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Last Time On Dragon Ball Super…

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It was only several weeks ago that we received a huge announcement that was going to change the mainstream world. Every year millions of Americans are treated to the spectacular parade of floats that we all know as the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade. It’s an annual tradition in the ‘Big Apple’ (aka New York City) where tens of thousands descend upon the downtown area of Times Square, to look at the awesome floats as well as mini performances that take place during this occasion. Now for the first time in 20 years, a key character from a legendary franchise is about to represent the anime community in a whole new way! For the first time ever, our favorite saiyan from Earth will be floating high above the NYC during the Thanksgiving Day Parade!

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Go! Super Saiyan Blue Son Goku!!

In less than 12 hours history is about to be made, and it will be made not just in the NYC, but to every family that will be watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade. This will be an amazing moment for every Dragon Ball fan (from 90’s to 00’s kids), as they’ll get the chance to see their favorite Z-Warrior soaring high above, while basking in his glory. Never in the history of this annual parade would fans live to see this proud moment, so if you’re in the NYC or near it (say, New Jersey) you don’t wanna miss this moment!

For us this moment can be looked at as both historic as anime fans, as well as a way to promote the much-anticipated Dragon Ball Super: Broly movie. No matter how you look at it this is but a small step to some bigger possibilities down the road, and who knows what will happen next year – maybe Naruto Uzumaki might get a shot above the NYC! If the mainstream media hasn’t acknowledged our otaku presence by now, after tomorrow…they will.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving guys and gals, as you’re one of the reasons why we’re the most thankful during this season! 🙂

King of the Trolls: The Top 5 Anime titles with ‘Gainax Endings’!

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What do you look for when you’re watching anime? A good plot? Complex character development? An unexpected plot twist? These days there’s only a large handful of anime that have all of these things, but there’s one anime studio in particular that not only does an over-the-top job in having all of these attributes, but now has an entire trope dedicated to the way they end their titles. This, my friends, is what is called the ‘Gainax Ending’ trope.

You haven’t been trolled until you’ve been trolled by the King of the Trolls. (Say that three times fast! XP) Perhaps this may be their M.O. but Gainax has a reputation of building up plot lines and getting us attached to the main or supporting characters, only to have some bizarre plot twist or ending that made some of believe that it was ‘pulled out of the ass’ of its creators. (We’re surprised there isn’t a meme out titled “You Got Gainaxed!” yet, but someone will probably make one.)

On that note, here are the Top 5 anime titles with Gainax Endings.

5. Neon Genesis Evangelion – The Final Scene

This trope all started with the classic title that any kid from 90’s is familiar with. Evangelion started the ‘Female Tsundere’ trend that we see in every rom-com anime that has been produced since that decade, and of course, it also gave us this scene. Shinji has chosen to accept himself for who he is, and the rest of the cast congratulated him for that. Little did the fanbase know, this scene was only the tipping point for the hell that was going to be unleashed afterwards…

4. Shikabane Hime – The Final Battle of Makina & Hokuto

This anime title came out in the mid-to-late 2000’s (perhaps around the same time the Negima! dub came out), and had everything you’d want to see in an action/supernatural anime. The story and plot was great all the way up to the final confrontation between Makina and Hokuto. Fans were treated to an action-packed fight, but the results were never finalized – in fact it got ‘Gainaxed’. It’s been a little over ten years since the dub came out, but we doubt we’ll find out how this fight truly ends.

3. Mahoromantic – Ending

We’re not too familiar with this series, but since it was produced by Gainax we’re pretty sure the ending got ‘Gainaxed’ somehow. All we know from this anime title, is that Suguru was so distraught over the death of Mahoro, that he becomes a bounty hunter who hates robots. His partner betrays him and (literally) stabs him in the back, and while Suguru gets injured to the point of dying, he sees Mahoro again, but they never tell you what happens to him afterwards – or even if he’s still alive. If that’s not a Gainax Ending, then we don’t know what is. (You find out what happens in the manga however.)

2. Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann

One of the best anime titles to ever be produced by Gainax has to be this beauty that is Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann. Anyone who has gotten the chance to see this series may be familiar with the quote “Who the hell do you think I am?!” from the infamous Kamina, but at the same time the ending to this series left most fans down in the dumps, while others thought the exact opposite. Ultimately the reaction to the finale will come down to the viewer itself, so what do you guys (and gals) think?

1. Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt – The BIGGEST F**k U Ending, Ever!

The biggest ‘middle finger’ to ever come from the ‘Gainax Ending’ trope would have to be from this raunchy and over-the-top profane series. We all saw it, and we all tried to deny it in every way possible, but the fact of the matter is…Gainax ‘Gainaxed’ us good on this one. What’s even worst is that fact that we’ll probably never get that second season that they promised us, but then again, the series wasn’t really meant to be taken seriously. (Quiet as kept we have enough resources to make our own second season, we just gotta get Gainax to sell us the license – unless Trigger gets to it first!)

So there you have it! Gainax has been known to do some crazy things throughout their productions of anime titles that we all know, and love. Although they’re known for trolling their fan base with certain hit titles, they have given us some moments where we’ve laughed, cried, and enjoyed the ride. That’s it for this filler post, but there’s more on the way! Until then, stay gold! 😉

 

Stan Lee: The Man, The Myth, The Legend…

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If there’s one thing that many of us know from growing up as a kid, its the fact that you had the freedom to let your mind run wild. The possibilities were endless when it comes to the imagination of a child, and if you were lucky, that imagination would carry over into adulthood. For decades mankind has been telling stories that have allowed us to open the door to a new world; a world filled with things that were not from the ordinary, but from the fabric for our own imagination.

When it comes to these kinds of stories we turn to our favorite authors and writers, but one writer in particular has captured and touched the hearts and minds of not just children, but adults as well. Whether you’ve heard of him or not he’s been involved in some part of your childhood (and adolescence), and if you’ve seen any great action movies lately (or have been to the comic book store), then you’re well familiar with his name. Some call him the “Founding Father” of Marvel, and some call him the man who changed the way we look at superheroes.

His name…is Stan Lee.

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R.I.P. Stan Lee (1922-2018)

The legendary creative leader of Marvel Comics is the man behind many of the superheroes that you see on the big screen (and at conventions) today. When it came to creating characters as well as comics, Lee didn’t do it in the conventional way that most writers would have done it; he had a method. During the 60’s and 70’s that method changed the game in terms of how superhero comics were written, and the method that Lee used was deemed “The Marvel Method”. Lee would work with the artist after creating an idea and synopsis, and then a few ‘trades’ later, a story is born.

Lee’s approach to the superhero archetype changed the way that kids and preteens view them as a whole; instead of them being individuals with no flaws or problems at all, Lee introduced a darker and more complex realistic side of their identity that lets us know that even though they have powers, they are also human – in some way. This made the storytelling not just more interesting, but more appealing to the teenage adolescents who were in the angsty years of their youth. I guess you can say that there was a superhero type for everybody, and in this day and age there are superheroes for just about every race; whether your White, African-American, Hispanic, Native-American, Caucasian, or other. Stan Lee along with his partner Jack Kirby had a hand in creating a lot of the wonderful characters and worlds that we come to know in the 20th century.

Lee was also not afraid to push boundaries when it came to his creative works. In 1971 he helped reform the Comics Code; which came in the form of the three-issue subplot of The Amazing Spider-Man #96-98, where Peter Parker’s friend was addicted to prescription drugs. The CCA (Comics Code Authority) refused to grant its seal due to the fact that the issues contained drug use, however Lee published the story without the seal, as he was confident in the request U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare for him to do so. Thus the CCA loosened their restrictions and allowed negative depictions of drug use as well as other freedoms.

If there’s one thing that fans love about Stan Lee, it was the fact that he loved his fans – every single one of them. It didn’t matter if you were a kid or a grown man (or woman), if you were a fan of Lee’s work, then Lee was a fan of you. Although he retired from working with Marvel in the 90’s, he was always connected to his passion in some way. From his charity work to creating various other sources of media for kids as well as aspiring superhero comic book artists, Lee was truly someone who wanted to change the world. There were some who thought that he was wasting his time creating comics for kids and preteens, but truthfully, Stan Lee was an entertainer who wanted to put a smile on the faces on everyone he touched.

So from us to you, we say Excelsior! Stan Lee!!

In loving memory of our favorite real-life superhero…

Stan Lee (1922-2018)

Fanfiction Sneak Peek: PASWG: Sonic Khaotica!

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Genre: Action, Adventure, Comedy (Dirty Humor)

Warning: This fanfiction title is rated M (which is Fanfiction’s TV-MA) for language, sex scenes, and everything you saw in Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt. So without further delay, here’s a sneak peek from Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt: Sonic Khaotica…

One of the female angels that trains with the others at the facility, spotted the Anarchy siblings before they spotted the angel. “If you two are looking for everyone else, they’re all in there,” she said while pointing at the two red doors up ahead.

“Well obviously…” both sisters thought.

Panty and Stocking opened the red doors as they saw what looked to be a mini coliseum of sorts that resembled the ones that you’d see in Ancient Rome. All of the other angels except for Red and her trainee stood in the stands as the Anarchy sisters approached the center of the coliseum. “One hour,” smirked Red, “I’m surprised you two made it on time.”

“When it comes to an ass whuppin’ we’re always on time!” replied Panty in a smirk.

“You always were the cocky one Panty. I can count how many times we’ve had to save you from certain destruction during our assignments from God. Yet, you always claimed that it wasn’t your fault afterwards,” stated Red.

“Sure, keep spreading that fuckin’ lie. While you’re at it, why don’t I tell the class what really happened to Gauntlet,” grinned the blonde angel. Stocking knew that her sister was dating him for a while, but the one major detail she left out was the fact that Gauntlet was actually Red’s boyfriend. She wondered why he hadn’t called or seen her in the last several weeks, and that was because he was busy riding the ‘Panty Train’.

Red’s eyes widened upon hearing his name. “You wanna know why you’ve never seen him around these parts for weeks? It’s not because he was on another fuckin’ mission, but he was busy fuckin’ my tits out!” Panty continued.

The other angels gasped while a depanned look appeared on the face of Stocking. As for Red, the best way to describe the expression on her face would be the one you’d make when you’re looking for blood. As her Khaotica surged Red’s body began to glow white, as her eyes were deadlocked on Panty. “You FUCKING WHORE!” she growled. “Forget the tag team battle, I just want you INSTEAD!”

Pissing Red off just filled Panty with glee, as the blonde angel charged up her Khaotica as well. “It’s no wonder I question why I’m even related to you,” groaned Stocking.

“Who the fuck cares, I’ve been waiting to pound this bitch for weeks!” replied Panty.

As both angels stood in the center of the coliseum both had their eyes locked on each other. The referee angel stood at the far side of the center as she gave the signal to start the battle. A split second after doing so both Panty and Red came at each other with explosive speed; trading blows with one another at high velocity. Red launched a kick to Panty’s face only for the blonde angel to block it and counter with one of her own. Red dodged out of the way as the blonde angel phased out before launching a knee thrust at her.

Panty reappeared behind Red as she launched a roundhouse kick that smacked the red haired angel across the face. Red phased out in midair before reappearing behind Panty, as the blonde angel felt a sharp pain in her back before being launched upward. A cocky grin suddenly appeared on the face of Panty as she fired a powerful wave of Khaotica energy at Red (similar to Goku’s Kamehameha). The angels in the stands were watching the battle unfold while some were cheering for Panty, while the rest were cheering for Red.

Red dodged out of the way of the blast just in the nick of time, as Panty landed on her feet before looking at the mid-sized crater she made. “So I guess you have been training, huh skank?” said Red as Panty spotted her floating in midair. “I thought since you were busy screwing my man you wouldn’t be tough enough to face me.”

That’s our sneak peek! The finalized version is coming January 2019!!

Until next time, stay gold! 😉

 

What Makes A Good Anime Character?

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Since the early days of Japanimation, anime has manifested itself from being something of an ‘underground phenomenon’ that’s only known to a select population, to the huge boon that it has become today. Some may say that its upward surge in popularity all started from pioneering titles such as Dragon Ball Z and Sailor Moon, but that’s not all it took for this niche medium to make it way towards the limelight.

If you ask any fan what their favorite shows or characters are, you’ll probably get a list of at least 10-15 different shows/characters. The one thing that makes anime stand out from western cartoons is its complex plots and deep characters. Anime has indeed changed over the years as it has made us laugh, cry, rage, and actually feel something for these two dimensional characters that we’ve come to know, and love.

Which brings us to this question: What makes a good anime character?

This question can be dissected in a number of different ways. For many of us it could be the various tropes that a lot of anime fans are already familiar with; such as the ‘underdog protagonist’ who fights for a dream that he has his heart set out on, or the overpowered badass who the world doesn’t take seriously – but proves them wrong every time. This is one of the most complex questions that every anime fan has in the back of their minds, and so far, there hasn’t been a really good (full) answer to this question.

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This is a pretty loaded question…

For a question like this there’s not really a right or wrong answer, but this one can be based on the creators intent. Anime brings us into a world that can be similar to our own, or it can be something that will take us away from the headaches and struggles that we face in the real world. Like us anime characters come from all walks of life, and some of them have grasped us in a way that has helped us overcome our own challenges in life; especially if you’ve been bullied in school. Many anime characters that we’ve looked up to for motivation and inspiration have come from the likes of Goku (DBZ), Naruto Uzumaki (Naruto), and Deku (My Hero Academia). Some of their traits include that ‘Never Give Up!’ attitude and confidence to press forward when all hope seems lost, that has helped a number of us in our own lives when we felt down and melancholy.

A good anime character can be someone that you can relate to based on what they may have gone through in their own lives. Take the Prince of all Saiyans for example; we remember the kind of person he used to be when he fought against Goku for the very first time. Vegeta started off as a ruthless saiyan prince who looked down on the weak and felt superior to others, but it wasn’t until the end of the Majin Buu saga that he openly admitted that his rival, Goku (aka Kakarot), was better than him. Now a father of two, Vegeta still has his prideful nature, but at the same time has some respect for Goku.

Its hard to truly define what makes a really good anime character, but with the vast amount of shows that are at our fingertips, we can come up with our own answers to that question. To us a good anime character is someone who is on the path of discovering who he (or she) is, and what their true purpose in life may be. For Luffy it could be becoming one of the greatest pirates in the world. For Vegeta it could be protecting his family while continuing to train and stay on pace with his rival. Many good anime characters are either goal-oriented (although most are protagonists), are on the road to self-discovery, are wrestling with their demons, are atoning for their mistakes, or just want to make the world a better place.

The definition of a good anime character can mean a number of things, but that’s what makes them so compelling in the various storylines that the creators put them in. It’s one of the things that pulls us (the viewer) into their world/lives as we discover what drives them, what motivates them, what their goals or aspirations are, and what kind of person they are on the inside. At the end of the day it all depends of what you’re looking for in a good anime character, but at the same time there’s always room to evolve and elevate that concept in to something that could possibly blow our minds.

Otaku Outlook Announcement: The Wait is (Almost) Over!

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A while back we made the announcement that we were going to be introducing our official reddit page as part of an extension of D&A Anime Blog. So far we’ve been trying to gather a date of when we were going to peel back the curtain for one of our newest features, and guess what guys n’ gals, we now have our answer! Our Otaku Outlook reddit page will make its official grand opening on Friday December 7, 2018. Aside from headline posts about various events and news regarding the anime industry, we’ll also be posting open questions about different topics surrounding the anime community; that you (the fans) can weigh in on.

Every Friday and Saturday night our reddit page will be open to all, so if you want the latest news on what new shows are out or what’s trending in the anime community, check out our Otaku Outlook reddit page; coming December 7th! Until next post, stay golden! 😉

Crunchyroll Spotlight: That Time I Got Reincarnated As Slime!

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It’s been awhile since we’ve done one of these special Crunchyroll overview segments, so we thought we’d do another one on a new anime title that’s out for the Fall/Winter season. When it comes to anime some will say that they’ve seen it all; from maid dragons to loli girls with superpowers nothing is off-limits in the world of anime. For this filler post we’re taking you to a world as seen through the eyes of a slime monster in That Time I Got Reincarnated As Slime.

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I think we’ve seen this situation many times before…

So the story goes a little something like this; Satoru Mikami is a 37-year-old human who somehow got killed by a passing robber, however he made a certain request just before he bit the big one. Now he finds himself reincarnated as a slime monster in a fantasy world (that we’re assuming has MMORPG elements but we could be wrong). Now taking on the name Rimuru Tempest the slime monster has the ability to devour almost anything, and gain new skills and items from the thing that he eats. (He can even mimic the item that he devours as well.) With his former life now over, Rimuru sets off on a new adventure in this new fantasy world as a cute little slime monster.

So far the series contains everything you’d expect to find in a fantasy/adventure anime, plus some funny moments as depicted above. You can find and watch this title on Crunchyroll as well as FunimationNow. That’s all we’ve got for this spotlight post, but there’s more on the way so stay tuned! 😉

November Anime Cons 2018 (Part 1 of 2)!

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Hey guys n’ gals! Sorry we weren’t able to post the other day due to us recovering from symptoms of the flu, so if you’re out and about make sure that you wash your hands as often as possible, and take your meds. Aside from that it’s now the month of November, and we’re pretty sure that you guys and gals have already gone out to vote (because your voice matters). Tonight we’ve got some new anime conventions for you to check out, so if you live in the Northeast and Westbound areas of the U.S. and are on the hunt for some nerdy weekend action, be sure to check em’ out! This week there will be posts for Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, so check back during the week for some awesome filler posts as well as updates on some of our upcoming projects for the new year. Until next post, stay golden! 😉

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The Top 5 Anime Titles With 100 Episodes Or More!

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When it comes to being an anime fan, there are hundreds of titles that span a multitude of genres that will make us laugh, cry, rage quit, binge watch, get emotional, and more! About 95% of all anime titles are based of their manga counterparts, but nowadays there are titles that are staying 100% true to their source. Various animation studios from Japan are cranking out anime titles more often than ever, but depending on their budget as well as popularity, some titles have more episodes than others. These days we get a lot of anime titles that span between 13-26 episodes in total, but there are titles out there that have crossed the 100-episode threshold. Many of us who are a hardcore fans watch the series to the very end (all 100+ episodes), while some try to hang in there, but drop it after 80 or 90. So from us to you, here are our Top 5 anime titles with 100 or more episodes.

5. Fairy Tail

Natsu and the gang have been going strong for quite awhile now. In fact their episode count is not only over the 100-episode threshold, but its over the 200-episode threshold! Dedicated fans have stuck to this series all the way to the end of the road, and who knows how it’ll all end in the final season.

4. Naruto / Boruto’s Dad

Since 2002 we’ve been riding the orange ninja train all the way to the day he became Hokage – like last year! The first half of this action-packed series is well over 100 episodes (about 220 to be precise), and the second half is even longer than that. Naruto is definitely a series that will span over not just the ’90’s-kid’ generation, but the generations of younger anime fans that will come soon after.

3. Bleach

Around the same time that Naruto was making a name for itself, Bleach kept its fans engaged throughout the first several years that it was in North America. If you add the filler arcs along with the main story, this anime title is well above the 100-episode threshold. (We’re pretty sure its close to the 300-episode mark by now.) If you hung in there for that long, then you are definitely a true fan of the series.

2. Dragon Ball Z

There isn’t a ’90’s kid’ out there who doesn’t know what this title has done, for all of the anime titles that have come after it. Dragon Ball Z is a historic title for any kid born after 1989, who remembers both the Ocean/Saban dub as well as the FUNimation dub. It may not be as long as Fairy Tail or Naruto, but with over 100 episodes and a ton of movies this series has stood the test of time – and its not over yet!

1. One Piece

Yes, this title is still going. It’s been going for over 15 years with not just 100 episodes to its name, but we’re pretty sure that this title’s episode count has beaten Case Closed by at least 20 or 30 episodes by now. One Piece is loved by not just its fanbase, but a few famous names from outside of the anime medium entirely. (We’re not one to drop but we trust you know who they are.) You can still see the newest episodes of One Piece on FunimationNow.

These five titles are only just a handful of others that have crossed over the 100-episode threshold. Even though all of the current titles that are out now are less than 30 episodes, they’re still fun and exciting to watch no matter what genre you’re in to. When it comes to anime and how many episodes it has, the choice is yours at the end of the day if you want to watch it all the way through, or not. Different titles touch us in different ways.

That will do it for this filler post that we’ve got for you, but there’s plenty more where that came from. Stick around for more posts as well as updates for the remainder of this week as well as the next. Until then, stay golden! 😉

The 5 Anime Titles To Watch On Halloween!

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Every year America dresses up for the one night where kids consume the most candy, and adults scare the pants off of those kids who consume the most candy. Halloween is seen by the majority of the U.S. as that one night of the year where various TV specials and attractions are alive, and kicking. The only difference between America and the anime community when it comes to Halloween, is the fact that everyone else dresses up once a year, whereas anime/cosplay fans dress up EVERY weekend! (*wink, wink*)

During Halloween you’ll find a lot of kids (and parents) out Trick-or-Treating and bouncing from door to door, asking for candy. If you’re an anime fan, then how you spend Halloween might be a little bit different. If you’re not one to go out and get a mouth full of cavities the next day, then we’ve got the next best thing; watching some Horror/Thriller anime titles! Nothing gets your blood pumping than seeing someone being decapitated who really deserved it, or watching a hilarious way to die in an anime title. Here’s five anime titles that you can check out and watch during Halloween.

5. Ghost Stories

This title has a funny story behind it. Originally Ghost Stories was supposed to be something of a classic case of kids seeing evil spirits and having to use exorcist methods to purify them, but the series did so bad in Japan that in order to break even sales-wise, FUNimation abridged the hell out of it. The dub for the series sounds like it was written by half of the staff behind the Scary Movie franchise – which is hilarious! If you’re looking for a title that will make you laugh your @#! off, then check out this anime title!

4. Shiki

Now onto a more serious title. Shiki deals with a particular monster that we all know far too well; the vampire. For those who are looking for some scary/psychotic moments as well as some blood and gore, Shiki just might be up your avenue. Even though this title didn’t really get the spotlight that it deserved, it’ll definitely keep you awake at night – and not in the way you’d hope.

3. Parasyte

Bugs already creep a number of us out, but having parasites in your body that actually talk to you, is something straight out of a sci-fi ‘B-movie’ horror flick. This title is actually recommended for those who like the type of anime where parasitic creatures come out of people’s bodies for whatever reason. so if this is more your thing, then bay all means check it out!

2. Tokyo Ghoul

Your Halloween is about to get a lot more scarier should you proceed in watching this anime title. A few years ago Tokyo Ghoul was a big hit in North America, and the fact that there’s a new season as well as a live-action film further backs up this claim. If you really want to turn up your ‘haunt’ this Halloween, then munch on the flesh of this ghoulishly horrific anime title that will make the blood of the faint curdle.

1. Hellsing Ultimate

The vampire is the most legendary of old school monsters, but for those who are familiar with the history of the first generation of vampire, the real OG who started it all was the godfather of nocturnal bloodsuckers. Alucard is the most powerful vampire in all of history (by far), and is the source of every child’s worst nightmares. Fighting an OG vampire is no easy task, and anyone who has tried doing so has either died horribly, or was turned into a vampire themselves. Nevertheless this title is for the vampire loves who want their vampires to be the cold-blooded killers they were meant to be.

And there you have it. Five titles that will get you into the spirit of Halloween, without having to leave the house. For a real Halloween challenge we dare you to watch these titles with the lights out, and by that we mean Shiki, Tokyo Ghoul, and Hellsing Ultimate. That will do it for this filler post, but there’s more to come later this week!

Stay tuned! 😉