Short, non-spoiler reviews and hot takes of anime for the newly initiated weeb.
Demon Slayer is an intense shonen that proves that the genre can stay relevant. With stellar animation, music, and pacing, it lives up to its hype. Most episodes will give you full-body goosebumps, make you cry, or both.
A remarkably dull sequel that progresses slowly with various non-sequitur arcs. When not in a monotonous fight scene, it's the same tired “jokes” of accidentally seeing a girl changing or naked, over and over again.
Every anime sin is committed here in a show that feels like it was Frankensteined together out of everything kids in the early 2000s said they liked about anime.
While it has iconic moments and largely set the stage for anime and shonen in particular, Naruto does not age well; there are plenty of better shows. It is very culturally relevant to be familiar with, however.
Jojo’s is an extremely over-the-top presentation of a lot of dramatic, sexy-posing men, and it is a beautiful thing.
Yakitate!! Japan is a goofy, wholesome comedy that channels a similar vibe to the great Abridges series of the early 2010s with quality humor and the cast doesn't really take the show seriously.
Kakegurui presents the eternally glorified “Anime High School Girl” and then shatters it into disturbing pieces.
Genre(s): Food, Shonen, Comedy, Ecchi, School Age-Appropriateness: 16+ (Very frequent suggestive themes, mild language) Platforms: Netflix, Crunchyroll, Hulu Episodes: 61 (+5 OVA) TheAwersome Rating: 9.2 / 10 (A definite gem, though not for everyone) Premise: Soma Yukihira wants nothing more in life than to one day surpass his father’s cooking skills and take over the... Continue Reading →
Genre(s): Drama, School, Psychological, Shounen, Game Age-Appropriateness: 17+ (Profanity, Violence, Sexual Themes) Platforms: Netflix Episodes: 12 TheAwersome Rating: 7.2 / 10 (You’ll either love it or you’ll hate it. Hard to be middle-ground) Premise: Hyakkaou Private Academy is an elite school housing the children of Japan’s most wealthy and influential businessmen, and regularly produces world-class... Continue Reading →
Genre(s): Shonen, Comedy, Dark Fantasy Age-Appropriateness: 14+ (Blood, minor language, frightening imagery, occasional suggestive themes) Platforms: Netflix, Crunchyroll, Funimation, Hulu Episodes: 51 TheAwersome Rating: 8.2 / 10 (Somewhat niche-y, but if you’re into it definitely worth your time, bingeable) Premise: At Death Weapon Meister Academy (DWMA) in Death City, there are two categories of students:... Continue Reading →
