If it's isekai anime you're into--meaning, a story that transports a human character into a fictional, often fantasy world--then Overlord should be on your shortlist. It takes the idea of a human hero flung into a video game scenario to extremes, going beyond quests and their life-or-death consequences to see what an elite player at the top of their game would do. Having taken on the mantle of the supervillainous Ainz Ooal Gown (and various other disguises), the protagonist Momonga is basically a demigod in this fantasy world, which makes for a fascinating watch as we see just what he does with his ultimate power and ultimate responsibility. FUNimation has the third season available in an epic Limited Edition box set; our review of which follows below along with a bunch of other worthy titles from a variety of subgenres.

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 as 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 direction.

Overlord: Season 3

This land will fall to his command—the overlord is back! While Ainz Ooal Gown’s conquest over Yggdrasil is bearing fruit, a deadly power struggle between empires could lead to Ains’ downfall. But that’s the least of his worries. Despite praise from his subjects, Momonga is finding it harder to keep up his terrifying act. Can the mighty overlord maintain his reign, or will this be his final stand?

 

A set worthy of an overlord! Get exclusive merch, art, and more in this Limited Edition.

• There’s something about the many odd components of Overlord that just makes it work, including the awesome theme song and the dark comedy of the whole thing; even the fan servicey / pervy side of the story is handled pretty well and strictly for comedic value. (However, I could do without more penguins after watching Daimidaler; more on that in a minute.)

• In this season, war is brewing, and Ainz will have to manage his followers’ expectations if he's to maintain his hold on the land. However, while Ainz's strategic skills and combat tactics may be put to the test this season, the ones in peril are really those who have to carry out his orders. Ainz himself enters the fray a couple of times to show off his prowess in battle and it suffices to say that that doesn't end well for those who go up against the most powerful entity in the land.

• But even if that doesn't win you over, look, any anime that has a giant hamster training in the martial arts alongside lizard men is okay by me.

• I feel like this is an underrated/underappreciated anime series; it’s a blast to watch the isekai protagonist Momonga work both sides of the good/evil fantasy world even as he tries to maintain his own humanity, which becomes more difficult the further the story goes along.

• There are some difficult but inevitable character deaths in this season but we’re all just pawns in Ainz’ world; be sure to stick around for the special features for more!

8/10

Soul Eater: Complete Series

Soul Eater: Complete Series

Maka’s a Meister and Soul is her Weapon, and they’re a freakin’ lethal team in battle against the monsters and ghouls that feed on innocent souls. That’s when Soul transforms – literally – into a razor-sharp scythe and Maka wields her partner and unleashes her inner-slayer. Fighting alongside their Meister/Weapon classmates, Maka and Soul are the world’s last line of defense against evil.

• In short order, we're introduced to Death Weapon Meister Academy – DWMA – responsible for defending against evil, soul-sucking demons. The academy founded by the Grim Reaper, Death Himself, so obviously, I’m in!

• The female lead Maka wields a scythe to fight demons (or those with evil souls who will become demons) but the weapon is actually her male lead partner, Soul. He wants to gain enough power/souls to become Lord Death’s scythe, but they'll find that's easier said than done as complications soon arise.

• BONES’ animation style here is refreshing, light, and loose, balancing the action sequences with the silly humor throughout; even the sun and moon get in on the zany eccentric world thanks to heightened, very stylized design work that conjures up memories of Majora's Mask.

• The English cast is clearly having some fun with the over-the-top dialogue at times, especially Fan-Service Witch, etc

• After an unexpected side story about men who cheat on their partners, in which we see Soul and Maka working well together despite some sub-par mentors, we also get a tease for other duos: Blackstar and Tsubaki, Death The Kid and his girl weapons Patty & Liz. More teams are revealed as the episodes continue, and they're busy hunting heightened versions of infamous villains like Jack the Ripper, Al Capone, etc. (even master-thief Lupin)

• I like that the first 3 episodes are all prologues; Episode 4 is where the “real story” starts.

• The series has a decent enough hook and compelling characters and mythology, but it’s not quite my speed and not something I wanted to watch through all 51 episodes; however, you can see kernels of BONES’ earlier work here that would become refined for shows like My Hero Academia nearly a decade later

• “Bravery” is the name of the game at the very end, delivering a satisfying finale even if it didn’t completely blow me away

• Extras: Fun to watch the “Late Show” extras from the cast/crew for each episode providing little extra bits and insights as they tease the next episode

8/10

No-Rin: Complete Series

No-Rin: Complete Series

High school agricultural student Kosaku has an obsession with pop artist Yuka. He dreams of meeting her, but he never would have guessed that she’d be a student at his school! Now Ringo (formerly Yuka) is ready to ho, sow, and plow her way to the top!

• The animation is solid, cute, and fun, even if the character designs are pretty standard harem variety; it’s fun to see a farm setting in the countryside for once, rather than the standard urban school or village shrine.

• But what could have been an interesting premise--a Green Acres anime of sorts--soon gets derailed by an entire episode devoted to the merits of panties. And yeah the next episode starts out with the girls dressing in fan-service armor for some reason; the comedy is more miss than hit.

• No-Rin tries to say something profound in the final episode, about appreciating where you come from and the people who’ve been there for you since the beginning, but it’s kind of hollow when the entire series is a lightly pervy comedy

• Extras: Bonus preview promos are fun and definitely tell you what kind of show you’re in for; I should have watched these first!

6/10

Laughing under the Clouds: Complete Series

Laughing under the Clouds: Complete Series

Heavy clouds are beginning to settle over the secluded shrine of the Kumo brothers—a growing gloom that signals the return of a deadly serpent known as the Orochi. As the Japanese military searches for the serpent’s human vessel, the Kumo family’s ancient connection to the Orochi comes to light and the brothers’ carefree life gives way to the darkness of an ancient prophecy.

• Set during the Meiji era, at a time when the samurai class is now extinct via imperial edict as Western technology is embraced, Laughing Under the Clouds specifically exists in 1868 during the Restoration Era

• The story follows the three brothers of the Kumo shrine--Tenka, Soramaru, and Chutaro--who are tasked with returning escaped criminals to a vast prison … but the story quickly takes a turn into cross-dressing for humor for some reason. Luckily, it gets back to the brothers fairly soon and we see how the two youngest brothers struggle to match their oldest brother’s skill. There’s a solid, nurturing, and well-intentioned brotherly relationship here.

• Things get a little more serious in the second episode as a supernatural element is introduced. We learn of a fate of the area, that clouds gather ahead of the resurrection of the giant snake/dragon demon Orochi every 300 years; the Kumo siblings and their allies are tasked with subduing and sealing it, but Tenka is also cursed to be the Orochi’s vessel...

• There’s a nice parallel side story that follows the exploits of their ancestors, while the core contemporary story has good twists, turns, and betrayals throughout.

• The series runs out of steam a bit towards the end even though it tries to up the ante by factoring in much more than just the brothers, but it's worth a watch for something a little different from the usual.

7/10

Brothers Conflict: Complete Series + OVA

Brothers Conflict: Complete Series + OVA

Ema Hinata is lonely. As an only child and the daughter of a famous explorer, for most of her life her closest companion has been Juli, her talking pet squirrel. But her father is getting remarried, and her new family is...a little unorthodox. Now, she's got 13 gorgeous guys as her stepbrothers, and they're all after her heart! But is romance what she wants, or is it family

 

• Intro lets you know it’s gonna be a reverse harem series right outta the gate, so if that's what you're looking for, then enjoy!

• Ema’s 13 step brothers are vying for her attention, affection, and love…immediately, like, without pause, pretense or any build-up. Literally as soon as she steps foot in the house, the game is on!

• It’s pretty good at being a wish-fulfillment reverse harem series but for any audiences beyond that demographic, there’s nothing to recommend here. it's basically “To All the Boys I’ve Loved: The Anime”

• There’s a nice bonus 2.5 episodes (2 OVAs) for a little extra somethin’ somethin'

7/10

Black Lagoon: Complete Collection

Black Lagoon: Complete Collection

Take a twisted trip to the city of your nightmares in this hard-boiled shootout from the studio behind One Punch Man and Death Note. Includes five high-octane OVAs from Roberta's Blood Trail!

 

Rokuro was an ordinary Japanese business man—a whipping boy for the big bosses and corporate high rollers. But when his job to deliver a mysterious disk goes south, a ruthless gang of mercenaries fronted by a gunslinging femme fatale take him into their custody. Abandoned and out of his element, the newly reinvented “Rock” joins up with his kidnappers as a smuggler of the East China Sea.

• When this one landed in my mailbox, I was ecstatic; Black Lagoon is one of those titles I’d always heard about but never had the time/chance to check out … until now!

• For starters, the theme song is a banger and the intro visuals are stylish; nice job so far Madhouse! This anime series still looks good for a 2006 series, though you can tell it’s of an “older” style.

• So who among us doesn’t want to be captured by modern-day pirates and mercenaries who coerce you into becoming part of their gang?

• Revy, Dutch, and Benny have a little Faye, Jet, and Spike/Ed going for them; but they’re edgier, grittier, and more real with each other than the Cowboy Bebop crew.

• I have to say, it's very cool to see action play out on the water, both on the surface and beneath it, as a focal point; that’s pretty rare in anime series,.

• Roberta the Unstoppable Chambermaid is an awesome character; she’s kind of like the Tong Po of Black Lagoon, cool to see her and Revy square off. (And if you liked Roberta, you'll want to check out this particular series collection since it features a standalone OVA centering on the popular character.)

• Black Lagoon has a little Tarantino, a little Robert Rodriguez, and a little 80s macho movies / video games; even the music feels familiar, with a touch of Twin Peaks to it, too.

• It’s not quite up to Cowboy Bebop’s level because it doesn’t build to anything in particular: Revy grows slightly softer while Rock definitely hardens up throughout, but neither of them meet in the middle, really.

• In the end, Revy goes up against an elite samurai and gets the upper hand (and a sword to the leg) but only through a pretty callous emotional play by Rock; it seems he's learned how to be ruthless after his time with the Lagoon Company.

• But as a bonus, this set also includes the five OVA episodes “Roberta’s Blood Trail”: This thing starts off back in Vietnam before cutting back to the more recent past; it tells the story of Roberta’s past with the guerilla army and her time as a servant for the Lovelaces to her quest for vengeance (It also shows what the Black Lagoon team was up to in the meantime and has some fun with the second Lovelace “mini-maid” Fabiola) – this mini-arc was meant as a sort of redemption story for Roberta so she wasn’t just a kill-crazy murder-bot (there’s even a final “Man I almost died” beat between Rock and Revy)

Special Features (over 30 minutes):

• “The Crew” behind-the-scenes look at English production
• CD commercial
• Promotional videos
• Japanese opening songs
• Textless closing songs

8/10

Tokyo ESP: Complete Series

Tokyo ESP: Complete Series

Rinka is a normal Tokyo high-schooler with big dreams and a small income. She works a part-time job to support her and her single dad, but she yearns for the day she'll get to loosen the strings on her pocketbook. Her ordinary life takes a turn for the extraordinary when she witnesses a penguin and a school of fish flying through the air. After one of the fish seems to pass through her, she wakes up in her apartment building with no clothes on and no memory of the strange phenomenon save for a mysterious ability to pass through solid objects. With her newfound powers, Rinka is about to learn just how transparent the world can be.

• Early on, we get some very cool shots of the city at night in the snow (w/ an obvious Pocky product placement… now I want a Pocky) which you don’t see very often. Then the Parliament building detaches from the ground and floats over Tokyo, another thing you don’t see very often…

• I like the design / style of the ESPers, but the voices don’t match up early on, especially for the lead; that takes some getting used to.

• Early action beats play out like the X-Men/Nightcrawler infiltration of the White House.

 

• The series gets a little fan servicey, but it predates My Hero Academia and One Punch Man in its exploration of teens with superpowers learning to use their abilities

• Nice generational/family touch throughout; some pretty wild visuals that play with sense of scale, too. As an example of some of the more impressive mind-breaking visuals, a giant tanker ship floating high above Tokyo acts as a sort of mobile base and dynamic battle stage, making for an epic clash high in the sky.

• The series is solid when it explores its own mythological playground but starts to veer off track a bit when it folds in things like, wait for it, the Ark of the Covenant

• The bulk of the series is a flashback explaining how the ESPers came to attack the government and the fractures that split the original group of allies, so if you stick with it, you might find a reason to like, love, or even hate each of the characters. Ultimately, I didn’t quite connect with them and their stories didn’t reach me. (What’s hilarious, however, is that the English dub refers to the hero as “The White Girl” so when people casually refer to her that way, it is just the funniest thing ever.

7/10

Terror in Resonance: Complete Series

Terror in Resonance: Complete Series

Tokyo’s been decimated by a terrorist attack, and the only hint to the culprit’s identity is a bizarre internet video. While the world searches for a criminal mastermind, two mysterious teens who shouldn’t even exist masterfully carry out their heinous plan. A determined detective is hot on the culprit’s heels, but to catch them he must navigate a tangled web of riddles and false leads.

• Followed by a musical nightmareThis was one of my favorite titles of the bunch: It starts out with a bang as a team of organized thieves steal a prized McGuffin from a secure research facility, during winter no less. Smash cut to a new kid on his first day of high school, jumping into a pool with his clothes on to impress/save a bullied girl

 

• It should come as no surprise that this hails from Shinichiro Watanabe, though the music from Yoko Kanno doesn’t really jump out beyond an early standout track; there's solid animation from Aniplex, including a rare but efficient use of CGI

• Things ratchet up a notch when the duo (Nine and Twelve) taunt police with their terrorist plots; it turns into a battle of wits (and test of knowledge of obscure mythology) between the terrorists and the cops. It's pretty smart, if a little convoluted, but still relatively believable, with shades of a Death Note-like cat-and-mouse games. I dig the detective angle.

• Adding to the tension is the fact that, wait for it, the boys not only stole plutonium as part of their terrorist plot but there's also the reveal that they were also experimented on in their youth. The plot thickens when other kids from their group show up to complicate things and make trouble for 9, 12, and Lisa.

• This series really ramps up with the threat of atomic bombs, US intelligence conspiracies, and even fighter jet action sequences… and that threat is actually realized (spoilers, sorry!), meaning we get to transition to a post-apocalypse! Some awful sacrifices are made (Americans are the worst) but the thread of justice carries through. One year later… we get a bittersweet ending to this one.

• Extras: Group discussion with the English cast

9/10

Hellsing Ultimate

Hellsing Ultimate

Protecting England from satanic ghouls, the Hellsing Organization's deadliest weapon is a rogue vampire named Arucard. Seras Victoria, a former policewoman who accepted Arucard's gift of dark salvation after she fell in the line of duty, is called for backup. Together, they haunt the shadows as a sinister force of good.

• If you're a fan of the Hellsing franchise, prepare yourself for this 10-hour main course. And that's just for starters! This selection of 10 OVAs revisits the manga in, as most fans will undoubtedly agree, a more satisfying, faithful, and complete version than the previous anime series was able to do at the time back in 2001.
• But there's much more: The Special Features fun for just about as long as the OVAs themselves, not just with episode commentaries.
• Follow along with the gory, bloody, and relentlessly violent adventures of the rogue vampire Arucard and the Hellsing Organization as they attempt to defend Great Britain from satanic ghouls, Nazi vampire freaks, and more. Much, much more.
• There's an insane collection of characters on both sides of the battle here, so you're sure to find the ones you love right alongside the ones you absolutely love to hate.
• As for the action, it's hard to find better than Hellsing. From close quarters combat, to military squad maneuvering, to all-out attacks on cities by land, sea, and air, this series loves to show off in spectacular ways. (However, and I cannot stress this enough, this one's only for mature audiences. You've been warned!)

Special Features:

selector: Season 1 & Season 2

selector: Season 1 & Season 2

Season 1:

What would you risk to see your deepest desire come true? Your friends? Family? What about your life as you know it?

 

WIXOSS is the hottest new card game on the market. Ruko’s big brother just gave her a starter pack, but something is off. Her player card seems to be able to communicate with her, and once she gets to school other girls start pestering her for WIXOSS battles. Ruko soon learns that the possession of her sentient card makes her a Selector, a WIXOSS player destined to battle against other Selector girls in an alternate gamescape in order to become Eternal Girls. Once an Eternal Girl, players are granted the deepest and most sacred wish their heart desires. But if they lose three battles, it’s not just their wish that they lose…

• Surprisingly, this series takes place somewhere on the spectrum between Cardcaptor Sakura and Doki Doki Literature Club; if you've played the latter game, you know what I mean.

• I like that the series focuses on a group of girls playing a competitive card game for once instead of a bro-heavy battle series. These girls are battling for a heart’s desire/wish, but our protagonist, who only wants to battle for the fun of it, is ostracized because she doesn’t have a wish worth fighting for (or at least she isn't sharing it). Unfortunately, she also is obsessed with her twin brother, which holds her (and the show) back. However, if you’re a fan of the dark turn that Doki Doki takes, you will find a lot to love with selector. (And I particularly like how the previews for the next episode are shown in the style of “TV snow/grainy footage.")

• The game is actually a painful cycle that forces Selectors to battle each other: If they “win” and become the Eternal Girl, their LRIG takes over their body and the girl becomes the LRIG herself… but losing the game results in a loss of your heart’s desire and memories related to it; the only way to “win” is not to play

• Special Features: Commentary for the finale with the English cast is a fun listen

Season 2:

From the director of Steins;Gate comes the epic continuation of the Selector series! Ruko is back in action, and this time she wants answers! With her friend Hitoe by her side, Ruko searches for what happened to Tama, her former LRIG. Along the way she discovers the secrets behind WIXOSS and its malicious creator. The truth lies in wait, but will Ruko be able to save the LRIGs from their fate?

• This series can be summed up by the repeated shots of the Tetris-like building and the questions aimed at it like, “What happens when the last space is filled?” There are fewer answers than questions throughout this show, and the writing waits until the final episodes to dole out those resolutions.

• The second season features the first season's heroes attempting to prevent other girls from playing the game and succumbing to its punishment, which is a nice follow-up and change of pace from the first season.

• We learn of the mythology behind the creation of the game and the bizarre history of its players. We also get quite the twist when the fate of the card game’s real-world creator is revealed

• Just when it looks like our protagonist is about to heal the wounds that the creator has long suffered, there’s some pretty savage punishments that come about. Ultimately, healing comes to the creator--“Someone will hold her and call her name.”--through a colorless card that allows her to paint the world in any way she sees fit. That's a nice resolution, if a rather subdued one.

7/10

New Game! Seasons 1 & 2

New Game! Seasons 1 & 2

18-year-old Aoba Suzukaze just landed her dream job at a video game company, but the real world of office culture is challenging for this total noob. From her awkward first day, to her first game's debut-and even training the next new recruit-she's got a lot of skills to level up. But with a little help from her coworkers, she can handle any raid boss in her way.

Season 1: You can check out my Season 1 review here.

Season 2:

• Starts off much like the first season w/ callbacks to specific moments and re-introductions of returning characters

• Gets off to a pretty slow start… and doesn't really pick up from there.

• The plotting is looser and the stakes are lower this season; it’s okay for those of you who really enjoyed the first season and want to spend more time with these characters, but there's better stories out there.

6/10

Lord Marksman and Vanadis: Complete Series

Lord Marksman and Vanadis: Complete Series

When Tigre is taken captive by an enemy general, he leaves his own lands completely open to attack. Unable to sit by and watch the destruction, he must convince his beautiful captor to join him in a fight to save his homeland. Using his skills as an archer and her goddess-like abilities, the pair must stand together if they hope to survive in this action-packed mix of fantasy and fan-service.

• Despite the crisp animation and character designs, this thing hits you with a pair of super-fantasy names from the getgo, so get your brains ready. (Also, I'm rather tired of the relatively new addition of adding a shiny pink blush to women's faces, noses, cheeks, shoulders, knees, breasts, anywhere there's skin showing; this show is particularly egregious in this respect.)

• The theme song is close to being on Attack on Titan's level, but it's not quite there. As for the voice acting, it's rough early on; this one takes some getting used to.

• After a rebellious archer is defeated by the War Maiden, only then does a narrator jump in to explain the war, and then give us a flashback. Despite our hero being a prisoner of war / slave put on display, I do like that this story focuses on an archer character, even if you get the feeling early on that it’s gonna be a harem story.

• It’s got more than a little bit of Game of Thrones in it, including dragons, a very rapey villainous prince, and interstitials with war maps and narration of battlefield forces.

• While there’s definite fan service (all the ladies are ridiculously proportioned and scantily clad when they’re clad at all) it’s relatively reined in, so even when Tigre sucks poison out of a war maiden’s chest, at least it’s played straight and not for laughs or in a sexual way.

• The action is well done and the factions of war maidens coming together to battle a common enemy is a compelling story, but it’s stuck somewhere between serious fantasy-action show and fan-service extravaganza. It feels like it wants to be Game of Thrones: The Anime but doesn’t quite have the depth for it; not bad though for a fan-servicey series

• Extras: There’s a series of chibi adventures that poke fun at the series with cutesy versions of the characters and at the plot itself, with clever, fun little twists on the story; cute stuff!

7/10

One Piece: Adventure of Nebulandia

One Piece: Adventure of Nebulandia

The Foxy Pirates challenge Luffy’s crew in the New World, but when the Navy’s most brilliant tactician steps in, they all wind up on the island of Nebulandia—an infamous death trap for Devil Fruit users. Luffy must team with his Davy Back nemesis for a harrowing rescue mission when Zoro, Sanji, and some Foxy Pirates are held hostage!

• Some of FUNimation's best Blu-ray offerings are these standalone One Piece TV specials that give you a chance to watch the one-shots in the comfort of your own home.

 

• A hearty THANK YOU for the character introduction/rundown to start this adventure; always a welcome addition, even for franchises you're already familiar with. And for those who have been following along for the hundreds of episodes of One Piece, some familiar faces from adventures past will show up!

• Though why the main conflict in this TV special is a poisonous mushroom-eating competition is beyond me, I do like the idea of the Navy lying in wait for the pirates on an island that nullifies their Devil Fruit powers

• Luffy tries to save his friends without the use of his powers in this special, but it just doesn’t have the same punch (literally), tension or intensity that previous specials have had. I'm not quite sure what's missing here; it might be the strong emotional connection that Luffy and the others lack this time around. Still, we're always up for a high-seas adventure with the One Piece crew!

• Special Features: Joining the Crew with Ian Sinclair and Michael Johnson – The two actors sit down to talk about their voiced roles in this special and previous episodes, as well as their overall careers.

7/10

Noein: To Your Other Self - Complete Series

Noein: To Your Other Self - Complete Series

When summer break begins, Haruka is only thinking of hanging out with her friends—until one night she learns that she’s the keystone in a battle for not only the Earth’s future, but the survival of all existence in the multiverse. When Haruka learns she has the ability to not only see, but influence every possible future, will she be able to protect infinite worlds along with her own?

• Featuring one of the strangest, most original introductions I’ve seen (and this was back in 2005), we see a team of heroes assault a massive creature of unknown origin or intent, its twisted faces screaming before it collapses in on itself into a sort of black hole and drags at least one of the fighters in with it… Impressive start!

• From there, a rather sweet but mundane middle school drama plays out, at least until a character hallucinates blue snow against a red sky and sees an electric “ghost” rippling out of time and space; it’s the character we saw pulled into the monster’s gravity, now spaghettified into bizarre shifting proportions. This is just the tip of the iceberg of the insanity that is to come.

• The camerawork here is a standout as well. It has a flowing, live-action feel to it, but the animation shows a pretty sharp divide between traditional hand-drawn character/background work and some rather rudimentary CG vehicles and buildings, when compared to today’s CG visuals; the CG used for the more otherworldly or mystical elements is a much better quality. Satelight’s style of animation is unique here but has changed a lot over the years; just a decade separates this entry from an earlier one, Lord Marksman and Vanadis

• Most of the time, I have no idea what's going on in this series, but when it shifts into the sci-fi heavy futuristic timeline, well, I still have no idea what’s going on, but it’s got a strong Akira vibe that I did. Turns out that what the kids mistake for ghosts appear to be travelers sent back into the past—which turns out to be a rather harrowing experience—to achieve … something? Are they dimension hopping, are they from the future? I don't know! But I'm into it!

• We get a better idea of the timeline, 15 years in the future, is wildly different and terrifying (and it just so happens to be set now in 2020), and thankfully there's a recap episode partway through to catch you up. (Though it's kind of insane that these characters are supposed to be elementary school kids and then like young adults, but so it goes.)

• Basically, our dimension is just one possibility of an infinite multitude, and we're caught up in a dimension war between other possible realities/timespaces: La'cryma and Shangri-La, who each send their forces to our Earth to battle it out. The ultimate goal of Shangri-La leader Noein is to merge all the multiverses into their own, at the expense of all living beings in the merged universes.

• There's a lot of mind-bending sci-fi, a twisty mythology that's going to require your utmost attention, and some heartfelt explorations of character relationships as they navigate their pasts, presents, and possible futures.

• The final all-out battle builds on al the mythology we’ve learned, the characters we’ve met, and the story so far; it still doesn’t make a lot of sense, but much more so than when we started. It's worth watching again and again until it clicks!

Extras:

• On Location with Haruka Kudo and Director Akane – The actor and director arrive in Hakodate, the setting of the series, to get the lay of the land.

• NOEIN Art Edition – Cool breakdown of scenes in Complete Animation, Full Frame, and Key Frame stages

• Bloopers
Commentary
Promos

9/10

Love Tyrant: Complete Series

Love Tyrant: Complete Series

When Seiji Aino winds up written in the Kiss Note, he goes from a lonely nobody to a girl magnet! Cupid Guri accidentally writes his name in her book and rather than set him up with his crush, she decides to join the fun. But between yandere Akane, hot-headed Yuzu, and the cupid herself, Seiji isn’t in a lover’s paradise!

• I very much appreciate when a silly series starts off with a very clear vision of what its tone/characters/plot is going to be, and this show does just that: A grim reaper girl shows up and tells a young man he has to kiss someone soon or he’ll die, so it's Death Note twist as a ‘Kiss Note’, and I love that. (I also appreciate an intro/song that introduces the characters by name.)

• This quickly turns into a pervy harem anime, but that’s kind of the point: The reaper tries to set our hero up with a big-boobed girl at school (and even drops her shorts to reveal her overly fancy panties, to no real reaction on her part except jealousy). However, the reaper isn’t a Shinigami, she’s a cosplaying angel, obviously (a cupid, technically). The three of them form the most dramatic romantic relationship possible.

• It devolves into a pretty typical harem series though it’s not the perviest thing we’ve watched from FUNimation. The whole plot revolves around the devil’s plan to get the angel to question whether or not the male protagonist is in love with her or not. That answer will determine whether she gets to live out her days as an angel in love or a demon in heartbreak.

6/10

Daimidaler: Prince vs Penguin Empire

Daimidaler: Prince vs Penguin Empire

From studio TNK and the director behind High School DxD comes a ridiculously raunchy romp through a world of mechs powered by perversion! The earth is under attack by the alien Penguin Empire. Piloting the Daimidaler mechs are master pervert Kouichi with his take-no-prisoners libido and Kiriko, a girl who can level cities just by thinking of her boyfriend. Together they’ll use an overflow of Hi-ERO power to protect the planet from the front-tailed penguin menace!

• Welp, this is a first; the Blu-ray menu features a line-up of dudes in penguin onesies with big white "penguin penises" sticking out as they dance in unison and twirl panties over their heads… and that's all before the episodes themselves even start. This should be interesting. (Don’t worry, the penguin penises aren’t penises at all, they’re their “splendid tails”, which one character calls Dick Tails, and another calls Front Tails, as you do.)

• And the first shot is a full-body nude shower scene of a woman (who happens to be a pilot of a mech), so, yeah, we know what we’re getting into here. Our very top-heavy lead pilot is soon stuffed into her skintight pilot suit, which is particularly weak in the chest area and disintegrates just around her boobs at the slightest provocation

• The mechs are really awful looking and I think that’s by design; they look like cobbled-together kids toys. "Daimidaler The Sound Robot" feels like it’s going to be a semi-serious spoof on mecha anime; and yeah the first episode is titled “Fondle” so…

• The male pilot, our promised protagonist, can only unlock his potential by groping and sexually assaulting/humiliating women, so that’s fun... And it actually manages to get worse as the pilot gets trained by a mentor as to how to efficiently sexually assault women! (Yes, I get that it’s supposed to be funny but it’s right on the line. It’s not as funny as Tiramisu, though I do like the idea of the Penguin Empire.

• Thankfully, the mechs get a nice redesign/update by the final episodes, but it’s not enough to salvage this misguided mess; even Matt Mercer can’t save it.

Special Features:

• 6 OVAs - If you still want more, there are 6 relatively short extras to choose from, including more penguin front-tail polishing
• Episode Commentaries
• Japanese Commercials and Promo Videos
• Textless Songs
• U.S. Trailer

5/10

Buddy Complex: Complete Series (Sub Only)

Buddy Complex: Complete Series (Sub Only)

From SUNRISE, the legendary studio behind the Mobile Suit Gundam series, comes an action-packed addition to the mech genre.

 

After a giant robot attacks Aoba Watase’s school, he’s thrust into the future where a new world war threatens to tear the planet apart. Faced with no other choice, Aoba must pick a side, learn to pilot a mech of his own, and fight his way through an army of enemies as he tries to get back to the past he left behind.

• What starts out as a basic school story about a decent guy who is liked by everyone soon turns into a gorgeously animated mecha story, complete with a time-traveling pilot from the future who arrives in the past with a vengeance. So it’s like Terminator meets Gundam.

• Bonus Points for the female pilot’s mech not having boob armor.

• Since this is a rare subtitle-only title in FUNimation's catalogue, I had to call out a funny line of dialogue, like every time the techs call out, “Nice Coupling!”

• As is usually the case in mecha anime, there are two warring factions of pilots and a recent discovery of a new energy source has made mecha possible.

• Since I always like to see what mecha anime call their mecha: Here, they're called Valiancers, which is a better name than the specific ones (like Luxon and Bradyon).

• There's a little bit of Space Battleship Yamato (they’re really borrowing from a lot here…) but a dash of the silliness and fan service, too. While the MS evolution is worked into the story pretty well, the pacing of it all feels like it moves too fast; this thing is over before you know it. I would have loved to spend a little more time with the characters outside of the constant relentless battles. Still, it’s a nice addition to the mecha sub genre

7/10

The Master of Ragnarok & Blesser of Einherjar

The Master of Ragnarok & Blesser of Einherjar

Two years ago, high school student Yuuto Suou was summoned to the archaic land of Yggdrasil. With his solar-powered smartphone and knowledge learned from his history class, he now leads the Wolf Clan as its patriarch. If Yuuto is ever to return home, he’ll have to survive attempts on his life, beautiful shieldmaidens vying for his love, and battles where thousands of lives are under his command!

• Two young warriors (whose voices are too old for their character designs) talk by the lake under a gorgeous night sky of sparkling stars; they’re preparing for a big battle as you do, but they're also brother and sister apparently.

• The story takes place in Yggdrasil where Yuuto Suoh was summoned, rising to become the patriarch of the Wolf Clan despite not having spoken the language; there seems to be some historical precedence for their military strategy/prowess here.  Felicia is the Einherjar blesser who protects him, and also happens to wield a whip.

• Suou Yuuto’s phone still works, so he’s able to call home, which makes for an interesting wrinkle in the storytelling since it also includes a connection back to the real world. However, it quickly devolves into a fan service harem anime. Again. He recruits “sisters” to make allies and then gives them iron weapons forged by one of his “younger siblings”; rinse and repeat.

• The story does seem to pick up in the middle of things after wars have already been fought, so it's left to the flashbacks to flesh that all ou

• It’s got elements of In Another World with My Smartphone, Overlord, Dr. Stone, Saga of Tanya the Evil and other similar fantasy fare, just without the originality, compelling characters, or style. Ultimately it’s just fantasy wish-fulfillment and fan service; the very typical hot springs scene/episode drives that point home.

• Spoilers: In the final episode, Suou is teleported back to his own time. It’s kind of nice that Suou stayed celibate in the fantasy world, surrounded by hot girls who literally threw themselves at him, in order to make it home to his true love (and propose to her), so I'll give it a point for that much.

Special Features:

• Eyecatch Gallery
• Japanese Promotional Video
• Textless Opening & Closing Songs

6/10