T5W#581-Top 5 Legendary Moments from Akira

It is a legend of Anime, a title without boundaries.  You know it’s name…and you know…what it’s capable of.  Ok, that dramatic reenactment of one of my favorite trailer bits from Rambo 4 not withstanding: AKIRA.  The name, the myth, the legend.  What can be said about it that hasn’t been said thousands of times over in the last 38 years…holy s*** I just realized Akira turns 40 in two years.  It’s the title that is still one of the most synonymous with Anime as a whole: a film that broke boundaries at the right time and shouted to the world that Animation isn’t just a Disney kids game.  And like so many other films in 2026, it got a 4K restoration that had a brief theatrical release.  I didn’t get a chance to see it personally, though I did sneak in a teeny bit after seeing Transformers: The Movie in the neighboring theater, and man did it look as gorgeous as you’d expect cause it’s one of the most incredible looking pieces of Animation in the history of the medium.  So what the hey, for todays Top 5 Wednesday I’m citing the scenes that make this movie stand the test of time and keep us long time Anime fans coming back for more, equally eager to introduce it to a new age of Anime newcomers.  There are the Top 5 Legendary Moments from Akira.

KonoSuba: An Explosion on This Wonderful World! Part 4 Episodes 10-12

The town of Axel: the hub city for beginning adventurers of all types and classes.  Megumin has fought tooth and nail to get here and start her legendary career…except no one wants her on their party because she only knows one attack.  She’s also happened to arrive at a time when a powerful demon presence has begun to stalk the outskirts of the city, a Demon Megumin and Yunyun might be familiar with.  If Megumin can take this monster down, perhaps she’ll get the recognition she deserves and find the party she longs to join…unaware that some future miscreants just like her are lurking around town trying to start their own party as well. 

The Megumin origin story reaches the conclusion it was always aiming but does it do so in spectacular Crimson Demon fashion?  The short answer is: not really.  While there are a few good moments here and there, most of the Series Finale dances around what we all know is coming but the show doesn’t want to just let happen already.  The result are three episodes that could have been either two or, probably better, one 45 minute wrap up.  Not exactly the most exciting and overly dramatic finish befitting a Crimson Demon prodigy like Megumin.
 

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.