\n<\/p>\n
For the second week of Anime Trending\u2019s Summer 2026 anime early impressions<\/a>, our team reviews the debut episodes of I Want to Love You Till Your Dying Day, Kaiju Girl Caramelized<\/em>, and The Ghost in the Shell<\/em>. <\/p>\n \u00a9\u3042\u304a\u306e\u306a\u3061\u30fb\u4e00\u8fc5\u793e\uff0f\u300c\u304d\u307f\u6b7b\u306c\u300d\u88fd\u4f5c\u59d4\u54e1\u4f1a<\/p>\n I Want to Love You Till Your Dying Day<\/strong><\/p>\n Episodes watched: 1<\/p>\n In her war-ridden country, fourteen-year-old Sheena Totsuki lives in an orphanage where kids are raised to be child soldiers, learning magic in order to be ready for battle. It\u2019s nothing unusual, then, when Sheena\u2019s roommate dies in the war, but still Sheena is shaken by the loss. As she grapples with her position as a pawn in her country\u2019s war, the orphanage sends Sheena her late roommate\u2019s replacement: Mimi, the girl rumored to be the orphanage\u2019s immortal \u201cweapon.\u201d<\/p>\n I had the lovely opportunity to watch this series premiere at Infinite<\/strong>\u2019s panel at Anime Expo 2026, so watching it on a big screen with a responsive crowd may influence my first impression. Regardless, I\u2019m thoroughly pleased by this premiere. Even with its grim premise, the episode sprinkles in a perfect amount of lighthearted moments, capturing the youthful curiosity that all children possess, even those living in wartime. The comedic beats shine through both the animation and the sound design; I especially enjoy how the motif of the school bell ringing suddenly transformed into a womp-womp glissando to complement Sheena\u2019s dejected posture. All the elements of this production are moving together \u2014 which sounds like an obvious observation, but is something I\u2019ve noticed fail in anime I\u2019ve enjoyed less.<\/p>\n Of course, there\u2019s also the draw of the yuri buzz. Though the kisses that occur in Episode 1 get explained away by the fact that kisses hold magical healing powers in this universe, the animation captures the gentle intimacy of the magic transfer that still makes this show decidedly gay. Even outside of the kisses, we get to see hints of romance between Sheena\u2019s classmates Seiran and Ari, whose subtle physical mannerisms and mellow way of speaking to each other clearly <\/strong>establish their relationship as more than platonic. The bond between Sheena and Mimi has yet to fully develop in that route, but of course, that\u2019s what the rest of the season is for.<\/p>\n The first episode has already filled the hole in my heart left by the supernatural yuri, This Monster Wants to Eat Me<\/em>, where the story\u2019s emotional plotline resonated, but the pacing and abrupt tonal shifts left much to be desired. Whatever is in store for Sheena and Mimi in this story, I\u2019m excited to see how the rest unfolds.<\/p>\n By: Audrey Im<\/p>\n \u00a9Spica Aoki\/KADOKAWA\/Project KAIJU GIRL CARAMELISE<\/p>\n Kaiju Girl Caramelise<\/strong><\/p>\n Episodes watched: 1<\/p>\n What would you do if the person confessing to you reached out a kaiju claw and a sunflower? That\u2019s the dilemma Kuroe faces after working up the courage to confess to a boy \u2014 only to permanently scare him away. Since then, she\u2019s become a target for bullying, making her want to retreat into living an invisible high school career. However, when the good-looking and easygoing Minami suddenly takes an interest in her, Kuroe can\u2019t help but be swept along by his sweet words and actions.<\/p>\n I initially thought the show would be a fairly standard high school rom-com, with the twist that Kuroe\u2019s body transforms into kaiju parts when her emotions run high, but what genuinely surprises me is how far the premise goes. Kuroe doesn\u2019t just partially transform \u2014 she can become a full, giant kaiju. That escalation makes me question how she\u2019ll navigate everyday life and how her relationship with Minami will evolve once she gets exposed. She\u2019s learned to somewhat manage her kaiju symptoms by regulating her mindset and blasting metal music, but emotional control is easier said than done, especially when Minami can break through so effortlessly.\u00a0<\/p>\n In addition, I also appreciate the detail of the visuals in this show. From the little pink hearts in Kuroe\u2019s eyes to the rough scaliness of her hands, the unsettling contrast between adorable and ugly certainly grounds Kuroe\u2019s insecurities, explaining why she spends so much time alone and avoids people as much as possible. Kaiju Girl Caramelise<\/em> may have a simple premise on the surface, but it\u2019s got the emotional and visual hooks that could carry the series.<\/p>\n By: Isabelle Lee<\/p>\n \u00a92026 Shirow Masamune\/KODANSHA\/THE GHOST IN THE SHELL COMMITTEE<\/p>\n The Ghost in the Shell<\/strong><\/p>\n Episodes watched: 1<\/p>\n Less than three years after the CG Ghost in the Shell: SAC_2045 <\/em>series\u2019 second compilation film, we now have a new GiTS anime that seeks to be a faithful adaptation of the original manga. The Ghost in the Shell<\/em>, directed by Moco-chan<\/strong> (DAN DA DAN<\/em> assistant director) at Science SARU<\/strong>, delivers more vibrant colors, cartoony retro character designs from Shuhei Handa<\/strong> (Scott Pilgrim Takes Off<\/em> co-character designer) that hew closer to the manga\u2019s look, and a more expressive Major that puts on exaggeratedly mischievous or embarrassed faces (but remains a capable badass). There\u2019s also more distrust and hostility towards Chief Aramaki than I remember from previous adaptations (which I admittedly don\u2019t recall much of, especially the younger Motoko-starring Arise<\/em>), an aspect that adds an interesting layer to the show.<\/p>\n After some quick setup that includes another version of the Major\u2019s iconic exfiltration and establishes the formation of her elite team, the first episode (storyboarded and directed by Moco-chan) sends the gang to a welfare center for war orphans that isn\u2019t exactly a paragon of humane treatment. It\u2019s an entertaining premiere with springy animation, arresting visuals (the UI design elements are a quiet treat), capable direction that offers more than one stylish shot, and some great goofy faces that come with this adaptation\u2019s stronger comedic nature. But despite the fun factor, the experience didn\u2019t sink its hooks into me as much as some other well-produced premieres this season. The introduction to the setting feels a bit too hasty to connect me to the world, and the fairly speedy pace and generally light mood dilute more serious or thought-provoking elements, such as the welfare center. It\u2019s still a good time, but I hope I\u2019ll remember the series for more than its silly elements and visual quality when it ends.<\/p>\n By: Melvyn Tan<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" For the second week of Anime Trending\u2019s Summer 2026 anime early impressions, our team reviews the debut episodes of I Want to Love You Till Your Dying Day, Kaiju Girl Caramelized, and The Ghost in the Shell. \u00a9\u3042\u304a\u306e\u306a\u3061\u30fb\u4e00\u8fc5\u793e\uff0f\u300c\u304d\u307f\u6b7b\u306c\u300d\u88fd\u4f5c\u59d4\u54e1\u4f1a I Want to Love You Till Your Dying Day Episodes watched: 1 In her war-ridden country, fourteen-year-old […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":36138,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/anitrendz.net\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/image-2.png?fit=2048%2C1146&ssl=1","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[11622],"tags":[195,10303,523,23476,1555,522],"class_list":["post-36137","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-animeplug","tag-anime","tag-corner","tag-july","tag-minireview","tag-summer","tag-week"],"rttpg_featured_image_url":{"full":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/anitrendz.net\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/image-2.png?fit=2048%2C1146&ssl=1",0,0,false],"landscape":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/anitrendz.net\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/image-2.png?fit=2048%2C1146&ssl=1",0,0,false],"portraits":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/anitrendz.net\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/image-2.png?fit=2048%2C1146&ssl=1",0,0,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/anitrendz.net\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/image-2.png?fit=2048%2C1146&ssl=1",150,150,false],"medium":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/anitrendz.net\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/image-2.png?fit=2048%2C1146&ssl=1",300,300,false],"large":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/anitrendz.net\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/image-2.png?fit=2048%2C1146&ssl=1",1024,1024,false],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/anitrendz.net\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/image-2.png?fit=2048%2C1146&ssl=1",1536,1536,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/anitrendz.net\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/image-2.png?fit=2048%2C1146&ssl=1",2048,2048,false],"post-thumbnail":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/anitrendz.net\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/image-2.png?fit=2048%2C1146&ssl=1",370,265,false],"kava-thumb-s":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/anitrendz.net\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/image-2.png?fit=2048%2C1146&ssl=1",150,85,false],"kava-thumb-s-2":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/anitrendz.net\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/image-2.png?fit=2048%2C1146&ssl=1",230,230,false],"kava-thumb-m":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/anitrendz.net\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/image-2.png?fit=2048%2C1146&ssl=1",400,400,false],"kava-thumb-m-vertical":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/anitrendz.net\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/image-2.png?fit=2048%2C1146&ssl=1",370,500,false],"kava-thumb-m-2":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/anitrendz.net\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/image-2.png?fit=2048%2C1146&ssl=1",570,450,false],"kava-thumb-l":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/anitrendz.net\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/image-2.png?fit=2048%2C1146&ssl=1",1170,650,false],"kava-thumb-xl":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/anitrendz.net\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/image-2.png?fit=2048%2C1146&ssl=1",1920,1080,false],"kava-thumb-masonry":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/anitrendz.net\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/image-2.png?fit=2048%2C1146&ssl=1",600,999,false],"kava-thumb-justify":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/anitrendz.net\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/image-2.png?fit=2048%2C1146&ssl=1",640,640,false],"kava-thumb-justify-2":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/anitrendz.net\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/image-2.png?fit=2048%2C1146&ssl=1",1280,640,false]},"rttpg_author":{"display_name":"#RiseCelestialStudios","author_link":"https:\/\/design-providers.com\/rise\/author\/ralph-c\/"},"rttpg_comment":0,"rttpg_category":"ANIME PLUG<\/a>","rttpg_excerpt":"For the second week of Anime Trending\u2019s Summer 2026 anime early impressions, our team reviews the debut episodes of I Want to Love You Till Your Dying Day, Kaiju Girl Caramelized, and The Ghost in the Shell. \u00a9\u3042\u304a\u306e\u306a\u3061\u30fb\u4e00\u8fc5\u793e\uff0f\u300c\u304d\u307f\u6b7b\u306c\u300d\u88fd\u4f5c\u59d4\u54e1\u4f1a I Want to Love You Till Your Dying Day Episodes watched: 1 In her war-ridden country, fourteen-year-old…","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/design-providers.com\/rise\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36137","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/design-providers.com\/rise\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/design-providers.com\/rise\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/design-providers.com\/rise\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/design-providers.com\/rise\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=36137"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/design-providers.com\/rise\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36137\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":36139,"href":"https:\/\/design-providers.com\/rise\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36137\/revisions\/36139"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/design-providers.com\/rise\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/36138"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/design-providers.com\/rise\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=36137"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/design-providers.com\/rise\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=36137"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/design-providers.com\/rise\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=36137"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}