What is a "Visual Novel"? A Guide to the Games That Inspire Your Favorite Anime (Like 'Steins;Gate' and 'Clannad')   Have you ever watched a romance anime where the protagonist seems to have incredible chemistry with a side character, only to suddenly "forget" them and focus on someone else? Or have you watched a sci-fi series like Steins;Gate and wondered why fans talk about a "True...

The Yuri (or Girls' Love) genre has undergone a remarkable maturation. Far from the initial narratives focused on innocent affection and the exploration of feelings (Shoujo-ai), a wave of works has emerged that use lesbian romance as a vehicle to explore obsession, psychological horror, manipulation, and tragedy. This subgenre, known as Dark Yuri, has found fertile ground, especially in the...

The Piracy Problem: Why Is It Still So Hard to Watch Anime Legally in 2025?   It is late 2025. The anime industry is a multi-billion dollar global phenomenon. More streaming services exist than ever before: Crunchyroll (which absorbed Funimation), Netflix, HIDIVE, Disney+, and Amazon Prime Video are all competing for a piece of the market. And yet, a problem persists and, in some ways, has...

The success of an anime in Japan is historically measured by Blu-ray/DVD sales and broadcast ratings. Global success, however, is measured by international licensing, streaming sales, and long-term cultural influence. The seven series below are primary examples of how low domestic reception was offset by an explosion of popularity in the West.   1. The Adult Swim Phenomenon (The Ratings...

Anime is a fantastic tool for immersion in the Japanese language. Although the dialogues are often dramatic or exaggerated, there is a core of words and phrases that are repeated in almost every series. Hearing these terms repeatedly not only helps you with pronunciation but also teaches you the cultural context of their use. Here are 10 essential words and phrases guaranteed to speed up your...