Shonen Jump

How I Pulled Out a Giant Worm to Stop a Volcano

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

DanDaDan S2 Ep 4 Review

The phrase “out of the frying pan, into the fire” is often used to describe a bad situation getting worse. But what do you call it when the fire in question is an exploding volcano? A nightmare waiting to happen, that’s what! Just when Momo thinks she’s in the clear after killing the giant death worm, it turns out there was some merit to all those stories about it and the volcano. Now, she has to save Byakuja village from destruction while also dealing with both the Evil Eye and the angry Kito Family. And she doesn’t have Okarun or Turbo Granny to help her! *gulp*.

The Kito Family SUCKZ!!!

So, as soon as the Tshuchinoko, AKA the Mongolian Death Worm, drops dead, the volcano near Byakuja village starts to go off. As Momo is dumbfounded, the matriarch of the Kito Family starts going off about how they were right the whole time and that the Worm was the only thing saving the village from death. But then Momo, being the smart girl that she is, remembers the story that Manjiro, the priest at the shrine, told her about the monster. The story goes that when the volcano blew its stack, a dragon would rise from the ground and cast a rainbow as the lava destroyed everything. But the Worm couldn’t go aboveground without dying in the sun! That’s when she realized something: the whole time, the story had been referring to the geysers that erupt when a volcano is about to erupt.

In other words, not only had the Kito family gotten it wrong this whole time, but they had been sacrificing people for centuries for no reason! So, Momo decides enough is enough, and opts to make sure the story never comes true. Using her powers, she proceeds to turn the dead worm into a firehose and use it to stop the lava from hitting the village. However, instead of admitting their wrongdoing and taking the L, the Kito Family insists on doubling down by trying to kill Momo.

When you think about it, this whole story about Byakuja village is so sad. The Kito Family’s ignorance led them to kill dozens, if not hundreds of people, for no reason. The Evil Eye never had to be created in the first place! Admittedly, though, it’s funny seeing the Family continuing to think they were in the right, because they can’t stand the idea of someone else being the hero. And to make matters worse, the Evil Eye shows up and continues trying to kill everyone present! It must have been so cathartic for the yokai to hit the monsters responsible for its suffering! Thankfully, though, the cavalry shows up to save the day in time.

The Cavalry is Here!

As it turns out, Manjiro is actually a student of Momo’s grandmother, who had called him in advance to say that the quartet had been coming to help. But since that went south and Manjiro couldn’t handle the Evil Eye on his own, Granny Seiko had to step in, and she brought backup. Taro, the living mannequin, Mr. Mantis Shrimp in his UFO, and even his son, Chiquitita, show up to help resolve the situation. It should also be noted that Chiqui (my nickname for him) is super sweet, singing while he pilots his dad’s starship and quickly befriending Momo.

With everyone’s help, the group is able to seal away the Evil Eye inside of Taro, whose insides Seiko covered with seals to surpress its energy. Chiquitita takes over putting out the fire, and even helps Momo rescue Okarun and Turbo Granny from what’s left of the house. Thankfully, the worm goop they got stuck in was lavaproof, saving their lives and leading to Momo giving Okarun a well-deserved hug.

This Could be a Problem

As good as it is to know that the Tsuchinoko can’t eat anyone else and that they stopped the volcano, there are two things that prevent this episode from being a wholly happy ending. Firstly, where did the Kito family go? They seemed to have dropped off the radar amidst all the chaos, meaning they’re likely still out there. They need to face justice for their crimes before they hurt anyone else! Secondly, Jiji is still possessed by the Evil Eye. Sympathetic as their backstory might be, they can’t stay in poor Jiji. They need to either be exorcised, talked down, or persuaded to move on to the afterlife! Sadly, that will have to wait until the next episode. At least anime-only watchers can rest a little easier knowing that giant worm is gone!

I Give “That’s, Like, Way Deadly!” a 4/5

DEATH TO THE GIANT WORMS!

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

DanDaDan S2 Ep 3 Review

Well, this is certainly a pickle! It was already bad enough that Okarun, Momo, Jiji and Turbo Granny were trapped underground with a giant worm cryptid. Then they had to contend with a yokai borne from the hatred of the Kito familyโ€™s sacrifices. And to top it off, that yokai has now possessed Jiji and turned him into a force of nature bent on killing them all! Fortunately for Momo, Ken is capable of fighting the Evil Eye while Momo works to find a way to take down the giant worm.

Having managed to possess Jiji, the Evil Eye wastes no time in showing just how powerful it truly is, putting Okarun on the defensive and forcing him to flee with Momo in tow. However, itโ€™s not because he canโ€™t win, as the next round proves. Itโ€™s because he prioritizes Momoโ€™s safety over his own like a gentleman. Thanks to him, Momo is able to escape the pit to find a way to get them all out before the Tsuchinoko kills them.

With Momo out of the way, Okarun and the Evil Eye can fight for real. Admitedly, though, their fight isnโ€™t as visually impressive as the other fights weโ€™ve seen in the series thus far. Though, to be fair, it might be because itโ€™s not as long as other fights are. Both of them run out of steam due to the poison in the area, meaning they canโ€™t fight to the fullest. It makes up for it, though, by doing two things. Firstly, the Evil Eye lets Aleks Le flex his Jin-woo muscles. Secondly, the way that Ken Takakura rallies would make Jotaro Kujo proud.

Too bad Okarunโ€™s cool moment doesnโ€™t last long. When he tries to save Turbo Granny, he winds up getting stuck in whatever gunk the Worm spews out of itself. Now theyโ€™re both trapped. Luckily, Momo has a foolproof plan to get rid of the worm: burning down the cursed house!

Burnin’ Down the House!

While Okarun and Jiji are doing battle, Momo finds out that itโ€™s all but impossible to get them a means to climb out of the pit. Thus, she changes tactics to killing the Tsuchinoko. It canโ€™t take the Sunโ€™s UV rays, so by luring it above ground before sunset, itโ€™ll kill itself. So she burns down the house.

It turns out that worms breathe through their skin, which is why they crawl up to the surface when it rains; otherwise, theyโ€™ll drown. And by calling the fire department, sheโ€™s able to have the ground soaked in enough water. And thanks to her quick thinking, the monster is forced to the surface, where it shrivels up and dies, just like nature intended. It may not be the most climactic way to finish things, but there was no way Momo could beat the Death Worm in a straight-up fight.

Sadly, after the worm dies, it expels the last things that it ate: the very-much alive Kito Family, who arenโ€™t happy about what Momo did. And to top it off, the part about it being connected to the volcano was true. Now the mountainโ€™s blowing up and threatening to destroy the village.

How do we stop a volcano?

This was a good episode, overall. I wish that we had gotten more time to see Okarun and the Evil Eye fight, but something tells me that more of that coming in future episodes. For now, though, how is Momo going to stop the volcano and save her friends? And, yes, that includes Turbo Granny. That look on her face when Ken tries to save her is enough to qualify her as such.

I Give โ€œYou Wonโ€™t Get Away With This!โ€ a 3.5/5

For the Last Time, NAOFUMI DOESN’T WANT A HAREM!

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

The Rising of the Shield Hero S4 Ep 2 Review

It’s only been one day since Naofumi and his party arrived in Siltvelt, and he’s already growing sick of the place. His only goal right now is to get to Q’Ten Lo and stop them from coming after him and Raphtalia. However, Siltvelt’s leaders seemed determined to keep him in their country for as long as possible; likely forever! And as the follow-up episode demonstrates, the leaders of Siltvelt will play dirty to make sure that that happens. Fortunately, Naofumi has a zero-tolerance policy for red tape and stalling, and when one of the country’s leaders tries to make a move, he decides to put them all on the OPP’s list unless they give him what he wants.

You got to admire someone who refuses to deal with baloney.

Before we get started, let’s back up to the season premiere. A few days before it premiered, I remembered I had the light novels that this season should be covering on my smartphone. I started reading through them, and thanks to that, I’m better able to notice a few things that the anime has changed or rearranged. More importantly, it made me remember that the story established earlier than the anime that Jaralis was going to be a problem. For example, in the light novel version of his audience with Silvelt’s leaders, Jaralis starts by singing Naofumi’s praisings before twisting his words into saying that they should go out and crush all who oppose them. And then he basically ends the meeting early by having everyone walk out.

Naofumi vs. an Army of Horny Demi-Humans

Unfortunately, this episode, while rearranging the order of certain events, still meets with the same outcome: irritating Naofumi. Firstly, he’s told that his party must stay in a separate bedroom while he sleeps in one meant for royalty. It’s clearly an attempt to separate him from those he trusts. It’s only thanks to his insistence that Raph-Chan stay with him that it falls through.

And it’s a good thing that Raphy (Raph-Chan’s name in the dub). Without her, he might not have made it through what happens next with his chastity intact.

While the light novel doesn’t have the water laced with aphrodisiacs and the women were waiting in advance, everything else is accurate. If Raph-Chan hadn’t been there for backup and to call Raphtalia, Naofumi would’ve had his chastity stolen that night. Not lost, stolen. And considering what Witch did to him messed him up so bad he’s all but sworn a life of celibacy, this experience was one giant trauma button for him. Needless to say, his blow-up at Werner is more than justified.

Atla and Fohl are more important than you realize

Unfortunately for Naofumi, the rest of his experience in Siltvelt isn’t any more productive. He’s forced to attend parties, banquets, and other social gatherings in his honor, all while listening to the elites trying to outdo themselves in their efforts to glaze him. He doesn’t buy it for a second, and the longer they stall, the more Naofumi decides to just figure things out on his own.

Thankfully, this is where Fohl and Atla manage to come in handy.

Iโ€™m not sure how much of their story has been revealed thus far in the anime, but Fohl and Atla are not ordinary Demi-Humans. They are part of the Hakuko, AKA the white tigers. Years ago, they had been one of the four most powerful races of Demi-Humans in Siltvelt, and their father had been a prominent leader. However, when Siltvelt lost the war against Melromarc, and they lost their parents, the Hakuko fell from power. And we know how Naofumi found them.

In any case, though, the siblings still have allies in Siltvelt. Through them, Naofumi starts making his own plans to get to Qโ€™ten Lo, since itโ€™s clear the country is useless to him. But then something happens that makes everyone leading the country into an OPP: someone tries to poison Naofumi and his party.

Jaralis did it. We all know he did it!

Well, to be fair, itโ€™s Jaralis who did it. The smug look on his face says it all. However, when Jaralis and Werner continue to be at each otherโ€™s throats, Naofumi decides that this farce has gone on long enough. In a rather surprising twist, though, heโ€™s not the one to start blowing off. Itโ€™s Atla.

This should be interesting to watch. That girl is Naofumiโ€™s number one stan, so seeing her get mad at the people in charge of Siltvelt should be entertaining. Still, itโ€™s a little frustrating to see multiple scenes from the light novel get removed from the anime. But the plus side is that this makes me look forward to seeing what will happen when Allen Blasterโ€™s fanfic gets to this point!

I give โ€œOfficial Welcomeโ€ a 3.5/5

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba The Movie: Infinity Castle Premieres Sept 2025 in US

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

Friday, September 12th, 2025. Anime fans, mark your calendars, clear your schedule that day, and be prepared to head to movie theaters. Demon Slayer is coming back to theaters for its endgame.

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba has been one of the most popular Shonen anime of the last six years, earning critical acclaim and fans around the world. And itโ€™s not hard to see why. Between the characters, music, and god-tier animation, Demon Slayer lives up to the hype. It even managed to have the highest-grossing film in 2020 with Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba โ€“ The Movie: Mugen Train. Five years later, it looks like history is about to repeat itself as the series approaches its climax.

Fans have known for a year now that Demon Slayer would be wrapping up its story on the big screen rather than with a new season. The Final Battle arc, split into the Infinity Castle and Sunrise Countdown, demands no less than that. And Aniplex is splitting everything up into three movies just to make sure they cover all their bases. While the first film should already be out in Japan, Americans will have to wait another two months. And it looks as though it will be released both subbed and dubbed.

Anime has pretty much gone mainstream at this point thanks to the efforts of fans and streaming services, but that doesnโ€™t mean we should be lax when it comes to promoting this film. If we really want to give Demon Slayer the send-off it deserves, then we need to start preparing. Make plans with friends. Coordinate with your local cosplay groups. Make sure that when the time comes, every seat in whatever theater is showing Demon Slayer is filled. Having all three films break box office records in America would be a massive win for us, and I wholeheartedly encourage everyone to see that it happens!

Jiji just Went from Zenitsu to Sung Jin-woo!

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

DanDaDan S2 Ep 2 Review

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. Itโ€™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 wasnโ€™t just the Worm that was the threat. Believe it or not, it wasnโ€™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!!

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 Wormโ€™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.

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 couldnโ€™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 Silkyโ€™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 didnโ€™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 Jijiโ€™s heart, and he goes into โ€œrighteous Shonen protagonistโ€ mode. He makes it all the way to the spot where E.E.โ€™s body lies and promises to be his friend and play with him as much as he wants. In other words, heโ€™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 Zenitsuโ€ฆinto Yokai Sung Jin-woo. And Iโ€™m not just saying that because all three share the same voice actor. Iโ€™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 Eyeโ€™s collected malice, and he turns into an apex predator. And he wields that football like itโ€™s a cannonball. If Okarun hadnโ€™t shown up when he did, Jiji would’ve killed Momo and Turbo Granny.

Thereโ€™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!

I Give “Evil Eye” a 4/5

DanDaDan, Check out This Giant Worm!

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

Dandadan S2 Ep 1 Review

When the world needed them most, DanDaDan returned!

Welcome back, everyone, to an all-new season of the megahit Shonen anime, DanDaDan. When it came out in the Fall of 2024, this anime set the entire world on fire. The animation was god-tier, the characters were hilarious, and the OP was so good, it wound up trending on YouTube. Not to mention how the episode โ€œTo a Kinder Worldโ€ went down as one of the best moments in anime history. Needless to say, people have been eagerly awaiting its return, and are grateful we did not have to wait long. Especially since the first season ended on a big cliffhanger. Okarun and Jiji found a creepy room in Jijiโ€™s house, and Momo was under attack from a gang of perverts. Anime-only fans wanted to know what happened next, and now is the time!

But first, letโ€™s discuss the new OP, “On The Way” by AiNA THE END. As with the previous OP, fans are treated to a visual spectacle as they see Okarun, Momo, and their growing list of allies face the forces against them. Itโ€™s got the same high-tier animation as before, if not better. At the same time, though, I feel like the song itself is a little softer. Itโ€™s not as great a beat as that of โ€œOTONOKEโ€, but thatโ€™s just my personal opinion.

Now, Where Were We?

The episode opens up right where we left off in December: Momo being attacked by perverts. Guys peeping on girls is not out of the ordinary in anime, but that doesnโ€™t make it any less disturbing. Thankfully, the hot spring was falling apart, so Momo was able to escape unharmed. In addition, itโ€™s revealed that Turbo Granny smuggled herself along for the ride because she wanted to enjoy the hot springs, and her cat body might have helped. Itโ€™s good that sheโ€™s not alone, but itโ€™s unsettling to hear her say that the entire house is bad news. And she is absolutely right.

The short version: the locals have a legend about the nearby volcano being home to a dragon that will destroy the village unless it receives a sacrifice. And guess who the dragonโ€™s priests are?

Meet the Kito family, aka Jijiโ€™s landlords and the perverts who tried to molest Momo. Theyโ€™ve been luring victims in for two hundred years and sacrificing them to the dragon to keep the volcano dormant and the hot springs running. Itโ€™s like the sacrifice from The Wicker Man, but with a dragon. And Jiji, Okarun, and Momo are their victims this time. Naturally, none of them are keen on this happening, and they refuse to go down without a fight. However, once they arrive in the lair of the Tsuchinoko (the dragon), itโ€™s revealed that itโ€™s not a dragon. Itโ€™s a cryptid called a Mongolian Death Worm.

As soon as we learned the โ€œdragonโ€ was a Death Worm, I knew that things werenโ€™t going to turn out how the Kito Family expected. That didnโ€™t dampen the black comedy, though, when the beast chose to eat the Kito Family first. However, that doesnโ€™t change the fact that the quartet is now facing a giant worm cryptid, and Okarun and Momo start tweaking out!

Man, what a good episode! DanDaDan is back and it is looking to be one of the best anime of the year for a second year in a row! Definitely looking forward to spending my summer watching this!

I Give โ€œLike, This is the Legend of the Giant Snakeโ€ a 4/5

This Summer, ANIME FANS SHALL FEAST!!

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

Ten Anime and Films to Look Forward to in Summer 2025

Now that it is meteorlogically behind us, I think we can all be honest about the Spring 2025 season of anime: it wasn’t that good. There were a number of great anime, to be sure. My Hero Academia: Vigilantes, Wind Breaker, the return of One Piece, and Lazarus (at times) were all good. However, it feels like many of the anime this season were a bit of a let down. The Beginning After the End, for example, had the potential to be the next Solo Leveling, but became a laughingstock. However, deep down, I think most people knew that the spring was going to be a lean time for many anime fans. What everyone was really waiting for was the arrival of summer, because we’ve got one of the strongest anime lineups in years. Spring might have been lean times for many, but this summer, fans shall feast!

Lord of Mysteries (June 28th)

After the disaster that was The Beginning After the End’s anime (THANKS A LOT, A-CAT!), isekai fans need a palette cleanser. Whereas TBATE was born in the USA, though, the next big isekai, Lord of Mysteries, comes from China. The premise is that a young Chinese man suddenly finds himself reborn into a world that’s a combination of the Victorian Era, steampunk, and magic. Now going by the name of Klein, the man is entangled into some sort of supernatural conspiracy as he tries to find a way home. I know next to nothing about the series, but everyone who talks about it on YouTube says its on par with Re:Zero and Mushoku Tensei in terms of quality. That alone is enough for me to be intrigued! Though, it won’t be the only isekai to look out for this summer.

New Saga (July 2nd)

What’s the one thing better than the chance of being reborn into a new world with a clean slate? Going back to an earlier part of your life with all your memories intact, giving you the chance to change how your life turns out. That is the premise behind this new anime, New Saga. Set in a fantasy world nearly destroyed by a war between humans and demons, this anime tells the story of Kyle, the hero who saved the world at the cost of his life, only to awaken four years in the past. Given a second chance to save everyone he loves, how will he put this time to good use? I don’t know, but I’m eager to find out.

DanDaDan Season 2 (July 3rd)

Sometimes, life is good. It’s only been a few months since the first season of DanDaDan ended, and we’re already getting season two. Then again, given the cliffhanger the first season ended on, anime-only watchers wouldn’t want to wait very long. The second season looks set to pick up right where we last left off with the Evil Eye Arc, with Okarun and Jiji hunting for the ghost haunting the latter’s home, while Momo has to fend off a group of perverts in a bathhouse. And judging by the trailer that we’ve gotten, not only will the animation be as good as ever, but the story will get even crazier. Given how the series became one of the biggest hits of 2024, expectations for DanDaDan remain at an all-time high. At the very least, here’s hoping that the new OP is as catchy as “Otonoke.”

Nyaight of the Living Cat (July 6th)

Of all the versions of the zombie apocalypse, this is, by far, the most cruel and evil version I have seen to date. In this comedy horror, a mysterious virus spreads throughout the world, turning everyone who touches a cat…into a cat. Given how beloved cats are by humanity for their companionship, endearing behavior, and natural floofness, this is pure torture! As a cat-lover myself, having to avoid petting their floof feels scarier than any zombie horde. Which is probably the whole point. It’s not meant to be taken seriously and is meant for laughs.

New Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt (July 9th)

After all these years, Panty and Stocking have returned. For those who don’t remember, this was an action-comedy about two angelic sisters who got kicked out of Heaven for bad behavior and have to redeem themselves by killing evil ghosts. Sadly, they’re easily distracted by their respective vices of men and candy. The show happens to be a favorite of the founders of this blog, so it’s return is going to be a big deal. Just don’t let any minors see it. It’s raunchy enough to rival the likes of South Park!

The Rising of the Shield Hero Season 4 (July 9th)

Just when things seemed to be going Naofumi’s way, the Shield Hero ends up facing a new problem. Thanks to a misunderstanding, Naofumi discovers that his companion, Raphtalia, is actually the long-lost heir to an isolationist nation with techniques capable of beating the Cardinal Heroes. Rather than let them keep coming after her, Naofumi opts to travel eastward so he can stop the fight at the source. Unfortunately, the only way to get there is by going through the Shield Hero-worshipping nation of Siltvelt, and they have their own plans for him. In addition to uncovering more about Raphtalia’s lineage, this season will also shed light on the lineage of two of his newest allies, Atla and Fohl. Given how Shield Hero has managed to remain consistently good (barring its second season), this going to be one of the big isekai of the summer.

Sakamoto Days, Part 2 (July 14th)

It’s been a few months since we last saw any new episodes of Sakomoto Days, but the new shonen anime about the former assassin who doesn’t kill is coming back with a new cours. The first half ended in the middle of the Sakamoto Family fighting Lu Xiaotang’s Triad family for the right for her to stay with them. However, the second half seems to have the stakes get raised as more assassin’s begin to target Sakamoto. Most notably, the trailer explictily shows that these new hitmen are willing to target his wife and daughter. Even if he didn’t kill anyone anymore, though, that’s still going to be the biggest mistake they ever make! You don’t mess with a person’s family unless you’re ready to risk your life!

Kaiju No. 8 Season Two (July 19th)

Much like DanDaDan, Kaiju No 8 is a shonen series from last year that’s returning for its sophomore season. At the end of the last season, the main protagonist, Kafka Hibino, was forced to out himself as a humanoid Kaiju to his comrades in the Anti-Kaiju Defense Force. Thankfully, he was able to convince them to give him a chance, leading him to be taken in by the First Division. With the threat of Kaiju No. 9 hanging over Japan, Kafka will have to gain greater control over his Kaiju form if he hopes to be of any help. While it might have gotten overshadowed by the likes of DanDaDan and Solo Leveling in terms of hype, Kaiju No. 8 remains an amazing anime with great animation, so it’s going to be one to look out for.

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba โ€“ The Movie: Infinity Castle

This summer, the final battle between the Demon Slayers and Muzan is about to begin. Shortly after the end of its fourth season, it was revealed that Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba wouldn’t be getting a fifth season. It would be getting something better: a three-part film trilogy covering the events of the Infinity Castle Arc, and presumably, the final battle against Muzan. While it’s still unclear when the films will be released outside of Japan, fans are ecstatic over this news, and will no doubt flock to movie theaters to give the beloved series the ending it deserves. The D&A Anime Blog will be included among them.

Chainsaw Man: The Reze Arc (September 19th)

At last, Chainsaw Man HAS RETURNED!! Despite how I felt about the ending to the first season, I was still interested in seeing the rest of the series unfold as an anime. And like many people, when I heard that the next arc, the Reze Arc, would be getting the movie treatment, I had one question: what day does it come out? Sadly, like Infinity Castle, we don’t know when the film releases stateside, but when it does, I hope to be there to see it. In all of its bloody glory.

Our Netflix Chopper is Here at Last

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

Everyone, we have found our Chopper, and he is adorable.

In 2023, the live-action adaptation of One Piece premiered on Netflix, and despite what many fans feared, it didnโ€™t stink! In fact, it was one of the most faithful and enjoyable live-action adaptations of an anime that many had ever seen. Thus, it was inevitable that Netflix would end up green-lighting a second season as the Straw Hat Pirates finally leave the East Blue behind for the Grand Line. That means the show would be heading into the vaunted Alabasta Saga, which would introduce us to fan-favorite characters like Crocodile, Vivi, Nico Robin, and many more. However, there is one character that fans have been concerned about more than anyone else: Tony Tony Chopper.

A blue-nosed reindeer that ate a Devil Fruit, granting him sentience, Chopper serves as the Straw Hatโ€™s doctor and one of its most popular members. Beloved by fans for his adorable appearance and sweet nature, heโ€™s one of the most marketable members of the cast, and the subject of tons of merchandise. Given how picky fans can be with using CGI (Ugly Sonic), people were naturally worried about what Netflix would do to Chopper. And when Netflix put out an ad saying there would be a big announcement at their annual Tudum festival about One Piece, everyone knew what was coming.

And we were right. We got our first-ever look at the live-action/CGI version of Chopper.

So far, reactions to the Netflix Chopper has beenโ€ฆmixed. Some people are saying itโ€™s as bad as Ugly Sonic. Others are saying that they could make him cuter. Others are going to be upset no matter what Netflix does, though. And while he could be made to look cuter, Netflix got one thing right about Chopper: his personality.

In the span of the short teaser, we see Chopper act just like how he does in the anime and manga. His shy and childish nature (because he is still a kid), his love of compliments, and his expressive face are all present. While itโ€™s a little sad that they donโ€™t get his English VA, Brina Palencia, to voice him, Mikaela Hoover captures the spirit of the character. Plus, itโ€™s likely the Japanese subs will use her seiyuu, so there is that.

In addition to the reveal of Chopper, Tudum also confirmed that the show will be returning in 2026. For those who canโ€™t wait, not to worry! LEGO is making sets based on the Netflix show set to come out later this summer. Either way, thereโ€™s plenty to look forward to in the coming months.

Karane Lost her Tsundere?!?

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

The 100 Girlfriends Who Really, Really, Really, Really, Really Love You Season 2 Ep 11 Review

It’s sad to say it, but the second season of The 100 Girlfriends is almost at an end. We’ve met all the new girlfriends, ranging from the big eater to the super shy girl, as they’ve joined the Rentaro Family. However, the show would be remiss to end its sophomore outing without another big arc. Last season ended with the Family saving Hakari…and having her mother join the Family. However, this season is ending with a potentially greater crisis that could change Karane forever: she loses her tsundere-ness!

Karane’s Insecurities Boil Over

Karane Inda was one of the first two girlfriends and serves as the Rentaro Familyโ€™s resident tsundere. Whenever she gets flustered or embarrassed, she reacts in a defensive manner and goes, โ€œItโ€™s not like I *insert whatever she is being a tsundere about*!โ€ In keeping with the series deconstructing waifu archetypes, she also serves as the Familyโ€™s straight man. She will not hesitate to call out everyone when their nonsense goes too far, and biting remarks are legendary. She is, frankly, the both the ultimate personification and antithesis of the tsundere, an archetype that I adoreโ€ฆbut Karane herself hates.

One of the recurring themes surrounding Karane is how deeply insecure she is about herself. Whenever she gets flustered, she says the opposite of what she really feels, and she fears that this might drive Rentaro and the others away for good. And the more she falls in love with Rentaro, the harder it gets for her to express herself, and the worse her insecurities get. So much so that when Kusuri leaves a drug meant to un-tsundereify a person, she takes it. The result? Karane becomesโ€ฆsuper nice and normal?!?!

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We Want our Karane Back

After getting over their initial shock (and Hakari enjoying Karane’s newfound honesty), everyone quickly agrees they hate this new, timid Karaneโ€”so much so that they want to get started on making a reversing drug right away. However, they’re even more shocked when Karane adamantly refuses to consider taking such a drug. She thinks that she, and everyone else, would be better off if she wasn’t a tsundere, showing just how little self-esteem she really has.

While 100 Girlfriends is first and foremost a comedy/parody, what makes it stand out is its willingness to deconstruct the pitfalls of different waifu archetypes. In this case, Karane is a strong example of how being a tsundere can potentially negatively impact one’s self-esteem. They have to try even harder than most people to express themselves properly. Even then, many protagonists have often been unable to pick up on a tsundere’s true feelings, which only makes things worse.

Thankfully, Rentaro is built different from most harem protagonists. He’s genre-savvy enough to understand that when Karane says she hates something, she usually means the opposite. More importantly, he finds her mixture of pride and shyness to be incredibly endearing, which I wholeheartedly agree with. So, using his CHADtaro powers to remind her that he fell in love with her despite her flaws, Rentaro convinces Karane to restore her normal self.

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There’s one problem: the drug doesn’t work.

This is Going to be Tougher than we Thought

In an interesting twist, the reversing drug doesn’t work. In order for it to take affect, the others need to subject Karane to enough external stimuli to provoke the proper response from her brain. In other words, they have to get her so flustered that she starts tsund-ing again. Sadly, all their efforts while staying at the Hanazono home manage to do is prove two things:

  1. Hakari’s body is incredibly sensitive to touch.
  2. Hahari gets so many nosebleeds, her staff has blood transfusion equipment on standby.
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This is going to be harder than the Family thought, but with one episode left in the season, they’re bound to help Karane return to her usual, lovable self. Without her, the Family won’t have its straight man, which could be disastrous with how they are.

I Give “Tsundere Lost” a 4.5/5

DAIMA WONDERLAND! ARIGATO, TORIYAMA-SAMA

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

Dragon Ball Daima Episode 20 Review

It’s over, everyone. After five months and twenty episodes, Dragon Ball Daima, the series made to honor the franchise’s 40th anniversary, has ended. The real question, though, is whether or not the series ended on a high note. And since it wound up being the last thing Toriyama worked on before his passing, fans wanted the finale to be the highest note possible. So, did it stick its landing? Did Toriyama choose to end the story in an epic fashion, or a comedic one?

Let me put it this way: if you loved Toriyama’s sense of humor, then you’re going to laugh at how the finale plays out.

Going Wild Right from the Start

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The second the episode cuts away from the Toei logo, Daima lets everyone know it’s not messing around. Instead of wasting time with the OP, it opts to get right into the action as SSJ 4 Goku and Gomah continue their final battle. And much to Dragon Ball fans elation, Daima gives eight minutes of glorious, uninterrupted fighting. And I do mean uninterrupted, as beyond the screaming, there’s almost no talking of which to speak. Just two super strong people punching each other in fast-paced sakuga fashion, epic beam struggle and all!

Those eight minutes aren’t just to entertain the audience. They’re a testament to why Dragon Ball is such a legendary anime. When it wants to go all-out on the fighting, it will pour every yen it has into giving the audience a show to remember.

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Unfortunately for the heroes, their big gambit fails at the last second, leaving them unable to get the Evil Third Eye out of Gomah. For a moment, it looks like things might really be all over for Goku and his comrades with Gomah poised to kill them all. It’s like those cutscenes some video games add after the player defeats the boss, only to make it seem like they failed. And like those cutscenes, Daima pulls something out of the fire that saves them in the most unexpected fashion.

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At first glance, it might seem like having Kuu be the one to stop Gomah feels like a cheap copout. However, this is Toriyama we’re talking about. That man loved to make everyone think things would go a certain way, only to have something unexpected and silly happen. Like Yajirobe cutting off Vegeta’s tail? Or Recoome getting one-shotted? Watch something long enough, and you’ll notice these sorts of things!

Plus, it makes what happens next pretty funny, too.

ALL HAIL KING KUU

So, Gomah doesn’t die after being defeated. Instead, the heroes opt to imprison the now ex-Demon King along with Degesu in a magic prison for the next 99 years. At least they’ll have plenty of video games to play while they think about what they did. However, things get interesting when Arinsu declines to become the next King (or Queen) because she didn’t get her wish from the Dragon Balls. Instead, the title goes to the one responsible for defeating Gomah: Kuu!

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Of all the ways that this could end, I donโ€™t think anyone expected Majin Kuu to be the one becoming the new King of the Demon Realm. However, it makes sense. He may not be strong, but heโ€™s good at befriending others and recognizing their talents. Case in point, he makes Arinsu his Vice-Demon King so she can keep using her knowledge to help everyone. Even better, he makes Neva, Marba, Glorio, Duu, and Kadan all Ministers to help him rule. And for the first time in eons, the Demon Realm has a ruler worthy of the position!

And so, like any good JRPG, the world this adventure took place in becomes a better place. People can now travel freely between the Demon Worlds, and thanks to the tunnels opening, the gas that gave Goku so much trouble in the Third Demon World becomes much lighter.

And so, with their quest done, Goku and the others head home, heroes one and all. But not before we get one last joke.

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Leave it to Toriyama to turn a seemingly ancient and unique artifact into something found at a drug store. I had the biggest grin on my face when I saw that.

PEAK. ANIME.

So, how was the finale to Dragon Ball Daima? Honestly, it was pretty good! It did a great job of balancing fanโ€™s expectations for the action with Toriyamaโ€™s sense of humor. That final fight between Goku and Gomah may not have been as epic as the fights heโ€™ll have in the future, but it stands as one of the series best in recent years. The kamehameha alone might be among the best in the entire franchise!

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As for the comedy, for those who saw the outcome as a cop out, I reiterate my previous examples. Toriyama understood the humor behind hyping someone up, only to have them absolutely embarrassed, and that was something he never forgot. The ending wasnโ€™t just an epic shouting match. It was also a return to the comedy found throughout Toriyamaโ€™s works!

Weโ€™ll likely be doing a full series review for Daima soon, so we can fully explore what worked and what didnโ€™t. However, at the end of the day, I would say that Daima proved to be a success for Dragon Ball. Even if it hadnโ€™t been the last thing Toriyama worked on before he died, it likely still would have been a success.

Also, it should be pointed out that the finale ended right before midnight, March 1st in Japan, exactly one year to the day that Akira Toriyama left this world to join the other great storytellers in Heaven. That could not have been a coincidence! People knowingly chose the finaleโ€™s date in honor of Toriyamaโ€™s memory! It was Japanโ€™s way of allowing him to move on to Otherworld, his work fulfilled!

Go, Akira Toriyama. Go teach a dinosaur to ride a ball in Heaven and spend eternity with the great storytellers of history.

I Give โ€œMaximumโ€ a 5/5