i.e. our favorite food, what kind of girls we like, etc.) We’re also hoping that this time around we get to go to an anime convention…in Canada. To all of our Canadian anibloggers who have seen and read our blog, we thank you so much for helping inch a little closer to our ultimate goal each day. (And we’re hoping we get the chance to go to a convention out there this year, or next year!)

If you’re in need of any tips on cosplay as well as how to plan for an anime convention this new year, just click on this link for convention tips, and this one for cosplay. We’re so excited to see what 2018 has in store for us on the D&A front, so start saving up and working hard on your cosplay now, because before you know it Spring and Summer will be here, and when that happens con season will be in full throttle! We guarantee it! ๐Ÿ˜‰

D&A Anime Blog: #SuperSaiyanShowdown and Blog Nominations…?

Hello to all. Hopefully the first twelve days of 2018 have been good to you thus far, in spite of the fact that many of us got sick (or caught the flu) right after New Year’s Eve. Okay, if you’re just hearing this juicy tidbit of info for the first time, then prepare yourself! Chris Sabat (aka Vegeta in DBZ/Super) has officially challenged Sean Schemmel (aka Goku in DBZ/Super) to a Super Saiyan Showdown on the upcoming DBZ video game known as Dragonball FighterZ!

At first we thought it was just a friendly twitter back-and-forth rivalry, but BOY were we wrong. The hype behind this has so ecstatic, that FUNimation is not only promoting the event – but live streaming it as well. The gameplay and battle mechanics of Dragonball fighterZ resemble that of the Marvel vs. Capcom series. Combine that with game graphics so detailed, that it matches 95% of the anime graphics, and you got yourself an all-new Dragon Ball Z game that you won’t be able to put down! The game is on PS4, Xbox One and Microsoft Windows and will be released January 26, 2018.

Next on the list is blog nominations. Although we don’t necessarily have a big speech prepared as to why we should be nominated for a blog award, we can pretty much say this about our blog. D&A is much more than just an anime blog where we talk about fan-favorite titles, we also like to help out other blogs, fellow bloggers and fans any way we can. We’re now in the process of writing sponsorship letters to up-and-coming anime conventions, as well as our North American Anime distributors. (Crunchyroll, FUNimation, Sentai, etc.) We also would like to get the chance to launch an original podcast where the fans are the guests entitled “The Fancast”. However we’ll need just a little bit of help and some donations to our Patreon page in order to make that happen. (patreon/daanimeblog2016)

That’ll do it for us on our end with this little filler post announcement we have for you tonight. Check back in with us every so often, because we’ve got more-more-MORE awesome stuff comin’ your way! Stay true, and stay golden anime fans! ๐Ÿ™‚

 

Space Dandy: The Booty is Back!!

So we’re doing our usual posting routine on our twitter page, and what do we come across? A message from the Toonami Squad saying that the “Man of the Booty” is coming back home. At first we thought it was just a tease, but anime guys n’ gals, Dandy’s coming back! On January 27th at 2:30am, the one who worships the booty more than God himself, is making a triumphant return to the Adult Swim airwaves. If you’re wondering what the new lineup looks like, here it is!

  • 1030p – Dragon Ball Super
  • 1100p – Dragon Ball Z Kai
  • 1130p – Black Clover
  • Midnight – JoJo: Stardust Crusaders
  • 1230a – Gundam: IBO
  • 100a – Hunter x Hunter
  • 130a – Shippuden
  • 200a – Outlaw Star
  • 230a – Space Dandy (January 27th)
  • 300a – Cowboy Bebop
  • 330a – GITS 2nd GIG

Sorry for the short post, but we just had to make this quick announcement. We’ll be back with more fun and excitement, as we inch closer the date of our two-year anniversary!

Stick around! ๐Ÿ˜‰

Filler Post: 5 Recipes From “Food Wars” You Can Make At Home!

Food. It’s the one thing we as humanity cannot live without. If there’s one thing fans love almost as much as anime, it’s the food that is featured on their favorite titles. Since were on the subject, let’s talk about this hilarious comedy that takes culinary art to a whole new level; Food Wars! Many of us have already seen the first and second seasons, but for those who haven’t, you can check it out on Crunchyroll.

If you have seen both seasons, then you may (or may not) be aware of the fact that you can actually make some of the dishes you’ve seen on the show, at home. If there’s a particular dish that you like from one of your favorite episodes, then there’s a high probability that you’ll find all the ingredients that you’ll need to make it – online. There are many dishes that have been created on that show, but here are five recipes from the series that you can make at home for you, or for your friends and family. Come n’ get it! XP

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Recipe #5: Gotcha Pork (aka The Fake Pork Roast)

If you’ve seen the first episode of the series, then you might have seen this dish as one of the main ones in that episode. The dish itself is meant to mimic the idea of you eating a pork roast, when in actuality you’re eating bacon-wrapped mashed potatoes. Wanna enjoy this dish at home? Head to this link: Food Wars (Gotcha Pork Recipe)

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Recipe #4: Transforming Rice

From this angle you’d might say that this looks like a Japanese breakfast bowl, but you’re only partially right due to the fact that this dish contains scrambled eggs. This my friends is what’s known as the Transforming Rice. This dish made its debut during the examination episode (the second episode of season one), so if you wanna know how good it tastes, then everything you’ll need is on this link: Food Wars (Transformation Rice)

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Recipe #3: Apple Risotto

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, so why not make it the “Food Wars” way? The dish you see before you is none other than Apple Risotto, the breakfast dish prepared by Soma while battling against his father. This dish is said to rejuvenate the one eating the dish, so if you want to feel rejuvenated, then by all means head to this link in order to make this magnificent dish: Food Wars (Apple Risotto)

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Recipe #2: Chaliapin Steak

Another dish created by the hands of Soma during the seventh episode of Food Wars. The ingredients for this recipe can be found an any of your favorite supermarkets (even the ones that sell exclusive/seasonal items), so if you want to enjoy this little number for yourselves, then the link you seek is right here: Food Wars (Chaliapin Steak)

Recipe #1: The Mini Souffle’ Omelette

Another breakfast dish created by Soma, so if you wanna know how to make it, then check out the youtube link that’s right above.

Are you hungry yet? We’re pretty sure that after seeing all of these recipes from this series, that you’re gonna wanna recreate that same magic seen from this title. Don’t fill up too much cuz’ we’ve got more fun and more posts comin’ your way for 2018, next time on D&A Anime Blog! It’s a part of you! ๐Ÿ™‚

Filler Posts: D&A’s Top 5 AniMales of 2017!!

Although we’re only 43 hours into 2018, we can’t help but do a little recap of what 2017 was like in the world of anime. There are some great titles and awesome characters that have graced our streaming presence through our FUNimationNow and Crunchyroll apps, of course for our female anime fans and fangirls, we’ve got a Top 5 list for you that is highlighting some of the most popular male characters found in anime (old, current, and renewed). These Animales range from ones striving towards a goal, to others who are rebelling against a corrupt force (like the government or an empire). did your favorite Animale make it into our Top 5 list?

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AniMale Number 5: Eren Jeager (Attack On Titan)

If you’re not aware of this yet, Attack On Titan has now been confirmed for a third season! Throughout the AOT franchise Eren Jeager has been doing whatever it takes to destroy the titans that killed his mom, while at the same time proving to his superiors what he’s able to accomplish while on this deadly war path.

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AniMale Number 4: Edward Elric (FMA/FMA: Brotherhood)

FMA will continue to be a all-time classic to this very day; in fact if your heading to any anime conventions this weekend, don’t be surprised if you run into the well-known older brother of Alphonse Elric. He’s pretty popular among anime fangirls, but whatever you do, don’t call him the S-word. >.<

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AniMale Number 3: Yuuri Katsuki (Yuri On ICE!!!)

Ah, yes one of the popular anime hits of the Summer before last. The anime title’s theme song is one of the most recognizably popular songs ever heard; even the title’s opening sequence is awesome! Good ol’ Yuuri here has become a female fan favorite among tweens, teens, and millennials alike, so if you haven’t seen the show yet, watch it!

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AniMale Number 2: Lelouch Lamperouge (Code Geass)

Alright ladies, we’re pretty sure that this face is both familiar and pleasing to many of you. That’s right, it is indeed the face of Lelouch Lamperouge of the Rebellion. Be careful if you happen to look into his eyes – or rather eye, as you may find yourself under his spell and control quite easily. (If you’re cool with that, that is.)

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AniMales Tied For Number 1: Sebastian Michaelis & Alucard (Hellsing Ultimate & Black Butler)

These two are tied for the #1 spot for one reason only; they’re both badass! Sebastian is a demon butler who is a master at being a butler, while also being a killer at the same time. The same can be said about Alucard; who is the ultimate vampire. Believe us when we say that it was hard trying to pick our Number 1, so we tied them for the top spot in our Top 5.

Well, that should do it for us on this bone-chilling Tuesday night. We’ve got more fun and excitement coming your way for the new year, next time on D&A Anime Blog! ๐Ÿ™‚