Anime Hajime Review: Basilisk - The Oka Ninja Scrolls

***Warning, the following may contain spoilers for Basilisk – The Oka Ninja Scrolls. Reader discretion is advised.***

Series Synopsis

Ten years after the deadly battle between the infamous Iga and Kouga ninja clans, peace has spread across the land. In a world without fighting, the current generation of Iga and Kouga have come together to preserve their respective bloodlines. Now, the future of the two groups rests in the hands of their new leaders, Hachiro Kouga and Hibiki Iga (voiced by Tasuku Hatanaka and Inori Minase).

However, combat is simply a part of a ninja’s life. It is the fate of both the Iga and Kouga clans to fight.

A new enemy, the Joujinshuu, wishes to destroy what they believe is an undeserved peace. Effortlessly, the Joujinshuu kill most of the remaining Iga and Kouga. All that remains of the two once mighty clans are Hachiro, Hibiki, and a handful of their most loyal comrades.

For the first time, Iga and Kouga must fight side-by-side to defeat what appears to be an unstoppable enemy. Once again, the two clans find themselves in a battle to the death. And once again, they must demonstrate the frightening power associated with their names.

Anime Hajime Review: Devilman Crybaby

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

Series Synopsis

Akira Fudo (voiced by Koki Uchiyama) has a reputation of being overly sensitive. The slightest bit of hardship is enough to throw him into a fit of tears. Akira is – in a single word – a crybaby.

One day, Akira’s old friend Ryo Asuka (voiced by Ayumu Murase) returns to Japan in need of Akira’s help. Ryo informs Akira that the world is on the verge of destruction. Living in the shadows are an ancient race of demons who are about to make their apocalyptic return. To fight the oncoming threat, Ryo proposes an insane idea.

Demons have survived because they attach themselves to other lifeforms. However, if a human heart manages to beat out a demon’s attempt to take over the body, a person can then wield the power of the damned while still retaining their humanity. Ryo believes Akira will be able to do just that.

Against the odds, Akira does manage to successfully win control over a particularly powerful demon. In a single night, the once timid high school student becomes an unstoppable defender of humanity.

Neither man nor demon, Akira has transformed into the frightening creature known as a Devilman.

Anime Hajime Review: Hakata Tonkotsu Ramens

***Warning, the following may contain spoilers for Hakata Tonkotsu Ramens. Reader discretion is advised.***

Series Synopsis

Like any big city in the world, there is a criminal underbelly that tries to stay out of the spotlight. To ensure things stay that way, organizations regularly hire hitmen to remove any and all potential threats. And in the bustling metropolis of Fukuoka’s Hakata ward, this is just daily business.

Lin Xianming (voiced by Yuki Kaji) is a highly skilled Chinese hitman. After a short, but nonetheless violent career, Lin has found himself working the streets of Hakata. While on the job, he has had to deal with a large assortment of interesting people. Yet none have been as interesting as the laid-back private detective, Zenji Banda (voiced by Daisuke Ono).

Through the nature of their line of work, Lin and Zenji end up face-to-face. Due to circumstances, they agree to form a temporary alliance to take on a much larger threat. Although this pairing was sudden, the duo soon becomes the most sought after in all of Hakata – both for good and bad reasons.

For the life of a hitman, the person with the biggest wallet tends to call the shots. That is why something like trust is in very short supply.

Anime Hajime Review: Killing Bites

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

Series Synopsis

Yuya Nomoto (voiced by Wataru Hatano) ends up as an unwitting accomplice during the abduction of a seemingly defenseless high school girl. Out of fear and panic, Yuya tries to think of something to stop the horrific act he has found himself in. But before he can do anything, the kidnapped high school girl effortlessly, and brutally, slaughters the rest of her captors.

If Yuya thought he was in a dangerous spot before, it’s much worse now.

The girl, named Hitomi Uzaki (voiced by Sora Amamiya), tells Yuya that she is a Brute: a person capable of tapping into the fighting prowess of a beast. Hitomi and other Brutes test their strength in vicious battles known as Killing Bites.

Hitomi is a newcomer to the Killing Bites scene and needs a sponsor to take part in an upcoming tournament. And since he happens to be there, Hitomi forces Yuya to take on the role.

The terrified Yuya has just plunged into a world of blood and cruelty as the world’s strongest warriors face off to see who is the best.

Anime Hajime Review: Working!!

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

Series Synopsis

From out of the blue, Souta Takanashi (voiced by Jun Fukuyama) is approached by the super tiny, and super adorable Popura Taneshima (voiced by Kana Asumi).

Popura is a waitress at the local family restaurant Wagnaria and has been desperately looking for a new hire. Devastated to see such a cute little thing giving it all she’s got, Souta immediately agrees to Popura’s request. And just like that, Souta has entered the world of a part-time employee.

Unbeknownst to Souta, though, Wagnaria has a bit of a reputation. The people who work there may be good at their jobs, but they are all a little off.

As it turns out though, Souta himself is a little off as well and fits in quickly at his new job.

The work is tiring, but Souta doesn’t mind since the work is fun. And thanks to his new co-workers, there is never a boring shift.

Anime Eiga Review: Mary and the Witch's Flower

***Warning, the following may contain spoilers for Mary and the Witch’s Flower. Reader discretion is advised.***

Film Synopsis

Mary Smith (voiced by Hana Sugisaki) has recently moved to her great-aunt’s house in the countryside. Although happy to be with her beloved aunt, Mary is finding it difficult to adjust to her new life. No matter what she does, she always seems to be in everyone’s way.

Then, Mary meets a pair of cats, Tib and Gib (voiced by Ikue Otani and Lynn), who lead her deep into the nearby forest. The two felines stop and hiss when they arrive at a mysterious blue flower. Being curious, Mary takes the plant and learns that it is called fly-by-night, or the witch’s flower.

The next day, one of the cats, Gib, goes missing. While searching, Mary discovers the true nature of the witch’s flower. The plant temporarily bestows onto Mary the power of a witch and resurrects a flying broomstick.

The broomstick takes Mary to the ancient school of magic known as Endor College. Although thinking the witch’s flower has given her the excitement she has been looking for, Mary soon realizes that many people wish to use its amazing power to complete their own nefarious goals.

Anime Hajime Review: Eromanga-sensei

***Warning, the following may contain spoilers for Eromanga-sensei. Reader discretion is advised.***

Series Synopsis

One year ago, a young author named Masamune Izumi (voiced by Yoshitsugu Matsuoka) lost his father and stepmother. Things have been difficult, but Masamune has gotten by. More than that, he has managed to turn his passion for writing into a promising career.

Masamune's most recent story has made him a rising star. But a large part of that success is thanks to his illustrator, the mysterious Eromanga-sensei.

Masamune has never met his partner, but he has more pressing concerns.

With the death of their parents, Masamune' stepsister, Sagiri (voiced by Akane Fujita) has become a shut-in and hasn't left her room since that fateful day. Try as he might, Masamune has been unable to reconnect with Sagiri. That is until he makes an amazing discovery.

By chance, Masamune learns that Sagiri and Eromanga-sensei are the same person. Through this, the two step-siblings get the chance to grow close again.

Through this, they begin to realize how special they really are to each other.

Anime Hajime Review: Kiznaiver

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

Series Synopsis

Katsuhira Agata (voiced by Yuki Kaji) is a bit of an anomaly.

Ever since he can remember, Katsuhira has been unable to feel physical pain and has found it difficult to express any kind of emotion. Wandering through life with indifference, one day, Katsuhira meets someone who might be able to explain why he is the way he is.

A girl named Noriko Sonozaki (voiced by Hibiku Yamamura) informs Katsuhira of the Kizna Project, a large-scale experiment dedicated to finally bringing about world peace. To accomplish this feat, the Kizna Project has developed the Kizna System, a mysterious program that disperses one person’s pain across multiple people. Katsuhira and six of his classmates have been chosen, against their will, to participate in the next phase of the project.

Katsuhira, along with Chidori Takashiro, Hajime Tenga, Nico Niiyama, Tsuguhito Yuta, Honoka Maki, and Yoshiharu Hisomu (voiced by Yuka Tersaki, Tomoaki Maeno, Misaki Kuno, Nobunaga Shimazaki, Rina Sato, and Kotaro Nishiyama), are now linked by the Kizna System.

Anime Hajime Review: Kokkoku

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

Series Synopsis

Juri Yukawa (voiced by Chika Anzai) is from your typical family. Although the Yukawas have seen better days, they at least have each other. That is why it is all the more frightening when two members of the Yukawa family are kidnapped.

The culprits demand the Yukawa’s deliver an unreasonable amount of money in an even more absurd amount of time. Juri, not knowing what else to do, decides to go after the kidnappers herself. But before she can do anything rash, Juri’s grandfather (voiced by Kazuhiro Yamaji) tells Juri there is a way they can save their family.

Unbeknownst to most of the Yukawa’s, Juri included, their family has held the secret of stopping time in its tracks. In this most desperate of circumstances, Juri and her family choose to enter the mysterious world of the Stasis.

Unfortunately, the Yukawas have just fallen into an elaborate trap.

A fringe religious cult known as the Genuine Love Society knows about the Stasis and that the Yukawa’s are the key to its secrets.

Juri and her family are now in a fight for their lives in a place where time no longer exists.