Evangelion is having another moment. Revolve's 1/7 Mari Makinami Illustrious [Last Mission] figure captures white plugsuit swagger from Shin Evangelion Movie. About 270mm of PVC and ABS attitude. Criterion Channel adds the complete Neon Genesis Evangelion TV series, Death (True)², and The End of Evangelion starting September 1, 2026. GKIDS ran the 30th Anniversary Movie Fest. Same franchise, different entry points, still hitting three decades later.
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Netflix locks August 31 for Mobile Suit Gundam Hathaway: The Sorcery of Nymph Circe, Sunrise’s second trilogy film. Directed by Shukou Murase with Hiroyuki Sawano scoring, it continues Hathaway Noa’s double life as Mafty targets the Adelaide Conference. Char’s Counterattack and the 2021 Hathaway film are essential; Gundam and Zeta deepen the gut-punches. Guns N’ Roses and SZA needle-drops crown this dense Universal Century political noir.
Macross Plus, the 1994 OVA co-directed by Shinichirō Watanabe and Shoji Kawamori, follows childhood friends Isamu, Guld, and Myung as rivalry, romance, and a sentient AI idol named Sharon Apple collide above planet Eden. With Yoko Kanno's genre-defining score and animation that still holds up 30 years later, this review breaks down why the series remains one of anime's most complete artistic statements, and why its 2026 4K restoration matters for new and longtime fans alike.
Set in a smog-choked future Newport, Dominion Tank Police follows rookie cop Leona Ozaki and her beloved mini-tank Bonaparte in a 4-episode 1988 OVA based on Masamune Shirow's manga. The series leans hard into comedy over plot, delivering chaotic firefights, lovable misfits, and a surprisingly nuanced trio of villains — a blast if you don't take it too seriously.
Gun×Sword follows Van, a drifter with no past and one purpose — find the man with the claw. Wrapped in a mecha-Western skin, this 2005 Gorō Taniguchi series builds a quiet meditation on grief and arrested identity, using Van and Ray Lundgren as mirror images of the same wound. Honest about its limits and committed to its ending, it rewards patient viewers who grew up on G Gundam and s-CRY-ed.
After a four-year wait, Trapped in a Dating Sim: The World of Otome Games is Tough for Mobs is officially returning for Season 2 in July 2026. Studio ENGI, director Kazuya Miura, and the full voice cast are back. The story picks up from Volume 3, pushing Leon into darker political territory as the Principality of Fanoss invades and rival nobles move to have him imprisoned.
"Star Driver" is a visually stunning mecha anime with vibrant animation and fluid fight sequences. Set on Southern Cross Isle, the story follows Takuto Tsunashi, a charismatic "Galactic Pretty Boy," as he battles the Glittering Crux Brigade to protect four seal maidens. Despite its impressive visuals and sound design, the series falters with hollow characters, a convoluted plot, and repetitive elements, leaving it an inconsistent experience for mecha fans.
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AMAIM Warrior at the Borderline stumbles in its attempt to honor mecha anime traditions. Despite Sunrise Beyond's pedigree, this 2021 series fails to capture the essence of its predecessors. While offering decent action sequences and animation, the show suffers from bland protagonists, misplaced chibi AI characters, and derivative storytelling. Set in a divided future Japan, it stands as a cautionary tale of how not to approach the mecha genre.
Buddy Complex is an entertaining mecha anime with fluid animation and engaging robot battles. While the story and characters are average, the show's proper execution, pacing, and development make it an enjoyable watch. The action scenes are the highlight, elevated by superb visuals and audio. Buddy Complex may not break new ground, but it's a solid anime for anyone seeking a fun mecha series.
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