Anime Hajime Review: Papa no Iukoto wo Kikinasai

***Warning, the following may contain spoilers for Papa no Iukoto wo Kikinasai. Reader discretion is advised.***

Series Synopsis

Yuuta Segawa (voiced by Wataru Hatano) lost his parents at a young age. His older sister, Yuri (voiced by Sayaka Ohara), took it upon herself to raise him. Thus, ensuring that the two would not separate. Years later, Yuuta is a freshman in college and Yuri has married into a new family.

Being busy, Yuuta hasn't been able to spend time with his sister. Now with things a little calmer, he can finally be a part of his three niece’s lives.

Sora Takanashi (voiced by Sumire Uesaka), the eldest of the three, is the daughter of Yuri’s husband and his late wife. A responsible older sister, she has had a long-standing crush on Yuuta.

Miu Takanashi (voiced by Eri Kitamura), the middle sibling, is Yuri's husband’s daughter from his second marriage. She likes to tease her older sister, but she is also there to lend her support.

Hina Takanashi (voiced by Hiromi Igarashi), the youngest, is Yuri’s own daughter. She always goes about her day with a smile.

The sisters are close and see Yuri as a loving mother. Then the unthinkable happens.

Anime Hajime Review: One Punch Man

***Warning, the following may contain spoilers for One Punch Man. Reader discretion is advised.***

Series Synopsis

The world has many strange and powerful monsters threatening the peace of daily life. It is the job of the Heroes Association to counter the never-ending onslaught. This is also a good way for someone to win praise, recognition, and job security. With an ever-growing roster, the Association is ready to face any potential disaster.

Alternatively, the Earth can rely on the one man who chooses to be a hero for fun.

Saitama (voiced by Makoto Furukawa) has always had a strong sense of justice. Though a bit of a derp, he's the first to jump to anyone’s rescue. On a whim, he made the decision to train his body to fight the forces of evil.

As a result, Saitama transformed himself into the most powerful hero in history. He now has the strength to defeat any enemy with a single punch.

Yet the Association’s rigid bureaucracy has left Saitama as a relative unknown. However, his abilities have not gone unnoticed. He even manages to find a disciple, the cyborg Genos (voiced by Kaito Ishikawa).

When all other heroes fail, Saitama is the only one who can do what they cannot. And he makes it look easy.

Anime Hajime Review: Avenger

***Warning, the following may contain spoilers for Avenger. Reader discretion is advised.***

Series Synopsis

After Earth's destruction, the last of humanity has colonized Mars. Most people live scattered across the red surface in domed cities. Necessary resources have become scarce and lawlessness runs rampant. The last vestiges of order are tournaments between representatives of the different settlements.

Compounding this harsh reality, Earth’s former moon is now on a collision course with the planet. But, the end may come much sooner.

No children have been born for the past decade. To fill the lack of a child’s presence, human-like dolls serve the people. While they may look like kids, the artificial nature of these dolls cannot fill the void. There is, however, one exception.

A doll by the name of Nei (voiced by Mika Kanai) is the most advanced model that has ever existed. Drifting around, Nei finds a powerful new master.

Layla Ashely (voiced by Megumi Toyoguchi) is a Barbaroi, a person not attached to any city. She has gained a reputation for being a strong fighter who has never lost a fight. She is also quite open about her intention to kill the most formidable person on the planet. This is none other than the de facto ruler of Mars, Volk (voiced by Hiroshi Yanaka).

Anime Hajime Review: Double J

***Warning, the following may contain spoilers for Double J. Reader discretion is advised.***

Series Synopsis

Hajime Usami (voiced by Ayuru Ohashi) and Sayo Arima (voiced by Emiri Kato) have stumbled across the Cultural Activity Preservation Club. Here students continue the arts of ancient Japanese handicrafts.

Hajime and Sayo don’t know any traditional disciplines. Nor do they put forward much effort to join the club at all. Yet they decide to stick around anyway. After some time, Hajime finds some interest in mastering a classic art form.

Other members include Club President Ichiro Toba (voiced by Nobuyuki Hiyama). He claims to be a descendant of Toba Sojo, the person credited with creating the first manga. Determined to live up to that legacy, Ichiro’s attempts to modernize his ancestor's works.

Aya Chosokabae (voiced by Kanami Satou) is the Preservation Club’s Vice President. She writes the fortunes one can get at any shrine or temple in Japan. The current economic and social climate determines what she writes.

Maria Sassa (voiced by Chiaki Omigawa) is from a long line of wood carvers. Her family specializes in toothpicks. Not the pointy bit mind you. But rather they carve the grooves on the other end.

Anime Hajime Review: Toshokan Sensou

***Warning, the following may contain spoilers for Toshokan Senso. Reader discretion is advised.***

Series Synopsis

30 years ago, The Japanese government passed the Media Betterment Act. With it came the Media Betterment Committee, the MBC. This organization holds the authority to censor any form of media deemed harmful to society. Opposition to this affront to free speech led to the Freedom of Libraries Act. Local governments could now establish counter-groups known as the Library Defense Force.

Since then, the MBC and Defense Forces have faced off in a never-ending battle.

Iku Kasahara (voiced by Marina Inoue) is the newest librarian at the Kanto Library Base. She has committed herself to defending the public's right to information.

Unfortunately, life at the base is anything but easy. This is thanks to her hard nose superior officer, Atsushi Dojo (voiced by Tomoaki Maeno).

While not the most stellar of recruits, Iku’s passion hasn't gone unnoticed. She soon joins the ranks of the Library Task Force to help face the MBC.

The job is dangerous but important. Thus, Iku does everything in her power to live up to the honor of the Defense Force.

Anime Hajime Review: Black Bullet

***Warning, the following may contain spoilers for Black Bullet. Reader discretion is advised.***

Series Synopsis

In the year 2021, humanity is almost brought to extinction due to the Gastrea epidemic. Mankind survived the outbreak and took refuge behind the Monolith Walls. These barriers, made of solid Varanium, can repel the monstrous Gastrea.

To fight the remaining fiends, governments employ organizations known as Civil Securities. Each Civil Officer team consist of an Initiator and a Promoter.

An Initiator is someone born with the Gastrea virus inside them, thus giving them superhuman abilities. Unfortunately, these carriers hold the stigma of Cursed Children. As such, the society they are protecting shun them. Therefore, Initiators must rely on their Promoters to lead them through battle.

One of these pairs is Promoter Rentaro Satomi (voiced by Yuki Kaji) and Initiator Enju Aihara (voiced by Rina Hidaka).

The nature of this duo's work is always filled with danger and little appreciation. Despite that, these two fight to save a world that would sooner have Enju dead than accept her.

Anime Hajime Review: Joshi Kosei

***Warning, the following may contain spoilers for Joshi Kosei. Reader discretion is advised.***

Series Synopsis

Eriko Takahashi's (voiced by Hitomi Nabatame) dream has come true. She has become a high school student. Not only that, she will be attending an all-girls school. In her mind, this means a paradise of sophistication and femininity.

Eriko, along with her friends, Yuma Suzuki (voiced by Masumi Asano) and Ayano Sato (voiced by Mamiko Noto), her contain their excitement. Except there is one problem. It turns out a school with only girls is not the Eden Eriko were expecting.

It seems when there are no boys to impress, girls just stop caring. Once private, embarrassing, and non-hygienic topics are now out in the open. That and the word "reservation" no longer hold any meaning.

This harsh reality is then confirmed by some middle school veterans of the academy, Akari Kouda (voiced by Satsuki Yukino), Kyoko Himeji (voiced by Kyoko Hikami), and Ikue Ogawa (voiced by Sawa Ishige).

Though rough, this team of six make the most of the situation. And with a range of over the top personalities, this appointed Moron Group are always the center of attention.

Anime Hajime Review: Free

***Warning, the following may contain spoilers for Free. Reader discretion is advised.***

Series Synopsis

Haruka Nanase (voiced by Nobunaga Shimazaki) has always found peace in the water. That passion stems from his time with his swim team back in elementary school. Since then, Haruka has never lost that connection with his teammates Makoto Tachibana (voiced by Tatsuhisa Suzuki), Nagisa Hazuki (voiced by Tsubasa Yonaga), and Matsuoka (voiced by Mamoru Miyano).

Following a resounding team victory, Rin moved abroad to a prestigious swimming academy. Thus, the group has remained broken until they entered high school.

Learning of Rin’s return, Haruka, Makoto, and Nagisa revive the Iwatobi High School Swim Club. Haruka, in particular, hopes to share the water with Rin once again. Even if that means they will be on opposing teams.

However, a three-member club won't cut it. The trio, therefore, manages to recruit newcomer, Rei Ryugazaki (voiced by Daisuke Hirakawa).

Unbeknownst to the Iwatobi Swim Club, they have set off a chain of events. Events that will test if their friendship was more than a simple victory.