Anime Buzz

After a cliffhanger ending that should have sparked a full-scale revolt, BULLET/BULLET’s second half opens with Gear and his friends imprisoned and demoralized. What follows is a tighter, more reflective set of episodes that balance kinetic action with sharp social commentary — a blend of car-fu spectacle and thoughtful worldbuilding that asks why people accept oppression and how entertainment and AI can numb a society’s will to change. Gear’s rebellion falters in BULLET/BULLET’s second act, but the fight — and the spectacle — is far from over. Plot Recap: From Failed Uprising to Unexpected Allies The second half opens with the fallout of Gear’s attempt to expose the truth about his post-apocalyptic world. Instead of sparking mass insurrection, his revelations are met with apathy: the masses prefer familiar comforts over risking uncertainty. Gear languishes in prison, shattered by the realization that good intentions don’t automatically translate into change. The series then ...

Witch Hat Atelier episode 5 continues to deepen the series' themes of childhood, mentorship, and the moral gray areas of magic. This installment puts Qifrey's apprentices in a perilous situation that tests their bonds, exposes different upbringings and values, and raises unsettling questions about the adults guiding them. The episode balances quiet character beats with tense moments of danger, all while showcasing consistently impressive animation. © Kamome Shirahama/KODANSHA/ Witch Hat Atelier Committee Episode Overview: Stakes, Survival, and Small Mercies This episode drops Coco and her fellow apprentices—Agott, Tetia, and Richeh—into a precarious scenario with no adult safety net. The pressure cooker environment forces interpersonal tensions to the surface and accelerates character development. Agott's harshness toward Coco is put into sharper relief when we see Tetia offer a sincere apology for her earlier cruelty. The contrast between these two ...

Makoto Fukami and Seigo Tokiya’s school submarine manga, Gakuen Sensuikan-tai: Mermaid Girls (School Submarine Fleet: Mermaid Girls), has reached a major milestone: the final chapter ran in the May issue of Square Enix’s Big Gangan. For fans of Fukami’s sharp scripts and Tokiya’s dynamic art, the series’ conclusion marks the end of an intense, action-driven run while the fourth compiled volume prepares to hit shelves. Below we break down what the finale means for readers, where to find the collected edition, and why this title matters within Fukami’s growing body of work. Image via Amazon Japan © Makoto Fukami, Seigo Tokiya Final Chapter in Big Gangan: What Happened The May issue of Big Gangan published the final chapter of Gakuen Sensuikan-tai: Mermaid Girls , bringing the serialized narrative to a close in the magazine. While serialized endings can often be bittersweet, this finale gives readers a definitive stopping point and clears the way for the complete fourth ...

Yoroi-Shinden Samurai Troopers' seventh episode pushes the series' emotional and thematic threads into awkward but intriguing territory. The episode skips over a potentially extended character beat in favor of accelerating plot momentum, diving into the thorny subject of parental abuse, generational trauma, and the ways memory can be weaponized or healed. The result feels uneven: there are powerful moments and stylish sequences, but some of the narrative choices undercut the weight of what the episode seems to want to say. ©SUNRISE Episode recap: Momentum over meditation Episode 7 wastes little time: Jun (formerly Ully) is back as an adult, and the show rapidly resets him into the Troopers' orbit. Where a slower series might have dedicated an entire episode to Jun's weight gain, depression, and reintegration, Yoroi-Shinden opts to lightly touch on those details and move on. That choice will please viewers eager for plot advancement, but it also...

MAO episode 4 continues to solidify the series’ identity: a supernatural mystery that moves quickly and trusts its viewers to hang on for the ride. Rumiko Takahashi’s hallmark brisk introductions are on full display here—characters, stakes, and the eerie rules of the world are established in short order—yet that briskness comes with trade-offs. Episode 4 delivers solid atmosphere and some narrative momentum, but it also highlights the central tension of MAO as a mystery: when the supernatural is both a narrative engine and a source of opaque rules, how can viewers meaningfully puzzle along? © 高橋留美子/小学館/「MAO」製作委員会 Pacing and World-Building: Takahashi’s Strengths on Display Takahashi is famous for being able to introduce a series’ premise and cast quickly, and MAO benefits from that experience. By episode 4, the show has established its leads, the central mystery tone, and the supernatural underpinnings without much filler. This brisk pace is effective for hooking...

Manga creator Mikio Yoshimori passed away early on Friday, April 24, at the age of 84. His son, Daisuke Yoshimori, announced the news on social media, stating that his father died from lymphoma. The family will hold a private funeral. Fans and colleagues have begun sharing memories and tributes to a long career that left its mark on the manga community. Image via Amazon © Mikio Yoshimori, Number Nine Announcement and confirmed details The official announcement came from Mikio Yoshimori’s son, Daisuke, who posted the news on his X (formerly Twitter) account. According to the statement, Yoshimori died early on Friday, April 24 due to lymphoma. He was 84 years old. The family has requested privacy and will conduct a private funeral for relatives and close friends. For readers who want to see the original family announcement or a Japanese news report summarizing the news, the social-media post and a local entertainment news outlet published initial reports shortly after ...