That is fantastic. I know some people don't like when localization goes beyond just translation, but that is a work of art.
Daisuke is just too strong at this point. He has been on a 300+ chapter training arc in the background apparently.
It makes me sad that there are just four chapters left to go, but I will definitely be keeping tabs on this author going forward. Between this series and Shinryaku Ika Musume, their sense of humor for SOL is just so perfectly aligned with mine. Really glad to see that we are getting some time with other characters next chapter.
Read Atsumare! Fushigi Kenkyu-bu Ch. 375 "The Mystery of the Next Prez" on MangaDex!
Wonder how many of these Aster stories we are getting. They are still introducing new characters like this new wizard master.
I do like how she has learned enough about herself through this process to realize she could have been happy without going to such extreme lengths.
Only one more chapter to go...
For the penultimate chapter we get a bit of a speedrun through university entrance exams and graduation prep. My favorite part was how they were literally running to each other for a celebratory hug.
Looks like the final chapter will be graduation speeches by both of them.
Read Ijiranaide, Nagatoro-san Ch. 153 "What's your dream, Senpai?" on MangaDex!
A quick search turned up a game for the Sega Saturn. I have heard of the series before, but didn't know about the game until now.
No date announced yet. The new PV is here. This was announced to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the original anime adaptation. No English source yet, so here is the Natalie source (edit: Crunchyroll article). Synopsis of the source manga from AniList:
> Hikaru, Umi, and Fuu, girls from separate schools, find themselves linked together as they fall through the floor during a field trip to the Tokyo Tower. They land in a place called Cephiro, where their will controls what happens. They meet with Guru Clef and find out that they were summoned to save Princess Emeraude who has been imprisoned by High Priest Zagato. They learn magic and acquire weapons on their quest to save Cephiro from the evils of Zagato.
Premieres sometime in early 2025. The new PV is here. Check out the ANN article for additional information. Synopsis of the source manga from AniList:
> Oscar François de Jarjeyes is a young noblewoman raised as a son by her father. As commander of Marie Antoinette's palace guard, Oscar is brought face-to-face with the luxury of King Louis XVI’s court at Versailles. Joined by her servant André, Oscar is privy to the intrigue and deceit of France's last great royal regime.
Aoi is out here causing misunderstandings with her students. Turns out she also wants to eat the rich:
Read Isekai Teni Shite Kyoushi ni Natta ga, Majo to Osorerareteiru Ken ~Aoi-sensei no Gakuen Funtou Nisshi~ Ch. 10 on MangaDex!
Hopefully that is what the news is going to be. I have enjoyed this one. The dad suddenly appearing like a jump scare was pretty good.
I don't think doing anything like that is what she has in mind...
it’s way less serious than the PVs make it look like
That is what I was hoping for. I am down for debugging hijinks, so sign me up.
Premieres October 12, 2024. The new PV is here. Check out the ANN article for additional information. Synopsis from AniList:
> It's 1863, the twilight of the shogunate, and Japan is on the cusp of monumental change. The streets of the nation's capital are soaked in blood as political upheaval and rising tensions between masterless, wandering ronin and government samurai set the stage for one of the most turbulent times in Japan's history. Young orphan Nio is no stranger to the harsh realities of the world, and yet he can't help but cling to his burning passion for justice and desire to change the world for the better. > > One day, he crosses paths with two men who will become central figures of the coming revolution: Hijikata Toshizo and Okita Souji, two of the founding members of a group of hated ronin known as the Miburo—who would later become known as the Shinsengumi. Inspired by the efforts of the so-called "Blues Wolves of Mibu," Nio decides to join the ranks to help carve a path to the world he wishes to see. But with new betrayals and reversals every day, will Nio be able to stay true to his conscience?
I have grown to like the Ruri/Maeda dynamic. It's kind of nice to have a character that isn't afraid to throw around cutting remarks, but...out of love, to keep the others grounded.
Really love that they stuck erasers on her horns. It's such a little thing, but totally feels like something you would do to tease your friend if they had horns.
I was wondering why Akira wasn't there during the training. Seems like she will be the final boss instead. Both Sumika and Kanae were great this chapter. Kanae knows exactly what she wants and isn't afraid to be a bit shameless about it.
I think you are missing Dahlia in Bloom. @NineSwords@ani.social recommended that one based on the LN, so I am planning on checking it out.
Another one I have my eye on is Quality Assurance. I haven't really been able to make heads or tails of it based on the synopsis and the PV. The title makes me think that it is a VR-style world and the QA part of the title is about hunting for bugs in the code. However, all the synopses and the PV make it look like a serious fantasy story. Probably going to wait and see what the initial reaction is before diving in.
Yeah, this only adapts the first chapter of the manga and Takuma kinda sucks here. I had kind of forgotten that this is how we are introduced to his character because it feels so different than how he acts in the rest of the story. Like, the obsessing over Mina is always there, but the drinking and overall patheticness are dialed back going forward and it is much more of just a romance.
What are your thoughts on Mina's voice? Unlike Mina, I have mixed feelings about it. I am hoping that I get more used to it as time goes on.
Yeah...I was excited for this one since I really like the manga. However, my excitement has dropped a bit after the first episode. I am not sure if I am going to get used to the Mina voice or not. I hadn't watched any of the PVs before diving in since I knew this was one I was going to check out already, but...yeah...will take some getting used to. This might be one of those things that is done better in the manga format, where the dialog boxes are shaped differently to denote that Mina is speaking:
Otherwise, this episode only adapts the first manga chapter, establishing the premise. Now that we got Takuma's pathetic phase out of the way, we can focus on the actual fun part of the story. Reading into the OP and ED, it looks like we are going to get a pretty full cast of characters. However, some notable absences from the characters we see that I welcome:
Manga Spoilers
The robot research club students don't seem to appear in the OP/ED which I find great because I think their part of the story is the weakest.
Looking forward to see where this goes and I am hoping that the Mina voice won't bother me as much going forward.
Have you read the source for this one? I haven't really looked at the Fall season too much yet to see what's coming. The only show I know is airing this Fall I am definitely watching is Natsume. So, likely plenty of room to squeeze in a good otome story.
Premieres October 2024. Previously released PV here. Check out the ANN article for additional information. Synopsis from AniList:
> I absolutely hate a world filled with sweet talking. I'll fight the Heroine's rationale head on!!! > > After waking up as the villainess she admires so much from her favourite otome game, Alicia trains hard every day to become the greatest villainess of all time.
Their teaser visual is basically just a lightly edited version of the LN Vol. 1 cover. However, the date announcement I thought was worth posting. The series was originally announced back in 2023 with no updates since.
Premieres sometime in 2025. Teaser image source is the official Twitter account. Check out the ANN article for additional information. Series synopsis from AniList:
> After failing the final exam for his dream job at the royal court, promising young sorcerer Allen wants nothing more than to retreat to a simple life in the countryside. Unfortunately for him, he can’t even afford the train fare! His only solution is to get a job, but his one lead is anything but modest—Duke Howard, one of the kingdom’s most powerful nobles, needs a private tutor for his daughter Tina. Despite her academic brilliance, Tina is incapable of casting even a single spell. To make matters worse, entrance exams for the prestigious Royal Academy are fast approaching, and magical aptitude is mandatory! Can Allen use his unique brand of spellcasting to help Tina overcome her magical impairment, a mystery that not even the kingdom’s finest sorcerers have been able to solve? And does her father, the duke, even want him to?
I am trying to think of demographics that wouldn't really be represented here and I came up with a couple ideas, but the biggest is probably kids. So, I wonder if a show like Tonbo! did well enough with a young audience to get a second season, but it just isn't showing up here.
It's pretty safe to say that Astro Note bombed pretty hard based on the staff apologizing about the show.
So, a bit of a different type of post from me this week. Instead of highlighting interesting series I found this past week, I wanted to talk about a couple series I have come across recently that all seem to have a similar premise. See if you can spot a theme!
In no particular order:
This series begins with the MC's childhood friend turning down his confession because she is dating somebody else. We then see him declare himself as a gloomy character on the first day of school and profess that he is going to drop out. As the story goes on, we see that he has a history with several other female characters in which he thinks they loathe him and he tries to push them away while living his best life without them. However, is loathing what they really feel towards our MC?
This story starts with the MC in a relationship. However, his girlfriend breaks up with him for being too nice and accommodating, allowing others to take advantage of him. We later meet two other characters; a kouhai that mercilessly teases him, and a maid at a local cafe that berates him (and the other guests). Eventually, the MC gets fed up with this treatment and decides to cut all three out of his life altogether. However, after doing so, they approach him completely differently. What could their true feelings towards the MC be?
This one starts with the MC dumping his girlfriend. Then, he gives himself a bit of a makeover and makes a debut in school as a hottie (I guess bangs make the man?). As the story goes, we see the MC get to know his classmates (something his overbearing girlfriend never let him do) and his ex scheme her way back into his life. For somebody that treated the MC like crap, she sure is trying hard to get his attention...
All three of these series are wish fullfilment in its purest form. Enormous mountains of drama that don't hold any punches in dialing up the absurdity. It is a bit of a guilty pleasure of mine to read stuff like this that is just full angst and manufactured drama (I blame DomeKano for starting me down this path). If that is what you are looking for, then these series are decent passes at it. Don't expect logic, likeable characters, character growth, or any of that. Just turn your brain off and strap in. If you like fantasy/isekai stories that are "I got kicked out of the hero's party and my life is awesome while theirs sucks now" then you would like this high school equivalent genre of "I dumped the toxic people out of my life and my life is awesome now."
Another week in the books. Let's chat about manga in the general discussion thread! Feel free to use this thread for questions, comments, recommendations, etc.
Like normal, please be careful with spoilers. I wrote a guide about spoilers in case you need a refresher on how to handle them (also linked in the sidebar).
Weekly ranking roundup:
- Anime Corner - Full Results - Weekly Winner: Kaiju No. 8
- Reddit Karma - Weekly Winner: Mushoku Tensei
Credit to /u/Abysswatcherbel for making the chart for reddit karma.
In the final week of the year, Kaiju and Demon Slayer made some gains on the charts. As the new shows pop up on the charts this coming week, it will be interesting to see how things shake out.
New Monday, new week, new season of anime. It's time for fresh beginnings! The very first summer shows have already aired, but the bulk of them are starting over the course of this week. Also happening this week, where I am from, it is a holiday (July 4th in the US). So, if you are like me and will be out on the beach a lot this week, then here's to us, enjoying an irl beach episode.
In any case, please use this thread for all your anime discussion needs. I want to hear what your thoughts on the new batch of shows are. Thanks in advance for letting me know what to watch vs. skip when I get back from vacation!
As always, remember to be mindful of spoilers. If you want to know more about how to handle spoilers in this community, check the guide here (also linked in the sidebar).
No release dates announced yet. The new PV is here. This announcement comes as the current season finale aired today. Check out the Crunchyroll article for additional information. Source manga synopsis from AniList:
> The setting is Taisho era Japan. Tanjirou is a kindhearted young boy who lived peacefully with his family as a coal seller. Their normal life changes completely when his family is slaughtered by demons. The only other survivor, Tanjirou's younger sister Nezuko, has become a ferocious demon. In order to return Nezuko to normal and get revenge on the demon that killed their family, the two of them depart on a journey. From a young talent, an adventure tale of blood and swords begins!
No date announced yet. This announcement comes as the finale for season two aired today. Check out the Crunchyroll article for additional information. Synopsis for the source light novels from AniList:
> Kicked out by his family and wandering the streets, an unemployed 34-year-old shut-in thinks he’s hit rock-bottom—just as he’s hit and killed by a speeding truck! Awakening to find himself reborn as an infant in a world of swords and sorcery, but with the memories of his first life intact, Rudeus Greyrat is determined not to repeat his past mistakes. He’s going to make the most of this reincarnation as he sets off on the adventure of a second lifetime!
Premieres sometime in 2025. This announcement comes after the season one finale aired today. Check out the ANN article for additional information. Synopsis for season 1 from AniList:
> When the Monster Army invaded Earth thirteen years ago, the Divine Dragon Rangers rose up to stop them! With the war raging on, these great heroes are mankind’s last hope! > > ...or are they? > > In truth, the invaders were subjugated within a year, forced to continue to crank out a monster a week for the Rangers to crush in front of their adoring fans! But one monster has had enough. Something has to change! He’ll rebel against the might of the Dragon Rangers and destroy them all...from the inside!
Read Osananajimi to wa Romcom ni Naranai Vol. 9 Ch. 78 "Romcoms don't happen even when you're a drunk baby " on MangaDex!
Read Hajimete no Ojou-sama Vol. 2 Ch. 13 "First Swimsuit Selection" on MangaDex!
Premieres July 6th. No English article that I found yet, so here is the Natalie source. Series synopsis from AniList:
> Rice is Power! > > Spoiled harvest goddess Sakuna finds herself banished from her opulent celestial home to an island overrun with demons. In the untamed wilderness, she must rediscover her birthright as the daughter of a warrior god and harvest goddess by weathering the elements, fighting monsters, and cultivating rice, the source of her power. By her side in this forbidding place is her guardian Tama and a group of outcast humans. Together, these unlikely companions must join hands to tame both the soil and the demons of Hinoe Island.
Premieres sometime in 2025. The new PV is here. Check out the Crunchyroll article for additional information. The article describes the story (source is a visual novel) as (weird spacing is part of the original article):
> To help manage his recently deceased grandmother's effects,the protagonist Takahara Hairi travels to Torishirojima during his summer vacation. > > As he gets off the ferry boat, he spots a lone girl standing on the pier. > > A girl who simply gazes into the distance as her long hair flutters in the wind. > > He looks at the girl in utter bewilderment, but before he realizes it, she can no longer be found anywhere. > > Hairi finds himself starting to adjust to life on this island, > > surrounded by nature far lusher than anything he has ever come across back in the city. > > Time seems to flow by casually on this island, and as it does, memories of something nostalgic keep coming back to him... > > Memories of something he had long forgotten.
Premieres Fall 2024. Source for the teaser image is from the official Twitter account. This announcement comes as the finale for season 1 aired today. Check out the ANN article for additional information. Season 1 synopsis from AniList:
> The story begins with Igarashi, who was disqualified as a pro golfer after a certain "incident" and thus moves to Kagoshima Prefecture's Tokara Islands to step out of the limelight. On these islands known as "Japan's last unexplored wilderness," he encounters a naive girl named Tonbo. > > As it turns out, these supposedly unexplored islands have a homemade golf course, where Tonbo plays every day. She demonstrates genius-level prowess, playing every kind of shot with just one golf club, a 3-iron. Igarashi is amazed at Tonbo's talent, even as he harbors doubts about her only using a 3-iron. Yet, hidden deep in Tonbo's heart lies a painful, sad past….
