T5W#548-Top 5 Reasons Why I’m Skipping Katsucon in 2026 (and Maybe 2027 too)

I’ve been going to Katsucon since 2015.  In the 10 years I’ve been attending, I’ve only missed 2: 2021 was cancelled by the Pandemic and I skipped 2022 cause I was still being cautious about attending a full weekend con even with lifted restrictions (Otakon 2022, no way I wasn’t missing that).  As much as I do enjoy the location and the nightlife of the con in particular, Katsu’s felt kind of different for me since coming back in 2023.  It’s hard to describe but it’s not the same winter con I started going to back in 2015 and I’m not the only one to share those sentiments.  I was actually thinking about skipping Katsu 2025 but ended up going cause it was the 10^th Anniversary of my first one and it was ok, still had its problems but it was ok.  But yeah, I wont be attending Katsucon 2026 and might even be giving the con a longer break even past that.  Why?  Well on todays Top 5 Wednesday I’m sharing my Top 5 Reasons Why I’m Skipping Katsucon in 2026 (and Maybe 2027 too).

 

Samurai Girl: Real Bout High School Part 2 Episodes 5-7

Ryoko Mitsurugi cant seem to catch a break can she?  Not only is she the most popular student in school thanks to her being a K-Fight Champion, she’s also become the Chosen One to save another reality called Solvania.  What’s worse, now even her friends are being pulled into the battle as well.  Between deadly gangs, giant gangs and a cooking competition, Ryoko continues to be put to the test but this beautiful Samurai Girl is always ready for a fight.

I’ll say this for Real Bout High School.  Theres a lot about the Anime I do not like at all and I’m sad to say the show doesn’t look to be getting rid of those negative parts any time soon.  However, when the show is focused on the original premise of the Manga and sticking to high school antics, I freaking love it.  Yes the animation isnt the greatest and some of the fights leave a lot to be desired but dammit, I still love this world and it’s characters and want to see more of it.  It just sucks it has to include a No Rules Isekai component that sticks out like a sore thumb.
 

T5W#547-Top 5 Thoughts on the Teaser Trailer for The Ghost in the Shell

It’s been forever since we got any kind of substantial update on the next Anime iteration of Ghost in the Shell.  All we’ve known up until now is the Studio taking charge, Science Saru (Scott Pilgrim Takes Off, Star Wars Visions 3) and that it might be going back to the very beginning with the source material.  Well, low and behold, a kick ass teaser dropped not too long ago and I am more pumped than I already was.  The teaser trailer doesn’t offer much outside of a few shots, staff announcements and a banging track playing over the visuals.  Oh I guess it does give us an actual release window of July 2026, so only a few months remain until the return of Major Motoko Kusinagi and Section 9.  With that in mind, my Ghost is whispering me to share on today’s Top 5 Wednesday my Top 5 Thoughts on the Teaser Trailer for The Ghost in the Shell.

 

Samurai Girl: Real Bout High School Part 1 Episodes 1-4

In the illustrious halls of Daimon High School, disputes are settled through the K-Fight System: where students can settle their differences in one on one battles.  The greatest champion of the system is Ryoko Mitsurugi, a beautiful Samurai obsessed girl whose skills are second to none.  But Ryoko’s life is about to get more hectic than constant K-Fight challenges when she discovers a pendant that transports her to an alternate reality where Monsters roam and she’s the only one who can stop them. 

So this is an interesting case: this isnt an out of the blue random title for me.  I read the Real Bout High School Manga back in high school and I really loved it…ok the first half more than the second half but maybe I’ll touch on that later.  I knew there was an Anime sequel but never got around to watching it cause it was really hard to find and I hadn’t heard great things about it.  Well I came into possession of the entire series recently and for the month of Romance and Love, we’re gonna spend it with cute high school girls who love to pick fights in school hallways.  Though there might be a little bit more going on alongside that, which could hamper the experience. 
 

T5W#546-Top 5 Mugen Moments in Samurai Champloo

While it might not be quite on the same level of Cowboy Bebop, no one can deny that Samurai Champloo’s greatest weapon is leading man Mugen.  While the overall ensemble of Mugen, Jin and Fuu might not always work in most episodes (mostly on Fuu’s end), Mugen usually gets the biggest stand out moments ranging from action to hilarity to surprisingly heartfelt dramatic bits.  I still stand by my notion that Champloo should have been his show with Jin as a secondary lead getting into adventures while earning each others respect and pseudo friendship along the way…so basically Samurai Champloo without Fuu or the Sunflower Samurai.  On today’s Top 5 Wednesday, it’s the unofficial ancestor of Spike Speigel’s show as I count down the Top 5 Best Mugen Moments from Samurai Champloo.