Otaku USA Summer 2025 Issue Now on Sale!

 

It's that time again: time for a new issue of Otaku USA magazine! Big thanks to everyone who keeps picking up and reading these issues. It's a lot of fun being part of this mag, and I love the opportunity to talk at length about both new and classic series.

This particular issue was a very busy one for me, with six separate columns! So if you're an enjoyer of me writing about anime a whole lot, this will be one to grab.

First up is my review of Ameku M.D.: Doctor Detective. Between the memes about "what if House was an anime girl" and my own work as a writing advisor for medical school applicants, this was an interesting watch. All that said, I consider this an absolutely fab show... and one that does something that even my beloved House didn't always manage.

Also up for review is the new adaptation of Ranma 1/2. I am, in fact, a big fan of classic series getting reboots (see Yaiba on the cover!). And considering the original series was one of my first anime, I wanted to get in there and give my thoughts on this latest version. Spoiler: I liked it and it's good.

On to features, of which I penned three. Headhunted to Another World: From Salaryman to Big Four! is indeed another isekai offering, but I kind of loved this. Like Magilumiere before it, this takes a relatively standardized genre and stretches it to tell a story about the importance of unique skill sets. I always love a show where people whose skills aren't flashy or "cool" get a chance to shine.

On the other end of the spectrum is my review of season 2 of Shangri-La Frontier. Or, as Paul Chapman rightly calls it, "The Adventures of John Darksouls Who Is Good at Video Games." Calling it an isekai misses the entire point, even if you could call it one on a technicality. This is a monumentally great series about the hobby of gaming—possibly one of the strongest anime made on that front so far. And any opportunity to talk about it from that angle is an opportunity I shall take.

Finally, at least in features, I cover TASOKARE HOTEL. This is one of my recent pet anime, based on a mystery/room escape mobile game. The game itself was Very Okay, with a lot of the Okay-ness being down to a messy localization. But I'm thrilled that the anime has turned out as it did, and fascinated with the choices made to turn an interactive experience into a compelling TV series.

Last but not least, I've invaded a new section for me: games! I offered my thoughts on the demo of Genso Manège, a newly-localized otome visual novel. Between the art and the story, this was absolute catnip for me. So I'm glad to have given it a boost to our audience!

The new issue is on newsstands now. If your local magazine seller doesn't stock it, you can order a copy from the website. You'll also find daily news and features there, including regular reviews and articles from yours truly! As always, thanks so much for your support—and keep spreading the word!

I Finally Saw the Live-Action One Piece

 

I think there is a major problem in the world of entertainment: that is, the belief that live-action is the ultimate medium for literally anything. Netflix is subscribing hard to this, especially with its anime acquisitions, and is weeding out what doesn't fly (as far as they're concerned) with alarming speed.

I've talked before on other websites about how I feel there are some stories that, yes, belong in live action. I think SPY x FAMILY would thrive if given the same directorial juice as a Bond film, for instance. But I don't think absolutely everything needs it, and I don't think a live-action adaptation is immediately legitimizing in any way.

That said, I thought the live-action One Piece was really fun and I liked it a lot.

Let's get one thing straight right from the jump: I have not read the manga or watched the anime. I'm not saying I couldn't catch up—I'm a Doctor Who and PreCure fan, so I can do long-haul shows. In terms of what anime and manga I'm attempting to catch up on, it is definitely a choice not to pursue this. I look at how huge it is, I acknowledge that it's long-lived and much-loved for a reason, and I'm well aware I am highly unlikely to see a marathon of it through.

The only reason I'm laying this out is because I cannot, despite being an anime journalist by trade, compare this to the anime or manga. We all have our skillsets. It's why I'm talking about it here on my blog and not on Otaku USA. The journalist's approach belongs to a religious viewer; this is just between us friends.

First and foremost, this has Shonen Jump in its DNA. That seems like an obvious thing to say, but it's interesting to look at how long One Piece has been going and think about how formative works of the past couple decades have been re: what we think of as "Shonen Jump" now. It feels reductive to say "enthusiastic oddball with an unconventional form of strength and a lot of heart wants to be top of his game," but that's kind of the central formula of a SJ Big Three in this day and age.

Luffy is fun to follow because he is, in a lot of ways, Bugs Bunny punching seemingly above his weight. For plot-reasons (i.e. Devil Fruit), he does have a legitimately Looney Tunes anatomy. This is the main reason I considered One Piece a weird get for live action. So much of Eiichiro Oda's work is batshit insane and I couldn't imagine it working well, even with what effects can do nowadays.

But with a few kinda understandable exceptions, it looks like the creators just went for it and did all the weird stuff with no holding back.

Iñaki Godoy absolutely swung for the fences as Luffy. And it's not an easy role to play. You have to be fully goofy on main, but also able to swivel when a friend is hurt. But also able to yell out some frankly ludicrous attacks and make it sound like you mean it. I enjoyed his performance all the way through. Which is not to say I didn't enjoy the rest of the Straw Hat Pirates (all of them were fab), but I don't have as much to go on re: how well they embodied their characters. For example, Nami seems a lot more toned down than the rest of the crew (excluding Zoro), but I don't know whether she's like that in the manga and anime or if she got a Hollywood Tough Girl makeover. Again, this is why these thoughts are on my blog and not somewhere more professional.

However, one good thing about having no idea what was going on was that I got to be constantly surprised. Zeff and Sanji's backstory absolutely punched me in the gut. Nami's whole deal hit me hard, even though I know her character type and figured something along those lines had to be happening. But the one who really through me for a loop was Vice-Admiral Garp.

Vincent Regan (whom I've seen in several things without realizing it) did so much with this character. As I kept telling my housemate, I'm never sure whether I'm meant to love him or hate him. Every time he's swayed me over to thinking he's pretty cool, he swats me back over the line. Every time I think I'd happily do time to put him in the ground, he makes me like him again. The final episode of the season locked him in as a fave, though.

Watching a version of One Piece also helped it hit home for me why the Shonen Jump formula is a formula that works. Especially these days. Chasing your dreams is hard. It can seem too big and daunting, or too small and silly, or selfish and unproductive against the backdrop of current events. But having someone who believes in that dream and is willing to defend it—no matter how impossible or inconsequential it may seem—is huge. The power to chase a dream is one thing; having the support system to see it through is something else entirely.

In short? I can't say whether One Piece lives up to the original manga or anime. Consult fans of the manga and anime about it. But as someone coming in from outside, I can safely say the live-action adaptation has shown me why it's as loved and enduring as it is.

Otaku USA Spring 2025 Issue Now on Sale!

 

It's that time again! The latest issue of Otaku USA Magazine is on the newsstands, and this time I have five pieces in the latest magazine. I've been doing my best not only to keep up with the latest titles coming out, but (where I can) to read or play the source material. It's been making the recent seasons much more interesting and giving me a lot more to talk about with you guys as I put these articles out!

Nina the Starry Bride marks the first of my two reviews—a really gorgeous romantasy series for which I have indeed been reading the manga (and continue to even after the anime has finished). It's a pretty series with a dangerous love triangle, promises of magic, and a unique mythology. I can only hope there will be further seasons to bring to life what I've seen in the manga.

Orb: On the Movements of the Earth is my second review this issue, and is one of my absolute favorite shows of both the fall and winter season. It's a buried treasure that hasn't been getting nearly enough attention. I especially love it as someone with an interest in astronomy and Medieval history. But even if those aren't fixations for you, I still feel like everyone would like this at least a little.

And now, feature time! I'll Become a Villainess Who Goes Down in History falls into that very specific brand of isekai I'm totally into: reincarnated as a villainess. But it also falls under the heading of protagonists who have no idea what wonderful people they're being and how they're improving the world around them. I'm glad I got a chance to talk this one up.

On the other end of the spectrum is The Do-Over Damsel Conquers the Dragon Emperor, which... I had some issues with. On the bright side, writing this feature gave me the opportunity to talk about writer choices and how even having a "legitimate explanation" for something unsavory is still glorifying something unsavory. No hate to anyone who enjoyed it—I kinda can't get past a couple that's 19 and 10 is all.

And back on the up side—I close with a feature on Magilumiere Magical Girls Inc. Much like Orb, Magilumiere ended up very ignored and passed over. It's a darling series that deserves more attention, especially if you're a grown-up magical girl fan looking for something that isn't a grim and depressing subversion. It's nice to know there will be a second season, and I hope to do more coverage then.

Pick up the latest Otaku USA at your local newsstand, and keep an eye on the official site for more articles from me and others every day!

OUT NOW: Otaku USA Winter 2025 Issue

 

If for some reason you've not had enough of my articles on Crunchyroll, Otaku USA, or Boss Rush Network, it's time to grab some off the newsstand! The Otaku USA Magazine Winter 2025 issue is now on sale, and I have four contributions in this one. Best of all, they're all for shows I really loved in recent seasons.

My one entry in the review section is Pseudo Harem, a dark horse favorite from recent seasons. What could have been a fanservice/wish-fulfillment series is actually both an adorable rom-com and a showcase of Saori Hayami's amazing voice acting ability.

Speaking of shows I wasn't expecting to love, my first feature is on Makeine: Too Many Losing Heroines! This coming-of-age series follows a light novel loving boy and three real-life "losing heroines": the third point of the love triangle who doesn't get the guy. In my feature, I talk about how well this series explores what actually happens to these seemingly disposable characters.

Next is a feature on my fave of the season: No Longer Allowed in Another World. This "anti-isekai" reincarnates legendary author Osamu Dazai in a fantasy world where other isekai heroes have turned their cheat powers to evil. It's a great look at what (much of) the isekai genre has become, why it's become that way, and what it could be. Also, I get to talk about classic literature, so you know I'm happy.

Finally, at least for me, is a review of Dahlia in Bloom: Crafting a Fresh Start with Magical Tools. In terms of isekai, my tastes tend to run toward "protagonist just wants to have a nice time" stories and "reincarnated as the villainess" stories (which have some overlap, admittedly). Dahlia in Bloom falls into the former category, but there are also some really lovely themes of being true to yourself and receiving appreciation for your work.

The new issue is on newsstands now. And if you want more articles like these on a regular basis, keep an eye on the Otaku USA website!

Now Available: Otaku USA Magazine, Fall 2024

 

It's that time again—time for me to get a new issue of Otaku USA Magazine in my mailbox and remember I wrote about a whole bunch of anime several months ago. The Fall 2024 issue is the latest, and I've got several pieces about some shows I really liked very much.

The first of my three reviews in this issue is for Unnamed Memory, a fantasy/romance about a cursed heir to the throne and the long-lived witch he loves. This has a lot of Frieren energy, particularly in terms of the toll of immortality.

Given the Black Archive draft I'm currently working on, I've actually been thinking a lot about immortality in fiction and how it's often seen as a curse or a monkey's paw. The examination of longevity as neither a blessing nor a curse, but rather a new spin on the human condition with its own joys and difficulties, is extremely refreshing.

Speaking of paranormal beings in love, my second review is for Vampire Dormitory. This series is pure shoujo bait, she said affectionately—about a vampire named Ruka who's so obsessed with 2D girls that he can't fall in love with a real woman. Instead, he decides to love on sad boy Mito, showing him affection until his blood tastes good again. The twist? Mito is actually a girl!

I had a lot of fun watching this series, and sometimes you just need the shoujo formula to bring you a bit of joy.

Finally for my reviews this issue, but not for my contributions this issue, is Tonari no Yokai-san. Set in an alternate universe where yokai and other beasties live alongside humans, this is a surprisingly cozy series with a lot of heart.

The deeper you dive into this series, the more there is to love: from examinations of what it means to be human to some truly dark mysteries. But all of it keeps a sort of Ghibli-adjacent vibe that makes even the most dramatic episodes feel like a warm hug.

And then there's my feature on Astro Note. This is an absolutely fab original rom-com series with lovely animation and great writing. But what really makes me love it is its retro vibe... in particular, the similarities it bears to not one, but two Rumiko Takahashi classics.

Check out your local newsstands for the latest issue, and keep an eye on the Otaku USA website for more features from me!

Anime from This Season That I'd Actually Recommend to You

Writing about anime as (part of) my day job absolutely influences how much I write about it outside my day job. It's just logical. If I can monetize an article idea, I'm going to pitch it over to a magazine. Besides, a good chunk of my readership here on the blog and on my social media is more interested in the other parts of my career Venn diagram, so there's not a huge point in talking more.

That said, there are some things that just don't belong in an anime magazine or on an anime news website. Stuff like "Okay but seriously, here are the ones I'd tell you to watch without any sidebars or cautions." There are plenty of things I'd recommend if you're a hardcore anime fan, if you're into this or that specific subgenre, etc. But sight unseen? I don't get many.

So, here under my own roof, I'm going to try and give some occasional new anime recommendations to people who might not be as anime-focused. I've yet to see a Cowboy Bebop or a Keep Your Hands off Eizouken! this season, but there's still some fun to be had.

The Elusive Samurai

Tokiyuki Hojo was the ninth and final head of the Hojo clan, whose family fell apart during the 1333 siege of Kamakura. His attempts to return to power involves a cycle of fleeing, amassing armies, and fleeing again. By 1352 he managed to recapture Kamakura, but was beheaded a year later.

This is all historical fact. It is also the basis for The Elusive Samurai, an award-winning manga recently adapted into an anime. In this retelling, Tokiyuki Hojo is depicted as a young boy with a talent for evading capture. With the help of Suwa Yorishige (depicted here as a deity-level being with future vision), he hones his skills, turning the battlefield into his own brutal game of tag.

The love for the original manga of The Elusive Samurai is more than warranted, and its anime adaptation is possibly the most beautiful show currently airing. Its blend of anachronistic humor and stunningly animated action has left me speechless so far. If you only watch one new anime this season, go for this one. You don't need any anime knowledge: just an interest in history and a willingness to play along with some tonally-dissonant goofiness.

Ramen Akaneko

Sometimes you just want to chill, and I get that. Ramen Akaneko is my laid-back show of the season. It's a show about a ramen shop run by cats. And that's it. That's all you need to know.

The shop has just accepted its one human employee, who works part-time keeping the staff brushed and will occasionally don a kabuki stagehand outfit to wash dishes up front. (Patrons are here to see the cute feline staff, after all.) A gentle giant of a tiger works in the back making the shop's fresh noodles. And that's pretty much it. The stakes are low, with the most dramatic event so far being a YouTuber trying to take video inside the restaurant to boost his viewing figures.

I've already recommended this one to several friends, and I'm sure many more would enjoy it. Sometimes you just need something laid-back and cute at the end of your day.

Pseudo Harem

I'm recommending this one with full awareness that it will be a harder sell. But Pseudo Harem really surprised me. And you only need one basic piece of knowledge about anime to enjoy it, which you might have already: an awareness of harem anime.

For those who don't know, "harem anime" are those shows where one guy (often with nothing to recommend him) is fawned over by multiple love interests, each representing a very specific character trope. Kind of like horny commedia dell'arte: you will know the characters even if you've never seen the show before. There's the aloof cool girl, the spoiled needy girl, the big sister and little sister types, the shy bookworm, the flirt, and so on.

Pseudo Harem is about two drama club nerds in love. The boy, Eiji, dreams of having his own harem of anime girls. The girl, Rin, is a gifted actress who improvs all these different character tropes on the fly to amuse him. In actuality, though, she has a massive crush on him. These different personas let her voice her feelings safely, but she also has no idea whether Eiji reciprocates her feelings or just has fun interacting with her cast of characters. It's an earnest and self-aware little show that I did not expect to enjoy—definitely my wild card of the summer.

If you'd like to see more of my writing on all things anime, check out my news coverage on Crunchyroll and my features on Otaku USA!

OUT NOW: Otaku USA's Fall 2023 Issue!

 

It's that time again! The Fall 2023 issue of Otaku USA Magazine is on newsstands. As ever, I'm super grateful to be a part of this publication. The fact that we have a regularly issued anime-centric magazine in the States is a big enough deal already; getting to share my thoughts on new (and classic) series is just a bonus.

This time around, I have a trio of features on this year's newest titles. There's also lots of coverage of older titles in this issue, too—including the original six-episode Gunbuster OVA, Aim for the Ace!, and our cover girl Kiki!

In the review section, I share my thoughts on Yuri Is My Job! This seemingly one-trick title actually has a lot of intriguing plot threads and emotional stakes. Much like Ouran High School Host Club, it's largely sold on its opening gag, but has lots of hidden depth. Don't get me wrong, it's also still really funny.

On to features... I'm back in the isekai mines for a piece on The Aristocrat's Otherworldly Adventure. It's a surprisingly charming and genre-savvy series. So if you're trying to steer clear of edgy revenge isekai, this is a good place to start. I also completely forgot I referred to the protagonist as "the Bertie Wooster of anime" in this feature, but I'm not wrong.

Slightly grimmer—okay, a lot grimmer—is Hell's Paradise, the subject of my other feature for this issue. This exercise in opposites was a lot of fun to dig into and write about. If you're sensitive to gore and bizarre imagery, you might not feel comfy with this one. But if you're into, like, Devilman and Chainsaw Man, take my review to heart and watch this one.

I'm hard at work on another round of features for the next issue as we speak, so I'm looking forward to telling you all about that one when it drops! In the meantime, pick up the latest issue from the newsstand or grab it online. And if you want more of me talking about anime on a regular basis, check me out in the Crunchyroll Newsroom and the Otaku USA website!

MERCH REVIEW: CASETiFY x One Piece Restock

 

Besides being a legitimately rad brand, CASETiFY is becoming one of my favorite companies to work with. They show a lot of love for anime fans, and their designs are actually well thought out and fun to sport. (When your best friend is a graphic designer, you get picky.)

If you follow my work for Otaku USA, you've probably already seen that they are setting up for a big ol' One Piece restock. Between the series's enduring appeal, the recent events of the anime, and the upcoming live-action series, it's on everyone's mind even more than usual. The restock goes live this Friday, but I got to test out some of their sweet returning designs in advance!

In this particular merch drop, the poker card designs are my favorites. Each presents a duo laid out playing card style. For my sample, I got Uta and Shanks—which, while all the card cases look cool, probably looks the best in the red and white color scheme.

That said, I'm also an absolute sucker for their all-over iconography, and I let the people at CASETiFY know that when they asked which designs caught my eye. There's usually at least one design per Co-Lab that looks like this, and I will always love it. This one mixes text and iconography from across the series, with Luffy's scar in the center. 

I think this design in particular appeals to me because it manages to hit that improbable middle ground between "unabashed in its fandom" and "still looks cool even if you don't know what it is." I'm glad this is a design concept they return to in each line for this exact reason.

So I talk a lot about the look—because obviously they have a look—but these are some of my favorite CASETiFY cases construction-wise, too. The sides are more flexible than others I've used while still being durable, meaning I can get them on and off my phone with minimal issue. And they're still very light and durable, which is great considering how often I drop my phone.

Of course, the big event of the Co-Lab restock is the return of the Golden Transponder Snail airpod case. Those bad boys sold out in nine minutes last time they went on sale. So if you want to grab that, get on the waitlist! Orders open this Friday, August 25.

Thanks very much to CASETiFY for letting me sample more of their awesome cases. If you pick anything up, let me know what you think!

MERCH REVIEW: DGK x Afro Samurai

 

Late last month, skateboard and apparel brand DGK hit me up concerning their latest collab. Their Afro Samurai line was set to include boards, clothing, and accessories. First things first, I shared this with the readers of Otaku USA. But then they reached out again, asking if I'd like to have a closer look at what was on offer.

Now, dear reader, it may surprise you to know that I do not skateboard. However, I do like to wear clothes on my body, and I like it even more when those clothes have something to do with things I like. And I do love Afro Samurai (and pretty much anything Takashi Okazaki decides to do). So, here we are:

I opted for two designs I personally liked out of the many on offer. First up, the Kuma tee, available in four colors and priced at $34.

I love a shirt with a front and back print, and I especially love shirt designs that don't confine themselves to a delineated geometric shape. The way Kuma steps out of the graphic is exceptionally cool.

Also in my shipment was The Blade Hoody, available in four colors and priced at $80. And this was all about those print colors. Just look at em.

This has front, back, and sleeve printing. I absolutely adore it. As far as I'm concerned, these colors pop best on the black fabric. And the inside is very soft and fleecy. This is probably my new favorite hoodie in the house—one more reason I can't wait for the weather to cool off.

This is all well and good, but there's one more thing. The longer I hang out with Ginger Hoesly (my best friend and regular collaborator), the more of a shirt snob I become. Given her line of work, she's made me acutely aware of fabric quality, print quality, shirt brands, the whole nine yards. So these are cool looking shirts, but how do they stack up quality wise?

Short answer: nice.

The first thing I noticed is that the ink on these shirts is dense. With proper care, these are going to look nice for a long time. They'll take a little breaking in to lie right, but once that's done, I see these lasting for a while. 

As I said before, I also love these designs. It's all too easy for collabs to end up looking like one of those free T-shirts you'd get with a magazine or out of a T-shirt cannon or something. (I see a lot of anime collab apparel in my line of work, and just because it comes from a big name brand doesn't mean it'll look cool.) These are actually cool designs to have in your wardrobe, not just "I finally found an Afro Samurai shirt" shirts.

You can find these designs and more on the DGK website. And if you are of the sick kickflip persuasion, you can also pick up boards, decks, griptape, and more from the same collection.

Thanks to DGK for sending these samples my way. Be sure to visit their site and social media and show them some love!