The fine folks over at Funimation were kind enough to send me a selection of their Summer 2018 anime offerings, a crazy collection of some of the best series the medium has to offer right now. Whether you're interested in anime but haven't watched any or you've been a fan for decades, Funimation definitely has something for you to enjoy; you'll probably find a few favorites in this very line-up.
For the uninitiated, Funimation is a U.S. company known for their dubs and domestic distribution of Japanese anime. So all of the reviews you're about to check out are for the dub version of each anime, though some Blu-rays/DVDs have a Japanese audio option, and there are some exceptions to the rule. Below, you'll find the official synopsis for each movie and series, along with a link to pick up your own copy at Funimation's online store, should my review convince you. Sometimes, it'll be an easy thing to suggest you buy it, other times, it'll be just as easy to go in the other directon.
Check out my rundown of Funimation's home video selections from this summer, along with links to pick up all those that fit your tastes. The following titles will be presented by audience age, youngest first, since I don't think the little ones should be watching Garo the Movie: Divine Flame anytime soon.
Puzzle & Dragons X - Part 3
(Parts 1 and 2 are also available)
Ace is an average boy until he hears his name being called by a mysterious egg. The egg leads him to discover the existence of Dragon Callers, humans who tame friendly monsters into allies in their fight against evil. With an egg calling his name, it seems that Ace is destined to be a Dragon Caller, but the road to summoning dragons isn’t going to be easy.
If you're looking for some colorful, kid-friendly anime that's in the vein of Pokémon or Digimon, this is a good place to start. Honestly, this is my first introduction to the series, so I jumped into Part Three, which follows a tournament among the Dragon Callers. You can easily pick up the story and the rules of this world since the narrative is very kind in this manner; if you missed an episode (or a big chunk. like I did) it'll catch you up in time to enjoy the action.
It's a fun series based on the smash-hit success mobile game, but you can also see where the show is stretching to make a meaningful connection.
Monster Hunter Stories: Ride On - Season 1, Part 3
Monster Hunter Stories: Ride On - Season 1, Part 3
(Parts 1-4 are all available at Funimation.)
After witnessing how infected Kinship Ore affects the land and its monsters, the Riders part ways with differing ideals—should they save the blighted Monsties or slay them? Lute and his pals learn that the Black Blight outbreak may have happened once before, so they seek out a mount fit for a prophetic hero. But their quest won’t be that simple!
This is our second kid-friendly entry in this list, and the last really, but it's also my choice over Puzzle & Dragons X. In an interesting take on the Monster Hunter franchise, rather than hunt monsters, kids in a secluded village learn to ride them and form kinship with them, which is taboo in the outside world. In this latter bit of the first season, a blight spreads a darkness across the land, which the Riders must purify.
As for the animation, the rather simple and cartoonish human characters with suoer-bright colors provide a nice contrast against the more detailed CG monsters. The monster battles are intense and really well-orchestrated and executed, bolstered by the strong character development among the young Riders. Seek this one out!
In Another World with My Smartphone - The Complete Series
In Another World with My Smartphone - The Complete Series
Touya Mochizuki is killed. To make it up to him, God grants Touya a second chance at life in a fantastic new world. Adventure, fame, fortune, and a harem of cute girls await him across this otherworldly realm. But despite being a magical and physical prodigy, balancing the affections of his companions with his day-to-day activities is one challenge he’s definitely not prepared for!
Now we get into the anime meant for slightly older audiences. Honestly, I thought this one was going to be a decent anime series for beginners due to its obvious light novel plot/ characters, but roughly halfway through the series, the fan service really kicks in. The story about a boy with nearly limitless power who's dropped into a foreign world soon shows its true colors as a harem-style tale that's all about satisfying the protagonist at the expense of the women around him. If that's your thing, it's pretty tame, though it kind of comes off the rails by the season's end.
AI Tenchi Muyo - The Complete Series (Shorts)
AI Tenchi Muyo - The Complete Series (Shorts)
Thanks to Washu, the universe has been thrown into chaos and it’s up to Tenchi to clean up the mess. But to do so he’s going undercover as a teacher—at an all-girl’s school! What awaits him beyond the attention of cute girls at this not-so-ordinary school? And will he be able to balance timelines and trouble that come with this latest adventure? Join the harem and the fun in this series of shorts!
It was a tough call as to which of these anime offerings would hit the bottom of my recommendation list, but AI Tenchi Muyo! just edged out In Another World... Why? Because the episodes are shorts, each about four minutes long. That was still too long for me to watch more than a handful of because this whole story is just focused on women taking advantage of newly arrived student Tenchi Masaki; in the first few shorts alone, he ends up mostly naked and in a BDSM getup (including a ball gag) and put into a variety of torture devices. Hard pass for me on this one and for anyone out there expecting a return to form from the 90s Tenchi Muyo series.
A Centaur's Life - The Complete Series
A Centaur's Life - The Complete Series
High school is complicated for any young centaur, but shy, sweet Himeno won’t have to clop through it alone! Surrounded by friends, she’ll face life’s trials one day at a time. But her world isn’t all butterflies and rainbows. Hang on to your horseshoes—this slice of life will take you for a ride.
This one's a little strange for a few reasons. One is the typical "anime strange", meaning that almost anything goes in anime, which is part of what makes the medium so great. This change-up on high school drama stories features half-animal characters along with a very clever explanation by way of an alternate evolutionary tree. So centaurs and cat-people and angel-people coexist with other hybrid folks and pretty much everyone gets along.
The supernatural slice of life series follows the high school kids, centering on centaur Hime, performing a school play. Hime deals with realistic problems like being the heaviest student (she's mostly horse after all) and kissing her girl friend for a scene. That's not the problem since this change-up is a really nice departure from the same tired school stories.
The weird tonal change occurs with the scenes of Hime and her younger girl cousin taking a bath together (which is fine, it just comes out of nowhere and serves to point out Hime's maturing body), and then all the school girls looking at each other's vaginas...yeah. So while there are some interesting takes on discrimination and stereotyping, this is definitely for an older crowd. (And the first half of the final episode is just straight-up fan service.)
I Am a Hero
Based on the celebrated horror manga I Am a Hero comes a live-action film adaptation that’s bound to get your blood flowing! Thirty-five-year-old assistant manga artist Hideo Suzuki leads an unsatisfying, tedious life. But when a virus outbreak hits Japan turning the infected into mindless cannibals, it’s his chance to become the hero he’s always daydreamed he could be, even if it kills him.
Here's a switcheroo: a live-action adaptation of a horror manga! If you're unfamiliar with the title, as I was, think of it as Japan's version of Shaun of the Dead or Train to Busan. It's very Japanese plot centers on a struggling manga assistant, who's talented but unsuccessful, with delusions of grandeur. When the outbreak threatens the population but also gives him an opportunity to become a hero for real, he finds that being heroic isn't as easy as it seems in his stories.
Throughout the movie, which has a great first act, dwindles in the second, and drags to a finish, you'll enjoy a really epic foot-chase sequence followed by a thrilling car chase complemented by some crazy and disturbing effects work. The movie takes a turn once our hero pairs up with a young, attractive stranger, but the typical romance angle is abandoned here for more of a horror twist. Then that thread is more or less abandoned as the story goes on. It's an entertaining and original ride, even if it doesn't quite stick the landing.
Assassination Classroom The Movie: 365 Days' Time
Assassination Classroom The Movie: 365 Days' Time
The killer class is back in session—sort of. Relive every moment that made you laugh, cry, and kept you on the edge through the eyes of the top two students: Nagisa and Karma. Reminisce with them about the time spent in Class 3-E from the moment Koro Sensei appeared to his final moments. This is a look back at the adventures of being assassins in training!
Here's where Funimation's anime selections for somewhat older audiences start to separate themselves out from the pack. While technically a movie, this feature is basically a recap of the story of Assassination Classroom. If you want to know what all the fuss is about with this bonkers story that delivers some surprisingly touching emotional connections, but you don't have the time to watch all the anime episodes, this movie is a decent shortcut.
Similar to Trigun or Naruto in that the main character is an uber powerful creature who could destroy the known world, Assassination Classroom flips the script on that story and actively asks the supporting cast to neutralize said creature. That should be interesting enough to get you watching, but if you stick around long enough, you'll get to enjoy not only endless meta references but also some rewarding emotional payoff by the end.
Garo the Movie: Divine Flame
Four years after the events of Garo: The Animation, León and Alfonso are called away to defeat the most beautiful Horror in the world. But trouble brews on the home front when mysterious creatures with unknown intentions abduct León’s little brother. To track down the kidnappers, the Makai Knight duo must unite with allies both old and new and investigate strange happenings in a foreign land.
This movie, one of the latest in the acclaimed and often-adapted franchis, is definitely the most mature of this month's offerings. You could probably figure that out from the opening scene of a naked man and woman having sex by a lake before a demon woman interrupts them, in a rather violent fashion. Though that interaction sets the stage for the story to come, there's a lot of history going on in this movie.
This feature is a solid standalone adventure that delivers phenomenal visuals and action sequences while also deepening the mythology of franchise characters. If you're just dropping in, like me, it's still a welcoming story that pretty much explains itself as it goes along. You might not get all the finer details of the family histories, interconnected relationships, and just what is going on in the mythology, but it's a very good entry point if you'd like to see more.
Alice & Zoroku - The Complete Series
Alice & Zoroku - The Complete Series
On the run from the research facility that imprisoned her, a little girl named Sana finds herself living with a stern but caring old man named Zoroku. With the abilities to teleport and summon anything she can imagine, Sana has some difficulty integrating into society. Will Sana learn to live a normal life, or is the Wonderland she created the only haven she can depend on?
This one caught me by surprise. What started as a very familiar science-experiment/super-
powered girl story soon turned expectations sideways. Sana, a powerful entity known by the facility as the Red Queen, soon finds herself under the same roof with a very down-to-Earth, blue-collar family of florists. Yeah, pretty different from the standard stuff. (And zero fan service, to boot.)
Aside from the odd ad placements throughout the series, the character relationships here are very well done. The series itself is split up into a few distinct arcs, though with a short episode number, each arc feels a little bit rushed and quickly abandoned once the story is done. So if you wanted a bit more information as to the facility Sana came from, or to know more about the various Dreams of Alice, you'll be out of luck once those mini-narratives end.
However, the strong "Alice in Wonderland" motif aside, this is a touching story about finding one's place and purpose in the world, in life, and the relationships we make.
Nanbaka - Part One
(Part Two is also available)
Welcome to Nanba, the world's largest, most impenetrable prison. Locked away in cell block 13 are four inmates who provide more than enough trouble for Officer Hajime. Between attempted breakouts, gambling, and general misbehaving, these four believe that just because they're in prison doesn't mean they can't have fun! Follow the hijinks of Jyugo, Uno, Rock, and Nico as they pass time behind bars.
So many sparkles, like so, so many. This wild anime series comes as a refreshing change since it's led by Sho Futamata, a female creator for once, a rarity in this particular set of stories and in anime at large. If you love sparkles, pretty boys, everyone having fangs, and all sorts of crazy punk fashion, this is the story for you.
More a humor series than anything, as even its names/title are number puns, Nanbaka pokes a lot of fun at other anime tropes like tournaments, unrequited romantic love between shy main characters, and even actual anime titles and "special moves." (Looking at you Naruto.) Part One ends with a cliffhanger that suggests more interesting mythology ahead, so if that's what you're interested in, you'll have to stick around for Season 2.
Twin Star Exorcists - Part One
(Parts 1-3 available, along with a Part 1 Collector's Edition)
He vows to never use his powers-she wants revenge for her family. But when a prophecy states that 14-year-old Rokuro and Benio will be the parents of the child destined to save the world, things don't go as planned. Only their combined powers can defeat the invasion of monsters from another realm. Which means that before these two can have a baby, they'll have to raise a little hell.
These top three are my favorite of the bunch. Hang in there because the main driving force behind Twin Star Exorcists is a little creepy, but the getting-to-know-you love story at the heart of the tale is worthwhile. Star-crossed child prodigy exorcists Benio and Rokuro are forced to team up in order to cleanse their city of invading specters from beyond. There's a lot more going on in the mythology and Part 1 teases just enough of it to get you hooked into watching more. And it all builds to a very cool moment for the two heroes after they spend quite a few episodes butting heads.
This collection also features some bonus material, like a cute featurette that has the two Japanese leads in a tiny room together, along with an option to watch the animatics for the fantastic opening sequence.
Star Blazers: Space Battleship Yamato 2199 - Part One
Star Blazers: Space Battleship Yamato 2199
(Part 1 and 2 are available, along with Part 1 in Limited Edition, described below)
Earth is on the verge of complete annihilation. Threatened by an intergalactic superpower known as Gamilas, humankind’s last hope for survival depends upon the generous assistance of another alien civilization—Iscandar.
The Space Battleship Yamato has only one year to seek out this planet and recover a device that could revitalize Earth.
The limited edition includes:
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Collector’s rigid box with room to house Parts 1 & 2 as well as art book
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40-page art book
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Special feature with voice actors and Funimation staff
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4 art cards
This should be an easy sell if you're a fan of the original Star Blazers, a.k.a. Space Battleship Yamato. This modern refresh of the story features incredible visuals and cutting-edge ship designs; the downside is that the female characters are sexed up even more than in the original 70s series and the physics of the ships themselves are a little wonky. That being said, the pedigree of this story is one of the best in anime if not all of TV dramas, and 2199 does a solid job of retelling that story.
Sadly, I only had a chance to check out Part 1, which basically just gets the Yamato on its way out of Earth's solar system. The battles that take place both in space and near planetary surfaces are amazing to behold, and the use of strategy to get the last hope for humanity out of the crosshairs of the enemy is second to none (well, maybe Star Trek and Battlestar Galactica, but good company to be in). As a bonus, the amazing artwork collected in the artbook is almost as entertaining as the series itself, especially for those of you who like to see the characters and ships in detail and even draw them for yourself!
Saiyuki Reload Blast
The journey to the west continues. The boys of the Sanzo party are back and looking better than ever—albeit a bit hungry. When they’re not fighting off demons or searching for a good meal—or smokes!—they’re making their way to take on the Ox Demon King. But the weight of the past is finally catching up with them, and getting to India may be the least of their worries.
Hands down my favorite of this batch of anime selections is Saiyuki Reload Blast. Another recent installment in the long-running story, itself inspired by "Journey to the West", this anime version is my first introduction to the series. The 12-episode series debuted just last year, but it's quickly become a favorite of mine. In the story, demons and chaos and darkness have overrun Shangri La, and humans live in fear, so luckily a reincarnated priest and his partially demonic pals are traveling across the world to put an end to them.
This very NSFW series is about as bloody as it gets in this bunch, but honestly, any series with a demon jeep is fine by me. The super fun, casual, and cool voice acting is a plus as it immediately makes each character distinct and likable for different reasons. Add to that some solid action, consistent humor, and fun interstitials, and you've got a real crowd-pleaser.
The 12-episode arc tells a few smaller stories in the space of the Sanzo Party's greater journey, but standouts include "Sky Burial" and a trilogy of episode's explaining Goku's backstory and the previous version of the party themselves, some 500 years earlier. It's a really well-done series that'll have you begging to see more. Check it out today!
