Ascendance of a Bookworm, once a lovely anime about book crafting has become a dreadful court intrigue show with no writing quality for it and a magic show with no art budget to make it justice. A complete deal breaker of a season nobody seemed interested in doing, for a show I'm leaving behind.

Ascendance of a Bookworm

本好きの下剋上 司書になるためには手段を選んでいられません Isekai by WIT Studio Based on a light novel by Miya Kazuki Adopted Daughter of an Archduke Length: 24 episodes (coverage from #52 interrupted in #75) Aired: 2026...

hardworkandguts.tumblr.com

Polar Opposites went into the Spring hiatus as a contender for best anime of the year, and sidelining the two main characters for a bit somehow just reinforced that position. I don't think that is supposed to happen.

You And I Are Polar Opposites

正反対な君と僕 Romcom by Lapin Track Based on a manga by Koucha Agasawa Season 2 Length: 13 episodes (covered from #65 to #78) Aired: 2026 (Summer) Rating: S (previous season: S) Plot: With Suzuki and Tani.....

hardworkandguts.tumblr.com

It's almost unfair for every other comedy anime how a thing that has an episode running with the concept of "dying from blue balls" can be in the running for best comedy, but Grand Blue also has an heart, even if it's under layers and layers of carefully assembled abject stupidity (complimentary).

Grand Blue Dreaming

ぐらんぶる Comedy by Zero-G, Liber Based on a manga by Kenji Inoue Season 3 Length: 12 episodes (covered from #66 to #77) Aired: 2026 (Summer) Rating: A (previous seasons: A, B) Plot: It's the last year on...

hardworkandguts.tumblr.com

One thing we can all agree: Yani Neko would be completely unwatchable with smell-o-vision. But because that was never more than a gimmick, we can appreciate for what it is, an anime about a bunch of girl failures doing their best in a world that doesn't care for them one bit (except the fetishists).

Chainsmoker Cat

ヤニねこ Comedy by Bibury Based on a manga by NyanNyanFactory Length: 12 episodes (covered from #65 to #77) Aired: 2026 (Summer) Rating: A Plot: The daily life of Yaniko, a catgirl that lives for smoking,...

hardworkandguts.tumblr.com

A very simple premise with a production that doesn't take many risks, but solid writing and a two strong leads who bounce well off each other really made Smoking Behind the Supermarket With You one of the stand out shows of the 2026 Summer anime season.

Smoking Behind The Supermarket With You

スーパーの裏でヤニ吸うふたり Comedy by Asahi Production Based on a manga by Jinushi Length: 12 episodes (covered from #66 to #77) Aired: 2026 (Summer) Rating: A Plot: Sasaki is a middle-aged salaryman who at the...

hardworkandguts.tumblr.com

Historical shows often circle around the great figures, even more when the topic is the Mongol Empire and Genghis Khan. Jaadugar takes a different approach by showing this period in time not by focusing on him, but on his sons' wives and a Muslim slave who wants revenge for what was taken from her.

Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia

天幕のジャードゥーガル Historical drama by Science SARU Based on a manga by Tomato Soup Length: 12 episodes (covered from #65 to #75) Aired: 2026 (Summer) Rating: A Plot: Sitara is the daughter of a slave in...

hardworkandguts.tumblr.com

I usually do a game every month meaning I go quite slowly through my list, so here's a video from St1ka doing all Evangelion games, like a mad man.

St1ka@st1ka.bsky.social · 3w ago

I HAVE REVIEWED EVERY SINGLE EVANGELION GAME EVER MADE! All 51 of them. youtu.be/QRnrE4uS3lg

As most shows enter their final week, it is time to look at the anime from this 2026 Summer season, and no better to start than The Ghost In The Shell, who after 35 years finally has a manga faithful adaptation that visually also feels very inspired by how it could look in 1993.

THE GHOST IN THE SHELL

攻殻機動隊 THE GHOST IN THE SHELL Cyberpunk by Science SARU Based on a manga by Masamune Shirow Length: 10 episodes (covered from #66 to #75) Aired: 2026 (Summer) Rating: S Plot: Public Security Section 9....

hardworkandguts.tumblr.com

With most of the shows ending up next week, it's time for the fall season preview, mostly with returning shows, including Apothecary Diaries, The Ramparts of Ice, Ranma ½ and Blue Box, a remake of Rayearth, plus a student council of weirdos and girls who like trains.

The Hard Work and Guts Fall 2026 Preview

After two back to back seasons with incredible shows on offer, here's what I'm planning for the last three months of this year. Same as last time, as ordered by popularity on Anilist at the time of...

hardworkandguts.tumblr.com

What would you do if one day you woke up with horns and a tail and your mother casually mentions she forgot to tell you are from the Dark Clan and you must use your succubus powers to defeat the local magical girl who can overpower you easily? I bet it wouldn't be as fun as The Demon Girl Next Door.

The Demon Girl Next Door

まちカドまぞく Comedy by J.C.Staff Based on a manga by Izumo Itou Season 1+2 Length: 12+12 episodes Aired: 2019 (Summer), 2022 (Spring) Rating: B (B, B) Plot: Yuko Yoshida had a weird dream, some demon was.....

hardworkandguts.tumblr.com

If the original Rayearth is a fun story somewhat let down by the lacking animation, this version of it does present a good enough visual spectacle, but everything else feels inferior and more of a charmless "we have to capitalise on this giant robot with sad protagonist thing" project.

Rayearth

レイアース Fantasy by TMS Entertainment Based on a manga by CLAMP OVA Length: 3 episodes (around 45 minutes each) Released: 1997 Rating: D Plot: Hikaru, Umi and Fuu are middle school seniors, and they...

hardworkandguts.tumblr.com

In another manga eulogy, now it's Monochrome Days, a kind of hobby manga about Wakaba, a office lady who reignites her dreams of drawing manga and drags along her coworker Fudo, a former child prodigy who had to quit painting after his mother died. It's educational AND has good faces.

Monochrome Days

モノクロのふたり Hobby manga by Yousuke Matsumoto Length: 43 chapters (covered irregularly from #2 to #69) Published: 2024-2026 Rating: B Plot: Hanaichi Fudo is a hard working salaryman who once gave up his.....

hardworkandguts.tumblr.com

Dirty Pair is a classic that had a very short short run of stories, all released between 1985 and 1990. It returned briefly in the mid 90s with a new take on the characters for more 16 episodes, and although they don't reach the heights of the original, they evoke the sometimes chaotic nature of it.

Dirty Pair Flash

ダーティペアFLASH Sci-fi comedy by Sunrise Based on characters by Haruka Takachiho OVA Series 1-3 Length: 6+5+5 Aired: 1994 to 1996 Rating: B (C, B, B) Plot: The Lovely Angels, at one time the codename for....

hardworkandguts.tumblr.com

You can take Ryo Saeba out of the 1980s, but as long as there is a Shinjuku, there will always be a Mokkori-man looking after it. It's City Hunter: Shinjuku Private Eyes, the 2019 film that brought Ryo, Kaori, Umibozu and Saeko to the smartphone era.

City Hunter: Shinjuku Private Eyes

シティーハンター 新宿プライベートアイズ Action/Comedy by Sunrise Based on a manga by Tsukasa Hojo Film Length: 100 minutes Released: 2019 Rating: A Plot: Ai Shindo, the estranged daughter of a man who died in a traffic....

hardworkandguts.tumblr.com

"It's more important how you finish, not how you start" should have been something painted in the walls of the writing room of Gundam Wing, because a strong start is completely wasted in confusing plots that twist and turn into a complete mess.

Mobile Suit Gundam Wing

新機動戦記ガンダムW Real robot by Sunrise Developed by Katsuyuki Sumisawa, Directed by Masashi Ikeda Length: 49 episodes Aired: Spring 1995 to Fall 1996 Rating: C Plot: As humanity expanded towards space...

hardworkandguts.tumblr.com

This is fundamental to understand the anime I'm currently writing about, believe it or not.

Takefuji CF - Takefuji Dancers

YouTube video by papaveraceae

youtube.com

What happens when a girl obsessed with urban legends (but no luck meeting them) goes to a college specifically to join an occult club because of a member who is a magnet of strange phenomenon? If you are into trashy History Channel shows about the occult, a story with some incredible bits.

The Urban Legend Files

都市伝説先輩 Supernatural surreal comedy by Hiraoka Kazuki Length: 35+7 chapters (covered irregularly from #2 to #66) Published: 2024-2026 Rating: B Plot: Mokume is a fan of urban legends who picked Ao...

hardworkandguts.tumblr.com

Considering doing a quick end of season review post once all shows are wrapped up. Something to think about.

It's videogame time again, so let's go have a look at Hokuto no Ken for the Sega Mark III / Master System, better known internationally as the base for Black Belt. Better than the sequel which I've mocked quite a few times? Yes.

北斗の拳

Hokuto no Ken Fist of the North Star 1986 Beat'em up developed and published by Sega Based on the Fist of the North Star series Version used: patched Japanese Mark III Language notes: Japanese, full.....

hardworkandguts.tumblr.com

Does it feel weird to see a flashback to a characters' past where someone has an iphone? Yes, yes it is.

Weekly Catch up #72

That's a lot of top tier episodes for a single week. I'd say "maybe I'm getting soft", but more likely we're just riding the big big wave before it all comes crashing down. Kinda tough week to get...

hardworkandguts.tumblr.com

Expectations // Reality

Another day, another post with screencaps from a +14 anime being flagged as "mature" by Tumblr. If they had told Apple to get fucked we're killing the app instead impletementing the draconian rules they would have fared a lot better.

Almost by accident, I noticed two of the mangaka Yasumi met on episode 1 of Draw This, Then Die! are the other two Hebichika assistants in the flashback on the last episode.

With the Vuelta about to start, time to look at the sequel to Nasu: Summer in Andalucia, probably the most realistic sports anime, where Pepe Benengeli and his team mates mow have to think about the future as the PaoPao team is about to be disbanded.

Nasu: A Migratory Bird with Suitcase

茄子 スーツケースの渡り鳥 Sports by Madhouse Based on a manga by Iou Kuroda OVA Length: 55 minutes Released: 2007 Rating: A Plot: The apparent suicide of legendary bicycle racer Marco Rondanini leads to his...

hardworkandguts.tumblr.com

A story about a prefecture-level organization fighting an evil organization that thinks big but wants to starts small wrapped in a parody sounds a lot like Excel Saga, which must be why ADV decided to release this 50 minute OVA of Prefectural Earth Defense Force as a DVD.

Prefectural Earth Defense Force

県立地球防衛軍 Parody by Studio Gallop Based on a manga by Kōichirō Yasunaga Length: 50 minutes Released: 1986 Rating: C Plot: The evil Telephone Pole Gang wants take over the world, but first things first,....

hardworkandguts.tumblr.com

Let's make it Patlabor *week* by following last Monday's post about Patlabor on Television with the first part of their fresh sequel set in 2036, Patlabor EZY.

Patlabor EZY

機動警察パトレイバー EZY Real robot by J.C.STAFF Original work by Headgear File 1 Length: 72 minutes Released: 2026 Rating: B Plot: It's 2036 and labors are now a common feature of Japan, working in all sorts.....

hardworkandguts.tumblr.com

August 10 is Patlabor day, so the perfect time to revisit the other adventures of the SV2 Division 2.

Patlabor: The TV Series

機動警察パトレイバー ON TELEVISION Mecha workplace comedy by Sunrise Created by Headgear TV series and The New Files OVA Length: 47+16 episodes Aired: Fall 1989 - Summer 1990, 1990-1992 (OVA) Rating: A Plot: In...

hardworkandguts.tumblr.com

It's week 70 of the anime coverage where the words "putting out Spirytus 96 fires" were somehow written.

Weekly Catch up #70

Believe it or not, it's the middle of the season for some shows already. (last week) What was on? The Ghost In The Shell (ep 5) As I write the main posts in advance as the season goes along, there's.....

hardworkandguts.tumblr.com

While I'm sure everyone expected one day the Mokkori-man would appear with a daughter, the circumstances could have not been stranger. Let's have a look at Angel Heart, the alternate timeline sequel to City Hunter because Tojo realised he couldn't just kill Kaori out of nowhere.

Angel Heart

エンジェル・ハート Action by TMS Entertainment Based on a manga by Tsukasa Hojo Length: 50 episodes Aired: 2005 (Fall) Rating: A Plot: Glass Heart, a young assassin for a shady organization completes her 50th....

hardworkandguts.tumblr.com

In the early 80s someone had an idea: "what if instead of making anime for TV or theatres we sold it directly to the public?" and launched one of the most prolific distribution methods, the OVA. While Dallos has reserved a place in history, it is also a somewhat derivative and incomplete work.

Dallos

ダロス Sci-fi by Pierrot Written and directed by Hisayuki Toriumi and Mamoru Oshii OVA Length: 4 episodes (30 minutes) Aired: 1983 to 1984 Rating: C Plot: At the end of the 21st century, Earth was...

hardworkandguts.tumblr.com