Thrilling aerial combat and super-cool designs can’t make up for a muddled and confusing storyline.

Influenced by Walter Hill’s “Streets of Fire,” this OVA is a prime example of cheesy ’80s sci-fi/action anime.

From its lifeless 3DCG animation to its nonsensical storyline, the latest Ghost in the Shell title underwhelms in every way.

Thanks to its exotic-looking visual aesthetic, this sci-fi/action anime title is an overlooked gem from the mid ’90s.

This twisted tale involving young orphans is one of the most suspenseful anime series I’ve seen in quite some time.

Though not lacking in ambition or scope, the trilogy ultimately leaves you wondering what might’ve been.

Mary and the Witch’s Flower could easily be mistaken for a classic Studio Ghibli film, and that’s not a bad thing.

But those hoping to see lots of the manga’s vast, dystopian weirdness may be slightly disappointed.

The first Evangelion walks a tricky line between appealing to otaku without feeling like a shameless cash-grab.

The latest from Wit Studio and Tetsurō Araki is a gruesome, action-packed series featuring human-devouring monsters and steampunk samurai.

Tomohiko Itō’s latest anime is rooted in tragedy, loss, and a search for restoration and redemption… and time travel.

Knights of Sidonia’s second season sacrifices nearly everything that made its first season so interesting and refreshing.

At its best, Attack on Titan is a gripping series… though not necessarily one I’d want to watch right after eating dinner.

A rollicking retro-futuristic tale of alien invaders, boy geniuses, and cool gizmos that revels in its vintage style and flair.

Sword Art Online starts out with a lot of promise, but a poor narrative decision takes its second half in a much less interesting direction.

A letdown in almost every possible way imaginable, which is all the more disappointing because the storyline and setting has potential.

An increasingly dull and predictable storyline populated by characters that are a collection of clichés.

Here’s hoping that “5 Centimeters Per Second” represents one last hurrah for Shinkai before moving on to new, and equally fertile territory.

Appleseed Ex Machina is primarily disappointing because it squanders so much of the depth and potential that existed in the original.