A Hat in Time Drops for PlayStation 4 + XBOX One in December

What You Need to Know:

• Those that have been keeping up with Honey"s Anime know that we had an opportunity to dive into the world of Hat in Time. It"s a game that pays homage to the 3D platforming classics that came before it such as Banjo Kazooie among many others.


• Gears for Breakfast is now proud to announce the official release date of their illustrious title, which is December 5 in North America and on December 6 in Europe for PlayStation 4, as well as on XBOX One worldwide on December 6!


• A Hat in Time follows the charming adventures of Hat Kid, a tiny space-traveling girl who travels the universe to protect the world from the evil Mustache Girl. Don"t miss out on this awesome title this holiday season!

Source: Official Press Release

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Just another week and it"ll be all mine! I can"t wait to play!

I"ve always been a fan of 3D platformers, ever since I touched Super Mario 64! The genre will always have a place in my gaming heart.

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Netojuu no Susume – 08

Netojuu no Susume – 08

Filed under First Impressions, Netojuu no Susume by Takaii | 1 Comment

「一歩前へ踏み出した」 (Ippomae Eh Fumidashita)
“One Step Forward”

My brain, it trembles.

General Impressions

I can’t believe it finally happened. After all this build up, I still can’t actually believe that Sakurai revealed that he was Lili. I mean, there were ample times for it to happen throughout the episode, but I honestly wasn’t thinking it’d happen since there’s two episodes still remaining.

Anyways, enough with me marveling about the wonderful reveal right at the end of the episode. Let’s talk about the actual thing for a little bit. Starting off with Sakurai’s backstory, I’m surprised just how effective it was at building up his reasons for becoming such a big MMO player. Sure, not everyone needs something tragic to happen in their lives for games to become an escape, but when there is something fueling someone’s passion for gaming, it gives the whole thing this really tangible feel. From Moriko’s trouble at work and needing an escape to Sakurai trying to find a place that felt like home after losing his parents, it makes you wonder if you’re watching a light hearted story or a story about recovery and growth of an individual.

Another really powerful factor throughout this week’s episode was its awesome soundtrack. I think I’ve been subconsciously loving the soundtrack, but with the story slowing down and really showing some love to Moriko and Sakurai’s budding relationship, I was a little scared when I realized just how much the music was affecting me. If I were to pick a specific moment where all this kicked in, I think the best example from this week’s episode was when Moriko started recalling memories from the previous MMO she played. The piano soundtrack that lead to a bunch of nothing that then transitioned in the beautiful orchestra piece that played a the two spoke on the phone was just an absolute pleasure to experience.

Overall, another fantastic freaking episode of Netoge. Not much may have happened, but the one thing that did was a complete game changer. Based on the next week’s episode preview, it finally feels like things might be moving toward the destined Sakurai x Moriko end. In any case, I’ll catch you guys next week where we’ll hopefully get to see a specific burger loving guy knock some sense and initiative into Sakurai. See you then!

Preview

Today at 7:01 pm

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Mahoutsukai no Yome – 08

「Let Sleeping Dogs Lie」

Looking back over the past several anime seasons, it’s hard to remember another series that’s been so thoroughly on-point as Mahoutsukai no Yome. In most cases, even when we know the source material, there are ups and downs in the process of adaptation – not to mention a sense of uncertainty about how good the final product would be. Honestly, Mahoutsukai has been as close to exactly as expected as realistically possible. It’s religiously faithful to the source, it’s drawn and directed with supreme competence and confidence, and it rarely if ever has a misstep. It’s almost boring how predictably solid this show is, but that praising with faint damnation if ever I’ve written it.

I don’t know if one has to have an interest in the mythology of northern Europe to truly appreciate The Ancient Magus’ Bride, but it certainly can’t hurt. This isn’t virgin territory for manga and anime, but it isn’t too often you see such a pure and well-researched take on it – often we see European fantasy melded with Japanese folklore (itself often a very interesting direction to take). What fascinates me in looking at Western myth through a Japanese perspective is how strongly it blends Christian and pre-Christian ideas in much the same way Shintoism and Buddhism have evolved in Japan. We tend to think of our belief system as a proper and orderly Judeo-Christian model and dismiss everything else as icky paganism, but much more of that ancient tradition survives than most of us are aware of.

That notion is very much alive in the person of Joseph, who emerges as the first true villain in Mahoutsukai no Yome. In fact Joseph’s real name seems to be Cartaphilus – though he despises being called by it. Cartaphilus is a legendary figure in Christian tradition – though truly folkloric in nature, as he’s mentioned nowhere in the bible. He was supposedly a man (depending on the story either a doorman at Pontius Pilate’s estate or a tradesman) who mocked Jesus on his way to the crucifixion, and was cursed to wander the Earth until the day of reckoning (he’s also a common instrument for anti-Semitic hate mongering, but that’s a topic for another day). Given the events of this episode, the connections with Joseph’s character should be obvious.

Joseph is clearly a rogue, even among the roguish fraternity of sorcerers – he thinks nothing of the “tacit agreement” that sorcerers and mages will stay out of each other’s way, and seems to act merely for the purposes of alleviating his own boredom and curiosity. Last week we saw him bring out Elias’ true form for the first time – now it’s Chise whose full force of ire is drawn out by the ageless sorcerer. For his cruelty in the Kingdom of Cats, and for his violation of Isabelle and what it’s done to Ulysse, Chise prepares to unleash her full power to smite him down. Last time it was Chise who brought Elias back from the dark place – this time around he’s the one to return the favor.

The truth of Ulysse’s story is a tragic one indeed – having waxed eloquent on the virtues of cats, Mahoutsukai now reflects on the timeless loyalty of dogs. Ulysse in his mind may have been Isabelle’s brother, but in truth he was never human. He became a church grim by remaining at her grave waiting for Isabelle to wake until he died himself (most dogs traditionally come by the role in far more grisly fashion). But no matter how long he waits for her, Isabelle will never wake – and the horror she’s become in Joseph’s hands is in no way the girl Ulysse loved and died for.

It’s Blue Flame (Ishida Akira) who intervenes and manages to bring things to a relatively peaceful conclusion. He’s a will-o’-the-wisp, perhaps the most famous of all the creatures of faerie. His actions give Ulysse the opportunity to ask Chise to make him her familiar, a pact which once made would be difficult for even Joseph to undo. As part of their bond Chise must choose a new name for Ulysse, and her choice might seem an odd one – we tend to think of “Ruth” as a woman’s name. But it’s also a word which means compassion and empathy (the opposite of “ruthless”), and this is surely why Chise chooses it – to honor the strength of character which bonded Ulysse to his his “sister” in life, and to symbolise that which unites him with his new master in death.

All in all this two-episode arc is typical Mahoutsukai no Yome in every sense. The very soil in which this story plants its roots is loss – and even as it grows, the leaves and flowers it develops reflect the loss they’re grounded in. To live is to suffer, that seems to be the working truth of this series – a dark theme to build around, no question. But to find grace and dignity even when in pain and to celebrate the cycle of rebirth and creation that goes along with loss – there’s something quite beautiful in that, and it’s that which makes this series as emotionally powerful as it often is.

Preview

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Gintama ‒ Episode 337

Following a years-long absence, sharp-tongued pop idol Terakado Otsu finally resurfaces in the Slip Arc"s latest storyline. In a season that"s given focus to seldom-seen supporting players like Umibozu, Tetsuko, Ikumatsu, and Musashi, it makes sense to give Otsu a turn in the spotlight as well. What follows is one of the season"s outright wackiest episodes, though understanding a fair portion of the jokes will require some familiarity with the Japanese idol scene.

As we learn early in the episode, Otsu"s star has fallen since we last saw her. Although she still retains a dedicated fan base and decent album sales, her solo act"s popularity has largely been eclipsed by the emergence of idol units. Hoping to rectify this, Otsu"s mother/manager proposes that her daughter form a unit of her own with Kagura: Booger Diamonds 48. (The name is Gintoki"s idea, naturally.) Despite Otsu-obsessed Shinpachi"s protests, Kagura and Gintoki are happy to take full advantage of this arrangement, with Gin acting as the group"s slick-talking producer. The silver-haired samurai isn"t the only one looking to cash in; Otae, Kyubei, Sacchan, and Tsukuyo use this opportunity to turn Diamond Vacuum, their all-girl band, into the official backup band for Booger Diamonds 48. Strangely, no one even questions Kagura"s ability to sing until late in the promotional process, and even then, her lack of talent hardly fazes Gintoki, who"s got his eye on the prize. Things inevitably take a turn for the worse, and through a combination of Gin"s incompetent management and Kagura"s general lack of common sense, Otsu"s fans begin to abandon her en masse. Wishing to capitalize on this, the intergalactic idol group Galaxy Kingdom Bitches 48 quickly swoops in to scoop up the wayward fans.

Staying true to the Slip Arc"s back-to-basics tone, episode 337 contains a number of allusions to the show"s earlier years. Even though Shinpachi"s Otsu obsession was initially a large part of his character, it"s been a long time since this trait factored prominently into a story. However, as we see this week, he"s every bit as crazy about his favorite idol as ever. We also get to see Gintoki at his worst: fully confident in his god-awful ideas, completely self-interested, and absolutely hilarious. The episode also serves up an enormous helping of sophomoric humor, with picked noses, sexual innuendo, and inflated physical comedy all over the place. (Even the name of Otsu"s talent agency contains a poop joke.)

With only the tiniest amount of depth, the story itself is largely perfunctory and mainly serves as a backdrop for an expansive range of jokes. While we"re clearly supposed to feel invested in Otsu"s success, the episode"s true focus is its comedy. Even if some of the Japan-centric idol jokes and pop culture references go over your head, you"ll still likely to find plenty to laugh at this week. For example, the frequent references to actor/singer Daisuke Shima may be lost on many Western viewers, but Shinpachi"s reactions and Gintoki"s insistence on running the joke into the ground are amusing enough on their own. One of the episode"s stand-out sequences comes towards the end, when Kagura continuously misunderstands her role at a sleazy meet-and-greet organized by Gintoki. Although her violent actions are driven by naiveté, it"s a safe bet that many real-life idols have dreamt of inflicting similar punishment on handsy male fans.

With the introduction of Galaxy Kingdom Bitches 48, the story seems to be heading in the direction of a competition between the two groups. Of course, anyone familiar with the world of Gintama knows that this will be anything but a straightforward battle of the bands. While Otsu is certain to come out on top, Booger Diamonds 48"s road to victory should prove entertaining.

Rating: A

Gintama is currently streaming on Crunchyroll.

Amy is an author who has loved anime for over two decades.

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Blood Blockade Battlefront & Beyond ‒ Episode 8

This week, we start on Blood Blockade Battlefront"s now-traditional two-parter for episodes eight and nine. As the setup half of this mega-sized storyline, Desperate Fight in the Macro Zone, Part 1, is easily the least exciting that the series has been so far—although that"s not really the story"s fault. The first season"s Z"s Longest Day (Part 1) had similar problems, so I think that this is just an endemic issue to being a setup episode in a show dominated by high-octane standalone storylines. This isn"t to say that the episode isn"t enjoyable—it"s full of great little character moments, and the ensuing battle next week is sure to be a blast.

So the deal is that Leo has a Beyondian friend who"s even wimpier than he is. His name"s Riel, and unlike Leo, who"s mostly comfortable with his own status as a non-combative dude, this guy has a serious complex over his weakness. So when a mysterious entity shows up offering Riel the chance to become the walking hunk of muscle he"s always dreamed of being, our little guy takes him up on it. Of course, this too-good-to-be-true scenario turns out to be a trap set up by a microscopic mad scientist with ambitions of destroying the world. Now Leo has to find a way to save his friend as he rapidly evolves into a world-consuming mass of flesh. Poor Riel—he just wanted to be a Chad, but he ended up an Akira.

Since most episodes this season feel like they"ve served to showcase one particular Libra member, this looks like the story that"ll be dedicated to the detained duo, Deldro Brody and Dog Hummer, as well as the show"s lovable mascot, the Sonic Speed Monkey. If you need a refresher, Brody & Hummer became one when the chilliest guy on earth (Dog) got injected with the liquefied consciousness of a mass murdering supercriminal (Deldro), making him a human with a sentient alien bloodstream. Weirdly, this combination chilled Deldro out, and the two became BFFs (or maybe more). Now they"re on Libra"s side, although the two still spend most of their time in prison as punishment for Deldro"s many crimes. If Zed is Nightow"s take on Abe Sapien, Brody & Hummer are his version of Spiderman"s parasitic symbiote Venom, and it"s pretty delightful.

So while all the stuff with Riel is happening, D&D happens to be on an outing with Klaus. While the prison usually lets them out whenever their super strength is needed to save the world (i.e. pretty frequently), this time they"re just on a pleasure trip. You see, the local art museum has just received a certain Paul Cézanne painting on loan, and Hammer just has to see it. So the prison"s warden had to clear an entire day"s schedule as well as several city blocks so that an inmate can stare at a painting. (At least Dog seems to be really into it.) She"s pretty irritated, but a single smile from Dog (allegedly the most beautiful man in the world) shuts her up pretty good. Fortunately – or unfortunately – this nice outing turns into work when they run into a mutating Riel on the way back to prison. Our heroes set out to subdue Riel, but his powers make him stronger the more punishment he takes. They end up needing to retreat for a while, but D&D are still braced for some triumphant heroism next week.

On a similar note, Sonic is also prepared to do some world-saving in the adventure to come. Completely opposite D&D bulky powerhouse team-up, Sonic"s small stature and nimbleness combined with Leo"s God-Eyes make him ideal for navigating tough-to-reach places. He uses this talent to save a cat this week, but I bet he"s going to be embarking on a fantastic voyage into the depths of Riel"s muscle-guts soon. Otherwise, Leo finds himself allied with the bacterial feds, who are on the hunt for Gemnemo (the terrorist) in their own specially-designed “gigantic” macrosuit (which is roughly the size of a cantaloupe). This leads to a bunch of good jokes where super duper tiny folks are self-important about superweapons that just look like toy models to us. They even give their tech stupidly overcomplicated anime mecha names. Actual Bacterial Warfare – meaning that the bacteria fight each other with guns – is a great comedy action idea that"ll probably feel underutilized in just one storyline. But that"s the breaks for Blood Blockade Battlefront in general—it"s so overstuffed with great, creative ideas that you end up wanting more of everything. There are worse problems to have.

Grade: B+

Blood Blockade Battlefront & Beyond is currently streaming on Crunchyroll.

Gabriella Ekens studies film and literature at a US university. Follow her on twitter.

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Top 10 Games of the 90"s List [Best Recommendations]

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Final Thoughts

Author: Aaron

Hey everyone I’m Aaron Curbelo or Blade as I’m called by my YouTube Subscribers. I’ve been an anime/manga fan since I was a young kid. In terms of anime I have watched nearly a thousand shows and have read hundreds of manga series. I love writing and honestly was so happy to join Honey’s Anime to get a shot to write articles for such a wonderful site. I’m a firm believer in respect in the anime community being the most important embodiment we should all have. We all love anime and we have varying opinions of series but we should respect one another for those differences! Life is too precious to spend it making needless arguments in a community that should be the shining example of loving an amazing medium. I hope as a writer for Honey’s Anime I can bring you folks some amazing articles to read and enjoy!

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6 Anime Like Girls’ Last Tour [Recommendations]

Mark Sammut

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Final Thoughts

Author: Mark Sammut

Born and raised on a small island in the Mediterranean, my life goal is to experience as many different ways of life as possible. Since time and money are in short supply, anime and film provide the best opportunity to experience far away cultures and worlds. When I"m not watching the latest episode of Gintama, or wondering what series to watch next, you can find me in the corner of the closest coffee shop; writing away on my aging laptop.

Previous Articles

Top 5 Anime by Mark Sammut

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