If it’s isekai anime you’re into–meaning, a story that transports a human character into a fictional, often fantasy world–thenOverlordshould be on your shortlist. It takes the idea of a human hero flung into a video game scenario to extremes, going beyond quests and their life-or-death consequences to see what an elite player at the top of their game would do. Having taken on the mantle of the supervillainous Ainz Ooal Gown (and various other disguises), the protagonist Momonga is basically a demigod in this fantasy world, which makes for a fascinating watch as we see just what he does with his ultimate power and ultimate responsibility. FUNimation has the third season available in an epic Limited Edition box set; our review of which follows below along with a bunch of other worthy titles from a variety of subgenres.
For the uninitiated, FUNimation is a U.S. company known for their dubs and domestic distribution of Japanese anime. So all of the reviews you’re about to check out are for the dub version of each anime, though some Blu-rays/DVDs have a Japanese audio option as there are some exceptions to the rule. Below, you’ll find the official synopsis for each movie and series, along with a link to pick up your own copy at FUNimation’s online store, should my review convince you. Sometimes, it’ll be an easy thing to suggest you buy it, other times, it’ll be just as easy to go in the other direction.
Overlord: Season 3
This land will fall to his command—the overlord is back! While Ainz Ooal Gown’s conquest over Yggdrasil is bearing fruit, a deadly power struggle between empires could lead to Ains’ downfall. But that’s the least of his worries. Despite praise from his subjects, Momonga is finding it harder to keep up his terrifying act. Can the mighty overlord maintain his reign, or will this be his final stand?
A set worthy of an overlord! Get exclusive merch, art, and more in this Limited Edition.
Soul Eater: Complete Series
Maka’s a Meister and Soul is her Weapon, and they’re a freakin’ lethal team in battle against the monsters and ghouls that feed on innocent souls. That’s when Soul transforms – literally – into a razor-sharp scythe and Maka wields her partner and unleashes her inner-slayer. Fighting alongside their Meister/Weapon classmates, Maka and Soul are the world’s last line of defense against evil.
No-Rin: Complete Series
High school agricultural student Kosaku has an obsession with pop artist Yuka. He dreams of meeting her, but he never would have guessed that she’d be a student at his school! Now Ringo (formerly Yuka) is ready to ho, sow, and plow her way to the top!
Laughing under the Clouds: Complete Series
Heavy clouds are beginning to settle over the secluded shrine of the Kumo brothers—a growing gloom that signals the return of a deadly serpent known as the Orochi. As the Japanese military searches for the serpent’s human vessel, the Kumo family’s ancient connection to the Orochi comes to light and the brothers’ carefree life gives way to the darkness of an ancient prophecy.
Brothers Conflict: Complete Series + OVA
Ema Hinata is lonely. As an only child and the daughter of a famous explorer, for most of her life her closest companion has been Juli, her talking pet squirrel. But her father is getting remarried, and her new family is…a little unorthodox. Now, she’s got 13 gorgeous guys as her stepbrothers, and they’re all after her heart! But is romance what she wants, or is it family
Black Lagoon: Complete Collection
Take a twisted trip to the city of your nightmares in this hard-boiled shootout from the studio behind One Punch Man and Death Note. Includes five high-octane OVAs from Roberta’s Blood Trail!
Rokuro was an ordinary Japanese business man—a whipping boy for the big bosses and corporate high rollers. But when his job to deliver a mysterious disk goes south, a ruthless gang of mercenaries fronted by a gunslinging femme fatale take him into their custody. Abandoned and out of his element, the newly reinvented “Rock” joins up with his kidnappers as a smuggler of the East China Sea.
Special Features (over 30 minutes):
Tokyo ESP: Complete Series
Rinka is a normal Tokyo high-schooler with big dreams and a small income. She works a part-time job to support her and her single dad, but she yearns for the day she’ll get to loosen the strings on her pocketbook. Her ordinary life takes a turn for the extraordinary when she witnesses a penguin and a school of fish flying through the air. After one of the fish seems to pass through her, she wakes up in her apartment building with no clothes on and no memory of the strange phenomenon save for a mysterious ability to pass through solid objects. With her newfound powers, Rinka is about to learn just how transparent the world can be.
Terror in Resonance: Complete Series
Tokyo’s been decimated by a terrorist attack, and the only hint to the culprit’s identity is a bizarre internet video. While the world searches for a criminal mastermind, two mysterious teens who shouldn’t even exist masterfully carry out their heinous plan. A determined detective is hot on the culprit’s heels, but to catch them he must navigate a tangled web of riddles and false leads.
Hellsing Ultimate
Protecting England from satanic ghouls, the Hellsing Organization’s deadliest weapon is a rogue vampire named Arucard. Seras Victoria, a former policewoman who accepted Arucard’s gift of dark salvation after she fell in the line of duty, is called for backup. Together, they haunt the shadows as a sinister force of good.
Special Features:
selector: Season 1 & Season 2
selector:Season 1&Season 2
What would you risk to see your deepest desire come true? Your friends? Family? What about your life as you know it?
WIXOSS is the hottest new card game on the market. Ruko’s big brother just gave her a starter pack, but something is off. Her player card seems to be able to communicate with her, and once she gets to school other girls start pestering her for WIXOSS battles. Ruko soon learns that the possession of her sentient card makes her a Selector, a WIXOSS player destined to battle against other Selector girls in an alternate gamescape in order to become Eternal Girls. Once an Eternal Girl, players are granted the deepest and most sacred wish their heart desires. But if they lose three battles, it’s not just their wish that they lose…
From the director of Steins;Gate comes the epic continuation of the Selector series! Ruko is back in action, and this time she wants answers! With her friend Hitoe by her side, Ruko searches for what happened to Tama, her former LRIG. Along the way she discovers the secrets behind WIXOSS and its malicious creator. The truth lies in wait, but will Ruko be able to save the LRIGs from their fate?
New Game! Seasons 1 & 2
18-year-old Aoba Suzukaze just landed her dream job at a video game company, but the real world of office culture is challenging for this total noob. From her awkward first day, to her first game’s debut-and even training the next new recruit-she’s got a lot of skills to level up. But with a little help from her coworkers, she can handle any raid boss in her way.
