Let’s start with the content warning: If you are chronically ill and/or disabled, you may find these novels way too real, despite the magic and silliness. Depictions of chronic illness and the emotional and physical toll it takes on a psyche are very, very realistic. When I read volume 1, I found myself in a bathroom on a plane, sobbing hysterically, trying to be quiet as my heart poured out of my eyes. Then it happened again, several volumes later. And again, although I finally learned not to read one of these novels while traveling.

Additionally, there is significant bullying of both the physical and emotional kind, especially in early volumes. As the series continues, so does the violence, and some brutal punishments for crimes real and assumed. This series covers some serious shit.

On the positive side, we have everything else.

Straight away, one of the things that caught me was the writing. Translated by Tara Quinn and edited by Jade Gardner, the writing is genuinely outstanding. I’d go as far as to say that the writing here is superior to that found in The Apothecary Diaries—if you enjoy that series, I expect you will also enjoy this one.

The second strong point of this series is the characters. In many a “character-driven” series, one or two characters drive the entire plot. Here, we meet several strong, unique characters, each of whom has their own story— stories that will be delved into as the series goes on. Once the initial conflicts are addressed, deeper, more personal issues will be surfaced. The result is that, while the Maiden’s personalities do not change, their relationships most certainly do, in clever, interesting…and dare I say it…fun ways.

What you will find in the anime is the beginning of a long, complicated, and incredibly well-thought-out fantasy plot that will, at times, seem incredibly petty and small, and other times, almost too huge to make sense. No matter how complicated, the story will always, always come back to the apparently bizarre, ultimately delightful, intimate relationship between Shu Keigetsu and Kou Reirin.

There are many scenes in the opening salvo of this series that will benefit from animation. And many which don’t need to be, but will be super fun or wacky on screen. But the lynchpin relationship is so strong that, in text or anime, it chews up the scenery and leaves one with a mind full of memories. Keigetsu’s horror as she discovers the cost of what she’s done and Reirin’s joy at her new freedom are just the beginning of a complex tale woven with all five of the Maidens and the legacies of their clans. Both the male and female characters here are built out deeply. Prince Gyoumei, the Captain of his Guard, Shin-u, and the other male characters are clever and fun in their own right and enhance the story. No boring tsundere princes here. Some scenes hinge on their abilities to go along with Reirin’s genuinely brilliant schemes.

This series is very much about generational trauma right through to the most recent volume, which involves the Emperor and his personal history. Everyone we meet will carry the weight of their role, their birth, the circumstances created by previous generations, and the fallout of their choices. Every book peels back a new layer of this onion, revealing a new puzzle to be solved about old crimes. Retribution and revenge are not swift at all, but take careful consideration and setup. Narrative arcs last two volumes or more, so the pieces can be put carefully into place without rushing.

And yet, despite the careful laying of pieces on the board, the traps set and sprung and the completely ridiculous “coincidences” that save the day over and over, everything here moves along briskly. In ten volumes, I have only once thought the speaker could get on with it.

Art by Kana Yuki is, for once, quite good. As is so common with light novels, the illustrations are mostly portraiture and reaction shots, but at least they actually reflect the scenes they illustrate. This is a pain point with me. Far too often, light novel illustrations barely reflect the scene and are merely a pretty drawing of a character out of context.

There are definitely some laugh-out-loud moments and some horrific scenes. And in between those are glorious sparkling moments where the Maidens rally around Reirin and Keigestu to create something beautiful.

4K re-release to screen “never-before-seen chapter” that will screen after credits

Fathom Events and Hasbro announced on Friday that their upcoming 4K re-release of The Transformers: The Movie in theaters in the United States and United Kingdom on September 17 (“Transformers Day”) will feature extra footage in the form of a never-before-seen “cinematic chapter” that will screen after credits. A new trailer first revealed at San Diego Comic-Con on Friday previews the new footage at the end.

Fathom Events describes the film:

For millennia, the heroic Autobots, led by Optimus Prime (Peter Cullen), have been at war with the evil Decepticons, led by Megatron (Frank Welker). As the battle between the Autobots and Decepticons rages on Earth, an even greater threat looms. Unicron (Orson Welles, Citizen Kane), a colossal converting planet who consumes everything in his path, is heading for Cybertron to devour the Transformers homeworld and wipe the Autobots and Decepticons from existence. The only hope is the Autobot Matrix of Leadership. With new enemies hunting them down and dangers lurking in every corner of the galaxy, the Autobots take on a perilous mission to save their planet that will alter their destiny forever.

Some theaters in the U.S. will also feature collectible popcorn buckets and drinkware. Tickets go on sale on August 7.

Hasbro also plans to screen the film in Ireland, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, and Germany, with Hasbro announcing additional markets at a later date.

The companies previously re-released the film in U.S. theaters in September 2021 for the 35th anniversary of the franchise. Shout! Factory released a 35th anniversary steelbook limited edition for the film in August 2021. The release featured the film on 4K UHD for the first time, with a brand-new 4K transfer of the original 35mm film.

Toei Animation animated the 1986 film as a sequel to the first animated television seasons of The Transformers. The animated series is based on Hasbro‘s toy line, which itself imported toys from Takara’s Diaclone and Microman toy lines, among others.

Source: Press release

The staff for the third
season in the new anime based on Rumiko Takahashi‘s Ranma 1/2 manga revealed on Sunday its key visual, additional cast members, and October 3 debut.

The newly announced cast members are:

Masako Nozawa as Grand Master

Jun Fukuyama as Sentarō Daimonji

Mayumi Tanaka as ???

Saori Hayami as ???

Minami Tanaka as Tsubasa Kurenai

The anime’s third season will debut on October 3 on the NTV channel at 24:55 JST (effectively October 4 at 12:55 a.m. JST). The anime will exclusively stream on Netflix right after its broadcast.

Kōnosuke Uda is again directing the anime at MAPPA. The third season will have mainly returning cast and staff members. Returning chief animation directors Yoshiko Saitō and Kōsuke Kawamura will be joined by Riko Kaneda (new anime’s first season animation director) and Haruki Miura (Ensemble Stars!, JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Stone Ocean). Masahiro Kurio also returns as main animator with the addition of Atsuko Ishida (1989 Ranma ½ key animator) and Yoshihiro Takeda (The Devil Is a Part-Timer! seasons 2 & 3).

The anime’s first season premiered nationwide in Japan in October 2024. The anime exclusively streamed on Netflix after its broadcast.

Kōnosuke Uda (One Piece: Dead End film, DAYS) directed the first season at MAPPA. Kimiko Ueno (Delicious in Dungeon, Astro Note) was in charge of series scripts, and Hiromi Taniguchi (Kurage no Shokudō) designed the characters.

The second season premiered in October 2025 on NTV. The series streamed on Netflix after the television broadcast. Most of the staff from the first season returned for the second season. However, Kōsuke Kawamura joined the staff as one of the chief animation directors, and Ryūta Hayashi joined Chihiro Ōkawa to direct the art.

Source: Ranma 1/2 anime’s website via Ota-Suke