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.

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?

The Roundup: Summer 2018 Volume 1

It took awhile for all the new shows to air, but now that we’ve hit at least episode 2 of just about everything it’s time for the Roundup to return! This season we’ve got Banana Fish, Chio’s School Road, Revue Starlight, Planet With, and Hanebado plus Steins;Gate 0 returning from last season.

The Roundup: Spring 2018 Volume 9

It’s business as usual for all the Roundup shows, despite the fact that there’s only one episode left for most of them. I will also have to start preparing for life without any new Hinamatsuri episodes to look forward to.

The Roundup: Spring 2018 Volume 8

Remember about a year or two ago when Samsung had to recall the Galaxy Note 7 because there was a chance the battery would explode? Last Period did an entire episode about it and I don’t feel like I can talk about anything else that happened in The Roundup this week. Well, that and the Kamen Rider cameo in Hinamatsuri.

The Roundup: Spring 2018 Volume 7

It’s an extra large edition of the Roundup as things get weird and we have a lot to say about it. We we were already deep into Amanchu’s bizarre fantasy turn but I was definitely not expecting Last Period to bring up North Korea and Japanese rearmament. Yeah, it’s that kind of week.

The Roundup: Spring 2018 Volume 6

We’ve trimmed the fat and the Roundup is looking a bit leaner, but we’re making up for quantity with quality. Steins;Gate 0 hits us with some major twists this week, Last Period delivers its usual hard hitting social and political commentary, and Amanchu! continues its baffling descent into madness. Oh, and of course Hinamatsuri is still REALLY GOOD.

The Roundup: Spring 2018 Volume 5

There are times when you need to look at yourself in the mirror and ask, “is this worth it?”. That is what Wotakoi and Tada Never Falls In Love have made me ask the past few weeks and I’m afraid my answer at this point is “no”. Fortunately the rest of the Roundup shows are still pretty good, with Hinamatsuri in particular keeping its hot streak alive from last week and Amanchu somehow getting WEIRDER.

The Roundup: Spring 2018 Volume 4

We’re already half way through the season and there’s a lot to look forward to as our Roundup shows pass the midpoint… well, unless you’re talking about Tada Never Falls in Love and Wotakoi, they might not survive much longer. ANYWAY, Hinamatsuri dropped one of the best episodes of the year this week and Amanchu! is taking a shocking turn that at the very least has us intrigued, so there’s certainly plenty to talk about.

The Roundup: Spring 2018 Volume 3

This week proves I still know nothing about anime as the shows I was anticipating like Tada Never Falls in Love and Wotakoi are getting worse while the surprises like Real Girl and Last Period are getting better. Not sure if that will still be the case by the end of the season, but what I do know is that Hinamatsuri is still very good and you should watch that if you’re not already. Please.

The Roundup: Spring 2018 Volume 2

HEY KIDS, welcome to another edition of The Roundup! While I come to terms with the fact that Pikari’s muppet face is terrifying out of context, enjoy another batch of anime episode reviews. Spoilers: Hinamatsuri is really good, Tada-kun is really bad.

The Roundup: Spring 2018 Volume 1

We’re back! The Roundup returns to its regular format with Real Girl, Last Period, Steins;Gate 0, Tada Never Falls In Love, Wotakoi, Himamatsuri, and Amanchu. No fights to the death this time, just good ol’ fashion anime mini-reviews.