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.

 

KonoSuba: An Explosion on This Wonderful World! Part 2 Episodes 4-6

As graduation draws near, Megumin and Yunyun find themselves with just enough points to attain their magical dreams.  That could be a problem though with Dark God Monsters stepping up their attacks on their village.  When Komekko and Yunyun find themselves in trouble, Megumin sees the chance to seize her destiny and release the power within: the power of Explosion magic.  Soon the demons of the world (and her village) will feel her fury.  This is where Megumin’s legend truly begins.

The second week of the KonoSuba Megumin Prequel covered a lot of ground this week, a surprising amount actually.  I mean In know this is only supposed to be 12 episodes but wow you’d think things were wrapping up after only 6, which is both a good and not 100% bad thing.  I’m happy we still have time left to spend with Megumin’s origins but I’ve gotta say, seeing everything come together and seeing Megumin take her first major steps towards the maniac mad bomber Kazuma somehow relies on put a huge smile on my face.
 

FIF#262-Lupin the Third vs. Detective Conan (The Special)

The assassination of a prominent world leader brings her daughter and heir to Japan, where she’ll unknowingly cross paths with two iconic figures.  One is the greatest thief in the world.  The other is a genius detective trapped in the form of a child.  Normally they’d be at odds with each other but if this Princess is to survive another attempt on her life, can Lupin the Third and Detective Conan put aside their differences long enough to save the day?

 
The Gentlemen Thief and the Teen Detective stuck in the body of a child and refuses to get unstuck for whatever reason.  On paper matching these two up is pretty interesting.  Conan’s a genius investigator and Lupin is the genius thief who’s skill and wit can help him out of any situation. It’s quite the match and thanks to a short snippet I checked out at Otakon a few weeks back, I can say it might just work better than I thought, especially coming from a guy who hasn’t been super big into either of these characters or their franchises.
 

T5W#578-Top 5 Ways King Ghidorah Could Return in Godzilla Minus Zero

Ohhhhhh this just got so good.  In what could very well be the last trailer before the movie drops in November, Godzilla Minus Zero revealed one of its biggest surprises for the much anticipated sequel.  Sure there were some red herring splintered in throughout all the chaos.  But then the screen cut to black and a very familiar creature sound was heard…followed by Godzilla being dropped from the sky to the ground.  That’s right folks: KING GHIDORAH IS BACK!!!!!  Godzilla’s most famous rival returns to challenge for the right to be called King on November 6^th in what will be their first true on screen Japan  showdown since…well I guess either 2001 with GMK or 2004 with Final Wars though technically that was Kaiser Ghidorah (and we’re not counting Legendary’s Godzilla: King of the Monsters cause that’s on the US side).  The question I’m sure is on everyones mind, including my own is, well, how is the Three Headed Monster being folded into this new iteration of Godzilla’s story.  Well in todays Top 5 Wednesday Dear Readers, that’s what we’re gonna chat about.  These are my theories for the Top 5 Ways King Ghidorah Could Return in Godzilla Minus Zero.  Full Disclosure: Some of these will be very farfetched and mostly just excuses to talk about how Ghidorah has been presented in the past.  I put nothing past Takashi Yamazaki, especially if he can integrate it into the narrative as well as anything in Godzilla Minus One.