The Roundup: Summer 2018 Volume 9

As we hit the penultimate Roundup for the summer, this batch of episodes feels like a mixed bag. Almost every episode is half good/half bad to varying degrees. At least Planet With delivers some strong moments and Asobi Asobase, is still consistently great. Here’s hoping we can get a stronger finish next week.

The Roundup: Summer 2018 Volume 8

This was a solid week for anime, but with a significant typhoon and earthquake hitting Japan in the past few days it’s a bit hard to take writing about cartoons seriously. Many events and even some anime have been postponed, but none of that is important compared to the impact on the lives of those affected by these disasters. Please take care. That said, most of the Roundup anime did air and so the show goes on.

The Roundup: Summer 2018 Volume 7

This may be the week we remember for Planet With finally living up to its potential. Or we may remember it as the week Hanebado finally fell off a cliff from its usual level of quality. Or maybe both? Time will tell, but we can at least say for sure that Asobi Asobase is really, really funny.

OP/ED Op-Eds: The Best of Summer 2018

Is anime music — shudder to think — becoming mainstream? Just the other day, I was browsing through a CD store and found an EP by some symphonic metal band covering Attack on Titan songs, just like that, out in the open. Should something like that even be allowed? By the way, did you know…

The Roundup: Summer 2018 Volume 6

Apologies for the late post, I’ve been away from home the past few days. But hey, we’re back now and we even have Artemis with us this week! As for the anime, the Roundup shows were mostly solid across the board, although you may notice the conspicuous absence of Revue Starlight. Sorry folks, it was time.

The Roundup: Summer 2018 Volume 5

I guess it’s Problematic Episode Week here at the Roundup as I am forced to mete out social justice all over the place. OK, maybe I’m exaggerating a little but I’m just saying I’d rather be talking about how Asobi Asobase is slowing becoming my favorite show of the season and less about how Chio’s School Road can’t get Kabaddi girl off the screen.

The Roundup: Summer 2018 Volume 4

It feels like all the shows that were good last week were bad this week and vice versa, save for Planet With which is always pretty great. Fortunately, Asobi Asobase joins the Roundup to make its claim for best “girls behaving badly” show of the season. Sorry, Chio’s School Road, I think they have you beat at this point.

The Roundup: Summer 2018 Volume 3

It’s been a good week for anime as nearly all our Roundup shows deliver solid episodes. I didn’t write about it but I also caught up with Asobi Asobase, which has turned out to be much better than it looked in the first two episodes. Would anyone like to see us cover that?