@arhenderson.bsky.social
Writer of words, editor of articles, scholar of queer fiction! They/them or she/her AN UNEXPECTED PARTY is out now from Fremantle Press! https://www.arhendersonwrites.com/ https://theafictionado.wordpress.com/
I finally went back and watched BanG Dream! It's MyGO!!!!! and it might be one of my favourite anime teen dramas ever?? I wrote here about how this show really nails the emotionality of its main girls and the setup of its character-driven stakes: theafictionado.wordpress.com/2026/03/05/s...
05.03.2026 00:31 — 👍 17 🔁 6 💬 0 📌 0
Kaoruko leaning over a bench where Rintaro is napping
The Fragrant Flower Blooms with Dignity – Series Review
In case you missed it on Netflix, Fragrant Flower is a lovely rom-com from a female-led production team about two kids falling in love across very gendered class barriers
www.animefeminist.com/the-fragrant...
The UK cover of Logan-Ashley Kisner's novel Old Wounds
Logan-Ashley’s Kisner’s books are full of monsters, but the true horror element is being transgender in a transphobic world. Not to say that the monsters are irrelevant; in fact, the monsters bring all this into sharp focus.
🏳️⚧️🐺 Read my deep dive here: theafictionado.wordpress.com/2026/02/19/g...
I finally went back and watched BanG Dream! It's MyGO!!!!! and it might be one of my favourite anime teen dramas ever?? I wrote here about how this show really nails the emotionality of its main girls and the setup of its character-driven stakes: theafictionado.wordpress.com/2026/03/05/s...
05.03.2026 00:31 — 👍 17 🔁 6 💬 0 📌 0
Saber holding her sword
Anime girl King Arthur and the history of genderbending in the Fate series
While occasionally thematically messy and narratively convoluted, #Fate’s long history of genderbending is rooted in a genuine interest in exploring gender, identity, and personhood.
www.animefeminist.com/anime-girl-k...
a masked man in an armored wheelchair
Cripple Punk Motifs in Tank Chair
The ongoing post-apocalyptic manga embodies the ethos of cripple punk --- that disabled people can be rude, angry, messy, and not just perfect, suffering angels
www.animefeminist.com/cripple-punk...
The UK cover of Logan-Ashley Kisner's novel Old Wounds
Logan-Ashley’s Kisner’s books are full of monsters, but the true horror element is being transgender in a transphobic world. Not to say that the monsters are irrelevant; in fact, the monsters bring all this into sharp focus.
🏳️⚧️🐺 Read my deep dive here: theafictionado.wordpress.com/2026/02/19/g...
Iroha finds a baby in a magic hole in a telephone pole
Cosmic Princess Kaguya – Movie Review
Vocaloid, fairytales, and major sapphic energy combine to create an early contender for best anime film of 2026.
www.animefeminist.com/cosmic-princ...
Still proud of this one. And look how nice it looks in print format 🍲
12.02.2026 22:16 — 👍 4 🔁 2 💬 0 📌 0
Cover art for Anime Herald Magazine, which features a tag that reads "Anime Herald Magazine - we speak otaku. No #001 Fall 2025, launch issue"
We've heard your requests and we're pleased to announce that we're doing a reprint for Anime Herald Magazine. Order today to ensure that you're in the first shipment
Digital copy ($15.75 USD): hera.fyi/buyahmag1dig 💻
Physical copy ($17.95 USD): hera.fyi/buyahmag1 📔
Bundle: hera.fyi/buyahmag1bun 📦
Even a Replica Can Fall in Love Volume 1 Manga Review (Spoiler‑Free) by @arhenderson.bsky.social
Alex reviews Even a Replica Can Fall in Love, a series with a great premise that has yet to live up to its potential.
yattatachi.com/even-a-repli...
@yenpress.com #manga
very proud of having edited this. having my own history with Japanese imperialism made it feel personal, and i was so happy to get to spotlight such a detailed analysis of all the problems with localization that removes the political heart of a work
07.02.2026 19:05 — 👍 39 🔁 18 💬 2 📌 0
Cover of Emily Tesh's novel The Incandescent
Never mind demons, the darkest thing about dark academia is all the admin...
First blog post and first book recommendation of 2026: Emily Tesh's THE INCANDESCENT, which follows the burnt-out yet devoted Director of Magic at a fancy boarding school! theafictionado.wordpress.com/2026/02/05/t...
split screen shot of Jin-woo and Goto
Solo Leveling’s Adaptation and the Echoes of Anti-Korean Sentiment and Japanese Imperialism
Solo Leveling’s Japanese release removed all references to Korea–a glaring decision when the Jeju Island Arc blatantly parallels Japan’s colonization of Korea.
www.animefeminist.com/solo-levelin...
Cover of Emily Tesh's novel The Incandescent
Never mind demons, the darkest thing about dark academia is all the admin...
First blog post and first book recommendation of 2026: Emily Tesh's THE INCANDESCENT, which follows the burnt-out yet devoted Director of Magic at a fancy boarding school! theafictionado.wordpress.com/2026/02/05/t...
Makio awkwardly hugging her niece with one arm
2026 Winter Anime Three-Episode Check-In
2026 has started off with a lot of big, complicated Gender Feelings, tackled with a range of styles and skill levels--here's updates on what we're watching!
www.animefeminist.com/2026-winter-...
The covers of five books by Charlie Jane Anders and Annalee Newitz, with the Humble Bundle logo. Supporting the MIss Major/Alexander J. Lee TGIJP Black Trans Cultural Center.
HI! Every Tor Books release from @annaleen.bsky.social and me is available thru @humblebundle.com for a few weeks!
Get 2 books for at least $3
Get 4 books for at least $10
Get all our stuff for at least $18
This bundle supports the amazing TGI Justice Project!
www.humblebundle.com/books/charli...
Call For Participants:
We are seeking members of the gender-diverse community (ie. anyone not cisgender) to participate in a study that investigates how gender-bending anime and manga are viewed and engaged with by the gender-diverse community.
surveys2.utas.edu.au/index.php/15...
Natsuko holding her peg board, surrouned by line drawings of Unio and Luke
Anime Feminist’s Top Picks for 2025
2025 brought us multiple passion projects from talented women across the anime industry, and we only hope to be as lucky in 2026.
www.animefeminist.com/anime-femini...
Love Bullet Volume 1 Manga Review (Minor Spoilers) by @arhenderson.bsky.social
Alex reviews the first volume of the highly anticipated Love Bullet, a strong start to a chaotic yet heartfelt series.
yattatachi.com/love-bullet-...
@yenpress.com
chibi figures of Futami and Sato cheering
Anime Feminist Recommendations of Fall 2025
2025 closed out with some wildly ambitious shows that weren’t afraid to take big swings.
www.animefeminist.com/anime-femini...
a stressed Tamon covered in mushrooms
2026 Winter Premiere Digest
We’re up to our ears in joseimuke anime this season, and we couldn’t be happier! Here's all our seasonal reviews in one convenient location.
www.animefeminist.com/2026-winter-...
a meet-cute of "Prince" gently holding Yoi's tie
In the Clear Moonlit Dusk – Episode 1
While the broader trends this story is tapping into are frustrating, it also has a lot of potential to unfold into a sweet romance about a girl rebuilding her confidence.
www.animefeminist.com/in-the-clear...
a shocked teenage girl
Scum of the Brave – Episode 1
It's a fun urban fantasy held back by a glaring lack of polish.
www.animefeminist.com/scum-of-the-...
a man surrounded by four girls with animal ears
A Misanthrope Teaches a Class for Demi-Humans – Episode 1
The designs are too cowardly to appeal to monster fans and the writing is too poor to appeal to anyone else.
www.animefeminist.com/a-misanthrop...
a tiny yellow dragon with floppy ears
Reincarnated as a Dragon Hatchling – Episode 1
It feels a little like an also-ran version of So I’m a Spider, So What? But it’s far from the worst fantasy show airing this season.
www.animefeminist.com/reincarnated...
a girl with a giant sword
Roll Over and Die – Episode 1
You can improve any genre by adding gay to it, but…does the “kicked out of the party” microgenre deserve to be elevated by lesbians?
www.animefeminist.com/roll-over-an...
a crying girl surrounded by flames
DARK MOON: THE BLOOD ALTAR – Episode 1
The KPOP vampire kayfabe concept is fun, but the execution is too stilted and flat to carry the indulgence
www.animefeminist.com/dark-moon-th...
a boy sitting with a mole, a bird, and a frog
HELL MODE – Episode 1
The back half flirts with becoming a bright adventure fantasy, but it’s bogged down in tired (albeit mostly harmless) isekai tropes.
www.animefeminist.com/hell-mode-ep...
five students making a taped together Mad Max vehicle with bikes and a boombox
High School! Kimengumi – Episode 1
A comedy straight out of the 80s with jokes to match
www.animefeminist.com/high-school-...