Some of the anime that RJ Writing Ink’s Watching this Summer
Summer time! That means it’s time for family trips, smashing watermelon on the beach, and arguing over who looks best in a swimsuit. Anime fans do all that, and we have to keep an eye out for all the new anime that’s coming out. This year, we’ve got a pretty good lineup of new and returning anime to watch, with Crunchyroll having dropped a list of some of its biggest upcoming shows. And, I’m going to be honest with you, I don’t know how much of it I’m going to be able to watch. Not because I don’t want to, but because I’m going to be so busy covering things. But that’s not going to stop me from giving you my list of anime that I’m looking forward to enjoying! I’m RJ Writing Ink, and here are all the anime for the summer season that I’m probably going to watch! Hopefully!
The 100 Girlfriends Who Really, Really, Really, Really, Really Love You Season 3-July 5th
The Rentaro Family is back! And just as crazy and wholesome as ever! If you remember my writings from the winter of last year, then you know that I’m crazy about the ultimate harem anime. Naturally, I’m going to want to cover it as we get even more members joining the Rentaro Family! I won’t spoil anything about them, but let’s just say that this next batch will contain some of my favorite girlfriends thus far, as well as some that will make you question how the mangaka got away with them. So, just be prepared in advance.
The Elusive Samurai, Season 2, July-
Two years ago, we got the first season of the anime The Elusive Samurai, and now we’re finally getting the second. Created by the mangaka behind Assassination Classroom, the Elusive Samurai is a historical fantasy about Tokiyuki Hojo, the last surviving heir of the former Shogunate, forced to go on the run when his family is overthrown. I liked it well enough at the time, but I never got into it as much as I could have. With the manga having ended earlier this year, though, I might be willing to pick this story back up.
That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime Season 4-
So, it turns out that I was mistaken. I knew that the fourth season of Slime Tensura was going to be split up into multiple cours’, but I assumed that they would be split up into different seasons of anime. As it turns out, I was wrong. That means that we’ve got another 12 weeks of Slime Tensura to get us through the Summer, and I’m looking forward to it! I can’t wait to see what Rimuru gets up to next, because I have no clue.
Speaking of peak Isekai…
Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation Season 3-July 5th-
You know that Crunchyroll is pushing a show to be a frontrunner for the season when they make one of the main characters the thumbnail for their trailer for said season. Mushoku Tensei has exploded in popularity thanks to the success of the anime, and I have been waiting for the last two years to see us pick up where we left off with our boy, Rudeus! He may have lost his arm and his dad while saving his mom, but he’s gotten a second wife in the form of Roxy, and more importantly, he’s a dad now! The real highlight of this season, though, is going to be the return of Eris, AKA the girl who broke Rudeus’ heart. If you’ve read my reviews of the show, you’ll know my opinion about Eris: she’s going to have to spend the rest of her life making up for bailing on him the way she did. More importantly, though, we are going to get to see something happen that will reframe the story and what happens going forward. Something that I’ve had to keep my mouth shut about for years now, and if the anime doesn’t go into more detail, I will!
Baki-Dou: The Invincible Samurai-June 18th
I know that this comes out three days before the actual summer solstice, meaning that technically, it doesn’t count as a summer anime. However, this is Baki we’re talking about. If you’ve seen Baki, then you know that the characters in this series do things that regularly defy common sense. They can do whatever they want! And in this case, the second half of Baki-Dou has the entire cast throwing everything they to defeating the resurrected Musashi Miyamoto, AKA the undefeated Samurai of legend. A man who was able to go toe to toe with Yujiro Hanma!
And this is just the start of the anime that are coming out this season. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go watch some beach episodes and see who wore a swimsuit best!
It almost managed to fly under my radar due to how busy I’ve been covering things, but last month, the second season of the anime adaptation of Devil May Cry dropped on Netflix. I’m sorry that I didn’t get to it until now, but again, I’ve had a lot of things to do, and I’m sorry. That being said, I was looking forward to seeing how this crazy series would continue telling the story of DMC, even though I’m not that big a fan of the games. More importantly, though, the plot manages to get better as the war between humans and demons gets even more dangerous with the threat of an ancient evil’s return as well as our introduction to Dante’s twin brother, Vergil.
And I would just like to say that while I don’t know much about the games, I liked how Vergil is portrayed in the anime.
The end to the first season of the anime was a pretty bleak one, if you’ll recall. Dante was captured by Lady and forcibly put on ice just after learning his brother was alive. Vice-President Baines was able to use the White Rabbit’s actions to justify a war against demons, leading to an invasion of Makai. And now, hundreds of humans and demons are dying in a so-called crusade. As someone who grew up watching the War on Terror on TV, the analogy was not lost on me.
You would think that this war between Earth and Makai would be the driving plot of the second season, but you would only be partly correct. The war does play an active role in the series, but the main focus is on two other plots and everything surrounding them. The first is kickstarted when Lady steals a chalice from the Demon King Mundus, with it revealed to be one of four artifacts needed to unseal Argosax, AKA the original ruler of Makai and the series in-game equivalent to the Devil. He was so evil and chaotic that Mundus and Sparda rebelled against him to seal him away. His agent and the one pulling Baines’ strings, Arius von Enhrenberg, wants to free Argosax and bring about the end of the world, which prompts DARKCOM to bring Dante out of stasis so they can use him as a pawn in the game.
The second and most important plot, though, is the introduction of Vergil, Dante’s long-lost twin brother.
Vergil is AWESOME!
I had to look up Vergil’s story on the Internet, and apparently, he was kidnapped by the same demons who killed his and Dante’s mother. They brought him back to Makai, where Mundus raised him to be his ultimate weapon, a history that very much remains intact in the anime. Unlike the games, though, the anime changes up the circumstances. Whereas Vergil was broken and brainwashed by Mundus into becoming his weapon, the anime had Mundus be smarter about it. He lied to Vergil and told him that his mom was killed by demons loyal to Arius’ organization, Urobouros, and thus, Argosax. Naturally, this enraged Vergil, and he willingly chose to serve Mundus because he thought he was avenging his mother and atoning for his father betraying Mundus. Because why brainwash someone when having them work for you freely is a much better strategy?
Now, I’m an outsider with little to no experience with DMC, and therefore, I have no emotional connection to its characters. I know that game purists probably didn’t like the changes to Vergil’s character. I, on the other hand, like Vergil in the anime because it reminds me of Sasuke from Naruto. Both were originally very kind boys who lost their families. Both let the need for revenge guide their actions for most of their respective series. And both of them serve as the edgy rivals to the friendlier protagonists, to whom they are siblings. The main difference is that Dante and Vergil are actual siblings, while Naruto and Sasuke are the reincarnations of the brothers who were their ancestors.
I would also like to point out the fact that Vergil is very smart and charismatic. There’s a memorable moment in the second episode where he goes on live TV and tries to expose how the White Rabbit was a human, what they’re doing to demon civilians they detain, and that the whole reason for them going to war is a lie.
Again, the War on Terror analogy is in play. But I do like how Vergil was smart enough to know that getting the public’s sympathy was a great idea. He wasn’t wrong, either. Knowing that the demon refugees she saved were tortured makes Lady turn on DARKCOM.
The Ship Sailed. And then Sank
Speaking of which, we need to address the relationship between Dante and Lady. I’m told that in the games, their relationship is purely platonic, but in the anime, it was dropping a lot of ship tease from day one. You would think that the ship would be sunk considering how Lady left Dante on ice, but you would be wrong. Once he wakes up, Dante gives us this hilarious retelling of how Lady was so sorry for betraying him and telling him Vergil is alive. The man was either coping, or he really didn’t care about what she did. Either way, they manage to keep working well together throughout the season. And yes, there is a point where they took things further. Sadly, the ship remains sunk, because at the end of the season, Lady opts to go on her own so she can settle some personal things. But to be honest, we’re not here for the shipping. We’re here for the fighting.
And the fighting is pretty awesome, I have to admit.
If Naruto and Sasuke were Half-Demons, We’d Get this!
Given what the series is, it’s natural that the series would spend a lot of time focusing on the fighting. And while my memories of the first season are a bit hazy, I think that this second season was a step up in the fighting department. From the reunion between Dante and Vergil to the climactic fight against Argosax and then Mundus, I think the show did it’s best to capture the chaotic nature of the games. Though, again, I am just an outsider looking in on this, so I don’t exactly have the best view on what’s happening. What I will say, though, is that for all the talk about how terrifying Argosax was, he went down a lot easier than I thought. I even question if Mundus needed the help of Dante and Vergil to defeat him, it’s so easy.
The real crux of the season, though, lies on the relationship between Dante and Vergil. While Vergil ultimately learns the truth about his mother’s death, he still chooses to side with demonkind rather than humanity, unlike his brother. As a result, the two brothers are separated as the barrier between their worlds is sealed once more. The only difference is that Vergil vows to bring down Mundus, become the new king of Makai, and then invade Earth. As for Dante, he is left all alone, but not disheartened, to find his way in the world, with the season ending on this note.
I don’t know if Netflix will choose to greenlight a third season of the anime. It will likely depend on how well the viewership is, but there’s a good chance we will get another season. Where the story will go from here, though, is anyone’s guess, as there was a sense of finality to the season finale. When it does come out, though, I hope to review it. And in a more timely manner, I might add.
STEEL BALL RUN JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure Ep 1 Review
Calling all JoJo fans, calling all JoJo fans!! PEAK ANIME HAS RETURNED! You are all invited to witness history in the making as Hirohiko Araki’s magnum opus is getting an anime. Come join us for the STEEL BALL RUN!!!
If I sound like I’m super excited right now, you can’t blame me. Ever since the anime went international ten years ago, JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure has proven why it’s one of the GOATS of Shonen. From the music to the artwork, to the posing and memes, JoJo has become an internet legend. Unfortunately, Netflix had to yank it off the airwaves and make Part Six exclusive to its platform, and the arrival of Part Seven hasn’t changed that. However, if there was ever a reason for anime fans to get Netflix(besides the live-action One Piece and other series), then it’s for Steel Ball Run.
Quick Refresher!
If you are a newcomer to JoJo, then you don’t have to worry about needing any prior knowledge about the series beyond the basics. It’s broken up into separate parts, each of which covers a different character whose initials can spell JoJo or some variation of it. That, and it follows the adventures of the Joestar family, with each part following a different family member. Moreover, Part Seven is when the mangaka, Hirohiko Araki, chose to start fresh in an entirely new timeline as he took the manga from shonen to seinen. And since Araki is a massive westernphile, he decided to start strong with a love letter to spaghetti westerns, giving us Steel Ball Run.
The Ultimate Race!
The year is 1890 on the West Coast of the United States. Business tycoon Steven Steel has invited people from all over the world to participate in the first-ever Steel Ball Run. It’s a massive cross-country race spanning 4,000 miles across the continental US from San Diego to New York City, with the winner getting a grand prize of $50 million!
The premise to this part alone should be enough to excite fans, especially Americans. One of America’s biggest selling points is its sheer size and diversity. From the deserts to the south and west to the plains of the heartland and the forests and mountains, America is truly a land of such diversity. And I think that Araki wanted to use that to his advantage by telling his grandest story since Stardust Crusaders. And the characters are already memorable and memeable.
So Many Cool Characters!
There are hundreds of people taking part in the Steel Ball Run, but this extra-long episode focuses primarily on the five that will be major players in the arc. First up, we have Gyro Zeppeli, the Italian with gold-plated teeth and these mysterious steel balls. And for those debating about sub vs dub, I recommend dub. Zeppeli is voiced by Kaiji Tang, and he brings that signature charm of his to play.
Next up, we have our resident JoJo, Johnny Joestar. And he’s a piece of work. While he’s part of the upper crust of society like his Part One counterpart, that’s where the similarities end. Unlike OG JoJo, Johnny was an arrogant and self-centered horse jockey who was once at the top of the world. But when he cut in line for something, the guy he cut shot and crippled him from the waist down, robbing him of his talent and pride. But then this happens!
And that is enough to make him join the Steel Ball Run, so he can learn the secret of the Spin and how to walk again.
It's crazy that I'm justifying a man kicking a paraplegic on the ground but Johnny Joestar deserved this
This JoJo lowkey evil…..name sounds similar to Jonathan Joestar yet he is the opposite of the gentleman pic.twitter.com/IMPVbmIfr5
Having spent so much time with the noble and heroic Joestar family, it’s a little surprising to see a JoJo who’s so obviously flawed. Other JoJo’s have had their flaws. Several of them were troublemakers, rude, and delinquents. But Johnny feels like the JoJo with the most overt character flaws, as him losing the ability to walk was entirely his fault. He wrecked his own life, and now he wants to prove that he’s not worthless. Despite that, though, Johnny has the determination and willpower that have defined the Joestars, as he refuses to let his disability stop him from joining the race.
It wouldn’t be JoJo, though, without Dio, though. And despite him dying back in Part Three, we get an alternate version of Dio, Diego Brando, joining the story as a rival horse jockey. So far, he’s not pure evil like DIO, just arrogant. But we should still give him a wide berth.
Lastly, we have two other characters that are clearly set up to be supporting cast members, Sandman and Poco Loco. One is a Native who’s determined to finish the Steel Ball Run with his own superhuman legs, and the other is lucky to the point that it’s laughable. In fact, I’m pretty sure I did laugh watching what went down in the first leg of the race! And what a leg it was!
BEST RACE EVER!
One thing that I consistently love about JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure is its ability to turn the most mundane and regular activities into the most exciting things you can imagine. Now, a cross-country horse race is already plenty exciting, but Steel Ball Run manages to make it into the coolest thing ever. I couldn’t hope to capture how crazy it is in words alone, but thankfully, Twitter provides.
I cannot lie to you about this: I was really invested into what was happening in the race that makes up the second half of the episode. It felt like I was watching an actual horse race to the point that I started cheering at one point watching the jockeys. And the artwork! They managed to capture all of Araki’s Louvre-level talent in animation form. Combine that with the peak music, and we have a masterpiece.
L’épisode 1 de Steel Ball Run est un CLASSIQUE : j’ai pas les mots bordel enfin l’incroyable GYRO, JOHNNY & DIEGO
On est sur un niveau d’animation équivalent à Golden Wind (c’est la même équipe) je suis TELLEMENT rassuré et HYPE pour la suite pic.twitter.com/ewSsWEoED5
Again, I cannot lie to you: I wasn’t sure if I was going to cover it for the D&A Anime Blog. But after what I just saw, I NEED to give it the attention it deserves. Steel Ball Run is a contender for anime of the year in my book! I can’t wait to see the rest of the race!
Everyone, would you do me the honors and come sail with me to the Grand Line in search of the One Piece?
Three years ago, Netflix managed to do what many, myself included, thought impossible: made a live-action version of One Piece that was actually good. For that matter, making a live-action adaptation of an anime that was good, period. How did they do this? To paraphrase Honest Trailers, “by changing absolutely nothing, no matter ridiculous it may seem.” That, and Eichiro Oda made sure the streaming giant didn’t wreck his life’s work. The bottom line is that Netflix’s One Piece was better than anyone thought possible. People who had never gotten into the series got to give it a try, and the people who had stuck with it for years got to fall in love with it all over again. But the thing about the first season is that it was just a warm-up. The second season is when the show would really show whether or not if it could live up to the legendary anime and manga.
After spending the entirety of my weekend binging the series, I can confidently assert that, once again, One Piece knows what it’s doing. Thank you, Eichiro D. (G)oda!
One Piece is Back
The first season of One Piece was an abridged retelling of the first part of the story of Monkey D. Luffy and his crew. How he met and assembled the pirates that initially made up the Straw Hat Pirates, got their first ship, and became the toughest pirates in their native East Blue. After that, it’s off to the Grand Line to find the One Piece…with one last stop.
For reasons I cannot understand, some fans were convinced that Netflix was going to skip the Loguetown Arc, the last portion of the opening saga of the series. I knew that they weren’t going to do that, though! That would bring up too many plot holes in the future! I still found it funny, though, when the show had Nami cheekily say “and you thought we were gonna skip Loguetown.” The writers know the fans so well!
As for the Loguetown Arc itself, it’s only the first episode of the season, so it has to condense a lot of material. That includes adding in a certain character who sees what Luffy does in Loguetown and becomes an important ally much later in the story. That’s the benefit of the Netflix series, though. Having almost three decades of extra lore and knowing who and what will be important means they can add a lot of stuff that Oda didn’t add when writing the story.
Who Cares Who Plays the Characters?
Case in point, we got to see Luffy sing Oda’s original song, Binks Brew, to a giant whale. And we got to see a flashback to Brook, his future crewmember, back when he wasn’t a talking skeleton. For some reason, though, people seemed surprised to have him played by a Black man. Me? I just shrugged my shoulders and didn’t care. The Straw Hats were already supposed to be a multi-national crew, so why does it matter?
Speaking of which, I need to bring up the elephant in the room: Princess Vivi, who joins the cast as one of the main characters this season. Last year, a lot of people were in an uproar about who was cast to play the Princess of Alabasta: Charithra Chandran, a British-Indian actress. Haters thought that it was Netflix trying to enforce diversity onto the show. However, that is not true. Not only did Oda base Alabasta on Middle Eastern and Indian cultures, but he personally chose Charithra to play Vivi. And in that regard, I think Charithra excelled. She starts off as the menacing Miss Wednesday, but once she abandons that, she’s the same kind, compassionate, and caring princess I remember watching in the trenches from the 4Kids days. So all those people owe her an apology.
It Gets Crazier from Here
Now, the real test of this season was how accurately it could capture the story going forward, as the first season was just a warm-up. Once the story moves from the East Blue to the Grand Line, realism starts to take a backseat as Oda started to incorporate the more fantastical elements to the world he created. Whales big enough to swallow ships; islands that need special compasses to navigate to them; every location varying in climate, culture, and wildlife. The halfway point of the season alone takes us to an island populated by dinosaurs! And that’s not even getting into all the new powers!
In the first season, the only two characters who had the powers of a Devil Fruit were Luffy and Buggy. That changes in the Grand Line, as almost every location the Straw Hats visit and many of the foes they face have Devil Fruit powers. From a guy turning his boogers into explosives to a creep who can create candle wax, the powers are only going to get crazier from here on out. And some of the ancillary characters that survive in the manga bite it here.
I’m not kidding. If you thought Mihawk killing Don Krieg was surprising, wait until you see how many of the bad guys end up dying once their roles are fulfilled. At least they go out in style, though.
Which brings me to another great aspect of the show: the combat.
Remember how Zoro cut down 100 Bounty Hunters?
Given how fantastical One Piece is, the fights tend to be absolutely insane. So adapting them for live action was always going to be a big concern. The first season showed that it could do it, but like everything else, season two is where the series really has to step up. To make a long story short, it does, and while I could give plenty of examples, my favorite has to be Zoro’s legendary 1v100 bar brawl. They could’ve skimped on it, but Netflix didn’t. Mackenyu gave us twelve minutes of Zoro annihilating everyone in his path, and it is glorious. I have no idea how long it took to film all that, but considering how he did his own stunts, that must have been a crazy workout! Respect to him and the rest of the cast for all that they did.
Speaking of the cast, though, we need to talk about my favorite part of the season: Drum Island.
Drum Island Still Made me Cry
I started my One Piece journey right around the tail-end of the Drum Island arc that introduced us to the series mascot, the ever-adorable, floofy Chopper. I spent the better part of my time watching reruns on Cartoon Network to get caught up. And when I got to the Drum Island Arc…man, it stuck with me.
If you know One Piece, then you know that a lot of the characters have very, very sad backstories. But for ten-year-old me, Chopper’s backstory had to be the saddest. Ostracized by his fellow reindeer, considered a monster by humans (why, though? He’s so cute!) And losing his father figure, Hiruluk? Even with all the censoring that 4Kids did for the dub they never wanted, I knew that Hiruluk blew himself up! That was hard to watch as a kid, and the Netflix series managed to make it every bit as heart-breaking to watch as an adult. In other words, I LOVED IT! And I loved Chopper.
Don’t get me wrong: at times Chopper’s CGI model could be cringe to look at, especially his human-bruiser form. And I do wish that they had just gotten Brina Palencia to voice him like she does in the dub, as it took me a while to get used to his voice actor. I’m not even sure if I really got used to him by the time the season ended! But I knew going in that the show was going to be fighting an uphill bringing Chopper into live-action. All things considered, I think that they did a decent job. It could’ve been far, far worse than what we got. Plus, the climax of the entire season was absolutely incredible. Something that we didn’t get to see in the anime, and still managed to be awesome.
I Give Netflix’s One Piece another 3 Seasons, tops
So, did One Piece manage to hit the mark once again? Yes. Is it a perfect adaptation? No, but is anything really perfect in this world? Are some of the changes for the better? I can’t be the one to decide that. Am I going to watch it again in Japanese? ABSOLUTELY. But where do we go from here?
Well, the next season is going to cover the arc where I actually stepped into the world of One Piece, the Alabasta Arc. And given how big that arc was, and how it marked the start of several major formulas for the series going forward, I think it’s safe to say that it will be the sole focus of the entire season. Which is fine by me, because I’m well aware that there’s no way Netflix can adapt the entire anime into live-action. At some point it will take too long, cost too much money, the actors will get too old to reasonably play the roles, and frankly, I don’t think the technology exists to capture the franchise in its latter stages. My guess is that it will run to the end of the Water Seven Saga, if we’re lucky! But regardless of how long it lasts, I intend to enjoy it all. My only wish is that the third season will switch to a weekly release date. This way we can fully enjoy everything as it comes out. Please, Netflix? Give this to us!
This March, One Piece fans are going to break Netflix.
In the summer of 2023, Netflix released its live-action adaptation of the legendary anime, One Piece. And despite the streaming platform’s track record with adapting anime, One Piece proved that it’s built different by having a live-action adaptation that was actually good! From managing to make its characters and world loyal to Oda’s vision to faithfully retelling the early days of the story, Netflix’s One Piece has been a cut above the rest. It’s almost as if having the series creator serve as the end-all authority on what works and what doesn’t was a good idea. You hear that, Shyamalan?
It’s been almost three years since the first season dropped on Netflix, and while the anime and manga have continued apace, we’ve had to wait for the live-action version to return. On March 10th, though, the wait shall be over, and judging by the final trailer we’ve gotten for the series, it will be worth every second spent!
Picking up where the first season left off, season two will see Luffy and the Straw Hat Pirates finally enter the Grand Line, and discover just how insane it truly is. Judging by everything that we know, this season will cover the tail-end of the East Blue Saga that started it all to the first half of the Alabasta Saga. This is when One Piece really started to find its stride, as Oda began to drop any remaining pretense of realism in favor of telling a story that’s absolutely crazy, and it shows in the trailer. Everything that we see in the trailer is something that we’ve seen in the series, no matter how crazy it may seem. That includes fighting otters, giants, a whale big enough to rival the one from Pinocchio, giants, dinosaurs and more! And that’s not even getting into the Devil Fruit powers we see. Newcomers should prepare themselves, as from the moment we enter the Grand Line, Devil Fruit users are going to be found in almost every antagonistic group we’ll meet, with powers just as crazy as Luffy’s.
However, what I think fans, especially longtime ones, are most excited about are the introductions of two important characters: Miss All Sunday and Chopper.
Chopper Still Cute as Ever!
I won’t spoil anything about Miss All Sunday in case you’re a newcomer to the series, but when it comes to Chopper, I don’t think I need to hold back. With his chibi form and childish innocence, Chopper is pretty much the mascot of One Piece. It’s to the point that the One Piece YouTube channel has a little comic strip about him. The series knows he’s adorable and has spent years selling merch of him, and it’s not hard to understand why. But despite how cute he looks, Chopper has one of the saddest backstories out of any member of the Straw Hat Pirates. Granted, a lot of characters in One Piece had a hard past, but Chopper’s is one of the saddest. I sincerely hope that Netflix gives his backstory the justice it deserves.
We have less than a month before the series drops its second season, and I’m even more excited for it now than I was for the first one. The reasons being that now that I know that Netflix can pull this off, I want to see how far they can go. Secondly, the Alabasta Saga was when I started getting into One Piece back when it was being dubbed by 4Kids. Their dub might have been terrible, but it still turned me into a lifelong fan. So I hope that Netflix does this justice!
Well, another year is in the books, and that means it’s time to reflect on everything that’s happened. For anime fans, that means it’s time to talk about their favorite moments of the year, their favorite anime, and just as important, what fictional characters they would date if they were real. I’m RJ Writing Ink, and once again, it is time for me to go over my picks for the best waifus for 2025. As was the case with last year, I will be including multiple entries from the same series if I deem it necessary. Mostly because some picks are so good that I can’t decide on one.
The Rentaro Family-The 100 Girlfriends Who Really, Really, Really, Really, Really Love You
First up on our list, it would be crazy to have a waifu list and not include one of the biggest group of best girls out there, the Rentaro family. This year, 100 Girlfriends was happy to welcome five new girlfriends to its membership: a constantly hangry girl, a maid, a tomboy, a beauty queen, and a super-shy girl. Given how well-writen and entertaining they all are, we’re just going to include all of them by default. However, if I had to play favorites, I think my personal choice is Iku Sutou. Firstly, she’s a tomboy, and I believe in tomboy supremacy. Secondly, I love the irony of her being a masochist who’s seiyu is played by Megumin’s from Konosuba. If you know, you know.
Cha Hae-In-Solo Leveling
Admittedly, Solo Leveling is not the kind of anime that you would think of when you think of best girls since it’s focus is on Jin-woo. However, the anime seems to make a notable exception when it comes to Cha Hae-In. From day one, the anime has gone out of its way to include extra scenes focusing on Hae-In, with some not-so-subtle money shots included. Don’t be fooled, though. She’s the strongest female Hunter in Korea, with only a handful of the boys able to surpass her. The most notable being Jin-woo himself, whom Hae-In’s taken an interest in. And it’s not just because he’s the only Hunter whose smell she can stand.
Natsuko Hirose-Zenshu
For the life of me, I can’t remember the last time I saw a woman be the protagonist for an isekai, but man, did Natsuko slay. At the start of the series, she managed to turn her love of animation into a career, and she was incredibly talented at it. The catch was that because she focused so much on her art, her social skills were almost nonexistent by the time she gets isekaied. Over the course of being stuck in her favorite movie, though, she learns how to open up to others, accept help, and even understand what love is. Thanks to that, not only does she manage to rewrite the film’s downer ending, but the ending implies her true love found a way to make it to her world. And, if I’m being honest, she is very pretty underneath that hoodie she wears.
Yihdra Arvoln-The Red Ranger Becomes an Adventurer in Another World
Speaking of the isekai genre, let’s talk about the main heroine for this fun series I mentioned, The Red Ranger Becomes an Adventurer in Another World. Or, as Yihdra would call it, I teamed up with a hot-headed weirdo and ended up falling for him without meaning to. Yihdra is a talented young mage who’s goal in life is to restore her family’s honor and prove that magical items can be used responsibly. That leads her to teaming up with Red to fight against the threat of returning demons, and while his antics do exasperate her at times, his talk about bonds and friendship does grow on her. It also becomes pretty obvious that she’s started to fall for him. She took the bandaid he gave her for her finger and acted like it was an engagement ring!
Huntr/x-Kpop Demon Hunters
Is Kpop Demon Hunters an anime movie? No, and Huntr/x isn’t even Japanese. But if their movie was big enough to get them on the cover of Time Magazine (look it up), then we’re giving them a pass. This K-pop trio of songstresses protects the world from demons and looks amazing while doing so. Their dynamic reminds people of another close-knit trio inspired by anime, the Totally Spies. And everyone of their songs is an absolute banger. Ergo, they’re on this list!
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The Mikadono Sisters-Dealing With the Mikadono Sisters is a Breeze
If you read my reviews of Tomo-Chan is a Girl!, then you know I believe in tomboy supremacy. So what’s better than having three tomboys at the heart of this heartwarming anime about family. Kazuki, Niko, and Miwa are three talented sisters at the top of their prestigious school and their respective talents, but they’re also incredibly cold. All that changes when they take in the son of a friend of the family who wants nothing more than to have the family life he never had with his late mom. And, despite being utterly talentless, Yuu Ayase wins them over with his kindness, warmth, and ability to get them flustered without even realizing it. In fact, I don’t even think he’s realized that the three of them have started to fall for him.
Pop☆Step-My Hero Academia: Vigilantes
From the My Hero Academia universe, we have the young vigilante, Pop☆Step. Well, being a vigilante is not her first choice. She’s actually an aspiring pop star who regularly holds street performances, using her Quirk to bounce high while her singing takes care of the rest. Young, brash, and a little insecure about herself, Pop winds up becoming a vigilante by complete accident when she runs into Koichi and Knuckleduster, and winds up sticking with them. Her ultimate goal is to make it big as a singer, and she’s got the skills to do it.
Nico Wakatsuki-Witch Watch
This is one witch that you definitley want as your best friend, and lucky for you, she probably would want to be your friend. Nico is a witch-in-training who returns to Japan to live with her childhood friend, Morihito. He’s supposed to be her bodyguard and keep her safe, but his efforts are complicated due to Nico’s friendly nature compelling her to use magic to help others, with often disastrous results. Friendly, outgoing, and eager to aid others, Nico is the kind of friend that everyone would want. Her one weakness: her huge crush on Morihito, who just can’t seem to get it.
Reze-Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc
Normally, I wouldn’t include someone who tried to kill the main protagonist on this list, but I will make an exception for Reze’s case. Born and raised as a Soviet agent, Reze was tasked with the mission of capturing Denji and obtaining his chainsaw heart. Despite trying to kill him, though, Reze did seem to become genuinely fond of Denji, enough to consider leaving it all behind with him…until Makima intervenes. While their relationship ends in bloodshed and tragedy, Reze represents the kind of life that Denji could have if the world wasn’t out to constantly screw him over.
Scarlet El Vandimion-May I Ask for One Final Thing?
Admit it: after all the time I’ve spent singing her praises, I would be crazy to not include the queen of crash-outs, Scarlet El Vandimion. All her life, this highborn girl has loved nothing more than throwing hands with wicked people, only to force her to repress that due to her terrible arranged marriage. The second her idiotic fiance breaks things off, though, the dog is let off the leash and won’t go back on. Scarlet is absolutely fearsome and capable of pulverizing anyone dumb enough to arouse her anger. At the same time, though, she’s actually a very kind and caring person who truly loves her kingdom and wants the best for everyone in it. Or as I like to put it, she has a zero tolerance policy for other people’s bs. Given how her victims crimes include corruption, slavery, attempted murder, blackmail, brainwashing, and warmongering, it’s not hard to see why.
Who Were Your Favorite Girls for 2024? Let us Know!
There’s no getting around it anymore: it’s Fall. Leaves are falling, the capitalist system is preparing for the Holidays, and new anime seasons of anime are on the way. There’s just one problem: for the first time in a while, I’m worried that I won’t have an anime to cover on a weekly basis. There are plenty of great anime coming out to watch, but I’m not sure which one to cover for the D&A Anime Blog. That being said, it’s not stopping me from talking about some of the big names that might be worth watching.
Let’s Play, October 1st, Crunchyroll
Our first potential pick is potentially for anyone whose a fan of video games, romcoms, or webcomics, Let’s Play. Sam Young is an introverted 22-year-old software developer whose love for video games led to create her own, Ruminate. At first, it did great on the market, until her favorite Let’s Player, Marshall Law, gave it a bad review, leading his fans to trash it. It gets worse, though, as she discovers Law has just become her new neighbor. Talk about a drama bomb.
Believe it or not, I’m actually one of Let’s Play’s earliest fans, having read it from its first chapters on WEBTOON. At first it seems like another romcom built around gaming, but once Mongie starts picking up steam, she starts getting into some pretty heavy subjects like depression, trauma, and insecurities. Unfortunately, I don’t think that the show’s animation lives up to Mongie’s own artwork. Having been let down by The Beginning After the End earlier this year, that’s left me a little weary. However, I think I’ll at least give it the benefit of the doubt.
My Hero Academia Final Season, October 4th, Crunchyroll
Ever since the manga came to an end last year, fans have been waiting to see if the My Hero Academia anime can live up to their expectations. As the final war between the Heroes of Japan and All for One nears its climax, Deku will be drawn into his final confrontation with the ultimate villain and Shigaraki in a battle to decide the fate of the world.
For the past decade, My Hero Academia has been one of the biggest names in the Shonen genre, and anime in general, and for good reason; people
love superheroes! The series has had its highs and lows, but given how the manga ends, people are eager to see if the anime can live up to the hype or surpass it. Having covered the series on my own blog since Season Four, getting to see the finale will be a bittersweet experience for me. At least we’ll still have Vigilantes to look forward to, though!
Ranma 1/2 Season 2, October 4th Netflix
Last year, Netflix gave us their remake of one of the OG romcom anime, Ranma 1/2, and now it’s back for more. Too bad for Ranma, his misfortunes when it comes to love, as well as his curse, are going to keep giving him grief.
When anime and manga started arriving in force to America back in the 90s, Ranma 1/2 was among the first wave, helping to introduce fans to Japanese romcoms. Granted, modern audiences might take issue with several things about it, like how argumentative Ranma and Akane are, or how they’re betrothed by their dads without their consent. However, that doesn’t change the fact that it’s still one of the OG romcom anime, and it’s cool that it’s getting more love.
Spy x Family Season 3, October 4th, Crunchyroll/Hulu
Everyone’s favorite spy family is back for a third season. As Loid continues to work towards his ultimate goal of completing Operation: STRIX, the Forger family continues its efforts to keep looking like a normal family. Which is tough considering how the “Dad” is a spy, the “Mom” is an assassin, neither knowing that, and their “daughter” Anya has to help keep it that way. Which will be hard, considering how this season is slated to include an escort mission on a cruise ship and Anya’s school bus getting hijacked by terrorists.
I’m not that overly big a fan of Spy x Family, only really watching it when I have nothing better to do. However, I can appreciate why people like it so much. The characters are likable, there’s a good balance between action and comedy, like many great Shonen, and the animation itself is great. What might tip the scales, though, is that this season will give us a look at how Loid became the superspy Twilight.
Star Wars: Visions Volume 3, October 29th, Disney+
Four years ago, Disney teamed up with some of the biggest animation studios in Japan to give us Star Wars: Visions, an anthology series that combined two of the greatest things in the world: Star Wars and anime. Now, it’s returning to those roots with a third season that promises to be just as good, if not better, than the last two. Not only will we be getting new shorts inspired by the Star Wars universe, but three are going to be sequelss to some of the most popular shorts from Volume One: The Duel, The Village Bride, and The Ninth Jedi. If you’ve seen the shorts, then you know why this alone is worth the hype.
I’ve been a fan of Star Wars since I was a little kid, and despite how Disney has kept fumbling things since 2012, I’m still a big fan of the franchise. Combining it with anime is naturally enough to get my blood pumping! Given how amazing the first two volumes are, I’m eager to see what comes next from this anthology series!
Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc, October 29th, Theaters
It’s been three long years since the end to the first season of Chainsaw Man, and while manga-readers have feasted, anime watchers are starving . But all of that changes as Chainsaw Man gets the movie treatment with Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc.
After defeating the Katana Man and his Yakuza flunkies, Denji continues his work under Makima as a hunter of Devils. His world winds up getting turned upside down, though, when he winds up meeting a girl his age named Reze, and she actually seems interested in him! But since the universe seems to love seeing Denji suffer, you don’t need to read the manga to know that this cannot end well.
I had my criticisms of the first season of Chainsaw Man, and for good reason. Considering all the hype about the manga, it felt like the anime failed to meet my expectations when it comes to action. However, I did promise myself I would go back and review it again once it continued, and I intend to keep that promise. Given how effectively Demon Slayer has adapted arcs into full-on movies, I have high hopes for this flick. Hopefully, it also means that the anime will be coming back soon with a new season.
So, since I was at a convention last week, I was unable to watch the new episode of DanDaDan. So, I’m combining my review for the last two episodes since they both continue the Evil Eye Arc! And as we have already seen multiple times by now, the Evil Eye is a problem, and will continue to be a problem until it’s gotten under control. But since Jiji is such a good person, that means that the family is going to have to do things the hard way. And as these two episodes demonstrate, this ragtag group has very much become a family.
So, after Jiji almost lets the Evil Eye out thanks to some room-temperature soy sauce, it becomes apparent that the Family can’t keep going like this. Fortuntately, the Hayashi that Seiko sent for arrive…and they double as a heavy metal band! In some cultures, music is said to have mystical properties and can banish supernatural evils, but this takes it to a whole new level! As a casual fan of heavy metal myself, I wholeheartedly approve of this creative decision. Especially since the anime does a great job of giving us the private concert that manga readers have waited years to see!
One might think that having Jiji decide to not exorcise the Evil Eye would make that entire scene pointless, but it wasn’t. It was a good source of entertainment, which is what stories are supposed to do. Plus, it’s likely that we’ll see the band again in a future arc. Until then, though, the group has to keep watching Jiji while they train to get stronger to stop the Evil Eye.
In all honesty, though, we can’t really fault Jiji for feeling sympathy for the Evil Eye. After what they went through in life, many people would end up as angry and vengeful as that yokai has become. This also isn’t the first time that a teenager has opted to try and befriend a demonic being calling their body home, either. Granted, Yuji never could get Sukuna on his side, but Naruto was able to win over Kurama the Nine-Tailed Fox, so there’s hope! Not that it doesn’t make it any easier when Jiji nearly loses control again and almost kills Momo. The look of guilt on his face is overwhelming. That is the look of someone who thinks they’re a burden and a monster. But more on that later; let’s talk about Momo’s new job!
MAID-O BEAM!!!
In light of the recent damage to her home, Momo has come to the decision that she needs to get a part-time job to help pay for repairs. That’s when her two gyaru friends come in clutch and land her one at a nearby cafe. However, they also do two things. Firstly, they mischeviously drag (literally drag) Okarun there while she’s working to embarass the two of them. Secondly, they neglect to tell her that this cafe in particular…is a maid cafe.
It takes a certain level of confidence to work in a restaruant that requires its employees to wear potentially embarassing attire. Normally, Momo has that kind of confidence down pat. When she’s forced to work in front Okarun, her mutual crush, though, it’s likely one of the most embarassing moments of her life up to that point! Anyone who has had the misfortune of being on the clock when their crush walks in on them can relate! Still, it does feel like it’s worth it when the two end up walking back to the Ayase home together. Sadly, this is also when the incident with the Evil Eye happens again, meaning it’s back to the seriousness.
The fact of the matter is that at this time, none of the Family can hold a candle to the Evil Eye. If they want to win, they need to get stronger fast, especially Okarun. Surprisingly, Turbo Granny proves quite forthcoming about ways to tap into her power more, bringing him to his school after dark, with Aira following out of curiosity/she’s simping for Okarun. She talks about having to maintain a steady rhythm or something during combat and how slow Okarun is. That matter can wait, though, as they have to fight haunted paintings.
…Wait, haunted paintings? Oh dear!
I Give “We Became a Family” and “Feeling Kinda Gloomy” a 4/5 and 3.5/5
Well, somehow the gang managed to pull it off. They defeated the Kito Family, killed their pet Death Worm, and saved the village of Byakuja from being destroyed by a volcano. That’s the good news, though. The bad news is that Jiji is still possessed by the Evil Eye, the yokai that’s so far into its crash-out that it won’t be satisfied until it’s killed all of humanity. And because they can’t get rid of it yet, the entire gang is going to have to work 24/7 to keep it under control as we enter into the next arc of the series: The Evil Eye Arc.
This is going to be stressful for everyone involved.
The episode starts off as Manjiro and the Ayase’s attempting to exorcise the Evil Eye from Jiji (who’s secured inside Taro) as everyone watches. Much to their irritation, though, the yokai is so angry that it refuses to leave Jiji or move on to the afterlife. When it becomes clear that nothing’s working, they’re left with only one option: head home and keep Jiji sealed inside Taro until they figure out a plan.
Upon returning home and reuniting with Aira (who wasn’t happy about being left behind), Seiko apologizes to everyone for what’s happened. If she had gone with them in the first place, they might not be in this mess. Therefore, it’s up to her to help Jiji, but even she can’t do it alone. So they’re going to have to hire Hayashi (musicians that exorcise spirits and yokai). In the meantime, Taro attempting to eat some Oden winds up revealing a temporary solution to their Evil Eye problem. When Jiji’s splashed with hot liquids, he turns back into himself. But when he gets hit by cold liquids, the Evil Eye takes over and will go back to trying to kill everyone.
So, for the time being, the gang will have to watch Jiji with thermos’ full of hot water on hand. It’s not foolproof, but it’s better than making Taro serve as a living prison for the poor teenager. Easier said than done, though. Skipping ahead to the end of the episode, we see that all it takes is for a single drop of soy sauce to get on him for the Evil Eye to come back.
If there’s an analogy for this situation, it would like someone being asked to guard a nuclear bomb that is armed and could go off at any given moment.
Yet, despite everything, life goes on.
Life Goes On
Part of the beauty of DanDaDan is that it’s not just a Shonen action series. It’s about teen romance, with the mess that comes with it. By now, it’s clear that Momo and Okarun have some sort of feelings for each other. So, seeing them try to figure out what they are to each other is just adorable, giving us cute moments like this.
As for Aira, though, she’s now reaping the cost of her own actions. After confessing to spreading lies about Momo getting around, she’s gone from school idol to pariah. However, it’s for the best. If people only liked her for her good looks, then they don’t know her at all. She’s found real friends in Momo and Okarun. Speaking of which, she and Okarun move in with the Ayase’s until they fix Jiji.
Mantis Shrimp and Chiqi are here to Stay!
The best part, though, is the return of Mantis Shrimp and the introduction of his son. Due to the cow they got being unsuitable for survival on their planet, Mantis opted to move to Earth for his son’s sake. And they’re right next door to the Ayase’s!
More importantly, though, is how quickly the teens take a liking to Chiqi. Some of the funniest background scenes involve Aira just gushing over the boy’s cuteness, and I can’t blame her. The kid deserves his own plushie!
It’s nice to see that the show’s sense of humor remains as fresh as ever. Considering the headache that the Evil Eye will be, it does a good job of balancing out the drama and action with comedy. Like this!
In case people who haven't/don't watch the dub were wondering, yes, they did have Aleks Le sing the Ranma 1/2 opening in Japanese like they did with the Slam Dunk OP/ED
— ElTigre – Mountain Yokai (@eltigre13131) July 31, 2025
The mangaka and writers are hilarious.
By the way, this episode reveals what happened to the Kito’s. They got their just desserts and hauled off to prison, with the sole exception of their matriarch. Who also happens to be a being called a Subterranean who’s now out for Momo’s blood. Move on, woman!
Do you guys remember that one episode of DanDaDan last year about Acrobatic Silky’s backstory? The one that garnered critical acclaim and broke the Internet from its sheer sadness? If you thought that the tragic story of Silky’s life and death was sad, then brace yourselves. It’s gotten a sequel. As Ken, Momo, Turbo Granny, and Jiji are at the mercy of a giant worm, an even bigger threat appears: a yokai with a backstory as sad as Silky’s. Maybe even sadder, because the Yokai in question…was just a little kid.
The Evil Eye is scary…
At the end of the last episode, the group was in a bad spot. They were already being cornered by the Mongolian Death Worm. But then, Okarun starts going ghost and tweaking out and trying to kill himself, with Momo soon following suit! As Turbo Granny explains, the Worm emits psychic waves that compel people to off themselves. It’s the ultimate predatory skill, and for some reason, only Jiji is immune to it. All he can do is run for his life while keeping his friends from killing themselves/realizing that this might be what made his parents try to kill themselves.
Except that it wasn’t just the Worm that was the threat. Believe it or not, it wasn’t the only creature haunting the house. There was another being; one far more terrifying than the Worm. A yokai that makes even the likes of Turbo Granny freak out: the Evil Eye.
…But his backstory is SO SAD!!
This is what you call a 10/10 adaptation. Adding stuff they don't have to & giving me additional nightmare fuel for no reason but the love of the game lol. #DanDaDan#ShadzDanDaDanpic.twitter.com/LlQF10ISPR
The Evil Eye is, quite possibly, one of the most powerful yokai in the entire series and a nightmare to deal with. Like the Worm, the Evil Eye also has the power to make people want to off themselves just by looking at them. The upside that its waves cancel out the Worm’s waves, bringing Momo and Ken back to their senses. The bad news? Now they have to run from both while making their way through the Uzumaki-like labyrinth. And when Jiji looks right into its eyes, he sees its whole backstory, and it is a tragedy.
— Momo X Okarun 💞👽👻 (@OmarRei41969377) July 11, 2025
The short version: the Evil Eye was once one of the sacrifices the Kito family gave to the Worm. They had locked him up underground until he was an emaciated husk before burning him alive. But instead of moving on, he somehow became a cursed spirit. And whenever anyone other than kids saw him, they would be compelled to off themselves! And then the Kito Family just buried the son alive in the house as another sacrifice, leaving him to starve of die of asphyxiation, while the spirit couldn’t do anything to help him. And this just kept repeating victim after victim, until that sweet little spirit finally crashed out and decided to kill all humanity. Everyone would die as penance for the cruelty those people were shown.
I thought that Acrobatic Silky’s backstory was sad, but this? This happened to a little boy. A child! And they were doing this to countless people for years to a monster that didn’t care about them and just ate them the first chance they got. No wonder the Evil Eye crashed out. A lot of people would wind up doing the same thing if it happened to them!
Jiji Goes from Zenitsu to Sung Jin-woo
And this just tugs at poor Jiji’s heart, and he goes into “righteous Shonen protagonist” mode. He makes it all the way to the spot where E.E.’s body lies and promises to be his friend and play with him as much as he wants. In other words, he’s offering up his body to be used as a vessel for the yokai, like Ken and Aira.
Big. Mistake. It turns Jiji from a goofy Zenitsu…into Yokai Sung Jin-woo. And I’m not just saying that because all three share the same voice actor. I’m saying that because E.E. Jiji is him! In fact, its revealed that Jiji has a ridiculous amount of dormant spiritual power. Combine that with the Evil Eye’s collected malice, and he turns into an apex predator. And he wields that football like it’s a cannonball. If Okarun hadn’t shown up when he did, Jiji would’ve killed Momo and Turbo Granny.
There’s a reason why DanDaDan fans consider this and the proceeding arc to be among the series best thus far, and its for moments such as this. Now, Okarun has to protect Momo and Turbo Granny from Jiji and the Death Worm! This is going to be a tough fight, but one that fans are going to be enjoying to the fullest extent. And I cannot wait!
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