“Despite knowing love is itself a curse. Despite knowing that the path only leads to darkness Perhaps that is exactly why it is so dazzling”

Anime of the day: 2022 Year in Review

Action: Chainsaw Man

Adventure: Golden Kamuy 4th Season

Comedy: Spy x Family Part 2

Drama: Dance Dance Danseur

Ecchi: Kinsou no Vermeil: Gakeppuchi Majutsushi wa Saikyou no Yakusai to Mahou Sekai wo Tsukisusumu

Fantasy: Made in Abyss: Retsujitsu no Ougonkyou

Game: Overlord IV

Horror: Berserk: Ougon Jidai-hen - Memorial Edition

Historical: Kingdom 4th Season

Harem: 5-toubun no Hanayome Movie

Josei: Koroshi Ai

Mecha: Kidou Senshi Gundam: Suisei no Majo

Music: Paripi Koumei

Mystery: Koukyuu no Karasu

Psychological: Youkoso Jitsuryoku Shijou Shugi no Kyoushitsu e 2nd Season

School: Sono Bisque Doll wa Koi wo Suru

Sci-fi: Urusei Yatsura 

Seinen: Kotarou wa Hitorigurashi

Shoujo: Akuyaku Reijou nano de Last Boss wo Kattemimashita

Shoujo Ai: Tensei Oujo to Tensai Reijou no Mahou Kakumei

Shounen: Bleach: Sennen Kessen-hen

Shounen Ai: Sasaki to Miyano

Slice of Life: Do It Yourself!!

Supernatural: Mob Psycho 100 III

Sports: Blue Lock

Romance: Kawaii dake ja Nai Shikimori-san

Vampire: Yofukashi no Uta

Crime/Police: Kumichou Musume to Sewagakari

Isekai: Honzuki no Gekokujou: Shisho ni Naru Tame ni wa Shudan wo Erandeiraremasen 3rd Season

Toonami Weekly Recap 02/04/2023

My Hero Academia Season 6 Paranormal Liberation War Arc EP#121 (08) - League of Villains vs. U.A. Students: The Class 1-A and 1-B students led by Yaoyorozu work together to set up their trap, successfully getting Gigantomachia stuck in the ground, with the plan of forcing his mouth open and injecting a sedative into him to knock him out. They attempt to get in close to the League still on his back, but are pushed back by the villains, and literally blown away by the beast as they try to throw the sedatives inside. Dabi's fire prevents most of them from getting any closer, but using her Quirk, Mina is able to rush through to reach the beast. However, she ends up recognizing Gigantomachia from their encounter during middle school, and hesitates just long enough to miss her shot. He nearly crushes her, but is saved by Kirishima, who manages to hold onto his leg and successfully throws Mina's sedative canister into his mouth. The Pro Heroes return to battle, however everyone is stunned as Gigantomachia starts to transform his body. Meanwhile in Jaku, Shigaraki declares his conviction how heroes save people while abandoning their families, and that he is the result of them all ignoring the true problems of their society. He refuses to let up the assault, and ends up critically injuring Gran Torino, who at this time remembers back to the incident when Nana abandoned her son to save him, wondering if what they did was right. Shigaraki attempts to go after Eraser Head, but is held back by Deku and Ryukyu using all of their strength. Unbeknownst to them however, Shigaraki is in possession of a Quirk-Destroying Bullet, and uses his fingers to shoot it toward Eraser Head, hitting him in the leg.

Made in Abyss: The Golden City of the Scorching Sun EP#11 (24) - Value: Faputa knocks Reg out and then tries to attack Riko, believing her to be the reason for his amnesia. However, her companion Gaburoon intervenes, shielding Riko and taking heavy damage in the process. Nanachi and Belaf then arrive, with Belaf allowing Faputa to attack him. As she kills him, Belaf transfers his memories of Vueko and Irumyuui to her, wishing for her to find her own value. Faputa is left confused at the new memories she has received, giving the other villagers and Nanachi time to evacuate Riko. However, with the village barrier breached, monsters from the outside begin to enter and attack the villagers. Faputa tries to repel the beasts, but is quickly overwhelmed and left near death while Gaburoon sacrifices itself to protect her. As she lay dying, several villagers come and begin feeding parts of themselves to her, transferring their value to her so she can regenerate herself. Conflicted by this show of compassion by the villagers she's supposed to destroy, Faputa fully regenerates and heads back out to challenge the monsters again.

Yashahime: The Second Act EP#47 (23) - Father and Daughter: To defeat Osamu, Towa restores her ability and destroys Kirinmaru's right arm. The dying Riku vanishes from existence, leaving Kirinmaru's small horn. Towa overcomes her grief and reunites with Setsuna and Moroha. Sessh?maru and Kirinmaru continues to clash with Sessh?maru taunting Kirinmaru that he is acting more like a human. As Kirinmaru was about to land a hit on Sessh?maru, Sessh?maru easily overpowers Kirinmaru, unable to see it coming as the battle continues. Towa uses the Zanseiken for the final time to save Rion. Towa tells the others to carve their own fate as she uses the sword's power to save Rion from her regretful past and Osamu Kirin as she offers her body to her. Rion is now freed from her past and Osamu Kirin, but at the cost of Towa's mind as she collapses which worries Setsuna and Moroha that they truly will never see their warm-hearted relative again. Rion fuses into Towa's body, as it disappears with Rion herself still remains. Defeated and overwhelmed by Sessh?maru, Kirinmaru is sent up to the Grim Butterfly's interior and is reunited with Rion. He apologizes to her for everything as they bonded again. Rion requests Setsuna to cut the red thread of fate between her and her father. Kirinmaru and Rion forgive the girls. As Kirinmaru and Rion die peacefully, Zanseiken and Bakuseiken meld into a single sword of Amatsumikaboshi, and Towa returns to the real world alive. The others see the Grim Butterfly disappearing from the sky. Towa, Setsuna and Moroha are congratulated by their families, while returning to their peaceful lives.

Yashahime: The Second Act EP#48 (24) Finale - A Never-Ending Future: Per the request of a fully revitalized Riku, the Half-Demon Princess embark to the west to deal with demons of both low and high rank causing trouble, now that the balance of power has shifted with the demise of the Beast King of the Eastern Lands, by traveling to the western lands that were once dominated by their mighty grandfather.

Slightly Damned Page 1085: https://www.sdamned.com/comic/1085

Illustrations for Made in Abyss: Golden City of the Scorching Sun.

I love these characters and this story arc, it's been awesome to see it animated! Go watch it if you haven't!

-Ecstatic Shock Featuring Kaeya

Meaning: The surge of energy upon catching a glance from someone you like—a thrill that starts in your stomach, arcs up through your lungs and flashes into a spontaneous smile

Word count: 1.3k~

Description: Kaeya goes to see his girlfriend who works at angels share after a hard day of paperwork

Edited by: @pretty-princess-peach

Join The Tag List

It had been such a long day. Kaeya was exhausted. It wasn’t fighting hilichurls or abyss creatures that had gotten him so exhausted, but something far more evil than that, Kaeya’s worst fear, paperwork. He had been putting it off for so long that Jean had needed to corner him in order to even talk to him about it. She had informed him that he would not be allowed to do any other work, or go on any missions, until every last bit of paperwork was completed. Unfortunately, he knew that she was dead serious, so he took to his office and begrudgingly got to work.

But now the day was over, and the sun was slowly sinking in the sky. The time for Kaeya to complete work that day had finally come to an end, and there was only one thing he could think of to ease his mind, alcohol. Besides, going to Angel's Share would be the only way he could see his lovely girlfriend until she had gotten off of work, so really, it was a win-win.

Kaeya organized the scattered papers on his desk before heading out the door of his office. As he walked towards the door, he passed Jean on her way out of the library, no doubt having just spoken with Lisa. She gave him a look, and he just winked at her and continued on his way to the exit. He pulled open the doors and was greeted with a city bathed in the golden rays of the slowly setting sun. Kaeya started his walk towards Angel's Share, silently praying that Diluc wouldn’t happen to be bartending tonight. He really didn’t want to deal with his brother's sour attitude.

Finally, Kaeya was walking through the doors of the bar and was relieved to see Charles behind the counter, cleaning glasses. He walked up to the counter and sat down on one of the stools. Charles noticed him and turned around with a smile on his face.

“Hey Kaeya, what can I get for you today? The usual?”

“Yes, that would be wonderful. Thank you, Charles.”

Charles started making his drink while Kaeya glanced around the bar, looking for a certain smiling waitress. Eventually, he found you, moving from table to table, collecting orders, bringing drinks, and grabbing dishes. After a few minutes, you made your way back to the counter to drop off the empty glasses and grab the drinks that were waiting to go to their tables. However, the second you had put down the dirty glasses and your hands were free, you immediately felt someone hug you from behind, and you froze.

“Hello there, my princess.”

You felt a wave of relief rush through you when you heard the familiar voice.

“Kaeya, let go. I'm working.”

He started running a hand up and down your side and blowing on your neck, and that was enough to make you wiggle out of the embrace and return to work. Kaeya chuckled to himself while he watched you walk away with an obvious blush gracing your cheeks.

“One Death After Noon.”

Kaeya turned around and picked up the drink.

“Thank you, Charles.”

He made his way to a table that was in the way enough that you would be walking by him lots.

Kaeya leaned back in his seat and stretched before starting to sip his drink. You saw him out of the corner of your eye and couldn’t help but be reminded of a cat.

You continued to take orders, drop off food and drink, and pick up any dishes or messes that were made. That is, until Kaeya was calling you over to his table. You walked over to him, assuming he was going to order some food since his drink was only half way done.

“What can I get you?”

“Ouch, so cold. Don’t you miss me?”

You rolled your eyes.

“I’m working. What can I get you?”

“I just wanted to talk to you, baby.”

You shook your head and walked back to the counter to start ferrying more food to customers. Despite your focus on your job, Kaeya was having a nice time sipping his drink and watching you work. He flagged you down a few more times, but each time, he was met with annoying professionalism. You were being way nicer to the other patrons. It wasn’t fair! Eventually, Charles had to come up to him and ask that he not needlessly bother his employees while they were supposed to be working. That was enough to make your boyfriend decide that it would be best to wait to call you over again until he actually needed a new drink.

Another half an hour had passed, and Kaeya was finally finished. He called you over, and you were pleased to hear that he actually wanted to order another drink and wasn’t just bugging you. Of course, you weren’t actually upset with him. You thought his persistence was cute, and you couldn’t wait to go home with him later.

Another few minutes passed, and you were back with a new drink. Unfortunately though, Kaeya had devised an ingenious plan. He would drink his drinks much faster in order to talk to you more. It couldn’t fail.

You only started to notice Kaeya’s increased pace after you were bringing him his fourth drink. You knew that he could hold his liquor, but if he kept this up, he was going to be shitfaced by the time you two would be heading back to your place.

The night continued on, and eventually, you had to cut him off when he slurred out a request for a twelfth drink.

“Okay, you’re cut off for tonight.”

“What? Psht, I’m fine, don’t be mean.”

Wow. He was actually pouting. He sat there looking dejected for another forty five minutes while you finished your shift.

After what felt like hours to Kaeya, you were done. You walked over to your pouty boyfriend. You poked his shoulder, and he looked up at you. He looked miserable. After staring at you for a few seconds, he seemed to realize what was happening, and his face began to light up.

“You’re done?!”

“Yes, baby. I’m done.”

He jumped up, his chair falling back behind him, and picked you up and spun you around the best he could without having you hit a table.

“We’re going home now?”

“Yes, we’re going home now.”

You let out a little giggle at your boyfriend's behavior. He grabbed your hand and started walking out of the bar before you could pick up the fallen chair, and his strength left no room for any disagreement. The whole way back to your place, Kaeya was goofing off and saying things like, “You know, you really should have let me keep drinking. Pirates can drink lots, and I have an eyepatch, so I’m basically a pirate.”

Finally, the two of you were at your front door. Kaeya was swaying slightly as he waited for you to unlock it, and frankly, you were a little worried that he was going to fall over.

You opened your door and led your boyfriend inside, making sure he took off his boots before coming in too far. The two of you made your way to your bedroom, and you started changing into pajamas while Kaeya just took off his shirt and pants. The two of you laid down in bed together, and Kaeya started telling you how much he loves you and how he is so happy that you’re his. It was obvious that it was just drunk rambling, but it still made your face warm and gave you slight butterflies.

Kaeya was perfectly content. He was drunk,comfortable, and with the girl he loved. He couldn’t think of any better way to relax after such a long day of work.

Tag List: @lilia-sspouse @but-a-peach @stannazuna @yourlocal-bunny @lordbugs @randomlycockroach @licensedsimp @leena-shi @cesimaaa @welpthisisfine @dainself-when-playable @fic-rebloga @bubblyxdolly @wanderin-stories

morbific-or-felicific.

My favorite OSTs!

I was compiling a list of links to the soundtracks of my favorite fandoms, and I thought I'd post them here in case anyone else wants them (These are just the ones I couldn't find on Amazon Music)

Revolutionary Girl Utena 1: The Eve of the Absolute Evolution Revolution (Student Council Arc)

Revolutionary Girl Utena 2: Virtual Star Embryology (Black Rose Saga)

Revolutionary Girl Utena 3: Internal Clock, Municipal Orrery (Apocalypse Arc)

Revolutionary Girl Utena 4: Angelic Creation, Namely, Light (Duel Chorus Remixes)

Revolutionary Girl Utena 8: Adolescence Rush (Adolescence of Utena) - note that the tracks are in reverse order

Revolutionary Girl Utena 12: Barbara Dwarf Star Child Apocalypse (bonus duel-chorus-style tracks) - not in order

Fire Emblem: Three Houses

Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn

Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance

Thunderbolt Fantasy (through season 3)

Thunderbolt Fantasy: Raimei (S1 OP full version)

Lycoris Recoil

Lycoris Recoil: ALIVE (OP full version)

Lycoris Recoil: Tower of Flower (ending full version)

Made in Abyss OST 1 (Season 1)

Made in Abyss OST 2 (Dawn of the Deep Soul)

Made in Abyss OST 3 (Season 2: Golden City of the Scorching Sun)

Made in Abyss: Deep in Abyss (S1 OP)

Made in Abyss: Tabi no Hidarite, Saihate no Migite (S1 ED)

Made in Abyss: Katachi (S2 OP)

Made in Abyss: Endless Embrace (S2 ED)

It literally took a global pandemic to slow down the rapid growth of anime’s popularity. But the industry has surged back, and after a year during which studios were playing catch-up, 2022 felt like it was largely business as usual and maybe better than that, with dozens of new series released each season, new studios jumping into the fray (a trend that will really take off in 2023), and more anime movies than ever making their way to international release.

This diversity and expansiveness are reflected in our Best of 2022 anime list, which includes continuing series—titles that were notable heading into the year—but is mainly filled with anime that unexpectedly delighted. They feature an introverted rocker, an insomniac who wants to become a vampire, a famous figure from the Three Kingdoms reincarnated to become a young woman’s musical advisor, and teenage assassins who run a coffee shop. And yes, these series were every bit as fun as they sound—and for reasons we mention below, even more wildly inventive, deeply engaging, and personally meaningful than they have any right to be.

Here they are, in alphabetical order (because any other order is too hard to decide!):

BELLE • Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War • Bocchi the Rock! • Call of the Night • Chainsaw Man • Legend of the Galactic Heroes: Die Neue These S3 • Lycoris Recoil • Made in Abyss: The Golden City of the Scorching Sun • SPY x FAMILY • Ya Boy Kongming!

– Honorable Mention –

BELLE

What do you do as a parent when you look out at the world and see a harsh reality lying in wait for your painfully shy young child? Well, if you’re Mamoru Hosoda, you make a film to fill her with courage, hope, and the joy of being alive at such a time as this. You make BELLE. This masterful reworking of the classic fairy tale transforms a simple (and unrealistic) romance into a heartrendingly raw, yet gently epiphanic reflection on loss, fear, and coming of age in an unsafe world. At the heart of Hosoda’s redemptive story—the magic that breaks the curse, if you will—is not romantic love but something ever more vital in this current climate: compassion. Through her vocaloid-like online life as fearless songstress Belle, the heroine Suzu learns to extend this vital grace to both others and herself, and to receive it from those closest to her as well. In this way, BELLE celebrates the capacity of social media to do good and not only harm, while modeling how exactly to live with compassion, a valuable message in an era seemingly dominated by cancel culture. This may be a retelling of ‘a tale as old as time,’ but this is the one adaptation that will, in my books at least, truly stand the test of time—and future generations will be better for it. Thank you, Hosoda. ~ claire

Streaming on HBO Max.

Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War Arc

One of the most epic shonen anime series of all time has finally begun its journey to completion. The previous seasons of the anime ended pretty poorly, full of filler that couldn’t compare to the Arrancar and Aizen arcs. Manga readers will not be disappointed with this final arc adaptation, though! Every episode is a fun ride, full of intense battles that push the captains of the Gotei 13 to their limits. Many long-standing questions are finally answered, as the series prepares for what is proving to be a satisfying conclusion. Ichigo and his allies are pitted against some of the most fearsome enemies in the entire run of the franchise, falling short again and again against the insurmountable power that is Yhwach and his crew. Although the heroes pull out all their best attacks, they cannot avoid taking severe injuries, and not everyone will make it to the end of the season, or in some cases, not even past the first few episodes! The animation by Studio Pierrot is up there with the best, though be warned that it is more violent than previous seasons, so keep that in mind if you are watching with little ones or sensitive viewers. Overall, the action and suspense of this final arc make waiting for Mondays a real challenge, which is a very fitting end to such a blockbuster series! ~ Samuru 

Streaming on Hulu.

Bocchi the Rock!

The genius of Bocchi the Rock! is the fact that it’s not afraid to defy slice-of-life conventions to tell the story that it wants to tell. A different show about a high school girl with social anxiety joining a band might shy away from the comedy in favor of wholesome friendship moments and satisfying character arcs. But Bocchi! wants to have its cake and eat it too. And it pulls it off. Interspersed with reflective ponderings on anxiety, self-talk, and loneliness are zany sequences where the pressures of social life cause Hitori to morph into famous paintings, lose corporeal form altogether, or just keel over and die. All this works because the authors love Hitori, even as they poke fun at her social anxiety-induced antics. It works because they understand her struggle to connect with others, even as she deeply desires that connection. It works because they track her growth, slow but steady, as she steps out and discovers what life in community looks like. Add on a lovely main cast and some seriously good insert songs, and we have a show that will be treasured long after the curtains fall. Hilarious yet sensitive, imaginative yet grounded, niche yet relatable, Bocchi the Rock! does it all. Producer Shouta Umehara was aiming for “the pinnacle of slice-of-life anime,” and he definitely hit the bullseye. ~ sleepminusminus

Streaming on Crunchyroll.

Call of the Night

Call of the Night is one of those shows that does an excellent job of capturing emotions and sparking a relatable tone with the audience. From the moment where Ko, the insomniac teenage protagonist, steps out into the night, in awe and amazement at the new world that surrounds him, to the moment he meets the vampire girl Nazuna, who represents the allure and enticement of nightlife and the seductive temptation of being in a world normally occupied by adults—the series is evocative and a little nostalgic too. The outstanding animation quality really captures the feel of being on the streets of a major metropolitan area in the twilight hours. Also, the OP, “Daten” is an absolute bop and held the crown of Best Anime OP during its entire run…until a certain show about a certain dude with a hardware issue came along. While it doesn’t look like we’ll be getting a second season of this one, you owe it to yourself to check it out and instantly get transported to that time when, as a youth on the cusp of adulthood, you too first discovered the awe-inspiring sights and sounds of the night. ~ Josh

Streaming on HiDIVE.

Chainsaw Man

One of the most hyped anime of the year, Chainsaw Man is an example of what happens when the powers that be say, “Okay, here’s the source material and the company credit card. Give us a 13-episode series, make it look pretty, and money is no object.” And they succeeded beyond their wildest imagination. What makes this the best anime in 2022? Simple. No really. That’s the answer. It’s simple. The story of a boy who bonds with a demon and produces chainsaws from his body to defeat other demons is simple enough for anyone to comprehend (“simple” when it comes to anime that is). Still, the characters, combined with the fantastic animation, push this narrative into “must-see” territory, especially regarding our saw-tooth bro Denji. It’s downright refreshing to have a protagonist that doesn’t have any grandiose delusions of wanting to be a superhero and fight for something silly like saving the world. Denji wants to be comfortable and live a good life with someone to take care of him, which is something that we can all relate to.  I’ll be the first to say that Chainsaw Man has a lot that can turn people away—the levels of violence and sexuality might be too much for some people, but don’t let that turn you away. Every blood splatter and sexually charged moment is not done just for the heck of it—there is a rhyme and reason for it to be there! Finally, let’s talk about this dub. Can we please give Ryan Colt Levy and Sarah Wiedenheft their flowers? Ryan as Denji is so freaking spot on, I seriously can’t hear anyone else in the role. And Sarah as Power is just downright prodigious! This is a show you owe it to yourself to watch in both languages. ~ Josh

Streaming on Crunchyroll.

Legend of the Galactic Heroes: Die Neue These S3

The remake of this classic space opera lives up to the high standard set by its revered 1988 predecessor, bringing updated animation and an excellent English dub to help introduce Tanaka Yoshiki’s saga to a new generation. While the LOGH series is not completely flawless, it achieves untouched heights when the story focuses on its complex political drama and meditations on the cyclical nature of human history. This season reaches one of those high points as Admiral Yang Wen-li finds himself struggling with the moral dilemma posed by his incredible naval victories: are they truly defending democracy or simply saving a corrupt government and apathetic citizenry from their own foolishness? This philosophical drama plays out against a backdrop of Death Star VS Death Star battles as the Galactic Empire conducts a major campaign against the most critical defensive strongpoint of the Free Planets Alliance. Whether you’re a longtime fan of the original Legend of the Galactic Heroes or a complete newbie debating whether or not to take the plunge on this famous but intimidating science fiction epic, get in on Die Neue These. ~ WacOtaku

Streaming on Crunchyroll.

Takina being dragged into the Vortex of Chaos Chisato

Lycoris Recoil

LycoReco is the very embodiment of something that shouldn’t work but, in complete contravention of all logic, really, really does. (A bit like black matter, the placebo effect, or bulldogs.) With enough twists and turns to make a corkscrew blush, and a production history that can at best be described as unconventional, this zany combo of workplace slice-of-life and sci-fi spy thriller is fantastically original. And chaotic. Did I mention the chaos? Plot lines duck and weave like a Dempsey roll and loose ends stick out willy-nilly, but all this serves only to heighten the charm, dynamism, and pure delight of watching the adventures of these teenage undercover government assassins dole out justice while forming fast friendships, devising the most mountainous chocolatey desserts known to Instagram, solving mind-boggling conspiracies, and reforming a genius child hacker. Maybe. At first, the cast seems to slot neatly into familiar tropes, yet as the series progresses (ahem, by episode two), they somehow manage to explode such conventions effortlessly. Chisato and Takina, as the cheerful, bubbly extrovert and cool, self-possessed introvert, single-handedly breathe new life into the most predictable pairing formula known to anime—and steal our hearts in the process. If this is what is possible with anime original series, then we need more of it. A lot more. Hats off to A-1 for taking the risk and doing so with such verve! ~ claire

Streaming on Crunchyroll.

I’m DONE with android deaths

Made in Abyss: The Golden City of the Scorching Sun

Surely season two of Made in Abyss couldn’t top the horror and despair of season one and its movie sequel, could it? Yes, actually, it could and it did, in all its face-melting, body-horror glory. But if that’s all Made in Abyss was about, I’d simply file it under “splatter film” and avoid the series for all eternity. No, what makes The Golden City of the Scorching Sun and its predecessors so special, apart from being set in a world wholly unlike anything depicted before, are the glimmers of hope it provides when they are needed most. The series perseveres in finding hope in the most unlikely places: when an impossible choice must be made involving a loved one, when the regrets from past misdeeds threaten to drown, when the road feels too long and difficult to follow. That’s when the series sparkles, as it reminds us that light shines brightest in the darkest of nights—or the deepest of caves. ~ Twwk

Streaming on HiDIVE.

Spy x Family

Voted Japan’s most anticipated anime of 2022 by an absolute landslide, Spy x Family did the impossible and lived up to all the hype. And then some! The series combines action, comedy, spy thriller, and a dash of romance as it follows a fake family where each of the members is hiding a secret—even the dog! They’ve been brought together by circumstances in order to save the world by foiling a war between the East and West in a Cold War-like situation. But as the story progresses, those fake bonds become more and more genuine, as the Forger Family learn to care for one another and no longer hide behind their respective masks. The animation is stunning, while the color design shines brightly and captivates the eye. The production is slick, but captures all the looseness and charm of the original manga, to the point where Anya could rival Bocchi for Best Comedy Faces of 2022. In short, Spy x Family is masterful, creating a fun ride that you never want to end. And here’s the good news: it’s not going to anytime soon! Season 2 has already been announced. Here’s to the continuing journey of Japan’s—and now possibly the entire world’s—favorite fake family! ~ Samuru & claire

Streaming on Crunchyroll.

Ya Boy Kongming!

If there was an award for Most Classy Anime Character, then in 2022, it would have to go to Kongming. Having been a world-leading tactician in his past life, he now uses his flashy intellect and proven stratagems to help young singer Eiko achieve her dreams in modern-day Shibuya. But it’s actually another quieter, hidden ability that makes him such a compelling character, namely, his ability to demonstrate what it means to serve others well, putting them above himself. He more than lives up to the call “to be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.” In addition to such powerful characterization, this anime also showcases some of the most catchy music of the year! Whether it’s the upbeat and fun opening song “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang”, the slower-paced and moving “Dreamer,” or the driving rock ballad “Underworld,” there’s something here for every musical taste. Ya Boy Kongming! is genuinely a one-of-a-kind anime that not only offers strong entertainment, but also explores deeper themes in such a way as to leave you thinking well after the final episode has finished. ~ Laura A. Grace & claire

Streaming on HiDIVE.

-----

Honorable Mention

Our honorable mention anime, perhaps more than even our top ten selections, demonstrate how strong a year it was for the medium. How so? Well, we could have slipped any of a number of these into our top ten without much fuss, don’t you think? And there are a few heralded anime from 2022 that didn’t even make it into our honorable mentions. What a strong year!

Without further ado, in alphabetical order, here are our honorable mention anime of 2022:

Aharen-san was Hakarenai

Birdie Wing

Cyberpunk: Edgerunners

Drifting Home

Do it Yourself

I’m the Villainess, So I’m Taming the Final Boss!

Kaguya-Sama: Love is War -Ultra Romantic-

Laid-back Camp Movie

Mob Psycho 100 III

My Dress-up Darling

One Piece Film: RED

Play it Cool, Guys

Raven of the Inner Palace

Did you see the Crunchyroll Anime Awards? What are your choices?

I did indeed see them, and some of them were really hard to decide, but my final choices from their options were as follows. I also included my own personal runner up choice to highlight those who would also be deserving of the award in my opinion.

BEST VOICE ARTIST PERFORMANCE (ENGLISH)

1st Choice - Zach Aguilar for voicing David Martinez in Cyberpunk: Edgerunners

Runner Up - Amanda Lee for voicing Marin Kitagawa in My Dress-Up Darling

BEST VOICE ARTIST PERFORMANCE (JAPANESE)

1st Choice - Atsumi Tanezaki for voicing Anya Forger in Spy x Family

Runner Up - Yuki Kaji for voicing Eren Jaeger in Attack on Titan Final Season Part 2

BEST ROMANCE

1st Choice - My Dress-Up Darling

Runner Up - Kaguya-sama: Love is War -Ultra Romantic-

BEST FANTASY

1st Choice - Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation

Runner Up - Made in Abyss: The Golden City of the Scorching Sun

BEST DRAMA

1st Choice - Cyberpunk: Edgerunners

Runner Up - Attack on Titan Final Season Part 2

BEST COMEDY

1st Choice - Kaguya-sama: Love is War -Ultra Romantic-

Runner Up - Spy x Family

BEST ACTION

1st Choice - Attack on Titan Final Season Part 2

Runner Up - Demon Slayer: Entertainment District Arc

"MUST PROTECT AT ALL COSTS" CHARACTER

1st Choice - Marin Kitagawa (My Dress-Up Darling)

Runner Up - Bojji (Ranking of Kings)

BEST SUPPORTING CHARACTER

1st Choice - Rebecca (Cyberpunk: Edgerunners)

Runner Up - Tengen Uzui (Demon Slayer: Entertainment District Arc)

BEST MAIN CHARACTER

1st Choice - Eren Jaeger (Attack on Titan Final Season Part 2)

Runner Up - Loid Forger (Spy x Family)

BEST DIRECTOR

1st Choice - Yuichiro Hayashi for directing Attack in Titan Final Season Part 2

Runner Up - Hiroyuki Imaishi for directing Cyberpunk: Edgerunners

BEST ANIME SONG

1st Choice - "The Rumbling" for Attack on Titan Final Season Part 2

Runner Up - "Comedy" for Spy x Family

BEST FILM

1st Choice - Jujutsu Kaisen 0

Runner Up - One Piece Film Red

BEST SCORE

1st Choice - Hiroyuki Sawano and Kohta Yamamoto for Attack on Titan Final Season Part 2

Runner Up - Akira Yamaoka for Cyberpunk: Edgerunners

BEST OPENING SEQUENCE

1st Choice - "The Rumbling" for Attack on Titan Final Season Part 2

Runner Up - "Naked Hero" for Ranking of Kings

BEST ENDING SEQUENCE

1st Choice - "Comedy" for Spy x Family

Runner Up - "Akuma no Ko" for Attack on Titan Final Season Part 2

Seriously, those choices for best opening and ending sequences were complete no brainers. "The Rumbling" and "Comedy" are by far the best opening and ending sequences that I had heard all year:

BEST NEW SERIES

1st Choice - Cyberpunk: Edgerunners

Runner Up - Spy x Family and My Dress-Up Darling (I really just couldn't choose between the two of them)

BEST CONTINUING SERIES

1st Choice - Attack on Titan Final Season Part 2

Runner Up - Demon Slayer: Entertainment District Arc

BEST ANIMATION

1st Choice - Demon Slayer: Entertainment District Arc

Runner Up - Akebi's Sailor Uniform

BEST CHARACTER DESIGN

1st Choice - Cyberpunk: Edgerunners

Runner Up - Demon Slayer: Entertainment District Arc

BEST ORIGINAL ANIME

1st Choice - Lycoris Recoil

Runner Up - None, my 1st choice was the only one I knew about out of the 6 options

ANIME OF THE YEAR

1st Choice - Attack on Titan Final Season Part 2

Runner Up - Demon Slayer: Entertainment District Arc

Mega’s Top 2022 Anime (and Manga)

Another year comes and goes, and with it another year of anime comes to a close. The number of shows I watched continues to decline. While at the same time I’m spending more time reading manga. There was a strong mix of anime originals and creative adaptations this year. Without further ado, here’s my annual top 5 anime of the year (and manga) list:

1) Mob Psycho 100 Season 3 Mob Psycho 100 has joined the short list of manga that got completely adapted into anime. While I wasn’t as into the season due to the passage of time, it ended on a very high note for me. The remaining plotlines landed in a good place, character arcs reached their resolution, and its message remained on point to the very end. I don’t have much more to add compared to what I wrote in 2016 and 2019. I hope it will be remembered as a classic from this time period. 2) Bocchi the Rock This was the most creative anime visually for me this year. Every single interaction is a struggle for Bocchi, and that is conveyed through each incident being depicted differently. It brings a lot of life to Bocchi’s personality as no two situations are quite the same for her. It’s also an uplifting show as she grows closer to her new found band friends. Bocchi the Rock was definitely the surprise hit of the year.

3) Spy x Family

As someone who has been reading the manga since it began, I had a feeling it would become a hit someday. The dynamic between Twilight (the spy with a thousand faces), Yor (assassin by night, office worker by day), and Anya (the all knowing psychic) makes for comedic and wholesome situations as they live together under the same roof. Next season will have the much anticipated Yor boat arc. There’s also a movie to look forward to. 4) Made in Abyss Season 2 If you thought season 1 and the movie was the most emotional it could be, well, the series still had more tricks up its sleeve. This season took us down another layer into the legendary Golden City. The story began with a previously unseen group of explorers who descended down to this level. I can’t even begin to describe the horrors they experienced. It was some of the cruelest material yet in the series and a stark reminder how the abyss is a place that rejects outsiders. Unfortunately it might be a long time before another season or movie gets made.  5) Chainsaw Man

This was one of the most anticipated anime of the year for a good reason. Tatsuki Fujimoto draws manga like nobody else in the shonen genre. I was worried how his cinematic yet deliberate panel work would translate to screen, and I can say Mappa did a respectable job. The content from here is where the series had me on the edge of my seat every week. I can’t wait to see Reze, the Gun Devil, and basically the entire second half animated. 

Other series worth mentioning: Call of the Night, Dress Up Darling, Lycoris Recoil, Kaguya-Sama: Love is War Season 3 and Bleach The Thousand Year Blood War Part 1

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Biggest Disappointments of the Year: JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure Part 6 - Turns out when you just adapt the manga panels to tv, it loses a lot of visual personality. Thankfully the story alone was enough to make it watchable. My greatest fear going into 2023 is a poor adaptation of Steel Ball Run on Netflix

Devil is a Part Timer season 2 - This was a long overdue sequel. In the time between seasons, I was able to read the entire light novel series. The books are a nice read. The anime however, looked terrible. Perhaps it was best to not adapt it again if that’s the best they could do. Save yourself and read the novels instead. It’s highly unlikely the anime will be able to adapt all 21 volumes anyways. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Best Openings/Ending of 2022: 1) Urusei Yatsura (2022) Opening - Fun opening and catchy song makes for a perfect match to a reboot of the classic manga 2) Spy x Family Ending 2 - It perfectly captures the peaceful life they enjoy during the day vs. their personal struggles in the shadows.  3) Call of the Night Opening - A simple yet stylized opening to convey how meeting the Vampire Nazuna is changing his life. 4) One Piece Opening 24 - Upbeat song and visuals to showcase the battles against the Tobi Roppo in this section of the story. I hope for a gear 5 animation update when the anime gets there. 5) Chainsaw Man Ending 4 - Among all of Chainsaw Man’s endings, #4 was my personal favorite. Who knew it was possible to show the chaotic yet fun energy of Power in 90 seconds. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Next up, I’m adding a manga section for the first time. I read a lot of current titles and sometimes I try to check out older series that I missed. The number of legal manga services have started to take off in recent years.  Weekly Shonen Jump and Jump+ have a ton of anime on the schedule for 2023. Undead Unluck is one to watch for big hit potential (don’t let the early crudeness deter you, it matures very quickly), and maybe Mashle if the fights are well animated. Among new serializations, Akane Banashi is without a doubt the best new title of 2022. Its a Rakugo-battle manga that addresses both long standing sexism and the modernization vs. traditional debate within the art form. Takamasa Moue draws well detailed spreads to immerse readers in the world of the stories being told. This will be a big hit when it is eventually animated. Also a big shoutout to Ruri Dragon. I look forward to the day it comes back from hiatus. Speaking of hiatuses, Hunter x Hunter came back for another 10 chapter run this year. This time it devoted nearly every page to the Spiders and mafia plot on the lower levels of the ship. But overall, not a lot actually happened. The Phantom Troupe backstory was a nice treat for long time fans at least. I still don’t expect to ever see the end of this arc. Outside of Jump, Tying the Knot with an Amagami Sister is a harem rom-com that I find very enjoyable with a good mix of supernatural antics and fun moments you’d expect in the genre. Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End is probably going to be one of the biggest anime in 2023. The manga tells the story of Ef who outlived her party. She now seeks to make new memories while learning the meaning of the little things in her previous journey. Its a story that puts everyday life moments into perspective.

Lastly for a few older titles I read this year:

Negima and UQ Holder - This is the kind of series that I would have been immensely into if I read it during its run. The rom-com elements are nice and all, but what truly sold me on the series is the fantasy adventure they have during the entire second half. Negima is one of the best at blending harem and battle troupes together. Unfortunately the sequel UQ Holder isn’t nearly as good. Poor pacing and incoherent plot held it down. At least it provided the final arc that Negima skipped at the end. I think it’s a series that has aged surprisingly well in this modern isekai era. Lucifer and the Biscuit Hammer - I heard this was a fantastic title and... I thought it was boring. It’s not drawn particularly well, the story is a bit formulaic, and everything falls flat for me. It simply didn’t feel ambitious enough for the story it wanted to tell (and let us not go into the bland anime adaptation it received). I’ll get around to Satoshi Mizukami’s other titles eventually. Sun Ken Rock - Since Dr. Stone finished this year, I went back to read another Boichi work. I was really impressed by the Yazuka drama mixed with a non-Japan setting. I quickly learned Boichi sure tamed himself before coming to Jump while still always striving to improve his art. His already impressive spreads during Sun Ken Rock only become more detailed over time and throughout Dr. Stone. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I look forward to the anime adaptations for several of my favorite manga in 2023 and can’t wait to discover new manga series. The year seems like it will be off to a promising start with JoJo Part 9 coming in February. A few big hitters from Weekly Shonen Jump are also likely to end. There are plenty of things to look forward to in the coming year.

See you all next time!

ANNOUNCING THE NOMINEES FOR THE 2022 VIEWER'S CHOICE DUBBIE AWARD FOR BEST RETURNING DUB:

86 EIGHTY-SIX Part 2 The Case Study of Vanitas Part 2 Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba - Entertainment District Arc The Devil is a Part-Timer! Season 2 Dr. STONE - Ryusui Jujutsu Kaisen 0  Made in Abyss: The Golden City of the Scorching Sun My Hero Academia: World Heroes Mission SHADOWS HOUSE Season 2 TIGER & BUNNY 2

Cast Your Votes Here: https://forms.gle/gPkUFy5t55738wgdA

i think i have to reread the golden city arc bc i cannot relax watching new made in abyss season knowing how much more weird fetish stuff is coming but ive forgotten where and when..

Made In Abyss Season 2 Episode 1 Review & Episode 2 Release Date

Made In Abyss has been hailed as one of the most popular fantasy anime series of recent years. Although the series isn't a popular title, it has produced three anime movies and an anime series. Fans were drawn to the series' intriguing plot and fascinating characters. We are now enjoying the second season. While we wait for more episodes of the Made in Abyss anime show, we decided to share everything we know about Episode 2 of the Made in Abyss. It will air on July 13, 2022. Made In Abyss Season 2 Episode 1 Review & Recap https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0L_Y4EFmCTU Massive Changes! Made in Abyss Season 2 | Episode 1 Review By Mickell Pickell Kinema Citrus is producing the second season of Made In Abysss. It is based on Akihito Takushi's manga. Riko is a young girl who lives in the Abyss. It's a mysterious, giant hole in the ground that holds mysterious relics and hides mysterious locations. The Abyss is the center of village existence and economy. Riko insists on finding her mother, who vanished long ago in Abyss. Riko is on the road when he meets Reg, a young boy who looks more like a Cyborg. Reg is very advanced but his origins remain a mystery to him. They plunge together into the Abyss in an attempt to discover the truth about their lives. The anime's second season begins just after the end of the movie "Dawn of the Deep Soul". Our heroes are seen using the elevator to descend into the sea of corpses. This is the path to the sixth layer of the Abyss named The Capital of the Unreturned. Kinema Citrus has had a great year with two other productions that have managed to grab the public's attention. Cardfight! The Rising of the Shield Hero and Cardfight! are both in great demand. Made in Abyss allows them to bring out all their guns in an effort to create the most beautiful show possible. It looks beautiful and fluid. This anime is without doubt one of the most beautiful. It is shocking to see the contrast between cute and violent characters. The first episode opens in a very striking way. We spend at least seventy per cent of the episode with Vueko, a girl who has never met Riko or the other characters. Vueko is an orphan girl, who like Riko has dedicated her life to finding the Golden City. Vueko and all the other characters in her story are fascinating, but the most striking thing about their story is how it is set in the distant past. Vueko's story seems to have taken place at an unidentified time prior to the founding of Orth. This is quite a flashback as people come from outside of the city to enter the Abyss. It is interesting to note that the Abyss at this time is filled with light rather than darkness. We should all be prepared to learn more about the Abyss and its current state. Vueko is a fascinating character. Her Captain is also quite remarkable, as he seems to have the gift of foresight. Everything seems suspicious. Perhaps a little too much. We have learned from the show that no one can trust us, so it's easy to be worried about Vueko and all the other explorers' fates. It's not surprising that it turns out to be something very dark and disturbing. The characters still engage in a lot of reflection and philosophical thinking, so there are many topics and feelings covered. This second storyline is so important that the episode spends so much of its time. It is certain that Vueko's storyline will be resolved in the near future. This will be a wonderful parallel to Riko’s journey. She and her companions have already reached the sixth layer. The episode contains some fan service moments, but these are not necessary. Tsukushi's writing style is amazing. Its imagination is exceptional. This season, which has the subtitle "The Golden City of the Scorching Sun", can only mean that it will be a complete arc. It will be intense, dark, violent, and beautiful at the same moment. It wouldn't be the same without Made in Abyss. Made in Abyss Season 2's first episode opens up the story to infinite possibilities. It also gives us another main storyline, which may run parallel to our heroes. Kinema Citrus has a great understanding of tone, mood, and animation looks just as good as it did when we first saw it. This season looks to be very dramatic and possibly one of the most tragic in the entire story. Verdict Made in Abyss Season 2 Episode1 was an excellent start to the series. It featured beautiful music and a new plot that included our favorite characters exploring the abyss. This is the best movie you can imagine. SCORE: 8.5/10 Made In Abyss Season 2 Episode 2 Date Made in Abyss Season 2 Episode 2 premieres in all regions including Japan, the US and Europe on July 13, 2022. Made In Abyss Season 2 Episode 2 Release Time Made In Abyss Season 2 Episode 2 premieres in Japan on July 13, 2022 at 22:30 PM JST. If the information is correct, the following release times apply to your area: - Pacific Time: 7:30 PM PT - Central Time: 9:15 CT - Eastern Time: 10:30 ET - British Time: 15:30 BST Where can I watch Made in Abyss Season 2, episode 2? HIDIVE and Amazon Prime (Anime Strike), are the only places you can view Made in Abyss season 2 on a consistent basis. These two services provide the series in simulcast. However, you will need to watch it in Japanese with English subtitles. You can also stream Made in Abyss on other streaming services, however the episodes aren't updated often so you won’t be able watch the most recent ones. These services may not be available in all regions of the globe. Read the full article

Terravenger - Season 5: Part Two - The Pugioh City Survival Arc - Episode 463 (Do Not Copy)

    Standing at the other side of the sacred island were two of the villainous agents. The blind elder called Shade stood with his palms together at the front. And the elder remained by the right side of the emotionless woman called Sirius. But another person stood by her left side.

    This was a younger man with light skin and cold brown eyes. He was a tall and slender man with long brown hair that was combed back and tied in a low pony-tail. He also had a fine mustache. And he had a small fuzz at the bottom of his lower tip. He wore a pale-blue uniform with golden accents. He had a pale-yellow pad on the top of each shoulder along with a small red jewel on the middle of the pad. He also had on a thick black belt, long black boots, and fingerless white gloves. And he had two white symbols on the front left side of his top.

    First, Shade lowered his black eyeglasses using the three fingers from his left hand.

    He called in a soft voice "Slangeoyne!"

    A gloomy blue force began to glow from his white eyes. And he fired a long ray of blue energy onto the large field of invisible wind that guarded the entire island.

    The elder continued to break through the strong barrier while he stayed calm. Then the barrier of calm wind blew away from the island. And Shade gave a soft smile.

    The other man walked two steps forward. He slowly waved his left wrist before him.

    And the young man reported "We are in."

    The emotionless Sirius ordered "We are to infiltrate the castle. And we must destroy everything and everyone inside."

    The young man soon gave a vicious smile and said "But let's have fun while doing our task."

Terravenger -- Season 5: Part Two -- Episode 463:  The Survival Arc -- Breaking Into the Sacred Island

    In the small hallway somewhere at the Mafic Isle, the crafty gentleman called Goran opened his right hand before him. He was joined by the rest of Mayne's warriors -- Cyan, Kross, and Dime.

    Goran had his eyes closed as the three agents gathered around him.

    "So?" asked Dime. "What are you seeing right now?"

    Then Goran gave a sinister smile and reported "We have only a few hours to prepare ourselves. We will be having some company in the form of the fair knights from Pugioh."

    Kross gave out a vicious laugh as a long bladed whip was wrapped around her. And she held the handle of the weapon with her right hand.

    "How wonderful!" cheered the red-haired warrior. "I get to test my new weapon! Let the killings begin!"

    Goran informed the lowly Cyan "You may finally get your taste of revenge. Among this large army is the royal lieutenant of the Midas Armed Forces."

    Cyan gave a soft smile and implied "I'm ready for the Sidney woman this time. I'm going to kill her."

    Dime shook his head as he gave a gentle smile.

    After that, Goran opened his purple eyes and gave another smile.

    "You all have your orders," He told the soldiers. "Let's all prepare to give a great show to our guests."

    Several minutes later, many of the knights wearing either white or golden armor hurried from the right side of Erodios Castle and stood in front of the closed gate that was made of white stone. The three villains soon made their way to the area and met with the large army.

    As they all walked toward the gate, the young male agent pointed his left finger forward. A large wave of yellow energy quickly spiraled from under the ground. The energy whirled around the male as its shape formed into a large snake. Then the crazed man gave a loud laugh.

    The man soon yelled "To the abyss you go!"

    After that, the snake of energy slithered toward the noble army. It crawled through many of them. Those soldiers slowly fell face down on the ground. And the body of each soldier turned into piles of burning ashes.

    The silent Sirius threw three of her small pink needles to the chests of three soldiers as she walked toward them. She knocked down these soldiers using her kicks. And the three villains arrived at the closed gate.

    The elder Shade lowered his black eyeglasses using his right fingers once again. He fired a long ray of blue energy from the white pupils of his eyes to the long gate. Both doors of the gate were pushed open. And the villains proceeded through the gate.

    As they traveled forward, the agents fought through more of the united soldiers until they finally reached the two closed doors of the old castle.

    The young male villain pointed his left finger at the doors as the long snake-like projectile slithered by his left side.

    And the man yelled "Let's go!"

    The snake crawled forward and leaped through the doors.

    As a great storm of lightning began striking from the sky, the three agents walked through the hole made on the doors. Another set of armored knights hurried into the main hallway and confronted the villains.

    The large snake-shaped energy gathered around him as the deranged man called "Neo Anguis!"

    Then the snake began attacking many of the soldier as the male agent told his team "Go for it! I'll take care of the mice here."

    The remaining agents continued up through the stairway and arrived in the dark hallway of Erodios Castle.

    Next, the pair walked through the hallway and made their way into an opened door which led them into the throne room.

    The two students hurried to the center of the room as the villains walked inside.

    Duo Storms noticed the mauve-haired woman standing before him and informed his partner "I remember that chick! Be careful Griffin! She throws needles!"

    The emotionless Jonny Griffin turned to his partner who stood by his right side.

    And Jonny repeated "Needles?"

    Duo reported "Those damn needles hurt! And I figured they're poisonous by their color!"

    The focused Sirius who stood at the other side had thought to herself "That boy knows about the paralyzing venom that are drenched in my senbon? Very clever of him to notice."

    And the mauve-haired warrior leaned her head back.

    "You may be right," claimed Jonny. "The woman must use poison as her weapon. We should think very carefully."

    Duo looked at the other enemy who remained by Sirius's right side.

    And Duo thought to himself "And this geezer! I never saw him before. What the hell can he do?"

    Jonny informed his partner "Relax. I'll take care of the old guy. You deal with the one with the needles."

    "Hold on!" cried Duo. "Did you just read my mind? What the hell?"

    "I didn't need to read your mind to know what you were thinking," implied Jonny.

    A smiling Duo shook his head and replied "Okay! I'll handle Poison there. I'm sure I can deal with her damn needles."

    Duo stared at the elderly agent once again and told his teammate "Be careful. I don't like the look of that guy. He's bad news."

    Jonny answered by shaking his head. And both Duo pounced away along with his opponent.

    After they both landed at the other side of the room, the sharp Sirius threw a barrage of her pink needles as Duo dodged by jumping, rolling, and spinning away.

    "Shit!" thought Duo. "This chick's really goin' for it. She's tryna strike me with her poison!"

    The quick youth continued to avoid every projectile that was thrown by his swift opponent.

    Meanwhile, Jonny remained standing at his spot as he analyzed his elderly opponent using only his eyes.

    "Would you like me to strike first, Child?" asked Shade.

    He gave a soft laugh and implied "I may be unable to see you, Young One. But I do have a slight advantage over you."

    Jonny continued to watch him as the elder continued.

    "You don't talk much, hey? You must be one of those who use their brain more than their brawn. I can respect that. But are you able to figure me out without attacking first?"

    Jonny stood at his area as each hand was still lowered.

    But the older youth called out "Boil Release! Great Cloud of Vulcan!"   

    A large globe of golden fog quickly gathered around the two fighters. The elder Shade began feeling the great amount of heat hat slowly formed within the fog.

    "Are you trying to burn me until I submit?" He questioned.

    While the temperature of the mist continued rising, the calm Shade lowered his head to the right side as he held up his glasses with three of the right fingers.

    "Summoning!" called Jonny. "Eight Young Phoenix Formation!"   

    Eight large birds made with fiery red feathers soon appeared from balls of fire and flew above the emotionless Jonny. And the creatures swarmed toward the elderly villain as fire gathered around their bodies.

    Shade gave a quick smirk and called out "Stal Kylling!"

    Suddenly, eight small birds made of pure silver appeared around the blind elder. Once the swarm of firebirds flew closer, the eight metallic creatures hurried straight for them. And the firebirds along with the armored birds quickly burned into piles of ashes.

    "I should get rid of what you summoned around us," said Shade.

    The elder gave a wicked smile and called out "Sjoohest!"

    Next, another creature was summoned in front of the cocky elder. It was a floating creature that looked like a sea horse. It had a bent neck, a long snout, and a long tail. And its entire body was made of the chemical element, Silver.

    The creature blew a large pump of air from its snout which blew away the heated fog around them.

    The creature finally popped into small smoke as the evil Shade replied "Now that's better. I can feel the cool air of this establishment."

    After that, Shade strengthened his dark tie using his right hand and continued.

    "The only thing you did was give a mere sunburn to the front of my neck. Now I have to put on ointment after I get back. This is quite embarrassing."

    Jonny with a clear mind had placed the fingers of his hands forward as he called out "Summoning! Stalking of Black Wolves!"

    Four large puffs of smoke emerged in front of him which formed into four wolves that were covered in black fur. And the color of their eyes were white.

    "I hear some growling over there," claimed Shade. "You must have summoned something else."

    As every wolf continued growling, Jonny pushed his hands forward.

    "Summoning!" He called.

    And a white mist formed around the entire room.

    The other student Duo lowered to one knee as he looked carefully at his surroundings.

    Then Duo gave a great smile and thought to himself "Maybe this'll work for me."

    His opponent called Sirius had searched around us well and thought "Was it the other kid that brought forth this blinding mist?"

    The blind Shade faced forward and implied "Surely you will be serious about the situation you are in."

Toonami Weekly Recap 02/11/2023

My Hero Academia Season 6 Paranormal Liberation War Arc EP#122 (09) - Katsuki Bakugo: Rising: To desperately halt the effects of the Quirk-Destroying Drug, Eraser Head cuts his leg off. Despite this, Shigaraki manages to reach his face, slicing one of his eyes, just as Shoto appears, who had been following Deku and Bakugo, blasting him with a mountain of ice, and further knocked back by Deku. With Eraser unconscious, his Quirk is undone, and Shigaraki begins to regenerate all of his injuries. Meanwhile, the evacuation team overhear of the mass destruction caused by Gigantomachia as he makes a reckless beeline directly toward his master; the rest of the U.A. students in Gunga can only look on in fear at the devastation left in his wake. Shigaraki prepares to finish everyone off, only for his body to suddenly split open, realizing that he was awakened too early. Deku figures out that, just like him, his body can't withstand the power of All For One. At this moment, Deku unlocks the Quirk of the 7th user: Nana Shimura's Float, and combined with Blackwhip pulls Shigaraki into the air and rescues his companions. He proceeds to duel Shigaraki in the air alone while the Heroes recover on the ground, causing Bakugo to get anxious. He recalls a conversation with All Might during their training prior where Bakugo voiced his worries regarding a mystery of one of the One For All users, and admitting his bullying of Deku came from not understanding his unselfish and self-sacrifical attitude. While Deku unleashes the full power of One For All to overwhelm Shigaraki, even despite the damage on his body, Bakugo and Shoto get Endeavor into the air, so he can finish him off for good with a Prominence Burn. As he burns alive, All For One's voice calls out to Shigaraki, his body suddenly releasing an array of Rivet Stabs to knock Endeavor away. "Shigaraki" shoots several Rivets out toward Deku, but with no hesitation, just like Deku did for him before, Bakugo blasts forward, pushing him out of the way and getting stabbed instead.

Made in Abyss: The Golden City of the Scorching Sun EP#12 (25) Season 2 Finale - Gold: As Faputa fights the monsters, she begins to reminisce about how she first met Gaburoon and how it named her, and taught her how to speak while she helped repair it. Down below, Riko, Reg, Nanachi, and their companions find Wazukyan, who has expended all of his energy and is on the verge of death. He muses how Riko and her friends' journey into the Abyss was the accumulation of numerous circumstances, and wishes them luck before passing away, leaving Nanachi to wonder just how far into the future he has seen. Faputa then summons the remaining villagers to come to her, and the group start making their way back up. On the way, they pick up Vueko, who has begun transforming into a hollow due the Curse infiltrating the village. While Reg holds off the monsters, Faputa asks the remaining villagers to sacrifice themselves to her so she can gain enough power to end Irumyuui's life once and for all. All of the villagers willingly sacrifice themselves with the exception of Majikaja and Maaa, who are tasked by Faputa to make sure Riko, Reg, and Nanachi escape the village. Majikaja and Maa sacrifice themselves to ensure Riko's safety, while Faputa uses her power to completely destroy the village and, by extension, Irumyuui. In the aftermath, Faputa finally has a chance to talk with Vueko, who is now near death. Vueko tells Faputa about what her mother was like as a human, and Faputa reassures Vueko that Irumyuui always loved her, as her memories of Vueko were the one thing she did not give to Faputa. Having found closure and redemption, Vueko passes away from the Curse. After Vueko is buried, Reg suggests to Faputa that she go on an adventure with them, just like he originally promised. While Faputa doesn't immediately accept, she does say that she will consider the offer.

Made in Abyss: Dawn of the Deep Soul, Recap and Review

Made in Abyss: Dawn of the Deep Soul, Recap and Review

Made in Abyss: Dawn of the Deep * The second season of Made in Abyss, Made in Abyss: The Golden City of the Scorching Sun will premiere tomorrow. I preparation for the next season I thought reviewing the movie that preceded it would be helpful. Made in Abyss Movie 3: Dawn of the Deep Soul is the third Made in Abyss movie focusing on the Ido Front Arc, which covers chapters 27 – 38 of the manga.…

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HIDIVE's Announcements at Anime Boston 2022

HIDIVE’s Announcements at Anime Boston 2022

HIDIVE announced at its Anime Boston 2022 panel that it will simulcast the Tokyo Mew Mew New, Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? IV New Arc: Labyrinth, and Call of the Night anime. All three anime will debut on HIDIVE in Summer 2022. HIDIVE also confirmed it will stream Made in Abyss: The Golden City of the Scorching Sun. The all-new anime of Reiko Yoshida and Mia Ikumi’s Tokyo Mew…

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