Anime Buzz

Roll Over and Die’s seventh episode leans hard into character beats while fumbling some of its darker ambitions. The episode delivers queer-friendly warmth and a few memorable moments — especially thanks to Ottilie — but it also indulges in cartoonish villainy that undercuts the series’ larger conspiracy arc. Below I break down what worked, what didn’t, and why this episode feels like a step sideways rather than forward. ©kiki, kinta, kodamazon/MICRO MAGAZINE/Omagoto Project Episode Recap — A Mix of Cute Moments and Missed Opportunities This episode trades the momentum of the ongoing church-and-state mystery for a self-contained confrontation with Dein, a former antagonist whose presence feels increasingly unnecessary. Dein’s plot involves kidnapping a blind homeless girl to force Flum into drinking dragon poison — a melodramatic, almost cartoon-level form of villainy that clashes with the show’s otherwise grim tone. The expected emotional payoff — Flum’s catharsis and the...

Dr. Stone: Science Future episode 31 leans into one of the series’ most playful strengths: combining big-picture scientific ambition with goofy, crowd-pleasing spectacle. Between Senku’s bold idea to weaponize broadcast media for recruitment, Sai’s pixel-powered nostalgia trip, and the sudden, ominous resurgence of the Medusa device, this installment mixes invention, humor, and stakes in a way that both excites and teases unanswered questions. Senku’s Dragon TV gets viewers—and new recruits—glued to the cathode-eyed screen. Episode overview: Science as spectacle This episode uses the invention of television and early computing as a narrative lever. Senku recognizes that reviving people is only half the battle; the Kingdom of Science needs to persuade and mobilize them. The answer: mass media. The newly constructed hydroelectric dam powers a cathode-ray broadcast system dubbed “Dragon TV,” while Sai debuts the SAL 9000—a chunky mechanical computer that immediatel...

The Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards have once again put the spotlight on manga, with an impressive slate of nominees reflecting the medium’s artistic range and international reach. This year’s shortlist includes slice-of-life masterpieces, experimental short stories, acclaimed graphic memoirs, and archival projects that celebrate manga’s history—underscoring how Japanese comics continue to shape the global comics landscape. Image via Viz Media's Twitter account © Keigo Shinzō, Shogakukan Key manga nominees in the Best U.S. Edition of International Material—Asia category The Eisner nominations list highlights three notable manga works competing in the Best U.S. Edition of International Material—Asia category. Each title represents a different creative voice and translation team, demonstrating the care U.S. publishers and translators bring to bringing these works to English-speaking readers. Hirayasumi — Keigo Shinzō (translated by Jan Mitsuko Cash) Keigo Shinzō...

Agents of the Four Seasons: Dance of Spring’s seventh episode tries to kick the story into higher gear by detonating a literal bomb under the plot — but the blast mostly exposes the season’s recurring problems: sluggish pacing, an overreliance on trauma talk, and a persistent lack of clear stakes. There are bright spots in character work and a handful of scenes that genuinely land, but "Dusk" struggles to turn its escalating danger into meaningful momentum. © Kana Akatsuki, Suoh/Straight Edge / Agency of the Four Seasons Episode 7 recap: An explosive reveal, surrounded by stagnation The episode finally introduces a decisive escalation — an ICBM strike on the Autumn Compound — but most of the runtime is taken up with long conversations about past trauma and repeated exposition. A lot of screen time is devoted to the same themes we've seen in previous episodes: recollection of suffering, attempts at comfort, and meandering talk about the enigmatic In...

The March issue of Monthly CoroCoro Comic announced a fresh chapter for the Duel Masters franchise: Shigenobu Matsumoto will launch a sequel manga titled Duel Masters RX (pronounced "reverse cross") in the magazine's next issue on March 13. The prelude short teases a fun, meta crossover moment—Duel Masters Win protagonist Win Kirifuda literally steps into the world of manga and meets the franchise’s original hero, Shobu Kirifuda—setting the stage for nostalgia, character interplay, and new plot directions that both long-time fans and newcomers can get excited about. Image via Amazon Japan © Shogakukan, Shigenobu Matsumoto What is Duel Masters RX (Reverse Cross)? Duel Masters RX promises to continue Win Kirifuda’s journey, but with a twist: the new title (read as “reverse cross”) hints at storylines that will invert or remix established franchise tropes. The prelude short—published as an introductory piece—shows Win crossing into the manga world and meet...

Always a Catch! episode 7 delivers a satisfying blend of comedy, heart, and surprisingly effective action that pays off long-running story threads. This installment finally lets Mimi use her signature hair ornament as more than just decoration, gives Renato a moment to prove himself, and ties together the episode’s romantic and comedic beats with thoughtful direction and expressive animation. ©ももよ万葉・三登いつき・ながと牡蠣／SQUARE ENIX・逃げ釣り製作委員会 Episode 7 recap: brass knuckles, bandits, and runaway love Episode 7 opens with the long-awaited moment so many viewers have been teasing for: Mimi pulls her hairpin free and uses it as a weapon. What follows is a lively sequence of brawling bandits, awkward encounters, and an absurdly timed fart joke — the kind of gag that underlines the show’s willingness to mix lowbrow humor with genuinely sweet beats. Mimi ends up tracking down a missing villager, Veronica, only to discover the “kidnapping” was really a runaway elopem...