Funimation upped the maturity level across the board for their titles this month. There’s not one kid-friendly recommendation in the bunch despite such titles asA Sister’s All You NeedandKumamiko: Girl Meets Bearappearing in this list. The good news is that you don’t have to screen the adult material from the kids shows this time around, but thebetternews is that there are some bonkers offerings here that might just satisfy that weirdly specific anime itch you’re looking to scratch. Check out our latest reviews below.
For the uninitiated, Funimation is a U.S. company known for their dubs and domestic distribution of Japanese anime. So all of the reviews you’re about to check out are for the dub version of each anime, though some Blu-rays/DVDs have a Japanese audio option as there are some exceptions to the rule. Below, you’ll find the official synopsis for each movie and series, along with a link to pick up your own copy at Funimation’s online store, should my review convince you. Sometimes, it’ll be an easy thing to suggest you buy it, other times, it’ll be just as easy to go in the other direction.
Check out my rundown of Funimation’s home video selections from this winter season, and be sure to take a look at their 2018summer selections,fall favorites, andwinter titlesas well. Plus, 2019 is starting off strong with theseearly (and rather randy) selections. You might just find a favorite you overlooked or a new addition to your catalog you might have missed.
The following reviews of titles from Funimation’s February catalog are presented below for your weeb needs:
Black Clover: Season 1, Part 2
Asta’s hard work is gaining him recognition from the Wizard King and he’s given a new task—investigate a magical dungeon! Together with Noelle and Luck, he’ll learn they weren’t the only ones sent to explore. Yuno and his Golden Dawn teammates are also after the secrets. But their race to the treasure takes a dangerous turn when they come up against mages from the Diamond Kingdom.
If you’re up for another round of Asta screaming like a lunatic over every little thing, then this is the series for you. I was really hoping it would calm things down a bit in this second installment, but it just doubles down on the character’s eccentricities. I will say, however, that there’s some great payoff here in a big battle between the Golden Dawn and the Black Bull against Mars, a powerful mage of the Diamond Kingdom. That and the continuing rivalry between Asta and Yuno make this a story worth watching, minus the extensive filler.
Garo: Vanishing Line I
Garo: Vanishing Line - Part I
Horrors teem in the shadows of Russel City, where something sinister has awakened. Seeking to vanquish this darkness is Sword, the legendary knight in golden armor, with simple desires and a reputation for getting the job done. When a headstrong teen named Sophie comes along in search of her missing brother, she and Sword get caught in a twisted fate. Banding together, they chase their only clue—El Dorado.
This thing starts off with a bang: Sword, the latest to wield the title of Garo the Golden Knight, brawls against a horror made entirely of breasts. After power-bombing the beast into submission, Sword apologizes to his large-breasted girlfriend for making her wait, plugs his skull ring Zaruba into his motorcycle’s ignition, and rides off into the night. It’s a fantastic start to set up what you’re about to get into, and the action just ticks up from there.
Sword, a massive man who prefers bare-knuckle brawling to donning his golden armor and wielding his sword, ends up protecting a young girl who’s being preyed upon by a particularly nasty horror as part of a “monster of the week” framework. For folks who love the insanity and creativity ofJojo’s Bizarre Adventure, this feels like a sister series (and is the one I prefer, personally.) There are quite a few homages and prayer rituals to big-breasted women in this crazy series but somehow Sword’s earnestness and gentlemanly behavior keeps it on the funny side of pervy. Bolstered by a solid English voice cast, killer soundtrack, and spot-on direction, this sort of anime version ofSupernaturalwill keep you on your toes as you watch the story unfold. And despite some oddities, like a 9/11-derived side story, the only downside is that this collection of episodes ends halfway through the run without so much as a cliffhanger.
Kino’s Journey: The Beautiful World
In this imperfect world, the stories are what make it beautiful. Journeying the land and visiting the unique countries is Kino and her talking motorcycle, Hermes. Together, they travel from place to place but only stay three days. Just enough time to gather stories and memories before continuing on. But not ever land is pleasant, and Kino will face some with darker and more sinister lifestyles.
Kino talks to their anthropomorphic motorcycle Hermes to start the story, waxing philosophical about the road and their journey ahead, and what they’ll need to do to keep going, at any cost. That’s the theme that continues throughout this incredibly unique story that sees the unlikely duo entering new countries in each and every episode, encountering all sorts of interesting and multidimensional characters along the way.
Spending an average of three days in each country, Kino and Hermes experience a land where murder is legal, but frowned upon; a country where bloody tournament battles determine the law of the land; and even a countryside completely overrun by homicidal sheep. With a strongDouglas Adamsvibe to the whole thing,Kino’s Journeyis silly on the surface but incredibly imaginative, inventive, and meaningful once you peel back a layer or two.
Extra: An Interview with Keiichi Sagawa– Keiichi talks about the joy of having his story turned into an anime and then the surprise of seeing it rebooted for this modern anime series. He also shares how he came up with Kino’s story in college and during his struggle to find work after graduation. Keiichi promises to write more stories and make more anime that people will love to buy, read, and watch.
Angel Links
Within the stars lie space pirates ready to take out unsuspecting vessels. Working to defend the transporters who can’t afford escorts is a company known as Angel Links. Led by the 16-year-old Meifon Li, they work to keep the stars safe for those just trying to do their jobs—and free of charge! But Meifon’s past is about to catch up with her and give them a hell of a time.
When I heard that this story was a spin-off fromOutlaw Star, I was understandably excited. Unfortunately,AngelLinksis just a lot of big-breasted heroines and drifting cameras that linger on cleavage shots and short hemlines with very little story to build around it. The animation is rough (especially the CG effects) and the story is half-baked; the voice-acting is just as bad and everything has a really clunky feel to it. It’s a lot to ask viewers to connect with a big-chested, uber-rich 16-year-old CEO who also happens to run a private security force, but the ultimate reveal of her origin storymightjust be enough to keep people watching.
Commercial Collection
Launch Clips
Secrets of the Angel Links
Twin Star Exorcists: Part 3
The imbalance between worlds is traced back to Sae, and to save them all, the ray of sunshine that lit their hearts must now return to her roots. All hands are on deck as the beastly Basara continue to plague the land, and time is of the essence as the Twin Stars put heart and soul into saving their city in a battle that brings them closer than ever before.
By Part 3, the story feels a lot goofier than last I remembered. The characters have all grown up a bit and, for those who haven’t met in the series so far, are all introducing themselves to each other, so there’s a lot of tension (romantic, rivalry, and otherwise). The Twin Stars are out working while the rest of the exorcists hang out at home chatting. It takes a bit to get going, but when it does,Twin Star Exorcistsdelivers some of the familiar action beats fans are used to seeing from the earlier episodes of the series.
While there’s some very silly fan service in this season, it somewhat serves the characters and their story. Unfortunately, that story is slow and clunky and not very engaging, so watch this one as long as you may to enjoy the fantastic music (especially the intro theme song) and a few good moments between the title characters.
Code: Realize - Guardian of Rebirth
Cardia Beckford is a monster—or so she’s been called due to a deadly poison dwelling in her body. Unable to touch anyone or anything, she is locked away in her home and abandoned by her father. But one fateful night, she’s swept away by the dashing phantom thief, Arsène Lupin for a brand-new adventure!
Beautifully animated with a kind of steampunk design and setting, this adaptation of the otome “maiden game” PS Vita game follows a dangerous woman and her collection of suitors/protectors who watch out for her. It’s kind of a flip on the usual harem style of anime stories but with a literary twist.
Arséne Lupin and Impey Barbicane are just two of the protagonists in this story who are inspired by literary figures from 1800s and early 1900s fiction. More famously, Victor Frankenstein also makes an appearance as a wanted terrorist while Abraham Van Helsing is a bounty hunter of sorts. All of their paths cross with the dangerous and mysterious Cardia Beckford at the center.
Essentially, the boys protect Cardia while she tries to figure out what her part to play is in the whole thing, and what her father’s intentions were all along. The issue is that I lost interest as the story focused more on relationships than the show’s mythology. It would, however, be interesting to see a follow-up story where Cardia actually has some agency and gets to decide her own path.
Extra:“Chapter 13 – Set a Thief to Catch a Thief” – One month after the calamity, the gang gathers to have some fun at a local celebration/festival. (All done in its original Japanese audio.) It’s a fun additional story but doesn’t give Cardia a chance to do anything at all.
ReLIFE Final Arc
As the school year begins to wrap up, Arata and Chizuru must face the end of their ReLIFE experiment. While they have plenty to keep them busy, their feelings for one another become stronger and they find themselves becoming closer! Will they follow their hearts or will the fear of forgetting kill their growing romance?
Unemployed 27-year-old Arata Kaizaki opts to become a tester for ReLife, an experimental project that makes him appear 10 years younger and sends him back to high school as a student in order to, essentially relive his adolescence and sort his life out. At the same time, Chizuru Hishiro’s own experiment is coming to an end and she finds herself drastically changed for the better. The problem is that the meaningful relationships they each forged along the way
Unless you’re into high school drama, this one isn’t very compelling, though it does focus on the final few episodes of the story so far. It’s rather well done for a high school drama story, however, and it’s got a cuteYour Name/Fireworksvibe to it with a similar hook. This wasn’t my cup of tea, but it’s a well-told tale for those of you who enjoy this sub-genre.
Extras:Internal Secret Files – Hidden Camera and Date (cute little vignettes from the ReLife lab and support division techs); Japanese audio only.
Blood Blockade Battlefront & Beyond
Having saved the city from the King of Despair, Leonardo Watch is now a full-fledged member of the crime-fighting organization known as Libra. But things won’t be easy. No matter what new monster plagues this metropolis of mayhem, every talented misfit at Libra will go to the sky and beyond to maintain peace.
“The noisy city where the abnormal is normal.” This one starts off running with a pretty crazy opening and all sorts of unexplained nonsense happening all around Leo(nardo), our protagonist. It would help immensely if I had seen the first season, titleBlood Blockade Battlefront, but the show does a decent job of explaining just what the hell is going on in an alternate New York City, now dubbed Hellsalem’s Lot thanks to the existence of a netherworld portal. But honestly, when a big bruiser dressed in a suit by the name of Klaus Von Reinherz dispatches a massive demon with an even more massive blood cross, I don’t need to know what’s going on; I’m in!
BONES is behind the animation in this one, which explains why it looks so crisp and packed to the brim with insanity. We follow along with the peacekeepers of Libra as they attempt to clear the streets of trouble and prevent the horrors of this city from spreading to the outside world. But it’s not just wall-to-wall craziness; there are some decent two-part episodes that delve into character exploration quite a bit and really get viewers to connect with even supporting players.Fans ofHellboyandR.I.P.D.should check this one out.
Video Commentary – Episode 10 (BRATATAT Mom) with ADR Director Mike McFarland, and returning cast members Stephanie Young who plays KK and J. Michael Tatum who plays Steven A Starphase. Young talks about balancing her home life with two young children and her professional life; this episode offered a perfect story to capture that.
King’s Game
A class of thirty-two high school students receive texts commanding them to complete strange tasks. Nobuaki Kanazawa has played this game before and knows that these demands must be met. But until penalties for failure become lethal, no one is ready to step out of their comfort zone. As orders and punishments become more and more gruesome, the worst in people manages to tear its way out.
This title should definitely come with a trigger warning about bullying, suicides, rape, and sexual violence, but since it doesn’t, consider this your warning for it.
Protagonist Nobuaki awakens in a strange place and gets a text saying that he and his classmates are now in a fight to the death; whoever survives is the winner. It’s revealed over the course of the series that Nobuaki knows more about this deadly and sadistic “King’s Game” than he’s initially letting on, but the ultimately reveal is worth watching this series. It doesn’t take long for the action to tick up and away from your standard high school drama to something much more serious stakes. PictureSAWmeetsLord of the Flieswith a dash ofI Know What You Did Last Summerthrown in.
Unforunately, Nobuaki isn’t alone in his familiarity with the game; someone else in the group is playing people against each other to save their own skin. But what makes this compelling isn’t the gruesome deaths or the extreme violence towards one another, it’s the lengths to which these characters will go to either save themselves or save the ones they love and care about.
King’s Gametries to be as cerebral asDeath Notebut doesn’t quite get there. The story becomes a little too convoluted for its own good late in the telling and loses some momentum, but it’s worth watching through to the end to see how it all shakes out and for a tease of what might be next …
A Sister’s All You Need
Itsuki Hashima is kind of a disaster. Between struggling to meet deadlines for his novels and being constantly bothered by his friends, he has one oddity that makes life even more difficult—he’s obsessed with little sisters! Luckily, he has his younger stepbrother, Chihiro, to look out for him. But there’s a secret that could completely change their relationship.
This title is WTF right off the bat. If you can make it past the first few minutes where the protagonist, straddled by his completely naked 14-year-old sister Alice, washes in her bath water, dries his face on her bra, and eats a breakfast composed of her eggs (stick with me here) and breast milk, thenA Sister’s All You Needmight very specifically be for you.
The saving grace here, just slightly, is that this setup is all played for gags … more or less. The story actually centers on successful author Itsuki, who has an obsession with little sisters. The obsession is so bad that he actually has a younger step-sister who hides her gender (pretending to be his younger step-brother instead) to sidestep his infatuation. Itsuki has found success with his “little sister heroine” stories and seems perfectly happy to be pigeonholed in that particularly perverted subgenre.
But for me,A Sister’s All You Needis decidedly not what I need. Itsuki’s friends are either irritatingly pretentious or laughably horny; one friend tells him he can, and I quote, “fuck her face”, while the girls in the group decide to undress and feel each other’s breasts “for research.” The fan service is beyond the pale here. Once Itsuki and his artist start talking about shark dicks, I bailed…
