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Persona 5: The Phantom X Makes Smart Changes to the Traditional Persona Formula
The free-to-play spin-off brings smaller-scaled crimes to your mobile device.
― Persona 5 was released almost a decade ago in Japan. Since then, we've had many spin-offs: Persona 5 Strikers, Persona 5 Tactica, Persona 5: Dancing in Starlight, and Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth. I'm surprised we haven't had a Persona 5 spin-off fighting game. While the whole world is waiting for even the slightest ...
Best New K-Comics to Read in May
Before May ends, come find your new K-Comic reads in our rundown of the most interesting new titles of the month. From classic Regency romance to lady gangsters selling smuggled cigarettes, there's a little bit of everything to be found.
― Welcome back to our rundown of the best, or at least most interesting, K-Comics released in a given month! April didn't happen because of the Spring K-Comics Guide...
Anime Director Shinichirō Watanabe's Corporate Dystopias
Kambole Campbell looks at the political throughline of Watanabe's work, from Cowboy Bebop's destroyed moon to Lazarus' healthcare crisis.
― Whether it's the sprawling mix of frontier towns and multicultural urban mazes of Cowboy Bebop, or the more clearcut contrast seen in Carole & Tuesday's Martian landscape or “Babylonia City” in Lazarus—familiarity bleeds through the various futurescapes in the wo...
Bravely Default Switch 2 Remaster Game Preview
From 3DS to Switch 2, George Yang checks out this RPG's graphical and interface updates to see if it's worth the double-dip or a first-time playthrough.
― Bravely Default was a gem on the Nintendo 3DS back in 2012. Its turn-based combat and sense of adventure invoked old-school Final Fantasy vibes during a time where so many other games were incorporating open-worlds and more action-oriented gameplay...
Bringing Utaite to the World: Singer Ado on Tour
The chart-topping singer is in the midst of her Hibana world tour, with a special concert film opening in U.S. theaters this week. We spoke with Ado about her performances and the special place Hatsune Miku holds in her heart.
―
Since her debut in October 2020, Ado has taken the music world by storm. She released her first single, "Usseewa," at only 17 years old, topping the Billboard Japan charts. ...
Rock is a Lady's Modesty Director Shinya Watada and the Rise of Girl Bands
The hit series' director Shinya Watada discusses working with real-life group BAND-MAID, the inescapable appeal of female rockers, and how they reflect the times we live in.
― Inside the walls of Oshin Girls' Academy, an unexpected story is forming. Lilisa, the new step-daughter of a rich father, is determined to cement her status and become the school's next Noble Maiden. However, deep in her heart ...
Your Anime Rankings - Best of Spring 2025, May 13-19
This week while The Apothecary Diaries is taking a break, Apocalypse Hotel grabs the first place! 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 ranki...
Returning to Hell Teacher: Jigoku Sensei Nube After 30 Years: Voice Actor Ryōtarō Okiayu
Voice actor Ryōtarō Okiayu returns as Meisuke “Nube” Nueno this summer, and his Demon's Hand is fired up!
― In 1996, a modern action-horror series graced the airwaves of Japan. That series was none other than Jigoku Sensei Nube. Following the clumsy elementary school teacher Meisuke “Nube” Nueno, he fights off spirits who would harm his students with his Demon's Hand. The series was massively popular...
Raidou Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army Is Shaping Up to Be One of Atlus' Best Games
I spent three hours playing the remaster's first two chapters, and it's shaping up to be one of Atlus' best games, especially from a combat angle.
―
Atlus and Sega had quite a momentous 2024 with the release of big hits like Persona 3 Reload, Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, and Metaphor: ReFantazio. This year, Atlus is taking it a bit easy with its releases. Raidou Remastered: The Mystery of the Sou...
Best K-Comics to Read on Tappytoon
Whether you're looking for a BL set on a rural farm, want to learn more about Mesopotamian mythology, or need a new action comic to whet your appetite, check out our picks!
― Webtoons have exploded in popularity over the past few years, which means there are many sites and apps to choose from when you're looking for your next read. So, we thought it might be helpful to give you a place to start, espe...
Your Anime Rankings - Best of Spring 2025, Apr 1-May 12
Now resuming your regularly scheduled weekly rankings, with Anne Shirley and The Apothecary facing off for first place of the Spring 2025 season!
― 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 how peo...
Interview with Alya Sometimes Hides Her Feelings in Russian Creator Sunsunsun
What started as an idea for an isekai story evolved into a fan-favorite romantic comedy! We talk to Sunsunsun about writing his hit light novel series.
― Alya Sometimes Hides Her Feelings in Russian resonated with a lot of anime fans thanks to its comedy and interesting character dynamics. The story of a young girl who hides her true romantic feelings behind the Russian language is rather unique, eve...
The Spring 2025 Manga Guide After-Dark (18+)
Welcome to the steamy side of ANN's Spring Manga Guide, where all the titles are for adults with a little something for almost every taste.
― 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 fr...
Girls Band Cry Exhibition Brings the Anime's Locations into the Real World
The Grand Opening of the Exhibition also featured an appearance by three members of Togenashi Togeari, Rina (Nina Iseri), Yuri (Momoa Kawaragi), and Shuri (Rupa).
― One of the latest series in the all-girls band genre of anime is none other than 2024's Girls Band Cry. Starring the bands Togenashi Togeari and Diamond Dust and their respective members, the series garnered itself a fan base with its sto...
The Spring 2025 Manga Guide
Now updated with May titles like Kindergarten Wars and JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Part 7: Steel Ball Run. Sponsored by @yenpress!
― Welcome to Anime News Network's Spring 2025 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 something like that for manga is t...
The Spring 2025 K-Comics Guide
Our companion to the Manga Guide, the K-Comics Guide, is here! With titles ranging from sweet to spicy, adventurous to laid back, and historical to contemporary, come see if you can find your next read!
― Welcome to Anime News Network's Spring 2025 K-Comics Guide, the companion to our manga guide! Every included manhwa was published in March or April or is an upcoming May release, although some are ...
Finding the Human Heart in a Cyberpunk World: An Interview with YOUR FORMA Director Takaharu Ozaki
"When you add this into the drama between two people, I thought this work could be condensed to explore modern themes and social issues.”
― Currently-airing anime YOUR FORMA is a sci-fi suspense story set in a world filled with humans and androids. The story follows Electronic Investigator Echika and her “Amicus” —i.e., android—partner Harold, as they dive into people's digital memories to solve crim...
The Spring 2025 Light Novel Guide
It's time for the Spring Light Novel Guide! Come see what the newest releases of spring, including a popular Chinese fantasy, the novel version of a fan-favorite, and more!
― Welcome to Anime News Network's Spring 2025 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 focuses exclusively on series premi...
Anne Voice Actress Eiko Yamada on What Anne of Green Gables Means to Her
Yamada shares her thoughts on the story and characters that have been integral to so much of her life—starting with the titular Anne.
― With the new anime Anne Shirley on the air and the recently-held concert for the 1979 World Masterpiece Theater Anne of Green Gables anime in Tokyo, the over 100-year-old story is back at the forefront of the Japanese popular consciousness. Thanks to this, Anime News...
Manga in The Crosshairs: The State of Manga Bans in 2025
Coop Bicknell interviewed librarians across the country about how the latest Executive Orders and lists targeting LGBTQ+ are affecting students' ability to read age-appropriate comics.
― Back in 2005, I'd often find myself racing my friends to the public library around the corner from our middle school. Once we walked through the building's double doors, our obnoxious chattering would drop and we'd ...
What Osaka World Expo 2025 Has to Offer for Anime Fans
The Osaka World Expo 2025 kicked off earlier this month, promising to show "Designing Future Society for Our Lives," but what about our otaku lives?
― The Osaka World Expo 2025 kicked off officially on the new artificial island of Yumeshima on April 13. The event will run for six months, through October 13. This is the second time a World Expo is being held in Osaka, after being held there previousl...
The Spring 2025 Manga Guide
This is the final update for the regular Spring Manga Guide, but don't worry - there's more to come!
Sponsored by @yenpress! ― Welcome to Anime News Network's Spring 2025 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 something like that for manga is tric...
Sponsored by @yenpress! ― Welcome to Anime News Network's Spring 2025 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 something like that for manga is tric...
Newtype Exclusive Interview with SAKAMOTO DAYS Cast, Tomokazu Sugita as Taro Sakamoto and Nobunaga Shimazaki as Shin Asakura!
The two lead actors from the hit anime series SAKAMOTO DAYS share their experiences as Sakamoto and Shin!
― Crazy incidents break out in the daily life of this former assassin! Taro Sakamoto is a man who runs a convenience store in a peaceful town. He may look like your regular chubby guy, but he was once known as the "Legendary Hit Man" whom all the bad guys feared. After falling in love and retirin...
Honkai: Star Rail Lead Game Designer Chengnan An on Creating an Immersive World
― ANN caught up with Hoyoverse's Lead Game Designer, Chengnan An, at this year's Game Developer's Conference. After graduating from Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Chengnan An joined HoYoverse in 2016 as the Lead Combat Designer of Honkai Impact 3rd, responsible for developing and fine-tuning the game's combat mechanics. He advanced to a more strategic role in 2019 and now serves as the Lead Game Des...
Backstage Stories About the Making of 1979 Classic Anne of Green Gables with Anne Herself, Eiko Yamada
Eiko Yamada shares how she got the role, working with acclaimed Ghibli directors Isao Takahata and Hayao Miyazaki, and her most memorable moments.
― 2025 is looking to be a big year for Anne of Green Gables. Not only is there a new anime adaptation of Anne Shirley currently airing, but a concert showcasing the music from the 1979 World Masterpiece Theater classic adaptation was held in Tokyo recentl...
The Spring 2025 Manga Guide
The Manga Guide moves into April with new releases like Kaiju No. 8: B-Side, Fabricant 100, Detectives These Days are Crazy, and more. Sponsored by @yenpress!
― Welcome to Anime News Network's Spring 2025 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 som...
Hellsing, Drifters Creator's Exhibition is a Horrifyingly Good Time
The large-scale exhibition chronicled Hirano's work from Hellsing to Drifters, including life-size recreations of props and costumes and some impressive interactive photo areas!
― Last year, I finally crossed Hellsing Ultimate off my backlog, but my experience with the manga was close to zero when I made my way to he Kouta Hirano Super Expo inside the Sunshine City shopping center in Ikebukuro. The ...
The Spring 2025 Manga Guide
With over 100 manga, K-comics, light novels, and adult titles, you'll want to check back every day to find your next page-turner!
― Welcome to Anime News Network's Spring 2025 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 something like that for manga is...
CoMix Wave Films President and CEO Tomohiro Tokunaga Shares His Vision
Tokunaga talks about the studio's decades-long history with director Makoto Shinkai, navigating the pandemic, and a brand-new project with a 'rookie director.'
― CoMix Wave Films entered a new era on May 28, 2024 with the appointment of Tomohiro Tokunaga as President and CEO of the company. A former producer at Telecom Animation Film, Tokunaga has been involved in projects such as Lupin III and sever...
Event Report: JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Overtakes Shibuya!
From Giant Iggy to Steel Ball Run, we have a full report of JOJODAY in Shibuya!
― Just over a decade ago, the anime world was graced with an adaptation of one of the most artistically beautiful shonen manga series: Jojo's Bizarre Adventure. Following the Joestar family through six, depending on how you view the family tree, an array of stories across multiple locales. So, what better way to celebrate...
Inside CoMix Wave Films: The Studio That Made Your Name.
We took a look inside the acclaimed anime studio to talk with its staff about how they made Makoto Shinkai's hit films.
― On the Eastern fringes of Suginami Ward of Tokyo rests Ogikubo. A well-known hub for the development of Tokyo ramen, the town is home to one of the most creative modern anime studios. That studio is none other than CoMix Wave Films. Known for producing all of Makoto Shinkai's film...
The Apothecary Diaries Goes All-Out at Ginza Exhibition
A devoted fan could spend well over an hour wandering through the exhibition's maze of replica items, production materials, and staff notes from the anime's first season.
― The second season of the immensely popular The Apothecary Diaries anime series barreled toward its second half, but not before making a pitstop in Tokyo's swanky Ginza ward. Maomao, Jinshi, and the rest of the Imperial Palace mov...
The Spring 2025 Anime Preview Guide
The spring anime season premieres are wrapping up. Read all our reviews and make sure to vote for your favorites in the Daily Streaming poll!
― Welcome to Anime News Network's Spring 2025 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 ...
The Spring 2025 Anime Preview Guide
The highly-anticipated Gundam GQuuuuuux smashed onto the small screen this week. Read our reviews of studio khara's entry into the mecha franchise. Plus: Apocalypse Hotel, The Shiunji Family Children, MHA Vigilantes, Lazarus, and more!
― Welcome to Anime News Network's Spring 2025 Anime Preview Guide! Here's how it goes: our team of critics writes up their impressions instantly, to be posted here as...
Why I Could Never Survive The Real Life Hunter Exam
It's 8 AM in the middle of nowhere.1,000 people have gathered at Great Meadows in The Plains, Virginia; the first real-life Hunter Exam is about to begin. I didn't stand a chance.
― It's 8 AM in the middle of nowhere. Even the closest McDonald's is more than a 15-minute drive away. But more than 1,000 people have gathered at a rural venue that's normally accustomed to hosting equestrian events. Here...
Summer Pockets Writer, Director On The Hardest Things About Turning a Game into an Anime
“This is kind of bad to say, but there are some works that just can't be adapted [into an anime].”
― During the “'Summer Pockets' Staff Talk Stage by Production Works Gallery”at Anime Japan 2025, game writer Kai and the upcoming anime adaptation director Tomoki Kobayashi spoke a bit about the troubles of turning a game into an anime. The Summer Pockets anime is based on the 2018 Key visual novel of t...
Your Anime Rankings - Best of Winter 2025
Ending the season with a strong episode, The Apothecary Diaries turns the tables on Orb at the very last minute. Check out what else moved up or down in the final ranking of the Winter 2024 season!
― 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...
The Spring 2025 Anime Preview Guide
It's time for another superpowered adventure in My Hero Academia: Vigilantes! Also check out our reviews of Zabi Tabi, Aharen-san wa Hakarenai Season 2, Lazarus, Witch Watch, Kowloon Generic Romance, and more!
― Welcome to Anime News Network's Spring 2025 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 criti...
Voice Actors Shōgo Sakata and Miharu Hanai Talk About Their Love for The Brilliant Healer's New Life in the Shadows
ANN caught up with Shogo Sakata and Miharu Hanai to get their thoughts on playing Zenos and Lily in The Brilliant Healer's New Life in the Shadows.
― At the recent world premiere for upcoming spring anime The Brilliant Healer's New Life in the Shadows
here in Tokyo, ANN sat down with voice actors Shōgo Sakata and Miharu Hanai. Together, they talked
about their respective characters (Zenos and Lily), ...
Director Shu Watanabe on The Too-Perfect Saint and Turning it into an Anime
ANN sat down with Shu Watanabe to discuss the anime adaption of The Too-Perfect Saint and what viewers can expect.
―
Koki Fuyutsuki's light novel series The Too-Perfect Saint may sound like every other saint-based story out there, but it offers some variations on the theme. More Cinderella than its isekai compatriots, the story follows Philia, a protagonist. She carries out her duties perfectly as t...
The Spring 2025 Anime Preview Guide
It's the biggest day yet for our Preview Guide, starting with The Dinner Table Detective! Also check our reviews for Your Forma, Fire Force Season 3, Can a Boy-Girl Friendship Survive?, and more.
― Welcome to Anime News Network's Spring 2025 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 a...
PREVIEW: Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar
Grow your crops, romance your neighbors, and sell them goods in the upcoming Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar remake!
― Once again, the future of the Story of Seasons series lies in the franchise taking a look at its past! Marvelous was generous enough to give us a first look at the upcoming Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar remake. Longtime fans might remember this game from the Nintendo DS; the years h...
Your Anime Rankings - Best of Winter 2025, Mar 19-25
Solo Leveling takes the first spot this week, but it's not enough to move the needle in the cumulative. Stay tuned for 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 rankings are based on how p...
The Best New K-Comics to Read: March 2025
From dungeons to Joseon, come find your next read with our March roundup of the most interesting new K-comics!
― March is the proverbial month of lions and lambs, but the K-comics that are debuting don't necessarily follow that pattern. If anything, it's almost all lions, although that may be because the major flavor of comics on the sites/apps that are available in English is “spicy romance.” But th...
The Most Anticipated Anime of Spring 2025
Each new season brings with it a sense of anticipation. What new shows will wow us? Which ones will sound great on paper and then crumble under their own weight? Which will surprise us?
― Each new season brings with it a sense of anticipation. What new shows will wow us? Which ones will sound great on paper and then crumble under their own weight? Which will surprise us? Our review team gets into wh...
One Piece's Time Change Gets Stage Show
Four One Piece cast members made a grand entrance at AnimeJapan with a 10-minute skit about the planned time slot change.
― Four One Piece cast members made a grand entrance at AnimeJapan with a 10-minute skit about the planned time slot change - and Mayumi Tanaka went all out in her role as a father. AnimeJapan 2025 Day 1 stage shows ended with a bang with One Piece's debut at the event. Where many ...
The Worst Anime of Winter 2025
Not every show can be a winner, and sadly there was no shortage of stinkers in the Winter 2025 season.
― Not every show can be a winner, and sadly there was no shortage of stinkers in the Winter 2025 season. From an elf sexually attracted to her pet to shows that squandered their potential, these are the series our reviewers were underwhelmed by this past season. For our long-time readers, the seaso...
All Three All For One Voice Actors Appear On Stage for AnimeJapan 2025
Voice actors Akio Ōtsuka , Hiroshi Kamiya , and Kōki Uchiyama talk about their All For One experiences.
― Voice actors Akio Otsuka, Hiroshi Kamiya, and Koki Uchiyama talk about their All For One experiences. With the final season of the popular anime series My Hero Academia steadily approaching its final season, five cast members of the anime appeared at the annual AnimeJapan event for a talk show. W...
The Spring 2025 Trailer Anime Watch Party
The Anime Trailer Watch Party returns on Tuesday, March 25, for another season, and Geoff Thew from Mother's Basement is back onboard!
― The Anime Trailer Watch Party returns on Tuesday, March 25, for another season, and Geoff Thew from Mother's Basement is back onboard! Find your next must-watch anime with Anime News Network executive editor Lynzee Loveridge, ANN video producer Jacki Jing, and Geoff...
The Best Anime of Winter 2025
The first anime season of 2025 has wrapped! What shook out as some of the best series of the season?
― The first anime season of 2025 has wrapped! What shook out as some of the best series of the season? Our reviewers piled on the love for the second season of Apothecary Diaries, but one series stood above the rest. For our long-time readers, the seasonal Best Anime, Worst Anime, and Most Anticipate...
Your Anime Rankings - Best of Winter 2025, Mar 12-18
Zenshu narrowly beats Solo Leveling to the top spot this week, and the cumulative is quiet as we enter the final two weeks of the season. 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 th...
Chainsaw Man Voice Actors Reveal Their Favorite Scenes
At Anime Japan this past weekend, three Chainsaw Man voice actors showed off their favorite scenes from the first season—and Power didn't show up in a single one!
― At the “Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc Anime Japan 2025 Special Stage” this past weekend, Chainsaw Man voice actors Kikunosuke Toya (Denji), Tomori Kusunoki (Makima), and Maaya Uchida (Angel Devil) each showed off their favorite scene...
PREVIEW: Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma
Jean-Karlo explores the world of the latest Rune Factory game, Guardians of Azuma, to find out what's ahead for the franchise.
― Fans of Rune Factory can finally sigh in relief: we finally have word on the new Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma title! We were fortunate enough to be given a first-hand look at the game courtesy of Marvelous, who was excited for fans worldwide to experience this new take ...
Acclaimed Director Hideaki Anno Welcomes Fans to Space Battleship Yamato 50th Anniversary Exhibition
“I think this work deserves to be passed down for another half century or more. I hope young people will continue to talk about it, not just for the 50th anniversary, but for the 100th anniversary and beyond.”
― One of Japan's forefathers of the space opera genre of anime, Space Battleship Yamato, celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2024. Created by the late Leiji Matsumoto and Yoshinobu Nishizaki in ...
I Watched It For The Story
We've all been there—you find a show with such a compelling, engaging story that you can't stop watching...but it looks like absolute garbage.
― We've all been there—you find a show with such a compelling, engaging story that you can't stop watching...but it looks like absolute garbage. Maybe the character designs are terrible, maybe the animation is intensely subpar, maybe baffling color choices we...
Your Anime Rankings - Best of Winter 2025, Mar 5-11
After a few weeks of great results in the weekly ranking, Dr. Stone is starting to see this reflect in the cumulative! 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...
Sword Art Online Illustrator BUNBUN Celebrates 20th Anniversary Exhibition
Check out the exhibition to see everything from BUNBUN's Sword Art Online and Yuki Yuna Is a Hero artwork to more obscure finds, like his early doujin!
― Anime and manga exhibitions are mainstay events across Japan. From displays in event centers to established museums, fans of both mediums love seeing manuscripts of their favorite works. Light novel illustrators are often overlooked in their creativ...
Newtype Exclusive Interview with Composer Kaoru Wada: Crafting the Soundscape of Ranma ½
The director's order: “A song with a melody.” Composer Wada discusses how they added a "Chinese feel" to the hit romantic comedy anime!
― The director's order: “A song with a melody.” —How did you feel when you were asked to work on “Ranma”? Wada: I had worked on Inuyasha for a long time and have a close relationship with the original author, Rumiko Takahashi, on both a personal and professional lev...
Sailor Moon: The Super Live Cast Interview
Ahead of the Sailor Moon: The Super Live North American tour, we sat down with the London company to discover what it's like to bring Naoko Takeuchi's beloved magical girl series to the stage.
― Ahead of the Sailor Moon: The Super Live North American tour, we sat down with the London company to discover what it's like to bring Naoko Takeuchi's beloved magical girl series to the stage. Could you intr...
Interview: Zero Escape's Kotaro Uchikoshi on Ever 17 and Never 7 Finally Coming West
Newly available to Western gamers, Uchikoshi talked to us about the evolution of his themes, his popularity overseas, and how COVID changed his thoughts on sci-fi themes.
―
Kotaro Uchikoshi has garnered something of an international cult fandom. He's known for science fiction-themed adventure games such as Zero Escape and AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES and his collaboration with Danganronpa creator Kazutaka ...
Your Anime Rankings - Best of Winter 2025, Feb 26-Mar 4
After several weeks coming close, Zenshu grabs the top spot this week! And in the cumulative, Orb narrowly reclaims #1 from Apothecary Diaries. 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 m...
Getting Started with K-Comics - Tapas
Whether you want to catch up on Doctor Elise, find love in a zombie outbreak, or support characters making bad decisions, you can find your next read on Tapas!
― Webtoons have exploded in popularity over the past few years, which means there are many sites and apps to choose from when you're looking for your next read. So we thought it might be helpful to give you a place to start, especially since m...
Hana-Kimi Exhibition Celebrates Hisaya Nakajo's 30th Career Anniversary
Revisit the iconic manga series before the new anime premieres!
― In 1996, the world of shōjo manga was introduced to Hisaya Nakajo's work Hana Zakari no Kimi-tachi e (Hana-Kimi). Following the fun-loving Mizuki Ashiya as she disguises herself as a boy to enroll in the all-boys Osaka Academy, the story and characters captured the hearts and minds of readers across Japan and, subsequently, the world. ...
History of Saban: Part 3
Haim Saban pulls Disney into his circle, alongside politicians. Meanwhile Power Rangers gets a fresh coat of paint.
― Fox Family Flops and Saban Gambles With Disney By the end of the year 2000, while the Fox Kids programming block was still doing great, the Fox Family Channel had become a debt-ridden disaster for the company and had not recovered in the ratings over the last three years; even having ...
Your Anime Rankings - Best of Winter 2025, Feb 19-25
Sakamoto Days started strong but now appears to be losing steam? 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 mind that these rankings are based on how people rated ...
A Look into Classic Shōjo Manga at Hideko Mizuno's Holiday Gallery
When Osamu Tezuka, the creator of seminal manga Astro Boy, saw the artwork of the then 15-year-old Hideko Mizuno, he told an editor, "She has talent."
― When Osamu Tezuka, the creator of seminal manga Astro Boy, saw the artwork of the then 15-year-old Hideko Mizuno, he told an editor, "She has talent." This event became the catalyst for Mizuno's career, and she went on to become one of the most famou...
Getting To Know The Hosts Of The Award-Winning Shoujo Sundae Podcast
Shoujo Sundae hosts Giana Luna and Chika Supreme share what keeps them motivated, the secret to creating a successful podcast, and their mangaka interview wishlists.
― Anime and manga may be booming worldwide, but when it comes to things like award ceremonies, we all know that anime, manga, and media related to it rarely get the recognition they deserve. So when an anime-related podcast gets nominate...
History of Saban: Part 2
Saban finds an ally in Margaret Loesch, helping to bring in a new wave of transforming heroes to kids. The success would open new doors for anime in the West as the media mogul's ventures take over Fox Kids.
― Striking Gold With Costumed Heroes Moving into the 1990s, Saban Entertainment would begin their relationship with the burgeoning Fox Kids block being helmed by Margaret Loesch, an executive pro...
Your Anime Rankings - Best of Winter 2025, Feb 12-18
Thanks to another great episode, Zenshu climbs the cumulative by severals spots. Meanwhile Übel Blatt suffers the opposite situation. 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 mind that...
Best New K-Comics to Read: February 2025
For the romance-focused month, we've got sweet BL, a writer in a wardrobe, daring love affairs, and just enough to spice to keep it interesting.
― Ah, February, the shortest month with those two most venerable holidays, Valentine's Day and the even more beloved (and fake) Cheap Chocolate Day. It's no surprise that a lot of the K-Comics coming out across reading platforms are so romance-heavy this mon...
The Beginning After The End Web Comic's TurtleMe on His Upcoming Anime Adaptation
A decade after launch, The Beginning After The End is getting the anime treatment. We spoke with the series creator about developing the world and any concerns about the format change up.
― The Beginning After the End is a lot of things. It's a web novel, a webcomic and in 2025, it's going to be an anime directed by Keitaro Motonaga at studio A-CAT. Written by TurtleMe, the story starts with King Gr...
10 Things I Learned About Elden Ring Nightreign Playing the Network Test
This past weekend, a select group of fans from across the world, myself included, got the chance to participate in the Elden Ring Nightreign Network Test. Here's what I learned.
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This past weekend, a select group of fans from across the world, myself included, got the chance to participate in the Elden Ring Nightreign Network Test. Over 18 hours, we experienced a game that takes Elden Ring and mixe...
History of Saban: Part 1
In the first installment of a three-part feature, Kurt Yoder chronicles Haim Saban's beginnings in music to his early cartoon career with Inspector Gadget, Mysterious Cities of Gold and Macron 1.
― Introduction Adapting Japanese media has taken many forms over the past 60 years, from rewriting stories and editing content to creating new music scores. While the practice has mostly fallen out of favor ...
Your Anime Rankings - Best of Winter 2025, Feb 5-11
Isekai series are having a good week, with Solo Leveling and Zenshu taking the first 2 spots and propelling themselves in the cumulative. 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 r...
Studio Mir Director Kang Hei Chu on The Little Mermaid Twist in The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep
Kang Hei Chu discusses the oceanic world-building, A Little Mermaid, veteran voice actor Cockle of The Witcher video games, and whether it's right to call the movie an “anime.”
― The Witcher has sown a bountiful crop of a franchise since Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski published the first Witcher short story in 1986. Sapkowski's The Witcher books acquired adaptations in the form of the CD Projekt Re...
Our Favorite Isekai Titles Are...
We asked our editorial team to pick their favorite isekai anime. Here are our picks for newcomers to the genre or seasoned travelers looking for something different.
― One of the fastest-growing genres in anime is isekai. Each season, variations of these otherworldly adventures appear on screens, usually featuring an unfortunate Japanese salaryman who met his end only to reawaken in some form in a tr...
Newtype Exclusive Interview with Creators Behind ONE PIECE FAN LETTER - Part 2
Creatives Ishitani, Toyoda, and Mori share how the ONE PIECE novel Straw Hat Stories evolved into an animated special with 500 animation cuts!
― In the second part of the interview, Director Megumi Ishitani, Screenwriter Momoka Toyoda, and Character Designer/Animation Director Keisuke Mori discussed the creative process behind ONE PIECE FAN LETTER. (Click here to read Part 1) What were your ideas for...
Creating a Classic JRPG in the Modern Era: An Interview with Final Fantasy Creator Hironobu Sakaguchi
"I write a certain amount every morning, but I do it while I'm engaging in "gameplay" within an imaginary world."
― This past December, Hironobu Sakaguchi, the man known as “The Father of Final Fantasy,” brought an upgraded remaster of his studio's latest JRPG to PC and consoles with Fantasian Neo Dimension. Recently, ANN asked him a few questions about his return to making traditional turn-based RPG...
Your Anime Rankings - Best of Winter 2025, Jan 29-Feb 4
Medalist breaks into the top 5 cumulative, while From Bureaucrat to Villainess emerges as a surprise comedy hit. 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 bas...
Bringing Übel Blatt to the Screen - An Interview with Director Takashi Naoya
Director Naoya shares the reasoning behind some of the anime's story changes and how the team brought Köinzell's vengeance to life.
― Etorouji Shiono's Ubel Blatt manga may seem like an odd choice for a contemporary anime adaptation at first blush - the series was serialized between 2004 and 2019, and it definitely retains the feel of its era of dark fantasy with its grimdark qualities and moments of...
The First ANN Readers' Choice Awards!
The readers have decided! Who was the best female protagonist? What anime was the most underrated? Which anime had the best soundtrack? Find out here!
― Hello, ANN Community! Thank you for participating in our first-ever ANN Readers' Choice Awards! We were absolutely blown away by the outcome! With over 300 participants joining us, the turnout was incredible, and so were the results! And so, without...
Getting Started with K-Comics - WEBTOON
From a fantastical cat to an office space in Hell, here are some of the best K-Comic series to start reading on WEBTOON!
― K-Comics have exploded in popularity over the past few years, and there are a lot of sites and apps to choose from when you're looking for your next read. It might be helpful to give readers a place to start, especially since most of the sites have vast libraries that can be over...
Newtype Exclusive Interview with Creators Behind ONE PIECE FAN LETTER - Part 1
Newtype spoke with director Megumi Ishitani, character designer Keisuke Mori, and scriptwriter Momoka Toyoda about this truly incredible animated special.
― A story of the ordinary and unassuming every-day people A letter to convey one's feelings to the person whom they admire—a fan letter. On October 20, 2024—exactly 25 years since the anime's very first episode was broadcast—a special animated shor...
Hiro Mashima Praises Fairy Tail 2 Video Game in New Interview
“The level of accuracy is high, and being able to walk to places that were actually in the manga is fantastic.”
― While video game adaptations of popular anime are now more than commonplace, few anime are as well suited to jump between the mediums as Hiro Mashima's Fairy Tail. With its sprawling fantasy world, extensive cast of colorful characters, and focus on explosive action, it's no wonder there...
Your Anime Rankings - Best of Winter 2025, Jan 22-28
It's been a while since Yuri on Ice, but now Medalist is drawing the spotlight back to figure skating. 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 ...
The Complete Main Dragon Ball Anime Timeline
The main Dragon Ball story has been continuing across various anime TV series, movies, specials, and OVAs for nearly 40 years now. Here's when each takes place.
― Dragon Ball is a worldwide pop-culture phenomenon—to the point that calling it one of the most popular anime of all time feels like an understatement. From the first episode of the original series to today, there have been hundreds of epis...
Was D.Gray-Man Actually Any Good?
I think part of the reason that D.Gray-man, as a series, stood out to so many people is that it used death as an overarching aesthetic and theme.
― There are plenty of things that a lot of long-running shonen series have in common, from over-the-top fights to themes of friendship and perseverance. One common complaint often thrown at some of the bigger shounen series is the lack of permanence and wei...
The Depiction of Hikikomori in Japanese Pop Culture: Can the Anime Industry Help 'Social Recluses' Break out of Their Shells?
Maja Djordjevic compares the real struggles of hikikomori with their depictions in anime and how Japan is trying to offer solutions to families.
― Distorted representations are endemic to pop culture. By definition, the latter upholds the target ‘popular’ narrative and its basic purpose — instant gratification delivered by means of entertainment. When tackling complex concepts, pop culture prevalentl...
Your Anime Rankings - Best of Winter 2025, Jan 1-21
Here comes our first rankings of the Winter 2025 season, and returning favorites such as Orb and The Apothecary Diaries are hogging the spotlight!
― 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 how pe...
A Chat with Lena Atanassova, Editor-in-Chief of TOKYOPOP
Rebecca Silverman talks to Atanassova about her history with TOKYOPOP, the publisher's LGBTQ+ imprints, and how they're trying to maintain readers' trust.
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As a manga publisher, TOKYOPOP has undergone some difficulties, a statement some readers may think is an understatement. But in its new incarnation, the publisher has made a lot of good changes with solid choices in titles and a dedication to pr...
The State of Isekai Anime
Miles Atherton Thomas crunched the data on one of anime's biggest sub-genres. What makes isekai anime popular, and what kinds of isekai are fans watching the most?
― The State of Isekai, 2025 If you wanted to characterize “the biggest trends in anime of the last decade,” you might be inclined to narrow in on anime's increasingly global presence or the exploding volume of new TV anime being produced....
The Shōjo Anime Renaissance
After a long dry spell, there's finally an increase in shōjo anime adaptations. Which ones are worth watching?
― Anime is not always there for shōjo fans. Not that there isn't any in a given season, but at times it can feel like every other show that comes out is either an adaptation of a Shonen Jump property, a male power fantasy light novel, or something else that isn't all that concerned with attr...
Overtime Is Bringing Sports and Young Anime Fans Together
Founded in 2016, Overtime looks to marry social media, youth sports, and anime fandom. Their latest project? The Overtime Elite webcomic created by Brandon Chen and Inuupen.
― The idea that dorky hobbies and media are niche and ridiculed by more mainstream culture persists in the public consciousness despite there being a growing number of examples to the contrary. Olympic 100-meter dash gold medali...
Getting Started with K-Comics - Manta
K-comics and webtoons have exploded onto the scene with lots of legal sites offering readers an overwhelming amount of choice. Rebecca offers a few good series to start with on Manta's site and app.
― K-Comics have exploded in popularity over the past few years, which means there are many sites and apps to choose from when you're looking for your next read. So, we thought it might be helpful to give ...
The Winter 2025 Anime Preview Guide
All the Winter 2025 anime premieres are right here! Read our reviews and find your next-must watch!
― Welcome to Anime News Network's Winter 2025 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 o...
We Ranked the Official McEva Burgers
McDonald's latest campaign combines fas food with one of anime's biggest franchises. But are the McEva burgers any good?
― In late December 2024, McDonald's Japan announced the unlikeliest of collaborations, one with Evangelion. Starting with the announcement of transformable Evangelion McDonald's toys, the fast-food chain subsequently released a trio of collaboration hamburgers. Dubbed the Cheese Do...
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