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Happy Valentine's Day From Around the Anime World, Part I
Featuring Pokémon, Naruto, Persona, Always a Catch!, ufotable, PlayStation, & more!
― Love is in the air, and the anime and manga world wants to share some of that love! Let's take a look at this year's Valentine's Day greetings: Always a Catch! Cogimyun (Sanrio) みゅ･･ チョコレートのケーキ、しっぱいしちゃったみゅん･･ちいさくなっちゃったけど、うけとってくれるみゅん･･？#こぎみゅん #バレンタインデー pic.twitter.com/w6u9xgS6Q2— こぎみゅん【公式】 (@cogimyun_sanrio) February...
Hatsune Miku Promotes Thailand's Spicy Nissin Noodles
Nissin Foods Thailand: “When flavour meets fun”
― Nissin Foods Thailand announced on Tuesday that it is collaborating with the popular Vocaloid idol Hatsune Miku to promote its Premium Bag Series of instant noodles. Nissin Foods Thailand said fans should get ready for spiciness with the upgraded Extreme Hot Chili Chicken and the new Hot Chili Chicken Carbonara. Nissin Foods Thailand also posted a vid...
Take a 1st Look at PokéPark Kanto Before It Opens Next Week
1st permanent outdoor Pokémon attraction to feature over 600 Pokémon on February 5
― Several Japanese news outlets have posted photos and video from PokéPark Kanto, the first permanent outdoor Pokémon attraction, on Monday. The photos feature some of the Pokémon, attractions, and food items visitors will see at the park. A video by Japanese newspaper Yomiuri Shimbun offers a small glimpse of the over...
Happy Coming of Age Day 2026 From Around the Anime World, Part II
Featuring Final Fantasy, Dragon Ball, Square-Enix, Magical Princess Minky Momo, Sakamoto Days, Noriko Hidaka, & more!
― As part of the Coming of Age ceremonies throughout Japan, young adults dress in formal hakama (ceremonial trousers), western-style suits, and kimono. To express their individuality, some young adult men dress as stereotypical delinquents with regent hairstyles and ride motorcycles. ...
Happy Coming of Age Day 2026 From Around the Anime World, Part I
Featuring Naruto, Dragon Quest, Inuyasha, Gnosia, Sega, Kodansha, Televi-kun, & more!
― Every year on the second Monday of January, Japan celebrates its newest adults with Coming of Age Day. Traditionally, the day honored those who turned 20 in the previous calendar year or school year. However, a new law went into effect in 2022 that lowered the age of maturity to 18. Regardless, some people still w...
Happy New Year From Around the Anime World: Hold Your Horses Part XV
Featuring Jujutsu Kaisen, The Rising of The Shield Hero, Haikyu!!, The Angel Next Door Spoils Me Rotten, Avu-chan, Ken Akamatsu, Posuka Demizu, & more!
― 2026 is just getting started and the Japanese three-day New Year's holiday is coming to a close. And while there are more New Year's greetings to see, this is the last part of our round up of New Year's greetings from around the anime and manga worl...
Happy New Year From Around the Anime World: Hold Your Horses Part XIV
Featuring Natsume's Book of Friends, Yona of the Dawn, Bocchi the Rock!, RuriDragon, Love Live! Hasu no Sora Jogakuin School Idol Club, Gakuen Babysitters, A Couple of Cuckoos, Bungo Stray Dogs, & more!
― It's time to make some fresh mochi for the new year and open the kagami mochi decorations — and what better treat to go with mochi than New Year's greetings: A Couple of Cuckoos Masahiro Anbe (Shi...
Happy New Year From Around the Anime World: Hold Your Horses Part XIII
Featuring Tezuka Productions, Isekai Quartet, Anpanman, Chibi Maruko-chan, City, Promised Neverland, Yui Ogura, & more!
― New Year's in Japan wouldn't be complete without the osechi meal. The different dishes in this auspicious meal represent different forms of luck. Luckily, we can enjoy our osechi meal with New Year's greetings from across the anime and manga world: Anpanman Chibi Maruko-chan C...
Happy New Year From Around the Anime World: Hold Your Horses Part XII
Featuring Dragon Ball, Kyoto Animation, Solo Leveling, Detective Conan, Slayers, Natsuki Hanae, P.A. Works, Shikidouji, & more!
― During New Year's, the Shchi Fukujin, or Seven Lucky Gods, are venerated across Japan. But among those gods, Ebisu, the god of prosperity and wealth in business, gets love from businesses around the country. But that doesn't mean we can't also enjoy the blessings of Benzai...
Happy New Year From Around the Anime World: Hold Your Horses Part XI
Featuring Doraemon, Uma Musume, Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid, Ado, Kodansha USA, Frieren, ufotable, Love Live! Bluebird, Free!, Fatal Fury, Fire Emblem Heroes, & more!
― One of the rare times many Japanese will pull an all-nighter is New Year's, if only to catch a glimpse of the first light of the new year. And after bathing in the first light, they will enjoy some New Year's greetings like these: A-...
Happy New Year From Around the Anime World: Hold Your Horses Part X
Featuring My Hero Academia, Oshi no Ko, Bocchi the Rock!, Apothecary Diaries, My Dress-Up Darling, Let This Grieving Soul Retire!, The Angel Next Door Spoils Me Rotten, & more!
― Shopping is a staple of the Japanese New Year's festivities, and one of the sought-after items is the fukubukuro lucky bag. Often sealed, the bags are stuffed with some desired items and some... not so much, but that's the f...
Happy New Year From Around the Anime World: Hold Your Horses Part IX
Featuring Sound! Euphonium, Uma Musume, Girls Band Cry, Fruits Basket, Dangers in My Heart, Sparks of Tomorrow, This Monster Wants to Eat Me, Megumi Ogata, & more!
― Japanese New Year's is a time to spend with family, sit at heated kotatsu tables, enjoy satsuma mandarins, and lounge about all day while enjoying New Year's greetings. Get comfortable and enjoy more New Year's greetings from around the ...
Happy New Year From Around the Anime World: Hold Your Horses Part VIII
Featuring Tezuka Productions, Dragon Quest, Ayana Taketatsu, Clover Works, Square-Enix, Miki Yoshikawa, & more!
― Hatsumode, or the first trip to a Shinto shrine in the new year, is a tradition in Japan. People flock to their local shrine to pay their respects to the gods, pull omikuji fortune slips, write their wishes on an ema prayer tablet, and bring old items to be purified. What sort of wishes a...
Happy New Year From Around the Anime World: Hold Your Horses Part VII
Featuring Ascendance of a Bookworm, Silent Hill, Precure manga, They Are Still Being Shaken This Morning, Nue's Exorcist, Chiikawa, & more!
― The year 2026 came galloping like a regal steed, and with it came New Year's greetings from the anime and manga world. Tatsuya Ara (Campioni, Harigane Service Ace) Sumiko Arai (The Guy She Was Interested In Wasn't a Guy at All) Asobi no Kankei Atasawa (Oj...
Happy New Year From Around the Anime World: Hold Your Horses Part VI
Featuring The Summer Hikaru Died, Frieren, Love Live!, Digimon Time Strangers, Kodansha, Masami Obari, & more!
― Many people are familiar with the 12 Chinese zodiac animals, but they are just half the story. The 12 animals are part of a 60-year “stems-and-branches” cycle. So, while we usually call 2026 the Year of the Horse, we are specifically in the Year of the Yang Fire Horse. In Japan, there is a...
Happy New Year From Around the Anime World: Hold Your Horses Part V
Featuring SPY×FAMILY, Oshi no Ko, FF16, Blue Archive, BEASTARS, Takopi's Original Sin, Minky Momo, Orange Range, & more!
― During the new year, families around Japan enjoy all sorts of games from the badminton-like hanetsuki paddle game and kite-flying to a pin-the-tail-type game called fukuwarai, board games, and karuta cards. See if you can spot some of them in the New Year's greetings below: Baki ...
Happy New Year From Around the Anime World: Hold Your Horses Part IV
Featuring My Hero Academia, CLAMP, Evangelion, Khara, Bleach, Gundam Hathaway, Precure, Shonen Jump, WIT Studio, & more!
― The last meal of the year in Japan is often the toshikoshi soba noodles. Meant to signify the changing of the year, Japanese people enjoy a bowl as the new year rolls in. So, let's enjoy some toshikoshi soba while enjoying some New Year's greetings: Azur Lane: Slow Ahead! /／新年あけま...
Happy New Year From Around the Anime World: Hold Your Horses Part III
Featuring Demon Slayer, Kaiju No. 8, One-Punch Man, Naruto, Kaguya-sama, Fairy Tail, Nichijou, Haikyu!!, & more!
― Buddhist temples around Japan engage in joya no kane (midnight bell ringing) as the new year passes. The 108 bell rings are said to rids the world of Earthly desires. But Earthly or not, those desires persist with our want to see New Year's greetings from around the anime and manga world...
Happy New Year From Around the Anime World: Hold Your Horses Part II
Featuring Chainsaw Man, FF14, Sakamoto Days, Kojima Productions, Digimon, World Trigger, That Time I got Reincarnated as a Slime, Reborn! & more!
― New Years in Japan means it's time to send out nengajō (New Year's greeting postcards) to friends, family, and associates. Often stamped with 賀状新年 (gajō shinnen or greeting in the new year) or 賀状 (gajō or greeting), the postcards are a staple of New Year'...
Happy New Year From Around the Anime World: Hold Your Horses Part I
Featuring Ghibli, One Piece, Frieren, Ranma 1/2, Jojo's, Re:ZERO, Capcom, Assassination Classroom, Super Sentai, Yu-Gi-Oh!, & more!
― The Year of the Snake has come to a close, and it's off to the races with the Year of the Horse. With the new year comes greetings from across the anime and manga world: Assassination Classroom Capcom Captain Tsubasa Final Fantasy VII Ever Crisis 【謹賀新年！】／ 🎍Happy ...
Merry Christmas From Around the Anime World, Part XV
Featuring Kaiju No. 8, Samurai Troopers, My Dress-up Darling, Neptunia Mechanical Marie, Kamome Shirahama, & more!
― The final Christmas 2025 greetings are here, which means one thing: the countdown to Christmas 2026 begins! Aki Akimoto (Mechanical Marie) Arc System Works ✨🎄Merry Christmas!🎄✨#デイモン #DAMONandBABY pic.twitter.com/H9BQKseepb— アークシステムワークス公式 (@ARCSY_PR) December 25, 2025 Atlus wishing ...
Merry Christmas From Around the Anime World, Part XIV
Featuring Girls Band Cry, Genshin Impact, Beyblade X, The Dangers in My Heart, Blue Miburo, Ichijinsha, Warner Bros. Japan Anime, Suu Morishita, Tsuyoshi Yasuda, & more!
― The 12 days of Christmas have begun, and the greetings from the anime and manga world keep rolling in like three wise men. Amane Shindō 今年のクリスマスケーキ✨️🎂おいしぃぃぃぃぃぃぃぃぃぃぃぃ(´｡✪ω✪｡｀)✧*。 #アニメ100カノ #100カノ #原賀胡桃 pic.twitter.com/Jy48JdkjHV— 進藤...
Merry Christmas From Around the Anime World, Part XIII
Featuring That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime, Chiikawa, Sanda, Yui Ogura, Tying the Knot with an Amagami Sister, Sakurako Ohara, Sayumi Suzushiro, & more!
― Several voice actors shared their season's greetings! Chiikawa Shinnosuke Fujishima (VRMMO de Summoner Hajimemashita) 再掲ですが「メリークリスマスなのです」 pic.twitter.com/Nx6OToSgew— 藤島真ノ介 (@sinnosukef) December 25, 2025 This is a repost, but “Merry Christ...
Merry Christmas From Around the Anime World, Part XII
Featuring SPY×FAMILY, Sound! Euphonium, Witch Hat Atelier, Ado, Toei Animation, Palworld, Blue Box, & more!
― But the angel said to anime and manga fans, “Do not be afraid. I bring you greetings from the anime and manga world”: Ado メリークリスマス pic.twitter.com/lyXX48TYFN— Ado (@ado1024imokenp) December 24, 2025 Merry Christmas Blue Box ◩━━Merry Chinatsumas🦌🎄 ━━◪プレゼントを渡したくてソワソワなちなつせんぱい🎁2026年秋スタートTV...
Merry Christmas From Around the Anime World, Part X
Featuring Precure, Dr. Stone, Yona of the Dawn, TenSura, Splatoon, Devil May Cry, Blue Exorcist, Promised Neverland, Peach-Pit, Skip and Loafer, & more!
― It's time to rock around the Christmas Tree and see all the gifts from the anime and manga world: Posuka Demizu (The Promised Neverland) Devil May Cry Happy Holidays from Dante and Vergil. Devil May Cry Season 2 comes out May 12 only on Netflix.🎨...
Merry Christmas From Around the Anime World, Part IX
Featuring My Hero Academia, Demon Slayer, Kirby, Sonic, Sgt. Frog, May I Ask For One Final Thing, & more!
― There is no better way to celebrate the Yuletide than seeing greetings from the anime and manga world: Iro Aida (Toilet-Bound Hanako-kun) 🌟#花子くん25巻特装版発売中！ https://t.co/sIceq5bUKo pic.twitter.com/awtjLw5AhZ— あいだいろ@25巻発売中！ (@aidairo2009) December 23, 2025 #Hanako-kunVol25SpecialEditionIsNowOnSale...
Merry Christmas From Around the Anime World, Part VIII
Featuring Dragon Ball, Pokémon, Naruto, Haruhi Suzumiya, Laid-Back Camp, Kodansha, Dekin no Mogura: The Earthbound Mole, & more!
― While it's Boxing Day, the seasonal greetings from the anime and manga world are still coming in! Dekin no Mogura: The Earthbound Mole Dragon Ball Yui Kikuta (Bibliophile Princess) Merryクリスマス🎄✨久々に描きおろした🌟#虫かぶり姫 pic.twitter.com/vX0bTFGMNQ— 喜久田ゆい (@kikutayui) December 25...
Merry Christmas From Around the Anime World, Part VII
Featuring Yu-Gi-Oh!, Bleach, Sgt. Frog, Zombie Land Saga, Tezuka Productions, Toilet-Bound Hanako-kun, Kinokoinu - Mushroom Pup, & more!
― The anime and manga worlds wish people a Merry Christmas from the bottom of their hearts! Iro Aida (Toilet-Bound Hanako-kun) 🌟🎄🌟#花子くん25巻特装版発売中！ https://t.co/sIceq5bUKo pic.twitter.com/usgkQ9HCtN— あいだいろ@25巻発売中！ (@aidairo2009) December 24, 2025 #Hanako-kunVol.25Spec...
Merry Christmas From Around the Anime World, Part VI
Featuring Mappa, Sega, Detective Conan, Natsume's Book of Friends, Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra, Magical Girl Raising Project, & more!
― Christmas came and went, but our cheeks are still nice and rosy and comfy and cozy as we enjoy seasonal greetings from the anime and manga world! Kohei Ashiya (Jojo's Bizarre Adventure key animation) Detective Conan Gachiakuta Gudetama (Sanrio) Shinnosuke Ka...
Merry Christmas From Around the Anime World, Part V
Featuring Frieren, Sakamoto Days, Isekai Quartet, Megumi Ogata, Palworld, Fatal Fury, Chibi Maruko-chan, & more!
― On the first day of Christmas, the anime and manga world gave to us more greetings: 30MS Around! ୨୧‥∵‥‥∵‥‥∵‥୨୧ ブレインの皆様！ メリークリスマス🎄୨୧‥∵‥‥∵‥‥∵‥୨୧クリスマスは #30MS と一緒に過ごそう❣クリスマス仕様の衣装を身にまとったライディラとセスティエが登場❤ pic.twitter.com/ABy5xow3vg— 30 MINUTES SISTERS 公式SNS (@30msisters) December 25, 2025 ୨୧‥∵‥...
Merry Christmas From Around the Anime World, Part IV
Featuring My Hero Academia, Dan Da Dan, Dragon Quest, Bandai Namco Filmworks, Square Enix, Cinnamoroll, Too Many Losing Heroines!, & more!
― It may have been the night before Christmas, but all the anime and manga creators were stirring to get their greetings out: Toshi Aoi (Wistoria: Wand and Sword) Bandai Namco Filmwoks (English) "It's Christmas. But someone always gets stuck working."Get your tick...
Merry Christmas From Around the Anime World, Part III
Featuring One Piece, FF7 Remake, Digimon, Anime Expo, Katamari Damcy, Kentaro Yabuki, An Adventurer's Daily Grind at Age 29, Capcom, The Dark History of the Reincarnated Villainess, & more!
― It's time to enjoy some seasonal greetings from the anime and manga world while we wait for the chestnuts to roast on an open fire! Alya Sometimes Hides Her Feelings in Russian An Adventurer's Daily Grind at Age...
Merry Christmas From Around the Anime World, Part I
Featuring SPY×FAMILY, Palworld, Project Eevee, Uma Musume: Cinderella Gray, Beastars and Sanda, City the Animation, Food for the Soul, Koge-Donbo*, & more!
― It's the most wonderful time of the year with Christmas. With gift giving, spending time with family, and (for those who get snow) seeing a winter wonderland. Some people get a head start on their Christmas greeting on Christmas Eve, and the ani...
Super Saiyan Fish Discovered in Ishigaki, Japan
But how will it fare against the Pochita shark & Inazuma spider?
― The University of the Ryukyus announced on Thursday that researchers had discovered a Super Saiyan… goby fish. The new species of goby fish, Vanderhorstia supersaiyan, was discovered off the coast of the Ishigaki Islands, Japan in the twilight zone of the ocean (about 100-300 meters or 300-1,000 feet below sea level). The new species ...
Happy Labor Thanksgiving Day From Around the Anime World, Part II
Featuring Naruto, Sanrio's Harmonyland, Sentenced to Be a Hero, Yaiba, Liar Game, Kill Blue, Televi-kun, & more!
― November 23 in Japan was traditionally the national holiday Niiname-sai (literally, harvest festival) and associated with the Shinto religion. But during the American occupation of Japan after World War II, the Japanese government changed the holiday to the secular Labor Thanksgiving Day...
Happy Labor Thanksgiving Day From Around the Anime World, Part I
Featuring Zombie Land Saga, Palworld, SHIROBAKO, Resident Evil, Granblue Fantasy, Sanrio, Sgt. Frog, Hyakushō Kizoku, & more!
― November 23 marks Labor Thanksgiving Day in Japan. (Since it's a Sunday this year, folks also get a day-off on Monday.) Like Labor Day on May 1, the holiday honors our workers, and like Thanksgiving in North America, it also celebrates the fall harvest. The anime and manga w...
School Idols to Become Reality at Nagano High School
Nagano Nichidai's principal proposes idol group will perform in concerts, TV & radio programs
― School idols will become a reality in Japan's 2026-2027 academic year with Nagano Nichidai High School's October 1 announcement that it has created an official Idol Club. According to the school, members of the Idol Club will not only produce and release original songs, but also perform at concerts, event...
Gundam-esque Robot Makes Surprise Cameo in Dodgers' World Series Art
Is it also an Evangelion homage?
― Following the Los Angeles Dodgers' back-to-back Major League Baseball (MLB) World Series wins, the MLB posted the team's championship illustration by local artist McFlyy on Wednesday. While fans were quick to congratulate the Dodgers on their achievement, astute anime fans also noticed a Gundam-lookalike robot in the top right corner of the illustration. The robot a...
Happy Halloween From Around the Anime World, Part V
Featuring Macross, more Oshi no Ko, Silent Hill f, Granblue Fantasy, Chiikawa, Ojamajo Doremi, Paru Itagaki, Yuki Midorikawa, Kumiko Watanabe, & more!
― As Halloween comes to an end and people finish their trick-or-treating for the year, the spirt of the holiday still surrounds us. Anime and manga creators have a few more greetings to share: The Apothecary Diaries Chiikawa Damedol and the Only Fan in...
Happy Halloween From Around the Anime World, Part IV
Featuring Dragon Ball, Kingdom Hearts, Yona of the Dawn, more Pokémon, Street Fighter 6, Quintessential Quintuplets, Ai Fairouz, Kodansha, Mechanical Marie, Square Enix, & more!
― It's time to curl up in a blanket, turn off all the lights, and put on some scarry Halloween themed movies. Or, better yet, watch some spooky anime while viewing Halloween greetings from across the anime and manga worlds: A...
Happy Halloween From Around the Anime World, Part III
Featuring Oshi no Ko, Final Fantasy, My Dress-up Darling, Boys Over Flowers, Tezuka Productions, BONES, Doraemon, & more!
― It's time to get a bucket and go trick or and treating around our neighborhoods for Halloween. The anime and manga world is also out for the night, but are the characters getting treats or giving tricks? Check out some of the sweet Halloween tricks and treats from the anime and ...
Happy Halloween From Around the Anime World, Part II
Featuring 3 Gundam witches, Pokémon, Isekai Quartet, Digimon, Mappa, Dragon Quest, Atelier, Date A Live, Guilty Gear Strive, & more!
― It's that time of year when everyone dresses up as their favorite ghoul, ghost, monster, or anime and manga character and ask for candy. The anime and manga world is abuzz with all characters asking for candy! Riu Akane (Hanamaru Gesen Meshi!!) Atelier Resleriana: For...
Happy Halloween From Around the Anime World, Part I
Featuring My Hero Academia, Twisted-Wonderland, Apothecary Diaries, Frieren, Alya Sometimes Hides Her Feelings in Russian, Godzilla, & more!
― Spooky season is here, and that means Halloween, trick or treating, and dressing up in costumes. The anime and manga worlds are filled with characters dressing up and getting candy for the holiday: Alya Sometimes Hides Her Feelings in Russian Kaza Ana (Nano Ha...
Jeopardy! Quiz Show Answers, 'What Is Demon Slayer?'
Just in time for the latest film's U.S. release
― Popular America trivia show Jeopardy! featured an answer about the hit anime Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba on the U.S. opening date of its latest film, September 12. (The unique reverse format of Jeopardy! gives contestants clues in the form of "answers," and the contestants can win if they give a correct response in the form of a question.) The epis...
Gundam's Char & Comrades Enjoy a Night Out in New Restaurant App Ad
The Red Comet enjoys the company of his men thanks to Hot Pepper Gourmet
― Japanese restaurant app Hot Pepper Gourmet released a new entry in its anime x live-action commercial series on Thursday. The new commercial features Mobile Suit Gundam character Char Aznable enjoying dinner with four men under his command, one of whom is Char's second-in-command, Dren. Also briefly seen in the commercial are...
Aniplex of America Marks 20th Anniversary With Art From Top Anime Figures
From the designers & directors of Aldnoah.Zero, Angel Beats, anohana, Blue Exorcist, Twisted-Wonderland, & Durarara
― In celebration of anime distributor Aniplex of America's 20th anniversary, leading figures in the anime industry have sent the company congratulatory messages and illustrations. Since Monday, Aniplex of America has posted art from Masako Matsumoto (Aldnoah.Zero character designer), N...
Used Car Magazine Car Sensor Hires City Hunter for New Commercials
Get wild and tough when looking for a used car
― Japanese used car magazine and seller Car Sensor debuted a series of City Hunter collaboration commercials on August 25. The commercials celebrate City Hunter's 40th anniversary and stars actress and model Nanao. A 30-second commercial features the City Hunter ending theme song “Get Wild” by TM Network and Nanao dressed as City Hunter protagonist Ryo ...
Spy x Family Makes Cover of Japanese Fashion Magazine Seventeen
SPY×FAMILY's Anya & Becky show off their high school girl look
― SPY×FAMILY characters Anya Forger and Becky Blackbell have made the cover of the Japanese quarterly fashion magazine Seventeen's Autumn 2025 issue. The cover shows off Anya and Becky's "girls' high school-style uniform" coordination in an original illustration (despite the two being about a decade shy of entering high school in the mang...
Naruto's Masashi Kishimoto Draws How to Train Your Dragon Crossover Art
Hiccup tames Toothless while Naruto tames Gamakichi
― The Naruto franchise and Universal Pictures Japan announced on Friday that Naruto creator Masashi Kishimoto drew an original crossover illustration of Naruto and the live-action How to Train Your Dragon film. Kishimoto also commented on the new film saying, “The animated How to Train Your Dragon was so entertaining, that among my fellow manga crea...
Intern Annika - The ANN 25th Anniversary Special - The Cure is Pretty
Can one magical intern defeat The Blade of Michelob?
― Surprise, it's a special comic celebrating Anime News Network's 25th anniversary. Artist Robin Sevakis returned to draw a short series of comics focusing on Anime News Network's mascots of the past and present and what would happen if they all met. Enjoy the finale to the limited comic run! How will Azure turn the tide against her most formidabl...
Intern Annika - The ANN 25th Anniversary Special - Constant Reckless Barrage Smash Attack!
Can Jadress hold her own against this formidable foe, or will they need to call in back-up?
― Surprise, it's a special comic celebrating Anime News Network's 25th anniversary. Artist Robin Sevakis returned to draw a short series of comics focusing on Anime News Network's mascots of the past and present and what would happen if they all met. Enjoy a new comic each Thursday for the next week! In which...
Intern Annika - The ANN 25th Anniversary Special - The Blade of Michelob
In which the three elves have to do what takes some gamers 60+ hours to pull off.
― Surprise, it's a special comic celebrating Anime News Network's 25th anniversary. Artist Robin Sevakis returned to draw a short series of comics focusing on Anime News Network's mascots of the past and present and what would happen if they all met. Enjoy a new comic each Thursday for the next two weeks! In which, the...
Tokyo's Rinkai Line Collaborates with Kozame-chan
Kozame-chan befriends Rinkai Line Mascot Rinkaru before his big screen debut.
― The Odekake Kozame series announced on Tuesday that it is collaborating with Tokyo's third-sector railway company Tokyo Waterfront Area Rapid Transit's (TWR) Rinkai Line. The official X (formerly Twitter) account for the Odekake Kozame series shared the collaboration's key visual with titular character Kozame-chan and Rin...
Intern Annika - The ANN 25th Anniversary Special - The Intern Enters the Labyrinth
In which, Annika gets lost in the Kadokawa conglomerate and crosses paths with some sinister sister company mascots.
― Surprise, it's a special comic celebrating Anime News Network's 25th anniversary. Artist Robin Sevakis returned to draw a short series of comics focusing on Anime News Network's mascots of the past and present and what would happen if they all met. Enjoy a new comic each Thursday fo...
Honda Unveils the Pokémon Koraidon Motorcycle
Koraidon took to the circuit at Suzuka 8 Hours motorcycle endurance race
― Japanese automobile manufacturer Honda debuted its Koraidon motorcycle from the Pokémon Scarlet game at the Suzuka 8 Hours motorcycle endurance race on Sunday. The Koraidon motorcycle is built with the Honda Riding Assist system, allowing it to operate independently. Japanese sports satellite TV broadcaster J Sports was on sit...
Voice Actor Satomi Akesaka Asks Where's the Beef
She has not received her Wagyū beef prize from her appearance on Say You to Yoasobi program
―
Voice actor Satomi Akesaka posted a set of messages on her X (formerly Twitter) account on July 30, joking about the Wagyū beef she has yet to receive from the Japanese net television program Say You to Yoasobi (A Night Out With Voice Actors). In her first post, Akesaka spelled “Beef” using a series of cow ...
Intern Annika - The ANN 25th Anniversary Special - A Pair of Familiar Elves
Surprise, it's a special comic celebrating Anime News Network's 25th anniversary. Enjoy a new comic each Thursday for the next five weeks!
― Surprise, it's a special comic celebrating Anime News Network's 25th anniversary. Artist Robin Sevakis returned to draw a short series of comics focusing on Anime News Network's mascots of the past and present and what would happen if they all met. Enjoy a new c...
Giant Demon Slayer Ads at Japan's Busiest Station Tell Folks They're Going to Hell
Thankfully Shinjuku Station patrons won't have to abandon all hope when they enter
― The Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle film debuted new advertisements on the various entrances and corridors of Tokyo's Shinjuku Station — the most crowded train station in the entire world — on Monday. The ads feature the franchise's demon characters Muzan Kibutsuji, Kokushibo, Doma, Akaza, and Kaigaku ...
Happy Tanabata 2025 From Around the Anime World, Part V
Featuring Haruhi Suzumiya, Macross, My Dress-Up Darling, City the Animation, Mononoke, Isekai Quartet, Marry Me, Let's Have a Baby!, Toei Animation, & more!
― Tanabata on July 7 marks the final Japanese holiday of the year when the day and month are the same numerically (after Hinamatsuri on March 3 and Children's Day on May 5). Both children and adults write wishes on paper slips to decorate bamboo ...
Happy Tanabata 2025 From Around the Anime World, Part IV
Featuring My Hero Academia, Final Fantasy VII Remake, Kowloon Generic Romance, Kodansha, Okami, My Happy Marriage, Toilet-Bound Hanako-Kun, & more!
― While many people in Japan make wishes to the stars Vega and Altair on Tanabata, it's said those wishes will only come true if it's a starry night. But with Japan in the middle of its rainy season, it has been many years since it's truly been a starry n...
Happy Tanabata 2025 From Around the Anime World, Part III
Featuring Dragon Ball, Dragon Quest, Misia, Re:Zero Starting life in Another World, The Angel Next Door Spoils Me Rotten, Doraemon, & more!
― The days leading up to July 7 in Japan are a sight to behold — similar to, but slightly different from, Christmas decorations. Communities will often set up bamboo shoots and decorate them with children's wishes. It's a colorful display and gives us a look into...
Happy Tanabata 2025 From Around the Anime World, Part II
Featuring Naruto, Tales of, Laid-Back Camp, NisiOisin, ChaO, Oishinbo, Natsumi Eguchi, Sega, & more!
― Japan celebrates Tanabata, also known as the Star Festival, on July 7. One of the common ways to celebrate the Festival is by making a wish to the stars Vega and Altair. (And with a major election in the Tokyo Metropolitan area, that includes the wishes of politicians.) But, what about the wishes fr...
Happy Tanabata 2025 From Around the Anime World, Part I
Featuring Ghost in the Shell, Shangri-La Frontier, Chibi Maruko-chan, Food for the Soul, Miffy, See You Tomorrow at the Food Court, Ami Shibata, & more!
― July 7 marks Tanabata in Japan. where people celebrate the once-a-year meeting of the weaver Orihime and farmer Hikoboshi by making wishes to these star-crossed lovers. As usual, the anime and manga world is full of Tanabata wishes: Ami Shibata (Pa...
The Buffest Luffy is Crowned at the One Piece Bodybuilding Competition
The BragMen One Piece Gym held a quest for the best (and strongest) Luffy!
― It's bodybuilding season, and that means muscular men showing off their oiled-up muscular man muscles. But, in the cacophony of bodybuilding contests, the One Piece Body Make Competition Presented by BragMen found its way into the Muscle Gate Kanagawa bodybuilding competition on June 1 at the Culttz Kawasaki gymnasium. The e...
McDonald's Commercials Go Nostalgic With Maison Ikkoku, Macross, Orange Road
Relive iconic romance & dining scenes from 1980s anime
― McDonald's Japan previewed a new set of commercials for its Big Mac “Let's smile tomorrow, then and now” campaign on Friday. The commercials feature iconic scenes from 1980s anime Maison Ikkoku, The Super Dimension Fortress Macross: Do You Remember Love?, and Kimagure Orange Road. The commercials also revive Japan's 1980s Coca-Cola jingle “I f...
Happy Father's Day 2025 From Around the Anime World, Part IV
Featuring Naruto, Ghost in the Shell, Laid-Back Camp, Like a Dragon, Mononoke, The Beginning After The End, Gre4n Boyz, Kodansha, Toei Animation, & more!
― Among all the family-themed holidays this year, Father's Day happens to land on an ominous day on Japan's traditional six-day lunar calendar. So, let's rid the air of bad luck with some messages to fathers around the anime and manga world! Atashin...
Happy Father's Day 2025 From Around the Anime World, Part III
Featuring My Hero Academia: Vigilantes, Dragon Quest, Chibi Maruko-chan, I.Cinnamoroll, Wataru, Sega, & more!
― Fathers come in all sorts of forms. From the men who raised us in the home to those who nurtured us outside of the home, we have more fathers that we may think. So, let's honor all our fathers this Father's Day with some special messages from the anime and manga worlds! Akane Nagano (Mikan ...
Happy Father's Day 2025 From Around the Anime World, Part II
Featuring One Piece, My Hero Academia, Dragon Ball, Metal Gear, Gegege no Kitaro, King of Fighters, Tsuburaya Productions, & more!
― After Children's Day on May 5 and Mother's Day on May 11, Japan rounds out the family-themed holidays with Father's Day on June 15. The fathers of the anime and manga worlds are receiving many heartfelt messages: Ami Shibata パパ集合。 柴田亜美#父の日 pic.twitter.com/iVsc7TElmM— 柴...
Happy Father's Day 2025 From Around the Anime World, Part I
Featuring Rilakkuma, Minky Momo, Mika Kanai, Natsuki Hanae, Space Brothers, & more!
― June 15 marks Father's Day, and while there aren't many gift-giving practices tied to the holiday in Japan, heartfelt messages are almost always given. All the children in the anime and manga worlds are sending their fathers a message of thanks: Eiko Kera (Atashin'chi) 今日は父の日 pic.twitter.com/iDPHIGNOmG— あたしンち／けらえいこ公...
Megan Thee Stallion Appears at Dream Con in Bleach Cosplay
Rapper appeared on stage as Bleach's Yoruichi
― American rapper Megan Thee Stallion appeared at Dream Con dressed as Bleach character Yoruichi in Houston on May 30. In an Instagram post, the rapper wrote “Yoruichi Thee Stallion at Dream Convention” with several pictures of herself in her Yoruichi outfit. Stallion also posted two photos of her nails, which were painted as Bleach character Kon. Megan T...
Bandai Has a New Life-Size Gundam — as Unbuilt Plastic Model Parts
The museum is part of Bandai's new plastic model factory
― Bandai Spirits announced the new Bandai Hobby Center Plamo Design Industrial Institute Museum (BHC PDII Museum) in Shizuoka on Thursday. Like earlier Bandai landmarks in the Mt. Fuji area, Tokyo, Yokohama, Shanghai, Fukuoka, Osaka and Shizuoka itself, the museum's entrance features the latest life-size Gundam — well, this time as oversized pl...
Sega Announces Racing Around the World Campaign With Red Bull
It's the fastest race of them all.
― Sega announced that its popular Sonic the Hedgehog character has partnered with energy drink and extreme sports brand Red Bull for a “high-octane year of Racing around the world.” The announcement features a two-and-a-half-minute video of Sonic racing Red Bull high-speed stunt driver Brandon Semenuk: Sega's press release notes this is the Sonic Team's brand campa...
Blue Exorcist Creator Kazue Katō Draws Moana 2 Fan Art
See the iconic Disney character in the style of Blue Exorcist
― Blue Exorcist creator Kazue Kato posted an illustration of Moana 2 characters Moana, Maui, Heihei, Pua, and Kuto on her X (formerly Twitter) account on May 13. Included in the background of the illustration appears to be characters Loto, Moni, and Kele. As of press time Kato has received seven replies, over 1,000 reposts, and just under ...
One Piece Meets the Real World in New Chopper's Project
See the One Piece character Tony Tony Chopper living in our world
― Popular manga and anime series One Piece launched CHOPPER's, a new project envisioning Straw Hat Pirate member Tony Tony Chopper in our world, on Wednesday. The first update shows a chibi version of the character sitting with a backpack, and the second features a short video of the character walking onto the screen and bowing. View t...
Happy Mother's Day From Around the Anime World, Part IV
Featuring Resident Evil, Laid-Back Camp, Granblue Fantasy, Chibi Maruko-chan, Fukushi Ochiai, Kodansha, & more!
― Much like Children's Day 2025, Mother's Day in Japan also lands on an auspicious day in its old six-day lunar calendar. So, with some good luck in the air, let's celebrate the holiday with messages from around the anime and manga world. BonoBono 本日、5月11日は #母の日💐大好きなおかあさんへ日頃の感謝を伝えてみませんか？#ぼの...
Happy Mother's Day From Around the Anime World, Part III
Featuring Pokémon, Dragon Quest, Gegege no Kitaro, I.Cinnamoroll, If My Favorite Pop Idol Made It to the Budokan, I Would Die, ITARU KINOSHITA, Sega, Tamashii Nation, & more!
― Mothers come in all sorts of forms. From the women who raised us in the home to those who nurtured us outside of the home, we have more mothers that we may think. So, let's honor all our mothers this Mother's Day with some spe...
Happy Mother's Day From Around the Anime World, Part II
Featuring My Hero Academia, Naruto, Ghost in the Shell, Metal Gear, The Beginning After the End, Tomoki Izumi, Tsuburaya Productions, & more!
― Right after Japan celebrated the healthy growth of children with Children's Day on May 5, Japan and other countries are taking May 11 to celebrate our mothers: Ghost in the Shell #母の日 💐母のような素子のエピソードをぜひご覧ください👀#MothersDay 💐Please check out the episode where Mot...
Happy Mother's Day From Around the Anime World, Part I
Featuring Dragon Ball, Doraemon, Gudetama, Mononoke, Raccoon Rascal, Rilakkuma, Suikoden, & more!
― May 11 marks Mother's Day, and people in Japan generally celebrate the holiday by giving their mothers a carnation. And all the children in the anime and manga worlds are sending their mothers a carnation and message of thanks: Doraemon 今日は #母の日💐みんなはどんな方法でお母さんに感謝の気持ちを伝えるのかな♪https://t.co/FdBmz4rqbS pic....
Mission: Impossible Star Tom Cruise, Director Christopher McQuarrie Pose at Ghibli Museum
Their mission, should they choose to accept it: Enjoy the Ghibli Museum
― The Mission: Impossible franchise's official Japanese Instagram account shared a photo of star Tom Cruise and director Christopher McQuarrie posing with the giant Totoro plush at the Ghibli Museum on Wednesday. The museum itself subsequently reposted the photo. Cruise, McQuarrie, and several Mission: Impossible – The Final Rec...
Jojo's Bizarre Adventure Inspires Model Alton Mason's Outfit to Met Gala
He, Alton Mason, has a dream!
― On Monday, American actor, model, and dancer Alton Mason appeared at the Met Gala in an outfit inspired by Jojo's Bizarre Adventure: Golden Wind's main character Giorno Giovanna. Mason confirmed his outfit's inspiration with American fashion outlet Teen Vogue saying, “I have a favorite anime, it's called Jojo['s Bizarre Adventure], and this is an ode to it. Giorno Gio...
Sailor Moon Opening Plays as Baseball Star Shohei Ohtani's Walk-Up Song
L.A. Dodgers DH went from stand user to Sailor Senshi for 1st home run as a dad
― Baseball star Shohei Ohtani walked up to home plate to the Sailor Moon anime's opening theme song “Moonlight Densetsu” by Dali and Manish during the Los Angeles Dodgers' April 29 game. Ohtani's wife Mamiko Tanaka personally selected the song; Monday's game against the Miami Marlins was the Dodgers' Women's Night, so the...
Oshi's no Ko's April Fool's Joke is Real: Kana Arima is a Green Pepper Ambassador
Kana Arima returns to her Miyazaki roots for Greensaurus bell peppers
― It's real! The staff for the Oshi no Ko anime announced on Monday that a collaboration between character Kana Arima and the mascot for the Miyazaki Prefecture brand Greensaurus bell peppers has come to fruition. 80 people can win collaboration acrylic stands and pin badges between May 1 and 31. Those who wish to participate must ...
ufotable to Open Mocktail Bar Featuring Demon Slayer in Tokyo's Posh Ginza District
Demon Slayer's Hashira are waiting to serve you
― The anime company ufotable announced on Friday that it will open the ufotable Mocktail Bar Ginza this spring with a pre-opening in mid-April. A video teases Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Hashira as staff at the mocktail bar. この春、ufotable Cafe・ufotable DINING・マチ★アソビCAFEに続く、ufotableプロデュースの新ブランド「ufotable MOCKTAIL BAR GINZA」が誕生します。 銀座にてみなさまのご来店をお待ちしております...
Happy April Fool's Day From Around the Anime World, Part V
Featuring My Hero Academia, Digimon, That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime, IDOLM@STER Million Live!, NieR, Ameku M.D., Chibi Godzilla, & more!
― While it's just April Fool's Day in much of the world, it's also the first workday for many recent college grads in Japan. The anime and manga worlds have mixed in some congratulations for these new hires among their jokes: Ameku M.D.: Doctor Detective ラジ...
Happy April Fool's Day From Around the Anime World, Part IV
Featuring Dragon Ball, Blue Lock, Legend Of The Galactic Heroes, Mr. Osomatsu, Doraemon, Pop Team Epic, Toilet-Bound Hanako-kun, & more!
―
As if April Fool's Day wasn't chaotic enough, April 1 is also the official start of the fiscal year in Japan. Between all the executive shuffling and dry stock transactions reports, workers let off steam with jokes like these: Blue Lock ＼🌾稲穂:新ゲームリリース🌾／ブルーロック『BLAZ...
Happy April Fool's Day From Around the Anime World, Part III
Featuring Frieren, Oshi no Ko, Apothecary Diaries, Rose of Versailles, A Ninja and an Assassin Under One Roof, Nijisanji, & more!
― Besides April Fool's Day, April 1 marks the start of the Japanese school year — hence the school-themed pranks mixed in with the rest: A Ninja and an Assassin Under One Roof 🪄*･°: ｡ スピンオフ『忍者と殺し屋の魔法少女ぐらし』 制作決定！？ ｡ :ﾟ･*🪄TVアニメ『忍者と殺し屋のふたりぐらし』からまさかのスピンオフが制作決...
Happy April Fool's Day From Around the Anime World, Part II
Featuring Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid, Dragon Quest, Palworld, FF7: Ever Crisis, Rilakkuma, Azur Lane, Go! Go! Loser Ranger!, The Big O, & more!
― The best April Fool's Day "jokes" are the ones that make us laugh on April 1 — then make us gasp on April 2 when we realize that's actually, legitimately real. Do you think of any this year's pranks are for real? 2.5 Dimensional Seduction ＼\ #のびのびののぴチャレンジ...
Oita Airport Is Now Hello Kitty Airport (For 6 Months)
Get a double dose of Sanrio at the Oita Hello Kitty Airport & Harmonyland
― Sanrio theme park Harmonyland announced on March 17 that it has partnered with Oita Airport to rename the airport to “Oita Hello Kitty Airport.” Harmonyland notes "the warmest airport in the world" will take this moniker from April 13 to October 13, and Hello Kitty and other Sanrio characters will greet travelers to the pref...
MLB's Latest Anime Ad Imagines More Baseball Superheroes — Set to Ado's Music
Ad highlights Ohtani, Judge, Skenes, Soto, but promises more videos on more players
― Hot of the heels of its anime collaboration with ufotable, Major League Baseball unveiled a new anime ad showcasing players as heroes with larger-than-life abilities — starting with Shohei Ohtani, Aaron Judge, Paul Skenes, and Juan Soto. The end of the video teases even more players, easily identifiable by the names...
Odekake Kozame Creator Makes Bocchi the Rock! Crossover Comic
World's cutest shark & Bocchilla reign at AnimeJapan, to Kana Hanazawa's delight
― The world's cutest shark and Bocchilla united to hold sway at Japan's biggest anime convention this past weekend, to the delight of their fans, including a certain famous voice actress. Odekake Kozame creator Penguin Box released a Bocchi the Rock! collaboration short comic on March 19. The four-page comic follows as t...
MLB Tokyo Series Plays Up Shohei Ohtani's Mega Pokémon Connection
It's official: the Los Angeles Dodgers star is Mega Garchomp
― You might have missed it in the global telecast, but attendees at the Major League Baseball (MLB) Tokyo Series opener between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs saw players introduced with accompanying visuals of Mega Pokémon. For example, the Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani and Tommy Edman were introduced as Mega Garchomp (Gaburias in Japa...
Naruto, Mr. Osomatsu, Chibi Maruko-chan Enjoy a Night Out in Restaurant App Ads
The sextuplets each get their own version of the commercials
― Japanese restaurant app Hot Pepper Gourmet launched a series of collaboration commercials with Naruto, Mr. Osomatsu, Tensai Bakabon, and Chibi Maruko-chan on Sunday. The three sets of commercials feature Naruto and Iruka, the Matsuno sextuplets with Tensai Bakabon's Papa, and Maruko Sakura and Tomozō Sakura enjoying a night out in differ...
Happy White Day From Around the Anime World, Part II
Featuring Oshi no Ko, The Apothecary Diaries, Project SEKAI COLORFUL STAGE, Masami Obari, Naruto, & more!
― While the holiday is not as popular as Valentine's Day, White Day is a staple holiday in Japan. Less about professing love and more about returning the sentiments from Valentine's Day, it's the perfect holiday for the ever-considerate Japanese people. That includes all the anime and manga creat...
Happy White Day From Around the Anime World, Part I
Featuring Demon Slayer, PlayStation, Sakamoto Days, The 100 Girlfriends Who Really, Really, Really, Really, Really Love You, The Rose of Versailles, & more!
― On March 14, Japanese people celebrate White Day — a holiday like Valentine's Day, except traditionally boys and men would give girls and women marshmallows. Over the years, it has slowly shifted closer to Valentine's Day with everyone giving t...
Latest Chibi Maruko-chan Beer Ad Finally Assembles Trio in New York Bar
Hanawa-kun gives each señorita a rose for achieving their dreams
― On Friday, Suntory's Premium Malt's beer brand released the third installment of its Chibi Maruko-chan collaboration commercial series. Titled “Premalt-chan Blue Rose”, the commercial sees Momoko “Maru-chan” Sakura (played by Suzu Hirose) joined by her friend Tamae “Tama-chan” Honami (played by Sairi Ito) and classmate Kazuhiro “Hanaw...
McDonald's Rolls Out Hatsune Miku Collaboration
Miku makes McShaker Fries Miku Miku at MikuDonald's
― McDonald's Japan revealed its McShaker Fries (a.k.a. Shaka Shaka Potato in Japan) collaboration with the Vocaloid idol Hatsune Miku on March 9, Miku Day, after teasing it last month. The fast-food giant parodied the famous Miku song “Mikumiku Ni Shiteageru [Shiteyanyo]” by saying “Shakashaka Ni Shiteageru” and included a music video parodying the ...
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