FIF#264-Red River

Yuri Suzuki just confessed her feelings to the love her life when suddenly she is snatched and pulled through time.  Now she’s stranded in Hattsua, the capital of the Hittite Empire in Anatolia, thousands of years in the past, with no way to return home.  Suddenly the target of a maniacal Queen seeking to end an empire through dark, mystical means, Yuri’s only hope for survival lies in the hands of the handsome Prince Kail.  Little does Yuri know, she has a greater destiny waiting for one, one that will impact and change the history of Hattsua forever.

 
Today’s First Impression is a suggestion from a friend while hanging out at Otakon.  Red River may have a simple name but it’s premise is anything but.  Actually this is a pretty unique title that involves time travel rather than usual Isekai tropes and a few other touches to make it stand out.  What I find most curious about Red River from the premiere is its timing.  This doesn’t feel like an Anime thriving in the new age of endless Isekai’s and visual splendor.  Rather it feels like something you would have seen almost 20-25 years ago when the Manga was still ongoing.  Is this all most fascinating than the first episode itself?  Well, yes but Red River’s debut isnt bad by any stretch.
 

T5W#580-Top 5 Worst Resident Evil Movies

Well I’ll be damned.  Despite my continued skepticism, Zack Cregger’s Resident Evil reboot made a splash at the box office this past weekend and scored the highest ratings of any Resident Evil film released to date.  I guess I’ll have to get around to seeing if this movie is worth the praise and money’s it’s netted at some point but clearly, it’s not nearly as bad as some of the many stinkers in the various Resident Evil film series.  Be they canonically animated or live action, the Resident Evil franchise may be the highest grossing Video Game Adapted series on record but they can hardly be called masterworks and even the best can only be passable.  Anyway, a few years back in preparation for my playthrough of Resident Evil 4 Remake, I did a Top 5 on the Best Resident Evil Movies and initially had this ready as a follow up, only for it to fall by the wayside into stand by mode.  Well, stand by mode disengaged as we look at the Top 5 Worst Resident Evil Movies on today’s Top 5 Wednesday.

KonoSuba: An Explosion on This Wonderful World! Part 3 Episodes 7-9

Megumin’s grand adventure isn’t off to the best start.  Short on money and stuck in Arcanretia, the prodigy of the Crimson Demons finds herself in a tug of war between two warring churches and a diabolical mystery surrounding the towns beloved hot springs.  To make things worse, Arnes is still searching for her supposed Demonic mistress who may or may not be Megumin’s pet cat, Chomusuke…who has also shown up with Yunyun in tow.  But Megumin’s determined to get to Axel and begin her adventures with a party of her choosing and she will get there…no matter what terrible deed or despicable tactic she needs to use to get there.

Schools out and its onto the open road for the penultimate chapter of Megumin’s explosive origin story.  As sort of sad as it is to leave the classroom setting (and the wacky teachers) behind, it’s nice to see Megumin have some actual adventures before her inevitable meet up with Kazuma and the gang.  Said adventures included returning to one of my favorite spots from the original series and a caravan under constant demon attack.  It feels a bit too familiar at times but I’m still enjoying the ride and the change in the status quo.
 

FIF#263-Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia

Young slave Sitara was welcomed into a home of learning, acceptance and love.  But when the Mongolian Empire came, they tore down her home, her family and her future.  Sitara survives and now finds herself serving in the heart of the Empire that took everything from her.  But Sitara isn’t an ordinary girl.  She has a knack for learning and might just be able to study her enemies close enough to be their ultimate downfall.  It will take time but Sitara isnt about to let the lessons imparted to her go to waste.

 
Today’s FIF comes as a recommendation from a friend and I’ll be honest, I’m surprised this one isn’t getting a lot of buzz this season.  This is the first of two Anime that are set in a very not Japan region of the world we’ll be looking at over the next couple of weeks and really, I wish more Anime were taking advantage of that.  Jaadugar not only looks to have a very compelling story to tell but it also shown off in one of the most beautiful artstyles I’ve ever seen, proving that Science Saru is not a studio to ever be underestimated. 
 

T5W#579-Top 5 Reasons Why Smoking Behind the Supermarket with You is the Feel Good Anime of 2026

2026 has not been a slouch when it comes to mega entertaining Anime titles (though maybe not quite as on par with the cultural zeitgeist that was a Demon Slayer and Chainsaw Man movie breaking box office records left, right and center).  Jujutsu Kaisen made it’s triumphant return.  Bleach is actually closing in on it’s proper finale.  And the newest iteration of Ghost in the Shell has gotten some of the most positive buzz the franchise has had in a long time.  However, there is one title that is standing out amongst the rest, not for its spectacle or action but for its more down to Earth realism, honesty and, above all, genuine kindness while enjoying a favorite pastime.  I’m talk about Smoking Behind the Supermarket with You.  Somehow a show with a premise so simple (the title mostly covers it) has become one of the most talked about and widely praised of the year.  Heck it’s one of the few I’m personally keeping up with as close to when new episodes air as I can.  So today on Top 5 Wednesday, we’re gonna chill a little bit and talk about the Top 5 Reasons Why Smoking Behind the Supermarket with You is the Feel Good Anime of 2026.