Kiyohiko SHIBUKAWA

Once Upon a Katamari Game Review

Nov 8, 12:00

games

The beloved series’ grand return is a raucous roll-er coaster! ― Roughly twenty-one years ago, I was simultaneously bamboozled and bemused by a strange little game I'd plopped into my PlayStation 2. A fifth grader at the time, I'd been tasked with putting all the stars back in the sky alongside a tiny fellow simply known as the Prince...and we were going to do it with something called a “Katamari.” ...

news

10 comments

Square Enix Confirms Layoffs, Restructuring in N. American, European Publishing Operations

Nov 8, 11:15

10 comments

games industry

Reports state more than 100 workers in U.S., UK could be impacted ― In a presentation on Thursday on its earnings for the six-month period ending on September 30, 2025, Square Enix disclosed to investors that the company will be laying off employees in its North American and European publishing operations as part of restructuring of its overseas organizations. The restructuring will involve closing o...

your score

Your Anime Rankings - Best of Fall 2025, Oct 29-Nov 4

Nov 8, 01:00

anime

Tojima Wants to Be a Kamen Rider comes out #1 just ahead of SANDA — two standout shows brimming with originality. 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 are ba...

review

13 comments

Dealing with Mikadono Sisters Is a Breeze Anime Series Review

Nov 7, 12:00

13 comments

anime

This isn't just a love story, it's also one about family, insecurity, imposter syndrome, and the overall pressures of living up to the expectations forced on you by others. ― Are you looking for an anime about sisterhood to fill the empty hole in your heart that The Quintessential Quintuplets left? Then I might have an anime for you! I'm kidding…mostly, but the idea of a harem show specifically revol...

column

This Week in Games - Interview with Nobuyuki Okajima, Producer on Full Metal Schoolgirl Action Game

Nov 7, 11:00

games

We spoke with the producer about the sci-fi schoolgirl action game, as well as a condensed history of Dragon Quest, and Love and Deepspace its dark-skinned character rendering. ― Welcome back, folks! This past weekend was Kumoricon—and my first time covering it professionally! I have a few interviews from the convention that'll go up shortly; it was a fun experience and a delight to speak to the figu...

feature

The Fall 2025 Manga Guide After Dark (18+)

Nov 7, 11:00

manga

Welcome to the steamy side of ANN's Fall Manga Guide. ― Welcome to the steamy side of ANN's Fall Manga Guide. All of these titles are intended for readers 18 and older, ranging from spicy to something a bit more, and featuring a variety of tropes, groupings, and fetishes. Come find your next adult read - there's plenty to choose from. SEPTEMBER Let Me See the Real You, Senpai! Lauren Orsini, Rebecca...

feature

63 comments

Does the Light Novel Translation Process Need AI?

Nov 7, 09:00

63 comments

novels industry

As machine translation tools under the banner of AI become increasingly accessible and easy to use, the light novel landscape is at a crossroads. Do light novel publishers compromise their product for more speed, and if so, by how much? ― Tristan “Arkada” Gallant was hooked on Ascendance of a Bookworm, an isekai light novel series that is currently being translated by J-Novel Club. But when Part 5 Vo...

feature

6 comments

WEBTOON Disputes Union's Unpaid Labor Allegations

Nov 6, 18:25

6 comments

korean

Naver WEBTOON: "Although extremely rare, even if serialization does not proceed, we compensate the creators for the work produced. Claims of unpaid labor are, therefore, inappropriate and untrue." ― Following Anime News Network's November 5 article on allegations of unfair labor practices at Naver WEBTOON, Kiel Hume, VP and Head of Global Communications at WEBTOON Entertainment, reached out to provid...

review

Labyrinth Anime Film Review

Nov 6, 12:00

anime

At the end of the screening of Macross' Shoji Kawamori's latest film, with my head in my hands, I sighed to myself, “How in hell’s name am I supposed to review this?" ― Within the first few minutes of director Shoji Kawamori's Labyrinth, protagonist Shiori laments that “without smartphones, humanity would be doomed”. From the events that later transpire, I suspect Kawamori's opinion is quite the oppo...

column

9 comments

This Week in Anime - The Long, Dark Night of Long-Running Series

Nov 6, 11:00

9 comments

anime

With One Piece about to stop continuous broadcasting, Chris and Coop talk about how logistics have changed. ― With One Piece about to stop continuous broadcasting, Chris and Coop talk about how logistics have changed. Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by the participants in this chatlog are not the views of Anime News Network. Spoiler Warning for discussion of the series ahead. Full Discl...

review

5 comments

Gunsmith Cats Omnibus Volumes 1 and 2 Manga Review

Nov 5, 12:00

5 comments

manga

There are multiple reasons why Sonoda’s Gunsmith Cats keeps getting re-published, and why it remains one of my very favorite manga of all time. ― Kenichi Sonoda's unmistakable art style helped fuel my initial intoxication with anime and manga. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, along with Appleseed's Masamune Shirow and Akira's Katsuhiro Otomo, Sonoda's perky girls with enormous eyes and gravity-defy...

news

Netflix Announces Cosmic Princess Kaguya! Anime Film by Director Shingo Yamashita

Nov 5, 10:45