Beneath the Tangles

A wise cat of the magical Cait Sith race has just birthed her kittens, but she’s about to discover another infant to add to her brood—a baby dragon who had been orphaned, but hatches because of the magic that spills over from the kitten births. Defenseless and not having the smell of a threat, he is adopted into the cat family.

Interested in watching thoughtful, human-centered conversations with people connected to anime? Watch Something Genuine, our interview series that cuts through the noise and focuses on the people behind the costumes, in front of the mics, and watching anime, just like you and me. Season two premieres on May 27th.

Interested in watching thoughtful, human-centered conversations with people connected to anime? Watch Something Genuine, our interview series that cuts through the noise and focuses on the people behind the costumes, in front of the mics, and watching anime, just like you and me. Season two premieres on May 27th.

After his party defeats the demon king, Eftal the sage is recognized as one of the four greatest mages in the realm. Then he gets old and trains a new generation of young magic users. Eftal reveals to Merlin (one of his students) that he was never truly satisfied because he was never the strongest; his younger peers all surpassed him. He takes a new magic aptitude test that says he has zero aptitude for magic, to his great distress.

Another anime season is upon us, and that means it’s time once again for our first impressions! Over the next several weeks, our writers will be sampling a wide range of new and returning shows and sharing their early thoughts—what excites us, what surprises us, and what might be worth adding to your watchlist. This summer season is beginning a little early. A handful of premieres are arriving ahead of the traditional summer rush, giving anime fans a taste of what’s to come.

Melody is the sole servant at an impoverished noble estate. In the span of a couple weeks, she’s completely transformed the dilapidated mansion, and then she helps the estate’s resident, Luciana, host a tea party. That about covers the first three minutes, and the rest of the episode is flashbacks, in which we learn about Melody’s background and extraordinary abilities. She’s the illegitimate daughter of a nobleman. After her mother dies, she decides to pursue her lifelong dream of becoming a maid.

For the fourth episode of season two, I had the pleasure of speaking with singer-songwriter Hana Hope. Anime fans may know Hana from her work singing themes* on Spice and Wolf, Fate/Grand Order, and most recently, my favorite anime of spring 2026, A Hundred Scenes of AWAJIMA. But while her music first drew me to her work, what impressed me most during our conversation was her thoughtfulness.

It’s a big week for new manga releases—and we’ve got reviews for a bunch to share with you (along with a new manhua, too)! Undead heroes, an idol fan who’s a hitman, a tyrant actor, and a lady who turns into a cat are just a few of the characters who rule our reviews this week. Read on to see what we liked and what we didn’t! The Daughter of the Demon Lord Is Too Kind (Vol. 1) • The Hitman Stans (Vol. 3) • I Made Friends with the 2nd Prettiest Girl in My Class (Vol.

Few artists have become as closely associated with anime music over the decade and a half as Eir Aoi. Since her breakthrough with songs like “Memoria” (Fate/zero), “Innocence” (Sword Art Online), “Genesis” (Aldnoah.Zero), and “Hello Hello Hello” (A Couple of Cuckoos), she has helped define the sound of countless anime memories for fans around the world, pairing powerful vocals with stories that continue to resonate long after a series ends.

Interested in watching thoughtful, human-centered conversations with people connected to anime? Watch Something Genuine, our interview series that cuts through the noise and focuses on the people behind the costumes, in front of the mics, and watching anime, just like you and me. Season two premieres on May 27th.