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The Prescience of Masamune Shirow's Ghost in the Shell
When does science fiction start becoming reality? Kevin Cormack takes a trip through Masamune Shirow's Ghost in the Shell to ascertain how much of its tech is on its way to the real world.
― There's a truism about science fiction in that it tends to say more about the era in which it was written than about the future it attempts to describe. The original 1960s Star Trek, for example, trailblazed con...
The Summer 2026 Anime Preview Guide
With nearly all the new shows debuted, we're into episode two territory! Find out how Goodbye, Lara holds up in its sophomore episode along with Black Torch, Sparks of Tomorrow, Chainsmoker Cat and more!
― Welcome to Anime News Network's Summer 2026 Anime Preview Guide! Here's how it goes: our team of critics writes up their impressions instantly, to be posted here as they go along. Each critic will...
The World is Dancing and the Oldest Performing Art in Japan
The World is Dancing fictionalizes the life of Zeami, one of Noh's greatest performers and writers, but what is the history of Noh theater? Marcille Donato delves into the history of Japan's oldest performing art.
― Of all the forms of human expression that have ever existed, it would not be incorrect to say that one of the oldest and most universal is the art of dancing. Humans have been shaking the...
Holding Nothing Back and Giving it Absolutely Everything: A Chat with Wistoria: Wand and Sword Season 2 Director, Hideaki Nakano
Hideaki Nakano talks about moving into the director's chair for Wistoria's second season and what he loves about the show.
― With its gorgeous visuals, rich world building, and absolutely electrifying direction, Wistoria: Wand and Sword is an obvious standout in the realm of magical school anime. While season one was directed by Tatsuya Yoshihara, who would later go on to direct Chainsaw Man: Reze A...
The Fire Emblem Influence Is Strong In Brigandine Abyss
Here’s an upcoming title that doesn’t just remember Path of Radiance, it really, really, REALLY remembers it.
― Masayuki Horikawa and Rei Kondoh. That was all I needed to know when I first heard about this game. You mean to tell me the director of Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance is working alongside the guy who helped compose the Okami soundtrack (as well as other Fire Emblem games)? Teenage me from ci...
The Summer 2026 Anime Preview Guide
The episode 2s are starting to roll in - does Dara-san of Reiwa still hold up? Also check out our reviewers' thoughts on The Ghost in the Shell, Chainsmoker Cat, KAIJU GIRL CARAMELISE, and more!
― Welcome to Anime News Network's Summer 2026 Anime Preview Guide! Here's how it goes: our team of critics writes up their impressions instantly, to be posted here as they go along. Each critic will cover as...
The Summer 2026 Anime Preview Guide
Major Motoko Kusanagi is back in a BIG way in Science Saru's The Ghost in the Shell. Also Saga of Tanya the Evil II, Victoria of Many Faces, I Want to Love You Till Your Dying Day, One Piece Heroines, KAIJU GIRL CARAMELISE, and more!
― Welcome to Anime News Network's Summer 2026 Anime Preview Guide! Here's how it goes: our team of critics writes up their impressions instantly, to be posted here as t...
Your Anime Rankings - Best of Spring 2026
It's the final ranking for Spring 2026! While it's no surprise that Witch Hat Atelier held onto the #1 spot it dominated all season, Re:ZERO was able to lock down #5 in the cumulative standings thanks to a powerful season finale.
― Let's have a look at what ANN readers consider the best (and worst) of the season,
based on the polls you can find in our Daily Streaming Reviews
and on the Your Score pa...
KAIJU GIRL CARAMELISE Anime Team Discusses How Love Makes Monsters of Us All
With KAIJU GIRL CARAMELISE making the leap from page to screen, we sat down with members of the cast and crew to discuss the story and bringing it to life.
― When someone says "kaiju," chances are you immediately picture a giant, rampaging monster. KAIJU GIRL CARAMELISE, based on Aoki Spica's manga of the same name, is fully aware of that - and it does still provide that rampaging monster. But this k...
The Summer 2026 Anime Preview Guide
The Anime News Network anime preview guide launches 10 new shows you won't want to miss, from The World is Dancing to Young Ladies Can't Play Fighting Games!
― Welcome to Anime News Network's Summer 2026 Anime Preview Guide! Here's how it goes: our team of critics writes up their impressions instantly, to be posted here as they go along. Each critic will cover as many shows as they can handle, givin...
Splatoon Raiders Is Looking To Be A Great Single Player Experience
This is definitely a game that you're going to want to add to your upcoming wishlist.
― Splatoon has always been a unique game franchise built upon its multiplayer content. So what happens when Nintendo decides to pivot and focus on creating a game that centers around a single player campaign? The result is Splatoon Raiders, a third person platforming shooter with a focus on exploration and treasure ...
The Most Anticipated Anime of Summer 2026
It's going to be a hot summer and an even hotter anime line-up this season.
― It's going to be a hot summer and an even hotter anime line-up this season. For us "oldtaku," there's no doubt that Science SARU's The Ghost in the Shell is one to watch. Surprisingly, the studio is also premiering the Mongolia-set historical epic Jaadugar: A Witch's Life in Mongolia in the same season with the illustrious...
Interview: Yōhei Kameyama on His Breakout Hit, Milky☆Subway
With millions of views on YouTube and a feature film adaptation, Milky☆Highway is largely the work of a single man: character designer, 3D modeler, animator, and director Yōhei Kameyama.
― With millions of views per episode on YouTube, Milky☆Subway: The Galactic Limited Express is one of, if not the, standout short-form anime of 2025—so much so that it got a theatrical run in Japan earlier this year....
The Summer 2026 Anime Trailer Watch Party Premieres Monday!
The Summer Anime Trailer Watch Party returns with the hottest anime line-up.
― The Summer Anime Trailer Watch Party returns with the hottest anime line-up. Watch all the trailers for the upcoming season with special guest Geoff Thew (Mother's Basement), and Anime News Network friends Lynzee Loveridge, Jacki Jing, and James Beckett. Find your next must-watch anime, from the biggest hits to hidden gems...
Your Anime Rankings - Best of Spring 2026, June 17-23
Nippon Sangoku and Akane-banashi are locked in a neck-and-neck, seesaw battle for the third spot on the podium! This race won't be settled until the final results next week.
― Let's have a look at what ANN readers consider the best (and worst) of the season,
based on the polls you can find in our Daily Streaming Reviews
and on the Your Score page with the latest simulcasts. Keep in mind that these r...
The Worst Anime of Spring 2026
An engaging story is marred by distractingly lackluster animation. A gorgeously animated series is hindered by a trite or nonsensical story. Maybe the characters are wholly unlikable, yet there are five seasons chronicling whether they'll get together.
― What makes an anime 'bad'? The answer to that question will differ for everyone. An engaging story is marred by distractingly lackluster animation....
The Best Anime of Spring 2026
Anime fans continue to eat well each season, and spring was no exception.
― This spring season ushered in more highly anticipated and visually stunning anime than I had seen since, well, maybe two seasons prior? Anime fans continue to eat well each season, and spring was no exception. Despite early trepidation due to its past project, Zom100, Bug Films' rendition of Kamome Shirahama's beloved Witch ...
Read It First: Manga, Light Novel Sources for Summer 2026 Anime
From A Witch in Mongolia to a kaiju-sized girl, read Anime News Network's reviews of the original manga and light novels behind the upcoming summer anime season. Sponsored by BookWalker!
― It's hardly a rule that you have to read the source material before you watch the adaptation, but what if you want to? A decade ago, anime fans who wanted to read the manga or light novel before the show debuted w...
Your Anime Rankings - Best of Spring 2026, June 10-16
As we near the end of the season, Needy Girl Overdose jumps 4 spots in the cumulative to reach #5! Another title coming from behind is Botan Kamiina, as it peaks ats #2 in our weekly user rankings.
― Let's have a look at what ANN readers consider the best (and worst) of the season,
based on the polls you can find in our Daily Streaming Reviews
and on the Your Score page with the latest simulcasts. K...
Life After Dr. Stone with Aaron Dismuke, Felecia Angelle, and Brandon McInnis
Anime News Network took some time to sit down with English voice actors to talk about their favorite lines, lasting memories playing their characters, and what the show has taught them about both science and life.
― As the Dr. Stone anime dashes headlong towards its conclusion, Anime News Network took some time to sit down with English voice actors Aaron Dismuke (Senku), Felecia Angelle (Kohaku), an...
Silent Hill: Townfall Returns to Frightening First-Person Horror
Silent Hill: Townfall left me with more questions than answers, but in a good way. I'm really intrigued by the game's Scottish setting and cultural background.
― The Silent Hill franchise is going through something of a renaissance right now. With Bloober Team knocking it out of the park with an excellent remake of Silent Hill 2 and NeoBards taking the series back to its Japanese roots with Silent Hi...
Mastering Accents in Witch Hat Atelier with the English Dub Cast
How does the English dub use accents to reflect the story's wide world? The English voices of Qifrey and Agott share their thoughts.
― Kamome Shirahama's Witch Hat Atelier manga is a global story - not just in terms of how popular it is, but also in the universality of its themes and characters. To reflect that, the English dub for the anime gives characters different world accents, using them to emp...
Your Anime Rankings - Best of Spring 2026, June 3-9
Akane-banashi finally has its turn in the weekly limelight, and Needy Girl Overdose catches up in the cumulative chart thanks to steady high marks since week 3. Check out our weekly user rankings!
― Let's have a look at what ANN readers consider the best (and worst) of the season,
based on the polls you can find in our Daily Streaming Reviews
and on the Your Score page with the latest simulcasts. Ke...
Creating Visual Spectacle in Nippon Sangoku with Director Kazuaki Terasawa
It's easy to miss a true seasonal anime highlight, but you'll regret leaving the beautiful Nippon Sangoku on your "watch later" list.
― With more anime than ever to choose from and high-profile series split among several streaming services, it's easy to miss a true seasonal highlight. Nippon Sangoku The Three Nations of the Crimson Sun first caught my attention while preparing for the Spring 2026 Ani...
Hands-On Preview: You Can't Play Stranger Than Heaven Like a Yakuza Game
Stranger Than Heaven's combat requires a more methodical approach. You can't just spam a button or two continuously like you could in the brawler-centric Yakuza games.
― Despite not having the title “Yakuza” or “Like a Dragon” in its title, Stranger Than Heaven takes place in the same universe as those games. It's actually a prequel, detailing the origins of the Tojo Clan, which is prominently featur...
Interview: What's New and Different in Resident Evil Veronica
Resident Evil Veronica producer Yoshiaki Hirabayashi talked about the challenges of creating remakes, the decision to change the original's title, and what the team would add.
― At Summer Game Fest 2026, Anime News Network got a chance to sit down in a group Q&A with Resident Evil Veronica producer Yoshiaki Hirabayashi to discuss the challenges of creating remakes, the decision to change the original...
Tokyo Revengers Returns to Pony Canyon Stage at AnimeJapan 2026 for 50 Minutes of Fun and Games
Got questions about the new season of Tokyo Revengers? This fifty minute stage show may have answers!
― A fixture at AnimeJapan's main stages, this year popular anime series Tokyo Revengers appeared at the Pony Canyon booth stage with four cast members, Yūki Shin (voice of Takemichi Hanagaki), Yuu Hayashi (Manjiro “Mikey” Sano), Masaya Fukunishi (Ken “Draken” Ryuguji), and Shō Karino (Chifuyu Matsuno...
The Astronaut Who Loves Anime
Astronaut Stanley Love went viral during the Artemis II mission when not-so-subtle anime references were spotted in Mission Control. Erica Friedman talks to Dr. Love about his fandom, magical girls, and more.
― Erica Friedman (Anime News Network): This spring, anime fans worldwide were thrilled to see Artemis the Cat from a very popular magical girl anime watching over NASA's Artemis II mission. Lat...
Your Anime Rankings - Best of Spring 2026, May 27-June 2
Time for a big cumulative swap! Fuelled by recent high ratings, An Observation Log of My Fiancée climbs +7, bumping MARRIAGETOXIN down -4. Discover what else is moving in the rankings.
― Let's have a look at what ANN readers consider the best (and worst) of the season,
based on the polls you can find in our Daily Streaming Reviews
and on the Your Score page with the latest simulcasts. Keep in mind t...
Finding My Own Stand at Shibuya's THE★JOJO WORLD Store
I entered one of the Stand Abilities Lab's designated booths to come face to face with a grueling series of six tests based on moments from the JoJo's series.
― There are innumerable reasons why Hirohiko Araki's JoJo's Bizarre Adventure series has captured the imagination of fans around the world. There are the over-the-top action sequences, highly quotable characters, outlandish comedy, and more. No...
Hololive's Nerissa Ravencroft Talks about Frieren, Naruto, and Her Family Streams
Nerissa talked in detail about her singing career and how her family continues to support (and sometimes appear in!) her streams.
― Recently, Anime News Network video editor Stephen Shin sat down with Hololive's Nerissa Ravencroft and talked about Frieren, Naruto, her family streams, and more. We also discussed her favorite Hololive songs, her own songs within the company, and her history as a singe...
Creating Wordless Manga
How did the winners of the Silver Prize in Kadokawa's Global Manga Contest come up with their wordless stories? We sat down with masterlynx and REKU to find out.
― For many manga fans, the dream of publishing in Japan feels like just that - a dream. This is doubly true if you don't read, write, or speak Japanese, and while there's absolutely nothing wrong with publishing in another country or an onli...
Your Anime Rankings - Best of Spring 2026, May 20-26
After Dorohedoro and Iruma-kun, it's One Piece's turn to keep Witch Hat Atelier just shy of first place. Meanwhile in the cumulative, Nippon Sangoku overtakes Akane-banashi by a hair's breadth!
― Let's have a look at what ANN readers consider the best (and worst) of the season,
based on the polls you can find in our Daily Streaming Reviews
and on the Your Score page with the latest simulcasts. Keep ...
Show, Don't Tell: Sentenced to Be a Hero Director Hiroyuki Takashima, Screenwriter Kenta Ihara
In this super-size interview, the anime staff behind the hit series Sentenced to Be Hero reveal one of the production's biggest edicts: no inner monologuing.
― Studio KAI's Sentenced to Be a Hero anime adaptation wrapped up in March, with a promise of a second season in the wings. Over the course of 12 episodes, first-time anime director Hiroyuki Takashima and Saga of Tanya the Evil and Vinland Saga...
Your Anime Rankings - Best of Spring 2026, May 13-19
Welcome to Demon School, Iruma-kun rockets into #1 this week, also climbing 6 spots in the cumulative! Find out how your favorite shows performed in our weekly user rankings.
― Let's have a look at what ANN readers consider the best (and worst) of the season,
based on the polls you can find in our Daily Streaming Reviews
and on the Your Score page with the latest simulcasts. Keep in mind that these ...
Interview: Always a Catch Crew Dive Deep into How Their Heroine Stays True to Herself
The anime staff shares how Mimi defines herself as a unique heroine, studying fighting styles for her hand-to-hand combat, and their favorite moments.
― This season's Always a Catch! is the latest anime in the “villainess” sub-genre of fantasy. It's built around the twist of having Mimi, a completely unrelated young noble, treated like a villainess—and also having her be more than a little competent ...
Old-Fashioned Magic: A Brief History of Studio Pierrot's Magical Girls
From Creamy Mami to Magical Sisters Lulutto Lilly, Studio Pierrot paved the way for magical girls for over 40 years. Rebecca Silverman explores the many magical girls.
― Where do magical girls come from? An academic answer might be the 13th-century emaki (picture scroll) Tales of Gisho and Gangyo, which features a young woman transforming to protect others. An equally valid response is 1962 with the...
Your Anime Rankings - Best of Spring 2026, May 6-11
Dorohedoro grabs the top spot this week, knocking down Witch Hat Atelier to #2 for the first time this season. Meanwhile An Observation Log of My Fiancée's cute antics is helping it climb the charts.
― Let's have a look at what ANN readers consider the best (and worst) of the season,
based on the polls you can find in our Daily Streaming Reviews
and on the Your Score page with the latest simulcasts....
Creating a Fanclub: Director Sou Toyama on Kirio Fan Club
What makes Kirio Fan Club a more realistic look at high school crushes? Director of the upcoming anime, Sou Toyama, gets into it.
― Kirio Fan Club is not your typical tale of high school love. Aimi and Nami eschew many of the romanticized aspects we've come to expect from anime high school girls: they're weird and loud and more than a little goofy while still taking themselves and their crush on clas...
Interview: Petals of Reincarnation Voice Actor Wakana Maruoka, Producer Takanori Matsuoka
At Anime Boston, we caught up with Petals of Reincarnation producer Takanori Matsuoka and Haito’s voice actress Wakana Maruoka to talk about this new, dark, battle anime.
― Adapted from the manga of the same name by Mikihisa Konishi, Petals of Reincarnation follows high schoolers Toya Senji and Haito Luo Buffett, as Toya learns that some people have gained the talents of historical figures. At Anime ...
Navigating the Slow-Life Vibes of Farming Life in Another World 2
With Atsushi Abe dipping his toes into the realm of cozy isekai this season, we were curious to discuss how he and producer Hiromi Sueta navigated their way through the anime's non-confrontational trenches.
― Thanks to A Certain Magical Index, Atsushi Abe will forever be known for lending his voice to something that errs on the dramatic and explosive. Which Farming Life In Another World 2 purposely i...
Retrospective: Does the Dying Will of Reborn! Still Burn?
Jairus Taylor looks back on the unfinished shonen classic to see why it captured a dedicated audience (and whether it's really any good).
― Like most teenagers growing up in the late 2000s, I was obsessed with Naruto, and that obsession led me to delve deeper into the murky waters of anime and manga to find something similar. During some of those searches, I would occasionally stumble across an image...
Your Anime Rankings - Best of Spring 2026, Apr 29-May 5
Nippon Sangoku defies the odds, taking the #4 cumulative spot by proving that dense politicking can be just as gripping as any action sequence. See how your favorite shows stack up this week!
― Let's have a look at what ANN readers consider the best (and worst) of the season,
based on the polls you can find in our Daily Streaming Reviews
and on the Your Score page with the latest simulcasts. Keep in...
HoYoFair 2026 "Once Upon a Time" Fan Concert LA
“Once Upon HoYoFair” offers fanservice from the fans themselves. But how well were fans served in the end?
― Hoyoverse fans are nothing if not dedicated. Ever since Genshin Impact launched during COVID, its pitch of “Breath of the Wild: the MMO” fostered one of the most long-lasting gacha communities I've seen in this space. Honkai Star Rail repeated that spike in interest three years later with a p...
Spring 2026 Manga Guide After Dark (18+)
Welcome to the steamy side of the Spring Manga Guide! Come see what manga gets up to when the kids are all asleep.
― Welcome to the steamy side of ANN's Spring Manga Guide. All of these titles are for readers 18 and older, from spicy to something a bit more, and featuring a range of tropes, groupings, and fetishes. Come find your next adult read - there's plenty to choose from. March On the Job Trai...
Exploring the DAN DA DAN Exhibit: Can You Outlast the Paranormal Exhibition
While fans must wait until 2027 for the third season, they can stave off their need for DAN DA DAN at the DAN DA DAN Exhibition taking place at Matsuya Ginza between April 22 and May 11.
― One of the breakout paranormal anime series of the decade is none other than Dan Da Dan. From its action and romance to the thrilling paranormal experiences, the series has captured the hearts and minds of anime fa...
Your Anime Rankings - Best of Spring 2026, Apr 22-28
While Witch Hat Atelier dominates the rankings, Needy Girl Overdose's latest episodes hit high to offset a slow start. Find out how your favorite shows stacked up according to viewer votes.
― Let's have a look at what ANN readers consider the best (and worst) of the season,
based on the polls you can find in our Daily Streaming Reviews
and on the Your Score page with the latest simulcasts. Keep in m...
Spring 2026 K-Comics Guide
It's the Spring K-Comics Guide! Come get your fill of mostly full-color vertical scroll books and maybe find your next obsession!
― Welcome to Anime News Network's Spring 2026 K-Comics Guide, the companion to our manga guide! Every included manhwa was published in March or April, although some are ongoing titles without a physical release. This guide focuses exclusively on series premieres, i.e., on...
How to Compose an Anime Soundtrack: An Interview with Haikyu!! and My Hero Academia's Yuki Hayashi
"With anime, you've got 40 or 50 pieces all for a single season. If you compose without thinking first, there's no balance to it."
― Music is an important part of any anime—and in some cases can make or break the show entirely. To find out a bit more about how anime soundtracks are made, we sat down with Yuki Hayashi, the composer of anime like Haikyu!!, Kiznaiver, and My Hero Academia—including the ...
Spring 2026 Manga Guide
It's the final update for the Spring Manga Guide, and we're closing out with a new series by Yuu Toyota of Cherry Magic fame: A Starlit Darkness! Plus a series about veterinarians, some zombies, and a contender for longest title!
― Welcome to Anime News Network's Spring 2026 Manga Guide! You may have seen one of our seasonal Anime Preview Guides, where a team of critics writes up each new anime tele...
Interview: Creator Masamune Shirow Trusts Science SARU Team with The Ghost in the Shell Anime
Science SARU's productions hit a high with The Heike Story and haven't come down. The studio has curried favor with mainstream and niche hits, but more so than that, they've gained the trust of Ghost in the Shell creator Masamune Shirow.
― First announced nearly two years ago, Masamune Shirow's iconic Ghost in the Shell manga series is getting a new television anime adaptation from the team at Scienc...
Your Anime Rankings - Best of Spring 2026, Apr 1-21
The Spring season is off to a booming start with anime adaptations of big-name manga such as Daemons of the Shadow Realm, Witch Hat Atelier, and Akane-banashi.
― Let's have a look at what ANN readers consider the best (and worst) of the season,
based on the polls you can find in our Daily Streaming Reviews
and on the Your Score page with the latest simulcasts. Keep in mind that these rankings are ba...
MARRIAGETOXIN Voice Actor Haruki Ishiya on Gero's Strengths, Weaknesses, and Appeal
"Gero dreams of a normal marriage, probably one of the charm points of the story. And I think all the craziness coming from all sides in episode one perfectly encapsulates MARRIAGETOXIN."
― The romantic comedy MARRIAGETOXIN anime produced by Bones Film is out, and at Sakura-Con, Haruki Ishiya, the Japanese voice actor of protagonist Hikaru Gero, spoke with Anime News Network. The story by Joumyaku a...
Spring 2026 Light Novel Guide
The Spring Light Novel Guide is one of the companions to our Spring Manga Guide - come browse our selection of books and decide if your next read will be a mystery, a sci fi thriller, or an isekai treat!
― Welcome to Anime News Network's Spring 2026 Light Novel Guide, the companion to our manga guide! Every included novel was published in March or April or is an upcoming May release. This guide focu...
My Hero Academia Composer Yuki Hayashi Interview: Why “You Say Run” Goes with Everything
"The quiet intro, the drums, [...] the memorable riff. Just having those three elements probably makes it easy to fit with any video."
― Recently, I was able to sit down with composer Yuki Hayashi and talk about his most famous work, the song “You Say Run” from My Hero Academia. We discussed not only the origins of the song and his favorite version of it, but also the meme surrounding it and why the ...
Spring 2026 Manga Guide
Are you enjoying Aimi and Nami's Kirio-based escapades in anime form? Then check out the original manga version of Kirio Fan Club as the manga guide continues!
― Welcome to Anime News Network's Spring 2026 Manga Guide! You may have seen one of our seasonal Anime Preview Guides, where a team of critics writes up each new anime television premiere as it airs at the beginning of a season. Now, doing so...
Apocalypse Hotel's Producer: 'No Sequel Anytime Soon', But the Animators Want It
"Young people who come to Cygames Pictures look at me with sparkling eyes and say, 'It's a company that keeps making originals'.”
― Recently, at the Tokyo Anime Award Festival 2026, three episodes of Apocalypse Hotel were given a theatrical screening. Afterward, character designer Izumi Takemoto and producer Nobuhiro Takenaka came on stage to discuss the episodes—and their thoughts about original ani...
Manga Author Keiko Takemiya Talks Toward the Terra and Its Deeper Meanings
"I grew up reading shōnen manga and didn't read much shōjo manga, so I felt there was potential in being able to draw for a shōnen magazine. I didn't want to miss my chance."
― To celebrate Toward the Terra's manga author, Keiko Takemiya, winning the Tokyo Anime Award Festival 2026 Lifetime Achievement Award, three episodes of the 2007 anime were screened at the festival. Afterward, the now 76-year-o...
Spring 2026 Manga Guide
An arranged marriage doesn't quite go as planned in the yuri fantasy Marrying the Dark Knight (For Her Money)! Plus a charming new fairy tale-style fantasy, a magical girl, and the inevitable Junji Ito short story collection as the Manga Guide continues.
― Welcome to Anime News Network's Spring 2026 Manga Guide! You may have seen one of our seasonal Anime Preview Guides, where a team of critics writ...
Gundam Character Designer Yoshikazu Yasuhiko Talks Venus Wars, New Projects, and AI Art
"Watching [Venus Wars] again after such a long time, I felt it wasn't so bad after all."
― After the recent theatrical screening of the 1989 classic anime Venus Wars at the Tokyo Anime Award Festival 2026, its writer and director, Yoshikazu Yasuhiko, gave a lengthy talk about not only the movie but his work on Gundam and his thoughts on AI art. While Venus Wars has long been available in the West (ev...
'The One Piece is Real,' An Interview with Reese Alexiades from The Savannah Bananas
If baseball is the world, then MLB is the World Government, the big organization over all. Who then are the pirates in that world? Well, let me introduce you to the Savannah Bananas.
― Summer is only a few months away in North America, and what says “summer” more than baseball? The sound of the bat hitting a ball, the shouts of the crowd, the opening music of One Piece… While it might seem ridiculous...
Aspiring Animators Honored at AnimeJapan's Emerging Creator Awards Ceremony
Winners received a cash prize and an invitation to head to Anime Expo!
― AnimeJapan is not well known for its awards, but runs the annual “Manga We Want to See Animated” fan poll. However, in 2026, the yearly anime event announced the new Emerging Creator Awards in partnership with the Japanese government's Japan Creator Support Fund and with Crunchyroll sponsoring. The award seeks to find new talen...
Exploring Lupin III Kabuki: Classical Japanese Theater Meets a Modern Classic
Lupin and co. enter a feudal Japan full of astonishing costumes and make-up in the new Lupin III: The beautiful azure castle kabuki play.
― Arguably one of the greatest action-heist anime and manga franchises is Lupin the Third. With its iconic characters of the master thief Lupin III, marksman Daisuke Jigen, honorable swordsman Goemon Ishikawa XIII, femme fatale Fujiko Mine, and the ever-persistent ...
The Spring 2026 Anime Preview Guide
The Guide's almost over, but we've still got a new show - check out I Want to End This Love Game!
― Welcome to Anime News Network's Spring 2026 Anime Preview Guide! Here's how it goes: our team of critics writes up their impressions instantly, to be posted here as they go along. Each critic will cover as many shows as they can handle, giving you alternate takes on almost every show. The guide is ong...
How Ace Combat Inspired the Sentenced to Be a Hero Author
After six years, Sentenced to Be a Hero has achieved an impressive amount of success: eight published volumes, a manga adaptation, and an anime adaptation by Studio Kai. With the first season wrapped, we reached out to creators Rocket Shokai and Mephisto to get more insights into their views on its success.
― Sentenced to Be a Hero is a light novel series that has been in publication since 2020. Afte...
Mulasaki Ima Takes a “New Walk” for Eren the Southpaw Anime
The viral hit-maker behind "Femme Fatale A" and "That Classmate" traveled to NYC for her latest track, the ending song for Eren the Southpaw.
― The title character of Eren the Southpaw, a new anime streaming on Crunchyroll and based on the manga by Kappi and Nifuni, is an artist working in New York City. Inspired by this, up-and-coming J-pop artist Mulasaki Ima decided to travel to NYC to film the mu...
The Spring 2026 Anime Preview Guide
Juzo's going back to middle school in Kill Blue after this 39-year-old assassin is stung by a mysterious wasp that regresses his body to age 13. How's that going to work out for him? Also get our reviewers' thoughts on Yowayowa Sensei, Fist of the North Star, A Hundred Scenes of AWAJIMA, and more!
― Welcome to Anime News Network's Spring 2026 Anime Preview Guide! Here's how it goes: our team of crit...
Your Anime Rankings - Best of Winter 2026
Journal With Witch is the uncontested winner of the season, but Sentenced to Be a Hero finishes on the strongest possible note to secure itself a last-minute bump in the cumulative. Check out last season's final verdict!
― Let's have a look at what ANN readers consider the best (and worst) of the season,
based on the polls you can find in our Daily Streaming Reviews
and on the Your Score page with t...
A Brief History of Rakugo
The world of rakugo is waiting for you, with fart jokes and ghosts galore; all you have to do is sit down and listen.
― There's a widely held view that humans are, in terms of communication, storytellers. We enjoy spinning yarns, gossiping about others, relaying mundane tasks as heroic quests, and investing in our future by passing on the tales of those who came before. There are numerous storytelli...
The Spring 2026 Anime Preview Guide
RE:Zero is back! Will Subaru be able to get things right on the first try? Also check out our reviewers' thoughts on Gals Can't Be Kind to Otaku?!, Eren the Southpaw, Rent-a-Girlfriend Season 5, Even a Replica Can Fall in Love , and more!
― Welcome to Anime News Network's Spring 2026 Anime Preview Guide! Here's how it goes: our team of critics writes up their impressions instantly, to be posted here...
Sailor Guardians Take on a Modern Threat in Stunning New Musical Show
In a world that demands perfection insofar as we're creating algorithms to streamline the humanity out of art, the cast sings that "imperfection is fine" and that it's what is necessary to make us human.
― It felt like a full-circle career moment. There I was, in Japan, mostly for the annual AnimeJapan event coverage. This is my third year flying out of the country to intermingle with Japanese compan...
Absolute Borderline: The Early Days of Evangelion Fandom, Part Three
Brian brings us to the end of the beginning in the final part of his history of Evangelion fandom.
― So, ADV had just announced that they had acquired the North American rights to the Evangelion TV series. Not only that, but they also promised a version with all new animation, confusing Western fans. And how did Gainax respond to the news? Four days after ADV's announcement, Michael House, Gainax's i...
The Spring 2026 Anime Preview Guide
This is not a drill - Purson has finally made his official appearance in Season 4 of Welcome to Demon School, Iruma-kun! Also check out our reviewers' takes on Ascendance of a Bookworm Part 3: Adopted Daughter of an Archduke, The Angel Next Door Spoils Me Rotten, That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime Season 4, and more!
― Welcome to Anime News Network's Spring 2026 Anime Preview Guide! Here's how ...
The Most Anticipated Anime of Spring 2026
There is no rest for dedicated otaku. The winter season offered a wealth of great stories, from action to romance, and spring is shaping up to do the same.
― There is no rest for dedicated otaku. The winter season offered a wealth of great stories, from action to romance, and spring is shaping up to do the same. We have the long-awaited return to Hole in Dorohedoro Season 2, a brand-new pint-sized h...
The Worst Anime of Winter 2026
With so many excellent anime this season, we had to dig a little deeper to find true disappointment.
― With so many excellent anime this season, we had to dig a little deeper to find true disappointment. There's the show that found magical reasoning to make a toddler an object of sexual desire, the "We Have Jujutsu Kaisen at home" series, and others that were just, well, boring. 5. An Adventurer's D...
The Spring 2026 Anime Trailer Watch Party Premieres Tomorrow Night!
Flowers are blooming, and a new anime season is looming! Get a taste of the entire spring 2026 anime season with us tomorrow on YouTube!
― Flowers are blooming, and a new anime season is looming! Anime News Network's Lynzee Loveridge, James Beckett, and Jacki Jing are happy to announce that YouTube personality Geoff Thew (Mother's Basement) is joining us to watch over 60 trailers from the upcoming an...
Your Anime Rankings - Best of Winter 2026, Mar 12-18
Journal With Witch goes down to #2 for the first time in 10 weeks as Frieren wows us with magic battle extravaganza! Check out our weekly user rankings!
― Let's have a look at what ANN readers consider the best (and worst) of the season,
based on the polls you can find in our Daily Streaming Reviews
and on the Your Score page with the latest simulcasts. Keep in mind that these rankings are based on ...
The Best Anime of Winter 2026
This winter season offered a bounty of viewing choices. How many anime did you watch this season, and what made your top 10?
― This winter season offered a bounty of viewing choices. For the first time in a while, I found myself stretched between girls murdering one another in death games, a heartfelt family drama about grief and identity, cackling historical heroes, and at least two anime about mal...
Making 'Bad' Animation Beautiful: An Interview with ChaO Director Yasuhiro Aoki
"with ChaO, I just did what I wanted to do, and I've always liked looking at things from a different angle, and finding something different, and I think that's what I've done."
― Studio 4°C's feature film ChaO opened in Japan this August, by which time it had already been acquired by GKIDS. Now it's finally opening in theaters in North America on April 10. ChaO screened at international festivals, in...
Interview: Masahiko Ohta, the Go-To Director for Anime About Eccentric Young Girls, On His New Anime
From Himouto! Umaru-chan to My Deer Friend Nokotan, Masahiko Ohta's greatest hits have all been about crazy high school girls. His newest, The Demon King's Daughter is Too Kind, changes up the formula by having a much younger protagonist.
― Recently, Anime News Network was able to sit down with Director Masahiko Ohta and talk about his newest anime, The Demon King's Daughter is Too Kind. In the proce...
Read it First: Manga, Light Novel Sources for Spring 2026 Anime
Not sure what to watch in the coming anime season? Read our reviews of the manga and light novels that inspired the shows from Witch Hat Atelier to Daemons of the Shadow Realm!
― It's hardly a rule that you have to read the source material before you watch the adaptation, but what if you want to? A decade ago, anime fans who wanted to read the manga or light novel before the show debuted were out of...
Your Anime Rankings - Best of Winter 2026, Mar 5-11
While good ol' Frieren climbs back to #3 this week, let's give a nod to the ever-reliable You and I Are Polar Opposites, which has comfortably held its ground between #10 and #4 in our weekly user rankings!
― Let's have a look at what ANN readers consider the best (and worst) of the season,
based on the polls you can find in our Daily Streaming Reviews
and on the Your Score page with the latest simu...
Interview: Ryuya Suzuki on Writing, Directing, Animating, and Scoring His First Feature Film, Jinsei
Jinsei isn’t your typical anime film. With a few exceptions, it was made entirely by one man.
― Jinsei isn't your typical anime film. It was written, directed, animated, and scored entirely by one man: Ryuya Suzuki. At the 38th Tokyo International Film Festival, Anime News Network sat down with him to discuss not only making the film but also the themes, messages, and ideas behind it. Turn the clock ...
Your Anime Rankings - Best of Winter 2026, Feb 26-Mar 4
The Holy Grail of Eris climbs to #4 this week while the top 3 spots are hogged by the Journal-Kamuy-Fate triumvirate. Find out where your favorites rank this week!
― Let's have a look at what ANN readers consider the best (and worst) of the season,
based on the polls you can find in our Daily Streaming Reviews
and on the Your Score page with the latest simulcasts. Keep in mind that these rankings ar...
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It's time to boot up your Commodore Amiga. We're making fansubs on tape.
― Episode 1 aired on October 4, 1995, on TV Tokyo at 6:30 pm. Posts on RAA acknowledged the high quality of the episode, comparing it to OVAs coming out at the same time. There was also praise for both the opening and ending, with one commentator writing that the casting of Megumi Hayashibara as Rei went against the usual chara...
Yoko Takahashi Wields the Lance of Longinus in Stunning Evangelion Concert
Takahashi performed “Cruel Angels Thesis,” “Fly me to the Moon 2020,” more for 30th anniversary concert.
― The second day of the Evangelion:30+; 30th Anniversary of Evangelion fan festival ended with a nearly 60-minute concert of Evangelion songs from across the franchise's 30-year history during the “DAY 2 UNION PART.” Not just any Evangelion songs, though, but Yoko Takahashi Evangelion songs. Featu...
Art and Tech Meet in Evangelion 30th Anniversary Exhibition Area
The massive Evangelion exhibition featured a huge Unit-01, 26 CRT TVs, and a new VR experience.
― Renowned anime franchise Evangelion has entered its pearl anniversary year. And to kick off the 30th anniversary of the franchise, the Yokohama Arena in Yokohama, Japan hosted the Evangelion:30+; 30th Anniversary of Evangelion fan festival from February 21 to 23. Celebrating all things Evangelion, the ev...
Evangelion Fashion Looks to the Future
Gendo VA Fumihiko Tachiki takes a surprising career turn as runway model
― The first day festivities of the Evangelion:30+; 30th Anniversary of Evangelion fan festival started strong with an Evangelion fashion show and dance performance during the “DAY 1 UNION PART.” While one would think the fashion show centered on fans and their Evangelion-coordinated outfits, it was, in fact, a show of official E...
Evangelion Kabuki Performance Took to the Skies
Shinji and Kaworu's relationship is immortalized in a classical Japanese theater performance.
― The final day of the Evangelion:30+; 30th Anniversary of Evangelion fan festival ended with a bang: a kabuki production of Evangelion. Titled Kabuki Symphony No. 1 Evangelion, the play starred Kichitaro Uemaru as Shinji Ikari and Shoroku Onoe as Kaworu Nagisa. The nearly 60-minute production offered a new ...
A Niche of Their Own – Diving into the Top Anime Titles by Streaming Platform
Kalai looks at Netflix's past and current reports to find what anime everyone is really watching.
― 2025 proved to be a big year for anime, as global box office performance and streaming views compete head-to-head with Hollywood-produced content. Streaming giants, Netflix, Disney+, and Amazon Prime Video have been investing in their anime library and even chasing those audiences in other avenues, suc...
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Brian Stremick crosses the Absolute Terror Field to chronicle the inseparable mingling of technology, early fandom, and Evangelion in this three-part retrospective.
― Shock waves were sent across Japan and the world at the close of the Neon Genesis Evangelion 30th anniversary celebrations on February 23, 2026. A brand new Evangelion TV is now in production, with Yokō Tarō (Nier: Automata) writing th...
Your Anime Rankings - Best of Winter 2026, Feb 19-25
After fairly good rankings hovering between #12 and #5, Hell's Paradise grabs #2 this week! See how all your favorites fared in our weekly user rankings.
― Let's have a look at what ANN readers consider the best (and worst) of the season,
based on the polls you can find in our Daily Streaming Reviews
and on the Your Score page with the latest simulcasts. Keep in mind that these rankings are based on...
Mushrooms and Fairy Tales: An Interview with the Director and Producer of Champignon Witch
"Luna is a rare kind of shojo heroine—someone who struggles both to love and to be loved."
― Deep in the black forest lives an unusual witch—Luna the Champignon Witch. Luna is a black witch, and her body emits poison, which means that everyone in town fears her. But Luna is a kind, gentle soul trying to survive in a dark world that distrusts black witches despite the very necessary function they fulf...
Your Anime Rankings - Best of Winter 2026, Feb 12-18
The Invisible Man and His Soon-to-Be Wife is softly conquering hearts and climbing the rankings. Find out how your favorite shows fared in our weekly user rankings.
― Let's have a look at what ANN readers consider the best (and worst) of the season,
based on the polls you can find in our Daily Streaming Reviews
and on the Your Score page with the latest simulcasts. Keep in mind that these rankings a...
Anime Fits Metal Like a Powerglove
Since 2005, Powerglove has made the headbanging-est power metal covers of your favorite songs—from video games to anime. To learn more, ANN sat down with the band to talk all things metal, anime, and their upcoming album.
― Since 2005, Powerglove has been making the headbanging-est power metal covers of your favorite songs from video games and Saturday-morning cartoons. They've performed around the w...
Exploring Studio ENGI, the Anime Studio Behind Medalist
During the PacSet “ANN in Japan 2025” tour, anime fans from around the globe were granted the exceedingly rare privilege to see how and where the sausage gets made.
― This past autumn, as part of the PacSet “ANN in Japan 2025” tour, about a dozen other anime fans from around the globe were granted the exceedingly rare privilege to tour a brick-and-mortar anime studio. It was a chance to see how the s...
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