Well, well, well, Studio MAPPA. It’s about dang time you decided to give us more Chainsaw Man! It only took you three whole years to get to what might be one of the best arcs in the entire series, the Bomb Girl Arc. I chose to forgo reading the manga so that I could fully enjoy what would come next, but when I learned that the arc would be getting its own movie, I knew I had to see it. So, how was Chainsaw Man: the Movie-Reze Arc? Was it a worthy return for the series and can it pave the way for another season?
Honestly, yes to both.
Welcome Reze
Its just after the end of the Katana Man Arc, with Denji and his friends working to deal with the aftermath. Power is stuck having her blood drained, while Aki is working with the Angel Devil, so Denji has to fly solo for a whileโฆsort of. This fanboy Shark Fiend gets assigned to be his bodyguard, much to his annoyance. But at least Denji gets to have a movie date with Makima, so he can’t complain. Until, that is, he encounters a beautiful woman his age named Reze, and now his heart starts getting torn in two. He wants to stay loyal to Makima, but it feels like Reze is really into him! If only he had to deal with something like a love triangle. Because Reze is, in fact, a Devil hybrid with the ability to create bombs and explosions. And all she wants is that special heart that Denji has on him!
Just Let Denji be Happy!
I’m just going to come out and say it: Denjiโs love life is just the worst. That’s coming from me, and I’ve had a hard time getting any dates. The girl he’s mainly interested in is basically emotionally manipulating him (you dont need to read the manga to see the red flags.) And now this new girl shows up and is doing the same thing. And poor Denji is so starved for affection that he’s letting himself be played like a fiddle! It’s honestly depressing to watch!
Ok guys i watched Chainsaw Man: The Reze Arc and i'm literally both happy and broken… just WHAT WAS THIS MOVIE ?! This was an experience to remember for ages !!! ๐๐ฅน๐ญ pic.twitter.com/RA8bJ5gLM4
What makes it even more depressing, though, is that the first half of Reze Arc is a slow burn focusing on Denjiโs unfortunate love life. Even though Reze is ultimately going to betray him, you can’t deny that she manages to give him a taste of the normal life that he hasn’t had up to this point. Yes, the Devil Hunters do feed him and give him a place to stay, but as Reze points out, he’s still not living a normal life at age 16. Normal can often be subjective, and there are plenty of shonen protagonists his age who deal with danger. But at some point, you can’t help but wonder if this is really the life that Denji should be living.
The worst part, though, is that even after Reze shows her true colors, a part of Denji still likes her. Enough to even consider running away with her. Surprisingly, Reze actually considers doing so, mission be darned. And if you’re caught up on the manga, then you may agree with me when I say that I really, really think Denji should’ve gone through with that decision. If he had, then it would’ve prevented a lot of pain and suffering. But instead, any second chance is left to bleed out unceremoniously in an alleyway, which only makes the whole thing even more tragic.
Watched the chainsaw man movie in theaters.. She looked so good bro idc if she supposed to be the villain pic.twitter.com/81NeszDV8e
But we don’t watch Chainsaw Man just for the drama. We want it for the over-the-top violence. And lucky for us, the second half of the film is devoted almost exclusively to the action!
The Real Action Was Awesome!
For those who need a quick refresher, Devilโs get stronger the more they inspire in humans. Given how dangerous bombs can be, Reze is an extremely dangerous foe once she decides to take Denji by force. Her attacks are stronger than Bakugo from My Hero Academia, and considering how the young hero can hold his own against Shigaraki and All for One, that’s very concerning. A good part of the second half is the Devil Hunters trying to play keep away until they can get Denji to heal, with her blowing up sections of the city in the process. And then she summons another Devil working for her and proceeds to turn the place into a disaster zone! It honestly makes me question how human civilization is able to remain intact in this universe!
Of course, though, the real show starts once Denji joins the fight. The fight itself is like something out of a JRPG game, so I’m not going to spoil it for you. I will, however, leave you with this tantalizing image: Chainsaw Man riding a shark and battling a Devil the size of the Colossal Titan. Have fun with that.
In summary, Chainsaw Man: the Movie-Reze Arc was everything the fans wanted and then some. And if Studio MAPPA knows what’s good for it, it will give us more of the anime. SOON!
Why the World Government of One Piece is just the worst
Anyone who has read or watched One Piece long enough can agree on one thing: the World Government is the worst. Over the course of the series, they went from simply being the people chasing after Luffy because heโs a pirate to being worse than any outlaw could ever hope to be. If I were to rank dictatorial regimes in fiction, I would put the World Government right next to the Galactic Empire in terms of how vile they are. Thereโs a reason why people have been using the Straw Hats flag at protests around the world, and thatโs because the fans know that it is a symbol of defiance against injustice. They know this because theyโve come to know the ones who rule the world of One Piece are more evil than any outlaw could ever hope to be.
Iโm RJ Writing Ink, and I wanted to talk about what is it that makes the World Government such an effective villainous organization in One Piece. Because if there is one thing that Eichiro Oda is excellent at doing, itโs making some of the most vile and disgusting villains you may ever find in a world of manga.
The World Government: EVIL
In the world of One Piece, the shadow of the World Government has been present long before it is formally introduced into the story. They are the ones in charge of the Marines, the forces tasked with maintaining law and order across the world by protecting it from criminals and outlaws. Like any large organization, they have a series of uniform rules and ideals that members are expected to follow. And just like any other large organization, there are going to be people who donโt always conform and subscribe to different beliefs as well as those who only care about their own personal gain. That much is made clear early on in the series thanks to Luffyโs encounters with Marines like Axe-Hand Morgan and Nezumi. The former was a man who effectively bullied those under his command and charge, while the latter was openly taking bribes from pirates like Arlong. However, theyโre both counterbalanced by the introduction of Smoker and Tashigi, two Marines who actually do the job theyโre supposed to be doing. However, that does not mean that they cannot think for themselves.
When the Straw Hats run into Smoker and Tashigi again during the Alabasta Arc, they wind up dragging them into their fight against Crocodile and his criminal organization. In doing so, they expose this supposed ally of the Marines for his crimes, leading to his arrest. Seeing as how they helped save an entire country, they ultimately decide to let the Straw Hats go when they had the chance to arrest them, with Smoker giving them credit for stopping Crocodile in his report. However, he is disgusted when the higher-ups choose to give him all the credit and cover-up the Straw Hats involvement. On the surface, it’s understandable. They’re trying to save face because they don’t want to admit that a pirate did their job. As we come to learn later, though, this was our first hint that something was wrong with the people running the world.
The Enies Lobby Arc was a Turning Point
I’ve seen several video essays already covering the subject, but the way that Oda reveals just how dystopic the world of One Piece can be is brilliant. In most instances of a dystopian setting, the story makes it clear from the get go just how unfair and cruel something really is. The Empire from Star Wars doesn’t even hide how evil it is. In contrast, though, Oda chose not to let people know straight away just how corrupt the World Government is. Instead, he did it gradually, dropping hint after hint as Luffy and his crew journeyed across the Grand Line that they the World Government was not what it seemed. Until, finally, he proceeds to blow the whole lid on everything several arcs later during the events at Water 7 and Enies Lobby.
For those who haven’t read the manga or seen the anime, here’s a basic summary of the Water 7 and Enies Lobby arcs. While the Straw Hats are dealing with tension between themselves, one of their members, Nico Robin, opts to turn herself into Cipher Pol 9, the World Government’s black ops team. In truth, Robin is actually the sole survivor of Ohara, a nation of scholars that sought to uncover the mysteries of the Void Century, a hundred-year gap in historical records during which the World Government rose to power, and something that they made a crime to research. In response, they burned the entire nation to the ground, killing everyone but Robin, and then lied to the world by claiming Ohara wanted to uncover ancient superweapons.
This moment was a major turning point for the story of One Piece. It made it clear as day to the Straw Hats and to readers that the World Government was, in fact, a tyrannical dictatorship that would stop at nothing to maintain its power, even if it meant killing the people it was supposed to protect. And in response to this, and rightfully so, the Straw Hats declare war on the World Government to get Robin back, utterly embarrassing them in the process. But this was only the beginning of readers learning about the crimes the World Government has committed.
The Celestial Jerkwads
From Enies Lobby onwards, Oda continues to escalate the level of atrocities committed by the World Government. At Sabaody, we are introduced to the Celestial Dragons, descendants of the founders of the organization who live atop the Red Line and see themselves as gods. They can kill, enslave, and torment who or whatever they want, and they can do it because they’re considered gods by everyone. In reality, though, they’re just delusional jerks who represent everything wrong with humanity wrapped into grotesque caricatures. The only reason no one defies them is because the Marines will step in to protect them, even if they’re doing things that are supposed to be illegal.
The Celestial Dragons are really the ultimate symbol of how the World Government is built on lies. They tell everyone that they’re an alliance of equals that works to maintain peace and justice, but to them, it means doing what they want without consequence. That is how they’ve likely always been, and that is why they are so determined to keep the truth of their origins a secret for 800 years, no matter how many people they have to slaughter in the process. To be fair, eight centuries seems unbelievable for a group so corrupt to be in power, but it shows just how effective their methods of maintaining power have been. If anyone tries to step out of line or learn the truth, they will brand them an outlaw and hunt them to the ends of the earth, something that most people cannot afford to be put through.
Now, to be fair, not everyone in the Marines and the World Government are as corrupt as the people in charge. In fact, people like Smoker and Tashigi are some of the most morally upstanding people in the entire series, and there are plenty of others like them. Yet despite these people having a greater sense of justice and could, in theory, change things for the better, they are ultimately forced to stop short of doing so. This is the ultimate trap of the World Government. They make it so that the most moral and just people, AKA the people most likely to effect change, are forced to become cogs in their massive machine. While they can do plenty of good in the Marines, they are ultimately unable to change the status quo without risking being branded outlaws themselves. It’s how the Celestial Dragons have been able to stay in power, and it’s one of the reasons why few have discovered the ultimate lie at the heart of the World Government: Imu.
Imu is the Heart of Darkness
The World Government claims that it is an alliance of equal nations where none are meant to stand above the other. As we know, that is a lie, as the Celestial Dragons and their leaders, the Five Elders, do just that. Yet only a handful of people realize that even this is a lie. In truth, the Five Elders serve their own master, a figure that, for the majority of the series, no one even knew existed: the true ruler of the world, Imu.
To date, we know almost next to nothing about who, or what, Imu even is, as not even the higher-ups in the World Government are aware of their existence. It’s not even clear if Imu is even human, with some believing that they are some sort of demonic entity or dark god. What is known is that they are the embodiment of order and oppression itself, ruling the world from the shadows with an iron fist, and they are determined to keep it that way. Any outsiders who learn of their existence will be hunted down and killed to keep this knowledge from becoming public. Yet that has not stopped some people from finding out anyway and living to tell about it. Were that to happen, then all of their plans would come undone.
For the longest time, fans have thought that the ultimate goal of the World Government was to maintain its power no matter what. And I do mean no matter what. Murder, torture, genocide, racism, brainwashing, whatever heinous act you can think of, the World Government is willing to do it. But I don’t think that even the most die-hard fans could imagine what their endgame might be. If you’re an anime-only watcher or not caught up yet, then turn back now, because there’s going to be a major revelation from this moment on:
The world of One Piece is slowly sinking into the ocean. And the World Government is likely counting on it to happen.
Armageddon is on the World’s Doorstep
During the Egghead Island Arc, itโs revealed that a thousand years ago, the world was once covered by massive continents and a civilization more advanced than anything in the present day. Yet the events of the Void Century would not only see to that civilizationโs destruction at the hands of the future World Government, but most of the world being swallowed by the sea. All of the islands that weโve seen throughout the series were just the tallest points on these continents that survived the flooding. Even that might not be enough anymore as the sea levels continue to rise.
While the person who shared all this information said that itโs unclear whoโs responsible for the current state of the world, most fans have guessed that the predecessors to the World Government were responsible. Or, at the very least, took advantage of things to seize control. Theyโve kept people isolated on their islands and unable to travel the dangerous seas without them, all while using the Marines to control the seas. They did all of this to keep people in the dark about how their homes would eventually be lost to the sea, leaving the Celestial Dragons atop the Red Line in control of the only remaining dry land. In other words, theyโve spent the last eight hundred years herding the world like cattle to the slaughter.
Ultimately, the world of One Piece may seem like a fun and colorful world of adventure; and for the most part, it is. But underneath that fun and whimsy, Oda has created a world ruled by darkness. And it is this darkness that Luffy is supposed to be fighting against. Why? It’s not just because he wants to be King of the Pirates. It’s because he might actually be the savior of the world. It’s messiah. Pirate Jesus!
Eichiro Oda is one of the most influential authors in the entire world, and itโs all thanks to his absolute epic, One Piece. Since it began publishing in Shonen Jump back in 1997, One Piece has become the best-selling manga of all time. Thereโs a list of the best-selling fictional authors in history on Wikipedia, and heโs at number eight. One Piece has changed the world to the point where a generation of young people are waving the Straw Hat Pirates flag at protests, showing how they believe in the series themes of freedom and liberation from oppression. Needless to say, Oda is a big deal in the world of anime.
Which only makes it harder for fans to watch as their hero threatens to work himself into an early grave.
Oda started serializing One Piece when he was twenty-two and in the prime of his life. He could afford to work himself to the bone and run on a fraction of the sleep he needed. But over the last few years, it seems as though his commitment to his creation has begun taking its toll. He’s started taking scheduled breaks every few chapters or so, but at the same time, unscheduled breaks are becoming more and more frequent. And itโs making fans ask the same thing: Is Oda alright?
No one is going to question whether or not Oda is losing his work ethic. However, people are more aware of how grueling working in the anime and manga industries is now than they were when he started. The long hours or ceaseless work can be incredibly stressful, and that stress can start to add up as we get older. The worst-case scenario, they could end up working themselves to death. Thatโs something that Dragon Ball fans know all too well.
Last spring, the anime world was shocked by the sudden news of the death of Akira Toriyama, the legendary creator of Dragon Ball. His death at the relatively young age of 68 sent shockwaves throughout the industry. Many people started to question if the hard lifestyle of a mangaka led Toriyama to an early grave. Oda, for his part, seemed to take the hint, as he went on a vacation so he could process his heroโs passing. However, that hasnโt stopped people from worrying about him. Heโs fifty years old, been working on One Piece most of his life, and it could be another 5-10 years before the story is finished. He needs to look after himself.
Oda has become beloved in the world of anime and manga for creating One Piece, and heโs managed to change the world for the better. Millions of people have been inspired by his characters and how to live their lives by their example. There are people out there waving the Straw Hat Pirates flag as a symbol of rebellion against oppression right now. His legacy has already been secured. But none of that will matter if One Piece leads him to an early grave. If that happened, I donโt think the fans would be able to live with themselves.
Fortunately, it seems the One Piece Fandom is among the most understanding in anime and manga. Every time Oda has to go on break, fans have been understanding and wishing him well. None of us wants to see him work himself to death, including myself. And when the day comes for him to end One Piece, he should be able to enjoy retirement for decades to come with his wife, kids, and hopefully grandkids. Itโs the least that Oda deserves.
May I Ask for One Final Thing? Initial Series Review
Crash outs; a slang term commonly used to describe what happens when someone becomes angry to the point where they canโt control it. Usually, itโs because they hit the limit of how much grief they can tolerate, or they just saw someone hurt someone they care about. The important thing, though, is that when people crash out, they tend to lose all restraint and just tear through anyone foolish or unfortunate enough to get in their way. There have been some legendary crash-out moments in anime before, and most of them are downright enjoyable to look back on. However, I think I might have just found my favorite crash out in a good, long while. And the best part is the fact that itโs pretty much an entire anime: May I Ask for One Final Thing?
Scarlet El Vandimion, the Mad Dog Princess
Meet Scarlet El Vandimion, the daughter of a Duke in the kingdom of Pallistan. On the outside, she seems like the epitome of a Kuudere. Sheโs poised, beautiful, and gets the top scores at school. But underneath her icy persona, sheโs got a secret: she loves nothing more than to pummel people who act like jerks. Sheโs been like that since she was a kid, but for the sake of her family, sheโs done her best to repress it.
Unfortunately for her, itโs like the universe is trying to find ways to make her blow her stack. She is engaged to Kyle von Pallistan, the second prince of Pallistan, and he is an absolute jerk. He spends the next ten years treating her like a slave, bullying her, demeaning her, and being utterly insufferable. And the whole time, she has to keep repressing the urge to punch his face in for the sake of her family. So she just keeps this icy exterior and acts as stoic as Nano Eiai from 100 Girlfriends. And almost everyone buys that this is who she is, when in reality, she might be the long-lost sister of Eris Greyrat from Mushoku Tensei, because her anger keeps building the entire time until it threatens to boil over.
It actually almost does one day while they’re at school. Kyle barges into Scarlet’s classroom and starts running his mouth, complaining about she did better than him on the recent exams. So she just stands there and lets him yap, until he gets the idea of cutting off her hair as punishment. And this is where the crash out almost begins. Thankfully, Kyle’s smarter older brother is nearby, sees what Scarlet is about to do, and steps in to defuse the situation. Not to save Scarlet, but to save his brother from getting his butt kicked. But all Julius did was buy his brother a temporary stay of execution, because the pain was going to come to him. And he was going to deserve all of it.
— Vincent Sophuok (FU, Musk) (@VincentSophuok) October 4, 2025
This finally brings us to the start of the first episode, and the moment when the crash-out begins.
The Crash Out Begins
So, Kyle summons Scarlet to this gathering where he and a bunch of other nobles are in attendance, along with some girl that she’s never met before. Then Kyle starts saying how her name is Terenezza and that he had fallen in love with her. Kyle then started spouting all these lies saying that Scarlet had been bullying her during their time at school, when in truth, she had never even met her until that very moment. And the other nobles are all in on this, acting like he’s doing the right thing. And Scarlet just listens to this whole thing until he finally declares that he’s ending their engagement so he can marrying Terenezza.
Little did Kyle know that he just signed his own death warrant. Because after she heard all of this, Scarlet feels this…release. She realizes that she just wasted ten years of her life holding herself back for nothing. But she also realizes that now, she has no reason to keep holding back.
And this is when the crash out ten years in the making finally begins as Scarlet asks for one final request: “Can I punch this b**** in the face?”
After years of suppressing her rage over mistreatment from the nobility and her insufferable fiancรฉ, Lady Scarlet knows itโs time to uncork a well-aged bottle of fine Whoop Ass. @morganlaure, @KyleIggy and the rest of the dub team are in title belt form!#MayIAskForOneFinalThingpic.twitter.com/Q7iXm2yCUW
And from that moment on, Scarlet was off the leash. And Terenezza is the first victim.
She Crashed Out, and Got Rewarded for it.
Now, one would think that beating the ever-loving tar out of a Prince and all those nobles would get Scarlet in trouble. After all, she did attack royalty during her crash out. But what does Julius do? He congratulates her for finally showing her true self. The royal family disinherits Kyle for his utter stupidity, so he gets punished while she gets off scot-free. Even better, since all the nobles that were mocking Scarlet were corrupt scumbags involved in the slave trade, they’re all getting punished.
All of this leads us to the main plot of May I Ask for One Final Thing? Julius offers Scarlet a job helping him to weed out all the corrupt nobles in the kingdom and punish them. Which means that she’s got an excuse for her to continue crashing out on people who deserve it. And which leads me to say that I like this show, and I think I’m going to be watching it a lot this season. Scarlet is like the kuudere version of Eris Greyrat, and I’m all for female characters who can kick butt and take names.
Nine years ago, I was browsing on the WEBTOON App and keeping up to date with some of the comics I follow when I came across this relatively new one called Let’s Play. Being a gamer and an aspiring YouTuber, I knew right away that this series had to have something to do with video games. Lo and behold, as soon as I clicked on it, I was happy to see that I was right. It was this romcom/slice-of-life comic created by a talented creator called Mongie, and it had me hooked from the first panel. Sadly, due to issues with WEBTOON, Mongie has since moved the comic to another app called Tapas where they’re post all the old chapters before giving us a fourth season. In the meantime, though, Let’s Play has joined the growing list of webcomics and manwha that got made into a TV show, this time as an anime on Crunchyroll.
Having already seen another popular webcomic get the anime treatment earlier this year, only for it to be a massive letdown, I was skeptical. I got burned once, and I didnโt want it to happen again. However, I couldnโt help but remember all the good, and it made me want to give it again without giving it a bad review. Which is important, considering how the catalyst for the entire series is someone giving a bad review of something the main character worked hard on out of ignorance.
Sam Must Be Protected at All Costs
Meet Sam Young, a young (pun not intended) computer software developer and lover of video games. She spent a lot of her life in and out of the hospital due to health problems, so video games helped to keep her going all that time. That, and seeing a let’s player by the name of Marshall Law playing video games on ViewTube. And like some gamers, her love of games led her to try her hand at making her own game, Ruminate, a free-to-play puzzle game in the style of an RPG that she posts online. And it manages to do great…until Marshall Law decides to play it.
This is what happens.
This isnโt just because Sam made the tutorial too confusing to understand, by the way. This is because Law failed to read it altogether, resulting in him playing it wrong and causing his fans to tear her to shreds online. It threatens to end her career before it can even begin. But then comes the twist: Marshall Law ends up moving in next door to her. And thatโs when the drama really begins!
It’s Nice to See this Series again
As one of the first people to start reading the Webcomic when it first came out, I have the beneift of already knowing a lot about the cast and what happens going in. Therefore, I was a little surprised at how the plot of the opening episode is structured. It’s more or less taking several of the early chapters and combining them into one, while also mixing up what happens when. This is done so that the show can give us a crash course on who is who and their basic personalities. Surprisingly, it manages to do a good job at it. We get to know Sam’s friends and family, all of whom have their own distinguishing traits. Out of all of them, though, I’d say the quirkiest has to be Sam’s dad, the CEO of the software company she works at. He’s the kind of dad who dotes on his daughter to the extreme. It gets to the point that when he thinks somene is hitting on her, we get a cutaway imagining him strangling the guy. It’s pretty funny, if you ask me.
As far as the animation goes, I’m still not entirely sold on how it looks. What can I say? The look of The Beginning After the End left a bad taste in my mouth. That being said, watching this episode reminded me why I fell in love with Let’s Play in the first place. Besides all the romcom and office drama taking place, this series contains a lot of shoutouts to video games. From platforming classics to RPGS, there’s going to be plenty of things from games present in this. As a gamer myself, I can appreciate it, even if I don’t always like the art style.
I was actually on the fence about whether I wanted to cover this series, but after watching the first episode, I think I might give it a chance. At the very least, it’s a great way for me to get back into Let’s Play as it works its way to a fourth season on Tapas. If you want to read what happens, then I’d recommend you go read it there. Otherwise, enjoy.
It’s over, everyone. The liberation of Qโten Lo is over, and Raptaliaโs ancestral homeland is free. Sadly, anyone who hoped that things would end in a big, epic final battle like in a movie has had their hopes dashed. Instead of a great final battle, we have to settle for a more personal one as Raphtalia undergoes a great trial: earning the approval of her ancestors to lead the nation.
Good Riddance, Makina
So, to recap the end of the last episode, Shildina was possessed by the spirit of Raphtaliaโs ancestor, the former Emperor(or Empress) of Qโten Lo. Said ancestor then flew to the capital and killed the wicked Makina for her crimes against the nation. However, Makina had one last trick up her sleeve, using a failsafe she put in place to allow her soul to possess Shildinaโs body. Fortunately, she’s about as smart as Bitch the Witch, so it doesn’t work. Some people might not like how anticlimactic this feels, but there really was no need for Naofumi and the others to fight Makina. She was a worthless piece of trash and she died like one.
The real focus of the episode, though, is what happens after that. Raphtaliaโs ancestor is willing to give Shildina her body back, on one condition: she wants to scrap with Raphtalia. The logic behind this is simple. As Emperor, it will be Raphtaliaโs duty to be strong enough to stop the Cardinal Heroes if they stray from good. So she needs to be strong enough to do that. Ergo, she needs to prove her strength.
Decent Fight!
The fight itself is actually pretty good, at least by the showโs standards. Raphtalia gets to show off how strong she really is, and we see how much she has to improve upon herself. At the same time, I canโt help but feel like the fighting has lost a bit of its edge. Then again, my standard might have gone up from watching other anime.
In any event, Raphtalia wins, and Shildina is freed. Which means that Qโten Lo is now free!! However, itโs what happens next where the anime fumbles the bag.
We Missed Naofumi Preaching the word of Raph-Chan
In the light novels, after defeating Shildina and bringing the rebels in, Naofumi and the others go to capture the young Emperor, Raphtaliaโs cousin, Ruftmilia. He tries to remain composed at first, but just like in the anime, Naofumi has Filo mess with him. The reason being that he wanted him to understand why forbidding people from fighting monsters in self-defense is a bad idea. Whereas the anime glosses over things, though, Filo pretends to try to eat the boy! It helps fake his death so they can take him away from Qโten Lo, but itโs not as dramatic in the anime.
Also, it skips over the part where Ruftmilia takes an immediate liking to Raph-Chan. Which means that Naofumi now has a new member of the Church of Raph-Chan, much to the dismay of Raphtalia.
Next Season is Gonna be Crazy
Regardless, though, this brings an end to the big side quest that was Qโten Lo. And that is basically what the entire season has amounted to: a major side quest. Because while all of this is happening, time is running out until the next of the Guardian Beasts emerges. That is when the fight to save the world will begin anew. And things are already being set in motion.
Elsewhere, a moment that should make people ecstatic takes place when Motoyasu corners and apparently kills Witch. Normally, that would leave people jumping for joyโฆor at least lamenting the waste of life. However, it happens far too easily for everyone to buy. And theyโre right. Witch is still alive, and will likely return to cause trouble in the future.
And that brings us to what comes next, Season Five. The anime includes a teaser for the next season in its final moments, and from what we see, things are about to get bad for Naofumi. Very, very bad. I havenโt gotten that far in the light novels, but Iโve heard the stories about how bad things get.
Thereโs no getting around it anymore: it’s Fall. Leaves are falling, the capitalist system is preparing for the Holidays, and new anime seasons of anime are on the way. Thereโs just one problem: for the first time in a while, Iโm worried that I wonโt have an anime to cover on a weekly basis. There are plenty of great anime coming out to watch, but Iโm not sure which one to cover for the D&A Anime Blog. That being said, itโs not stopping me from talking about some of the big names that might be worth watching.
Letโs Play, October 1st, Crunchyroll
Our first potential pick is potentially for anyone whose a fan of video games, romcoms, or webcomics, Letโs Play. Sam Young is an introverted 22-year-old software developer whose love for video games led to create her own, Ruminate. At first, it did great on the market, until her favorite Letโs Player, Marshall Law, gave it a bad review, leading his fans to trash it. It gets worse, though, as she discovers Law has just become her new neighbor. Talk about a drama bomb.
Believe it or not, Iโm actually one of Letโs Playโs earliest fans, having read it from its first chapters on WEBTOON. At first it seems like another romcom built around gaming, but once Mongie starts picking up steam, she starts getting into some pretty heavy subjects like depression, trauma, and insecurities. Unfortunately, I donโt think that the showโs animation lives up to Mongieโs own artwork. Having been let down by The Beginning After the End earlier this year, thatโs left me a little weary. However, I think Iโll at least give it the benefit of the doubt.
My Hero Academia Final Season, October 4th, Crunchyroll
Ever since the manga came to an end last year, fans have been waiting to see if the My Hero Academia anime can live up to their expectations. As the final war between the Heroes of Japan and All for One nears its climax, Deku will be drawn into his final confrontation with the ultimate villain and Shigaraki in a battle to decide the fate of the world.
For the past decade, My Hero Academia has been one of the biggest names in the Shonen genre, and anime in general, and for good reason; people
love superheroes! The series has had its highs and lows, but given how the manga ends, people are eager to see if the anime can live up to the hype or surpass it. Having covered the series on my own blog since Season Four, getting to see the finale will be a bittersweet experience for me. At least weโll still have Vigilantes to look forward to, though!
Ranma 1/2 Season 2, October 4th Netflix
Last year, Netflix gave us their remake of one of the OG romcom anime, Ranma 1/2, and now itโs back for more. Too bad for Ranma, his misfortunes when it comes to love, as well as his curse, are going to keep giving him grief.
When anime and manga started arriving in force to America back in the 90s, Ranma 1/2 was among the first wave, helping to introduce fans to Japanese romcoms. Granted, modern audiences might take issue with several things about it, like how argumentative Ranma and Akane are, or how theyโre betrothed by their dads without their consent. However, that doesnโt change the fact that itโs still one of the OG romcom anime, and itโs cool that itโs getting more love.
Spy x Family Season 3, October 4th, Crunchyroll/Hulu
Everyoneโs favorite spy family is back for a third season. As Loid continues to work towards his ultimate goal of completing Operation: STRIX, the Forger family continues its efforts to keep looking like a normal family. Which is tough considering how the โDadโ is a spy, the โMomโ is an assassin, neither knowing that, and their โdaughterโ Anya has to help keep it that way. Which will be hard, considering how this season is slated to include an escort mission on a cruise ship and Anyaโs school bus getting hijacked by terrorists.
Iโm not that overly big a fan of Spy x Family, only really watching it when I have nothing better to do. However, I can appreciate why people like it so much. The characters are likable, thereโs a good balance between action and comedy, like many great Shonen, and the animation itself is great. What might tip the scales, though, is that this season will give us a look at how Loid became the superspy Twilight.
Star Wars: Visions Volume 3, October 29th, Disney+
Four years ago, Disney teamed up with some of the biggest animation studios in Japan to give us Star Wars: Visions, an anthology series that combined two of the greatest things in the world: Star Wars and anime. Now, itโs returning to those roots with a third season that promises to be just as good, if not better, than the last two. Not only will we be getting new shorts inspired by the Star Wars universe, but three are going to be sequelss to some of the most popular shorts from Volume One: The Duel, The Village Bride, and The Ninth Jedi. If youโve seen the shorts, then you know why this alone is worth the hype.
Iโve been a fan of Star Wars since I was a little kid, and despite how Disney has kept fumbling things since 2012, Iโm still a big fan of the franchise. Combining it with anime is naturally enough to get my blood pumping! Given how amazing the first two volumes are, Iโm eager to see what comes next from this anthology series!
Chainsaw Man โ The Movie: Reze Arc, October 29th, Theaters
Itโs been three long years since the end to the first season of Chainsaw Man, and while manga-readers have feasted, anime watchers are starving . But all of that changes as Chainsaw Man gets the movie treatment with Chainsaw Man โ The Movie: Reze Arc.
After defeating the Katana Man and his Yakuza flunkies, Denji continues his work under Makima as a hunter of Devils. His world winds up getting turned upside down, though, when he winds up meeting a girl his age named Reze, and she actually seems interested in him! But since the universe seems to love seeing Denji suffer, you donโt need to read the manga to know that this cannot end well.
I had my criticisms of the first season of Chainsaw Man, and for good reason. Considering all the hype about the manga, it felt like the anime failed to meet my expectations when it comes to action. However, I did promise myself I would go back and review it again once it continued, and I intend to keep that promise. Given how effectively Demon Slayer has adapted arcs into full-on movies, I have high hopes for this flick. Hopefully, it also means that the anime will be coming back soon with a new season.
About 12 years ago, I used to be a well known fan fiction writer. I went by many names during that time; from D.J. Lewis, to DJ Returns, and November Star. Most of the fan fiction I wrote was anime crossovers. I did one with Sonic & Negima (Series), Sonic & Naruto (Series), and the most popular one; Sonic x Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt (Season 1). I’ve already made my review of the new season, as well as what I liked and disliked about the show. Which brings us here today; after a loooo~ng time away from writing stories, I thought I would give it one more shot before I FULLY retire from writing fan fiction.
So, here’s the newest crossover fan fiction; featuring Kid Icarus, and Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt…
Kid Icarus x Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt Crossover
[Kid Icarus: Anarchy Uprising (Kid Icarus x PSG)]
Alright so here’s an overview of what this Kid Icarus x PSG fan fiction crossover will be about.
The timeline is set right after the events of Scanty and Kneesocks’ debut. In Palutena’s Temple, the Goddess of Light tells Pit that he’s been summoned by the King of Heaven. At first he’s surprised why the ‘King of the Gods’ would summon him, but then he accepts the summons, and makes his way to the King’s Throne. As Pit kneels before the Heaven King, he tells him that he’ll be given a special assignment; to assist his daughters (Panty and Stocking) in collecting enough Heaven Coins to return home. The King then tells Pit that his daughters are the Princesses of Heaven, and next in line to assume the throne, however they must complete their trial of killing ghosts and demons before doing so.
Pit tells the King of Heaven that he’s honored that he was chosen for this assignment, as Palutena assures Pit that she’ll supply him with new weapons exclusively for his mission; including an upgrade to his primary weapon (The Sacred Bow of Palutena). Meanwhile outside of Cemetery Hills Church, Chuck gets struck by lightning before spitting out a note that reads โIcarusโ. Garterbelt picks up the note as a smirk and a look of relief appeared across his face. Pit may be honored to take on this assignment, but it’s not going to be the cakewalk in the park he thinks it is; especially considering who the ‘Princesses of Heaven’ are.
Chapters 1 and 2 will drop on my birthday, which is November 3rd! The fan fiction will be rated M (cuz’ it’s Panty and Stocking), and as for any ships, there will be some (but I won’t tell you what they are just yet).
Do you know whatโs more metal than fighting giant monsters inside a giant robot? Absolutely nothing! The Mecha and Kaiju genres are some of Japanโs oldest and most respected cultural exports, and theyโve gained popularity with people around the world. Since DanDaDan is essentially a giant love letter to all things sci-fi and supernatural in Japanese pop culture, including the two is a no-brainer. And with a Space Kaiju baring down on the teens of the series, it only makes sense that they fight it off with a giant mecha for the season finale. And it is everything that the nerdy Konya ever wantedโฆwhen it works at least.
YOU! DIG! GIANT ROBOTS!!
In order to fight off the giant, thunder-breathing Space Kaiju trying to kill them, the quintet of Takakura, Momo, Aira, Jiji, and Kinta resort to turning the Ayase House (made out of nanobots) into a weapon that can fight back. Fortunately for everyone, Kintaโs love of mecha anime comes in clutch, turning the house into a buddha-themed combiner robot in the style of Voltron, Power Rangers/Super Sentai, and later versions of Gurren Lagann. Thatโs the good news about this situation, at least if youโre Kinta.
The bad news is that the Family lacks the teamwork needed to pilot the thing.
Iโm not sure how often this is an issue when it comes to combiner mechs, but teamwork is often the most essential thing for making them work right. The Power Rangers and Voltron may make it look easy, but in real-life, coordinating to pilot a giant robot would be very difficult. If one member isnโt in sync, it could derail everything. Case in point, this surprisingly realistic outcome results in Okarun getting ejected, the Evil Eye busting free without caring about whatโs going on, and the remaining three getting their butts kicked.
But this is where Kinta starts to show what he is truly capable of, and how thereโs more to him than his appearance would suggest.
Don’t Mock Mecha
He just obsessed with Robots just like how okarun is obsessed with aliens ๐ญ i felt so bad for him.
Much like Okarun before he met Momo, Kinta lived a very lonely life, mocked for his nerdy interests; in his case, for his love of mecha and giant robots. Before anime became mainstream, and even now, that is something that many an unfortunate nerd has had to experience. However, like a true nerd, Kinta refuses to feel bad about liking what he does. Because he knows that at the rate that technology is progressing, the possibility of being able to pilot a giant robot is becoming more and more likely. Thatโs not even a joke: companies are working on real-life mechas capable of being piloted by humans, and if they got mainstream, they will need capable pilots. And itโs people like Kinta, who understand mecha and sci-fi and trained for them, that will be first in line.
And it is with these burning feelings in his heart that we see Kinta become the mecha pilot he always wanted to be. And it is awesome!
The fight between the Great Kinta and the Space Kinta is nothing short of epic! Itโs the kind of fight that makes any fan of either genre just want to grin from ear to ear. And the way the girls use their own powers to help enhance the Great Kinta mecha! Absolutely insane! And the other two boys manage to be a comedic duo the entire time since all they can do is watch everything! The comedy and action donโt stop!
In the end, the group manages to beat the Space Kaiju, but they come back to reality in the middle of the city. So, they have to hoof it back to the Ayase property with their fallen opponent. And Momo and Aira have to puke from motion sickness, LOL. Besides that, though, Kinta managed to solidify himself as a member of the group. His mecha skills are something else! But believe it or not, the giant robot vs Kaiju fight wasnโt the biggest surprise of the episode. Itโs what the boys find inside the Kaiju. Or rather, Kaiju suit.
This whole time, the Space Kaiju was really a suit, and the person piloting it will surprise you.
— ๐ธWaiting for VAMOLA Season 3๐ก (@isVamolanime) September 18, 2025
DanDaDan now has a new waifu. Manga readers have been waiting for her for a while now, but sadly, anime watchers will have to wait until season three. Thankfully, itโs already been confirmed that there will be a third season of the anime. When it will come out, though, is anyoneโs guess.
DAN DA DAN Season 3 is CONFIRMED!
Thank you to all the fans for your support, and we hope you look forward to what's in store. Stay tuned for #DANDADAN Season 3! โจ pic.twitter.com/waCLb6e3C2
If there is an afterlife, then there better be a special place in Hell for adults who abuse kids, especially if itโs their own. Thanks to Makina (AKA Bitch II), any attempts to end the liberation of Qโten Lo without bloodshed are for naught. Shildina has been ordered to go back and fight Raphtalia and Naofumiโs forces, making her their last obstacle to the Capital. And the only way they can get past her without killing anyone is by beating her one-on-one. And the only person sheโll fight? Her sister, Sadeena.
Oh, dear.
Sibling Inferiority Complexes are Hard to Handle
From the outset of this fight between sisters, Shildina makes it clear that she has no illusions as to how things will turn out. She fully expects to die facing down her older sister. However, her decision to do this goes beyond following orders, no matter how unfair they are. Itโs because she has a personal grudge against Sadeena.
A showdown between two generations of Water Dragon priestesses.
Left with no choice, Zodia challenges Sadeena to a duel as thunder and wind clash…?โจ
As this episode reveals, Shildina was only born after Sadeena left the country. Their parents and clan created her for the sole purpose of taking up her sisterโs role as the Water Dragon Priestess and the Emperorโs executioner. They put her through hell for that, not even treating her like her own person. And now, Shildina is using her suicide mission as a means to let out all the hate and anger in her heart against the person she deems responsible.
#shieldhero I just wanna say, I love Sadeena, rather human or beastman form, she is sexy af. Also, Shildina is fucking KYOGRE lol Plus, we get a twisty twist, that is very twisted. Good episode and look forward to the next episode pic.twitter.com/jLCQxWTKAL
Ever since the group arrived in Qโten Lo, the show has implied that a part of Sadeena regrets leaving without trying to change things for the better. However, no one can fault her for leaving. Many people who grew up in an abusive household donโt look back after getting out. If anything, the only regret that Sadeena has after meeting her sister is that she wasnโt able to beat some sense into her deadbeat family. But now that she has Raphtalia and Naofumi by her side, she can change all of that.
Ultimately, Shildina is technically the person who wins the duel, managing to overwhelm her older sister thanks to a trump card she had in place. That victory proves hollow, though, as Naofumi and the others all rush to her aid while Shildina has no one. The only person who cares about her as a person is the Heavenly Emperor, and he was powerless to stop her from going to her death. Thankfully, Shildina doesnโt die. Something just as bad happens to her, though. Somehow, she gets possessed by a spirit!
Itโs not really explained that well in the anime, and the light novel doesnโt offer as much of an explanation as to why this transformation happens. Given how this new form is the spitting image of Raphtalia, though, itโs safe to say that Shildina has been possessed by the spirit of Raphtaliaโs ancestor. On the one hand, she doesnโt continue the fight with Sadeena and immediately flies back to the Capital. Thatโs when she proceeds to give Makina the karmic justice she deserves.
On the other hand, though, Raphtaliaโs ancestor is possessing the body of a kid against her will. Thatโs not good. If they want to save Shildina, then Naofumi and the others are going to have to fight this spirit.
As is the case with many of the fights this season, it wasnโt the most exciting thing to watch. However, what it lacked in excitement, this episode made up for in raw emotion. It really wants you to feel for Shildina when you hear her backstory, and make you want nothing more than to beat her parents faces into the ground. If weโre lucky, weโll get an anime-exclusive scene of that next week during the finale. Until then, though, we have the battle against Raphtaliaโs ancestor to long forward to. After that, we crown our Tanuki Goddess!
The Ultimate Guide to East Asian Pop Culture. Dive into Anime Episode Reviews, Kdrama Recaps, Manga, Comics, & Graphic Novel Discussions. Discover Japanese Culture, Folklore, Mythology, and Adult Animated Series News.