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Spring 2026 Manga Guide
It's the final update for the Spring Manga Guide, and we're closing out with a new series by Yuu Toyota of Cherry Magic fame: A Starlit Darkness! Plus a series about veterinarians, some zombies, and a contender for longest title!
― Welcome to Anime News Network's Spring 2026 Manga Guide! You may have seen one of our seasonal Anime Preview Guides, where a team of critics writes up each new anime tele...
Interview: Creator Masamune Shirow Trusts Science SARU Team with The Ghost in the Shell Anime
Science SARU's productions hit a high with The Heike Story and haven't come down. The studio has curried favor with mainstream and niche hits, but more so than that, they've gained the trust of Ghost in the Shell creator Masamune Shirow.
― First announced nearly two years ago, Masamune Shirow's iconic Ghost in the Shell manga series is getting a new television anime adaptation from the team at Scienc...
Your Anime Rankings - Best of Spring 2026, Apr 1-21
The Spring season is off to a booming start with anime adaptations of big-name manga such as Daemons of the Shadow Realm, Witch Hat Atelier, and Akane-banashi.
― Let's have a look at what ANN readers consider the best (and worst) of the season,
based on the polls you can find in our Daily Streaming Reviews
and on the Your Score page with the latest simulcasts. Keep in mind that these rankings are ba...
MARRIAGETOXIN Voice Actor Haruki Ishiya on Gero's Strengths, Weaknesses, and Appeal
"Gero dreams of a normal marriage, probably one of the charm points of the story. And I think all the craziness coming from all sides in episode one perfectly encapsulates MARRIAGETOXIN."
― The romantic comedy MARRIAGETOXIN anime produced by Bones Film is out, and at Sakura-Con, Haruki Ishiya, the Japanese voice actor of protagonist Hikaru Gero, spoke with Anime News Network. The story by Joumyaku a...
Spring 2026 Light Novel Guide
The Spring Light Novel Guide is one of the companions to our Spring Manga Guide - come browse our selection of books and decide if your next read will be a mystery, a sci fi thriller, or an isekai treat!
― Welcome to Anime News Network's Spring 2026 Light Novel Guide, the companion to our manga guide! Every included novel was published in March or April or is an upcoming May release. This guide focu...
My Hero Academia Composer Yuki Hayashi Interview: Why “You Say Run” Goes with Everything
"The quiet intro, the drums, [...] the memorable riff. Just having those three elements probably makes it easy to fit with any video."
― Recently, I was able to sit down with composer Yuki Hayashi and talk about his most famous work, the song “You Say Run” from My Hero Academia. We discussed not only the origins of the song and his favorite version of it, but also the meme surrounding it and why the ...
Spring 2026 Manga Guide
Are you enjoying Aimi and Nami's Kirio-based escapades in anime form? Then check out the original manga version of Kirio Fan Club as the manga guide continues!
― Welcome to Anime News Network's Spring 2026 Manga Guide! You may have seen one of our seasonal Anime Preview Guides, where a team of critics writes up each new anime television premiere as it airs at the beginning of a season. Now, doing so...
Apocalypse Hotel's Producer: 'No Sequel Anytime Soon', But the Animators Want It
"Young people who come to Cygames Pictures look at me with sparkling eyes and say, 'It's a company that keeps making originals'.”
― Recently, at the Tokyo Anime Award Festival 2026, three episodes of Apocalypse Hotel were given a theatrical screening. Afterward, character designer Izumi Takemoto and producer Nobuhiro Takenaka came on stage to discuss the episodes—and their thoughts about original ani...
Manga Author Keiko Takemiya Talks Toward the Terra and Its Deeper Meanings
"I grew up reading shōnen manga and didn't read much shōjo manga, so I felt there was potential in being able to draw for a shōnen magazine. I didn't want to miss my chance."
― To celebrate Toward the Terra's manga author, Keiko Takemiya, winning the Tokyo Anime Award Festival 2026 Lifetime Achievement Award, three episodes of the 2007 anime were screened at the festival. Afterward, the now 76-year-o...
Spring 2026 Manga Guide
An arranged marriage doesn't quite go as planned in the yuri fantasy Marrying the Dark Knight (For Her Money)! Plus a charming new fairy tale-style fantasy, a magical girl, and the inevitable Junji Ito short story collection as the Manga Guide continues.
― Welcome to Anime News Network's Spring 2026 Manga Guide! You may have seen one of our seasonal Anime Preview Guides, where a team of critics writ...
Gundam Character Designer Yoshikazu Yasuhiko Talks Venus Wars, New Projects, and AI Art
"Watching [Venus Wars] again after such a long time, I felt it wasn't so bad after all."
― After the recent theatrical screening of the 1989 classic anime Venus Wars at the Tokyo Anime Award Festival 2026, its writer and director, Yoshikazu Yasuhiko, gave a lengthy talk about not only the movie but his work on Gundam and his thoughts on AI art. While Venus Wars has long been available in the West (ev...
'The One Piece is Real,' An Interview with Reese Alexiades from The Savannah Bananas
If baseball is the world, then MLB is the World Government, the big organization over all. Who then are the pirates in that world? Well, let me introduce you to the Savannah Bananas.
― Summer is only a few months away in North America, and what says “summer” more than baseball? The sound of the bat hitting a ball, the shouts of the crowd, the opening music of One Piece… While it might seem ridiculous...
Aspiring Animators Honored at AnimeJapan's Emerging Creator Awards Ceremony
Winners received a cash prize and an invitation to head to Anime Expo!
― AnimeJapan is not well known for its awards, but runs the annual “Manga We Want to See Animated” fan poll. However, in 2026, the yearly anime event announced the new Emerging Creator Awards in partnership with the Japanese government's Japan Creator Support Fund and with Crunchyroll sponsoring. The award seeks to find new talen...
Exploring Lupin III Kabuki: Classical Japanese Theater Meets a Modern Classic
Lupin and co. enter a feudal Japan full of astonishing costumes and make-up in the new Lupin III: The beautiful azure castle kabuki play.
― Arguably one of the greatest action-heist anime and manga franchises is Lupin the Third. With its iconic characters of the master thief Lupin III, marksman Daisuke Jigen, honorable swordsman Goemon Ishikawa XIII, femme fatale Fujiko Mine, and the ever-persistent ...
The Spring 2026 Anime Preview Guide
The Guide's almost over, but we've still got a new show - check out I Want to End This Love Game!
― Welcome to Anime News Network's Spring 2026 Anime Preview Guide! Here's how it goes: our team of critics writes up their impressions instantly, to be posted here as they go along. Each critic will cover as many shows as they can handle, giving you alternate takes on almost every show. The guide is ong...
How Ace Combat Inspired the Sentenced to Be a Hero Author
After six years, Sentenced to Be a Hero has achieved an impressive amount of success: eight published volumes, a manga adaptation, and an anime adaptation by Studio Kai. With the first season wrapped, we reached out to creators Rocket Shokai and Mephisto to get more insights into their views on its success.
― Sentenced to Be a Hero is a light novel series that has been in publication since 2020. Afte...
Mulasaki Ima Takes a “New Walk” for Eren the Southpaw Anime
The viral hit-maker behind "Femme Fatale A" and "That Classmate" traveled to NYC for her latest track, the ending song for Eren the Southpaw.
― The title character of Eren the Southpaw, a new anime streaming on Crunchyroll and based on the manga by Kappi and Nifuni, is an artist working in New York City. Inspired by this, up-and-coming J-pop artist Mulasaki Ima decided to travel to NYC to film the mu...
The Spring 2026 Anime Preview Guide
Juzo's going back to middle school in Kill Blue after this 39-year-old assassin is stung by a mysterious wasp that regresses his body to age 13. How's that going to work out for him? Also get our reviewers' thoughts on Yowayowa Sensei, Fist of the North Star, A Hundred Scenes of AWAJIMA, and more!
― Welcome to Anime News Network's Spring 2026 Anime Preview Guide! Here's how it goes: our team of crit...
Your Anime Rankings - Best of Winter 2026
Journal With Witch is the uncontested winner of the season, but Sentenced to Be a Hero finishes on the strongest possible note to secure itself a last-minute bump in the cumulative. Check out last season's final verdict!
― Let's have a look at what ANN readers consider the best (and worst) of the season,
based on the polls you can find in our Daily Streaming Reviews
and on the Your Score page with t...
A Brief History of Rakugo
The world of rakugo is waiting for you, with fart jokes and ghosts galore; all you have to do is sit down and listen.
― There's a widely held view that humans are, in terms of communication, storytellers. We enjoy spinning yarns, gossiping about others, relaying mundane tasks as heroic quests, and investing in our future by passing on the tales of those who came before. There are numerous storytelli...
The Spring 2026 Anime Preview Guide
RE:Zero is back! Will Subaru be able to get things right on the first try? Also check out our reviewers' thoughts on Gals Can't Be Kind to Otaku?!, Eren the Southpaw, Rent-a-Girlfriend Season 5, Even a Replica Can Fall in Love , and more!
― Welcome to Anime News Network's Spring 2026 Anime Preview Guide! Here's how it goes: our team of critics writes up their impressions instantly, to be posted here...
Sailor Guardians Take on a Modern Threat in Stunning New Musical Show
In a world that demands perfection insofar as we're creating algorithms to streamline the humanity out of art, the cast sings that "imperfection is fine" and that it's what is necessary to make us human.
― It felt like a full-circle career moment. There I was, in Japan, mostly for the annual AnimeJapan event coverage. This is my third year flying out of the country to intermingle with Japanese compan...
Absolute Borderline: The Early Days of Evangelion Fandom, Part Three
Brian brings us to the end of the beginning in the final part of his history of Evangelion fandom.
― So, ADV had just announced that they had acquired the North American rights to the Evangelion TV series. Not only that, but they also promised a version with all new animation, confusing Western fans. And how did Gainax respond to the news? Four days after ADV's announcement, Michael House, Gainax's i...
The Spring 2026 Anime Preview Guide
This is not a drill - Purson has finally made his official appearance in Season 4 of Welcome to Demon School, Iruma-kun! Also check out our reviewers' takes on Ascendance of a Bookworm Part 3: Adopted Daughter of an Archduke, The Angel Next Door Spoils Me Rotten, That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime Season 4, and more!
― Welcome to Anime News Network's Spring 2026 Anime Preview Guide! Here's how ...
The Most Anticipated Anime of Spring 2026
There is no rest for dedicated otaku. The winter season offered a wealth of great stories, from action to romance, and spring is shaping up to do the same.
― There is no rest for dedicated otaku. The winter season offered a wealth of great stories, from action to romance, and spring is shaping up to do the same. We have the long-awaited return to Hole in Dorohedoro Season 2, a brand-new pint-sized h...
The Worst Anime of Winter 2026
With so many excellent anime this season, we had to dig a little deeper to find true disappointment.
― With so many excellent anime this season, we had to dig a little deeper to find true disappointment. There's the show that found magical reasoning to make a toddler an object of sexual desire, the "We Have Jujutsu Kaisen at home" series, and others that were just, well, boring. 5. An Adventurer's D...
The Spring 2026 Anime Trailer Watch Party Premieres Tomorrow Night!
Flowers are blooming, and a new anime season is looming! Get a taste of the entire spring 2026 anime season with us tomorrow on YouTube!
― Flowers are blooming, and a new anime season is looming! Anime News Network's Lynzee Loveridge, James Beckett, and Jacki Jing are happy to announce that YouTube personality Geoff Thew (Mother's Basement) is joining us to watch over 60 trailers from the upcoming an...
Your Anime Rankings - Best of Winter 2026, Mar 12-18
Journal With Witch goes down to #2 for the first time in 10 weeks as Frieren wows us with magic battle extravaganza! Check out our weekly user rankings!
― Let's have a look at what ANN readers consider the best (and worst) of the season,
based on the polls you can find in our Daily Streaming Reviews
and on the Your Score page with the latest simulcasts. Keep in mind that these rankings are based on ...
The Best Anime of Winter 2026
This winter season offered a bounty of viewing choices. How many anime did you watch this season, and what made your top 10?
― This winter season offered a bounty of viewing choices. For the first time in a while, I found myself stretched between girls murdering one another in death games, a heartfelt family drama about grief and identity, cackling historical heroes, and at least two anime about mal...
Making 'Bad' Animation Beautiful: An Interview with ChaO Director Yasuhiro Aoki
"with ChaO, I just did what I wanted to do, and I've always liked looking at things from a different angle, and finding something different, and I think that's what I've done."
― Studio 4°C's feature film ChaO opened in Japan this August, by which time it had already been acquired by GKIDS. Now it's finally opening in theaters in North America on April 10. ChaO screened at international festivals, in...
Interview: Masahiko Ohta, the Go-To Director for Anime About Eccentric Young Girls, On His New Anime
From Himouto! Umaru-chan to My Deer Friend Nokotan, Masahiko Ohta's greatest hits have all been about crazy high school girls. His newest, The Demon King's Daughter is Too Kind, changes up the formula by having a much younger protagonist.
― Recently, Anime News Network was able to sit down with Director Masahiko Ohta and talk about his newest anime, The Demon King's Daughter is Too Kind. In the proce...
Read it First: Manga, Light Novel Sources for Spring 2026 Anime
Not sure what to watch in the coming anime season? Read our reviews of the manga and light novels that inspired the shows from Witch Hat Atelier to Daemons of the Shadow Realm!
― It's hardly a rule that you have to read the source material before you watch the adaptation, but what if you want to? A decade ago, anime fans who wanted to read the manga or light novel before the show debuted were out of...
Your Anime Rankings - Best of Winter 2026, Mar 5-11
While good ol' Frieren climbs back to #3 this week, let's give a nod to the ever-reliable You and I Are Polar Opposites, which has comfortably held its ground between #10 and #4 in our weekly user rankings!
― Let's have a look at what ANN readers consider the best (and worst) of the season,
based on the polls you can find in our Daily Streaming Reviews
and on the Your Score page with the latest simu...
Interview: Ryuya Suzuki on Writing, Directing, Animating, and Scoring His First Feature Film, Jinsei
Jinsei isn’t your typical anime film. With a few exceptions, it was made entirely by one man.
― Jinsei isn't your typical anime film. It was written, directed, animated, and scored entirely by one man: Ryuya Suzuki. At the 38th Tokyo International Film Festival, Anime News Network sat down with him to discuss not only making the film but also the themes, messages, and ideas behind it. Turn the clock ...
Your Anime Rankings - Best of Winter 2026, Feb 26-Mar 4
The Holy Grail of Eris climbs to #4 this week while the top 3 spots are hogged by the Journal-Kamuy-Fate triumvirate. Find out where your favorites rank this week!
― Let's have a look at what ANN readers consider the best (and worst) of the season,
based on the polls you can find in our Daily Streaming Reviews
and on the Your Score page with the latest simulcasts. Keep in mind that these rankings ar...
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It's time to boot up your Commodore Amiga. We're making fansubs on tape.
― Episode 1 aired on October 4, 1995, on TV Tokyo at 6:30 pm. Posts on RAA acknowledged the high quality of the episode, comparing it to OVAs coming out at the same time. There was also praise for both the opening and ending, with one commentator writing that the casting of Megumi Hayashibara as Rei went against the usual chara...
Yoko Takahashi Wields the Lance of Longinus in Stunning Evangelion Concert
Takahashi performed “Cruel Angels Thesis,” “Fly me to the Moon 2020,” more for 30th anniversary concert.
― The second day of the Evangelion:30+; 30th Anniversary of Evangelion fan festival ended with a nearly 60-minute concert of Evangelion songs from across the franchise's 30-year history during the “DAY 2 UNION PART.” Not just any Evangelion songs, though, but Yoko Takahashi Evangelion songs. Featu...
Art and Tech Meet in Evangelion 30th Anniversary Exhibition Area
The massive Evangelion exhibition featured a huge Unit-01, 26 CRT TVs, and a new VR experience.
― Renowned anime franchise Evangelion has entered its pearl anniversary year. And to kick off the 30th anniversary of the franchise, the Yokohama Arena in Yokohama, Japan hosted the Evangelion:30+; 30th Anniversary of Evangelion fan festival from February 21 to 23. Celebrating all things Evangelion, the ev...
Evangelion Fashion Looks to the Future
Gendo VA Fumihiko Tachiki takes a surprising career turn as runway model
― The first day festivities of the Evangelion:30+; 30th Anniversary of Evangelion fan festival started strong with an Evangelion fashion show and dance performance during the “DAY 1 UNION PART.” While one would think the fashion show centered on fans and their Evangelion-coordinated outfits, it was, in fact, a show of official E...
Evangelion Kabuki Performance Took to the Skies
Shinji and Kaworu's relationship is immortalized in a classical Japanese theater performance.
― The final day of the Evangelion:30+; 30th Anniversary of Evangelion fan festival ended with a bang: a kabuki production of Evangelion. Titled Kabuki Symphony No. 1 Evangelion, the play starred Kichitaro Uemaru as Shinji Ikari and Shoroku Onoe as Kaworu Nagisa. The nearly 60-minute production offered a new ...
A Niche of Their Own – Diving into the Top Anime Titles by Streaming Platform
Kalai looks at Netflix's past and current reports to find what anime everyone is really watching.
― 2025 proved to be a big year for anime, as global box office performance and streaming views compete head-to-head with Hollywood-produced content. Streaming giants, Netflix, Disney+, and Amazon Prime Video have been investing in their anime library and even chasing those audiences in other avenues, suc...
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Brian Stremick crosses the Absolute Terror Field to chronicle the inseparable mingling of technology, early fandom, and Evangelion in this three-part retrospective.
― Shock waves were sent across Japan and the world at the close of the Neon Genesis Evangelion 30th anniversary celebrations on February 23, 2026. A brand new Evangelion TV is now in production, with Yokō Tarō (Nier: Automata) writing th...
Your Anime Rankings - Best of Winter 2026, Feb 19-25
After fairly good rankings hovering between #12 and #5, Hell's Paradise grabs #2 this week! See how all your favorites fared in our weekly user rankings.
― Let's have a look at what ANN readers consider the best (and worst) of the season,
based on the polls you can find in our Daily Streaming Reviews
and on the Your Score page with the latest simulcasts. Keep in mind that these rankings are based on...
Mushrooms and Fairy Tales: An Interview with the Director and Producer of Champignon Witch
"Luna is a rare kind of shojo heroine—someone who struggles both to love and to be loved."
― Deep in the black forest lives an unusual witch—Luna the Champignon Witch. Luna is a black witch, and her body emits poison, which means that everyone in town fears her. But Luna is a kind, gentle soul trying to survive in a dark world that distrusts black witches despite the very necessary function they fulf...
Your Anime Rankings - Best of Winter 2026, Feb 12-18
The Invisible Man and His Soon-to-Be Wife is softly conquering hearts and climbing the rankings. Find out how your favorite shows fared in our weekly user rankings.
― Let's have a look at what ANN readers consider the best (and worst) of the season,
based on the polls you can find in our Daily Streaming Reviews
and on the Your Score page with the latest simulcasts. Keep in mind that these rankings a...
Anime Fits Metal Like a Powerglove
Since 2005, Powerglove has made the headbanging-est power metal covers of your favorite songs—from video games to anime. To learn more, ANN sat down with the band to talk all things metal, anime, and their upcoming album.
― Since 2005, Powerglove has been making the headbanging-est power metal covers of your favorite songs from video games and Saturday-morning cartoons. They've performed around the w...
Exploring Studio ENGI, the Anime Studio Behind Medalist
During the PacSet “ANN in Japan 2025” tour, anime fans from around the globe were granted the exceedingly rare privilege to see how and where the sausage gets made.
― This past autumn, as part of the PacSet “ANN in Japan 2025” tour, about a dozen other anime fans from around the globe were granted the exceedingly rare privilege to tour a brick-and-mortar anime studio. It was a chance to see how the s...
Is it Really Impossible to Make a Living as an Animator in Japan?
There have been numerous horror stories about working as a newbie animator in Japan—namely, the inability to earn a living wage. To find out if this was still the case, ANN met freelance and studio-employed animators, studio heads, and animator-rights advocates.
― From reports of monthly salaries as low as 160,000 yen (US$1,034) in 2015 to the examples of scant wages seen with 2020's #AnimationPaidMe...
Okay, So What's VOTOMS?
VOTOMS is always waiting to be discovered, as a story that has been continually added to for decades, with a style and vibe that speak to anyone who likes their robots just a little more real.
― Last month, a surprise trailer dropped for an unexpected project: a new anime in the Armored Trooper VOTOMS franchise, from owner studio Sunrise, with collaboration from Production I.G, and helmed by storied ...
I Played the Never-to-be-Released Danganronpa 2x2 Special Trial Version
Made specifically for the Danganronpa 15th Anniversary Event, this short, 15-minute vertical slice was designed to give the most hardcore Danagaronpa fans an original mystery never to be seen again.
― Earlier this month, I was able to visit Spike Chunsoft headquarters in Tokyo to try out the Danganronpa 2x2 Special Trial Version on the Nintendo Switch 2. Made specifically for the November 2025 Dangan...
Your Anime Rankings - Best of Winter 2026, Feb 5-11
Despite starting second from the bottom with middling reviews, The Villainess Is Adored by the Prince of the Neighbor Kingdom has surged to #5 this week. Consider my curiosity well and truly piqued by this week’s 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...
Lovely Angels Done Dirty? The Dirty Pair Kickstarter Saga
Dirty Pair fans came out of the woodwork to back this project—to the tune of US$731,406 what they got were years of delays, authoring problems, and a disc wrapped in a napkin. What happened?
― Full Disclosure: Coop regularly works with Justin Sevakis and MediaOCD, including the modern incarnation of AnimEigo. His opinions given here are purely his own and do not reflect those of his employers. On Oc...
The Winter 2026 Manga Guide After Dark (18+)
Happy Valentine's Day, and welcome to the steamy side of ANN's Winter Manga Guide!
― Welcome to the steamy side of ANN's Winter 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. DECEMBER The Cuckolding Wizard's A...
The Camphorwood Custodian Event Report
The cast shared their memories working on the whimsical series and what they would take care of if they were "custodians."
― 2026 is off to a strong start with anime films, with the release of The Camphorwood Custodian on January 30. Adapted from Keigo Higashino's 2020 novel of the same name, the story follows Reito Naoi as he takes on the duties of the titular Camphorwood Custodian. The film has a w...
Anime in 2025: Is the Crunchyroll Cage Real?
Is it a death sentence when anime series stream outside of Crunchyroll? Kalai Chik looks at the numbers to see whether the common conception is true.
― Over 250 anime titles premiered in the U.S. across Crunchyroll, Netflix, Amazon's Prime Video, HIDIVE, Hulu, Disney+, and HBO Max in 2025. To no surprise, series exclusive to Crunchyroll make up almost half of the anime that reach the U.S. market. Con...
With FATAL FRAME II: Crimson Butterfly REMAKE, We're in a Horror Game Golden Age
When I got the chance to preview the opening chapters of FATAL FRAME II: Crimson Butterfly REMAKE, I was excited to be reintroduced to the familiar tale. What immediately struck me, though, was just how thorough and considered a reconstruction this really is.
― If there is one thing that I can say has been uniformly great about surviving the 2020s (so far), it's that we've gotten to experience a new ...
My Thoughts After 20 Hours With Monster Hunter Stories 3
The same things that will inevitably make this game more tedious for some players will also scratch a hyper-specific itch for others.
― Monster Hunter is one of those game franchises like Harvest Moon/Story of Seasons, where it's not totally uncommon to find people who get super into it, have encyclopedic knowledge of it, and have save files easily exceeding 300 hours. I… am not one of those people. ...
Celebrating Girls-Love at the Yen Press Yuri Café in New York City
In a brutally cold New York February, there’s a warm home for yuri fandom at the Yen Press Yuri Café
― In 2025, The Guy She Was Interested In Wasn't A Guy At All by Sumiko Arai, often referred to as the “Green Yuri” among fans, saw incredible success. Named Best Manga of the Year at the American Manga Awards, it has opened doors for other yuri manga, including inee's Love Bullet, to get full merchand...
Rewriting the Chivalrous Yakuza: Interview with Stray Manga Writer Ryu Kamio
"I have no time for those who uncritically submit to authority. If one senses that the direction their group is heading is misguided, I believe they should have the courage to cry out that it is wrong."
― Writer Ryū Kamio and artist Yu Nakahara's newest work available in English is Stray, a twisty crime drama that follows Hachiya Ken, a man who just finished serving time in prison for a crime he did ...
Pokémon Pokopia Might Be A Lot Darker Then We Think
I wasn’t expecting a game that looked like this to have potentially darker implications!
― The Pokémon franchise has always toyed with the idea of utilizing Pokémon in creative ways outside of battling. In the anime, Pokémon are sometimes used to help out with infrastructure or power cities. In the video games, Pokémon abilities can be used to alter terrain in order to access new areas or solve puzzl...
Your Anime Rankings - Best of Winter 2026, Jan 29-Feb 4
If Jujutsu Kaisen's ups and downs are giving you whiplash, check out Shiboyugi, a consistently high-rated little surprise. Find out what else is worth your attention 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...
The Winter 2026 K-Comics Guide
It's the Winter K-Comics Guide for all of you manhwa and webtoon needs! Come find your new full-color favorite!
― Welcome to Anime News Network's Winter 2026 K-Comics Guide, the companion to our manga guide! Every included manhwa was published in December or January, although some are ongoing titles without a physical release. This guide focuses exclusively on series premieres, i.e., only the first ...
A League of Heels - The Spices Behind Sports' Best Baddies
There is no summit without the mountain. Coop Bicknell explains the importance of a good rival in sports anime.
― If you've ever watched sports, an action film, or the occasional episode of anime, I'm fairly sure you've heard the term “heel” thrown around. Instead of describing a part of your foot, this bit of professional wrestling parlance refers directly to the bad guy—those who'll stop at nothin...
Going for the Gold! Our Favorite Sports Anime
The 2026 Winter Olympics are underway in beautiful Italy, but it's not just pro athletes racing for the finishing line; anime has its own sports stars, too.
― The 2026 Winter Olympics are underway in beautiful Italy, but it's not just pro athletes racing for the finishing line; anime has its own sports stars, too. We asked Anime News Network's critics to highlight their favorite sports stories: the ...
The Evolution of Shōjo Manga in the 1970s with Curator Rei Yoshimura
The manga studies specialist talks about the diversity of shojo and its reflection of girls' and women's lives across decades.
― This January, the Japan House London in Kensington hosted a talk by manga curator Rei Yoshimura. Yoshimura, pictured right, has worked as a curator for more than a decade, first at the Kawasaki City Museum and since 2017 at the National Arts Centre in Tokyo (NACT). A specia...
Can Nintendo's Biggest Flop Find New Life on the Switch 2?
ANN writer Bolts tests out the Virtual Boy to see if the oft-maligned console finally works in 2026. Plus, first impressions of Meetup in Bellabel Park, Mario Tennis Fever, Resident Evil Requiem, and PRAGMATA.
― Nintendo has many fun games, products, and expansions planned for the coming months. With Mario Tennis Fever, Resident Evil Requiem, Super Mario Bros. Wonder – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Mee...
Your Anime Rankings - Best of Winter 2026, Jan 22-28
Journal with Witch takes over Frieren's #1 spot in the cumulative. Meanwhile Golden Kamuy and Fate/strange Fake are dominating #3 and #4. Discover how the season is shaping up 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 simulc...
What's So Bad About a Little Change?— A Look at Anime Adaptations
What makes a good anime adaptation can be trickier than it seems on the surface, and much like there's no one right way to create a story, there's no one right way to adapt one.
― Around the time I was first seriously getting into anime and manga, the most popular anime was the 2003 version of Fullmetal Alchemist. While I was vaguely aware that it diverged from Hiromu Arakawa's original manga and sa...
Manga Creation with Kazumi Yamashita
Kazumi Yamashita has been creating manga since 1980. Come find out what makes her work so enduring.
― Manga creator Kazumi Yamashita has been crafting stories in the medium since 1980. Originally debuting in Margaret, Yamashita has moved fluidly through both shoujo and seinen magazines, bringing readers stories that are steeped in humanity even when they don't deal with characters who are, strictly s...
The Winter 2026 Manga Guide
It's the final update for the Winter Manga Guide, but don't worry - our K-Comics and 18+ Guides are on the way! In the meantime, check out Ghost & Witch, the new series from the creator of The Ancient Magus' Bride, and more!
― Welcome to Anime News Network's Winter 2026 Manga Guide! You may have seen one of our seasonal Anime Preview Guides, where a team of critics writes up each new anime televisio...
Greek Mythology and its Magical Adaptations in Manga and Anime
Asha Bardon explores how Greek myths form the basis of anime and manga series.
― Greek mythology is in vogue these days; we have novel series like Percy Jackson and Netflix has several series retelling or remixing mythology. There are heaps of novels like Madeline Miller's Circe and even an amazing Odyssey-inspired concept album for a musical called Epic! Oh, and Christopher Nolan's next movie has ju...
Your Anime Rankings - Best of Winter 2026, Jan 1-21
Welcome to the rankings for the Winter 2026 season! It's hard to beat Frieren, but Journal with Witch certainly seems up to the task, with every episode a home run.
― Let's have a look at what ANN readers consider the best (and worst) of the season,
based on the polls you can find in our Daily Streaming Reviews
and on the Your Score page with the latest simulcasts. Keep in mind that these rankings a...
The Extraordinary Magic of Ichi the Witch
The first female writer-artist duo in Jump history has created a uniquely magical series that capitalizes on charm while juggling fantasy, action, and comedy.
― For better or worse, Shonen Jump reigns supreme in the world of anime and manga and has consistently churned out some of the biggest franchises on the market. As such, in the wake of juggernauts like My Hero Academia and Jujutsu Kaisen havin...
The Winter 2026 Manga Guide
New year, new edition of Battle Royale, plus the manga behind the upcoming anime Scenes from Awajima and more!
― Welcome to Anime News Network's Winter 2026 Manga Guide! You may have seen one of our seasonal Anime Preview Guides, where a team of critics writes up each new anime television premiere as it airs at the beginning of a season. Now, doing something like that for manga is tricky - there's n...
The Winter 2026 Light Novel Guide
It's the perfect weather to read more books! Cozy up and find your next light novel read, whether it's horror in a certain region in Japan or a fantasy romance.
― Welcome to Anime News Network's Winter 2026 Light Novel Guide, the companion to our manga guide! Every included novel was published in December or January or is an upcoming February release. This guide focuses exclusively on series premier...
Exploring 50 Years of Shaft Works in One Exhibition
There are very few animation studios in Japan that can claim to have reached the prestigious 50th anniversary milestone. And now, renowned studio SHAFT can claim its place among the pentagenarian animation studios.
― There are very few animation studios in Japan that can claim to have reached the prestigious 50th anniversary milestone. And now, renowned studio SHAFT can claim its place among the pent...
Light Novel Exhibit 2025: Viewing and Tasting the Experience
The event featured massive displays for Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World-, Konosuba - God's Blessing on This Wonderful World!, Date A Live, The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, and Sword Art Online.
― Light novels are an integral part of the otaku fandom both in Japan and abroad. With several popular anime series such as Slayers, Full Metal Panic!, The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, The Familiar...
How First-Time Voice Actor Ai Mikami Took on Her Role in All You Need is Kill Anime Film
Mikami takes on the voice-acting world as Rita in the animated adaptation after a successful turn in live-action roles.
― In 2014, the world was graced with the action-packed live-action adaptation of Hiroshi Sakurazaka's 2004 novel All You Need is Kill in the Tom Cruise-led film Edge of Tomorrow. Now, just over a decade later, All You Need is Kill saw its feature-length anime film debut. Starring Ai...
Exploring an Alien World with All You Need is Kill Director Kenichiro Akimoto
A novel, a manga, a comic, a live-action movie starring Tom Cruise. All You Need is Kill is a story that keeps coming back, but Studio 4C's version may be the most daring yet.
― The feature film All You Need is Kill opened in America last Friday, a week after it opened in Japan. Before that, the film was shown at the Scotland Loves Anime festival in Edinburgh, London, and Glasgow. The first-time dire...
The Winter 2026 Manga Guide
Queer romance and horror intersect in Out of the Cocoon and folk horror takes center stage in Divine Incursions as our Winter Manga Guide continues!
― Welcome to Anime News Network's Winter 2026 Manga Guide! You may have seen one of our seasonal Anime Preview Guides, where a team of critics writes up each new anime television premiere as it airs at the beginning of a season. Now, doing something lik...
Creating Over 1500 Episodes with CHIBI MARUKO-CHAN Director Jun Takagi
We spoke to Director Takagi about keeping the long-running series fresh when it's set decades in the past and the unfortunate passing of long-time voice actor TARAKO.
― More anime are created every year, but few successfully cross from niche to mainstream entertainment in Japan. There are the mainstream action series, like Naruto, One Piece, Demon Slayer, and magical girl juggernauts like Precure, bu...
The Winter 2026 Anime Preview Guide
Your favorite elf is back for Frieren: Beyond Journey's End Season 2!
― Welcome to Anime News Network's Winter 2026 Anime Preview Guide! Here's how it goes: our team of critics writes up their impressions instantly, to be posted here as they go along. Each critic will cover as many shows as they can handle, giving you alternate takes on almost every show. The guide is ongoing, organized by series, a...
A Tour of World Masterpiece Theater's Historic Nippon Animation Studio
Now 50 years on, the studio that fostered talents like Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata and brought to life Anne of Green Gables, Future Boy Conan, and CHIBI MARUKO-CHAN opened its doors to offer Anime News Network a tour through where the magic is made.
― About an hour's train ride outside of Tokyo, nestled in a quiet neighborhood in Tama City lays one of the anime industry's most storied studios: ...
2025 ANN Readers' Choice Awards
The voting period is over, and it's time to announce the winners of this year's Readers' Choice Awards!
― The voting period is over, and it's time to announce the winners of this year's Readers' Choice Awards! First and foremost, we would like to thank the community for participating in this event.To start…Leading Woman of the Year: Maomao of The Apothecary DiariesOur favorite apothecary does it agai...
The Winter 2026 Anime Preview Guide
Vash and the gang are back in Trigun Stargaze! Also Reincarnated as a Dragon Hatchling, A Misanthrope Teaches a Class for Demihumans, Scum of the Brave, Fire Force, Dark Moon: the Blood Altar, Jujustu Kaisen, Champignon Witch, and more!
― Welcome to Anime News Network's Winter 2026 Anime Preview Guide! Here's how it goes: our team of critics writes up their impressions instantly, to be posted here a...
A Fresh Cast Brings the Original Detective Conan Anime to a New Audience
ADR Director Ayu, Conan voice actor Molly Zhang, and Shinichi Kudo voice actor Mauricio Ortiz-Segura discuss the new dub batch releases to introduce fans to the long-running detective series.
― Detective Conan is one of the most popular franchises in Japan, ready to celebrate it 30th anniversary this year! Despite its popularity in its home country, its impact overseas hasn't been nearly as strong. ...
The Winter 2026 Anime Preview Guide
Are you ready to play the Culling Game? It's the new season of Jujustu Kaisen! Also Champignon Witch, The Holy Grail of Eris, Shiboyugi, Roll Over and Die, The Invisible Man and His Soon-to-be-Wife, and more!
― Welcome to Anime News Network's Winter 2026 Anime Preview Guide! Here's how it goes: our team of critics writes up their impressions instantly, to be posted here as they go along. Each critic...
What to Watch to Get the Most Out of Fate/strange Fake
While perfectly watchable even for those with only passing knowledge of Fate, there is a lot beneath the surface that enriches the story for those willing to dig a bit deeper into the lore.
―
This upcoming winter season will see the long-awaited release of the newest entry in the Fate franchise, Fate/strange Fake. While perfectly watchable even for those with only passing knowledge of Fate, thanks t...
Your Anime Rankings - Best of Fall 2025
The results are in, and the unflaggingly high ratings for My Hero Academia, Uma Musume and The Fragrant Flower made this quite a showdown. Who do you think got the top spot of the Fall 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. K...
The Best Anime of 2025
It's time to count down the very best anime of the year, from the characters we couldn't help rooting for to the songs at the top of our playlists!
― Welcome to our editorial team's countdown of the very best anime that aired this year! Below you'll find Anime News Network's top 10 anime of the year, the characters that inspired us, the moments that we couldn't stop talking about, the songs that are...
The Winter 2026 Anime Preview Guide
It's the Winter 2026 Anime Preview Guide! Day Three continues with Hana-Kimi! Also, The Daily Life of a Part-Time Torturer, Journal with Witch, Fate/Strange Fake, Kunon the Sorcerer Can See, and Noble Reincarnation: Born Blessed, So I'll Obtain Ultimate Power!
― Welcome to Anime News Network's Winter 2026 Anime Preview Guide! Here's how it goes: our team of critics writes up their impressions instan...
Get Cozy with The Winter 2026 Anime Trailer Watch Party!
We hear those sleighbells ringing in a new anime season! Join us live on December 29 at 5pm PT to watch all the latest anime trailers. Sponsored by Yen Press and Crunchyroll!
― We hear those sleighbells ringing in a new anime season! Anime News Network's Lynzee Loveridge, James Beckett, and Jacki Jing are happy to announce that YouTube personality Geoff Thew (Mother's Basement) is joining us to watch...
Your Anime Rankings - Best of Fall 2025, Dec 17-23
The Fragrant Flower Blooms With Dignity edges into #1 this week after spending the season just shy of the top. Check out where your favorites stand before the final rankings are revealed 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. K...
Ringing in the Holidays with NePoLaBo Live re:VISION Holoearth Live
Come spend the holidays with NePoLaBo of hololive!
― It really is impressive seeing how Vtuber groups and companies will find new ways to innovate. Live concerts have always felt like impressive major events, and they've been popping up more frequently around the world. However, hololive has created a means for us to experience their concerts firsthand from the comfort of our own homes, no expensive ...
Exploring the Psalms of Planets Eureka Seven 20th Anniversary Exhibition
The exhibition celebrating the fan-favorite franchise is running in the Yurakucho Marui from December 12, 2025, to January 4, 2026
― 20 years ago, everyone's favorite air surfin' mech series, Eureka Seven, first aired. The series follows Renton Thurston, Eureka, the crew of the Gekkostate, and several other colorful characters as they explore romance, family, a world-government conspiracy, and coexi...
The Most Anticipated Anime of Winter 2026
January 2026 is shaping up to be the season of major sequel returns, including everyone's favorite elf mage. Read on to find which anime you should add to your watch list.
― What anime will bring the heat this winter? January 2026 is shaping up to be the season of major sequel returns. While one sequel starring a fan-favorite elf is set to make its grand return alongside the highly anticipated teena...
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