Wano's conclusive conclusion finally gets started concluding.
The scale of this arc – by every possible metric – is immense. We are witnessing so many plot threads, character arcs, and narrative themes coming to a head here at Wano that it can be a bit dizzying. Even Big Mom says at one point there is “too much going on at this party,” and it's hard not to agree with her. But I think it's a testament to the strength of the material that even after literal years of story material, Wano remains engrossing and dramatic more often than not.
In fact, the Wano-specific elements are what really drive the interest in episode 996. Luffy and Big Mom have a straight-up throwdown, and that is amazingly not the most interesting thing happening here. The Nine Red Scabbards plunging their weapons deep into Kaido's flesh, closing the circle on the cycle of Oden's hope and vengeance, is another high watermark for the arc and the series as a whole. We know the Akazaya Nine so intimately as individuals and as a group by this point that the visual of their swords glowing red in unison then blasting out flurries of cherry blossoms – all while Kaido's old wound glows bright crimson – is one that will stick with me for sure.
The other “side” fights feel as important as the main battles with the two Emperors. Yamato and Ulti's clash is not only visually engaging, but also carries the theme of how family is meant to be treated. It's even more important as I feel that, at least within my fandom bubbles, both of these characters have really struck a chord with many folks in fandom – more proof that Oda's character design sensibilities remain as sharp as ever. Meanwhile, the anime's adaptation of the Zeus and Nami drama retains all the grim terror of the manga and then some. The ridiculous close-ups on their faces with Nami laughing maniacally has got to be one of the most chilling moments in the arc, and the little touches like Zeus making Pac-Man noises chomping up the orbs sell the entire scene.
Lastly, Luffy closes us out with a declaration that this is all-out war. Buckle up, folks.
Trigun Stampede, Vinland Saga Season 2, Tomo-chan Is a Girl!, Don't Toy With Me, Miss Nagatoro 2nd Attack, NieR:Automata Ver1.1a, more― Crunchyroll announced on Wednesday that it is streaming the following anime (dub languages streaming at later date in parentheses) for the winter 2023 season: December 23 Lee's Detective Agency January 4 Tomo-chan Is a Girl! (English, German, French, Russian) Bungo ...
Novel's 32nd, 33rd volumes to release in spring, winter 2023― Advertising in Miya Kazuki's 31st Ascendance of a Bookworm (Honzuki no Gekokujō - Shisho ni Naru Tame niwa Shudan o Erandeiramasen) "biblia fantasy" novel volume (pictured right) announced on December 10 that the story is approaching its conclusion in 2023. The 32nd volume will ship next spring, and the 33rd volume is scheduled for next w...
Production I.G produces anime, Studio Khara handles kaiju designs― The official website for the anime of Naoya Matsumoto's Kaiju No. 8 manga revealed on Friday a teaser promotional video, visual, animation studios, and 2024 premiere. Production I.G (Ghost in the Shell) is handling animation production, and Studio Khara (Rebuild of Evangelion) is in charge of kaiju designs and artworks. Matsumoto lau...
Yū Serizawa, Karin Nanami star in series at Platinum Vision― GL Bunko announced on Tuesday that Inori's I'm in Love with the Villainess (Watashi no Oshi wa Akuyaku Reijō) light novel series is inspiring a television anime adaptation that will premiere in 2023. Hideaki Oba (Love of Kill) is directing the anime at Platinum Vision. Ayumu Hisao (Love of Kill, Devils' Line) is both writing and overseeing...
Ayumu Murase, Natsumi Fujiwara, Maaya Uchida, Kaede Hondo star in baking isekai anime― The official website for the television anime of Nozomu Koryu's Sweet Reincarnation (Okashi na Tensei: Saikyō Patishie Isekai Kōrin) light novels unveiled a new teaser promotional video and teaser visual for the anime on Thursday. The teaser reveals the anime's cast, staff, and July 2023 premiere date. The cast in...
This sports anime changes up the usual shōnen formula by casting a bunch of self-centered players to see who can rise to the top as the ultimate striker. Is there anyone left to root for when all your characters are egoists?― This sports anime changes up the usual shōnen formula by casting a bunch of self-centered players to see who can rise to the top as the ultimate striker. Is there anyone left ...
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Stone Ocean is Hirohiko Araki's magnum opus, the culmination of a journey spanning over 100 years and six generations for its characters and a decade for anime viewers.― Forgive me if I start to edge into the sentimental at some point during this review. Jojo's Bizarre Adventure: Stone Ocean is Hirohiko Araki's magnum opus, the culmination of a journey spanning over 100 yea...
Dabi finally revealed his long-orchestrated plan to take down the hero-worshipping society in My Hero Academia! How will the #1 Hero bounce back when his past is on full display?― Dabi's Long-Awaited Reveal is Here Dabi finally revealed his long-orchestrated plan to take down the hero-worshipping society in My Hero Academia! How will the #1 Hero bounce back when his past is on full display? Plus, t...
Kawaguchi's understanding of the original fairy tales adds a novel twist to this shonen action series that makes for an exciting read.― You all know the story of Little Red Riding Hood, and you may even know the tale of Peter Stumpp, an early werewolf. Both of those are brought together here in this title from one of Kohei Horikoshi's (of My Hero Academia fame) former assistants – The Hunters Guild:...
AJ revisits this romantic comedy classic to see if it still wrings the tears from his eyes years later.― Every anime fan remembers the first time a show spoke to them on a deeply emotional level. For me, that was the 2008 romantic comedy anime Toradora, which I discovered through an AMV I randomly came across all the way back in high school. It was the first anime to make me cry more than once, and ...
Bleach and Akiba Maid War have a strong week and thus bump their way up the cumulative. Find out where your favorites rank this week!― Let's have a look at what ANN readers consider the best (and worst) of the season, based on the polls you can find in our Daily Streaming Reviews and on the Your Score page with the latest simulcasts. Keep in mind that these rankings are based on how people rated in...
The horrors of war and its generational effects take center stage in the third omnibus from horror mangaka Kazuo Umezz.― If there is a theme to this third omnibus volume of Kazuo Umezz's horror manga Orochi, it is that we can't always know everything about someone from the face they present to the world. While both stories in this volume, “Stage” and “Combat,” also deal with sons' relationships with...
The heroines of Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time—Asuka, Rei, and Mari—have been turned into a set of three figures based on an illustration drawn by general animation director Atsushi Nishigori.― The heroines of Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time—Asuka, Rei, and Mari—have been turned into a set of three figures based on an illustration drawn by general animation director Atsushi Nishigori...
This "girls join an ailing club" anime has stayed mostly under the radar, but its stellar animation and humorous character writing is reason enough to move it off your backlog.― This "girls join an ailing club" anime has stayed mostly under the radar, but its stellar animation and humorous character writing is reason enough to move it off your backlog. This series is streaming on Crunchyroll Discla...
Blitz appears to be a sports manga with a focus on chess, but it fails to sell game newbies to the strategy behind the game.― Blitz is an interesting manga. It is very much in the vein of a typical sports manga, particularly school-based sports manga. You've got a young competitor entering a brand-new world where he must learn the rules of the game and face ever tougher challengers as he grows in sk...
Seasoned musician R.O.N discusses his music writing approach and how an international background helped diversify his compositions.― I first came across the artist Stereo Dive Foundation through their performance of “Daisy,” the ending song for the Kyoto Animation anime Beyond the Boundary. I had no idea at the time that this would become one of the first songs written by a seasoned solo artist perf...