#My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom! Vol. 9

[quirkycatsfatstacks]

Manga Monday: My Next Life as a Villainess Vol. 9

My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom! (Manga) Vol. 9Writer: Satoru YamaguchiArtist: Nami HidakaPublisher: Seven SeasReleased: April 23, 2024Find it on Goodreads | More My Next Life as a Villainess Summary: You know how the story goes. A high school girl wakes up to a new life – quite literally, for she’s been reborn as Catarina Claes, a villainess and spoiled daughter of a…

[maboroshi-no]

Hamefura Series Translation Index

Manga

My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom!

 Volume 01  Bonus / Extras: 

Common (image)

Animate (SS)  

 Volume 02  Bonus Extras: 

Common (image)

Animate (SS)  

 Volume 03  Bonus Extras:

Animate (SS)

April Tea Fair (SS)

 Volume 04  Bonus Extras: 

Ebook (comic) 

Animate (SS)

 Volume 05  Bonus Extras: 

Common (image)

Ebook (comic)

 Volume 06  31 32 33 34

 Bonus Extras:  Ebook (comic)    

 Volume 07  35 36 37 38 39 40 41

 Volume 08  42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50

 Bonus / Extras: 

Ad

Ebook (image)

 Volume 09  51 52 53 54 55 56 57

Extra Story

Bonus / Extras: Ebook (image)

 Volume 10  58 59 60 61 62 63 64

Bonus / Extras: Ebook (image)

 Not in Volume  65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72

My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom! Desperate Situation! On the Verge of Doom

 Volume 1

 Bonus / Extras:  COMPLETE!

Common (image)

Animate (image)

 Volume 2  10 11 12 12.5 13 13.5

Bonus / Extras:

Ebook (image)

Animate (image)

Tsutaya (image)

 Volume 3  14 15 16 17 18 19 (Final)

 Bonus / Extras:  COMPLETE!

Common (image)

Ebook (image)

Animate (image)

Tsutaya (image)

Light Novel

Volume 01

Bonus / Extras:

LN Release SS  

Volume 02

Bonus / Extras:

Animate (SS)

Volume 04

Bonus / Extras:

Animate (SS)

Volume 07

Bonus / Extras:

Special Edition (SS)

Volume 09

Bonus / Extras:

Special Edition (SS):

Parts: 1  2  3  COMPLETE!

Volume 11

Outline

Bonus / Extras:  

Special Edition (SS):

Parts: 1  2  3  4  5   COMPLETE!

Volume 12

1  2  3  4  5  Epilogue   COMPLETE!

Bonus / Extras:  

Common (SS)

Satoru Yamaguchi’s Blog (SS) (1)

Volume 13

1  2-1  2-2  3  4-1  4-2  5    COMPLETE!

Bonus / Extras:  

Common (SS)

Satoru Yamaguchi’s Blog (SS) (1)

Other:  Extract

Volume 14

1-1  1-2  1-3  2-1  2-2  3-1  3-2  3-3  4  5  COMPLETE!

Bonus / Extras:  COMPLETE!

Extra comic

Common (SS)

Animate (SS)

Shosen / Horindo (SS)

Satoru Yamaguchi’s Blog (SS)

Movie Novel

1  2  3  4  5  Extra 1  Extra 2    COMPLETE!

Bonus / Extras:  

Animate (SS)

Satoru Yamaguchi’s Blog (SS) (1)

Others

Hamefura 10th Anniversary (SS)

Anthology Comics

My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom! Comic Anthology (DNA Media Comics) 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14  COMPLETE!

My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom! Comic Anthology Vol 2 (DNA Media Comics) 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15  COMPLETE!

My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom! GIRLS PATCH   (YuriHime Comics) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9  COMPLETE!

My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom! Official Anthology Comic - Sweet Memories ~ (Zero-sum comics) 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09  COMPLETE!

Anime BluRays Extras

S1 Vol 1:  Geordo (Comic) /  Mary (SS)    COMPLETE!

S1 Vol 2:  Keith (Comic) /  Maria (SS)    COMPLETE!

S1 Vol 3:  Alan (Comic) / Anne (SS)    COMPLETE!

S1 Vol 4:  Nicol (Comic) / Sophia (SS)    COMPLETE!

S2 Vol 1:  Mary (Comic)

S2 Vol 2:  Larna (Comic)

S2 Vol 3:  Sophia (Comic)

S2 Vol 4:  Maria (Comic)   

Movie Extras

Special Episode 1 Booklet SS    Comic    COMPLETE!

Special Episode 2 Booklet

SS    Comic    COMPLETE!

Blurays

Aaqil’s Letter (Hot Country)

Fortune Lover Trial Game

Geordo Route

Keith Route

Alan Route

Nicol Route

     COMPLETE!

Drama CDs

Katarina Possesses OG!Katarina

Private Academy AU

Kindergarten AU

Magical Girls AU

     COMPLETE!

[mrsmarymorstan]

Now Furuba S2 is over, what now?

I’m already seeing a lot of people asking for recommendations now the S2 Sub is over; so this is a list of series that I think you’ll enjoy if you like Furuba! 

All platforms listed are true for the UK, but might not be for other residences. More viewing options may be available in other territories. 

Unless specified, All Manga/Comic recs are available from regular bookstores and EBook Stores. If you’re in the UK I’ll suggest checking out Hive, which is an online store where a potion of each sale goes towards a Local Independent Bookstroe of your choice! They also have flat-rate free shipping! 

Okay, so the actual recs! (I got lazy in some places and used the official synopisis) 

Romance

Convenience Store Boyfriends Funimation (Dub) Crunchyroll (Sub) 12 Eps Total 

“Six high school boys hang out at a local convenience store where they talk about their daily lives. Haruki Mishima and Towa Honda are first year students looking forward to the high school experience. Alongside them, there’s Nasa Sanagi, the only member of the cooking research club. Natsu Asumi is a loner but has third year students, Mikado Nakajima and Masamune Sakurakoji, looking out for him.“

Kaguya-sama: Love is War S1 - Crunchyroll, Funimation (Sub) S2 Funimation (Sub/Dub) 24 eps - Ongoing Manga: 18/20 volumes available in English 

“Known for being both brilliant and powerful, Miyuki Shirogane and Kaguya Shinomiya lead the illustrious Shuchiin Academy as near equals. And everyone thinks they’d make a great couple. Pride and arrogance are in ample supply, so the only logical move is to trick the other into instigating a date! Who will come out on top in this psychological war where the first move is the only one that matters?”

Monthly Girls’ Nozaki-kun Netflix (Dub/Sub), Crunchyroll (Sub) 12 Eps Total Manga: 12/12 volumes available in English 

“High school student Chiyo Sakura has a crush on schoolmate Umetarou Nozaki. When she confesses her love to him, he mistakes her for a fan and gives her an autograph. When she says she wants to be with him, he invites her to his house and has her help on some drawings. Sakura discovers that Nozaki is actually a renowned shōjo manga artist working under the pen name Sakiko Yumeno. She agrees to be his assistant in order to get closer to him. As they work on his manga Let's Fall in Love they encounter other schoolmates, who assist them and serve as inspirations for the story.”

Snow White With the Red Hair Funimation (Dub/Sub) 24 Eps Total Manga: 9/22+ volumes available in English. Anime ends Vol. 8 

“In the kingdom of Tanbarun lives an independent young pharmacist named Shirayuki. Shirayuki is a plain girl, save for her shock of beautiful apple-red hair. Her stunning mane gets her noticed by the prince, but instead of romancing her, he demands she be his concubine. Shirayuki chops off her lovely locks, and runs away to the neighboring kingdom where she befriends a handsome stranger.”

Tsuruedure Children Funimation (Dub), Crunchyroll (Sub) 12 Eps Total Manga (Ebook only) 12/12 Volumes available in English

“Short and charming comedic vignettes offer a quick glimpse into the unique and funny situations, misunderstandings, and all around confusion that can happen in a high school romance. For starters, there’s a story about a delinquent girl and the student council president, and one about a stoic boy confused about an emotional girl. Relive the charm of high school romance!”

Wotakoi: Love is Hard for Otaku Amazon Prime (Sub) 11 Eps Total Manga: 4/9 volumes available in english 

Looking for a slice of life romance but you’re an actual adult now and don’t want to read about teenagers? Try Wotakoi! It combines office romance with childhood friends-to-lovers. Narumi is a Fujoshi who doesn’t want anyone to find out the truth of her ways, Hirotaka is a Game Otaku who doesn’t care what anyone says about it, together they go about the ins-and-outs of dating as an adult. 

Coming of Age

BOFURI: I don’t want to get hurt, so I’ll max out my defence Funimation (Dub/Sub) 12 Eps Ongoing 

“She may be new to gaming, but Maple has found the secret to invincibility! Just put all your skill points into defense until you can't even move. That works, right? She doesn't want to experience any pain in the VRMMO game she started playing, and somehow it works better than anyone expected. Now she's got followers??”

Brand New Animal Netflix (Dub/Sub) 12 Eps Total 

“Set in a world where humanoid animals (known as beastmen) inhabit Earth, the series centers on Michiru Kagemori, a young teenage girl who one day suddenly starts turning into a tanuki beastman. Running away, she seeks refuge in Anima City, a city built for beastmen to be able to live peacefully as themselves, and ends up meeting a wolf beastman named Shirou Ogami. Together, they investigate how and why Michiru became a beastman, becoming mixed up in even stranger events in the process.”

Hyouka Funimation (Dub/Sub) 23 Eps Total 

“A worthy addition to any animation fan's collection, Hyouka is a stunning masterwork that spins a charming tale of high school romance and mystery. After disenchanted student Hotaro Oreki joins his school’s Classic Lit Club, he meets Eru Chitanda, a kindhearted and inquisitive girl with boundless curiosity and a knack for getting him caught up in all sorts of trouble.”

Koto Oto Tomara! Sounds of Life Funimation (Dub/Sub) 24 Eps Total 

“Down to its last member, the koto club will accept anyone who is interested in the traditional Japanese instrument. But when a delinquent and a prodigy player sign up, finding harmony isn’t going to be easy—especially not with ensemble competitions looming around the corner. With enough time and some incredible skill at the strings, perhaps this motley crew can strike a chord with the judges.“

O Maidens in your Savage Season HIDIVE (Dub/Sub) 12 Eps Total Manga: 7/8 volumes available in English (8th available for pre-order) 

The series follows a High School Literature club as they make their nervous first foray into the nature of sexuality. What is the difference between sexual attraction and romantic attraction? Does watching porn mean wanting to have sex? What are these strange feelings I am having down below? Why are boys so gross and girls so pretty? Each girl undergoes their own journey and finds their own destination, a brutally honest yet heart warming look at teenage female sexuality. 

CW: Sexual Assault, pedophilia (both portrayed as BAD AND TERRIBLE things) 

Our Dreams at Dusk Manga: 4/4 volumes available in English 

IF YOU ONLY CONSUME ONE THING ON THIS LIST MAKE IT THIS!!!!! The series is the VERY DEFINITION of “It Gets Better”. 

After his classmates discover some gay pornography on his phone, Tasuku Kaname contemplates committing suicide. Just as he’s about to jump, he spots a mysterious figure parkouring down a mountain. Shocked out of his moment, he decides to go and investigate what’s happening and finds an LGBT+ Drop In Centre. The series follows the lives of the people in the drop in centre, from Haruko who wishes to marry her closeted girlfriend, to Misora who is still trying to figure out what their gender is but has the threat of puberty hovering of their shoulder. 

It’s very clear that Kamatani-sensei has written this story FOR the Queer Community. It’s a truly beautiful story. Please give it your money if you can, so that Kamatani-sensei can actually earn some money, and so that Seven Seas know that there is a viable audience for these stories! So that we may get more content!

Reverse Harem 

Fruits Basket is NOT a reverse Harem, but i figure there’ll be some fan crossover. 

Kiss Him, Not Me Cruncyroll (sub) Funimation Dub available on DVD etc. 12 Eps Total Manga 14/14 volumes available in English

“Kae Serinuma believes one thing—princes belong together! As an avid boy’s love fan, she loves nothing more than fantasizing about faux relationships between the boys at her school. But when she loses weight due to the stress of her favorite anime character dying suddenly the boys want…her?! From pretty average to prettiest girl, Kae just wants these boys to date each other, not her!”

Sub uses an irritating “Silly Fat Person” voice that the Dub doesn’t. CW for Sexual Assult, though it is depicted as a BAD thing and used for Kae to question why she is so into it when reading BL, when IRL it is terrifying? 

My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom Crunchyroll (Dub/Sub) 12 Eps Total 

A TRULY Bisexual harem! After bumping her head, young Katarina Claes awakens with all the memories of her past life... and promptly realises she’s been re-incarnated as the antagonist of her favourite Otome Game! Determined this time to live past the age of 17, Katarina starts to make plans to turn all her enemies into allies through the power of kindness and understanding! Throughout the series, she tries harder and harder to avoid her doom flags... without realising that she’s turned those doom flags into romance flags! 

Katarina lives out the fantasy of going to magic school and eating cake as all the pretty people fall head over heels for her. A pity she’s too dim to notice.

Ouran High School Host Club Funimation (Dub/Sub) 24 eps total Manga: 18/18 volumes available in english 

Set in the high class elite private school of Ouran High, the Host Club exist to provide entertainment for the ladies of the school. Looking for a quiet place to study, Haruhi Fujioka, stumbles across the Host Club and in their haste to leave they knock over an ¥8,000,000 vase. Now she must earn that money back by working for the Host Club, all the while disguising the fact that she’s a girl. Not that she ever felt much like a girl before hand anyway. Along the way, she gets to know better the Cool Kyoya, the flamboyant Tamaki, the Mischievous Hikaru & Kaoru, the Strong and Silent Mori-senpai and the adorable Honey-senpai. Comedic Hijinks ensue! 

Slice of Life

The Emperor and I Manga: 4/4 volumes available in English on Shonen Jump App 

One day Kaho returns home from school to find an Emperor Penguin in her fridge. He quickly becomes a beloved part of the family, but a secret to the rest of the world who would want to take him away from them. Hijinks ensue. 

Kakushigoto Funimation (Dub/Sub) 12 Eps Total 

Doting single father, Kakushi Goto, is determined to hide the fact that he writes echhi humour manga for a living. He couldn’t bare it if his daughter were to ever find out the truth, the shame of his profession only alienating her. A laugh out loud series that will suddenly cut you deep as it explores the nature of grief and familial love. 

My Brother’s Husband Manga: 2/2 volumes available in English 

“Yaichi, a stay-at-home single father, lives with his daughter Kana in suburban Tokyo. They are visited by Mike Flanagan, the widower of Yaichi's estranged twin brother Ryōji, who has traveled from his native Canada for three weeks to learn about Ryōji's past. Kana is fascinated by Mike and is immediately accepting of him, though Yaichi is hesitant to accept Mike as family.

While Yaichi is not overtly homophobic, Mike suggests that his tacit discomfort over his brother's sexuality drove a wedge between them that led to their estrangement. Mike's interactions with the family and neighborhood over the subsequent three weeks prompt Yaichi to confront his own prejudices around sex and sexuality, as his growing tolerance and eventual acceptance of Mike parallel his overcoming of his own homophobia.”

Whilst the trope of “the gay brother dies and the heterosexual brother learns not to be homophobic” might be over done in western media, the same is not true for Japan. It’s a heartfelt and honest look at grief and acceptance, as well as how the nature of family is changing all around the world... but attitudes are maybe conservative attitudes aren’t as quick to catch up. 

Nichijou: My Ordinary Life Funimation (Dub/Sub) 

So apparently everyone went “this show is undubbable! It relies too much on puns and untranslatable humour!” and then Howard Wang said “hold my beer” and did it. A bizarre comedy series set in a high school. It’s probably best known for the ongoing fight between the deer and the principal.  

Way of the Househusband Manga: 4/5+ (ongoing) volumes available in English  

After he meets and marries the career driven Miku, Tatsu AKA The Immortal Dragon decides to give up his life of crime to commit to being the worlds’ best husband. You’d be surprised at the transferable skills between a Yakuza enforcer and a house husband. From knowing how to efficiently cut up a slice of meat, to how to perfectly clean a bathroom of all evidence. Hilarious and heartwarming, Taki and Kyoko would be best bros. 

Slice of Life + Supernatural 

The Disastrous Life of Saiki K S1 Funimation (Dub/Sub) 24 episodes Netflix S1 (Dub/Sub) S2 & 3 (Sub) 50 episodes total 

“Saiki Kusuo is a typical 16-year-old high school student… except he has psychic powers. He can use them to get whatever he wants, but he also knows everything that people are thinking. Everything. No surprises, no secrets, no normal human experiences. He’s kept his powers in check since childhood, but with the temptations of high school now on his mind, he’s bending the rules—and spoons.“

Sabrina The Teenage Witch (2019)

Writer Kelly Thompson wears her magical girl influences on her sleeve in this new take on the Archie Classic. Sabrina is your regular teenager, except she is also a witch and so are her aunts. Hijinks (and Card Captor Sakura References) ensue. 

Toilet Bound Hanako-kun Funimation (Dub/Sub) 12 eps total Manga 13/13 Volumes available in English 

“Kamome Academy is rumored to have many mysteries, the strangest of which involves the mischievous ghost of Hanako-kun. When occult-loving high schooler Nene Yashiro accidentally becomes bonded to him, she uncovers a hidden world of supernatural beings. Now the two of them are conspiring to keep the peace between student and supernatural—that is, if they can only stay out of trouble themselves.“

Jughead (2015) 4 Volumes total

Bought to you in various parts by the creators of Squirrel Girl, Jughead combines slice of life with spy thriller, time travel and the joy of a good burger. Hilarious and heart warming, this run holds a special place in my heart as the one where Jughead was confirmed as canonically asexual and continues to express various aro/ace moods throughout the series. There’s a REASON my friends say I’m a Real Life Jughead.... 

Weathering With You - available digitally/physically 28th Sep. 2019

In June 2021, first year high schooler Hodaka Morishima leaves Kōzu-shima in order to get to Tokyo. When his ferry to the city is hit by a rainstorm, he is saved by Keisuke Suga, who runs a small occult magazine that’s looking for an assistant. As Hodaka becomes broke and struggles to find work, he meets Hina Amano, an employee of a McDonald’s restaurant. She takes pity on him and gives him food. After agreeing to work with Suga, Hodaka learns about the legend of the “sunshine girl” who can control the weather! It turns out that the newly unemployed Hina is a sunshine girl! And with her little brother, they start up their own business to bring sunshine to the never-ending rain of Tokyo. 

Yamada-kun and the Seven Witches Crunchyroll (Dub/Sub) 12 Episodes Total Manga: 22/28 volumes available in English 

After tripping on the stairs, School Bad Boy Ryu Yamada and Top Student Urara Shiraishi discover they can swap bodies with a kiss! They then learn that they’re not the only ones with magic powers in the school, and with the help of the Supernatural Studies Club they begin to track down the identities of the 7 witches of Suzaku High. 

This series really stretches my limits on fan service, but at least it does proceed to get a little even in terms of gender. It’s still a really rather sweet and romantic series, once you get past the boobs and panties. 

Your Name Netflix (Dub/Sub) Spin Off Manga “Your Name: Another Side: Earthbound” - 2/2 volumes available in English 

A modern take on the Red Sting of Fate mythos, Mitsuha and Taki are two teenagers tied together. Three times a week, Mitsuha will wake up in Taki’s body and live the life of a Tokyo School boy. In turn, Taki will wake up in Mitsuha’s body and learn what it is to be a Rural Shrine Maiden. A look at the bonds that tie us, and how fate won’t let two young people fall apart before they can meet. 

Also the animation is BEAUTIFUL and it made me cry. Like a lot. There’s a spin off manga called “Your Name: Another Side” that follows the same story but from the POV of Mitsuha’s friends and family. It really brings new light to the events and made me very emotional.

Mental Health 

Green Lanterns: Rebirth (2018)

Jessica Cruz suffers from PTSD and severer anxiety, seeing her utalising her will power to overcome those problems and harness that energy to help save the universe is so incredibly powerful and moving. 

Hawkeye (2012-2015) 4 Volumes 

The Fraction/Aja/Wu/Hollingworth Hawkeye run is widely considered one of the best superhero runs of all time. Fraction and Aja perfectly capture “functional depression” at its finest, and we watch as Clint Barton slowly burns all his bridges before being forced by his friends to sort his shit out and put them back together again. There’s also a whole issue that’s primarily written in sign language too. 

My Roomate is a Cat Funimation (Dub) Crunchyroll (Sub) 12 eps total 

“Mystery author Mikazuki would rather live in total isolation than deal with others. Getting a roommate is the last thing he’d ever do, until a stray cat sparks an idea for his next novel. After plucking the little killer off the streets, this four-legged muse inspires Mikazuki in ways he would have never expected. And for the street-wise cat, this human just opened the door to a whole new world.”

A Silent Voice (Manga/Movie) Movie: Netflix (Dub/Sub) 

“A former class bully reaches out to the deaf girl he’d tormented in grade school. He feels unworthy of redemption but tries to make things right.”

CW Attempted Suicide, bullying

Please watch the dub. Lexi Marman Cowden, who voices Shoko, is an ACTUAL hard-of-hearing actress. It makes for a more real and vulnerable performance that avoids the mild ableism of the Sub hiring a Hearing Actress and robot-ising her voice. 

Yuri!!! On ICE Crunchyroll (Sub) Funimation (Dub) 12 eps total 

“Yuri Katsuki makes his way to the Grand Prix ice skating competition as Japan’s top representative with his eyes on the prize. However, instead of celebrating, Yuri walks away defeated and ready to retire for good. But a run-in with champion Viktor Nikiforov and rising star Yuri Plisetsky ignites a new fire within him. With the two of them close by his side, Yuri will take to the ice once more.”

Yuri’s defeat sends him into a very relatable spiral of lack of self belief that he slowly starts to regain thanks to the help of Viktor. Part sports anime, part love story, all full of feels. 

The Dub is considered hit or miss depending on whether you like accents or not, but honestly it’s worth it for Sabat’s Christophe giacometti. Ayame walked, so Christophe could strut. 

Generic 

I’m gonna start by recommending the Shonen Jump App, it’s £1.99/month and gives you access to all their recent publications as well as their back catalogue in English! So you can read all of Boys Over Flowers, Nisekoi, Naruto, One Piece, Haikyuu, Assassination Classroom, My Hero Academia etc. for a fraction of the cost of buying the physicals! SO much manga at your finger tips! No, they don’t sponsor me but i wish they would. 

Astra Lost in Space Funimation (Dub/Sub) 12 Eps Total Manga: 5/5 volumes available in english, available on the Shonen Jump App

A group of teenagers on a school trip become Lost In Space and quickly discover a conspiracy is a foot. Part thriller, part comedy, saying anything more about this series would count as a spoiler given the number of plot twists throughout. 

Radiant Funimation (Dub) Crunchyroll (Sub) 42 eps total Manga: 13/13+ volumes available in english (ongoing series)

A french manga turned into a Japanese Anime.

“Seth, a sorcerer destined to find Radiant, sets his sights on Caislean Merlin for answers. He’s desperate to find out what the Knight Sorcerers know, but can he trust them? In the wake of all that is unknown, he digs deep within himself for the wisdom and confidence to control his powers. And as the world around him continues to grow with more magic and power, he gains strong new allies.”

The series has BIG Saturday Morning cartoon vibes. My 12 year-old self would have been ALL OVER this.

Batman Ninja (Netflix)  

What if a Japanese animation studio asked DC if they could make a batman movie? And then just threw a Japanese history book at it? What if there was time travel? What if the main batman villains were all feudal lords in Japan? What if everyone were Samari? What if Damian had a small animal companion he could communicate with using a flue? What if Jason’s hood was made out of wicker? What if Penguin had a penguin shaped mecha? 

A wild ride from start to finish that makes no sense but really, do you care? 

[hatsumishinogu]

My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom! Vol.9 Special Edition (light novel)

[recentanimenews]

THE iDOLM@STER: Starlit Season Welcomes Kaede Takagaki as New DLC Idol

  The next set of paid DLC is on the way to THE iDOLM@STER: Starlit Season, and it's bringing a new idol along for the ride. Catalog Vol. 3: Luminous Azure launches on December 9 with the addition of Kaede Takagaki, who is the first of three planned additions to the PS4 and PC game's lineup of idols. 

  The new character is voiced by Saori Hayami (Maria Campbell in My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom!), and there's already a page up on the official website. You can see more of her in the trailer below.

    The Luminous Azure DLC also includes new sets, costumes, items, stage effects, and more. 

  Via Gematsu

    -------

Joseph Luster is the Games and Web editor at Otaku USA Magazine. You can read his comics at subhumanzoids. Follow him on Twitter @Moldilox.

By: Joseph Luster

[quirkycatsfatstacks]

📚 Review📚 My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom! (Manga) Vol. 9

Eee! I'm so happy to finally have My Next Life as a Villainess Vol. 9! I feel like I've been waiting forever for the next volume in this series (in reality, it hasn't been all that long – a year at most). I love that this series is continuing. Does this mean we'll (eventually) get a new season for the anime?

So, I was wondering how My Next Life as a Villainess would continue post-graduation, and now I have my answer! The reason is not that dissimilar to how the spin-off game did things. It works—though I can see fans loving or hating it.

Since this volume is essentially kicking off a spin-off without using that terminology, there's a whole new cast of characters to learn (in addition to our favorites). I don't have a good feel for them yet, so I'll have to wait a bit before commenting on them. I hope the following volumes will focus on each of them individually.

I can't wait to see where My Next Life as a Villainess goes! (And yes, I know I need to continue reading the light novels, as that will probably get me beyond this point. I'm working on it).

Highlights: Isekai Strong Humor Clueless Lead Dating Sim Game Reverse Harem

[quirkycatsfatstacks]

Series Binge: My Next Life as a Villainess Vol. 7

My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom! Vol. 7Series: My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom! MangaWriter: Satoru YamaguchiArtist: Nami HidakaPublisher: Seven SeasReleased: August 9, 2022Received: Own Summary: You know how the story goes. A high school girl wakes up to a new life – quite literally, for she’s been reborn as Catarina Claes, a villainess and spoiled…

[hatsumishinogu]

My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom! Vol.9 (light novel)

[recentanimenews]

My Next Life As a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom!, Vol. 9

By Satoru Yamaguchi and Nami Hidaka. Released in Japan as “Otome Game no Hametsu Flag Shika Nai Akuyaku Reijou ni Tensei Shite Shimatta…” by Ichijinsha Bunko Iris. Released in North America by J-Novel Club. Translated by Marco Godano.

This was a strong volume of Bakarina, despite doing absolutely nothing that I thought it would do. I thought it would be action-filled, instead it’s merely the last quarter or so. I thought it would be more serious, but it’s no more serious than any other volume of the series. But that’s a good thing, as really, who wants to see these characters suffer? Unless they’re suffering because the woman they love is as dense as lead, in which case, yes please. The book also benefits from most of the cast being absent – Katarina is on a secret mission in another part of the country, and so for the most part it’s just her, Maria and Sora. Which is bad news for fans of the other love interests, but very good news for those who love KataMari or KataSora, as both of those pairings get some good attention. As for the actual plot, it goes pretty much as you’d expect, with Katarina walking into the solution.

Katarina, along with Larna, Maria and Sora, are following up on the “kidnapped citizens” plot from last time, heading to the tow “Ocean Harbor” to try to get to the bottom of things. (I love that the name of the town sounds exactly like what you’d name a plot-point town in an otome game.) They end up at a restaurant owned by Larna’s friend… well, frenemy Regina, who uses the restaurant as a front for ferreting out stuff for the Ministry. However, since they have Maria (who can cook) and Katarina (who is not only an excellent waitress but also knows how to market), they can now run it like an actual restaurant, and maybe turn a profit! Was there something else? Oh right, the kids being kidnapped, along with the noble girl. But that’s OK, I’m sure there can be someone for Katarina to befriend who will lead them to the bad guys.

Probably my favorite thing about this book was seeing Katarina as a waitress. Everyone is blown out of the water by how good she is at it, because she’s supposedly the daughter of a duke, but honestly I was surprised as well, as even though we know she has her past life from Japan and probably part-timed as a waitress before, the temptation would be to make her bad at the job for a laugh. Instead, she turns out to be fantastic at the job for a great character moment. I also really enjoyed Katarina’s “dates” with Maria and Sora, which are basically catnip to us readers, and also features Maria once again literally confessing to Katarina and having her say “You lost me” in the best Shirou tradition. Props to Sora, too, for realizing that, rather than Keith or himself, Jeord’s biggest competition in the Katarina Sweepstakes is Maria. As for the plot itself, it proved to be resolved fairly easily, but we got to see Katarina in peril, Katarina biting someone to try to get herself out of peril, Maria being a light magic badass, and so all is well.

It’s still pretty clear that someone is trying to destabilize the countries in some way, and while the reader likely knows who’s behind it, the characters do not as of yet, so expect more investigation in the next book. Till then, enjoy Katarina Claes, waitress extraordinaire!

By: Sean Gaffney

[recentanimenews]

Bookshelf Briefs 11/2/20

Blank Canvas: My So-Called Artist’s Journey, Vol. 5 | By Akiko Higashimura | Seven Seas – It shouldn’t take most readers by surprise that the final volume of Blank Canvas is heart-rending, but even knowing that it will be doesn’t lessen the manga’s impact; Higashimura utilizes a masterful combination of humor, honesty, and heartbreak. Blank Canvas captures so incredibly well the complexity and multifaceted nature of people, their feelings, and their relationships. The series is in large part about Higashimura’s growth as an artist and as an individual, especially the influence of one person particularly important to her development, but through the process of the manga’s creation it’s also an opportunity for her to confront some of the regrets in her life. In Higashimura’s own words, “As an adult, I have complicated thoughts about my younger self.” Blank Canvas allows Higashimura to come to terms with some of those thoughts and “what ifs” while honoring the memories of her teacher, mentor, and fellow artist Kenzou Hidaka. – Ash Brown

Fly Me to the Moon, Vol. 1 | By Kenjiro Hata | Viz Media – The new series from the Hayate the Combat Butler creator spends much of its first time watching the intelligent but extremely flaky Nasa hero overreact to nearly everything, and his savior and then wife be bafflingly mysterious. Tsukasa reads like an odd cross between Hinagiku and Athena, and I was rather surprised that we got to the end of the first volume without really understanding much about her. The series is somewhat cute and fun, though a lot of the humor beats will be familiar to Hayate fans, and there are some of the usual pop culture references as well. This got an anime, so I assume more will make sense later, but for the moment this is a first volume that qualifies as “good.” – Sean Gaffney

My Next Life As a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom!, Vol. 4 | By Satoru Yamaguchi and Nami Hidaka | Seven Seas – The manga has the unfortunate problem, which the other volumes did not, of coming out after the anime series. As such, there’s not really much in this book that you had not already seen before. In fact, it might seem a bit rushed compared to the anime. But it hits the high points—everyone begging Katarina to wake up, her dreamscape of her past life with A-chan, stopping and saving Raphael, and finally being the most oblivious dork in the world, as Maria blatantly confesses to her and she STILL doesn’t get it. Fortunately, the game had a sequel—Fortune Lover II. Unfortunately, she never played that one, and it has Katarina return as a villain—again. Well adapted. – Sean Gaffney

Practice Makes Perfect, Vol. 1 | By Ui Hanamiya | Kodansha Comics (digital only) – I picked this digital-only up on a whim, thinking the premise sounded cute. Two pro athletes in their late twenties (him in Judo, her in Volleyball) are representing their country in what is implied to be the 2020 Olympics that didn’t happen. They both really want to lose their virginity, and, coming across each other’s problems, decide to “practice” kissing, touching, etc. in a hotel so that they can be more experienced in relationships. The outcome (they fall in love for real) is not in doubt, especially when you realize this is only four volumes long. It’s the journey that’s important, though, and they are both really cute and awkward sports dorks. THAT’S the selling point, and it’s a great one. – Sean Gaffney

Skip Beat!, Vol. 44 | By Yoshiki Nakamura | Viz Media – Did I say in my last brief on Skip Beat! that Ren and Kyoko were having communication problems? This volume doubles down on that, as Ren pokes at Kyoko, who was seen getting kissed by Sho by a photographer, and suggests that she’s “giving up on her revenge” and Sho has “compassion and understanding.” This causes Kyoko to blow up, in an exquisitely drawn scene that manages to dwarf everything else in the volume. She may hate Sho (and it’s clear by now she doesn’t), but Ren doesn’t get to say nice things about him when they are WRONG. Elsewhere, the reveal of Kyoko’s sword teacher brings big laughs, and the Kyoko/Momo ship gets more holes bored into it. Great stuff as always. – Sean Gaffney

Snow White with the Red Hair, Vol. 9 | By Sorata Akiduki | Viz Media – Most of this volume ends up being, in a sense of bad timing for the North American market, a race to find a cure for a horrible pandemic that is ravaging the city. (The volume came out in Japan years ago, so there’s no thought of COVID here.) This ends up separating our lead couple even more than they already are—there’s a brief reunion, but this is not where Zen needs to be right now, and he knows it. Indeed, as many have said, Obi seems more and more like the main romantic lead, helping Shirayuki solve this plant-based mystery and save the day. There’s a lot more going on in this title than just the romantic couple, as in the best shoujo series. It’s a winner. – Sean Gaffney

Yona of the Dawn, Vol. 26 | By Mizuho Kusanagi | VIZ Media – Yona of the Dawn is always good, but this Xing arc has been something special. Princesses Kouren and Tao and their devoted warriors are such vivid characters that they legitimately seem like the stars of their own story, rather than merely side characters in Yona’s, if that makes sense. Kusanagi-sensei also adeptly created an extremely odious scheming priest and gave us a delicious scene in which Su-Won gives not a single shit for the intel the priest obsequiously offers him. I actually laughed at some of his reaction panels more than once. What really seals the deal on this being a special volume, though, is the final chapter, in which some genuine romantic progress finally happens between Hak and Yona. It is great, and Yun and the Four Dragons’ reactions are also great. Have I mentioned lately how much I love this series? It’s among the best I’ve ever read. – Michelle Smith

By: Ash Brown

[recentanimenews]

Reading Peformance of Makoto Shinkai's 5 Centimeters per Second to be Held in October

    A reading performance based on Makoto Shinkai's 2007 dramatic anime film 5 Centimeters per Second is scheduled to be held at Hulic Hall Tokyo from October 21 to 25, 2020. Many popular anime voice actors including three who previously joined Shinkai's works take the stage on a daily basis. General sales of the 7,800 yen ticket will begin on October 10.

  As Sinkai's third solo work, 5 Centimeters per Second was released in Japan on March 3, 2007. The 65-minute film consists of three episodes: "Oukashou (Cherry Blossom)," "Cosmonaut," and "Byousoku 5 Centimeters (5 Centimeters per Second)," telling the three periods of the protagonist Takaki Touno's life.

    Cast:

  Miyu Irino (Shun and Shin in Children Who Chase Lost Voices, Takao Akizuki in The Garden of Words)

Yuki Kaji (Takai in Weathering with You)

Ayane Sakura (Ayane in Weathering with You)

Akari Kito (Nezuko Kamado in Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba)

Yuka Ozaki (Serval in Kemono Friends)

Haruka Fukuhara (Himari Arisugawa / Cure Custard in Kirakira PreCure a la Mode)

Maaya Uchida (Katarina Claes in My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom!)

Rina Ikoma (ex-Nogizaka46/AKB48 member)

Reika Sakurai

Meimi Tamura

Naoto Kaihou

Fu Hinami

Hirona Yamazaki

Takahisa Maeyama

Mario Kuroba

Daigo Shinozaki

Hana Morimoto 

      ????????????️全キャスト解禁???????????? 朗読劇シリーズ????????#恋を読む vol.3『秒速５センチメートル』 2020年10月21日(水)-25日(日) 全キャスト決定‼️ 原作 #新海誠 脚本・演出 #三浦直之 ▼全キャストコメント掲載✨詳細は▼https://t.co/WYSTdD6miK#オフィシャル先行申込9月25日正午〜開始❣️#秒速 pic.twitter.com/hwvjzQl6hm

— 恋を読むvol.3『秒速5センチメートル』 (@koiwoyomu_stage) September 17, 2020

    Poster for the anime film:

    Source: "5 Centimeters per Second" reading performance official website / Twitter  

  Copyright Toho Co., Ltd. All rights reserved.

(C)Makoto Shinkai / CoMix Wave Films

  By: news+feed@crunchyroll.com