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Feature — Anime

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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 ...
your score

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...
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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...
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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 score

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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
interview

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. ...
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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...
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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 score

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...
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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...
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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...
watch

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 score

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...
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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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The Worst Anime of Fall 2025

There's no way to avoid it; the fall anime season had a clear winner for most disappointing, poorly executed, and least entertaining. You'll find it at the bottom of this list and nod, knowingly, that it's where it should be. ― There's no way to avoid it; the fall anime season had a clear winner for most disappointing, poorly executed, and least entertaining. You'll find it at the bottom of this lis...
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The Best Anime of Fall 2025

The fall anime season is drawing to a close. Here are the best anime to binge over winter break, from Spy x Family to SANDA! ― The fall anime season lacked a main character. While past anime seasons included big protagonist energy from the likes of DAN DA DAN, The Apothecary Diaries, and Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX, alongside emotional supporting stories from My Dress-Up Darling and Apocalypse Hote...
your score

Your Anime Rankings - Best of Fall 2025, Dec 10-16

Uma Musume finally hits #1 this week after hovering close all season. But the surprise of the season might be This Monster Wants to Eat Me as it reaches the top 3 for 3 weeks in a row! ― 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 t...
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Interview: Crafting a Film About Social Media-Induced Trauma with Macross Creator Shōji Kawamori

At the 38th Tokyo Film Festival, we were able to speak with Shōji Kawamori about this upcoming feature film, Labyrinth (and also about Macross finally being released across the wider world). ― While this film technically has both idols and giant robots, Labyrinth is about as far from what you'd expect from acclaimed Macross creator and mecha designer Shōji Kawamori. Rather than space battles and gian...
interview

'Cruel Angel's Thesis' Singer Yoko Takahashi Reflects on the Iconic Theme

Every once in a while, an anime theme song escapes containment to become a mainstream hit and, in the case of singer Yoko Takahashi's "Cruel Angel's Thesis," a cultural phenomenon. ― Every once in a while, an anime theme song escapes containment to become a mainstream hit and, in the case of singer Yoko Takahashi's "Cruel Angel's Thesis," a cultural phenomenon. First released in 1995, the iconic Neon...
your score

Your Anime Rankings - Best of Fall 2025, Dec 3-9

While My Hero Acamedia is keeping its hold on the cumulative, May I Ask for One Final Thing keeps falling further and further. 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 ...
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The Complete My Hero Academia Anime Timeline

Sorting out the timeline for My Hero Academia can be a bit confusing—especially once you realize the majority of it takes place over the course of a single, hectic year. My Hero Academia is one of the biggest shonen hits of the past decade. Its story is of a future world full of superheroes that is spread across 170 TV episodes, 10 OVA episodes, 4 movies, and a spin-off prequel (with said prequel ...
your score

Your Anime Rankings - Best of Fall 2025, Nov 26-Dec 2

One Piece snags the top spot this week with a tremendously entertaining episode, while This Monster Wants to Eat Me sees a meteoric rise in the last 4 weeks. 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 simulca...
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The Bomb That Wanted to Stop Exploding: Reze's Impossible Freedom in Chainsaw Man – The Movie

Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc unfolds with a softness that feels almost impossible inside a world shaped by brutality. Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc turns one of Tatsuki Fujimoto's most tragic chapters into a haunting meditation on silence, desire, and control, revealing a portrait of agency that flickers to life only in the spaces where Reze reaches toward something she was never meant t...
interview

The Long Career of Romeo's Blue Sky Character Designer Yoshiharu Satō

Ghibli alum shares stories of working with industry greats and putting his heart and soul into Romeo's Blue Sky. ― At 67 years old, character designer Yoshiharu Satō has spent over four decades in the animation business. Currently residing at Nippon Animation, the Kanagawa prefecture native has worked his way through era-defining projects before discovering an ad in Animage magazine. The publication...
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Sanda Shows that Adolescence is Supposed to be Awkward

The SANDA anime and manga turn heads while exploring some of the most uncomfortable truths about being a young person on the verge of adulthood at a time when these topics are dominating public discourse. ― Spoilers for the Sanda anime and manga. Content Warning: Discussions of Body Dysmorphia Animated by the acclaimed studio Science Saru and an adaptation of a manga penned by famed Beastars creator...
your score

Your Anime Rankings - Best of Fall 2025, Nov 19-25

Spy×Family is #1 for a second week, while Uma Musume and The Fragrant Flower keep hitting high spots week after week; all of them nipping at the heels of My Hero Academia in the cumulative. ― 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...
your score

Your Anime Rankings - Best of Fall 2025, Nov 12-18

Spy×Family hits the mark once again with a #1 this week, climbing two steps higher 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 that these ra...
interview

REDLINE, Lupin the IIIrd: The Immortal Bloodline Director Takeshi Koike

Acclaimed director professes his love for Chainsaw Man, closing the door on Lupin. ― Takeshi Koike is best known in the West for directing 2009's high-octane sci-fi car-racing action epic REDLINE. Since then, he's mostly worked within the long-running Lupin III franchise, first as character designer and animation director for 2012's acclaimed TV anime Lupin the Third: The Woman Called Fujiko Mine, be...
your score

Your Anime Rankings - Best of Fall 2025, Nov 5-11

This week, a Hero, a Spirit and a Reincarnator are beaten only by a Fated Magical Princess. 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...
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A Mini-Interview with Creator Yasuhiro Nightow on Trigun Stargaze and His Way of Writing

With Trigun Stargaze firmly on the horizon, we had the opportunity to speak with Trigun creator Yasuhiro Nightow about how the previous anime, Trigun Stampede, came to be and how he develops both his characters and story. ― With Trigun Stargaze firmly on the horizon, we were recently able to talk with Trigun creator Yasuhiro Nightow at New York Comic Con 2025 about how the previous anime, Trigun Stam...
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How the Staff Tackled Trauma in Takopi's Original Sin Anime

We spoke with director Shinya Iino and producer Kotaro Sudo about the emotionally difficult developments and what they hope audiences take away from the Takopi's Original Sin. ― Taizan 5's Takopi's Original Sin manga is not for the faint of heart. The single-volume manga series depicts the difficult, and often times torturous existence of three different elementary school children. Shizuka is neglect...
your score

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

Tojima Wants to Be a Kamen Rider comes out #1 just ahead of SANDA — two standout shows brimming with originality. Find out where your favorites rank this week! ― Let's have a look at what ANN readers consider the best (and worst) of the season, based on the polls you can find in our Daily Streaming Reviews and on the Your Score page with the latest simulcasts. Keep in mind that these rankings are ba...
interview

Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc Interview: Director Tatsuya Yoshihara×Assistant Director Masato Nakazono

Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc's director and assistant director share how the blockbuster anime film was born from creative challenges. English translation of articles from the Japanese entertainment magazine Nikkei Entertainment! Read Nikkei Entertainment! on the web! Find Nikkei Entertainment! on Instagram and X We sat down for an interview with Director Tatsuya Yoshihara, who oversaw the pr...
your score

Your Anime Rankings - Best of Fall 2025, Oct 1-28

My Hero Academia is going out all guns blazing in this final season, but May I Ask for One Final Thing? is giving it a run for its money. The new season is gearing up! ― 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...
interview

Laugh, Cry, and Cheer for the Stories in Tatsuki Fujimoto 17-26 Anime Anthology

In their first-ever overseas interview, directors Seishirō Nagaya and Nobuyuki Takeuchi and producer Ryo Oyama share how they went from page to screen for the wildly creative anime anthology. ― Tatsuki Fujimoto's two-volume anthology collection comes alive in eight separate animated episodes, each told by seven different directors and six animation studios. The adaptation of Tatsuki Fujimoto 17-26 de...
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A Chat with Junji Nishimura, Director of Mechanical Marie

Nishimura has accrued over three decades of industry experience, including credits on numerous anime. We talked to him about his latest series, favorite robots, and pink-haired anime girls. ― Fall 2025's action romcom anime Mechanical Marie is highly anticipated by fans of Aki Akimoto's original six-volume manga series. Anime News Network was thankful for the opportunity to interview director Junji ...
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Becoming Two Hikarus with Voice Actor Shūichirō Umeda

Shūichirō Umeda has the task of becoming two characters, Hikaru and "Hikaru." He shares the subtleties of his performance in our new interview! ― Known for smash hits like Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead and Makeine: Too Many Losing Heroines, we at ANN are no strangers to Shuichiro Umeda's prolific body of work over these past few years. Now that Umeda has scored another big hit with The Summer Hika...
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The Fall Anime 2025 Preview Guide summoned by Crunchyroll

The Fall Preview Guide is back with the second episodes of Lil Miss Vampire, One Punch Man, and Gnosia! ― Welcome to Anime News Network's Fall 2025 Anime Preview Guide summoned by Crunchyroll! 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 ...
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The Mouth-Watering Delicious in Dungeon Exhibit Comes to NYC

The exhibit at the Chelsea Walls Gallery on 10th Street was inspired by a similar show in Japan and featured artwork spanning Kui's entire career thus far. Delicious in Dungeon was one of the breakout series of 2024, combining dungeon adventure with gourmet, locally-sourced meals. The arrival of an art exhibit centered on author Ryoko Kui in New York City was met with great excitement, and many fan...
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Your Halloween 2025 Anime Watchlist

This Halloween season marks the perfect occasion to sit down and watch some of the best horror anime out there—and the ANN staff is here with their recommendations! ― Horror is a broad genre with many facets. For some, it's simply ghosts and monsters—the eldritch and the unknowable. For others, it's more psychological—the twisted aspects of the human soul and the terror born therein. And for still o...
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Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle Voice Actor Interview: Kengo Kawanishi/Muichiro Tokito × Kana Hanazawa/Mitsuri Kanroji

Nikkei Entertainment! shares a behind-the-scenes interview with the cast of the summer's hottest film, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle! English translation of articles from the Japanese entertainment magazine Nikkei Entertainment! Read Nikkei Entertainment! on the web! Find Nikkei Entertainment! on Instagram and X On July 11, a Pre-release Blessing Event was held at Zojoji Temple in ...
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Preparing for Anime's Greatest Race: The Steel Ball Run Cast Take the Stage

The voices of Johnny Joestar, Gyro Zeppeli, Diego Brando, Lucy Steel, and Steven Steel shared their excitement for the next installment of JoJo's! ― April 12, 2025, fans of Jojo's Bizarre Adventure waited with bated breath during the final JOJODAY 2025 announcement, “Total Distance: Roughly 6,000 km. Prize money: 50 million dollars. Humanity's first horse race across America. Steel Ball Run Jojo's Bi...
interview

100 Meters Anime Film Director Kenji Iwaisawa's Attention to Detail Puts Artistic Originality First

Iwaisawa's attention to natural movement and his team's stylistic take on the camera angles help to visually elevate the movie's message about chasing one's passion. ― Six years ago, Kenji Iwaisawa took the world by surprise with his hilariously charming adaptation of Hiroyuki Ohashi's ON-GAKU. Now, with a larger budget and a team of industry professionals, Iwaisawa has taken on the challenge of adap...
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The Fall Anime 2025 Preview Guide summoned by Crunchyroll

The Fall Anime Preview Guide is almost complete! Read our reviews of With You, Our Love Will Make it Through, Li'l Miss Vampire Can't Suck Right, Spy×Family Season 3, One Punch Man Season 3, Gnosia, Uma Musume: Cinderella Gray, Digimon Beatbreak, My Hero Academia Final Season, and more! ― Welcome to Anime News Network's Fall 2025 Anime Preview Guide summoned by Crunchyroll! Here's how it goes: our t...
interview

EXCLUSIVE: Interview with Turkey! Time to Strike's Hana Hishikawa and Noriko Hidaka

We spoke with voice actors Hishikawa and Hidaka about their work on Turkey!-Time to Strike- and their thoughts on bowling, time travel stories, and the Sengoku Period of Japan. ― On August 21, fans of Turkey! Time to Strike gathered at the Loft Plus One bar in Shinjuku for a talk show with voice actors Hana Hishikawa (voice of Mai Otonashi) and Noriko Hidaka (Sumomo), Yutaka Omatsu and Gen Oishi from...
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The Fall Anime 2025 Preview Guide summoned by Crunchyroll

It's the perfect time to catch up on the fall anime season! Read our reviews of This Monster Wants to Eat Me, The Dark History of the Reincarnated Villainess, Wandance, GINTAMA - Mr. Ginpachi's Zany Class, and more! ― Welcome to Anime News Network's Fall 2025 Anime Preview Guide summoned by Crunchyroll! Here's how it goes: our team of critics writes up their impressions instantly, to be posted here ...
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Turkey! Time to Strike Staff and Cast Pick Favorite Scenes at Talk Event

The voice actors and staff came together to discuss one of the most unique anime of the season, the time-traveling bowling anime Turkey! ― In the heart of Tokyo's bustling Shinjuku ward, anime fans gathered at the Loft Plus One bar for the anime talk show for one of the most interesting series of Summer 2025. That series is none other than Turkey! Time to Strike. The time-traveling bowling anime seri...
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The Fall Anime 2025 Preview Guide summoned by Crunchyroll

The fall anime season is cooking up something delicious with Campfire Cooking in Another World Season 2. Read all the reviews for in the Preview Guide, now with two episode reviews! ― Welcome to Anime News Network's Fall 2025 Anime Preview Guide summoned by Crunchyroll! 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...
interview

Pass The Monster Meat Milady is Cooking Up a Delicious Anime Confection

A manga about food is a surefire way to leave one hungry enough for the juicy details regarding its creation. To satiate our appetite, ANN sat down with manga creator Chika Mizube and Melphiera voice actor Kanna Nakamura to get the inside scoop. ― A manga about food is a surefire way to leave one hungry enough for the juicy details regarding its creation. Surely, the first ten minutes of Pass the Mon...
your score

Your Anime Rankings - Best of Summer 2025

To Be Hero X zigged-zagged all season but finishes with the best episode, while in the cumulative My Dress-Up Darling lost to some stiff competition. Find out how your favorite shows fared in the final rankings of the Summer! ― 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 w...
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The Fall Anime 2025 Preview Guide summoned by Crunchyroll

It's a five-star knockout for May I Ask One Final Thing? Read all our reviews, including: The Banished Court Magician Aims to Become the Strongest, Inexpressive Kashiwada and Expressive Oota, My Hero Academia Final Season, Pass the Monster Meat, Milady!, A Star Brighter Than the Sun, This Monster Wants to Eat Me, Dusk Beyond the End of the World, A Wild Last Boss Appeared!, Who Made Me a Princess, and more!
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An Ode to Kikyo: In Defense of one of Takahashi's Most Hated Characters

Kikyo is the best character in InuYasha, and I will die on this hill (and be brought back to life 50 years later). ― If “Density of Fan Hate Per Onscreen Minute” were a quantifiable metric, FullMetal Alchemist's Shou Tucker would undoubtedly be the record-holder. But Kikyo, from when the InuYasha fandom was at its most active, would still easily crack the top 10, if not the top 5. To phrase that a bi...
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My First Rumiko Takahashi Series

Soon approaching her 50th anniversary as a manga artist, Rumiko Takahashi has introduced generations to manga and anime through her stories. ― Soon approaching her 50th anniversary as a manga artist, Rumiko Takahashi has introduced generations to manga and anime through her stories. Her work spans the breadth of genres, from the hilarious mishaps in Urusei Yatsura and Ranma ½ to the horrific folktal...
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The Fall 2025 Anime Trailer Watch Party is Tonight!

Come find your new must-watch anime with us on Friday at 5pm PT/8pm ET! ― The leaves are changing, and the anime season is, too. 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 50 trailers from the upcoming anime season. Find your next must-watch anime, from the biggest hits ...
your score

Your Anime Rankings - Best of Summer 2025, Sep 16-22

The Rising of the Shield Hero is dropping like a rock each week while Dr. Stone is rising like a hero. See you next week for the final results! ― 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 peopl...
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Mother's Basement Joins The Fall 2025 Anime Trailer Watch Party!

Come find your new must-watch anime with us on Friday at 5pm PT/8pm ET! ― The leaves are changing, and the anime season is, too. 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 50 trailers from the upcoming anime season. Find your next must-watch anime, from the biggest hits ...
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The Most Anticipated Anime of Fall 2025

Fan-favorites like Spy×Family and Ranma ½ are set to return, but it was those little digital pals and a monstrous new series that really grabbed our critics' attention. ― As some of the biggest anime of the year wind to a close, our team looked to October and beyond for their next must-watch anime series. Fan-favorites like Spy×Family and Ranma ½ are set to return, but it was those little digital pa...
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The Worst Anime of Summer 2025

In a season full of great anime, we had to dig a bit deeper to find the clunkers; most of the series on this list are competent but otherwise dragged down by unlikable characters and tired, one-note jokes. ― In a season full of great anime, we had to dig a bit deeper to find the clunkers; most of the series on this list are competent but otherwise dragged down by unlikable characters and tired, one-...
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The Best Anime of Summer 2025

Even if you didn't love everything that came out, it's still hard to deny that there was a surfeit of delights for viewers to sample. Our editorial team weighs in with our favorite series from this packed season. ― The summer of 2025 has been one of the strongest anime seasons in recent memory. Perhaps that's hyperbolic, but even if you didn't love everything that came out, it's still hard to deny t...
your score

Your Anime Rankings - Best of Summer 2025, Sep 9-15

Turkey! may have thrown off a lot of people at the beginning, but it seems to have found its audience as evidenced by its climb back from the pits of 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 simulcast...
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The Complete To Be Hero X Timeline

To Be Hero X is a massive superhero chronicle that jumps back and forth over the course of 41 years. If you're chronologically confused, we're here to help. ― The story of To Be Hero X is a massive chronicle taking place over the course of 41 years. However, that is not to say it is told in any semblance of chronological order. Instead, the series hops back and forth across the decades, following ea...
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Bringing Apocalypse Bringer Mynoghra to the Fans with Director Yuji Yanase and Producer Yuki Mukai

Even when your lead characters are villains, Apocalypse Bringer Mynoghra shows they're still someone to root for. ― There's nothing quite like Apocalypse Bringer Mynoghra—an isekai series that takes place within the world of a 4X-type of strategy game, in which our protagonist (with the help of characters from the game) creates and rules over an evil kingdom. It has dark moments, villain protagonists...
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For Webtoon Creator Mongie, Let's Play is Personal

Leeanne M. Krecic shares how comic series' characters are all reflections of herself, from Charles to Monica. ― Leeanne M. Krecic has accomplished what many fans only dream about: a studio is adapting her original story into an anime series. Also known as "Mongie," Krecic first launched Let's Play online comic on the WEBTOON platform in 2016, where it grew to 7.5 million readers, earned an Eisner Awa...
your score

Your Anime Rankings - Best of Summer 2025, Sep 2-8

Spots 4-7 of the cumulative are in a hot race, with CITY The Animation currently leading. 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 rankings are ...
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No Character is Safe in Hell's Paradise

In our interview with creator Yūji Kaku, we learn that every character has a "bad end" route, even protagonist Gabimaru. ― Hells Paradise captured the hearts of many people thanks to its unique setting, likable characters, and gorgeous animation. A great deal of thought went into how the anime presented itself visually and how the story effectively communicated its various potential branching paths. ...
your score

Your Anime Rankings - Best of Summer 2025, Aug 26-Sep 1

We see some tectonic shifts in the cumulative, as Call of the Night grabs #1 and Anne Shirley knocks down My Dress-Up Darling. 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 these ra...
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Why Chainsaw Man is Going Theatrical with MAPPA President Manabu Ohtsuka, Vice President Hiroya Hasegawa

MAPPA Studio president hopes theatrical release will expand the hit series' audience. ― The familiar faces of Chainsaw Man are set to make their return in the fall with the upcoming movie: Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc. As a direct sequel to the first season, the story will continue from the events following the end of the season. Tatsuya Yoshihara, who was the action director of season one, wil...
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TOUGEN ANKI Producer, Voice Actor Discuss Blood-Soaked Premiere

“I feel that I'm quite a reasoned person. Even when I get angry, I hold it back,” he said. “[Since] I started acting as Shiki's character, I've started to allow myself to let my true self out. It's okay to let your feelings out.” TOUGEN ANKI might seem on its surface like a typical shonen work: a young man is told he has a higher calling and is thrust into conflict. He's part of a long line of Oni ...
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From The First Slam Dunk to ELECEED: DandeLion Animation Studio CEO Kazuhiro Nishikawa

We spoke with the studio CEO behind the critically-acclaimed The First Slam Dunk to find out more about their next project: the 2D-3D hybrid anime ELECEED. ― DandeLion Studios has been around for almost 20 years. You may know them as the production company responsible for the critically acclaimed movie The First Slam Dunk or the Oscar-nominated film Magic Candies. The studio's CEO, Kazuhiro Nishikawa...
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Anime Dubs as Good as Cowboy Bebop

Cowboy Bebop may be the gold standard of English dubs, but it's hardly alone. There are plenty of shows that make the case for watching in English. Our editorial staff shares some of their favorites. ― Cowboy Bebop may be the gold standard of English dubs, but it's hardly alone. While some fans prefer subs over dubs, there are plenty of shows that make the case for watching in English. Our editorial...
your score

Your Anime Rankings - Best of Summer 2025, Aug 19-25

Call of the Night and Anne Shirley see their best episodes yet, but it's not enough to move the top 10 cumulative. Below #10 everything is shifting around though. ― 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...
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Influencers Gigguk, Dillon Goo, and OtakuVS On Making Their Own Anime

One might scoff at the notion: “Influencers are making anime now?” Such reductive thinking conflicts with the reality that the lines between industry professionals and content creators have been steadily blurring. ― GeeXPlus made waves here at Anime Expo by announcing GeeXProductions, a new IP division. As an internet influencer talent agency, GeeXPlus has been a supportive home for a range of varie...
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Your Anime Rankings - Best of Summer 2025, Aug 12-18

Panty & Stocking bounce back from the previous week's stumble to take #1, just a hair ahead of The Summer Hikaru Died. 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...
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How To Make a Whale Fly: An Interview with Leviathan's Scott Westerfeld, Christophe Ferreira, and Yūichirō Kido

We talked at length about the adaptation process, potential influences, and how the politically fraught world of Leviathan resonates with our own. ― When I sat down to watch Leviathan for review, it wasn't long before I was swept up by the series' rousing score, gorgeous visuals, and poignant storytelling. Studio Orange and Qubic Pictures crafted a tale that constantly put itself in my own mental con...
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The Real Yokai of DAN DA DAN Part Two

Yokai expert Zack Davisson is back with six more monsters from DAN DA DAN, from the Mongolian Death Worm to the kasaobake! “Spirits, Paranormal Abilities, Urban Legends, UFOs, Ancient Civilizations, Alternate Worlds. In this world exists every conceivable mystery.” – Count Saint Germaine, DAN DA DAN Chapter 122. In The Definitive Guide to Japanese Yokai, folklorist and manga artist Shigeru Mizuki ...
your score

Your Anime Rankings - Best of Summer 2025, Aug 5-11

If you thought food court equals boring and uninspired, See You Tomorrow at the Food Court is challenging that notion with a steady rise in the rankings. 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 simulcast...
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How The Answer Studio Breathed New Life Into a Classic With Anne Shirley

Producer Yoshiko Nakayama and voice actor Honoka Inoue share their affinity for Lucy Maud Montgomery’s beloved heroine and how they tackled bringing her tale to a new generation of anime fans ― Anne Shirley, animated by The Answer Studio, joins the long-standing tradition of adapting author Lucy Maud Montgomery's classic novel Anne of Green Gables for new audiences. While the novel is near and dear t...
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How The Summer Hikaru Died Voice Actor Chiaki Kobayashi Learned a Rural Dialect

Kobayashi shared how he became familiar with his character Yoshiki's unique rural dialect used in The Summer Hikaru Died, and his friendship with co-star Shūichirō Umeda. ― The TV anime The Summer Hikaru Died is shaping up to be one of the best anime of the season. The horror series marries small-town life, supernatural occurrences, and the human emotions of grief among the sweltering heat of a Japa...
your score

Your Anime Rankings - Best of Summer 2025, Jul 29-Aug 4

CITY The Animation is rocking this week's charts. Will it bump Anne Shirley out of the top 7 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 that these...
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The Next Big Shōnen Anime: Gachiakuta Creator Kei Urana, Graffiti Designer Hideyoshi Andō, Producer Naoki Amano

It was no small feat taking Gachiakuta from the pages of the manga to screens in full animated glory, and the results speak for themselves. ― With Gachiakuta, it feels like we're on the precipice of something big. Its distinct style sets it apart from other shonen anime, and the fiery attitude it exudes resonates with audiences right now. The time is ripe for a fresh series that lets us channel our ...
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Your Anime Rankings - Best of Summer 2025, Jul 22-28

Since coming back from its half-year hiatus, One Piece has been hitting in the top 5 nearly every week! 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 based on how...
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A New Supernatural Human Drama: An Interview with This Monster Wants to Eat Me Director Yusuke Suzuki

We spoke with director Yusuke Suzuki about adapting Sai Naekawa's manga to the screen, casting the perfect voice actors for the main character trio, and how he set the stage for this supernatural human drama. ― Hinako Yaotose's life hasn't been easy. After surviving an accident that killed her family, she goes through her school days in her quiet seaside town under a cloud of survivor's guilt. It's t...
your score

Your Anime Rankings - Best of Summer 2025, Jul 1-21

As we start the season, popular sequels My Dress-Up Darling and DAN DA DAN dominate as one might expect, but The Summer Hikaru Died might be our little surprise hit of the summer! ― 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 t...
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Returning to My Dress-Up Darling After 3 Years: Hina Suguta and Shoya Ishige

The lead voice actors for Marin Kitamura and Wakana Gojo share their favorite costumes, their favorite moments from the series, and more. ― My Dress-Up Darling is an anime that holds a special place in the hearts of many, including the actors who portray two of the main leads. Shoya Ishige and Hina Suguta, who played Wakana Gojo and Marin Kitagawa, respectively, attended Anime Expo 2025 to share with...
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The Summer Anime 2025 Preview Guide sponsored by Crunchyroll

The Preview Guide is still going, with Kaiju No. 8! ― Welcome to Anime News Network's Summer 2025 Anime Preview Guide sponsored by Crunchyroll! 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. This season, our Anime Preview Guide ...
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The Summer Anime 2025 Preview Guide sponsored by Crunchyroll

Shiki's bombastic Oni powers can turn blood into a weapon. Read our reviews of Tougen Anki in the Preview Guide! Plus: New Panty and Stocking, The Summer Hikaru Died, Toilet-Bound Hanako-kun, Gachiakuta, My Dress-Up Darling Seaosn 2, and more! ― Welcome to Anime News Network's Summer 2025 Anime Preview Guide sponsored by Crunchyroll! Here's how it goes: our team of critics writes up their impression...
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Car Chases, Analog Technology, and Social Commentary: An Interview with BULLET/BULLET Director Sunghoo Park

"When I'm watching Hollywood movies with car chases in the theater, I get so excited by the speed that I feel like I can't breathe." ― While anime is often thought of as being created by Japanese people by definition, this isn't always the case. Take, for example, Sunghoo Park. In recent years, this South Korean man has garnered no small amount of acclaim as the director for Garo: Vanishing Line, The...
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The ANN Aftershow Returns with Spooky Summer Anime Line-up!

TONIGHT! The ANN Aftershow returns with The Summer Hikaru Died and DAN DA DAN Season 2! ― TONIGHT! The ANN Aftershow returns with spooky summer anime line-up! Join Jacki Jing, James Beckett, and Lynzee Loveridge as we discuss ghosts, aliens, monsters, and...chicken cutlets? 🍗 Join the discussion LIVE at 6pm PDT/9pm EDT on YouTube, X, and Facebook!
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Global Anime Challenge Unites Industry Veterans to Mentor Aspiring Animators and Tackle Crunch Culture for a Healthier Future

Anime talents behind Frieren, The Elusive Samurai, & Your Name reflect on industry hardships and whether unionization could be the key to lasting reform. ― At Anime Central 2025, Anime News Network sat down with four of Japan's rising anime talents—director Keiichiro Saitō (Frieren: Beyond Journey's End, Bocchi the Rock!), producer Takafumi Nakame (The Garden of Words, Your Name), and animators Kaoru...

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