Crunchyroll Asobi ni Ikuyo: Bombshells from the Sky Mitsudomoe Occult Academy Strike Witches 2 Tono to Issho The Anime Network Highschool of the Dead FUNimation Black Butler II (Kuroshitsuji II) Blessing of the Campanella (Shukufuku no Campanella) The Legend of the Legendary Heroes Moyashimon: Tales of Agriculture (Live Action) Okamisan (Ookami-san to Shichinin no Nakamatachi) Sekirei ~Pure Engagement~ Sengoku Basara: Samurai Kings Shiki VIZAnime Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan (Nurarihyon no Mago)

If I missed anything, please comment below to let me know!

The presentation: You may be familiar with SHAFT’s art style from other titles such as Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei and Bakemonogatari. It’s certainly a unique style that employs the use of colorful designs and patterns to create an almost surreal-like feeling. While the series itself is anything but surreal, Hidamari‘s style of presentation certainly makes it a piece of art that’s enjoyable to just simply look at, even if one does not find other aspects of the show interesting. If you appreciate good art, you will appreciate this series.

The comedy: Hidamari Sketch contains a load of subtle humor. What I mean by that is that unless you’re paying full attention to the jokes, it’s real easy to miss them. However, if you can stay focused on the characters’ conversations, you will find that the show has some outright hysterical moments. It’s very similar to the type of comedy found in Azumanga Daioh and makes for some very subtle, yet funny, and mostly wholesome entertainment.

The characters: The traditional “moe” character tropes are done to a much lesser extent, and that’s what sets this show apart from others of its kind. There’s no tsundere, and there’s no delinquent girl. While there are differences among the four girls, they aren’t over-exaggerated. So if you’re tired of the crazy overly hyperactive girl or the shy glasses girl, rest assured knowing that while those character tropes are present in Hidamari, they aren’t overdone. The characters really are quite adorable, and there are plenty of moments that make you feel all “warm and fuzzy inside.” In other words, the show will make you go “aww” quite a bit.

Hidamari Sketch is a really fun show one can enjoy at any time. It’s the type of show that one can really relax to, simply because it doesn’t require much thought. Of course, the show is not for everyone. If you want an anime with a deep epic story that will challenge your mind, I suggest you look elsewhere. However, if you’re a fan of subtle humor, adorable characters, and unique art styles, then this show is totally worth your time and money.

Hidamari Sketch is currently on sale and is licensed and distributed by Sentai Filmworks.

ENJOYMENT – Art style, subtle humor, and cute characters make it great

RECOMMENDATION VALUE – Great for anyone who just wants to kick back and relax

REWATCH VALUE – The humor doesn’t lose its fuel, so it’s worth rewatching

Purchase Hidamari Sketch at RightStuf

For a while, I’ve had mixed feelings on the topic of fansubs and the illegal distribution of anime. While I’m not completely anti-fansub, I do believe they pose a certain threat to the anime industry, and can discourage fans from properly supporting the industry that they love. A person watching Fullmetal Alchemist for free illegally on a streaming site is not supporting the show’s licensors, and therein lies the problem.

If an anime series is legally available in the country you’re in, it should be obtained through legal means.

Those are my thoughts in a nutshell. Thanks to Crunchyroll, Funimation, and many others, we live in the age of streaming and simulcasting. There are plenty of legal ways to watch anime, and for free too. I’ve compiled a list of legal anime streaming sites that you should check out:

Did you notice a trend in that list above? They’re all FREE. Granted there are some situations, like with Crunchyroll, where non-paying members have to wait a week to get the anime they want. However, I still feel that’s no reason to resort to illegal anime streaming of the shows they have, especially considering the price that Crunchyroll is asking for is so small. $6.95 per month is not going to put you in a financial crisis.

These sites have a wide selection of great anime, many of which are available both dubbed and subbed. Despite this, there are still many sites that illegally provide fansubbed (and sometimes even dubbed) episodes of anime for free. I do realize that for some, these sites are the only option due to region locking. However, for those of us that can access the legal sites, I feel we really should be using those.

This means that I am not okay with streaming (or downloading) One Piece, for example, illegally, because (1) it’s legally available and simulcasted for free on Funimation’s video portal, and (2) it’s also available on DVD and sold in stores. There is no reason to resort to illegal means of obtaining it. If you can’t stand the low quality of anime streams, then go buy the anime on DVD. If you don’t want to buy it, you can rent the DVDs from Netflix for as little as $4.99 per month! An industry cannot thrive without financial support from its fans, and now is the time where the industry needs us most.

Now, you may be asking “Janai, this is all good to say, but do you practice what you preach?” and my answer to that is “Absolutely.” The only anime I will download fansubs of are those that are not licensed. If an anime is simulcasting legally on a site, I will use that instead of the fansubs. When an anime becomes licensed, I delete the fansubs from my hard drive and buy it on DVD or Blu-ray. That’s how I support the industry, and while I can’t expect everyone to follow suit, I personally feel it’s a reasonable compromise.

So, if you really want to watch a particular show, I implore that you first check to see if it is available legally. And if it is, please make use of those legal means. In doing so, you tell anime companies that you want more free streaming of anime, and more new shows to get licensed.

For a while, I’ve had mixed feelings on the topic of fansubs and the illegal distribution of anime. While I’m not completely anti-fansub, I do believe they pose a certain threat to the anime industry, and can discourage fans from properly supporting the industry that they love. A person watching Fullmetal Alchemist on an illegal streaming site is not helping the industry. These illegal sites generate tons of traffic and ad revenue all for themselves – without giving a single cent back to the creators. Therein lies the problem.

If an anime series is legally available in the country you’re in, it should be obtained through legal means.

Those are my thoughts in a nutshell. Thanks to Crunchyroll, Funimation, and many others, we live in the age of streaming and simulcasting. There are plenty of legal ways to watch anime, and for free too. I’ve compiled a list of legal anime streaming sites that you should check out:

For a list of the shows these sites are simulcasting, click here.

Did you notice a trend in that list above? They’re all FREE. Granted there are some situations, like with Crunchyroll, where non-paying members have to wait a week to get the anime they want. However, I still feel that’s no reason to resort to illegal anime streaming of the shows they have, especially considering the price that Crunchyroll is asking for is so small. $6.95 per month is not going to put you in a financial crisis.

These sites have a wide selection of great anime, many of which are available both dubbed and subbed. Despite this, there are still many sites that illegally provide fansubbed (and sometimes even dubbed) episodes of anime for free. I do realize that for some, these sites are the only option due to region locking. However, for those of us that can access the legal sites, I feel we really should be using those.

This means that I am not okay with streaming (or downloading) One Piece, for example, illegally, because (1) it’s legally available and simulcasted for free on Funimation’s video portal, and (2) it’s also available on DVD and sold in stores. There is no reason to resort to illegal means of obtaining it. If you can’t stand the low quality of anime streams, then go buy the anime on DVD. If you don’t want to buy it, you can rent the DVDs from Netflix for as little as $4.99 per month! An industry cannot thrive without financial support from its fans, and now is the time where the industry needs us most.

Now, you may be asking “Janai, this is all good to say, but do you practice what you preach?” and my answer to that is “Absolutely.” The only anime I will download fansubs of are those that are not licensed. If an anime is simulcasting legally on a site, I will use that instead of the fansubs. When an anime becomes licensed, I delete the fansubs from my hard drive and buy it on DVD or Blu-ray. That’s how I support the industry, and while I can’t expect everyone to follow suit, I personally feel it’s a reasonable compromise.

So, if you really want to watch a particular show, I implore that you first check to see if it is available legally. And if it is, please make use of those legal means. In doing so, you tell anime companies that you want more free streaming of anime, and more new shows to get licensed.

The story revolves around Rito, our perverted male lead character. He’s been unable to confess his love to his classmate Haruna, the love of his life. One day while Rito is taking a bath, a completely naked girl appears out of nowhere. It is soon discovered that Lala, the mysterious girl, is actually an alien from outer space. Shortly after, Rito accidentally (and hilariously) enters into a marriage contract with Lala. Yes, in the anime world, people can even get engaged by accident. However, Rito is not interested in Lala, for he wants Haruna, the girl of his dreams. And that’s the plot. Don’t enter into this series expecting a story, or you will be disappointed. Just enjoy it for what it is: an ecchi harem comedy. And a hysterical one at that.

What makes To Love-Ru so good is its ability to be consistently funny. Unlike many ecchi harem shows, the jokes here are frequent and humorous. While the jokes themselves aren’t all that original, the amazing cast of characters and the show’s presentation make it all feel nice and fresh. The show also has great production value. The animation is smooth, and the character designs are excellent. Personality-wise and appearance-wise, To Love-Ru has an amazing cast of characters that really make it enjoyable to watch.

Just like in any ecchi series, there is a healthy portion of fanservice. However, it’s not excessive. Some ecchi shows seem to go by the belief that “the more fanservice, the better!” (I’m looking at you, Rosario+Vampire), but To Love-Ru maintains a nice balance and doesn’t go over the top. That said, if you’re someone who just can’t stand fanservice, I still wouldn’t recommend this show to you. But if you can handle it, this show is definitely an under-appreciated gem that should not be overlooked.

To Love-Ru Collection 1 is currently on sale and is licensed and distributed by Sentai Filmworks. Official series information is available at TheAnimeNetwork.com.

ENJOYMENT – Very highly entertaining

RECOMMENDATION LEVEL – Not for everyone, but would recommend to most

REWATCH VALUE – Good for some laughs you may have missed the first time

Purchase To Love-Ru at RightStuf