Shonen

So Many Best Girls in 2024!

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RJ Writing Ink’s Picks for Best Waifus for 2024

With the year 2024 ending, the time has come for anime fans to look back on what they liked about this year and what they didn’t. One of the topics that will inevitably come up is who we think qualifies for the status of best girls and best boys in anime. Last year, I came up with my list of who I think were the best anime girls of 2023, and I see no reason why I can’t do the same for 2024. I’m RJ Writing Ink, and in no particular order, here are my picks for best girls of 2024.

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

Vegapunk/Lilith-One Piece

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

Don’t let the evil part fool you, though. While Lilith embodies Vegapunk’s manipulative, impulsive, and ruthless side, she’s actually a very nice person. She’s incredibly loyal to her fellow Vegapunks, and as with many characters they meet, she becomes a steadfast ally of the Straw Hats after she gets to know them. If anything, her rough nature made me enjoy her even more. It also helps that her English VA is Madeline Morris, AKA Rudeus Greyrat.

Akane Tendo-Ranma 1/2

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

Then again, that seems like the standard formula for one of Rumiko Takahashi’s manga.

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

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

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

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

As Masachika Kuze can attest, Alya may seem like a kuudere, but she likes to flirt and tease him in Russian, thinking he can’t understand it. The irony is that he can, and if she knew, she would be embarrassed to no end. As for Yuki, while they act like strangers in public, she’s actually Masachika’s younger sister. When they’re alone together, she loves to indulge in manga-reading, is a total pervert, and regularly flirts with her brother to get under his skin. The bottom line is that both of these young women can be menaces if left unchecked, but are still genuinely good people.

Sylphie and Roxy Greyrat-Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation

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

Now that she’s no longer keeping her identity a secret from Rudy, Sylphiette couldn’t be any happier. The two are young, married, and before the season is over, they’re parents to a beautiful little girl. However, the reason she made this list a second year in a row is due to how accepting she is of Roxy becoming Rudy’s second wife. She even says that she expected Rudy to bring another woman home one day, and that he wouldn’t do so unless they were very special to him.

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

Kikoru Shinomiya-Kaiju No. 8

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

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

Himiko Toga-My Hero Academia

While normally a villain wouldn’t go on this list, an exception will be made in the case of Himiko Toga, as you’ll see here.

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

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

Kara Zor-El-My Adventures With Superman

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

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

Jimmy, ask her out! NOW!

Momo and Seiko Ayase-Dan Da Dan

If Dan Da Dan was the best anime of 2024, then Momo Ayase and her grandmother, Seiko, are our best girls. Momo is an extroverted gyaru-girl believes in ghosts, has psychic powers, and swoons at the mention of Ken Takakura. Meanwhile, Seiko is a psychic medium who looks to be in her 20s despite having a granddaughter, loves Hiroshi Abe, and is a talented spirit medium who’s teaching Momo everything she knows. Together, the two make for a pretty badass pair…when they aren’t getting on each other’s nerves.

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

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

Most Shocking Anime Moments in 2024

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

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

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

Sung Jin-Woo Slaughters Hunters, Solo Leveling

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

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

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

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

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

Bakugo’s Sacrifice, My Hero Academia

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

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

Nokotan’s Entrance, My Deer Friend Nokotan

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

Say what you want about Nokotan as an anime, you can’t deny the fact that this moment is hilarious. The slow-motion effects as Nokotan forces her way through the door. The ominous chanting of “shii-ka” like she’s the boss of some video game. The fact that most of the students keep the same smiling faces even as they’re pummeled by rocks! I found it so funny that I decided to make a meme out of it, and it blew up.  

Paul’s Sacrifice, Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation

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

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

Kafka Punches A Kaiju Bomb, Kaiju No. 8

Even after he became a humanoid Kaiju, Kafka Hibino never stopped aspiring to join the Anti-Kaiju Defense Force. He did his best to keep his powers a secret from all but two of his comrades, knowing that exposing himself could lead to his death. However, when Kaiju No. 9 threatened to drop a massive bomb on Kafka and his comrades, the man didn’t hesitate to transform into his Kaiju form and punch the bomb straight into the sky in a move that would make All Might proud.

Besides being one of several well-animated moments in a series that was already well-animated, this moment marked a turning point for the story of Kaiju No. 8. Now that the JAKDF was aware that he could turn into a Kaiju, they were naturally going to want to apprehend him. The fact that he chose to put himself anyway speaks volumes about his character, and his friends knew that. While Kafka has to face an uphill battle going forward, his friends aren’t going to abandon him whether he’s human or a Kaiju.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A Very Merry Fairy Tail Christmas

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Fairy Tail: Fairies’ Christmas OVA

Most of Japan may not be Christian, but that hasn’t stopped them from enjoying the season of Christmas. Whereas in America it’s all about the exchanging of presents and time with family, in Japan, Christmas is considered a more romantic holiday. Couples, especially young ones, use Christmas Eve to show their partner how much they care about each other. That’s why many episodes of anime that feature Christmas tend to focus on the romantic aspects of the day. However, one of my favorite examples of how Christmas is seen in Japan also stems from a Shonen anime that has a…mixed reception: Fairy Tail.

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Based on an omake chapter of the same name, Fairies’ Christmas revolves around the titular magical guild enjoying the holiday season. When resident swordswoman Erza decides (unilaterally, I might add) to throw a Christmas party at her teammate Lucy’s apartment, things get out of control. Most of the women get drunk and start clinging to whatever guy they’re closest to, leaving Erza alone and upset at the fact that she’s single. In a drunken haze, she forces everyone to take part in a penalty game that forces everyone to do rather embarassing things to each other if they lose.

Chaos. Ensues.

You’ll Either Love This…or you Won’t

I already said it before, but I’ll say it again: I’m well aware that Fairy Tail has a mixed reception. However, that doesn’t change the fact that, when it’s allowed to let loose, it can make for some pretty hilarious moments. And since the concept of Legal Drinking Age doesn’t exist in their world, that means that drunken hijinks ensue thanks to Erza. As if Erza isn’t scary enough as it is, when she’s drunk, she’s an absolute wildcard.

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As mean and unwelcome as Erza’s penalty game may seem when you consider the context behind it, it’s somewhat understandable. Japan sees Christmas as a romantic holiday, but due to circumstances beyond their control, she’s unable to be with the guy she likes, Jellal. Though that hasn’t stopped Hiro Mashima from teasing the heck out of fans about shipping them.

This OVA really has no purpose to it beyond giving us some laughs for the holiday season, but that doesn’t make it pointless. While things do get crazy, that’s generally par for the course when it comes to Fairy Tail. Plus, the special does end on a rather awkward, but still sweet, Erza and Jellal. As to what happens, that’s up for you to see for yourself. If you’re willing to give Fairy Tail a shot, it might be worth a watch for the holidays. If not, no loss.

Dan Da Dan’s Ending the Season Like That?!?

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Dan Da Dan  Ep 12 Review

It’s been a wild ride this fall, but the first season of Dan Da Dan is now in the history books. Fortunately, the next season has already been announced to be closer than we thought, and given how this season ends, fans will appreciate it. But before we get to that, we have to go over everything that happens in this season finale. As Momo, Okarun, and Jiji head to exorcise Jiji’s house, Okarun is still trying to get over the fact that he’s jealous of Jiji’s relationship with Momo. If only he could see that Momo doesn’t think of him like that.

We Can’t Hate Jiji!

So, after that whole fiasco with the living mannequins (and convincing Seiko to let the girlfriend live at their house), it looks like the mannequin thing is wrapped up. Unfortunately, Taro the mannequin didn’t have one of Okarun’s missing balls. He was just alive because…reasons.

Some people might want an explanation as to why these two mannequins are alive, but it’s actually funnier to leave people guessing as to why. With all the weirdness in the series, you learn to roll with this sort of thing.

Speaking of rolling with things, Okarun is dead set on keeping Momo’s attention firmly on him. That leads him to spend much of the episode trying to find ways to impress her, only for Jiji’s extroverted attitude to interfere. The worst part is that Ken can’t bring himself to hate the friendly Jiji, either. The young man is so nice that the two even start to bond over their shared interest in the supernatural. However, that doesn’t stop them from butting heads over who is closer to Momo, which is fun to watch.

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Why End Things Here?

What wasn’t fun to watch, though, was the way that the episode decides to end things. And since this is the season finale, it’s going to be generating a lot of controversy.

As Jiji explained, and Momo confirms for herself, his house is haunted by a powerful spirit. So powerful that it even manages to alter the appearance of the structure in a way that they don’t notice at first. However, that’s not the most unsettling part. During the episode, Momo breaks one of the cardinal rules of the horror genre by choosing to try out one of the village’s hot springs alone. Worse, the hot spring she winds up choosing is co-ed, a fact she only becomes aware of when a group of men come barging in. The episode ultimately ends with those same men openly attempting to assault Momo!

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Not a Good Way to End Things

This…was not a good moment for the season to end things. While seeing perverts trying this sort of thing on women isn’t new in the Shonen genre, that doesn’t make the site of it any less horrifying. The fact the anime chooses to end the season without showing how Momo will get out of this only adds to the anxiety it’s going to put fans through. While they can always read the manga, some people prefer only to watch the anime to enjoy the story as it goes along. For that matter, having the anime cover the start of the next big arc only to end the season on such a tense moment seems like a failure to properly pace things out.

As much as I have enjoyed Dan Da Dan, I think that the anime genuinely screwed up by choosing to stop when it did. Not everyone is going to appreciate having to wait months to find out what happens next. It’s only the fact that they don’t have to wait long that may end up bringing them back.

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While it was likely meant to be revealed at the end of the episode, Studio Saru announced that the next season of Dan Da Dan would be coming in July 2025. Relatively speaking, that’s fast for an anime! Hopefully, the season finale won’t end up driving away the fans that the show has worked so hard to gain, as it’s easily one of the best anime of the year. I, for one, am looking forward to getting to see more of it next summer!

I Give “Let’s Go to the Cursed House” a 2.5/5

The Last: Naruto the Movie-A Ten Year Retrospective

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RJ Writing Ink’s Look back on The Last: Naruto the Movie

December 2014, one month since the popular Shonen manga Naruto ended. It was the holiday season, but I only wanted one thing for Christmas that year: to see The Last: Naruto the Movie. I wanted it so badly I bought tickets to see it in theaters despite it being in another state. By fate or by luck, I wound up not needing them, as I was able to watch it somewhere else a few days after Christmas. At the time, I thought the film was a masterpiece, but that was due to riding the emotional high that came with the ending to the manga. Fast-forward ten years later, would I still consider it to be a masterpiece? Wanting to know this, I went back and rewatched it for the first time in years. And I’m happy to say that it’s as good as I remember it being.

A Thrilling Epilogue

Taking place two years after Naruto and Sasuke’s final battle, The Last: Naruto the Movie revolves around two things: saving the world and romance. Right as Hinata is working up the courage to confess to our titular hero, her sister gets kidnapped by a mysterious man named Toneri, who also wants her for some reason. Simultaneously, the Moon begins falling towards the Earth, threatening to wipe out all life on the planet. Sensing the two are connected, the now Hokage Kakashi sends Naruto, Hinata, Sakura, Sai, and Shikamaru on a mission to rescue Hinata’s sister, find Toneri, and stop the coming armageddon. However, the mission gets complicated by Toneri’s conitnued pursuit of Hinata and Naruto coming to realize just how much he means to her, and she to him.

There’s no denying that Naruto is one of the all-time Shonen greats, but even its most die-hard fans can admit it had two major shortcomings: lead female heroines and romantic sub-plots. She may not have started out as the main heroine, but it became apparent that many fans preferred Hinata over Sakura. Hinata’s efforts to grow out of her shy and timid nature, as well as her unconditional support for Naruto, endeared her to countless people. In contrast, Sakura started out the series being a flat, uninteresting character who’s only defining trait was her interest in Sasuke. Kishimoto tried to have her grow out of this, but the damage had already been done.

Furthermore, despite the series coming to have many different ships over the years, Kishimoto never capitalized on it due to his embarrassment over writing about romance. As a result, the chief ships found in the series, NaruHina and SasuSaku, the former didn’t get as much focus as it’s supporters wanted, while the latter ended up becoming toxic in nature after Sasuke went AWOL before Naruto finally set him straight.

Being Rushed Didn’t Make it Bad, Ya Know?

To put it simply, The Last was the film team and Kishimoto’s attempts at course correction, but some people say that it came too little, too late. To be fair, they’re not wrong. Looking back, the aftermath of the Invasion of Pain arc would’ve been the perfect chance for Naruto and Hinata to get a relationship upgrade. Hinata had not only fought to protect Naruto from Pain, but she flat-out told him she loved him. Yet nothing came of it, and with everything that followed, that plot thread never had time to be properly addressed. So, yes, the film had to shoehorn the romance in while they had the chance.

Here’s the thing, though: that doesn’t necessarily make it a bad thing. Sometimes, we can do our best when we’re under pressure. And with this being the last chance Kishimoto had to tell how Naruto and Hinata became a couple, he and his team were definitely feeling the pressure! But once he got over his reluctance to write a proper romance, he knocked it out of the park. I fully consider the time Naruto and Hinata spent searching the abandoned Ninja Village together to be their first date, and am prepared to die on that hill! I’m pretty sure I gasped when the moment came when Naruto turned out to be the one to confess his love to Hinata first, rather than the other way around. And that famous kiss that the two of them shared at the end of the movie, as they’re floating in the sky with the moon in the background. *Chef’s kiss* That’s how you do a kiss scene, people! And that’s not even getting into the scenes of their wedding that take up the credits. I started crying tears of joy when I went back to watch it again!

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As sweet as it was to see the two getting the chance to make up for lost time, though, there’s another reason why I think the romantic part of this film works. In a critical scene partway through the film, the group gets trapped in a genjutsu based on their memories. During that time, Naruto winds up seeing many of Hinata’s memories, including a recent conversation she had with Sakura. That memory has Sakura explaining that Naruto has no concept of what romantic love really is. To some, that might not make sense because Naruto has understood what romantic love is. But remember that for all his emotional intelligence at times, Naruto did grow up orphan. Not having his parents around to show him what a romantic relationship looked like probably didn’t do him any favors. Also, the tearjerker section for the TV Tropes page for the movie speculates that, thanks to his lonely childhood, the idea of someone being in love with him was practically a foreign concept. He may have largely gotten over his hard early life, but that doesn’t mean it didn’t still affect him!

ABSOLUTE PEAK FIGHTING!

It wasn’t just the romance that made the movie so enjoyable for me. This is still a Shonen film, and that means that there’s plenty of action to be had. Naruto’s friends and allies working to destroy the falling meteorites before they can wipe out the planet. Hinata holding her own against Toneri’s army of puppets until Toneri himself intervened and captured her. And last, but not least, Naruto fighting against the empowered Toneri on the surface of the Moon. They wound up traveling all the way from Earth to the Moon and fought on its surface with no problems whatsoever. It doesn’t matter if that shouldn’t be possible; it’s cool as can be! And the best part is that that final clash was done to a remix of Naruto’s original theme song. It’s a testament to where our hero has come from and how much he has grown from being a weak outcast to the strongest ninja alive! Ten years later, I still get goosebumps rewatching it!

If I could list at least one major complaint that I have looking back on the film, though, then it would have to be about the film’s main antagonist, Toneri Otsutsuki. When I first watched the film ten years ago, I saw as this poor, misguided young man who thought he was following his ancestor’s wishes by trying to destroy the world. As Hinata discovers for herself, though, that belief was based on his half of the family misunderstanding their ancestor’s wishes. That led to them wiping each other out while Toneri was still a child, leaving him the last person alive on the Moon. And after being defeated and learning how wrong he was, he chooses to exile himself there forever, with not even his puppet servants to keep him company.

My One Gripe (or Two)

As sad as Toneri’s life is, after rewatching the film years later, my sympathy for him has decreased. While he does try to care about Hinata as a person, the way he interacts with her reminded me of an abusive husband, right up to the point where he tries to violate her free will using his own Chakra. That just shows how little he understood other people! And unlike the whole “colony drop” thing, his actions against Hinata and Naruto were all on him. He’s lucky that they were nice enough to save his life when they could’ve simply let him die at the end!

Oh, and I never really liked Naruto’s new appearance in this movie. I don’t like seeing his hair so short! It looks weird to me!

So, the bottom line is that, while it would’ve been better had the series done more to move Naruto and Hinata’s relationship forward, I can’t complain that much about The Last: Naruto the Movie turned out. Ten years since its release, it still remains one of the series best stories. It shows that Kishimoto did have it in him to write a good romance. And while some might see it as a reminder of what we could’ve gotten had he realized this sooner, I’m still happy that we got it at all!

Wait, this Guys was Momo’s First Crush?!

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Dan Da Dan Ep 11 Review

Jealousy, envy, coveting; call it what you want, but when we feel it, it’s never a good thing. And right now, Ken Takakura is feeling both jealous…and dejected. When Momo’s old friend and first crush shows up at her doorstep, the poor boy’s already low self-esteem takes an even bigger nosedive. Thankfully, this episode revolves around him getting a reminder of why he shouldn’t be so quick to give up on his feelings. And, in typical Dan Da Dan fashion, it happens in the most hilarious, over-the-top fashion.

Is Jiji’s Gojo’s Long-Lost Cousin?

At the end of the last episode, Momo opens her front door to find a tall, athletic, and handsome young man standing outside. This is Jiji, Momo’s old friend when they were little kids, and, according to her grandma, her first crush. His family moved before middle school, and, to make a long story short, their house is haunted. So haunted that the ghost chased off every medium they hired…or made them kill themselves. Now his folks are in the hospital, and Seiko is the only one who can purge the ghost. But since she’s useless outside their city, Momo will have to do it. That won’t happen until the next episode though.

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The main focus of this episode is the arrival of Jiji and how he affects the status quo. Played by Aleks Le, Jiji is, essentially, a younger, even goofier version of Gojo from JuJutsu Kaisen. Given how goofy Gojo can be, that should tell you what kind of person he is. Between his good looks, his extroverted personality, and charisma, he quickly wins over everyone at school. Even Seiko likes him, though that’s because he compliments how amazing she looks. Momo, though, sees him and finds herself questioning why they were friends to begin with.

It should be noted that Jiji was one of the people who made fun of her for believing in ghosts as a kid, a fact that he deeply regrets. Combined with the possibility that he returned her crush (and may still have one), it’s clear he’s trying to make amends for his past actions. However, Momo just finds him annoying now, preferring a more solemn guy like Ken Takakura…the actor. She still won’t admit that she’s fallen for Ken-Chan.

Speaking of which, poor Okarun’s already low self-esteem takes an even further nosedive here. Jiji is everything that he isn’t, or at least what he thinks he isn’t. And since he’s starting to fall in love with her, that is making him jealous. Rather than get angry and aggressive over it, though, he decides to bow out. While that normally would be the right thing to do, in this case he means to cut himself off from Momo altogether.

Don’t Stop Fighting for Momo, Okarun!

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Love and friendships can be hard when you are young, and with how introverted Ken-Chan can be, it’s understandable that he doesn’t see how good a person he really is. If he higher more self-esteem, he would be able to recognize that Momo’s one-time friend now greatly irritates her with his antics. Fortunately, since he is a protagonist, the universe provides him with the reminder he needs…in the silliest way possible.

Dan Da Dan has shown us many crazy things: aliens of all sorts, ghosts, and more. But I think the sight of an anatomical mannequin running through the streets to find his girlfriend at a dump might be the craziest thing I’ve seen on this show. And that’s counting the race with Turbo Granny! But seeing him be so passionate about reuniting with his love lights a fire in Okarun. Thanks to that, he’s able to overcome his insecurities and fight for his friendship with Momo. Not that he needs to fight for it, mind you. The reason why he and Momo work so well together is because they’re polar opposites. They balance each other out, keep the other grounded. Rest assured, their friendship is stronger than either of them realizes.

Sad to say it, though, but next episode will mark the final episode for this first season of Dan Da Dan. However, with how popular it has proven, it’s going to get a second season. And I look forward to seeing that come to pass.

I Give “First Love” a 3/5

One of those Times When Earth Has Something Aliens Find Useful

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Dan Da Dan Ep 10 Review

The last few episodes of Dan Da Dan have been chaotic for our group of teens. First, Aira’s misguided attempts to seduce Ken lead to a misunderstanding between him and Momo. Then those banana-obsessed aliens come back with minions and try to capture Ken and kill Momo and Aira. And even though they win, every high schooler’s worst nightmare takes place. The entire school sees the girls in their underwear and Ken in his birthday suit!

Time to run damage control.

Damage Control

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After the most embarrassing moment of their lives up to that point, Ken, Momo, and Aira take shelter in the nurse’s office and get spare tracksuits. Thankfully, the nurse is the understanding and supportive type…though I almost lost it when I saw that she gave off the energy of a dominatrix. She had the flogger and everything!

Now comes the real issue: explaining the incident and salvaging their reputations before they have to change schools. Momo’s friends come up with the silliest, but also most believable, explanation in the form of a gladiator fight between the girls over Okarun. To be fair, they’re not wrong to assume there’s a love triangle. We should know by now that there is a love triangle between Momo, Aira, and Okarun, even if Momo and Okarun don’t realize it yet. And while Ken does manage to explain what really happened when she walked in on him and Aira, I didn’t appreciate how she teased him over his reasons for being quiet about exercising. Trying to look cool in front of a person you like is a big deal for someone like Ken, and as light-hearted as it was, her trolling him felt a little mean.

But not as mean as what Aira did to Momo.

RIP Aira’s Popularity

Initially, the trio planned to tell the school that the incident was Momo’s fault, but before Aira can do that, her past actions come back to haunt her. Remember how she spread lies about Momo being promiscuous before? Those lies, combined with what happened, almost incite Aira’s classmates into an angry mob. And Aira, in a moment of character development, fesses up that she started the fake rumors, destroying her popularity.

When we first met Aira, she was the kind of shallow, self-absorbed person who would do something that mean-spirited. And while she’s still a bit full of herself, the fact that she was willing to fess up for the sake of a girl she doesn’t like that much is a sign of positive character development. There might be hope for Aira yet, people! There has to be, though, since they still have to deal with Yokai and Aliens.

Earlier in this episode, Ken theorizes that the reason the Serpoians wanted Turbo Granny’s powers is because the aliens’ tech is useless against all the supernatural forces found on Earth. I’m no stranger to seeing science and magic existing in a shared world, but it’s still pretty cool hearing that ghosts and spirits are acting like a nuclear deterrent against alien invasion. However, at least one alien won’t bother them anymore: The Mantis Shrimp, AKA the Dover Demon, Kappa, and Mr. Peeny-Weeny.

EVER SEEN AN ALIEN ABDUCT A COW?

Somehow, Mantis Shrimp survived their fight, but is so beat up that he passes out right in front of the girls. Everyone feels so sorry for him that they nurse him back to health and feed him, prompting the grateful alien to pledge his loyalty to them. And Dover becomes even more sympathetic when it’s revealed he only took the job to pay for life-saving blood transfusions for his son. I might not approve of him working for the Serpoians, but I think most of us can agree that he’s a good dad! Also, we got this!

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The funniest part, though? It turns out their species’ blood is exactly like cow milk. So we get one of the most over-the-top versions of the classic “Aliens stealing cattle” trope I have ever seen! And it’s made even funnier when Seiko refuses to believe that Mr. Shrimp’s an alien!

….Uh-Oh

This episode is mostly dealing with the falling action and aftermath to last week’s frankly insane experience. However, just when it looks like things might calm down, we get thrown another curve-ball. Momo’s childhood friend, a boy named Jiji, comes over, having been invited by her grandma to stay for reasons. And to make matters worse, Seiko tells Ken that Jiji was Momo’s first crush.

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And with that, our love triangle has become a love…rectangle? Quadrangle? Double-triangle? No matter what it’s called, the look on Ken’s face and the previews for the next episode tell us that the drama’s about to increase. I feel so sorry for Ken right now!

I Give “”Have You Ever Seen a Cattle Mutilation?” a 4/5

Things are About to Get Harder in Daima!

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Dragon Ball Daima Ep 9 Review

Well, it was bound to happen sooner or later. Now that Goku has beaten one of the Tamagami, his name is spreading like wildfire throughout the Demon Realm. This next episode of Daima has us dealing with the aftermath of Goku’s victory and the unwanted attention it provides. And while the episode largely focused on the comedy, we got a hint about something Gomah is looking for, and see the birth of a potential threat to Goku.

Don’t Steal From Goku

Having won the first of the Demon Realm’s Dragon Balls, the gang decides to spend the night in a hotel instead of camping out again. That means that Goku has to put on a disguise to avoid attracting attention thanks to his newfound notoriety. Since it’s Goku, though…it doesn’t last very long. And, just as the others fear, thieves attempt to steal their Dragon Ball. They do succeed for a short time, but thanks to Panzy putting a tracking device on it, and Goku’s intimidation, they get it back pretty quickly.

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The fact that they almost lose the Dragon Ball isn’t the point, though. The point the series is trying to make is that, from here on out, they’re going to need to be a little more careful about their prize. To the best of my knowledge, they didn’t bring a dragon radar, so if they lose it again, it could hard to get it back. And speaking of losing things, guess who lost their own plane due to it getting stolen by bandits.

In a rather hilarious echo of the first group, Vegeta’s group lost their own plane after he beat up a group of bandits. What’s worse is that when Goku’s team catches up to where Vegeta’s team is stuck, they don’t have the room to hold all of them. Thus, any chance of the parties merging gets put on the back burner.

To be fair, it seems like keeping the entire party in two separate groups is a deliberate handicap on the story’s part. If they all joined up into a single group, they would be strong enough to handle everything thrown their ways. Goku, Vegeta, Glorio, Shin, and Piccolo would mow down every enemy in sight, while Bulma and Panzy would invent something capable of getting them straight to King Gomah. No Mr. Warp needed. As for Hybis, he might be more important than he realizes. Here’s why.

Just a Theory. A Dragon Ball Theory!

During this episode, word reaches Gomah that not only have Goku and the others followed him to the Demon Realm, but Goku already beat one of the Tamagami. With his plans to neutralize the potential threat having backfired, the king once again laments being unable to obtain the Evil Third Eye. Described as a powerful artifact lost during the reign of one of Dabura’s predecessors, the Evil Eye is said to grant immense power to anyone who puts in on their forehead. However, I don’t think it’s actually lost. During this episode, it’s revealed that Hybis has this weird, living he found attached to his belt. The fact that this came up right as we heard about the Evil Eye again can’t be a mere coincidence. It’s subtle foreshadowing that this potentially powerful MacGuffin is already in the hero’s hands and they don’t even realize it. If I’m right, then all those years reading One Piece and learning about foreshadowing were worth it!

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Majin…Kuu?

While Vegeta’s party ends the episode with them poised to recover their plane from the bandits, the episode ends by shifting back to Marba and Dr. Arinsu’s attempts to make a clone of Majin Buu. They manage to succeed, combining the Buu fragment with a Saibaman seed. I never thought we’d see the Saibamen again, so this was a big surprise. Unfortunately, then we learn the name that Arinsu gives her new minion: Majin…Kuu.

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I’m sorry, but what? I’m aware that Toriyama liked to name his characters based on puns. However, for the life of me, I can’t figure out if Kuu is meant to be a pun, or just a lame reuse of Buu. I’m really hoping that there’s a pun in there, or that Kuu is just as strong as Buu. Otherwise, the tension of having someone compete for the Dragon Balls will seem a bit pointless.

It now looks like the race is on for the Dragon Balls, and while this episode was relatively slow, not every episode has to be an absolute banger. Comedy is just as much a part of Dragon Ball as action, and since Daima is returning the franchise to its roots, we should expect plenty more comedy.

I Give “Thieves” a 3.5/5

Dragon Ball Daima Dub Coming in January

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It’s been two months now since the start of Dragon Ball Daima, there’s yet to be any dub of it on Crunchyroll. So far, the only dub for the new Dragon Ball series has been in the form of a compilation film that came out for a few days in November, and that only covered the first three episodes. With simuldubbing becoming more and more common in recent years, these two months could feel like years for those who insist on only watching dubbed anime. Granted, many anime still like to get a few episodes out before they start airing the dub to prevent it from being overtaken, but that’s not the point. But the wait for the dub of Daima will only be a few more weeks. In a recent post on their website, Crunchyroll announced that the dub for Dragon Ball Daima will begin January 10th, 2025.

Besides the obvious interest that stems from the dubbing of the new addition of a legendary anime, there’s another reason why people should pay attention to the dub of Daima. Because they’ll be spending most, if not all, of the series stuck in their kid forms, most of the returning characters won’t be voiced by their regular actors. The one exception will be Goku, once again voiced by Stephanie Nadolny. She’s famously provided the dub voice for Kid Goku in most Dragon Ball media. Most of the rest of the kid-ified cast will be voiced by relative newcomers. What makes this exciting (to me, at least) is that it’s giving a new generation of VA’s to leave their marks on the popular franchise. More importantly, if they do well enough, that could lead to them getting more work. With how tough the entertainment business can be, especially for newcomers, landing a potentially high-profile role can go a long way for job prospects.

As for me, I’m just happy to be able to watch the series in dub form come the new year. Having spent my teen years watching the original Dragon Ball in dub form online, it will be nice to get to hear Stephanie Nadolny’s voice again after all this time. And I wholeheartedly support letting my generation of VA’s try their hand at Dragon Ball.

Loch Ness Monster, Shrimp Aliens, and Teen Drama, Oh My!

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Dan Da Dan Ep 9 Review

Of all the times that the Serpo aliens could show up again, it had to be right when Momo was mad at Okarun. In the last episode, Aira began a love triangle between her, Momo, and Ken-Chan when she confessed her feelings to the boy. And, in typical comedic fashion, Momo showed up right as Okarun was in the most inopportune position possible with Aira. Now the three are trapped in a pocket dimension as the Serpos and their temp workers are trying to kill them while the entire school’s flooding.

Oh, and to make matters worse, Okarun doesn’t have any clothes to speak of. The aliens tore them to shreds. At least they now have another person who can go ghost in the form of Aira.

Momo, Just Say You’re Mad

So, after using the reveal that Aira can go ghost thanks to getting Acro Silky’s aura to their advantage, she and Okarun have to get over something just as bad: their embarassment. This is the first time that Aira’s seen a naked boy in real life, and her feelings get the better of her. Likewise, Ken wastes time trying to find clothes so he can fight. At some point, though, he decides to forget it and worry about it after they’re done fighting.

All things considered, the fights in this episode continue the series’ trend of making the action look as amazing as possible. Ken and Aira’s movements are fluid and don’t waste any time or energy unless needed. The show also doesn’t waste time making jokes over the facts that Okarun’s fighting this entire battle naked. A less mature story would make a bigger deal about it, but Dan Da Dan knows its better to wait. Though there is one moment when the girls decide to strip down to their underwear for the fight. The story justifies it beyond fanservice due to wet clothes hampering their movements. It’s not wrong. Unless they’re made of special material, wet clothes will become dead weight.

Amidst all the action, though, Momo (who manages to catch up to the two) can’t let go of her anger towards Okarun and Aira for their perceived wrongdoings behind her back. This is the second time that we’ve seen how Momo and Ken’s failures to communicate can negatively affect them. Momo won’t even hear Ken out when he tries to explain. The best that he can do is promise to provide context as soon as they’re safe, but the teamwork remains teeth-clenched.

The Serpo’s are Bad bosses

Thankfully, the same could be said for their alien assailants. The Serpo’s prove to be terrible bosses, constantly berating the Shrimp alien and the Nessy alien. It gets to the point where Nessy kills two of them, forcing the remaining one to fuse with all three to corner our trio. And since they’re fighting underwater, they’re in real danger of drowning. The fact that the show used such dark colors for the seemingly bottomless water gave the entire fight a very unsettling appearance. As someone who doesn’t like swimming in places where I can’t see the bottom, I was genuinely unnerving to watch.

It takes some effort, and an awesome combo move from the trio, but eventually, our heroes manage to kick the alien’s butt, complete with a finishing move straight out of a video game. However, that fight pales in comparison to what they go through next. Once the alien’s Domain Expansion wears off, they return to reality. In the middle of the crowded hallway. With two girls in their underwear and Ken naked.

They’re Gonna Have to Go to a Different School Now

I won’t lie, this scene would be absolutely hysterical to look at. Though, given how it’s pretty much the most embarrassing thing a teenager could experience in high school, my pity outweighs my sense of humor. They’re either going to need a very good excuse…or find a way to erase everyone’s memories. Either way, the next episode is going to be hard for them.

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Once again, we had a fun episode of Dan Da Dan. With the year almost over, I’m getting ready to come up with my picks for my favorite anime of the year. Needless to say, this show is going to be in the running.

I Give “Merge! Serpo Dover Demon Nessie!” a 4/5