With You and the Rain Anime Review: Finding Magic in a Story With No Goal

"Sometimes, just because you hang out, talk, and have fun, it doesn't necessarily mean you'll become close"

Fuji and her new "dog" enjoy themselves in the bath on their first night together

Slice-of-life is one of the more well-loved genres in anime. Every season, there’s usually one that revolves around a hobby. The formula is familiar: a bubbly, extroverted newbie discovers a new interest and becomes the kohai of an introverted expert. Their shared love for the hobby brings out the best in them as they work toward getting better.

But what if there is no goal? What if the two main characters are an introverted, reclusive writer and a tanuk... I mean, a dog whose only means of communication is through a pen and a notebook?

Well, we get With You and the Rain.

From the first episode, it is clear that With You and the Rain will not present an extraordinary tale of adventure. The atmospheric sounds of the rain, the footsteps wading through small puddles, and the soft piano during the first forty seconds give the show the relaxed first impression it needs as an introduction to our two main characters.

Yowayowa Sensei Anime Review: An Unapologetically Ecchi Story of Self-Improvement

 "To be average is to be free from the burden that you are exceptional" - ChatGPT

Abikura-kun never longed for the cheers of his peers or the benefits of greatness. Entering his second year of high school, he only hoped to go through the motions and get by in the background. For Abikura-kun, mediocrity IS the way of life. By keeping his friendships at a comfortable distance and surrounding himself with ordinary people, illusions of grandeur wouldn't come within a 20-foot pole of our protagonist.

Abikura-kun's new semester begins just as he hoped... until...

Hiyori Hiwamura, the eponymous Yowayowa Sensei, enters Abikura-kun's life

Hiwamura is far from the ordinary sensei Abikura had hoped for. She is an evil demon who chants curses at her students and keeps talismans in her notebook. Dubbed “Kowakowa Sensei,” or “Scary Teacher" by the student body, Hiwamura poses a threat not only to the mediocre high school life Abikura longed for, but also to the safety of the entire school... or so it seemed.

Ganbare, Douki-chan Review: Cute, Funny, and a Little Too Ecchi

"Want to eat dinner with me? I'm free until morning!" - Kouhai-chan

The cute Douki-chan and the bane(s) of her existence

Binge-watching an anime series, or any series for that matter, can be challenging for working adults. Professional and personal responsibilities take up a lot of time. Ganbare, Douki-chan understands that and packs a surprising amount of comedy and cute moments into its short six minute episodes.

Ganbare, Douki-chan is a romantic comedy about the cute Douki-chan, a single office lady who lives with a cat, and her crush on Douki-kun, her colleague with a face straight out of your favorite hentai anime. 

And don't let Douki-kun's face—or lack thereof—deceive you. This is not hentai.

Apocalypse Bringer Mynoghra Anime Review: The Evil Faces of Mynoghra

Evil people can do good things and they can do bad things. Being bad means being selfish and totally free. They believe in only what they think is right, never listen to others and charge ahead without ever looking back. That's what makes someone truly evil.

The Evil Faces of Apocalypse Bringer Mynoghra

A person's death and reincarnation have been catalysts for many stories in Japanese media. Known as isekai, the concept has led to stories of great power, harems, and other wish-fulfillment fantasies. It is a great starting point that opens up plenty of potential for world-building and character growth.

Apocalypse Bringer Mynoghra; World Conquest Starts with the Civilization of Ruin does not deviate from this formula. 

The first scene is a familiar sight for isekai anime viewers. Protag-kun, Takuto Ira, is shown weakly using his laptop from his bed. Without giving specifics, the scene proceeds with Takuto falling face-first onto his desk and taking his last breath before being transported to another world, where he meets Atou the Sludge.

The cute and wonderful Atou is more than happy to bring the apocalypse on Takuto's behalf. 

"Meets" isn't really the perfect word. "Reunites" may be more appropriate. You see, Atou and Takuto are not strangers. Deprived of a strong body, Takuto spent most of his time playing and excelling at Eternal Nations, a simulation strategy game where Atou is his favorite character. For her part, Atou remembers all the conquests she shared with Takuto during his countless hours of mastering the game. This is the backbone of their ride-or-die relationship.