T5W#587-Top 5 Anime Inspirations in Avatar: Seven Havens (Spoilers)

The Spirits of Aang and Korra are strong with this one.  Avatar: Seven Havens just wrapped it’s first season a couple weeks back and it is easily one of the best Avatar anythings I’ve seen in a while, a near perfect 10 of a debut.  And with the show confirmed to run for four total seasons (all of which have been greenlit), the journey of Pavi and Nisha is only just getting started.  I’m sure many have noticed throughout the Avatar franchise just how many nods it gives to the world of Anime from how its action is depicted to chibified humorous exaggerated expressions. There’s so much Anime in Avatar’s lifeblood many have referred to The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra as American Made Anime, a la Teen Titans.  Whatever the case, Seven Havens continues this tradition of Anime-ing up the fun with visual call backs and even direct homages to Anime classics throughout the ages.  On today’s Top 5 Wednesday, I’m gonna pick out the Top 5 Anime Inspirations in Avatar: Seven Havens I noticed while looking at Season One. 

 
Oh and if you didn’t pick up on the full title above: THIS WILL CONTAIN SPOILERS FOR MOST OF SEASON 1!!!!!  Plus, this is one of the Best Shows of 2026 so you should be watching it anyway, Avatar fan or not…so do that if you haven’t then come back and read.  Ok? Ok. 
 

Gamera 2: Attack of the Legion

A massive fireball falls to Earth, bringing with it a new enemy.  They are numerous, they are dangerous, they are the Legion and nothing humanity tires can stop them.  But one has heard humanities cries and has come to its aid once more: Gamera, the Guardian of the Universe.  Joined by allies both old and new, Gamera charges into battle once more against an army that might just be able to overwhelm his mighty powers.  Will the strength of Gamera be enough to protect the Earth once more?

With Godzilla temporarily off the board in the mid 90s, Gamera had a chance to reinvent himself for the new era of Kaiju filmmaking.  The end result was a solid if kind of standard reintroduction of the classic Turtle giant with Gamera: Guardian of the Universe.  It didn’t rewrite any rules but was fun enough to show Godzilla wasn’t the only star of the medium who deserved your attention.  Too bad that solid start to this new trilogy of movies takes a significant nosedive in Gamera 2.  Instead of following all of the most basic of sequel rules, Gamera 2 opts to go with a very colvoluted plot covered in science gobbledygook for the sake of…hell I don’t know.  But hey, the monster action kind of makes up for it, even surpassing the heights reached by the previous film.  So it’s not a total loss but it’s a pretty big blow to Gamera nonetheless. 
 

FIF#271-Avatar: Seven Havens

200 years after Avatar Korra brought about a global cataclysm, the world has rebuilt but lives in fear of the Avatars return.  A pair of twins living in Ellora City, one of the Seven Havens, Pavi and Nisha, discover they are both Korra’s successors: the first twin Avatars.  Hunted by humans and spirits alike, Pavi and Nisha must discover the truth behind their origins and ban together to save the Seven Havens from the possible threat of another apocalyptic event. 

 
It’s been quite the year for the Avatar franchise in 2026.  The Second Season of the Netflix Series actually learned many lessons to become far stronger than it’s first.  And while it’s criminal it didn’t get a theatrical release, the fact that we got to see Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender, is miracle enough and it was awesome.  Which brings us to the next chapter of the Avatar saga and one that I’m sure is gonna divide fans on a number of levels.  Which is a shame because yeah some of the setup is head scratching but if the first episode is anything to go by, this could be one of the best entries yet to the Avatar saga.  
 

FIF#270-Gals Can't Be Kind to Otaku!?

Takuya Seo is a shy Otaku who seems destined to enjoy his favorite passions alone.  One day, he learns one of the most popular girls in his class, Kei Amane, is a secret Otaku too.  Not only that, her best friend, Kotoko Ichiji, is just as curious about their weird but fun looking interest.  Before Takuya realizes it, he has become friends with two of the most beautiful and popular girls in his school.  It’s a dream come true for the isolated Otaku who has long for friendship and it isnt long before Amane and Ichiji warm to Takuya’s kindness and end up falling for the oblivious Otaku at the same time.

 
While Smoking Behind the Supermarket with You has attracted all kinds of attention for it’s wholesome and honest romance with real world understanding, I’m surprised todays First Impression subject hasn’t gotten as much buzz, if not more.  If you think about it, the basic setup of Gals Can’t Be Kind to Otaku is eerily similar to another megahit romance Anime, My Dress Up Darling, right down to the leads being from “different worlds” and one falling more in love with the other.  There are even two absolute sweethearts who could be clones of Marin Kitagawa herself?  So I ask again: Why does it feel like this one is getting stiffed and left out in the cold this year when it’s this good?
 

T5W#586-Top 5 Godzilla Movies I’ve Still Gotta Cover in Future Godzilla Months

Well Dear Readers, November is upon us once more and you know what that means: Godzilla Month Returns.  Ever since Godzilla Minus One came out in 2023, I’ve been keeping every November clear for nothing but cheesy Kaiju action from the King of the genre.  After four years, I’ve still got a fair amount of Showa and Hesei Era Godzilla films to check out and review.  Think there’s enough for two more of these special events at least.  So which of these remaining flicks am I most excited to pick apart and in a couple of cases experience for the first time?  Well with Godzilla Month V in full swing and Godzilla Minus Zero stomping its way stateside on Friday, we’re looking ahead to the future of the King of the Monsters time at the Anime Corner on todays’ Top 5 Wednesday with the Top 5 Godzilla Movies I’ve Still Gotta Cover in Future Godzilla Months.