Anime Blog

Sung HIM-Woo, the Black Air Force Hunter

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

RJ Writing Ink’s (hilarious) recap of Season One of Solo Leveling

Sung Jin-Woo, the main protagonist of the Korean manwha Solo Leveling and the black air force Hunter. AKA Sung Him-Woo, because he is that guy. Once mocked and considered the weakest Hunter in the world, after the latest in a long line of near-death experiences, gains the unique ability to level up. Before long, he goes from a meek little piece of cannon fodder into one of the coldest protagonists to ever come out of South Korea. And he’s only getting started!

I’m RJ Writing Ink for the D&A Anime Blog, and today, we are recapping the first season of Solo Leveling and the rise of Sung Him-Woo as he gains his black air forces. This way, you will be caught up in time for the new season, which will either be out by now or mere days from release. You will want to watch this show!

Sung Jin-woo’s Humble Beginnings

Let’s provide some context first. Ten years ago, magical portals, or Gates, to other dimensions began appearing worldwide. And from those Gates, monsters started appearing, threatening to overrun Earth. While normal weapons proved unable to kill the monsters, some humans started gaining magical abilities that could. They became the Hunters, whose job it is to defeat the monsters in the Dungeons on their side of the Gates, sealing them and keeping them from overrunning humankind. However, once a Hunter awakens their skills, they’re stuck with them and unable to get stronger. The strongest Hunters are the S-Rank, some of whom are strong enough to rival an entire nation’s military, while the weakest are the E-Rank. And Sung Jin-Woo has the misfortune of being the weakest E-Rank of all time.

Poor Jin-Woo is barely stronger than the average human being, and is considered a joke or someone for other Hunters to pity. Every time he goes into a Dungeon, he almost dies and has to be bailed out by the party healers. Despite being so weak, though, he keeps at it because his Dad’s missing and presumed dead, his Mom’s in a coma and requires medical support, and his sister is in high school. In other words, he’s desperate and needs the money, even if he barely gets by due to being so weak. However, all of that is about to change.

On what should have been a simple raid of a D-Rank Dungeon, Jin-Woo and his party discover a second, secret Dungeon hidden away. Jin-Woo casts the deciding vote for the group to investigate the second Dungeon, and everyone heads inside. However, it soon becomes apparent that they should have stayed far away from this new Dungeon.

Welcome to Hell

This Double-Dungeon turns out to be S-Ranked, filled with giant statues whose smiles would make the Smiling Titan from Attack on Titan wet herself. They proceed to slaughter almost all of the Hunters before only Jin-Woo and a handful of others are left alive, with Jin-Woo losing a leg from the carnage. So, the young man decides to stay behind and keep the door open so his comrades can escape. He figures its all a weakling like him can do to give his life any value. But, as soon as the others are gone, that feeling of self-sacrifice evaporates, and the realization that he’s about to die sinks inโ€ฆand he HATES IT!

Jin-Woo starts cursing out the universe for what’s about to happen to him. He curses the fact that he’s about to leave his family to fend for themselves. And most of all, he wishes that he was stronger so that none of this would even be happening to him!

But something happens right as he’s about to die. A message from this display straight out of an RPG pops up and says “Congratulations, buddy! You completed the secret quest and get the chance to become a [Player]. If you do, you’ll get the chance to earn yourself some black air forces. If notโ€ฆyou can guess the rest.” Since Jin-Woo isn’t a dummy and doesn’t want to die, he gladly accepts the deal.

Little did he know, but this is the moment when Sung Jin-Woo would begin his journey as the black air force Hunter.

Getting Used to His Black Air Forces

Three days later, Jin-Woo wakes up in the hospital and learns he was somehow rescued from the Double Dungeon. The experience, though, left all the survivors traumatized. Some have survivor’s guilt for abandoning the others. Their leader lost his arm and may have to retire. And Jin-Woo’s healer friend, Joo-Hee, is left with PTSD. No one got out unscathed. But that doesn’t matter, because its time for Jin-Woo to begin his training in the way of the black air forces.

That display that gave Jin-Woo the offer to become a Player returns and lays down the ground rules. Firstly, it is a program called the System, and it functions like the mechanics to an RPG, giving him quests with rewards, keys to Dungeons that only work for him, etc. Secondly, said RPG mechanics give him the ability to level up his status, making him the only Hunter in the world who can do so! Lastly, since he wasn’t born with black air force energy and has to gain it, he has to complete daily goals, usually by doing enough exercises. If he tries to welch on them, he will be dropped into a penalty zone and attacked by giant, poisonous centipedes. So, Jin-Woo has some pretty good incentives not to neglect his training.

So after he spends the rest of his time in the hospital getting into this daily routine of training, Jin-Woo begins to evolve. He goes from the meek, little twig he started out as into a full-on demigod. He’s tall, has the face of a Korean Adonis, and is swole as they come! And all the young nurses are practically drooling over him. When one of them comes in to check on him, she catches him exercising without a shirt and almost passes out from his hotness!

And that’s only the visible side effects of him training to master his black air force energy. His power has skyrocketed far beyond E-Rank.

Taking a Shady Job

Once he’s out of the hospital, Jin-woo decides its high time for him to start making money again. That means he has to go back into a dungeon, so he finds a C-Rank party that needs a few extra members. The only problem is that the party leader, Hwang Dongsuk, is sus, making him sign a contract saying that he doesn’t have to fight, but doesn’t get any item drops.

Rounding out their 8-man party is a rich, D-Rank newcomer Yoo Jin-ho, AKA the ultimate wingman and Jin-woo’s new best friend. And we say that because, despite having better equipment due to his dad being super rich, Jin-ho stands up for Jin-woo when they reach the boss room and find it loaded with mana crystals. Dongsuk tries to keep Jin-woo from getting any of this valuable loot, but Jin-ho looks at the contract and says “Hey, man. I just looked this thing over and it doesn’t say anything about those crystals counting as battle drops. My man Jin-woo should get a share!” All Dongsuk can do is grumble about itโ€ฆis what you’d think would happen!

As it turns out, Jin-woo was right to be suspicious about Dongsuk and his party, because they’re all a bunch of murderers! Every time they hit a dungeon, they hire on a few red shirts to serve as cannon fodder to soften the boss up so they can kill it without issue, letting them focus on collecting the loot! These guys are serial killers, and they try to pull the same thing on Jin-woo and Jin-ho, leaving them to fight the giant spider boss alone!

HIM-woo Begins to Catch Bodies

But they weren’t dealing with some E-Rank Hunter anymore. Sung Jin-woo had been growing into those black air forces, and it was for him to flex. It takes some doing, but Jin-woo manages to squash the spider. And the whole time, Jin-ho is looking at him and thinking, “Dang. I need to make this guy my new best friend!” But then, Dongsuk and the sucky gang return.

Now, since they think Jin-woo is still some lowly E-Rank, these guys think Jin-ho killed the boss. So they offer Jin-woo’s new bestie a deal: help kill Jin-woo, and they’ll let him live and give him a cut of the loot. And Jin-ho is like, “Oh, heck no! I ain’t turning on my new bro like some chump! Take that offer and shove it!” And Dongsuk decides, “Oh, well. Your funeral. Boys, kill them both!” And they slam Jin-woo into the wall, thinking that would be enough.

Jin-woo’s response? “So, you have chosen death.”

So the System gives Jin-woo this urgent quest, saying that he’s got to kill his attackers, or his heart will stop. Truthfully, though, Jin-woo would have done it anyway, because there was no way these guys would face justice back home. When Hunters are strong enough, they’re able to avoid legal charges and are basically untouchable. But, as Jin-woo repeats what Dongsuk back to him, “What happens in a Dungeon stays in a Dungeon.” And then, in one of the coldest anime moments of 2024, Sung Jin-woo turns the group of six into victims.

Jin-woo saves Dongsuk for last, and the man is on his butt looking ready to wet himself in terror, begging Jin-woo to spare him! Because if he doesn’t, his younger brother will come after him! But Jin-woo had no F’s to give, and ended that man’s life. After that, they just left the trash there, walked out like bosses, and Jin-ho covers for his new best friend by saying the dungeon killed the others.

Fate Has a Cruel Sense of Humor

Not long after, Jin-ho meets with Jin-woo and explains his situation. His dad is looking to start their own Hunter’s guild, which is where Hunters work together to pull off jobs, so that his company can have a steady stream of resources. Jin-ho offers him his own building if helps meet the requirements to start his own guild, but Jin-woo says, “No thanks. But we’ll keep in touch.” Don’t forget, he’ that got to keep meeting the System’s requirements and look after his Mom and sister. Shortly afterward, he maxes out his dailies and gets a key to an S-Rank Dungeon, whose reward is a potion that can cure any illness. And Jin-woo realizes he can use this to cure his Mom, so he dives right him. Sadly, the dungeon is like a real-life version of Dark Souls, because fighting the first boss, a giant Cerberus, almost kills him.

Which means he’s got to train even more.

Jin-woo then calls up Jin-ho and says, “Hey, man. You still want help running those Dungeons to make that guild?” But before they can make any progress, Jin-woo gets recruited to form a last-minute party to handle a C-Rank dungeon. It just so happens that the other party members include Kang Taeshik, an agent from the Hunters Association that oversees all Hunters, some Hunters serving time in jail, and the other survivors of the Double-Dungeon incident. This must be fate at work!

The Black Air Force Hunter Finds his Next Victim

There turns out to be more to this job than anyone realizes. Some time ago, one of the convicts had murdered a girl, so the girl’s dad paid Kang to kill him in the Dungeon. Kang gladly does so, only for the two Double-Dungeon survivors that abandoned everyone to catch him in the act. So

Kang kills them both to cover everything up. And this is where things get really sad, as one of those guys only took this job so he could apologize to Jin-woo for leaving him to die. To make it even sadder, the man has a wife and kid he’s leaving behind!

So, Jim-woo reveals his black air force energy and, in a pretty epic fight, manages to kill Kang. Afterwards, just like before, the remaining party members cover for him as that is for saving their lives. But Joo-hee? She’s done being a Hunter. The trauma she’s experienced is too much, and she wants out, so she’s moving back home with her parents. Which also means anyone who shipped her with Jin-woo has been left high and dry.

The Bromance’s Grinding Scheme

So, after that latest incident, Jin-woo and Jin-ho put their plan to start a guild into motion. Jin-ho buys up the rights to a bunch of C-Rank Dungeons and then hires some low-rank Hunters so they can meet the party quota. The two of them are the only ones to head inside and clear everything. By which we mean Jin-woo clears them while Jin-ho helps carry the stuff and serve as his hype man. But despite Jin-woo’s attempts to fly under the radar, people are starting to take notice.

Case in point, a high-ranking member of one of the top Guilds in Korea puts the pieces together and realizes that Jin-woo has “reawakened.” Reawakening is when a Hunter goes through a second awakening that makes stronger than they once were. To be fair, that is technically what Jin-woo has gone through. Though when this man tries to recruit Jin-woo, he turns him down. And for good measure, he flexes his BAFE to let him know what will happen if he tries to tell anyone else.

Jin-Woo Gets a Promotion

At this point, Jin-woo is getting stronger and stronger. So strong, in fact, that the System decides this is the point where he can pull a job-change to get even stronger. He’s subsequently dropped into a giant castle and has to fight his way through a horde of magical warriors before making his way to a throne room. That’s where he challenges the boss, Igris, the Bloodred Knight Commander. Igris pushes Jin-woo to his limit, but he manages to win by the skin of his teeth. And he acknowledges that he only won thanks to dumb luck!

Unfortunately for him, this wasn’t the job-change quest. This was just the warm-up for the real quest: fighting an endless horde of armored warriors until the time limit expires. All while he’s exhausted, unable to use potionsโ€ฆand missing the teleportation stone that acts as his escape rope.

Jin-woo almost gives up because he thinks he bit off more than he can chew. Just as he’s about to give up, though, his past self gives him the pep talk he needs to keep going. That’s when remembers something important: be was so eager to start the quest, he forgot to do his dailies. So, back to the penalty zone he goes!

And, like anyone with black air force energy, Him-woo makes short work of the opposition and uses the drop items to get back to full strength. Once back, he wastes the enemy with time to spare.

Long Live the Shadow Monarch, Sung HIM-woo!

With the quest over, the System appears again to say “Congratulations for completing the quest and proving yourself worthy of black air force energy. Now, time to assign you your new job based on your performance.” Sadly, Jin-woo can’t pick his new job class, but lucky for him, the System chooses the most OP one it has: Necromancer. And since he killed everyone before the time limit, he got so much XP that he automatically levels up to Shadow Monarch, the one who rules over an army of the dead!

The coolest part, though? He can extract the shadows of the deceased and revive them as unkillable, unflinching minions! And the stronger he gets, the more Shadows he can control. This man is capable of creating his own private army! And, since every army needs commanders, Jin-woo revives Igris as the first of his elite warriors!

You Will be Calling him Sung HIM-woo before the show is over!

And that is where the first season comes to an end. Sung Jin-woo has obtained the power of black air forces and proven that he is that guy, but his journey is far from over. He needs to keep getting stronger to save his mom and deal with the powerful individuals that will no doubt continue to take notice of him. And if you thought he was badass already, then trust me when I say that you haven’t seen anything yet. I read through the entire webtoon in a few days, and lets just say that I was right to give him the nickname of Sung Him-woo. He will be in a class all his own by the time the anime comes to an end!

Now, go get ready to watch the next season of Solo Leveling. And if you’re too impatient, go try the mobile game, Solo Leveling: Arise!

Who Let a Power Ranger into an Isekai?

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

The Red Ranger Becomes an Adventurer in Another World Initial Review

Somewhere, somehow, a mangaka asked the following question: what if we put a super sentai protagonist in an Isekai story? How would these two different types of stories work together? What chaos would ensue from the clashing of genres? Apparently, not only did someone decide to find out, but it was enough to warrant the resulting manga an anime. This is The Red Ranger Becomes an Adventurer in Another Worldโ€ฆand it might be one of the most ridiculous ideas of the year.

The Red Ranger Who Got Isekaied

Meet Asakagi Togo, AKA Red, AKA the Red Ranger of the Kizuna Five, his worldโ€™s version of the Super Sentai/Power Rangers. Right in the middle of their final battle against their nemesis, the (I’m not making this up) Breakup King, Red apparently sacrifices himself to end the fight for good. Instead of dying, though, Red wakes up to find himself in the middle of a world full of swords and sorcery. He got Isekaied.

Six months pass. Red has been trying to find a way home, only for its attempts to come up fruitless. However, after seeing all the hardships the people of this new world face, his sense of justice compels him to keep being a hero by becoming an adventurer. And, since he still has all his Sentai abilities, he can no-sell almost anything thrown at him. The people of this world donโ€™t even understand what Redโ€™s powers are!

Meet Yihdra Arvoln, the daughter and heir to a noble family of wizards. For generations, her family served their kingdom as, for lack of a better comparison, the Hands of the King, but with magic. Until her father lost the title to someone who wants to abuse magic for power and got exiled. Now, sheโ€™s trying to reclaim her familyโ€™s position by contributing to the study of magic. Sadly, every adventurer she hires to retrieve materials proves unfit for her high standards.

Then Red arrives and throws her for a loop with his powers, his ability to make enemies explode for no reason, and his constant talking about the importance of bonds. He talks so much about friendship and bonds, it would make Naruto proud!

This is a Satire. Don’t Take it Seriously

At this point, it should be apparent what kind of story The Red Ranger is meant to be: a satire. Itโ€™s deliberately playing up the more absurd aspects of the Sentai genre to make fun of how ridiculous the whole concept can seem to someone who doesnโ€™t get it. However, the anime makes it evident that itโ€™s meant to be playful ribbing rather than mean-spirited criticism. Despite how much Yihdra is thrown off-guard by Redโ€™s personality, she realizes that he genuinely believes in what he says about the importance of friendship. Case in point, he takes the time to hear out her dream of using magic to help make the world a happier place. While she fully expects him to scoff or laugh at the idea, Red instead fully supports her goal because heโ€™s just that nice.

At the end of the episode, Yihdra repays Redโ€™s kindness by offering to form an adventuring party and work on finding a way to get him home. Redโ€™s so moved by this act that he starts crying tears of joy!

Also, she doesnโ€™t say it, but itโ€™s pretty obvious from her expressions that Yihdraโ€™s falling in love with Red. Opposites do attract, after all!

The Red Ranger is, by all accounts, a ridiculous show with a ridiculous premise. Yet, try as I might, I canโ€™t help but want to watch it. With how prevalent the Isekai genre has become, people have had to get creative with their approach to it. So, why not have a Power Ranger get isekaied and see what happens? At the very least, it will make for some good laughs!

Verdict: Imma Watch it…for reasons I don’t understand

Spoiler Alert: SSJ3 VEGETA IS REAL!!!!!!!

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

Dragon Ball Daima Ep 12 Review

I take back everything I said in the last review about Vegeta getting the short end of the stick. This episode of Dragon Ball Daima saw Vegeta cook! Not only did he manage to continue his fight against the Tamagami, but he also showed a transformation that, until now, had been relegated to fanfics and video games. As for Dr. Arinsu and Majin Duu, they also cooked, scoring a big win for themselves.

Before we get started, it should be noted that the OP credits to Daima have changed to reflect whatโ€™s going on in the series. Itโ€™s not much, but considering how the OP and ED to an anime can set its tone as well as reveal potential plot points, itโ€™s nice to see it get updated.

Vegeta Didn’t Get Shafted!!

In the last episode, it looked like Vegeta had been swallowed by a giant Kraken and that Goku would have to bail him out. As it turns out, though, the Prince of the Saiyans was fine, escaping the Kraken in the nick of time!

Itโ€™s not clear what Toriyama was involved in regarding and what wasnโ€™t, but this feels like another one of his fake-outs meant to troll us. Dragon Ball has a running gag where it looks like something bad happened to a character, only for it to be revealed to be a false alarm. It can seem a bit cruel to mess with the fans emotions like that, but at this point, unless you count disease and old age, death isnโ€™t going to stick for the heroes.

Now that Vegeta is warmed up, heโ€™s able to fight to his fullest, and continually pressures the Tamagami. Thanks to a little cheating by Neva, though, he has to use a transformation that, until now, remained non-canon. For the first time ever, Vegeta goes Super Saiyan 3! After that, the fight ends fairly quickly.

In Hindsight, SSJ3 is…Kinda Useless?

From a meta-standpoint, the reason why Vegeta never used this transformation in future stories can be chalked to them being written before Daima. From the perspective of the story, though, it can be best explained by the fact that SSJ3โ€™s rapid draining of ki makes largely a hindrance in long-term fights. After the discovery of Super Saiyan Blue, the form practically becomes useless. So, unless Vegeta thinks he can swiftly end a fight, heโ€™s not going to use it.

In a very amusing moment, Vegeta also proves to be smart enough to win the game that comes afterwards. Vegeta for the win!

Majin Duu Steamrolls Tamagami

Meanwhile, back with Dr. Arinsu and her creations, Duu continues to run circles around the Tamagami while remaining a total goofball. The only time he winds up on the ropes is when he starts wanting chocolate, prompting Kik to run out and get him some. After that, he steamrolls through the guardian of the Dragon Ball. In another humorous moment, though, itโ€™s Kuu that solves the puzzle thatโ€™s supposed that comes with each Dragon Ball.

There seems to be no purpose beyond these puzzles beyond being a source of humor, but itโ€™s fun to see the characters wrack their heads instead of using their fists.

At this point, the heroes now have two of the three Dragon Balls, while Arinsu has the last one. All that is left is for them to make their way to the First World, get the last Dragon Ball, and rescue Dende. However, theyโ€™re going to have to deal with the threat of Gomah, Arinsu and her Majin, Shinโ€™s brother, and whatever Glorio is being asked to do. The group is in for a tough battle going forward. Though this isnโ€™t the first time the Dragon Team has gone barging into an enemy base with half a plan. They should be fineโ€ฆright?

At least Vegeta got to come in clutch this episode!

I Give “True Strength” a 4.5/5

Why Must Vegeta Get Shafted Again?

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

Dragon Ball Daima Ep 11 Review

Thereโ€™s a running gag in Dragon Ball surrounding Vegeta: he keeps getting the raw end of the deal. No matter how many times he gets stronger, no matter how much he yells, he seems to end up losing when it matters the most. Toriyama admitted that he didnโ€™t like Vegeta that much, despite how heโ€™s become the co-protagonist of the franchise alongside Goku. Knowing this, you canโ€™t help but feel that what happens to Vegeta in this episode feels like a cruel joke Toriyamaโ€™s playing on him from beyond the grave. Once again, Vegeta gets shafted.

Dragon Ball Just Solved the Problem of Keeping Them Away from Villains

At the end of the last episode, our heroes were getting ready to leave the abandoned home of the Namekians for the next Tamagami. However, they werenโ€™t alone. Neva, the last Namekian in the Demon Realm and guardian of its Dragon Balls, appears before them. And while he pretends to act senile, Piccolo sees through his act. Thus, Neva gets right to the point: he wants to go with them to the next Tamagami.

While the flight is a bit cramped for the occupants, it does give viewers the chance to learn more about the Demon Realmโ€™s Dragon Balls. When they were created, they were unguarded like the other sets were. As was the case with the sets on Earth and Namek, though, evil beings sought to use their power. In other words, the Tamagami were created to address one of the biggest flaws the Dragon Balls have had throughout the franchise: that anyone can use them for evil if they get their hands on them.

This…this is smart writing!

Honestly, this decision makes a lot of sense. Thanks to inventions like the Dragon Radar, the Dragon Balls main defense of being scattered across whatever planet theyโ€™re on becomes little more than an issue of time. And given how villains have tried to use the Dragon Balls time and again, with King Piccolo succeeding, it highlights how dangerous they are in the wrong hands. Having a powerful guardian to protect them means that most people cannot use them unless theyโ€™re strong enough. And given how Goku had to go Super Saiyan to beat one, itโ€™s likely that if Namek had their own Tamagami, Frieza wouldnโ€™t have gotten close to them. That’s some smart writing going on! The kind that makes me wonder if Toriyama took a page or two from fans like TeamFourStar

As an aside, this episode establishes that Piccolo doesnโ€™t know Namekian. Didnโ€™t he and Kami speak it during their fight in the World Martial Arts Tournament that one time, though?

Poor Vegeta

At any rate, Vegeta gets to fight the next Tamagami, and like with Goku, heโ€™s more than capable of holding his own. Sadly, the fight is cut short when Vegeta falls underwater and is attacked by a kraken, swallowing him whole.

Man, Vegeta just canโ€™t catch a break, can he?

Kuu, now Duu? Where did Toriyama come up with these names?

Meanwhile, back with Dr. Arinsu, sheโ€™s given up on using Majin Kuu to get the third Dragon Ball. Instead, she and Marba use the last of the essence of Buu to create another Majin, Majin Duu. Whereas Kuu seems to have Kid Buuโ€™s build and Super Buuโ€™s intelligence, Duu takes after Good Buu in both appearance and mannerisms. Heโ€™s big, goofy, and loves to eat chocolate and other candies. Much like Good Buu, though, underneath his unremarkable exterior, Duu is a formidable warrior. When he fights the Tamagami, heโ€™s able to give it a run for its money. The fight doesnโ€™t end before the episode does, but what is shown proves to be a good callback to Majin Buuโ€™s first appearance in DBZ.

Basically, Duu is strong but silly, like Buu. And if what we have seen on social media is true, Duu might not be the last Majin we see before the show is done.

So, once again, Vegeta has gotten shafted by fate and the anime, meaning itโ€™s up to Goku and the others to save him from the Kraken. That, or Vegeta might end up killing it from the inside. Meanwhile, weโ€™ll also be seeing whether or not Duu measures up to his template. Given how much fun Buu was even when he was evil, this could make for some entertaining fights.

I Give โ€œLegendโ€ a 4/5

Daima Just Told us How the Multiverse Was Created! Crazy, Right?

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

Dragon Ball Daima Ep 10 Review

Full disclosure: the original draft for this review was somehow erased like Zeno erased a third of the Dragon Ball multiverse, leaving it to be redone. Thus, this review will not be quite as detailed as one would hope it would be, but enough to cover the key points of the tenth episode of Dragon Ball Daima.

Speaking of Zeno, we might have been introduced to Zeno’s predecessor as the ruler of the multiverse in this episode. As it turns out, the Demon Realm might be the oldest place in all of creation, predating everything that we have seen!

Giant Sea Monsters!?!?

Having completed everything they can in the third Demon World, Goku, Panzy, Glorio and Shin all set out for the Second Demon World. Unfortunately, the show drops some hints that indicate it doesn’t intend to stay long in this second world, which largely consists of vast oceans…with giant sea monsters in them!

Kaiju-sized monsters aren’t anything new to Dragon Ball thanks to the Saiyans being able to become Great Apes. However, the Krakens that dwell in the ocean are shown to be so powerful, even Goku has to give them a wide berth. It’s the first big reminder since the start of the series that Goku’s operating with a noteworthy handicap, hence the need to return to his adult form fast as he can.

So that’s how the Multiverse came into existence!

The main focus of this episode, though, comes when Goku and the others arrive at the original homeworld of the Namekians. Besides serving as a call-back to Namek and New Namek, this is also where Shin drops some major lore regarding the history of the cosmos. According to Shin, the Demon Realm existed before the rest of creation, but one of the first Supreme Demon Kings asked a Super Majin named Rymus to create more worlds for the Demons to explore. Rymus’ creations became what we know as the multiverse for Dragon Ball!

This is big news in more ways than one. Besides confirming that the Demon Realm is, in fact, the origin point for existence, it gives us a concrete look at how the multiverse came to be. However, while it may seem to contradict everything we learn in Super about Zeno and how he governs the multiverse, it doesn’t. Rymus looks a lot like Zeno does, leaving many fans to conclude that Zeno is a descendant of Rymus.

https://twitter.com/HeDontMissVj/status/1867643815089385703

It’s details like this that make worlds like Dragon Ball so entertaining. I doubt few fans ever considered learning how the Multiverse began, but Daima decided to tell us anyway.

Kuu turns out to be a chump!

The other big thing about this episode is that we got to see the fight between the first Tamagami and Dr. Arinsu’s new minion, Majin Kuu. Despite getting hyped up as being as strong as Majin Buu, if not Kid Buu, the show managed to pull the wool over all our eyes by having Kuu lose the fight! Kuu puts up a good struggle, but he’s ultimately unable/unwilling to keep fighting the Tamagami. Thus, he bails, leading Arinsu to deem him a failure and head back to the drawing board.

https://twitter.com/itislevent/status/1868292134706598321

This was such an unexpected twist. Given how he shared the skinny physique of Kid Buu, it would be easy for fans to assume that he was as strong as Kid Buu. And given how Kid Buu is the biggest menace Goku has faced up to this point in his life, that prospect is terrifying. Instead, it seems that Toriyama or whoever came up with this part of the story decided to prank us. Personally, I’m fine with this. Toriyama always did have a good sense of humor.

What does Neva want?

The episode ends on a cliffhanger on the hero’s side, and for good reason. Right as Goku’s group is getting ready to leave the ancient Namekian home to meet Vegeta’s group, they’re approached by a lone figure, the last Namekian in the Demon Realm, Neva. But what could the ancient Namekian want with the group?

We already know by this point, since the next two episodes are already out. Rather, three episodes, depending on when this goes up.

I Give “Ocean” a 4/5

100 Girlfriends is BACK!!!

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

The 100 Girlfriends Who Really, Really, Really, Really, Really Love You Season 2 Premiere Review

Everyone, the GOAT harem anime where no one loses has returned! After what felt like an eternity, The 100 Girlfriends Who Really, Really, Really, Really, Really Love You has returned to grace our screens once more!

It should come as no secret by now, but I am a big fan of 100 Girlfriends. Of all the harem anime that Iโ€™ve seen over the years, itโ€™s one of the funniest and most wholesome in the entire genre. More importantly, itโ€™s about a protagonist whoโ€™s got an actual personality, but who is proactive in how he treats his girlfriends. Rentaro is the gold standard that every boyfriend should aspire to be, and I love seeing him and his growing family enjoying their lives together.

So, despite it not being my intention, Iโ€™m going to be reviewing every episode of this new season as we watch and laugh at all the hilarity. And the show comes out of the gate swinging like itโ€™s Karaneโ€™s killer left hook.

Freaky Friday or Your Name?

After the new OP (which is one of the series best parts), rather than jump into the story of the manga, the series decides to come up with an original story for the first half of the premiere. And it doesnโ€™t hesitate to resume its fourth-wall-breaking by having the girlfriends acknowledge that itโ€™s been a year since the last episode. So, to shake things up, Hakari had Kusuri develop a drug to alter their personalitiesโ€ฆonly for it to somehow make them switch bodies. Itโ€™s a scenario straight out of Your Name, and not only does the anime acknowledge this, it even recreates it one of its famous montages.

If that wasnโ€™t funny enough, what makes it funnier is the fact that they try to avoid getting sued for name-dropping it. As well as Rentaro trying to figure out whoโ€™s in what body based on their mannerisms.

I think what makes it even better is that they didnโ€™t switch seiyuuโ€™s for this like other anime would. They got to act out of character as much as they wanted, and I canโ€™t wait to hear this in dub.

In any event, itโ€™s up to Rentaro to figure out how to get them back in their bodies, and this is one of those moments where the show just chooses to ignore realism in the name of comedy. In this case, the girlfriends each have to kiss Rentaro, making them feel so ecstatic that their souls leave their bodies. I cannot make this up!

Girlfriend #7 Comes to Feast!

Once thatโ€™s done, though, the anime gets back to following the plot of the manga. That means that itโ€™s time for Rentaro to get his seventh soulmate. And the winner isโ€ฆ

Meet Kurumi Haraga, a third-year middle schooler and the big eater girlfriend. She and Rentaro meet when she sneaks into high school cafeteria to get some lunch. And, as with all the other girls, Kurumi has her own issues that serve to make her unique amongst the growing Rentaro Family. In this case, her big eater tendencies are not by choice. She suffers from an abnormally high metabolism, meaning she burns through calories like crazy, so she has to eat a lot to keep going. Worse, whenever someone mentions a specific food, sheโ€™ll start craving it and will remain grumpy until she has it. In other words, combine the eating habits of a Saiyan with the eating disorder that Big Mom from One Piece has, but without destructive tendencies.

Because of her unique issue, Kurumi has a hard time opening up to people, as she will lash out at others when sheโ€™s hungry. And since sheโ€™s hungry all the time, she has no friends. Thus, despite bonding over lunch with Rentaro after they meet, she lashes out at him the next day when she canโ€™t get the food she wants.

Thankfully, Rentaro, being the CHAD he is, manages to soothe her hunger painsโ€ฆand win her heart.

Did I mention I like her design? The headphones and hoodie are a cool combo.

Prepare for Lots of Foodservice Next Episode

The episode ends with Rentaro introducing Kurumi to the Family, only for Kurumi to say sheโ€™s not interested in being friends with them. So, to break the ice, Rentaro has them all sign up for an eating contest with a special gelato as the prize, setting us up for the next episode!

This entire episode, from start to finish, was an absolute blast. I love 100 Girlfriends for how unhinged it can be with its premise, and itโ€™s the comedic moments in this episode that provide a good example of why. It doesnโ€™t care about being hated; itโ€™s only interested in having a good time. Iโ€™m really glad itโ€™s backโ€ฆand I love the ED just as much as the OP.

I Give โ€œHer Nameโ€ a 5/5

Master Roshi Needs our Help

Aside Roderick J "Jay" Friz Anime, DBZ, Uncategorized , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The following is an emergency announcement from the D&A Anime Blog concerning an important member of the Dragon Ball community.

Less than a year ago, the world of anime wept at the loss of Akira Toriyama, the creator of Dragon Ball. Now, another prominent member of the anime community is in need of our help: Mike McFarland.

For those who arenโ€™t aware, Mike McFarland is a veteran voice actor with more than 400 roles to his credit. The one we should concern ourselves with the most, though, is one of the OG conossseuirs of Waifus, Master Roshi. And right now, heโ€™s in trouble.

https://twitter.com/ccarrollbeard/status/1878548074563354904?s=46&t=4W-BLvIh5yMGPeETlsL3QQ

Earlier this week, Colleen Clinkenbeard revealed on Twitter that Mike went to the hospital for what he thought was a bad ear infection. Instead, it turned out to be a brain tumor that the doctors had to get out of him. Thankfully, the operation was successful, and Mike is out of the hospital and recovering. However, with that comes another problem: paying the bills. He will need someone to stay with him until he is fully recovered, which wonโ€™t be cheap. That is why Brandon McInnis and J. Michael Tatum have set up a gofundme page to help the man cover his medical fees. Fortunately, the fundraiser has already met its goalโ€ฆbut some extra money cannot hurt.

Many Dragon Balls are still mourning the loss of Toriyama a year ago, and Iโ€™m still saddened by the loss of Rachael Lillis in that same year. So, the fact that the man who gives Master Roshi life facing something so scary is too much to bear. Fans of Dragon Ball and anime need to do whatever they can to help a man who plays one of the OG Shonen mentors in his time of need. And if this winds up being more serious than doctors first thought, we need to ensure that he has enough money for further care.

Link to the fundraiser here

And if it helps, Mike already tweeted saying that heโ€™s already up and about.

Let 2025 Anime COOOKK!!!!

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

RJ Writing Inkโ€™s List of Anime to Look Out For in 2025

Anime fans, we are going to be eating like kings this year.

By the time youโ€™re reading this, the year 2025 will likely be here, and it is promising to cook a feast for anime lovers around the world. From popular anime returning with new seasons to newcomers on the block, the year is going to be filled with so many potentially great anime. So much so that for the first time in recent memory, I actually had to stop looking to keep my brain from overloading. Thatโ€™s how much we could end up eating this year!

Iโ€™m RJ Writing Ink for the D&A Anime Blog, and this is my bakerโ€™s dozen of all the anime I will be paying attention to in 2025.

Solo Leveling-Arise from the Shadows-January 4th, 2025

Only a few days into 2024, the world of anime got its first big hit in the form of Solo Leveling. Based on the Korean manwha of the same name, this megahit told the story of Sung Jin-Woo as he started going from being the weakest Hunter in the world to a contender for the title of That Guy. And heโ€™s going to get even stronger.

At the end of the first season, Jin-Woo gained the ability to raise the dead as shadow warriors, giving him the means to build his own army. This upcoming season will see him grow his forces while continuing to level up his skills. And the stronger he gets, the more attention he will end up attracting. And, having read the entire manwha to the end, I can promise you when I say that we have seen nothing yet!

Zenshu-January 5th, 2025

This next anime is unique on this list, as itโ€™s the only one that wholly original. Created by studio MAPPA, Zenshu takes the all-too-familiar concept of the Isekai and puts someone who works in the anime industry into the protagonist role. When the young animator Natsuko Hirose apparently dies from exhaustion at work, she wakes up in the world of her favorite anime. Unfortunately for her, said anime is one where anyone can die, like its Game of Thrones. The good news is that she learns that she has the power to re-animate scenes from the story, thereby changing it in the process. So, she does what any fan who doesnโ€™t like how a story turns out: she gets to work fixing it.

These days, Isekai are a dime-a-dozen, and creators have to get creative to help themselves stand out in the crowd. That being said, the premise of someone rewriting the world of her favorite series because they hate what happens is something plenty of fans can relate to. Take, for example, the recent ending to the Oshi No Ko manga. Plenty of disillusioned fans would love to fix that controversial ending! Not to mention how the last two seasons of Game of Thrones need a complete overhaul! The bottom line is that Zenshu is the power fantasy for every fan disillusioned by a story gone wrong, and we should give it a shot.

Dr. Stone Science Future-January 9 2025

Weโ€™re ten billion percent ready to return to the world of Dr. Stone, the sci-fi manga with an emphasis on science. Following the events of the third season, Senku and the Kingdom of Science to acquire one of the mysterious devices that caused humanity to petrify. In addition, they also learned the device and its brethren were getting their orders somewhere on the Moon, meaning they would have to travel there to uncover the truth behind the Petrification Event. Doing that will require more resources, meaning Senku and the others will have to travel the globe and gain new alliesโ€ฆand new enemies.

While I never watched Dr. Stone past season one, the anime has caught up to the part of the manga where I started reading it every week. Since I know what happens, I know how interesting things are going to get. And while it might not be the most exciting Shonen series, Dr. Stone balances learning about science with goofy humor, making it interesting enough for me to watch. That, and the dub voice cast is pretty good.

The Apothecary Diaries Season 2-January 10 2025

Everyoneโ€™s favorite apothecary detective returns with a new season! If you donโ€™t know what The Apothecary Diaries is, itโ€™s an anime that premiered back in 2023 before running into the following year. It tells the story of Maomao, a talented young apothecary forced to work as a lowly servant at the palace of an Emperor. Once she starts using her talents to solve mysteries, though, she starts taking on a much greater role. With the new season heralding the arrival of spring, thereโ€™s sure to be more mysteries to solve. And more importantly, more chances for Maomao and Jinshi to mess with each other!

Normally, The Apothecary Diaries wouldnโ€™t be the kind of anime I would be interested in. However, the combination of good voice acting, mysteries, and the dynamic between Jinshi and Maomao is enough to pique my interest. With how many popular like to cosplay as characters from the series, itโ€™s apparent that itโ€™s got a pretty big fan base already, and will surely grow bigger with the new season.

The 100 Girlfriends Who Really, Really, Really, Really, Really Love You Season 2-January 12th 2025

The ultimate sigma harem anime returns at last! For those who donโ€™t know (or didnโ€™t ready my review of the series), 100 Girlfriends is, as the name suggests, about a boy whoโ€™s destined to meet and have 100 girlfriends. As of the end of the first season, our protagonist/the ideal every boyfriend should aspire to, Rentaro Aijo, stands at six girlfriends. Given what the trailer revealed, heโ€™s due to make it to the double digits before the end of the season.

Harem doesnโ€™t have the best reputation in the anime community, but as I said in my review, 100 Girlfriends is the exception to the role. Not only does it have a protagonist who actively gives his partners reasons to like him, but each partner serves as a deconstruction of a different female archetype. I.E., Karaneโ€™s tsundere-ness is something she hates due to it making her too insecure to say what sheโ€™s really feeling. Or Shizukaโ€™s muteness is not by choice, but due to her extreme shyness. The point is that each girlfriend has more depth than you would think. Not only that, but the series is pretty funny.

One Piece-April 2025

This fall, One Piece shocked fans everywhere when, for the first time in its 25-year history, it went on hiatus. Fans have had to be content with a retelling of the Fishman Island Saga over the course of the fall and winter months. However, all of that ends April, 2025 as One Piece returns to the actual story.

For those not caught up, the series went on hiatus in the middle of the Egghead Island Arc. That arc has the Straw Hats meet the genius scientist Dr. Vegapunk, who begs them to get him and his clones as far away from the World Government as possible. While the arc has already been filled with plenty of epic moments, I can promise you that you havenโ€™t seen anything yet. Expect your mind to be blown into a million pieces, put back together, and then blown again before the Straw Hats leave Egghead. No spoilers, though!

My Hero Academia: Vigilantes-April 2025

My Hero Academia might be heading into its final season, but there are still stories left to be told in this world of superpowers and heroes. Case in point, we have the anime adaptation of the MHA spin-off/prequel, My Hero Academia: Vigilantes. Set five years before the events of the series, Vigilantes follows Koichi Haimawari, an aspiring hero who opts not to become a Pro Hero in favor of becoming an illegal vigilante.

Anyone who has read an American superhero comic knows that vigilante heroes arenโ€™t a new thing. Technically, most of the superheroes in Marvel and DC comics are vigilantes that have charges pressed against them. The only reason that doesnโ€™t happen is because the heroes are all fairly competent at what they do. Having a spin-off that brings the concept of superheroes back to its vigilante roots should provide a new and interesting perspective on how heroism works in the world of My Hero Academia. That, and it will keep the fandom alive for a little bit longer.

Dan Da Dan Season 2-July 2025

If you read my reviews of Dan Da Dan, then you know I consider it to be the best anime of 2024 hands down. Unfortunately, the first season ended on a pretty awkward vote: Okarun and Jiji found a secret room in Jijiโ€™s house, and Momo was under attack from a bunch of creeps. Thankfully, fans donโ€™t have to wait years to find out what happens in anime form, with the next season due in just a few months.

Continuing the story where the last episode left off, Okarun, Jiji, and Momo will have to face both a deadly cult and an evil spirit known as the Evil Eye. Given everything that we see in the trailer, including Jiji being possessed by the spirit and the image of an erupting volcano, things are going to get wild. And I wouldnโ€™t have it any other way!

My Hero Academia Final Season-Fall 2025

Itโ€™s been a long, long road, but My Hero Academia is finally nearing the end of its run. The last season ended as the final battle between the heroes and the villains was reaching its climax. As Deku continues his fight against Shigaraki, All Might fights to stall the evil All for One from reaching his apprentice so they can merge and become unstoppable. With all the other battles now out of the way, the series can focus on making this the finale that the fans deserve.

Once again, this is a series where I read the entire manga in advance. Thus, I know how things are going to turn out and care more about its executed. If Studio Bones does this right, then it will cement MHA in the Shonen hall of fame. If notโ€ฆyou remember what happened with Oshi No Ko, right?

Kaiju No. 8 Season 2-Unknown Release Date

Hereโ€™s another up-and-coming Shonen anime thatโ€™s getting another season, Kaiju No. 8. At the end of the last season, Kafka Hibino managed to prove his humanity despite being able to transform into a Kaiju. As a result, heโ€™s getting another chance with the Anti-Kaiju Defense Force. With the threat of Kaiju No. 9 and other intelligent Kaiju still looming, the JAKDF will need all the help they can get.

Sadly, a concrete release date for the new season has yet to be announced. In fact, every entry beyond this point has no clear release date.

Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc-Unknown Release Date

Right when it looked like it may never continue, Chainsaw Man bursts back onto the scene in all of its bloody glory. Some time ago, it was announced that the next arc of the popular Shonen series, the Reze Arc, would be made into a movie. However, with no news after such a long time, it began to feel like we may never get to see the Reze Arc play out. Thankfully, our wait may not be for much longer.

While we still donโ€™t have a concrete release date for the film, that doesnโ€™t change the fact that itโ€™s coming in 2025. Given how popular the anime is, fans will likely line up in droves to see this next chapter in this bloody, unhinged story.

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba-Infinity Castle Movie Trilogy-Unknown Release Dates

Speaking of popular Shonen series getting the movie treatment, it seems that Demon Slayer is returning to the movies not once, not twice, but three times in 2025. With the fourth season covering the Hashira Training arc and the start of the final battle against Muzan, the studio behind the anime must have decided to give Demon Slayer the send-off it deserves. Thus, it looks like theyโ€™re adapting the Infinity Castle arc into a trilogy of films, giving Demon Slayer the stage it needs to play out its final act.

At the moment, itโ€™s currently unclear if the Infinity Castle movies will premiere in theaters in the West. Itโ€™s not even clear if the movies will finish the series as a whole or just cover the Infinity Castle Arc. However, Iโ€™m hoping that they do both. With how cinematic Demon Slayer has proven to be over the years, it feels right to have it end on the big screen. Just like the series finale to Avatar: The Last Airbender shouldโ€™ve aired in theaters.

Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3 (I Hope!)

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

This last one is less of a confirmed release and more like wishful thinking, but given how the JuJutsu Kaisen manga ended earlier this year, it would be appreciated. After all, the second season of JJK ended on a pretty bleak note.

To quickly recap what went down in the second season of JJK:

  • Gojo was sealed inside a cursed prison with his enemies in Jujutsu society forbidding his rescue.
  • Sukuna made Yuji level most of the Shibuya District, killing hundreds in the process.
  • Tons of new curse users have been awoken alongside many cursed spirits.
  • Yujiโ€™s execution has been re-instated.

With the next season set to adapt the Culling Games Arc, this is JJKโ€™s chance to regain much of the love that was lost due to how the manga ended. Hopefully, more news will come in the next few months!

What other anime are you looking forward to seeing in 2025? If you have any recommendations feel free to leave a comment about it! Happy New Year!

So Many Best Girls in 2024!

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

RJ Writing Ink’s Picks for Best Waifus for 2024

With the year 2024 ending, the time has come for anime fans to look back on what they liked about this year and what they didnโ€™t. One of the topics that will inevitably come up is who we think qualifies for the status of best girls and best boys in anime. Last year, I came up with my list of who I think were the best anime girls of 2023, and I see no reason why I canโ€™t do the same for 2024. Iโ€™m RJ Writing Ink, and in no particular order, here are my picks for best girls of 2024.

As before, this list will include girls from anime that premiered in 2024 as well as girls who gained prominence on returning shows. And since last year set the precedent that an anime can have more than one, I will be combining those with multiple entries

Vegapunk/Lilith-One Piece

For years, fans of One Piece had been waiting to be introduced to the mysterious genius known as Dr. Vegapunk. Said to be the smartest man in the world, the Dr was responsible for many of the tools used by the World Government to maintain their control over the world. Imagine everyoneโ€™s surprise when the Straw Hatโ€™s meet this young woman who calls herself Vegapunk. However, thatโ€™s only partly true. This woman, Lilith, is a clone of Vegapunk called a Satellite. He created them to help do his research faster, with all of them connected via a hive mind and representing a different aspect of his personality. Fitting for a woman named after an ancient demon, Lilith represents his โ€œevilโ€ aspect.

Donโ€™t let the evil part fool you, though. While Lilith embodies Vegapunkโ€™s manipulative, impulsive, and ruthless side, sheโ€™s actually a very nice person. Sheโ€™s incredibly loyal to her fellow Vegapunks, and as with many characters they meet, she becomes a steadfast ally of the Straw Hats after she gets to know them. If anything, her rough nature made me enjoy her even more. It also helps that her English VA is Madeline Morris, AKA Rudeus Greyrat.

Akane Tendo-Ranma 1/2

One of the earliest anime waifus to make their way to the West returns for a new generation. The main heroine of Ranma 1/2, Akane Tendo is a headstrong martial artist whose beauty makes her the object of affection for many boys at her high school. Unfortunately for them, she hates most men. Unfortunately for her, her unwilling fiancรฉ, Ranma Saotome, not only thinks sheโ€™s not attractive but manages to get on her nerves.

Then again, that seems like the standard formula for one of Rumiko Takahashiโ€™s manga.

Contrary to Ranmaโ€™s assertions that she has no charm, Akane Tendo has plenty of charm to go around. While she may come off as rough and abrasive towards most guys, itโ€™s repeatedly shown that she has a soft side. She has an innocent crush on the boy her older sister likes, and sheโ€™s shown to be very affectionate towards her sisters and those she considers friends. She even starts to be nicer to Ranma after they get to know each other better. Theyโ€™re still regularly at each otherโ€™s throats, but thatโ€™s par for the course in one of Takahashiโ€™s manga.

Alya Kujou and Yuki Suou- Alya Sometimes Hides Her Feelings in Russian

For the first anime on this list to have more than one entry, we have Alisa โ€œAlyaโ€ Kujou and Yuki Suou from Alya Sometimes Hides Her Feelings in Russian. Both of these high schoolers are seen as beauties in their series, hut for different reasons. Alya is seen by many as an unattainable kuudere, with her white hair and half-Russian parentage only adding to her reputation. In contrast, Yuki is more of a traditional Japanese beauty, owing to her refined bearing and coming from a distinguished family of diplomats and former nobility.

Anyone who knows them personally, though, would better describe them with two words: tease and troll.

As Masachika Kuze can attest, Alya may seem like a kuudere, but she likes to flirt and tease him in Russian, thinking he canโ€™t understand it. The irony is that he can, and if she knew, she would be embarrassed to no end. As for Yuki, while they act like strangers in public, sheโ€™s actually Masachikaโ€™s younger sister. When theyโ€™re alone together, she loves to indulge in manga-reading, is a total pervert, and regularly flirts with her brother to get under his skin. The bottom line is that both of these young women can be menaces if left unchecked, but are still genuinely good people.

Sylphie and Roxy Greyrat-Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation

Full disclosure: I initially intended to just include Roxy on this list since Sylphie made it last year. After thinking it over, though, I felt it only fair to put them both on due to how they help Rudeusโ€™ life.

Now that sheโ€™s no longer keeping her identity a secret from Rudy, Sylphiette couldnโ€™t be any happier. The two are young, married, and before the season is over, theyโ€™re parents to a beautiful little girl. However, the reason she made this list a second year in a row is due to how accepting she is of Roxy becoming Rudyโ€™s second wife. She even says that she expected Rudy to bring another woman home one day, and that he wouldnโ€™t do so unless they were very special to him.

As for Roxy, Rudy could spend hours singing her praises, but the reason sheโ€™s on here is due to her helping Rudy recover from the shock of losing his father in the teleportation labyrinth. Whatโ€™s more, despite having fallen in love with her former student, she was willing to walk away rather than risk being a homewrecker. Combine that it was Roxyโ€™s teachings that helped Rudy survive the hardships of his life, is it any wonder why sheโ€™s earned a spot on this list. Keep doing your best to support Rudy, you two!

Kikoru Shinomiya-Kaiju No. 8

One of the three main protagonists of Kaiju No. 8, Kikoru Shinomiya is considered a genius Kaiju slayer despite only being a rookie. As the daughter of the leader of the Japanese Anti-Kaiju Defense Force, everyone has high expectations for her, ones that she has strived to meet by becoming the best at fighting Kaijus. And with good sheโ€™s shown to be at fighting them over the series first season, her reputation is one well-earned.

While Kikoru may come off as arrogant and abrasive at first, sheโ€™s actually a very nice and loyal woman once she starts to befriend Kafka and Ichikawa. Case in point, before Kafka chooses to out himself, sheโ€™s the only person the duo willingly tells about him being a humanoid Kaiju. Despite her hatred of Kaiju, the fact that Kikoru chooses to keep quiet speaks volumes about how kind she is.

Himiko Toga-My Hero Academia

While normally a villain wouldnโ€™t go on this list, an exception will be made in the case of Himiko Toga, as youโ€™ll see here.

When first introduced in My Hero Academia, Toga came off as a sadistic killer with a love of blood, and the blood part is a part of her personality. However, as we learn more about her, we realize she only became as bad as she is because she failed to get the help she clearly needed. Instead. She was told to act โ€œnormalโ€ until the strain became too much, making her snap. Anyone whoโ€™s had to hide what theyโ€™re like to the world can relate to how tough that can be!

Ultimately, while Togaโ€™s actions during the final war threatened to cost the heroes everything, itโ€™s what she does at the end of her story that shows that, deep down, she was a good person. After Uraraka finally gets through to her, Toga chose to sacrifice her life to save Urarakaโ€™s. That selfless act feels like itโ€™s earned her a spot on this list. Plus, Urarakaโ€™s right. Toga does look cute when she smiles.

Kara Zor-El-My Adventures With Superman

The only non-anime waifu to make the list is the latest incarnation of Kara Zor-El, AKA Supergirl, from My Adventures With Superman. As is the case for most versions of her, Kara is Superman’s cousin who was separated from him during the destruction of Krypton. Unfortunately for her, she wound up being raised by her universe’s version of Brainiac, AKA the rogue AI of Krypton that destroyed it in the first place. Kara spent her entire life conquering planets in the name of Brainiac’s twisted version of Krypton, but everything changed when she went to Earth to look for her cousin and found out how evil Brainiac really is.

While she may not be from an anime, there are several reasons why this version of Kara is on the list. Firstly, My Adventures With Superman is heavily inspired, in both animation style and story structure, by shonen anime. Secondly, her casual attire is almost an exact copy of Android 18’s clothes from Dragon Ball Z. Lastly, despite being raised by one of the most evil versions of Brainiac ever made, Kara is so nice and friendly. Seeing her getting to experience all the little things that make life on Earth worth living is infectious, and her growing, mutual crush on Jimmy Olsen is pure puppy love.

Jimmy, ask her out! NOW!

Momo and Seiko Ayase-Dan Da Dan

If Dan Da Dan was the best anime of 2024, then Momo Ayase and her grandmother, Seiko, are our best girls. Momo is an extroverted gyaru-girl believes in ghosts, has psychic powers, and swoons at the mention of Ken Takakura. Meanwhile, Seiko is a psychic medium who looks to be in her 20s despite having a granddaughter, loves Hiroshi Abe, and is a talented spirit medium whoโ€™s teaching Momo everything she knows. Together, the two make for a pretty badass pairโ€ฆwhen they arenโ€™t getting on each otherโ€™s nerves.

The reason why both are included on this list are because they each have their own appeal to them. Momoโ€™s quirky personality, sense of fashion, and loyalty to those she calls friends like Okarun have won over many fans. Not to mention thereโ€™s the fact that her psychic powers mean that she can go toe-to-toe with both aliens and ghosts and come out on top. As for Seiko, while she does come off as abrasive at times, she does care about her granddaughter and want the best for her. I even compared to an older, more mature Haruko from FLCL. Itโ€™s fitting, considering how her English VA is Kari Wahlgren, AKA the VA for Haruko.

Who Were Your Favorite Girls for 2024? Let us Know!

Most Shocking Anime Moments in 2024

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

RJ Writing Ink’s Picks for Best Moments in Anime for 2024

With 2024 all but over, once again, itโ€™s time to look back on all the anime weโ€™ve watchedโ€ฆand figure out what moment broke the Internet the most. There were plenty of moments that would gain their fifteen minutes of internet fame, and like many people, I have my own opinions on what moments live rent-free in my head. Last year, I recounted my favorite anime moments for 2023, and I see no reason not to consider that tradition.

Iโ€™m RJ Writing Ink, and here are my picks for the best anime moments for 2024. As was the case with last year, Iโ€™ll be limiting myself to the anime I watched.

Sung Jin-Woo Slaughters Hunters, Solo Leveling

If you ever need an example of why humans are the most dangerous game in the world, this is a prime example. When most of Sung Jin-Wooโ€™s party of Hunters use him and newcomer Jin-Ho as fodder for a dungeon boss, they fully expected him to die. When they come back and find the boss slain, they decide to kill them both to cover-up what they did. Little did they know that Jin-Woo was not a man that they should make an enemy of. In one of the coldest anime moments of the year, Jin-Woo proceeds to kill every last one of them without any signs of remorse or empathy.

Solo Leveling had already established itself as one of the first big anime of 2024, but this moment? This moment cemented it as one of its best. Seeing the once meek and powerless Jin-Woo effortlessly kill the Hunters was equally exciting and terrifying. Exciting because it showed that Jin-Woo was become THAT GUY, and terrifying because it represented him losing a part of his humanity. Coupled with the superb insert song, DARK ARIA <LVL2> playing in the background, is it any wonder this broke the Internet?

Muzan is Cornered by Demon Slayer Corps, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba-Hashira Training Arc

This was the moment Demon Slayer had been building towards. After coming out of hiding to hunt down Nezuko, Muzan tried to cripple the Demon Slayer Corps by killing its leader, Kagaya Ubuyashiki, in his hidden mansion. Little did he know that this was all part of an elaborate trap. Kagaya sacrificed himself and most of his family to blow the mansion up, stunning the Demon long for fellow Demon Tamayo to inject him with a drug meant to turn him back into a human. Driven into a corner by the arrival of the Hashira, Muzan countered by dropping the entire Corps into the Infinity Castle in the hopes of finally wiping them all out.

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

Demon Slayer is well-known among anime fans for its superb levels of animation, and moments like this are why the reputation is justified. The slow-motion explosion as the mansion goes sky high. The incredibly well-detailed shot of a dazed Muzan trying to regenerate himself. The sweeping sight of the Infinity Castle as the Corps falls into Muzanโ€™s personal domain. Everything about this moment is meant to excite fans as the final battle between Humans and Demons begins! Itโ€™s a shame that we have to wait until later in 2025 for the movies.

Bakugoโ€™s Sacrifice, My Hero Academia

The penultimate season of My Hero Academia is filled with plenty of epic and emotional moments, but few were as upsetting as this. As the heroes try to keep Tomura Shigaraki contained long enough for Deku to arrive, Bakugo steps up to buy them some time. While he manages to wound the villain, though, all it does is anger Shigaraki for his repeated interference. Fans and heroes alike were thus forced to watch as Shigaraki cut Bakugo down in cold blood, seemingly killing him.

As someone who read the manga in advance, knowing that this was coming didnโ€™t make it any easier to watch. I still remember how freaked out the fandom was over Bakugoโ€™s apparent death, only to grow irate when itโ€™s revealed to be a fake-out. Fake-out or not, there was a very really possibility that Bakugo was dead, and in a season full of shocking moments, this was not one I wanted to relive.  

Nokotan’s Entrance, My Deer Friend Nokotan

If you want to establish a reputation as chaos incarnate, look to Nokotan as an example. After meeting the mysterious deer girl on her way to school, Koshitan just wanted to return to her perfect life at high school. Instead, sheโ€™s horrified when that same deer girl ends up becoming a transfer student in her class. To make matters worse, sheโ€™s the only one to have a reasonable reaction when Nokotan breaks the door with her antlers, sending debris flying into the poor students faces.

Say what you want about Nokotan as an anime, you canโ€™t deny the fact that this moment is hilarious. The slow-motion effects as Nokotan forces her way through the door. The ominous chanting of โ€œshii-kaโ€ like sheโ€™s the boss of some video game. The fact that most of the students keep the same smiling faces even as theyโ€™re pummeled by rocks! I found it so funny that I decided to make a meme out of it, and it blew up.  

Paulโ€™s Sacrifice, Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation

Rudy has had plenty of terrible moments during his second go at life, but few were as bad as what happened when he lost his dad. While Rudeus and his father are fighting a massive hydra to rescue his mother, Rudy makes a mistake that leaves himself open to attack. Paul pushes him out of the way in time to save his life, allowing Rudeus the chance to kill the monster, but the act cost Paul his life. By the time Rudy is aware of whatโ€™s happening, all he and his party can do is watch as Paul quietly dies, smiling at the fact that his son is alive.

I donโ€™t know if it was a coincidence that this episode came out on Fatherโ€™s Day or not, but if it wasnโ€™t, the powers in charge are sick sadists. Just as Rudy thought he was getting his life together, he makes a mistake that cost Paul his life. Had Roxy not helped him to grieve, he might have reverted to his shut-in mentality from his first life. Considering that the alternative meant that Rudy would have died and left his new wife, Sylphie, a widow and their unborn child without a father, though, I think that Paul made the right choice. He protected his child like any good parent should do.

Kafka Punches A Kaiju Bomb, Kaiju No. 8

Even after he became a humanoid Kaiju, Kafka Hibino never stopped aspiring to join the Anti-Kaiju Defense Force. He did his best to keep his powers a secret from all but two of his comrades, knowing that exposing himself could lead to his death. However, when Kaiju No. 9 threatened to drop a massive bomb on Kafka and his comrades, the man didnโ€™t hesitate to transform into his Kaiju form and punch the bomb straight into the sky in a move that would make All Might proud.

Besides being one of several well-animated moments in a series that was already well-animated, this moment marked a turning point for the story of Kaiju No. 8. Now that the JAKDF was aware that he could turn into a Kaiju, they were naturally going to want to apprehend him. The fact that he chose to put himself anyway speaks volumes about his character, and his friends knew that. While Kafka has to face an uphill battle going forward, his friends arenโ€™t going to abandon him whether heโ€™s human or a Kaiju.

One Piece Fan Letter, One Piece (the whole thing)

The year 2024 was a big year for One Piece fans, as it marked the 25th anniversary of the anime. To commemorate this event, Toei decided to release this special adapting a series of short stories released back in 2027. Taking place during the Return to Sabaody Arc as the Straw Hats reunite after two years apart, Fan Letter shows the impact that Luffy and his crew have had on ordinary people. From a pair of Marine brothers whoโ€™s lives Luffy inadvertently saved during the Marineford War to a girl wanting to give Nami a fan letter, this special shows the impact that the Straw Hats have had on the world through the people theyโ€™ve inspired.

Besides the great animation, what makes this special important is the dual meaning behind the title. To put it simply, the title lets everyone know that this episode is the fandom saying thank you to One Piece. The series has entertained and inspired countless people the world over, serving as a guiding light in a potentially dark and chaotic world. While the story has yet to conclude, thereโ€™s no doubt that One Piece has more than earned its spot in the history books as one of the best stories of modern times.

To A Kinder World, Dan Da Dan Ep 7 (the whole episode)

If youโ€™ve seen Dan Da Dan, then you canโ€™t argue with the fact that itโ€™s one of, if not the best, anime of 2024. Itโ€™s quirky characters, balls-to-the-walls levels of insanity, and gorgeous animation quickly won fans over. However, anyone who hadnโ€™t read the manga expected it to do what it did with its seventh episode: make the Internet collectively cry.

After defeating the Yokai Acrobatic Silky, the characters and audience are treated to a silent, extended flashback to Silkyโ€™s life as a human. Without any dialogue, we are shown the life of a single mother who struggled to provide for her daughter, only for her to be ripped away by a group of loan sharks. Left in despair, the mother performed one last ballet dance before jumping off a roof to her death. When a younger Aria mistook Silky for her deceased mother, this led to the ghostโ€™s obsession with seeing her as her lost daughter. Ultimately, this led to Silky sacrificing herself to give Aria a second chance at life.

Sweet mercy, this episode was an absolute tear-jerker. Everyone who watched this episode of Dan Da Dan agreed that it was the series’ finest moment to date. I was barely able to keep myself from crying as we witnessed Silkyโ€™s tragic life story. This entire episode virtually cemented Dan Da Dan as the best anime of the year, garnering acclaim from fans and critics alike for how poignant it was. If youโ€™ve seen it, then youโ€™ll understand why!

What Were Your Favorite Anime Moments of 2024? Let us Know!