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Hololive's Second English Vtuber Concert was a Dimension-Breaking Success
"Breaking Dimensions" was Hololive's second major English Vtuber concert. Like the first one that happened last year at the Anime Expo, this one was a resounding success.
― VTubing continues to grow as a prominent form of entertainment in the United States. While it is still nowhere near the degree of exposure that you would see in Japan and other Asian countries, Vtubing has exploded to a point wher...
ODDTAXI's Baku Kinoshita On His New Film, Housenka
The director sheds light on his in-progress Showa-era film starring an aging yakuza and how it differs from his critically-acclaimed ODDTAXI anime series.
― Three years after ODDTAXI, Baku Kinoshita is back with a feature film, Housenka. This movie will be focused on an old yakuza, agonizing in his cell and remembering his past life while chatting with his talking flower. The director was present at...
Your Anime Rankings - Best of Summer 2024, Aug 26-Sep-1
While the top spots are stable, we see Suicide Squad Isekai and Senpai is an Otokonoko gradually rise through the middle ranks. 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 ar...
TOUGEN ANKI's Main Cast Talks About Their Roles in the Upcoming Anime
Recently, Anime News Network was able to sit down with voice actors Kazuki Ura, Koutaro Nishiyama, and Hiroshi Kamiya to talk about their roles in TOUGEN ANKI.
― Recently, Anime News Network was able to sit down with voice actors Kazuki Ura, Koutaro Nishiyama, and Hiroshi Kamiya to talk about their roles in the upcoming anime TOUGEN ANKI—as well as the tricks of the trade that help them get into char...
Exploring the Past, Present, and Future of UNDER NIGHT IN-BIRTH II Sys:Celes with Director Kamone Serizawa
ANN got to chat with UNDER NIGHT IN-BIRTH II Sys:Celes director about what’s in store for its future, and Serizawa’s other favorite fighting games.
― Since its release earlier this year, fighting game fans have been loving French-Bread's UNDER NIGHT IN-BIRTH II Sys:Celes—which, just as Arc System Works CEO Minoru Kidooka expressed hoping for at EVO last year, was fought on by players on EVO's mainst...
Your Anime Rankings - Best of Summer 2024, Aug 19-25
Monogatari outshines all others for two weeks in a row, and displaces Yatagarasu for position #2 in the cumulative. 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...
Ghost in the Shell - Where to Start and What's Worth Watching (and Reading)
From films, TV series, and OVAs to novels, manga, and art books, join us for this exhaustive deep dive into everything Ghost in the Shell—and we mean everything.
― Back in 1995, Shirow Masamune was already renowned in the West for his manga (and their respective anime adaptations) Appleseed and Dominion Tank Police. Fan excitement was high for his next big manga, Ghost in the Shell (GitS), first pub...
The Rise of Terminator Zero with Writer Mattson Tomlin & Director Masashi Kudo
Ahead of it's Netflix premiere, we spoke with the Terminator Zero director-writer team about the AI apocalypse and exploring James Cameron's sci-fi world.
― Leading into the Terminator Zero premiere panel at Anime NYC Saturday night, a bit of the show's soundtrack started playing with that iconic Terminator "du-dum du-du-dum" beat. Just a couple of "du-dum du-du-dum" in, one audience member started ...
A Chat with Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection Producer Shuhei Matsumoto
ANN sat down with producer Shuhei Matsumoto at EVO to talk about the highly anticipated re-release of Marvel vs. Capcom 2, Street Fighter’s new DLC, and more.
― It's hard to overstate how intensely fighting game fans have been pleading for an official re-release of Marvel vs. Capcom 2, which initially came out in 2000. So as you can likely imagine (if you didn't see it for yourself), the news that i...
From Page to Screen: DAN DA DAN Director Fūga Yamashiro and Voice Actor Shion Wakayama
Director Yamashiro shared the methods behind the series "god-tier" animation, its tokusatsu visual connection, and whether he believes in ghosts (or aliens).
― Creator Yukinobu Tatsu's DAN DA DAN manga has been a fan-favorite, deftly blending a smorgasbord of supernatural elements with comedy, romance, and intense fight scenes. Director Fūga Yamashiro and studio SCIENCE SARU had the unenviable task o...
Empathizing with Pregnancy: An Interview with My Girlfriend's Child Manga Creator Mamoru Aoi
"I thought about what I could do as a woman, as a mother, and as a shojo manga artist."
― Shojo manga artist Mamoru Aoi has been busy this summer completing her highly recognized manga, My Girlfriend's Child. Also known as Ano Ko no Kodomo, the romantic drama was nominated for an Eisner award under Best Publication for Teens. In addition, the live-action TV drama based on the manga began broadcasting...
When Old Work Reaches New Audiences: An Interview with Bubblegum Crisis' Kenichi Sonoda
Seasoned manga creator and character designer Kenichi Sonoda discusses reinvigorating retro art and Rally Vincent's updated ride.
― Kenichi Sonoda, Japanese manga artist and character designer for Bubblegum Crisis, returned to the US for his appearance at San Diego Comic-Con 2024. Udon Entertainment brought him as a guest in celebration of Bubblegum Crisis Complete Archive, which includes an extensi...
Visualizing Lovecraft: An Interview with Manga Creator Gou Tanabe
The Eisner-nominated horror manga creator shares his experience adapting Lovecraft's darkest stories.
― Japanese artist Gou Tanabe made his first appearance at San Diego Comic-Con 2024. Known for his manga adaptation of H. P. Lovecraft's novels, Tanabe first started with the publication of The Outsider in 2007 and has continued his work to now. His take on The Shadow Over Innsmouth was nominated for ...
How A Small Team Created a Huge Hit: Look Back Anime Film Director Kiyotaka Oshiyama
Having topped 1 billion yen at the Japanese box office, Oshiyama and his Flip Flappers anime alumni look to have a big, emotional hit.
― Kiyotaka Oshiyama and Studio Durian might not be immediately familiar to average anime fans, but the team's latest outing is worthy of attention. The small studio team's previous work centers mostly on designs for series like Deca-Dence and FLCL: Shoegaze, although...
Your Anime Rankings - Best of Summer 2024, Aug 5-11
A large number of episodes are skipping this week due to the Olympics, making it hard to pin down what's really happening. But one thing is sure: Plus-Sized Elf wins the "Chaos Dragon" award hands-down.
― 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 simulcas...
VTuber Mori Calliope Shares Her Favorite Suicide Squad Isekai Characters
Hololive's Mori Calliope, long known for her rapping and a game-streaming grim reaper, was brought on board to perform "Go-Getters," the Suicide Squad ISEKAI's ending.
― Hololive's Mori Calliope, long known for her rapping as well as being a game-streaming grim reaper, was recently brought onboard by Warner Bros. to perform "Go-Getters," the new song featured in Suicide Squad Isekai's ending. We caug...
Rick and Morty: The Anime Explores New Dimensions
If you're a diehard Rick and Morty fan, think of this as a dedicated season of Interdimensional Cable.
― Tower of God director Takashi Sano takes on the behemoth of Rick and Morty and reinterprets its universe in Rick and Morty: The Anime. Based on the first two episodes, the anime series is a refreshing new take on the decade-old series. Director Takashi Sano's charming designs and fluid animation s...
Making Monsters Delicious with Delicious in Dungeon Manga Creator Ryoko Kui
We spoke with Delicious in Dungeon manga creator Ryōko Kui to discuss the community of food, why Senshi is so sexy, seeing neurodivergence in Laios, and more.
― Hot off the heels of its season one finale, Delicious in Dungeon captivated audiences with its ensemble cast's humorous chemistry, appetizing meals, and impressive world-building. It's impressive to imagine everything from the series' magica...
From Pilot to Full-Series: Creating Mecha-Ude: Mechanical Arms
Originally a pilot supported by crowdfunding efforts, we sat down with director Okamoto and producer Tetsuya Kinoshita to discuss how the series has evolved ahead of its premiere.
― After garnering impressive support from fans in 2019, Mecha-Ude: Mechanical Arms is well on its way to its full-fledged premiere. Originally a pilot supported by crowdfunding efforts, we sat down with director Okamoto and...
The Summer 2024 Anime Preview Guide - Delico's Nursery
Hear me out: hot vampire dads. That's it. That's the premise for Delico's Nursery.
― What is this? In the past, the vampire race that ruled over the land had the power of immortality. In the present day, this power has been lost, and the world has been divided into two groups: the now-mortal vampire race and the human race that coincides with their limited life span. However, it is said that somewhe...
The Summer 2024 Anime Preview Guide - True Beauty
Better late than never, and in Jugyeong's case, that involves a whole makeover. How did this manhwa adaptation measure up?
― What is this? In middle school, otaku Lim Jugyeong was a target for bullies because of her ugliness. When her mom refused to get her plastic surgery, she took matters into her own hands: she studied up, watching hours of YouTube tutorials. Now, in high school, nobody knows her...
Your Anime Rankings - Best of Summer 2024, Jul 29-Aug 4
The cumulative gets all shaken up as Oshi no Ko topples NieR, and Makeine surges 5 spots to overtake The Elusive Samurai. 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 ranking...
What to Expect in the Loner Life in Another World Anime Series
We spoke with series director Akio Kazumi and Pony Canyon producer Takanori Matsuoka about the series' unique appeal and misconceptions about what a "loner life" is.
― Loner Life in Another World is set to premiere in October, but what sets it apart from other isekai series? We spoke with series director Akio Kazumi and Pony Canyon producer Takanori Matsuoka about the series' unique appeal, misconcep...
Interview: From Singing Naruto to Inspiring Bocchi the Rock!, 20 Years of ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION
In just twenty years, ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION has gone from singing for anime to inspiring its characters.
― In 2003, ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION exploded into the anime scene with “Haruka Kanata,” the second theme song for the popular Naruto anime. The crunchy guitar riffs and raw vocals brought an alt-rock sensibility rare for anime theme songs. The next year, fans of big action-driven shonen series ...
Your Anime Rankings - Best of Summer 2024, Jul 22-28
NieR:Automata overthrows The Elusive Samurai while a bunch of other anime skip a week due to the Olympics. 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 th...
Comparing Japanese and US Anime Viewership: Spring 2024
We compared viewership data from major Japanese streaming services, download sites, and more to find out what anime fans in Japan and the US are really watching.
― Anime — animated television and film produced in Japan — is a cultural product that, like Champagne wine or Jollibee, has transcended its country of origin to become an international delight. But just as with those cultural products from F...
Creating a New World with Familiar Characters in Suicide Squad ISEKAI
How did seasoned anime creators take comic book villains and give them a unique twist? We spoke with director Eri Osada and scriptwritersTappei Nagatsuki and Eiji Umehara to find out.
― Wit Studio's original Suicide Squad ISEKAI anime kicked off summer with a high-action romp as fan-favorite DC characters found themselves trying to survive in a fantasy world unlike anything they'd ever seen in Gotha...
How Blue Lock Anime Brings the Action to Life
In which ANN learns that the anime staff has a database of highly-detailed feet.
― Blue Lock was everywhere at Anime Expo 2024. Multiple panels, a strong presence at the Kodansha booth in the Exhibit Hall, and countless cosplayers donning Blue Lock's instantly recognizable training outfits, all underpinned by a wildly popular shonen anime and manga on the rise. I was lucky enough to sit down with th...
Your Anime Rankings - Best of Summer 2024, Jul 1-21
This season, an eye-popping 44 series qualified for the rankings! Will the Elusive Samurai be able to keep the lead it built up, or will it lose to fan-favorites such as NieR, Oshi no Ko, Yatagarasu, or Spice & Wolf ?
― 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 ...
EXCLUSIVE: Preview Atsushi Kaneko's Search and Destroy, Reimagining of Dororo Manga
Fantagraphics debuted the award-nominated Search and Destroy manga on Tuesday
― Fantagraphics debuted the award-nominated Search and Destroy manga on Tuesday, and Anime News Network can exclusively share a four-page preview. IMG search-and-destory_preview_pg-39.jpg
IMG search-and-destory_preview_pg-40.jpg
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IMG search-and-destory_preview_pg-42.jpg Images ©Atsush...
Small-town Horror: Interview with The Summer Hikaru Died Creator Mokumokuren
Recently tapped for an anime adaptation and selling almost a quarter million copies, we spoke with Mokumokuren about their manga, body-horror, adolescence, and more.
― Manga creator Mokumokuren is having a good year. Their debut manga The Summer Hikaru Died was recently tapped for an anime adaptation, but not before making multiple entries on top manga lists, in the U.S. and Japan. Dripping with the...
Playing the Long Game - The Story of Slam Dunk in North America
Slam Dunk has been wildly popular across Asia—first in the 90s and once again with the release of The First Slam Dunk last year. But in North America, this hasn’t exactly been the case.
― Just before I flew out to D.C. for Otakon last year, I started hearing a low but persistent rumbling around a little movie about to hit theaters—The First Slam Dunk. While I missed my chance to see the film on the ...
MAHO FILM's President Junji Murata on Creating a Better Anime Studio
“We've been trying to improve things by providing good wages to all the staff, providing a stable working environment, and holding various [internal company] events.”
― Founded in 2018, MAHO FILM is one of the younger anime studios around. That said, they've already produced 10 anime, including I'm the Villainess, So I'm Taming the Final Boss and Doctor Elise: The Royal Lady with the Lamp. Recently, ...
HUNTER×HUNTER NEN×IMPACT's Tomoyasu Miyazaki Talks Bringing Fan-Favorite Series into Gaming Arena
Creators were given near 'total freedom' to bring anime's story to life in NEN×IMPACT.
― Hunter × Hunter is a massively popular series, with passionate – and patient – fans. The series has continued in fits and starts, as its creator Yoshihiro Togashi has been plagued with health issues. But the quality has proven to be worth the wait for millions in Japan and internationally. When Bushiroad announc...
The Summer 2024 Anime Preview Guide
Still trying to figure out what to watch? Check out our review for the summer 2024 anime season, now with bonus KINNIKUMAN!
― Welcome to Anime News Network's Summer 2024 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 ev...
President Kondo and the Power of In-House Staff at Nihon Falcom
How does a relatively small studio continue to create deeply satisfying story-led games? President Kondo shares Nihon Falcom's secrets to success.
― Nihon Falcom president Toshihiro Kondo kicked off a busy July 4 weekend at Anime Expo. He and the other Nihon Falcom staff spoke to fans at the various panels and at the NIS America booth as they eagerly playtested the company's signature JRPGs. Origina...
The Summer 2024 Anime Preview Guide
It's time to add few more rom-coms to summer mix with MAKEINE: TOO MANY LOSING HEROINES! We also have reviews for ATRI, Why Does No One Remember Me In This World?, Bye Bye Earth, My Deer Friend Nokotan, Monogatari, Elusive Samurai, and more!
― Welcome to Anime News Network's Summer 2024 Anime Preview Guide! Here's how it goes: our team of critics writes up their impressions instantly, to be posted h...
Bocchi the Rock! Staff Reflect on Growth and Change
Director Keiichirō Saitō and voice actor Yoshino Aoyama from Bocchi the Rock! sat down with Anime News Network to discuss the behind-the-scenes details of adapting the show-stopping anime.
― The anime adaptation of Aki Hamaji's four-panel manga was a sleeper hit in late 2022. Viewers related to Bocchi's awkwardness and social anxiety, while entertained by the off-the-cuff animation. In addition, Kes...
My Hero Academia's Mamoru Miyano, Daiki Yamashita Discuss Manga's Imminent Conclusion
'I'm sure Horikoshi-sensei is burning his soul, like One For All, and he's going to deplete his soul like All Might after he finishes drawing the final episode.'
― While discourse around My Hero Academia has focused on the manga's imminent ending as of late, you wouldn't have thought the franchise was running out of gas based on the MY HERO ACADEMIA SPECIAL EVENT at this year's Anime Expo. Filling t...
Interview: An Umineko Retrospective with Ryukishi07 & Sayaka Ohara
Popular sound novel creator Ryukishi07 and Beatrice voice actor Sayaka Ohara look back on Umineko's mysterious ending.
― Ryukishi07, the mind behind the When They Cry franchise, and voice actress Sayaka Ohara came together for Anime Expo 2024. Ohara voices the legendary Golden Witch, Beatrice, from Ryukishi's Umineko When They Cry series. Although the final chapter in the story was released in 2011,...
The Summer 2024 Anime Preview Guide
It's forbidden love at first sight in The Magical Girl and The Evil Lieutenant Used to Be Archenemies. Plus, Love Is Indivisible by Twins, No Longer Allowed In Another World, Mayonaka Punch, My Deer Friend Nokotan, Narenare -Cheer for you!-, Fairy Tail 100 Years Quest, Tower of God Season 2, and more!
― Welcome to Anime News Network's Summer 2024 Anime Preview Guide! Here's how it goes: our team of ...
Your Anime Rankings - Best of Spring 2024
Sound! Euphonium remain uncontested, but we see Delicious in Dungeon grab the #3 spotlight from Kaiju No. 8 and a number of other last-minute upsets! Check out the turbulent final week of the Spring 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...
The Summer 2024 Anime Preview Guide
Livestreaming vampires come in a few varieties in Mayonaka Punch! Plus, Nare Nare Cheer for You, A Journey Through Another World: Raising Kids While Adventuring, Fairy Tail 100 Years Quest, VTuber Legend: How I Went Viral after Forgetting to Turn Off My Stream, Tower of God Season 2, and more!
― Welcome to Anime News Network's Summer 2024 Anime Preview Guide! Here's how it goes: our team of critics ...
The Summer 2024 Anime Preview Guide
July is here with a brand-new batch of anime! Check out SHY Season 2, The Ossan Adventurer, Suicide Squad ISEKAI, My Wife Has No Emotion, and more!
― Welcome to Anime News Network's Summer 2024 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 alte...
The Summer 2024 Anime Trailer Watch Party Starts Soon!
Get yourself some snacks and a cold drink, but make sure you're back in time for too many anime trailers. The stream will be live on Friday, June 28 at 6pm Pacific/9pm Eastern.
― The Trailer Watch Party is back so beat the summer heat with Anime News Network executive editor Lynzee Loveridge, ANN video producer Jacki Jing, ANN reviewer James Beckett, and Mother's Basement's Geoff Thew as they watch n...
The London Cast of Your Lie in April: The Musical
The beloved anime is coming to the stage in London, so we sat down with the cast to discuss the getting into these musically-gifted characters.
― At the beginning of June, I sat down with the four central cast members of the upcoming London production of Your Lie in April: The Musical, which starts a 12-week West End run from June 28 at the Harold Pinter Theatre. This is the English-language version ...
Frank Wildhorn, Composer of Your Lie in April: The Musical
From Takarazuka to Death Note, Frank Wildhorn is carving a name for himself in manga-based theater productions.
― Frank Wildhorn's musical career spans nearly half a century. It ranges from Takarazuka all-female musicals in Japan to Broadway versions of Jekyll and Hyde and Bonnie and Clyde, and a symphony inspired by the River Danube. Then there's the small matter of a chart-topping Whitney Houston s...
Lunar Legend Tsukihime: Revisiting the Anime that 'Doesn't Exist'
Lunar Legend Tsukihime is widely considered to be among the worst visual novel adaptation anime of all time. What made it such a disaster?
― Ask a Tsukihime fan what they think of the hit visual novel's 2003 anime adaptation, and they'll probably say something to the effect of, “What anime? There is no Tsukihime anime!” Indeed, in a series that's spawned countless memes, the joke that there's no Tsuk...
The Summer 2024 Anime Preview Guide
Mister J, I'm an anime now! Read our reviews of the Suicide Squad ISEKAI anime right here, plus My Wife Has No Emotion, Rising Impact, and The Strongest Magician in the Demon Lord's Army was a Human.
― Welcome to Anime News Network's Summer 2024 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 cov...
Your Anime Rankings - Best of Spring 2024, Jun 17-23
With only one week left to go, will Kaiju No. 8 be able to keep the #3 spot it managed to claim last week? 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 these rankings are based o...
The Most Anticipated Anime of Summer 2024
From returning big names like Oshi no Ko and Tower of God to newcomers like Suicide Squad ISEKAI, this summer anime season is bound to be interesting.
― This upcoming season looks to be an interesting one. However, returning big names like Oshi no Ko and Tower of God and newcomers like Suicide Squad ISEKAI and Alya Sometimes Hides Her Feelings in Russian are only the start of what will be airing. So...
Interview: Director Kumiko Habara & Scenario Writer Kenta Ihara on Bringing History to Life in Blue Miburo
Hot off its world premiere at Anime Expo, we sat down with Blue Miburo's director and screenwriter about bringing the Shinsen-gumi to life.
― Blue Miburo, a historical fiction manga centered around the legendary group of swordsmen known as the “Shinsengumi,” is getting an anime adaptation this fall. Recently, I was able to sit down with director Kumiko Habara and scenario writer Kenta Ihara to talk n...
The Worst Anime of Spring 2024
You've already seen the editorial team's picks for the best of the season, so now it's time for the opposite. From the painful to watch to the largely forgettable, here are our picks for the worst anime of spring 2024.
― You've already seen the editorial team's picks for the best of the season, so now it's time for the opposite. From the painful to watch to the largely forgettable, here are our pick...
Read 30 Pages of Tezuka-Reimagining Comic, Unico: Awakening
Based on the classic manga series comes a colorful story from artists Gurihiru and writer Samuel Sattin.
― Publisher Scholastic and writer-artist team Samuel Sattin (The Essential Anime Guide) and Gurihiru ((Superman Smashes the Klan, It's Jeff) are set to release Unico: Awakening, their 210-page comic based on Osamu Tezuka's classic series on August 6. Anime News Network is sharing the first 30 pag...
The Best Anime of Spring 2024
As we reach the end of the Spring 2024 anime season, now's the perfect time for our editorial staff to come together and highlight the best the season had to offer—both the mainstream hits and the hidden gems.
― As we reach the end of the Spring 2024 anime season, now's the perfect time for our editorial staff to come together and highlight the best the season had to offer—both the mainstream hits a...
Manga Guide to the Eisner Awards 2024
We have your ultimate guide to this year's competing manga, including sample pages, to introduce you to some of the best series of the year!
― Every year, a jury awards some of the best comics of the year the prestigious Eisner Award. For those honing their artistic craft, from inking to webcomics, the Eisner Awards are the industry's Oscars. The jury highlights the best in the field in over 30 cate...
Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence 4K Release is a Sight to See
This 4K restoration is a must-see for fans and cinephiles. 2024 is closer only eight years away from the movie's setting of 2032, but the world of Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence is still an everlasting visual marvel.
― GKIDS is bringing Mamoru Oshii's Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence to theaters from June 23rd to 26th in celebration of its 20th anniversary. This follows the 2021 limited theatrical ru...
Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves Team Discuss Updating the Series After 25 Years
The video game industry has changed quite a bit since Fatal Fury's hiatus. The team discuss updating for the modern fighting game community.
― The Fatal Fury series made its debut in 1991 with Fatal Fury: King of Fighters around the time when other fighting game franchises were starting to appear or hit their stride. The biggest ones we know and love today, including Street Fighter, Tekken, and Mort...
DRAGON BALL: Sparking! ZERO Producer Explains the Long Wait for More
Jun Furutani promises characters from Dragon Ball Super movie and the Dragon Ball Daima series.
― The Dragon Ball franchise is one of the most recognizable properties in the world, with a variety of manga, TV shows, and video games created out of it. The Dragon Ball Sparking video game series was incredibly popular in Japan. Known as Dragon Ball: Budokai Tenkaichi series internationally, it garnered ...
Assassin's Creed Shadows Makes Great Use Of Its Two Protagonists
With a series focusing on stealth, trickery, and assassinations, you'd think there'd be an Assassin's Creed game in Japan, right? It took a while, 17 years to be exact, but we're finally here.
― Assassin's Creed has been a household name in the gaming industry ever since it debuted in 2007. With a series focusing on stealth, trickery, and assassinations, you'd think there'd be an Assassin's Creed gam...
Your Anime Rankings - Best of Spring 2024, Jun 10-16
The Duke of Death and His Maid ranks at #2 this week, which allows it to reach a tipping point and climb 7 spots in the cumulative! Discover what else is moving in the rankings.
― Let's have a look at what ANN readers consider the best (and worst) of the season,
based on the polls you can find in our Daily Streaming Reviews
and on the Your Score page with the latest simulcasts. Keep in mind that the...
Cheering for Gunma: Narenare -Cheer for you!- Anime Producer Hayato Kanno
We spoke with producer Hayato Kanno about the upcoming cheerleader-focused series and why Gunma prefecture was the perfect setting for the show.
― While there aren't many anime in the cheerleading genre, a handful have been made over the years. Some of the more notable series include 2018's Hugtto! Precure or 2019's Cheer Boys!!. In 2024, we're getting another cheerleading-related anime series, Naren...
New Projects Bring New Opportunities for Kinema Citrus Anime Studio
The Made in Abyss anime studio is celebrating its 16th anniversary with two new anime projects, so we sat down with founder Muneki Ogasawara to discuss the studio's next moves.
― Founded in March 2008, Kinema Citrus is known as a pillar in the anime industry for producing high-quality, compelling series. The studio has carved a niche in the competitive anime industry with popular works like Made in A...
Heavenly Delusion Director Discusses Keeping the Story Straight
Mori also explained the creative process from inception to realization, shedding light on the collaborative efforts and artistic endeavors that brought Heavenly Delusion to life.
― In 2023, Heavenly Delusion captivated audiences with its suspenseful and intricately woven storytelling. The series was highly praised for blending psychological horror and science fiction. Director Hirotaka Mori was at t...
Director Kawata and Producer Hirabayashi of Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess
Our Summer Game Fest coverage continues with a look at the Japanese mythology-inspired Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess tower defense game.
― Capcom's upcoming tower defense game, Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess, caught my eye during Summer Game Fest's presentations for its visuals and folklore motifs. The single-player action game combines stellar strategic gameplay, a detailed environment, cloth...
Your Anime Rankings - Best of Spring 2024, Jun 3-9
While Sound Euphonium 3 is ruling the rankings again this week, Yatagarasu's last few episodes are pulling it up in the cumulative. Check out this week's 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 rankin...
Monster Hunter Wilds Brings Players Back to Nature
The embedded appreciation for nature—and its interconnectivity—in Wilds marks an exciting new addition to the franchise.
― Monster Hunter fans rejoiced at Capcom's newest trailer for Monster Hunter Wilds at Summer Game Fest 2024. While the cinematics amped up the adrenaline rush of the hunt for the new beasts, the preview at Summer Game Fest Play Days demonstrated how that'll play out in the game. Wi...
Metaphor: ReFantazio Feels like Home for JRPG Players
. As much as I've enjoyed the sleek designs ATLUS is now known for, gameplay is more than just aesthetics. Thankfully, Metaphor breathes new life into the JPRG genre.
― At the Summer Game Fest Play Days, attendees played a trial version of ATLUS and Studio Zero's upcoming game, Metaphor: ReFantazio. Development and planning for Metaphor began right after the first Catherine game and has been touted a...
An In-Depth Preview of Rusty Rabbit Game with Writer Gen Urobuchi and Producer Yuichiro Saito
Rabbits, robots, and religion collide in Rusty Rabbit. We sat down with Gen Urobuchi and Yuichiro Saito to discuss the deceptively fuzzy new game.
― Gen Urobuchi's latest game caught the attention of gamers and anime fans alike with its recent story and character trailer. NetEase first teased Rusty Rabbit with a concept trailer at Tokyo Game Show 2023, and now both Urobuchi and producer Yuichiro Sait...
Medicine and Fantasy: An Interview with Doctor Elise Manhwa Artist Mini
In her first-ever interview with foreign media, Mini discusses her background in design and what makes Doctor Elise a fan-favorite series.
― It's getting more common for anime series to seek inspiration outside of its traditional seedbeds of manga and light novels. In recent years, we've seen a rise in the number of series based on Korean properties, primarily webtoons serialized on sites like Tapas,...
The First Anime That Made Us Cry
Anime News Network's editorial team is digging deep into their repressed anime memories to trudge up the moments that left them in tears. What was the first anime to make you cry?
― Anime News Network's editorial team is digging deep into their repressed anime memories to trudge up the moments that left them in tears. Below are some of the most affecting moments, from major character deaths to bitte...
Like Magneto, Scar In Fullmetal Alchemist Was Right
Anti-hero or villain? Scar and Magneto present evidence for either interpretation.
― X-Men' 97 has now concluded its stunning first season, and those ten episodes highlighted the best and worst of Magneto — a man who's been both the X-Men's nemesis and leader. Introduced at the very beginning of X-Men in Stan Lee and Jack Kirby's 1963 debut issue, the "Master of Magnetism" has changed a lot in his s...
Your Anime Rankings - Best of Spring 2024, May 27-Jun 2
Sound Euphonium 3 is now the top anime both in weekly and cumulative 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 are based on how pe...
We Ranked the Official KONOSUBA Cocktails
From Aqua to Yunyun, we tried all the KONOSUBA drinks at The Hub to find the most delicious!
― If there's one thing many adults worldwide enjoy doing, it's getting an alcoholic beverage with some friends. Be they beers, ales, spirits, wines, cocktails, among other beverages, adults have their drinks of choice. And one of the best places to enjoy your drink is your local pub or bar. In Japan, though, ...
Ghibli Park's Newest Area Brings Howl's Moving Castle and Kiki's Delivery Service to Life
Inside this massive new area are locations pulled straight out of Ghibli films.
― Late last year, we went down to Ghibli Park in Aichi prefecture to explore its recently opened Princess Mononoke area. This year, we see the addition of a new area to the experience-driven theme park: The Valley of Witches. Inside this massive new area are locations pulled straight out of Ghibli films Howl's Moving Cast...
My Oni Girl Director Asks Viewers To Be True to Themselves
Now streaming on Netflix, Tomotaka Shibayama's first feature animation mixes the magical with reality to share a simple but important message.
―
Director Tomotaka Shibayama's latest film, My Oni Girl, is an action-adventure drama with elements of a buddy comedy and a relatable coming-of-age story. The film, produced by Studio Colorido, was released in theaters in Japan and on Netflix on May 24, foll...
Your Anime Rankings - Best of Spring 2024, May 20-26
Kaiju No. 8 takes the top spot this week while Tonari no Yōkai-san pushes to #3 in the cmulative! 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 how people rated in...
Anime Overperforms - An Analysis of Netflix's 2023 Viewership Data
Miles Atherton crunched Netflix's latest numbers for some surprising anime discoveries, from the popularity of My Happy Marriage to the One Piece juggernaut.
― Since the advent of streaming, it's been notoriously difficult to gauge how popular a specific anime is with international audiences, both for publishers looking to make informed decisions for a market that generates most of its revenue outsi...
6 Interesting Things I Learned About Anime From the Legendary Producer Maruyama Masao Documentary
The documentary was full of cool tidbits about the 82-year-old producer and the anime he's worked on—including Ninja Scroll, Pluto, and In This Corner of the World.
― Late last month, Japanese television network NHK put out a documentary on anime producer Masao Maruyama as part of their Anime Manga Explosion series. In it, the show delves into the now 82-year-old producer's life, philosophies, and so...
Your Anime Rankings - Best of Spring 2024, May 13-19
Chillin' in Another World pulls off a major dramatic spike and goes from trawling the bottom to #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 ran...
First Episode Impression: Blue Archive the Animation
This show is made near-exclusively for existing fans of the mobile game and the YouTube presentation isn't ideal.
― What is this? Kivotos is a huge academic city made up of thousands of schools. Here, scuffles between students with guns in hand have become a daily occurrence. Amidst this, Abydos High School, which is covered in sand, is on the verge of closure. Five students from the "Task Committee...
Straight Shooting with Game Creator Suda51
We sat down with game creator Suda51 ahead of his MomoCon appearance to talk about his new game Hotel Barcelona, his current must-watch TV shows, and more.
― The renowned Suda51 has been responsible for countless cult-favorite video games. From the psychedelia of Killer7 to the hells of Shadows of the Damned, from the sunny streets of Santa Destroy in No More Heroes to the blood-soaked setting of the...
Anime Aunties Visit Japan: What I Learned at the Tokiwaso Manga Museum
Nestled in a Japanese neighborhood is the Tokiwaso Manga Museum, a detailed replica of the sharehouse that Osamu Tezuka, Shōtarō Ishinomori, and more manga artists called home.
― In the midst of the modern Toshima ward in Tokyo, there's a two-story, multi-flat building with an appearance straight out of the 1950s. It sits behind a wrought-iron gate, flanked by children's play equipment. The outer fa...
Barely Glancing Ahead: Searching for the Future in Inio Asano's Works
Ahead of the Dead Dead Demon's Dededede Destruction TV anime premiere, Rebecca Silverman looks at its creator's stark, and sometimes depressing, manga work.
― Inio Asano may be one of the creators whose works don't allow for middle-ground opinions. There's something in the reactions to his work that smacks of “love it or hate it,” with readers either fully embracing his dark, psychological style of s...
Bringing Anime to Southeast Asia: Interview with Medialink, Ani-One Co-Founder Lovinia Chiu
Chiu shares how she brought the SEA simulcast service to the forefront after founding it at 17 years old.
― Over the past six years, many streaming and simulcast services have catered to otaku in Asia, offering simulcasts of seasonal anime and theatrical anime screenings. One such service is Ani-One Asia, a Hong Kong-based Medialink Group brand that offers a competitive lineup of simulcasts every se...
Your Anime Rankings - Best of Spring 2024, May 6-12
Laid-Back Camp narrowly claims the top spot this week, but Delicious in Dungeon is having none of that and bumps it down in the cumulative. 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 ...
Demon Slayer Stage Play Cast Descend on NYC
The cast of the Demon Slayer stage play gave a memorable performance during the Japan Day Parade.
― The Demon Slayer franchise continues to prove itself as an absolute powerhouse for fans worldwide. The hit manga by Koyoharu Gotouge has been adapted into multiple mediums, including anime, light novels, video games, and a stage play that has been running since 2020. Cast members of the stage play app...
My Happy Marriage Director Takehiro Kubota and Creating a New Fairytale
Ahead of the romance anime's second season, director Takehiro Kubota discusses the choices, the challenges, and balancing the story between the everyday and the supernatural.
― My Happy Marriage began its life as a series of novels written by Akumi Agitogi, and it has since been adapted both as manga and, as of July 2023, an anime series simulcast by Netflix. Agitogi's tale, set in a nebulous time t...
In the Shadow of the Beast: The Kaiju Genre & Kaiju No. 8
Grant Jones dives into the wild world of giant monsters and how Kaiju No. 8 builds on their legacy.
― Kaiju No. 8 is a series that wears its influences on its sleeves. As the first word in its title suggests, it comes from a long line of works in the kaiju genre, using giant monsters and burning skylines as a backdrop to tell stories. While many likely know kaiju in a passing sense, it may help to h...
Your Anime Rankings - Best of Spring 2024, Apr 29-May 5
Train to the End of the World and Voice Actor Radio are getting a lot of love these last few weeks! Discover which other series stand out 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...
Pop Star Crystal Kay on Singing Anime Songs and Growing Up Mixed-Race in Japan
Crystal Kay previously sang themes for 2004's Fullmetal Alchemist and Nodame Cantabile
― Recently, Anime News Network was able to sit down with singer-songwriter Crystal Kay and talk about not only her involvement with anime over the years but also what it was like to grow up in Japan as the child of a Korean-Japanese mother and an African-American father. Anime fans likely know of Crystal Kay throug...
Creative Producer Goro Taniguchi, Director Junichi Yamamoto Talk Web3 Anime
The Code Geass creator discusses his new project with Web3 company Azuki, Enter the Garden, and his hope that this new path could help the medium evolve.
― Los Angeles-based Web3 anime-styled brand Azuki and advertising conglomerate Dentsu debuted the first nine-minute episode of their joint anime endeavor, Enter the Garden, on April 30. The episode, which has already racked up a quarter of a million...
Welcome Back, Spice and Wolf
ZeroReq011 remembers what made Spice and Wolf a story for the ages, from its fully realized world and economics to Holo and Lawrence's romantic chemistry.
― Back when Funimation was still its own company and not owned by Sony, long before its in-house streaming service was terminated in favor of Crunchyroll's streaming platform, it owned a TV channel. Legal streaming had yet to dominate the Western a...
Your Anime Rankings - Best of Spring 2024, Apr 1-28
Welcome to the rankings for the Spring 2024 season! The perfect place to check out which hidden gems might have flown under your radar.
― 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 ...
The Spring 2024 Manga Guide
The final Spring 2024 Manga Guide update includes not-yet-released series from this month, including Sword Art Online Re:Aincrad,Bungo Stray Dogs: The Official Comic Anthology, A Sign of Affection and more.
― Welcome to Anime News Network's Spring 2024 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 a...
Producer Masakazu Kubo on Making an Anime for Hardcore Golf Fans
Producer Masakazu Kubo shares the animation team's dedication to realism, including bringing in a pro golfer to produce the anime's sound effects.
― 64-year-old Masakazu Kubo has been planning and producing anime for decades. He's had a major hand in everything from Pokémon and Detective Conan to Teasing Master Takagi-san and Dorohedoro. Recently, he sat down with us to talk about Tonbo!, his attemp...
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