Isabelle Lee
July 14, 2026
For the second week of Anime Trending’s Summer 2026 anime early impressions, our team reviews the debut episodes ofI Want to Love You Till Your Dying Day, Kaiju Girl Caramelized, and The Ghost in the Shell
I Want to Love You Till Your Dying Day
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’s nothing unusual, then, when Sheena’s 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’s war, the orphanage sends Sheena her late roommate’s replacement: Mimi, the girl rumored to be the orphanage’s immortal “weapon.”
I had the lovely opportunity to watch this series premiere at Infinite’s panel at Anime Expo 2026, so watching it on a big screen with a responsive crowd may influence my first impression. Regardless, I’m 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’s dejected posture. All the elements of this production are moving together — which sounds like an obvious observation, but is something I’ve noticed fail in anime I’ve enjoyed less.
Of course, there’s 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’s classmates Seiran and Ari, whose subtle physical mannerisms and mellow way of speaking to each other clearlyestablish their relationship as more than platonic. The bond between Sheena and Mimi has yet to fully develop in that route, but of course, that’s what the rest of the season is for.
The first episode has already filled the hole in my heart left by the supernatural yuri, This Monster Wants to Eat Me, where the story’s 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’m excited to see how the rest unfolds
By: Audrey Im
Kaiju Girl Caramelise
Episodes watched: 1
What would you do if the person confessing to you reached out a kaiju claw and a sunflower? That’s the dilemma Kuroe faces after working up the courage to confess to a boy — only to permanently scare him away. Since then, she’s 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’t help but be swept along by his sweet words and actions
I initially thought the show would be a fairly standard high school rom-com, with the twist that Kuroe’s body transforms into kaiju parts when her emotions run high, but what genuinely surprises me is how far the premise goes. Kuroe doesn’t just partially transform — she can become a full, giant kaiju. That escalation makes me question how she’ll navigate everyday life and how her relationship with Minami will evolve once she gets exposed. She’s 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.
In addition, I also appreciate the detail of the visuals in this show. From the little pink hearts in Kuroe’s eyes to the rough scaliness of her hands, the unsettling contrast between adorable and ugly certainly grounds Kuroe’s insecurities, explaining why she spends so much time alone and avoids people as much as possible. Kaiju Girl Caramelise may have a simple premise on the surface, but it’s got the emotional and visual hooks that could carry the series
By: Isabelle Lee
The Ghost in the Shell
Episodes watched: 1
Less than three years after the CG Ghost in the Shell: SAC_2045series’ 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, directed by Moco-chan (DAN DA DAN assistant director) atScience SARU, delivers more vibrant colors, cartoony retro character designs from Shuhei Handa (Scott Pilgrim Takes Off co-character designer) that hew closer to the manga’s look, and a more expressive Major that puts on exaggeratedly mischievous or embarrassed faces (but remains a capable badass). There’s also more distrust and hostility towards Chief Aramaki than I remember from previous adaptations (which I admittedly don’t recall much of, especially the younger Motoko-starring Arise), an aspect that adds an interesting layer to the show.
After some quick setup that includes another version of the Major’s 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’t exactly a paragon of humane treatment. It’s 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’s stronger comedic nature. But despite the fun factor, the experience didn’t 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’s still a good time, but I hope I’ll remember the series for more than its silly elements and visual quality when it ends.
By: Melvyn Tan
