Strictly Anime

We review the first half of Vinland Saga season two. Manga readers are known to hype up specific arcs of a story, but when we kept hearing about "farmland saga" we didn't know if they were being serious. Well, turns out they were because farming is now one of the most hype things in 2023 anime. We analyze the spectacular writing in this half of season two that makes farming and character...

We review the second half of My Hero Academia (Boku no Hero Academia) season six. It's sad boy hour in the second cour because Midoriya is drowning in an indescribable emptiness. We revisit the question from our part one review of whether My Hero is getting good again, and discuss Midoriya spiraling, Endeavor crying, All Might struggling, and Bakugo apologizing.⁠ Join our Discord: https://discord....

We discuss our anime guilty pleasures. Sometimes you have to be honest with yourself and admit that you like something that most people don't. We put ourselves in the hot seat and share the things we love in anime that are probably weird, cheesy, or embarrassing. Don't judge us too hard. Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/4Rnq4GTePP Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/thestrictlyseries...

We review To Your Eternity (Fumetsu no Anata e) season two. After an impressive and emotional first season, we had high hopes for the continuation of Fushi’s story. Unfortunately, it falls short in several places. We discuss how season one and season two compare, and theorize where the story could go in season three. Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/4Rnq4GTePP Support the podcast: https://www....

We review Attack on Titan: The Final Chapters (Part 1). While there may have been some doubt as to the format and release of this 1-hour special, MAPPA has once again delivered another incredible part of AoT. From the heart-wrenching moments of sadness, to the scenes of pure destruction, to the glimmers of hope and kindness, we discuss every facet of this special and theorize what lies ahead in th...

We discuss the 2023 Crunchyroll Anime Awards. It was a big year for anime and now it's time to recognize the best of the best. But did we agree with every nominee and winner? Who did we vote for and which of our picks came out on top? And what were our thoughts on the awards ceremony in Tokyo? Tune in to find out!⁠ Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/4Rnq4GTePP Support the podcast: https://www.pa...

We cast anime characters in The Office. We're changing things up by meshing anime with non-anime, and it's a lot harder than we thought it would be (that's what she said). Whether you're a big fan of The Office like us, or just curious to know who we chose, join us as we share our cast list and why we think they're a perfect fit. Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/4Rnq4GTePP Support the podcast:...

We discuss the anime worlds we want to live in. Every weeb has wondered what it would be like to live in some of the worlds we see in anime, and we're taking that a step further by analyzing which would be the most practical and interesting. Whether we're born into these worlds or get isekai'd to them, we share our top picks as well as some worlds we would never want to live in.⁠ Join our Discord:...

We discuss our favorite anime movies. These are the films that stood out and left a lasting impression on us, and are the ones we would gladly rewatch. Join us to find out which movies made our lists, and you may be surprised at some of our picks! Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/4Rnq4GTePP Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/thestrictlyseries Website: https://www.thestrictlyseries.co...

We discuss our spoiler-free Winter 2023 anime first impressions. There’s a lot of romance anime this season, and many of them are on our lists. However, there’s plenty of other shows we’re watching that include a CG remake, an ecchi show about a dog that’s surprisingly not a furry anime, and the very hyped farmland arc. Join us as we share our initial thoughts! Join our Discord: https://discord.gg...

We review the second half of the third season of Attack on Titan (Shingeki no Kyojin). It's the final installment of our retrospective on the previous seasons of AoT in preparation for the anime's finale. We share all the hints about the AoT story we found in the second half of season three, and we discuss whether we still consider this part of the anime to be a masterpiece.⁠ Join our Discord: htt...

We review the first half of My Hero Academia (Boku no Hero Academia) season six. Yes, My Hero Academia is back and wastes no time getting straight to the action. This first cour takes place over the course of an intense battle between the heroes and villains, and includes plenty of moral ambiguity that makes you question who is really good or evil. We analyze every moment of the fight, and discuss...

We review Mob Psycho 100 III. It's sad to say that Mob's story has come to an end, but we enjoyed every second of it. We were finally given clarity on some of the show's most ambiguous and questionable characters. Most importantly, it put Mob at the center of everything. But did the ending play it too safe? Or did it give us a satisfying conclusion? We discuss these questions and more as we reflec...

We review the second half of Spy x Family season one. We get even more wholesome and ridiculous moments, including Bond joining the Forger family, Yuri being loving and crazy, and the introduction of the romantic rival Fiona. But how did the second part compare to the first part? And where will the story go in season two and in the upcoming movie? These are some of the questions we cover, plus muc...

We review Chainsaw Man. The anticipation for this anime was inescapable, and the anime community has finally been introduced to Denji and his chainsaws. We discuss best boy Pochita, parallels to another anime, awful first kisses, and much more. We also answer the biggest question for anime-only fans: Did the anime live up to the hype from manga readers?⁠ Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/4Rnq4G...

We close out the year with the best and worst of 2022 anime! This was a great year for anime where every season was stacked with incredible shows, leaving us weebs totally spoiled. Join us as we celebrate 2022 by sharing our picks for the best and worst protagonist, story, animation, and many more!⁠ Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/4Rnq4GTePP Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/thestr...

We share our favorite anime openings and endings from 2022. This is the 2022 edition of one of our most popular episodes, and we're sharing every OP and ED we loved from any new or old anime we watched this year. We also asked our patrons and listeners to send us their favorites for us to share at the end of the episode!⁠ Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/4Rnq4GTePP Support the podcast: https:/...

We review the first half of the third season of Attack on Titan (Shingeki no Kyojin). We continue our look back on the previous seasons of AoT in preparation for the anime's finale, this time finding all the hints about the AoT story from the first half of season three. We also discuss why this part is so divisive for us, delivering some of the most important but most drawn out content.⁠ Join our...

We answer random anime questions.⁠ We compiled a list of fun, interesting, and tough anime questions from across the internet, and we're sharing our answers that include some unexpected choices and some hot takes. Join us and play along! Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/4Rnq4GTePP Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/thestrictlyseries Website: https://www.thestrictlyseries.com Instagra...

We review Your Name (Kimi no Na wa.). Considered one of the best anime films of recent years, this story is simplistic in concept but beautifully written. We share our thoughts on everything from characters, to story, to animation and music. Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/4Rnq4GTePP Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/thestrictlyseries Website: https://www.thestrictlyseries.com Inst...

We review the second season of Attack on Titan (Shingeki no Kyojin). We continue our look back on the previous seasons of AoT in preparation for the show's finale, talking about every hint Isayama gave us in season two about the greater AoT lore. We also reminisce about the craziest, most nonchalant reveal in anime history, as well as some very special moments between Eren, Mikasa, and Armin.⁠ Joi...

We discuss great anime with bad second seasons. Have you ever been disappointed in an anime that had an incredible first season, but a second season that didn't live up to expectations? We have many times, and that disappointment never gets easier. We talk all about the anime that dropped the ball and failed hard after starting off strong, and share exactly what went wrong. Join our Discord: https...

We discuss deaths in anime that hit hard. Character deaths happen often in anime, but there are some characters who resonate with you on an emotional level that makes their deaths hurt the most. We share our lists of the most impactful deaths in anime, whether they were completely unexpected or completely wrecked us.⁠ Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/4Rnq4GTePP Support the podcast: https://www...

We have a special Halloween episode where we're reviewing Tokyo Ghoul. We finally have context for why this anime is always memed, and why the opening is so iconic. We discuss several burning questions: who do we side with in this moral dilemma, humans or ghouls? What happened to that ending? And would we watch more of this anime?⁠ Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/4Rnq4GTePP Support the podcas...

Returning to the podcast is Brian from TV and Movie Trivia Pod to discuss the first season of Attack on Titan (Shingeki no Kyojin). The final part of the final season of AoT is set to premiere early next year, so in preparation for the epic conclusion of this historic anime, we decided to look back on the first three seasons. Starting with season one, we deep dive into the show to share our review...