Anime Blog

Toriyama’s Last Gift in Dragon Ball Daima Starts Off Strong!

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

Dragon Ball Daima Ep 1 Review

In memory of Akira Toriyama.

When Dragon Ball Daima was announced last year at NYCC, fans were thrilled. For the first time in years, Dragon Ball would be getting a new series, and Akira Toriyama was the one who wrote it. It felt like a dream come true!

Then, in the spring of this year, the world would end up losing Toriyama. Dragon Ball Daima would be the final work that he would contribute to the world that he had created. Suddenly, it became more important than ever that Daima was a huge success. And so, the world waited with bated breath for the day when it would premiere, ready to honor the memory of a man who inspired millions of its people. Th

Iโ€™m glad to say that Toriyama didnt disappoint with his final work. He cooked us a feast of thrills and laughs.

https://twitter.com/YapapaMirage/status/1845185951586238945

Welcome Back, Dragon Ball

Since this is the first time Dragon Ball has had an anime in a while, a good portion of the premiere is devoted to getting everyone up to speed with events up to the defeat of Majin Buu. While some might see it as an issue, itโ€™s essential for two reasons. Firstly, it establishes that this will take place before the events of Super, so no Super Saiyan God or Blue. Secondly, it introduces us to the leading antagonistic group.

https://twitter.com/xAuraZora/status/1844833008559206853

Meet Gomah, Degesu, and Dr. Arinsu, the new King of the Demon Realm, the Supreme Kai of the Demon Realm, and a Core Person of the Demon Realm. While much of the rest of Universe 7 and parts of the other Universes have already gotten fleshed out, the Demon Realm has remained notably unknown until now. I think Toriyama wanted to correct that by making the primary setting of Daima, and if thatโ€™s the case, Iโ€™m glad he chose to do so before he died. He even gave them their own Dragon Balls and guardians to protect them, and retconned the Namekians point of origin to be from the Demon Realm. So, congrats Piccolo. Youโ€™re now a slug alien demon!

The main plot of the episode is that Gomah has watched how powerful Goku and the others are and fears them to be a threat to his rule. So, he and Degesu (and another Namekian) travel to Earth to use the Dragon Balls to make Goku and everyone else kids so they wonโ€™t be a threat. In essence, itโ€™s the plot of GT but on a larger scale. By the time the credits start to roll, we can already hear everyone beginning to shrink down to the size of kids. And the kids shrinking down to the size of babies!

https://twitter.com/DbsHype/status/1844905014067855825

Toriyama Decided to do GT, but Better

I know that this is supposed to be serious, but I still canโ€™t help but find it funny. Toriyama took the plot of GT, the series that was made without his direct involvement, and made it ten times better. Thatโ€™s essentially him saying โ€œYouโ€™re doing it all wrong, you guys. Let the master show you how itโ€™s done!โ€ Given how Daima is meant to celebrate the franchise 40th anniversary, though, it makes sense why Toriyama would want to tell a story like this. He tried to get the series back to its roots, and it glad he got to do so before he died.

This was an excellent start to what will likely be one of the most giant anime of the year. I have no clue how long Daima will run, but I know that Iโ€™m going to enjoy it every step of the way.

I Give Conspiracy a 4.5/5

Deku Beats Up Anime Homelander in My Hero Academia: You’re Next

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My Hero Academia: You’re Next Review

When I first saw the trailers for My Hero Academiaโ€™s fourth film, Youโ€™re Next, I had one thing on my mind: who the heck is this fake All Might? Was this Dark Might guy supposed to be an evil twin or clone of All Might? Did the series really need to resort to that for its next film? I was sure that there had to be some kind of explanation behind this faker, and that led me to go see the movie in theaters this past Friday. Iโ€™m glad that I did, because while it doesnโ€™t break new ground for the series, it does know how to deliver the spectacle. Plus, I got to see the anime version of Homelander get humiliated by the anime version of Spider-Man.

Anime Homelander Thinks he Can Be New All Might?

Taking place in between the sixth and seventh seasons of the show, Youโ€™re Next is set amidst the backdrop of a Japan thatโ€™s struggling to stay afloat. The chaos that All for One and Shigaraki have unleashed has forced the students of Class 1-A to work overtime helping the pro heroes capture criminals. Then out of nowhere, a man who looks to be the spitting image of All Might shows up! Calling himself Dark Might, he claims himself to be All Mightโ€™s successor, but nobody buys it. Especially not Deku and his friends. It doesnโ€™t take long for the imposter to show his twisted ideas of heroism as he takes countless people hostage and forces Class 1-A into a fight for survival while the pro heroes scramble to provide aid. And at the center of it all is a young woman with a mysterious Quirk and this gun-toting butler version of Hajime from Arifureta.

Dark Might is Basically the MHA Version of Homelander

I was going into this film with no context or clue about who this Dark Might was. As soon as I saw him make his public debut by dispatching a villain with no consideration for collateral damage, something clicked for me. He reminded me of Homelander from The Boys. Both of them claim to be heroes, but in truth, theyโ€™re bloodthirsty killers who only want to be worshipped and feared like gods. The main difference is that whereas Homelander continues to fool a good portion of America, no one in Japan buys what Dark Might is selling. Itโ€™s pretty telling how messed up this man is when Midoriya openly hates his guts. And I donโ€™t blame him, either. Much like Homelander, Dark Might is insufferable; a dark reflection of what it means to be a hero.

As for who Dark Might really is, that remains a mystery for much of the film, but the payoff isnโ€™t that interesting. We all knew that he wasnโ€™t going to be some clone or evil twin of All Might, but the reveal of his identity makes look even more pathetic than that. Heโ€™s just a criminal who only cares about All Mightโ€™s power and not his ideals. And as strong as he is, heโ€™s still a chump compared to the real All Might, like how Homelander is a chump compared to Superman. And just like Superman would wipe the floor with Homelander, Deku and the others eventually wipe the floor with Dark Might like the chump he is.

Great Fights, Decent Story

As for the fights, that is the only thing that I can say remains consistently awesome in the MHA films. With this taking place right before the final battle begins, we get to see Deku and Class 1-A near their peak. Most of the heavy lifting winds up being done by Deku, Bakugo, and Shoto, though. During the filmโ€™s climax, the three face off against Dark Might alongside their butler ally, Julio, and the animation is some of the best in the series. Wannabe All Might or not, Dark Might is still a strong opponent and hard for the heroes to beat. But he still loses.

https://twitter.com/GinnyTonicTV/status/1845238336614694986

As for the story itself, itโ€™s decent. The main plot revolves around Dark Might using this girl whose Quirk amplifies others Quirks at her own expense. Deku and the others team up with her butler best friend, Julio, who, again, reminds me of a red-haired version of Hajime. Heโ€™s got a cool cyborg arm, an eyepatch, and a motorcycle. It wasnโ€™t hard for me to be reminded of Hajime from Arifureta. He also happens to be one of those movie characters thatโ€™s had a lousy life and needs the main protagonist to regain his sense of optimism and hope. In other words, your standard Shonen film stuff.

Just a Lot of Good Fun

This film doesnโ€™t really add much to My Hero Academia, but to be honest, it doesnโ€™t need to. Whenever I see a movie for a popular anime, the majority of the time, I know that itโ€™s not going to have any bearing on the plot. WHO cares, though? We get to see an anime hero inspired by Spider-Man beat up a guy who reminds me of Homelander. That alone is worth the price of admission. Plus, since thereโ€™s a good chance this might be the last film the franchise will get (unless they decide to do an epilogue film), I want to enjoy it. Mainly since Justin Briner kills it as Deku once again!

Also, can you guys settle a bet for us: is All Might considered an expy for Superman? Aaron and I are debating about it.

I Give “My Hero Academia: You’re Next” a 4/5

Cozy Up this Fall With Some Good Anime!

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

RJ Writing Ink’s Picks for Fall 2024 Anime

Summer’s over, so it’s time for the cozier part of the year to begin. Fortunately, when we’re not outside enjoying the changing weather and prepping for Halloween (and Thanksgiving), we can enjoy plenty of anime beneath the comfort of a warm blanket. And this year, it looks like the anime community is going to feast! And since I enjoyed talking about what I was looking forward to watching in the summer, I decided to make that a trend here at the D&A Anime Blog. That being said, I’m RJ Writing Ink, and here are all of the anime I’m looking forward to watching for the Fall 2024.

As was the case with my list for summer 2024, this will only include anime that premiere in the fall. Anything that premiered before then will not count. I would also like to note that there will be big anime coming out that I will not be covering by me not being interested in them. In other words, no Bleach: Thousand Year War, even if it’s going to be one of the big ones.

Uzumaki (9/28/2024, Dub 10/04/2024), Toonami/Adult Swim & Max-

Something is not right with the town of Kurouzu-cho. These mysterious spirals are starting to appear on everythingโ€”first on objects, then the environment, and then on people. As people start wondering what the heck is going on, paranoia and fear begin to set in as the curse of the Uzumaki threatens to devour all.

Up until Toonami and Adult Swim aired the first teaser for this a few years ago, I had no idea that Uzumaki and its mangaka, Junji Ito, even existed. The repeated delays haven’t helped, as I haven’t been particularly motivated to read the manga. That being said, I’ve heard people sing its praises and call it this masterpiece of Japanese horror. And with Halloween coming up, I’m going to need some scary shows to watch, and something tells me this will be perfect for that. Here’s hoping I’m not traumatized!

Re:Zero-Starting Life in Another World Season 3 (10/02/24), Crunchyroll-

After three years of hiatus, one of the Seven Summits of Isekai is coming back! With Mushoku Tensei on break until its next season and Reincarnated As a Slime winding down its latest season, it’s time for Re:Zero to step up to the plate with that high-quality isekai goodness.

I wish that I could say more about this anime, but the hard truth is that I’ve never watched it before. I know it’s one of the all-time greatest isekai, so I consider it part of the Seven Summits. But beyond reading the synopsis for the episodes on Wikipedia, I’ve never had time to watch it. However, with the new season premiering with a 90-minute special, this fall might be the perfect time for me to get into it. Given how it was one of the series that helped kickstart the isekai craze we live in, it will be good.

Dan Da Dan (10/04/24) Crunchyroll-

A girl who believes in ghosts but not aliens, and a boy who believes in aliens but not ghosts. When both make a bet to see who’s right, it turns out that they’re both right. A spirit possesses the boy, and aliens abduct the girl and discovers she has psychic powers. Now they both have to deal with the paranormal together while navigating the pressures of being in high school. And I’m not sure which is easier.

I know almost nothing about this series, but from what I’ve seen in the trailers and heard about online, it sounds like complete and utter chaos. And I love it! I’m a big fan of paranormal things such as ghosts and aliens, so having a series dealing with both sounds like a good way to create some interesting stories. Additionally, the series is being produced by Science Saru, who made last year’s Scott Pilgrim Takes Off. Given how much I liked that series, I’m willing to give this one a look. Also, with Nokotan now over, I’m going to need a new source of vitamin crazy in my anime diet.

Is it Wrong to Try and Pick up Girls in a Dungeon Season 5 (10/04/24), HiDive-

With how much the founders of this blog love Hestia and think she’s bestia (and she’s up there in my book), I would be remiss to not include the new season on here.

It’s the time of the Goddess Festival in Orario, AKA the time when people pay respects to the Goddesses of fertility that bring the city and its labyrinth to life. And it just so happens that Bell receives a letter from his friend Syr asking him out on a date to the festival. And with Bell’s track record of getting involved in big events, there’s a good chance that things are bound to get nuts.

I wish I could say I would watch this since I do like DanMachi, but there are two problems. First, I haven’t kept up with anything past season two. Second, my schedule for the fall is already pretty booked, as you can see. The fact that it’s only on HiDive and not Crunchyroll doesn’t help matters, either, but with the Internet being what it is, that’s more of a nuisance than a problem.

Ranma 1/2 (10/06/24), Netflix-

Urusei Yatsura made a modern-day comeback with its own remake a few years ago. Now it’s Ranma 1/2‘s turn. For those who don’t know, never watched the previous anime or read the manga, the series revolves around Ranma, a young martial artist thrown into an arranged marriage with the daughter of a man his dad trained alongside. There’s just one catch: Ranma’s cursed. When he’s splashed by cold water, he turns into a girl. And when he’s splashed by hot water, he goes back to being a boy. Hilarity ensues.

I’ve never seen the original anime or read the manga, but I have heard that the former gets flak for all the filler due to outpacing its source material. However, there are two reasons why I’m giving this a shot. Firstly, the manga finished back in 1996, so there’s no chance for history to repeat. Secondly, I’m a big fan of the mangaka, Rumiko Takahashi, thanks to her other works like Urusei Yatsura and Inuyasha. The art style and the way she utilizes exaggerated facial expressions are both entertaining to look at.

Arifureta: From Commonplace to World’s Strongest Season 3 (10/14/24) Crunchyroll-

Hajime Nagumo and his team of overpowered women have returned for another season. As the now strongest man in the other world continues his quest to find a way home, they get sidetracked by a mission to the neighboring Hoelscher Empire. With his friend Sheaโ€™s people being threatened by the Empire, Hajime teams up with the Rabbit Men to put them in their place.

First, I am well aware of Arifureta’s shortcomings, especially regarding the pacing in its first season. Secondly, Iโ€™m also aware that itโ€™s a power fantasy where the protagonist gets OP abilities and a harem of girls that all love him for one reason. But it’s a guilty pleasure because I like how badass Hajime is. And unlike most of his fellow summons, he sees their task of saving the world for the nonsense it is and refuses to be used like that. Here’s hoping the anime keeps doing a better job of adapting the light novels!

And now, the best for last!

Dragon Ball Daima (10/11/2024) Crunchyroll-

The next chapter in Dragon Ball is coming this fall, and it looks to be taking the franchise back to its roots. Taking place sometime between the defeat of Kid Buu and the end of Dragon Ball Z, Daima centers around a conspiracy that shrinks Goku and his allies down to the size of kids. With no other alternative, Goku retrieves his old Power Pole and goes on a quest to the Demon Realm to set things right.

This is likely going to be the anime that people are going to be focusing on this fall, and for good reason. Outside of the additional movies (and the anime based on Dragon Ball Heroes), this is going to be the first anime in the franchise since Super finished its run. Secondly, with series creator Akira Toriyama’s passing earlier this year, Daima will be his final contribution to the world he created. With many fans still mourning the legendary mangaka’s passing, odds are we’re going to throw our full support behind it.

It’s also coming out the same day as the highly anticipated new game, Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero. That can’t be a coincidence, and it’s going to make that weekend all about Dragon Ball.

Bonus-Naruto x TMNT Crossover Comic (11/13/24)-

Starting in November, VIZ Media and IDW Comics are teaming up to bring the Ninja Turtles and the Hidden Leaf’s number one, hyperactive, knuckleheaded ninja together in a limited series! According to the official synopsis, the set-up involves the Turtles’ friend April O’Neil meeting up with the Hidden Leaf’s Lady Tsunade, only to be targeted by the Foot Clan. Naturally, the Turtles will get involved, bringing them into contact with Naruto and Team 7 in this story of east meets west.

I know that this isn’t an anime, but I’m putting it on here anyway for several reasons:

  1. I’m a big fan of Naruto and a casual fan of the Ninja Turtles, so I am understandably excited.
  2. I think the idea of the famous Turtles teaming up with one of the greatest Shonen heroes of all time is excellent.
  3. November will officially mark ten years since the end of the original Naruto manga. That can’t be a coincidence, and I’m feeling nostalgic.

Good times.

Do you agree with my picks? What anime are you looking forward to this fall? Let us know in the comments down below and enjoy the season!

I Like Fairy Tail. Change My Mind!

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

Fairy Tail: Hundred Year Quest Initial Series Review

When it comes to Shonen series, depending on who youโ€™re asking, Fairy Tail is either pretty famousโ€ฆor pretty infamous. People have criticized Hiro Mashimaโ€™s best-known work for many things over the years. Things like having too much fanservice in it and not enough character depth. How it uses the power of friendship to let its characters bs itโ€™s way through situations they shouldnโ€™t survive. And, my personal favorite, how itโ€™s One Piece if Oda didnโ€™t care.

Having read Fairy Tail for years, and spent as much time reviewing Mashimaโ€™s next series, Edens Zero, I can honestly say the criticisms are valid. That said, that doesnโ€™t stop me from loving the series like a guilty pleasure. And when I found out that the sequel manga, Hundred-Year Quest, was getting an anime this summer, I knew I had to watch it. Iโ€™m glad I did, because the series is as fun as ever.

Fairy Tail’s Greatest Adventure Yet

Itโ€™s been one year since the wizarding guild Fairy Tail and their allies defeated Zeref and Acnologia, and resident Fire Dragon Slayer is going on his greatest adventure to date. Natsu, Lucy, Gray, Erza, Wendy, Happy and Carla travel to the continent of Guiltina to take on the Hundred-Year Quest, a quest so dangerous that none have completed it since wizarding guilds began. It soon becomes apparent why. The quest involves finding the Five Dragon Gods, defeat them, and seal away their powers. And each of them has strength on par with Aconologia. Needless to say, Team Natsu has its work cut out for it.

Meanwhile, back at Fairy Tail, a new member named Touka joins the guild, and sheโ€™s crazy for Natsu. But thereโ€™s something off about herโ€ฆ

I Like Fairy Tail and you Can’t Change My Mind!

I want to reiterate this: Iโ€™m well aware of the criticisms surrounding Fairy Tail. And I will not deny them. Iโ€™ve spent years reading the work of Hiro Mashima, and as good as he can be, heโ€™s no Oda, Araki, Kishimoto, or Toriyama. Granted, Kishimoto has had his own problems writing female protagonists, but thatโ€™s besides the point. But even with all these faults, I still love Fairy Tail, and here’s why.

Firstly, I love the series sense of humor. It could do a little bit better when it comes to how deep it makes some of its characters, but when it comes to being funny, Mashima knows what he’s doing. The titular guild is a haven for rowdy, chaotic, but good-natured people who love life, adventure, and testing each other. In fact, whenever I’m feeling depressed about life, one of my first instincts is to look up a video of Fairy Tail and watch them do the funniest stuff. Say what you want, but they always bring a smile to my face.

The second reason I like Fairy Tail is simpler: the dub is good. When Funimation first started dubbing the series fifteen years ago, they spared no expense when it came to talent. If you look at the cast list for the english dub, you’ll see that it has a lot of voice actor’s that were either already successful or have become successful in the time since then. And they do a good job at playing their roles. The way they deliver some of their lines is enough to get a laugh out of me.

Lastly, the show’s got some great music. Full stop.

So, yeah, I like Fairy Tail despite its faults, and I’ve been eagerly watching the dub for Hundred-Year Quest. And on the subject of whether it’s good or not, this is all I have to say: it feels like the series never left us, and I’m sure plenty of fans feel the same way.

I don’t know how long the new series will run for, but frankly, I don’t care. I’m just glad that Fairy Tail has come back to us after almost five years of waiting. It was worth the wait, and it steps back into the world of the series so seamlessly, you’d barely recognize that it had left.

Verdict: I’m Watching it, and So Can You!

‘My Instant Death Ability’ or How I’m Worse than a Death Note on Steroids

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

My Instant Death Ability is So Overpowered that no One in This Other World Stands a Chance Against Me! Initial Series Review By RJ Writing Ink

A few years back, around the start of the Halloween season, I started really getting into the SCP Foundation. If you don’t know what that is, this collaborative writing project tells stories about the same name group. This secret organization studies and captures anomalies that could help or harm humanity. Over the years, we’ve got stories that have them deal with everything from a living blob of goo whose touch makes people happy to a lizard monster that will not die to even beings that could only be described as gods, including God! The bottom line is that the SCP Foundation deals with things not meant for the faint of heart.

Then, a few weeks ago, I came across this anime online called My Instant Death Ability is So Overpowered, No One in This Other World Stands a Chance Against Me! At first glance, it looked like another trash isekai…until I read the TV Tropes page and listened to the summaries on YouTube. And that made me realize something: it was still a trashy isekai. But the twist is that the main character is, for all intents and purposes, someone who would make the SCP Foundation wet themselves. And that’s where things get interesting.

How an Overpowered Guy Got Isekai’d Against His Will

Meet Yogiri Takatou, a seemingly average high-schooler who likes napping and playing video games. Then, one day, while on a field trip with his class, they find themselves getting the isekai treatment and end up in a world that’s a sink for all isekai’s. This girl comes onto the bus and gives the standard introduction speech: they’ve been summoned to gain insane powers and get the chance to become great heroes in their world. Unfortunately, the world’s definition of “hero” is more like the (primarily) fake heroes from The Boys: most people who get powers get drunk on them. And while Yogiri’s sleeping, his classmates decide to leave him and the few who didn’t get a gift to death by dragon.

Little did anyone know, but Yogiri didn’t need a gift because he’s already got one of the most broken powers in all fiction. Yogiri can make anyone or anything he wants drop dead on the ground by thinking about them or sensing hostility towards him. First, he saves Tomochika, the only other classmate alive on the bus (that they know of) by killing the dragon. Then, when three scumbag classmates try to kill him and take Tomochika as their love slave, he kills two of them. And they were already isekai veterans, too! They were basically running on new game+ and kept all their loot and skills!

At any rate, Yogiri and Tomochika aren’t happy about being kidnapped to another world and then abandoned and left to die. So, Yogiri decides to look for a way to get home, and Tomochika tags along since he decided to protect her. Mainly because when that dragon attacked, she glomped onto him in a panic and she felt really soft and lovely.

No, I am not making this up.

The Anime is Isekai Trash, but Takatou Isn’t

Like I said before, My Instant Death Ability is Isekai trash, and it makes no effort to hide this. It’s filled with a ton of cliches and tropes found in most Isekai, most of the antagonists are one-note with zero depth, and the pacing in the anime is, quite frankly, wrong. The first season of Arifureta is bad. However, there’s one thing that keeps it from falling into the category of full-on Isekai trash, and that’s Takatou.

Returning to what I said earlier about the SCP Foundation and what I read on TVTropes.org? I wasn’t joking. As the anime progresses, it’s gradually revealed that Takatou’s ability is more than just the mental version of a Death Note. While he mainly uses it to kill people, it’s not limited to that. He can kill anything. Getting attacked by some random thug? He can kill their eyes or half their body so they can never use them again. Facing down an immortal, omnipotent god? Takatou will pull an “Uno reverse” card and reduce them to goo. He can even “kill” concepts like the strength of an attack or the laws of physics. And he can do this because his power isn’t instant death. It’s much, much more terrifying. So terrifying, in fact, that if he were an SCP, the foundation would be better off not making an enemy out of him lest he end their existence.

It is too bad for Takatou; most people in that otherworld are too arrogant or stupid to understand, leading to much of the series’ humor. Seeing the most outlandishly powerful beings, from other summoned people to immortal monsters to actual gods, pick a fight with him, only to drop dead for their efforts? That’s some good use of black comedy!

An Interesting Take on the OP Isekai Protagonist

So, yeah, My Instant Death Ability is a bit of isekai trash, but at the same time, it’s also making fun of the genre in the same way One Punch Man makes fun of the Shonen genre. Seeing all these mighty beings hyping themselves up, only to become part of the body count of such an ordinary-looking guy? It’s funny because of how absurd it is! It’s terrible, but it knows it is and uses that to milk the genre for all its worth. The one downside is that if you want to watch it, you’re going to have to get a subscription to HiDive, as it’s not on Crunchyroll. That, or find a third-party site to use. If seeing something deconstructing the isekai genre sounds interesting and you have time to kill, this might be a show for you. Otherwise, feel free to look up something else.

My Verdict: Worth a Binge Session if you got HiDive

‘The Elusive Samurai’ is an Amazing New Shonen Series

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

The Elusive Samurai Initial Series Review

Earlier in the summer, I made a list of the anime I looked forward to watching during the season. But now that enough time has passed, I can honestly say there are anime that I regret not including on that list. A prime example being one of the latest successes to come out from the legendary Shonen Jump, The Elusive Samurai. Coming from the mangaka who created Assassination Classroom, something that I greatly enjoyed watching, I knew that I was going to enjoy this series, and I’m happy to say that I was right. Not only is it beautifully animated, it tells the story of a seemingly atypical Shonen protagonist. I say seemingly because, as you’ll soon learn, this boy may not be a great fighter, but who needs to fight when you can dodge and outrun your opponents until the fat lady sings?

The Elusive Samurai and His Origin Story

The year is 1333 AD, Medieval Japan. Tokiyuki Hojo is the young heir to the Hojo clan and the Kamakura Shogunate, AKA the de-facto rulers of Japan. But he’s not interested in being a lord, though; all he likes to do is play hide-and-seek with his exasperated teachers. All of that comes to an end, though, when Takauji Ashikaga, one of his family’s retainers, betrays them to the Emperor. Before the first episode ends, his home is

razed to the ground, his retainers dead or on the run, and his family slaughtered.

All’s not lost, though. Thanks to the help of Yorishige Suwa, this really sketchy priest who claims he can see the future, Tokiyuki escapes with his life. With Yorishige as his mentor and a group of young, eccentric retainers by his side, he vows to rebuild his family, take back his home, and get revenge on those who betrayed the Hojo clan. There’s just one problem: Tokiyuki is a lousy fighter; all he’s good at is running and hiding.

As the series demonstrates, though, that’s the best skill he can have in his era.

Tokiyuki is No Coward-He’s a Road Runner

At first glance, Tokiyuki Hojo doesn’t seem like your typical Shonen hero, much less one from Shonen Jump. From the outset, he’s not skilled in combat or has the latent potential to become so. Nor is he loud, boisterous, confident, or as cunning as protagonists like Luffy, Goku, or Naruto. In fact, most people see him as a coward for preferring to run and hide rather than face his enemies head-on like Samurai are expected to do.

Here’s the thing: Tokiyuki’s no coward, and he’s not a weakling, either. Early on, the series does its best to demonstrate how his Ultra Instinct-level dodging ability is the best thing he could have in his violent era. Moreover, Yorishige correctly recognizes that, far from being a coward, Tokiyuki is someone who genuinely enjoys the thrill of the chase and the risk of getting caught. In the second episode, he uses this to great effect by dodging an enemy combatant to the point where he can’t defend when the boy goes in for the killing blow.

To sum it all up: Tokiyuki is like the Road Runner or Jerry the Mouse if they had Ultra Instinct. He gets excited by the thrill of facing death, and he’s capable of being more cunning than most give him credit for. Coupled with his friendly attitude, he’s able to endear himself to allies that can make up for his shortcomings. In other words, he’s got a few things in common with some of the best heroes from Shonen Jump’s roster.

Amazing Animation and Art at Work!

Tokiyuki is only half of the series overall appeal, though. The other half is thanks to its amazing animation. The series is brought to life by Cloverworks, a studio that’s already well-known for its work on Bocchi the Rock, Spy x Family, Darling in the Franxx, and several other series, and it shows. The animation for the characters is incredibly fluid, especially during the fight scenes. Additionally, it also does a good job of bringing together some of the more surreal moments of the manga to life. I.E. when two of the retainers hunting Tokiyuki look like they’re communicating through their superhuman eyes and ears. It makes as much sense in context, trust me.

The real appeal of the show’s artwork, though, is how it captures Feudal Japan in all its blood and beauty. The series is a historical one and most of the cast is based on real-life figures. However, since records of that era are scarce, the mangaka’s not afraid to include more supernatural elements of Japanese culture, leading to some pretty impressive backgrounds and characters. It’s a really good-looking series!

Lastly, we have the OP and ED. Any good anime needs to have a memorable OP and Ed, and The Elusive Samurai delivers on that promise. The OP itself is very upbeat and exciting, despite how grim the series itself can get, while the ED is this bizarre Japanese hip-hop talking about the history of the Kamakura Shogunate. And like the rest of the series, both are beautifully animated.

Overall, I really like The Elusive Samurai, and have greatly enjoyed watching the series thus far. It’s got some interesting characters, good music, great animation, and to top it off, it’s a historical series. As someone who loves reading about history, that alone gets me interested. If you haven’t already, I’d highly recommend you go watch it.

My Verdict: WATCH. IT.

‘No Longer Allowed in Another World’ is the Anti-Isekai

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

RJ Writing Ink’s Initial Series Review for No Longer Allowed in Another World

Disclaimer: The following series uses the subject of suicide for comedic purposes. It is not meant to be taken seriously. If you or a loved one have thoughts of suicide, then seek help or call the suicide prevention lifeline at 988. You are not as alone as you think you are.

In this world, there are two kinds of isekai protagonists. On the one hand, we have the people who embrace getting sent to another world for all its worth and see it as a chance to make up for how dull or miserable their lives were back home. On the other hand, we have people who, for one reason or another, want nothing to do with it and want to go home. We got your Hajime’s, Naofumi’s, Nanahoshi’s, and Anne Boonchuy’s in that category. But those people wind up getting pulled into whatever isekai stuff they’re part of anyway, so it doesn’t matter. But what if there was one isekai protagonist that was just absolutely done with all that stuff before they even started? In fact, they’re just done with everything in general and want it all to end. In other words, they long for the sweet embrace of the eternal slumber that is death.

Someone in Japan decided that that could be a thing, because that’s one of the latest in the summer crop of isekai, No Longer Allowed in Another World. And after seeing the first three episodes, I can honestly say this: it’s built different, and it knows it!

Who is Osamu Daizai?

Before we start, let’s talk about a certain Japanese author, Osamu Daizai. He’s not that well-known in the West, but in Japan, he’s pretty the equivalent to Edgar Allen Poe. He’s famous for creating incredibly dark literature, much of which remains popular in his homeland. He was also famous for his multiple attempts to end his own life due to how troubled he was. In June, 1948, he managed to succeed, with himself and his lover drowning themselves in a swollen river canal at the age of 38.

When the anime starts, Daizai, called “Sensei” here for copyright reasons, is about to make his final suicide attempt with his lover, here called Sacchan. Then, out of nowhere, Truck-Kun’s grandpa shows up, and we all know what happens next.

When Sensei wakes up, he’s in a Western-style church and being greeted by this elf priestess named Annette. She gives him the speech about how he’s been chosen by their magical world to become its newest hero, destined to save them from the Dark Lord. In other words, your standard isekai scenario.

Here’s the thing: Sensei doesn’t care about that. Since he’s from the time before anime and manga were widespread, he doesn’t even know what an isekai is. All he cares about is that his latest attempt to un-alive himself failed, and he just wants to find someplace nice to finish the job. And, if he can help it, find Sacchan in this new world so they can keep their promise. And because his stats are so weak and he’s not an arrogant, pretentious snob like everyone else she’s summoned, Annette and this cat girl that he calls Tama decide to go with him to make sure he’s safe-ish.

And with that, Sensei’s anti-isekai adventures begin.

Sensei is a Different Kind of Protagonist

Right off the bat, the anime makes it clear that it’s not for those who get triggered by suicide. The moment Sensei realizes his last suicide attempt fails, he tries again by overdosing on sleeping pills. And when he gets attacked by a tree monster that tries to choke him out, he accepts it without complaint; and that’s just the first episode. Both times, Sensei’s foiled and it’s played for comedic purposes, but that doesn’t change what he tried to do. Sensei is a man who is so done with life that he wants out. He thinks the only way he’s going to be happy is when he can welcome the sweet embrace of the grim reaper!

One would think that a story about someone as depressed as Sensei is would be equally depressing. Or for Sensei to be this jaded, nihilistic man who sees no value in anything, which is why he wants to end it all.

Yet, he oddly isn’t.

Yes, Sensei’s main goals in this new world are to find his lover and then off themselves together. However, that doesn’t mean he doesn’t see the value in what other people care about. He’s very respectful, listening to other people’s problems and encouraging them to live however they want. And the fact that he does it without any of the confidence or arrogance that many people would have in an isekai helps him to win over the likes of Annette and Tama. The former of whom, the first episode makes it a point of explaining, was starting to get jaded by how full all the Otherworlders she met were.

Which is good, because, by the third episode, things take a turn for the worse when the Dark Lord is defeated a week after Sensei arrives. And without anyone to fight, the Otherworlders start going mad with power and taking over. For comparison, think about what Homelander is about to do with his army of Supes in The Boys, only not as scary.

I guess Truck-Kun’s family isn’t as good as their job as they think.

Sensei is the Anti-Isekai Protagonist

Sensei is an odd protagonist, without a doubt. He has such a passion for what he does as a writer, which I can respect, yet he’s also critical about himself. He’s brilliant, kind, and understands how important life is, yet he finds no value in his own. He doesn’t want to deal with the nonsense of an isekai, but he’s rather suited for it. He’s a rather refreshing change of pace in the genre. And while this can’t reach the same heights as the GOATS like Konosuba, Re:Zero, and Mushoku Tensei, No Longer Allowed in Another World should be an interesting watch.

My Verdict: Watch it if you Have the Time

New Members Join the Greyrat Family as ‘Mushoku Tensei’ Ends S2

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Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation S2 Ep 24 Review

It’s almost hard to believe, but by the time this goes up, it will have been a year since Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation returned for its second season. Yet here we are, at the end of the road for now. Rudeus, Roxy, and his father’s friends have made it back to Sharia with Zenith in tow, but their toughest fight is still to come. Rudeus not only has to explain to his wife and sisters how their father’s dead and his mother basically has a disability. More importantly, how Rudy intends to marry Roxy and have her move in with them.

…The awkward levels are off the charts.

Love Sylphie’s New Hairdo

Much like in the first season, the episode eschews an OP to get right into the story, highlighting just how important this moment is. Once he’s within sight of his house, Rudeus starts panicking and runs inside, remembering the Man-God’s words about him regretting leaving. Oddly, Rudeus doesn’t consider losing his Dad to be what he’d regret. I’m unsure if this point covers it, but in the light novels, the Man-God tells Rudy that had he stayed behind, Paul wouldn’t have died while Zenith would still be saved. The entity is merely messing with Rudy, though. Also, while Paul might not have died, Roxy might have been lost.

Thankfully, though, nothing’s wrong with Rudy’s family, Sylphie’s now sporting longer hair. I will miss the short-haired Sylphie, but longer hair makes her look cuter.

The Painful Part

Then comes the tearjerker moment where they tell everyone about Paul’s fate. I already read the light novels, but I still felt my heart breaking for Norn, who took the news the hardest out of anyone. Out of everyone in the family, Norn had been with Paul the longest, and thus was the one closest to him. As she starts bawling her eyes out, I can only imagine how much she must regret not staying with him. At the same time, I like how the story subtly shows off her desire to become stronger by asking for her father’s sword and for Rudy to train her. She’s probably thinking that if she had been stronger, Paul wouldn’t have sent her away. I don’t know if that’s the case, but if that’s what helps her grieve her loss, then good.

As a quick sidebar, it was equally heartbreaking to see Zenith cling to Paul’s armor like she did. She’s likely going to have lucid moments like this for the rest of her life, and while it might be painful, Rudy and his family have no intention of abandoning her. They will be a family and live together, even if its not the way Rudeus envisioned.

Speaking of which, time for the awkward part.

Norn, You Protest Too Much

So, after everyone else leaves, Rudeus tells everyone the news: he cheated on Sylphie with Roxy and wants to take her in as his second wife. And like before, Norn is the one with the strongest reaction. Or overreaction, and it’s pretty faithful to the light novels. It’s also going to be the scene that will make many people hate Norn for a while.

Seeing Norn tear into her brother for how selfish he’s being and how unfaithful he was to Sylphie was hard to watch, even if she did break up some good points. Rudy broke his promise to be faithful to Sylphie, and Roxy understands that, even if desperate times called for desperate measures, she slept with Rudy because part of her was selfish. However, at the same time, Norn is also being inconsiderate. She lets it slip how Millis (the god of the Millis religion) wouldn’t forgive Rudy for doing this. Good intentions or not, she’s projecting her beliefs onto the situation without thinking about the context or how others feel. Thank heavens that Sylphie stops her before Roxy leaves.

Sylphie Truly is the Goddess of Love

I knew this moment had been coming for a long time, but this marks the first time that Sylphie and Roxy have ever met, and it was worth the wait. And not only is Sylphie not mad at Rudy or Roxy, but she says she’s cool with it! And the anime doesn’t skimp on some of the reasons why she is, too!

Firstly, Sylphie knows that her husband is super horny. She openly admits that she expected Rudy to bring another girl back home. At the same time, she also recognizes that he’s loyal, so if he brought home any other woman, it would be because they’re special to him. It’s a paradox, but that’s just how Rudeus is, and she’s fine with it.

Sylphie’s tolerance for it also stems from her memories of Rudy’s family in Buena Village. She remembers how Paul married Zenith and Lilia and kept them both happy. It may not have been his intention, but Paul’s actions influenced Sylphie to be open-minded about polygamy. If Paul can do that with Zenith and Lillia, so can Rudy.

Secondly, Sylphie already knows all about Roxy. From the day she met Rudeus, he’s gone on and on about how much he respects Roxy. And that did make Sylphie a little jealous at times. But seeing her in person and how much she loved Rudy greatly humanized her in Sylphie’s eyes. She was just as capable of making mistakes as the rest, and seeing how upset Norn’s yelling made Roxy caused Sylphie’s empathy to go into overdrive. Plus, Sylphie has Roxy to thank for meeting Rudy. If she hadn’t taught Rudy, Rudy never would’ve left home and met Sylphie. And if that never happened, Sylphie wouldn’t have survived the Mana Incident! Sylphie and Rudy are both alive, thanks to Roxy’s teachings!

Lastly, as Sylphie points out, Rudy isn’t a follower of Millis, so Norn doesn’t have the right to judge him by her own religious beliefs. Also, what she says is very insensitive towards Aisha and her situation. So Norn backs down.

And with this, Sylphie truly cements herself as Rudeus’ Goddess of Love. She already became that when she healed his impotence with her kindness, but her empathy towards Roxy kept their family from falling apart. Best girl for Mushoku Tensei!

And with that, Roxy joins the Greyrat family. Oh, and that part from the light novels about Elinalise telling Rudy he got her pregnant? That was a big, fat lie Lise told him.

I Don’t Have a Problem With the Two Wives Thing

So, I’m well aware of how controversial it is for Rudy to take more than one wife, even among the fans. Some object on moral grounds. Others object because they only want their girl to be with Rudy. My opinion, though: I don’t mind it.

Maybe it’s because I’ve seen a lot of harem anime over the years, but I doubt that’s the case since most of them have me preferring one waifu over everyone else. The reason why I don’t object to Rudy having more than one wife is simpler. Rudy loves them both equally and will do everything he can to make them happy. So long as he does that and does sleep with some random women he meets at a bar, then I think any god wouldn’t hold it against him or consider him unfaithful. Although that’s just how I see things.

Also, let’s face it: when Eris returns, and we know she will, she will join him as wife #3 once they work things out. So, we should start preparing ourselves.

Rudy Joins the Anime Dad Club

There’s one last part to the season: the birth of Sylphie and Rudeus’ child. And it was one of the sweetest moments in the entire series. It does cut out most of the birth itself, but thankfully, we do end up seeing the birth of their child, a beautiful baby girl. And you know that people will tear up at this alongside Rudy.

Of all the moments a person can experience in their lives, one of the most surreal might be holding your child for the first time. That goes double for Rudeus. Never, in either of his lives, did he ever think he would become a father, but here he is! He’s joined the club of anime protagonists that get to say they’re parents! He’s father to a little girl named Lucie Greryat.

Rudeus Continues to Grow and Be a Better Person

The final shots of the season are of Rudeus celebrating at Paul’s gravesite in Sharia. He pours drinks for both of them and starts pouring his heart out about how sorry he is for not being a better son. He never truly considered himself Paul and Zenith’s son until now, and it’s something he’ll always regret. That being said, he’s being too hard on himself. If you got reincarnated into another world and still had all your old memories, wouldn’t you have a hard time considering your new birth parents your parents?

Regardless, though, Rudy isn’t going to let this stop him. As we get a few scenes showing what everyone else has been up to (including Eris), Rudeus reaffirms his resolve to keep living his new life to the fullest. And with that, the second season of Mushoku Tensei ends…or is it?

This entire season, one character has been missing the entire time. Someone very important to Rudeus, whether he likes it or not. Someone that we just got a quick look at in the final moments of the episode: Eris. While Rudeus has been off trying to live his life, Eris has been having her adventures. A few key parts of them get covered in some interludes at the end of a few light novels, and there’s even a spin-off manga focused on her training. Oddly, the anime will adapt at least part of them into another OVA. Which will help to tide us over until Season Three.

And yes, Mushoku Tensei is going to get a third season. And I won’t spoil anything! All you need to know is that there will be plenty of slice-of-life, but once it gets going, things will start hitting the fan.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to indulge in all the fanfics and extra material.

I Give “Succession” a 5/5

Roxy Stans, You Won.

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

Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation S2 Ep 23 Review

Death is an undeniable fact of life, but losing someone well before their time is beyond painful. Rudeus and the Black Wolves saved his mother, but it came at the cost of his arm and the life of his father. Paul died saving Rudy, and the guilt over that has all but broken him. If this keeps up, he’s going shut himself off from everything like he did in his first life. And someone else has to step up with Sylphie too far away to help him. And that someone is Roxy.

Too bad the anime skipped a few crucial scenes, though.

How Roxy Planned to Help Rudeus, Now With Context

From day one of his second life, the choices that Rudeus has made have been defined by the trauma of his past life. He didn’t appreciate his family in his first life, and that led his siblings to throw him out when he refused to attend their parent’s funeral. Rudy has always strived to avoid making the same mistakes in his new life, but by not seeing Paul and Zenith as his actual parents, he made the same mistake again. Now his self-loathing has him thinking he’s a worthless son. He isn’t, but it’s hard to escape that mindset alone.

That’s where Roxy comes in.

I’ll be blunt: the anime didn’t do an excellent job handling how Roxy helps Rudy recover. Some anime-only people might even mistake Roxy’s decision to sleep with Rudy as her taking advantage of his mental state. However, the anime skipped an important scene, revealing that the idea wasn’t Roxy’s.

While Rudy spends a week holed up in his room, Roxy and the others discuss how to help him. Elinalise suggests letting Rudy sleep with a woman to help him. When she refuses to do it, she drops a bombshell on Roxy: Rudy is married to her granddaughter and will soon be a father. Neither of which Roxy was aware of until this moment in any adaptation. So now, she feels stupid for flirting with him so much. In her defense, though, Rudy was too dense to realize she was hitting on him.

Maybe Roxy was being a little selfish and took advantage of his mental state. And yes, Rudy did cheat on Sylphie. Given how bad things were, though, I can’t hold it against them. Others will, but I won’t. Desperate times call for desperate measures. And it does work.

The Anime left out Rudy’s big confession!

This next scene also happened to be one that the anime cut out. After mentally berating himself for being so rough with Roxy (it was her first time), Rudy starts telling her a story. He claims its fictional, but the light novel clarifies that he’s just telling her everything that happened to him in his first life. All his regrets, insecurities, guilt, and negative emotions just burst out.

I think the anime made a mistake not including this scene. To my knowledge, Rudeus has never told anyone about his first life. Maybe it was the right decision; he had no clue how his parents or friends would react to hearing that. However, keeping it all inside of him has been detrimental to his mental health. For example, when Eris left him, his low self-esteem and experiences from his first life led him to the worst possible conclusion about Eris’ actions. And after Paul’e death, he couldn’t keep it in anymore. He had to tell someone! And I’m glad he told Roxy.

It’s never made clear if Roxy understood the hidden meaning behind his story, but I wouldn’t put it past her; she’s smart. More importantly, though, she tells Rudeus what he needs to hear when he asks what the man (him) should do. Her advice to Rudy, remembering the people he still has left, is cliche. Rudeus himself thinks so. But that doesn’t make them any less accurate. He lost something that he can never get back, but he still has more people who care about him. And thanks to that, Rudy regains his strength to keep moving forward.

Which does bring up an awkward issueโ€ฆ

Roxy Stans Can Be Happy Now

So, as the group makes the trip back to Sharia, Rudy needs to address the elephant in the room. Roxy admits she fell in love with him when he saved her life. And between the feelings he already had and her saving him from complete mental collapse, Rudy realizes he feels the same way. But he also swore loyalty to Sylphie, and they have a child on the way. Soโ€ฆwhat now?

It’s Elinalise who states the apparent solution to him: marry Roxy. Marry both her and Sylphie. And here’s where some more controversy for Mushoku Tensei pops up. Some people aren’t cool with the idea of a person marrying more than one person. However, Elinalise makes some intense arguments.

Firstly, keep in mind that Sylphie is still Elinalise’s granddaughter and she wants her to be happy. But she’s also Roxy’s best friend, and she hates the idea of Roxy denying herself her best chance at happiness like this. She wouldn’t suggest this if she didn’t think Rudy could make both happy.

Which brings us to the second point: Paul’s example. Once he took responsibility for getting Lilia pregnant, he married her, too. Instead of their family falling apart, it became happier than ever. Sure, not everyone supports polygamy, even in our world. From how I see it, though, if Rudy can love both girls equally, there’s not much of an issue.

Also, and this was taken out of the anime, but in the light novels, Elinalise implies that Rudy got Roxy pregnant. If he abandoned her now, he really would be a scumbag.

So, that’s that.

Return Home

So, I was expecting this episode to be the season finale, but it turns out, we have one more to go. Even though Rudy has finished grieving for his father’s death thanks to Roxy, he still has a few significant hurdles to overcome. He has to explain how Paul is dead, how Zenith is a mental invalid, andโ€ฆhow he wants to marry Roxy.

No matter how you slice it, the next episode will be hard for Rudeus. But now that he’s healthily dealt with his grief, I think he can handle it. I just wish the episode hadn’t skipped so much.

I Give “Let’s Return Home” a 3/5

Muzan, We Come for You!

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

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba S4 Ep 8 Review

There have been a lot of horrifying villains in anime over the years. One Piece is filled with so many detestable scumbags that I can’t keep track. Madara Uchiha was an evil mastermind whose mere name getting thrown around was enough to start a war. And Frieza is so brimming with black air force energy that its become his strongest form to date! However, another name deserves to be added to the list of baddest anime villains. The monster in the dark seeking immortality, the being who stole Michael Jackson’s whole flow. The mortal enemy of the entire Demon Slayer Corps, Muzan Kibutsuji!

Demon Slayer hasn’t been around as many other big names in Shonen, but there are reasons why it’s considered one of the all-time greatest. And a big part of that is because of how much of a menace Muzan is. The penultimate episode for Demon Slayer’s fourth season airs, and the big thing everyone’s talking about is that two-minute-long scene of him arriving at Ubuyashiki Mansion, looking like the Devil himself. And the hour-long season finale only serves to hype him up even further. As Muzan tries to cut the head off the Demon Slayer Corps, he finds himself at the center of an elaborate trap. What he does in response marks the start to the endgame to this ancient war between humans and demons.

Kagaya Stares Down the Devil Himself

As lighthearted as Season Four of Demon Slayer is, there’s an unspoken sense of dread. Everyone knows the final battle against Muzan is coming, but the Corps doesn’t know when or where he’ll strike from. The Hashira Training Camp was meant to help prepare for the final battle, but even that may already be too late. After years of searching, Muzan has found the Ubuyashiki Mansion, the de facto HQ for the Demon Slayer Corps. And he shows up in the middle of the night, ready to kill the man leading the corpsโ€ฆonly to find it’s pointless. Kagaya Ubuyashiki isn’t just on death’s door. He’s a talking corpse that should’ve died months ago. The only reason he’s still alive is because of his pure, unadulterated hatred for Muzan.

As Kagaya reveals to the Demon King, the Ubuyashiki family is distantly related to Muzan. Because their bloodline produced the first demon, they’ve been cursed to die young until they kill him. Thus, when Muzan comes to kill Kagaya, the man isn’t afraid of him. He already knows he’s going to die anyway, with his wife and two of his kids to follow at Muzan’s hands. Rather than fear death like Muzan, Kagaya mocks his distant relative for how pathetic he is and how the world will be a better place once he’s gone!

See you in Hell, Muzan!

I loved this scene. Don’t ask me why, but seeing someone stare down a monster that could easily kill them and choose to definitely flip them off is so awesome. However, it’s what Kagaya does in his final moments that is so badass that it takes even Muzan aback: he blows up the mansion and everyone in it. The anime does a great job of increasing our emotional responses by having the explosion play out in slow motion.

Plenty of fictional characters have used the “taking you with me” card before, but the context here sets Kagaya apart. He didn’t just blow himself up; he blew up his wife and two of his children. And while it doesn’t say it outright, the story clarifies that they all knew this would happen. However, instead of running or panicking, they all chose to remain calm and accept it. They understood that Muzan is such a threat to humankind that they have to pull out the contemporary equivalent of a nuclear bomb.  And they do it to make sure that the Demon Slayer Corps can end Muzan here and now.

The entire sequence of events is masterfully animated, with Ufotable pulling out all the stops. And that’s only the beginning. Seeing Muzan slowly regenerate from that is both grotesque and fascinating to look at. And though he’s still alive, it really got to him. He didn’t think Kagaya would have the guts to do that. But that was just the first part of the trap that Kagaya laid.

Wrath of the Hashira

The next part sees Tamayo, one of the few demons not under his control, trap him in place with her blood demon art. Then, she injects him with a sample of the fruits of her labor: she’s finally made a drug that can turn demons back into humans. In other words, the means to turn Nezuko back to normal now exists. I didnt read the manga, so I don’t know if Tanjiro’s sister took the drug yet, but I’m willing to bet that she did. Not only does that mean that one of Tanjiro’s biggest goals is about to be completed, but the minute she becomes human again, Muzan will lose his means of conquering sunlight.

And the bad news just keeps coming for Muzan.  The Hashira and Tanjiro, having been made aware Kagaya was in danger, were already in the process of rushing to the Ubuyashiki Mansion. They arrived just in time to see it go up in flames. Now they’reโ€ฆI actually can’t think of a word to best describe how angry they are.

One would think that the combined might of 8 Hashira, a demon, and a boy on par with a Hashira, would be enough to pin Muzan down. However, that is when Muzan brings out his own trump card. He not only teleports himself to the safety of the Infinity Castle, but pulls in the entire Demon Slayer Corps. Every. Last. One. No matter where they are, they fall into the Infinity Castle. And we get yet another amazingly animated shot in an episode that’s already packed to the brim with them. I could feel myself getting goosebumps as my heart began to race. I started grinning like Inosuke because I knew what was about to happen. The final battle between the demons and humans was about to begin!!

And the best part? Ufotable is treating the final battle with the reverence its going to deserve. Rather than give Demon Slayer another season, they’re turning the Infinity Castle Arc (and presumably the one after it) into a movie trilogy!

Infinity Castle Needs to Break the Box Office!

To date, there is no news about when the trilogy will come out, but when it does, I am hoping that they dont just make it a limited-run event. I want to see it compete with other movies and remain in theaters as long as possible. And you can bet that I will get in line to see each on opening night!

Demon Slayer has always managed to go hardcore regarding the season finales, but this one might be the best. The animation, the story, everything is flawless! This is why Demon Slayer is one of the GOATS! I am looking forward to seeing the Infinity Castle trilogy, and I hope we can get them to break box office records!

Muzan, your days are numbered!

I Give “The Hashira Unite” a 5/5