Interest
— Archives —
Filters
All
•
Anime
Manga
Novels
Games
Music
Merch
Events
Industry
People
Live-Action
Korean
Text-only Compact View
Text-only List View
Text-only Grid View
List View with Images
Grid View with Images
Gintama & Pui Pui Molcar Open a Pop-Up Store Together
Gintoki is driving your favorite Molcar, Potato
― The Gintama and Pui Pui Molcar franchises announced on April 8 that they are partnering for pop-up stores in Tokyo and Osaka with acrylic stands, pins, and other merchandise. The Tokyo store will be on the sixth floor of the Magnet by Shibuya 109 venue between April 24 and May 5, and the Osaka store will be on the fourth floor of Abeno Lucbus between ...
VANDY THE PINK, Complex Shop Offer KPop Demon Hunters x McDonald's Apparel
10 months ago, who would've put VANDY THE PINK, KPop, and McDonald's in the same sentence?
― American streetwear label VANDY THE PINK and youth media and entertainment company Complex Networks announced a collaboration with Oscar-winning film KPop Demon Hunters and McDonald's on April 7. VANDY THE PINK declares in a social post, “It's a battle for the fans!” and “Rep your side.” The Complex Shop show...
Nintendo Celebrates Animal Crossing's 25th Anniversary
Nintendo: “Check your mailbox on your island – there's something waiting for you!”
― Nintendo released an illustration to celebrate the 25th anniversary of its popular social simulator game series Animal Crossing on Tuesday. Nintendo of America captioned the illustration, “Today marks 25 years since the Animal Crossing series began! Check your mailbox on your island – there's something waiting for yo...
Popeyes, KitKat India Serve Up One Piece Collaborations
Universal Studios Hollywood also teases its Fan Fest Nights dishes & merch for One Piece
― American fast-food chain Popeyes confirmed its collaboration with the massively popular anime One Piece on Monday. The new Luffy Bento Box Bundle set includes two pieces of Popeyes Signature Chicken, Mac & Cheese, Chopper's Cupcake, … and a Gum-Gum Fruit Lemonade. Popeyes muses on social media, "Will it turn yo...
Detective Conan Voice Actor Kappei Yamaguchi Draws His Character Shinichi Kudō
Yamaguchi congratulates latest film on 1.1 billion yen opening
― Voice actor Kappei Yamaguchi posted an original illustration he drew of his Detective Conan character Shinichi Kudō on Sunday. The illustration congratulates the latest Detective Conan film, Detective Conan: Fallen Angel of the Highway (Detective Conan: Highway no Datenshi), on earning over 1.13 billion yen (about US$7.1 million) on its...
Creators Speak Out After Go For it, Nakamura-kun!! Creator Syundei's X Exodus
Syundei deleted X/Twitter account on Sunday after dealing with alleged harassment
―
When Go For it, Nakamura-kun!! manga creator Syundei left X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday after dealing with alleged harassment, manga artistts, novelists, and other creators expressed their thoughts on the matter. While some did not explicitly mention Syundei by name, there were references to the matter in their resp...
Go For it, Nakamura-kun!! Creator Leaves X After Dealing With Alleged Harassment
Syundei: “I only get complaints asking why I drew something like this”
―
Go For it, Nakamura-kun!! manga creator Syundei deleted their X (formerly Twitter) account after describing dealing with alleged online harassment. In a final post, Syundei asked, “Is it OK if I delete my account?” The manga creator continued: I only get complaints asking why I drew something like this, and since I don't have t...
Ring's Sadako to Haunt Nightmares as Bunny Girl
New figure slated for September
― Japanese entertainment company Furyu announced on Friday that Japanese horror icon Sadako will emerge as a bunny girl figure in September. Furyu posted images of the bunny girl Sadako and noted the figure will be released under its BiCute Bunnies series. The BiCute Bunnies figure series figures are available through Furyu Prize crane games throughout Japan. Update: S...
Wit Studio Animates Music Video for Vocaloid Producer Orangestar
Musician performs Agents of the Four Seasons: Dance of Spring's opening song with Kase
― Vocaloid music producer Orangestar released a music video that Wit Studio animated for the "Petals" song on Sunday. The song is also the opening theme for the ongoing television anime of Kana Akatsuki's Agents of the Four Seasons: Dance of Spring novel series. Yūtarō Kubo and Satomi Maiya, who are in charge of ...
Lego Announces 2nd Wave of One Piece Sets
The Straw Hats have doubled up on the Lego Lego Fruit
― The One Piece franchise announced on Friday that it will receive a second Lego wave, and pre-orders have already begun. Lego notes that these sets are for the second season of the live-action One Piece series. The set include Tony Tony Chopper, Dr. Hiriluk's Hideout, Dorry vs. Brogy – Giants of Little Garden, Battle at Drum Castle, Garp's Marin...
Manga Creators Commemorate Frieren: Beyond Journey's End Season 2
Featuring creators of Detective Conan, Ranma, Touch, Fly Me to the Moon & more! Also: Go glamping with Frieren
― Over the course of this past winter's broadcast of Frieren: Beyond Journey's End season 2, the anime's social media posted congratulatory drawings by manga creators and illustrators on a weekly basis. The season ended on March 27 with a final sketch by Rumiko Takahashi. Here are those draw...
Gundam Designer Aims to Put Haro Robot on International Space Station
The 1st space robot capable of chatting
― Space development company Space Entry announced on Tuesday that it plans to put the Mobile Suit Gundam mascot character Haro aboard Kibō, the Japanese Experiment Module of the International Space Station (ISS),. Under its “Hello, Haro” mission, the company aims to send the “Minna no Haro” (Everyone's Haro) to the ISS to collect long-term data on the “feasibi...
Sunrise Animates McDonald's New Gundam Ads
And introduces the new RX-78-2 Gundam Chicken Tatsuta Custom
― A new Gundam anime is out! Kind of. McDonald's Japan debuted a pair of commercials for its collaboration with the popular Mobile Suit Gundam franchise on Thursday. According to Comic Natalie and other Japanese sources, Gundam's original studio Sunrise produced brand-new animation footage to recreate scenes from the first Gundam anime with...
Cover Corp. Announces Restructuring of Holostars Japan Operations
Branch discontinues new merchandise, original music, event performances, company studio use, more
― Cover Corp. announced on Friday major changes to the operations of its male-focused VTuber branch Holostars in Japan. The company will cease group-wide activities across its multiple generations of talent and will instead focus on individual-focused activities. This will include the discontinuation of...
Sailor Moon Creator Cheers on Husband (& Hunter X Hunter Creator) With Crossover Art
Hunter x Hunter's Kurapika, Sailor Moon's Artemis & Sailor Mars featured
― Hunter x Hunter creator Yoshihiro Togashi announced on Wednesday that he completed inking the characters for chapter 430 of his manga series. While Togashi normally makes such announcements with character sketches on a dry-erase calendar whiteboard, this time Togashi surprised his fans (and Sailor Moon fans) with a crossover i...
Exit 8 Star Recreates Anomaly in New York Subways on Wednesday
Can you escape the real-life Exit 8?
― Popular indie game-based film Exit 8 makes its way to the New York City Subway on Wednesday. American independent film production and distribution company Neon Rated stated on social media, “There's an anomaly loose in New York!” Those who spot the film's iconic Walking Man actor Yamato Kochi at a subway station and say the pass phrase “TURN BACK” may receive a...
Heads of Japan, France Trade Dragon Ball's Kamehameha
French embassy also joins the fun
― April Fool's Day 2026 was full of all sorts of jokes on social media. But if someone told you Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and France's President Emmanuel Macron performed Dragon Ball's Kamehameha move on April 1, would you believe it? Well, it's no joke. At Takaichi's prompting, the two heads of state performed the maneuver during a joint news conference...
Live-Action One Piece Series Gets Animated LEGO Special
2-part special streams on Netflix on September 29
― One Piece is no stranger to LEGO, with multiple official LEGO sets available for fans to recreate Eiichiro Oda's long-running pirate saga. But the series is about to land on new shores with Netflix's latest announcement of a two-part "Lego One Piece" animated special that will stream on the service on September 29. Netflix and the official YouTube c...
That Time xAI's Grok AI Mistranslated Witch on the Holy Night as Madoka Magica
Generative AI chatbot on X was confused about Fate/Grand Order's latest collaboration
― Mistranslation strikes Grok, the generative AI chatbot that xAI has deployed on the X (formerly Twitter) service. The Fate/Grand Order game announced a collaboration with the Witch on the Holy Night visual novel on its X account for the United States on Saturday. However, Japanese followers of the account were qui...
McDonald's Japan Teases Gundam's Return to Menu
This is no Happy Meal, boy! No Happy Meal!
― McDonald's Japan teased a new collaboration with the Mobile Suit Gundam franchise on Sunday. The fast food chain posted a short video with Gundam characters Lalah Sune (voiced by Saori Hayami), Amuro Ray (Tōru Furuya), and Char Aznable (Shuichi Ikeda) saying “What is it? It's coming!”, “Is that…a new burger”, and “I can see it. I can see it, too” respectiv...
Oshi no Ko's April Fool's Day Joke Becomes Reality
Kana Arima is now a pirate captain
― It's real! The Oshi no Ko franchise announced on Thursday that a collaboration between character Kana Arima and the Hakone Pirate Ship tourist attraction has come to fruition. Kana Arima is now the captain of the ship in Hakone, Kanagawa Prefecture. (There are actually three floating, seafaring — or rather, lakefaring — "pirate" ships in Lake Ashi.) The area aroun...
Japan's Iconic Licca-chan Doll Makes American Debut
With crossovers with Frieren, Detective Conan, Sanrio characters
― Japanese toy company Takara Tomy confirmed this week that its iconic doll brand Licca-chan is making her American debut. Takara Tomy unveiled the U.S. lineup, which includes Sanrio's Kuromi, My Melody, and Hello Kitty collaboration dolls; the Frieren: Beyond Journey's End and Detective Conan anime's collaboration dolls; and the Kimono...
Sailor Moon's Artemis Watches Over NASA's Artemis II Mission
There's no better guide! (Except maybe Luna?)
― America's National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) took hold of the world's attention on Wednesday when it launched its Artemis II mission, on course to be the first manned mission to fly by the Moon in five decades. And who was there to oversee the launch? None other than Sailor Moon's white feline partner to Sailor Venus, Artemis. During t...
Bandai Announces Macross F x Top Gun: Maverick Crossover Toy
Alto Saotome is hitting the highway to the danger zone
― Bandai's premium toy brand Tamashii Nations announced a collaboration between the Macross Frontier anime and the popular 2022 American film Top Gun: Maverick on Tuesday. Preorders for the DX Chogokin VF-25 Messiah Valkyrie Top Gun: Maverick ver. will begin on April 3, and the toy will then ship in September. The toy is similar to the three-mod...
Animate Apologizes for 'Inappropriate' April Fool's Joke for Unlimited Mates Dating 'Game'
"Game" lets you woo 1,000+ mates such as angel or monster in isekai, BL, more settings
― Japan makes countless April Fool's jokes, but how many have led to a corporate apology? Anime and manga store chain Animate issued an apology for the joke it posted on April Fool's Day at midnight … and then deleted hours later due to "inappropriate and insensitive" content. Animate had posted on April 1 about Un...
Crunchyroll Anime Awards Reveals 2026 Nominees
DAN DA DAN, Gachiakuta, My Hero Academia, Takopi's Original Sin, The Apothecary Diaries, The Summer Hikaru Died nominated for Anime of the Year
― It's that time again to vote and make your voice heard for anime! Crunchyroll announced the nominees for its 2026 Anime Awards on Thursday. Crunchyroll's 10th annual awards ceremony will take place in Tokyo on May 23, and there will be a global livestream. ...
Happy April Fool's Day 2026 From Around the Anime World, Part V
Featuring Dr. Stone, Mr. Osomatsu, Shangri-La Frontier, Legend of the Galactic Heroes, Kamen Rider, Level 5, & more!
― While it's just April Fool's Day in much of the world, it's also the first workday for many recent college grads in Japan. The anime and manga worlds have mixed in some congratulations for these new hires among their jokes: The Battle Cats 【🎉祝！TVアニメ化決定！🎉】ﾋﾞｯｸﾞ(ﾟ∀ﾟ)ﾆｭｰｽ!「にゃんこ大戦争」がリッチな...
Happy April Fool's Day 2026 From Around the Anime World, Part IV
Featuring Medalist, BanG Dream!, Ensemble Stars, Like a Dragon, Apex Legends, Okami, Super Psychic Policeman Chojo, PlayStation, & more!
― As if April Fool's Day wasn't chaotic enough, April 1 is also the official start of the fiscal year in Japan. Between all the executive shuffling and dry stock transactions reports, workers let off steam with jokes like these: Apex Legends ／📢『Apex Legends ときめき学園ライ...
Happy April Fool's Day 2026 From Around the Anime World, Part III
Featuring Final Fantasy VII, Apothecary Diaries, Fate/Grand Order, Gundam 00, NieR, Made in Abyss, Doraemon, & more!
― Besides April Fool's Day, April 1 marks the start of the Japanese school year — hence the school-themed pranks mixed in with the rest: The Apothecary Diaries Pop Your Heart！《𝐛𝐮𝐛𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐬》MaomaoXiaolanShisui20XX.4.1 Debut#bubbles🫧#薬屋のひとりごと #エイプリルフール pic.twitter.com/aU7IJy2MZi— 『薬屋のひとりごと』アニ...
Happy April Fool's Day 2026 From Around the Anime World, Part II
Featuring One Piece, Hana-Kimi, Re:ZERO, Saiki K., Hikaru Midorikawa, Sega, Studio Pierrot, & more!
― The best April Fool's Day "jokes" are the ones that make us laugh on April 1 — then make us gasp on April 2 when we realize they're actually, legitimately real. Do you think of any this year's pranks are for real? Alya Sometimes Hides Her Feelings in Russian 🤜初の格闘ゲーム登場!?🤛『時々バグった挙動をする格ゲーのアーリャさん達』スペシャル...
Happy April Fool's Day 2026 From Around the Anime World, Part I
Featuring Dragon Ball, Oshi no Ko, Uma Musume, Code Geass, Samurai Troopers, Sakamoto Days, Dragon Quest, & more!
― It's April Fool's Day! Which means people making announcements which you're not quite sure if they're real or not — like these from the anime and manga world: Code Geass (2/2)設立に合わせて、企業HP・企業紹介映像を公開いたしました。 ▼「株式会社コードギアス」企業HPhttps://t.co/LJ0xT61NLl▼「株式会社コードギアス」企業紹介PV https://t.co/nloGt7rmG...
Gundam's 1st Global Ranking Poll Winners Are …
Hint: The ones with funnels, wings, & transformation
― The Mobile Suit Gundam franchise announced the winners of its Global Gundam Poll on Tuesday. Fans cast more than 1,330,000 votes, and the staff reported not just the global rankings, but also rankings from 10 different language regions. Taking the global top spot is the Nu Gundam from Mobile Suit Gundam: Char's Counterattack. The Wing Gundam Zer...
Jack Black Wants to Star in Yakuza, Series Director Masayoshi Yokoyama Responds
Yokoyama: I've no idea what role he'd play, and I don't even know how to reach him, but I might try to contact him. lol"
― Actor Jack Black told the American entertainment news outlet ScreenRant that he would love to have a role in a live-action adaptation of popular game series Like a Dragon (also known as Yakuza). “So I'm going to throw my hat in that ring," Black said to ScreenRant's Ash Crossan d...
Urban Myth Dissolution Center Tops AnimeJapan's 'Indie Games We Want to See Animated' Poll
Izon, Azure Striker Gunvolt were close behind
― The AnimeJapan event announced the results for this year's “Indie Games We Want to See Animated” poll. Shueisha Games' Urban Myth Dissolution Center took the top spot, and Creek & River's Izon and Inti Creates' Azure Striker Gunvolt placed second and third, respectively. The top 10 finalists in the “Indie Games We Want to See Animated” 2026 Poll are: U...
Yui Hara's "Police Men" Short Wins AnimeJapan's Emerging Creator Awards
Kyoto Seika University student's short took home Grand Prix, Special Award
― The AnimeJapan 2026 convention announced the winners of its Emerging Creator Awards 2026 in a ceremony on Saturday. "Police Men" by Kyoto Seika University's Yui Hara took the Grand Prix award, which includes a 1 million yen (about US$6,000) prize. "One with the City" ("Kono Machi to, Tomo ni") by HAL Nagoya's Raiki Murao ea...
Full Metal Panic, Bayonetta Artists Host Live Drawing Sessions at AnimeJapan
Characters come to life at AnimeJapan 2026
― Full Metal Panic! illustrator Shikidouji and Bayonetta illustrator Ai Yokoyama appeared at AnimeJapan 2026 for live drawing sessions in front of fans this past weekend. Shikidouji drew Full Metal Panic! characters Sōsuke Sagara, Kaname Chidori, Teletha "Tessa" Testarossa, Melissa Mao, Kurz Weber, and Bonta-kun. Yokoyama in turn drew Bayonetta characters Ba...
Train Your Sharpshooter Skills With Saga of Tanya the Evil at AnimeJapan
Can you meet Tanya's expectations & shoot down Being X?
― The Saga of Tanya the Evil anime makes its appearance at AnimeJapan 2026 with an interactive sharpshooting game for prizes. Kadokawa's booth features a shooting gallery with cork guns, which players fire at targets labeled as “Being X.” Those who play the game without success will receive a literal participation trophy — or rather, a "particip...
Yuki Kajiura, LiSA, Fiction Junction Perform Tiny Desk Concert
Set to stream globally with Demon Slayer, Gundam Seed, SAO, Garden of Sinners songs
― Japanese musician Yuki Kajiura announced on Wednesday that she is making her debut on tiny desk concerts JAPAN, NHK's Japanese version of National Public Radio's hit program where musicians perform intimate sets at the broadcaster's cramped offices. The half-hour concert will premiere on the NHK World-Japan service ...
Assemble Your Final Fantasy Party to Explore the Wonders of Fukushima
Japan Railways East airs new ad to bring travelers to northeastern Japan
― JR East released a new commercial for its Final Fantasy and Fukushima Prefecture collaboration, Fukushima Fantasy, last week. The commercial features a four-person party dressed as a Black Mage, Red Mage, White Mage, and Thief from the Final Fantasy franchise exploring the weeping cherry blossoms in Kitakat City, Hanamiyama P...
KPop Demon Hunters Makes McDonald's Debut
Also: Kpop Demon Hunters creators reportedly sign US$10 million deal with Netflix
― The KPop Demon Hunters franchise and fast-food chain McDonald's announced on Tuesday that they are collaborating for a set of “dueling adult meals” based on the Oscar-winning film. Fans can choose between the HUNTR/X Meal or Saja Boys Breakfast Meal starting on March 31. McDonald's streamed a 30-second commercial for ...
AnimeJapan 2026 Announces Emerging Creator Award Finalists
13 works chosen from 50 different schools across Japan
― AnimeJapan announced the finalists for this year's Emerging Creator Award for anime shorts on Monday. The event will announce the winners from among the 13 works nominated on March 28. The 13 finalists (including their creators and schools) are: "Ao ga Kieta Umi ni" (Ayano Sawada, Kyoto Saga University of Arts) "Ura Kissa" (Ryusei Dozono, HAL ...
Stroll Down Memory Lane With Frieren at Universal Studios Japan
Frieren: Beyond Journey's End marks its USJ debut with immersive, interactive attractions & restaurant
― The Universal Studios Japan (USJ) theme park confirmed on Monday that it is collaborating with the Frieren: Beyond Journey's End series for the first time. The collaboration will feature new "Story Walk" and "Story Ride" attractions plus themed dishes between May 1, 2026 and January 11, 2027. The ...
Voice Actor Yoshiki Nakajima Announces Marriage
Voice of Idolm@ster SideM's Jiro Yamashita, Ensemble Stars' Tetora Nagumo
― Voice actor Yoshiki Nakajima announced on Sunday that he had gotten married. In his statement, Nakajima added that his partner is a non-celebrity. As of press time, Kamiki's announcement has received 117,000 likes and 1,200 replies, most of which are congratulations from his fans and colleagues. Nakajima has appeared in The ...
Universal Studios' Fan Fest Nights Offer Details on 'One Piece Grand Pirate Show'
Straw Hats battle Marines, Buggy in pyrotechnic-filled, live stunt show in April/May
― On Thursday, Universal Studios Hollywood offered details about its upcoming "One Piece Grand Pirate Show" for its Fan Fest Nights event. The performance will see Luffy and the Straw Hat Pirates battle Buggy in a "pyrotechnic-filled, live stunt show." The show will take place at the existing WaterWorld show venue, n...
Uma Musume: Cinderella Gray Wins 12th Anime Trending Awards' Top Prize
Uma Musume: Cinderella Gray wins 7 other awards; The Apothecary Diaries season 2 wins 6 awards
― The 12th annual Anime Trending Awards announced its winners on Saturday, and Uma Musume: Cinderella Gray won Anime of the Year, as well as seven other awards, including Best in Animation, Sports Anime of the Year, and Girl of the Year for Oguri Cap. The second season of The Apothecary Diaries won six awar...
Hayao Miyazaki Personally Draws New Art of Nausicäa, Kiki, Totoro, Spirited Away
Panoramas go on display at Ghibli Park from July 8
― Renowned animation studio Ghibli announced on Tuesday that Hayao Miyazaki personally drew new art pieces that will go on display at the Ghibli Park's Grand Warehouse. The art pieces are the centerpieces of 31 “panorama boxes” highlighting titles from across Studio Ghibli's library (and Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, which strictly speaking, p...
One Piece's Chopper Supports Doctors Without Borders
“A small doctor with a big heart embarks on a humanitarian journey”
― The One Piece franchise and humanitarian medical care charity Doctors Without Borders (Médecins Sans Frontières or MSF) announced on Friday that One Piece character Tony Tony Chopper is joining the organization as an official supporter. One Piece creator Eiichiro Oda personally drew an original illustration of Chopper sporting the ...
Ado, Yoasobi Perform at Lollapalooza 2026
Ado makes debut at Chicago's annual music festival
― Japanese singer Ado and musical duo Yoasobi announced on Wednesday that they will be performing at Lollapalooza 2026. The music festival will take place in Chicago's Grant Park between July 30 and August 2, but neither have revealed on which day they will perform. Yoasobi state this is their second appearance at the annual event. The duo made their...
Street Fighter 6 Collaborates with Mega Man Franchise
“Kick off 25 years of Mega Man Battle Network & the upcoming release of Mega Man Star Force Legacy Collection"
―
Capcom announced on Monday that its Mega Man Star Force and Mega Man Battle Network games will collaborate within the Street Fighter 6 game. The collaboration began on Tuesday, and players who log into Street Fighter 6 during the event period will receive collaboration items. Capcom added...
Sailor Moon Exports Original CG Short to Universal Studios Hollywood
In the name of the Moon, she will punish you if you don't go!
― The Universal Studios Hollywood theme park and the Sailor Moon franchise announced on Thursday that they are uniting for the park's Fan Fest Nights this spring. The event will play "Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon the Miracle: Moon Place Chapter Deluxe," an original manga and CG anime short, with subtitles at the DreamWorks Theatre. Universa...
Anime World Offers Condolences After Voice Actor Masako Ikeda's Death, Part II
Colleagues honor one of their own
― March 3 marked a sad day for anime fans around the world with the news of prolific voice actor Masako Ikeda's death. Her works are beloved around the world, and professionals and fans alike have taken to social media to express their tributes to the late Ikeda. Shinobu Adachi 息子がアパレルの仕事をしていた時 お店に入って来られて道をお尋ねになった美しい女性がいらした 珍しく息子が私に電話をして来て「綾鷹のお声の方が道を尋ねられた！すぐにわかったよ！素...
Anime World Offers Condolences After Voice Actor Masako Ikeda's Death, Part I
Creators, artists, fans come together for their farewells
― The world lost a veteran anime voice actor with the announcement of Masako Ikeda 's death on March 3. She is best known for her roles as Maetel in the Galaxy Express 999 franchise; Fuyuka Liqueur in Silent Möbius; Reika "Ochōfujin" Ryūzaki in Aim for the Ace!; Sharon in Space Brothers; Hi no Tori/Phoenix in The Phoenix -Space-, The Phoenix: ...
KPop Demon Hunters Wins Oscars for Best Animated Feature, Song
Film's "Golden" song won Original Song category
― The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences awarded Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans' KPop Demon Hunters for Best Animated Feature Film in the 98th Academy Awards ceremony on Sunday. The film competed against Zootopia 2, Arco, Elio, and Little Amélie or the Character of Rain.The film's "Golden" song also won the Best Music (Original Song) category....
Happy White Day 2026 From Around the Anime World, Part III
Featuring My Hero Academia, Like a Dragon, Project Sekai, Atelier, Baki-dou, Do You Like Big Girls, & more!
― For many people, March 14 marks Pi Day; a day celebrating the mathematical principle of the ratio of a circle's circumference to diameter. However, since the 1970s, March 14 is also widely celebrated in Japan as White Day. On this day, people around Japan return the favor for gifts they recei...
Happy White Day 2026 From Around the Anime World, Part II
Featuring Dragon Quest, Love Live! Nijigasaki, Samurai Troopers, Hana-Kimi, Okami, Yumeiro Cast, Klutzy Witch, & more!
― While it is not as popular as Valentine's Day, White Day is a staple holiday in Japan. Less about professing love and more about returning the favor for Valentine's Day sweets, it's the perfect holiday for the ever-considerate Japanese people. That includes all the anime and manga ...
Happy White Day 2026 From Around the Anime World, Part I
Featuring Demon Slayer, One Piece, Precure, Chibi Maruko-chan, Square Enix, Sega, & more!
― On March 14, Japanese people celebrate White Day — a holiday like Valentine's Day, except traditionally boys and men would give marshmallows to girls and women (especially those who gave them Valentine's chocolates). Over the years, it has slowly shifted closer in spirit to Valentine's Day, with anyone giving ...
JoJo's, Slam Dunk, Blood, Gundam Artists (& You) Draw Kingdom Manga Panels
One Piece's Eiichiro Oda & Naruto's Masashi Kishimoto will not take part this time around
― The Kingdom manga franchise announced the second “Social Kingdom” campaign to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Yasuhisa Hara's manga on Thursday. The “Social Kingdom Saien” (Reignited) project will begin on March 19 at midnight Japan Time (March 18 at 11:00 a.m. EDT). Fans will be able to choose and redraw th...
Evangelion Creator, Gackt, Tezuka's Son, 2channel & Niconico Founders Tease New Social Media Service
Billed as “last social media service made by humans before the AI era”
― The company Popopo announced on Thursday that Niconico founder Nobuo Kawakami, Evangelion creator Hideaki Anno, musician Gackt, 2channel founder Hiroyuki Nishimura, and filmmaker (and Osamu Tezuka's son) Makoto Tezuka will help unveil Popopo's new service on March 18 at noon Japan time (March 17 at 11:00 p.m. EDT). As of press ...
KPop Demon Hunters Directors Confirmed to Return for Sequel
Sequel is Maggie Kang, Chris Appelhans' "1st project" in Netflix partnership
― Now that we know that KPop Demon Hunters is officially getting a sequel — albeit one that may not come until 2029 at the earliest — we can also rest assured that directors Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans are returning to direct. Netflix confirmed on Thursday that the sequel is the "first project" out of an exclusive multiy...
Shield Yourself with New Gundam Sleeping Bag
Fend off chill and absorb beams (*Not guaranteed against beams)
― The online Premium Bandai store announced pre-orders for Mobile Suit Gundam's RX-78-2 Gundam Shield Sleeping Bag from Strict-G (the Gundam fashion brand) and outdoors gear maker Nanga on Tuesday. The sleeping bag features a zipper with snag-reducing components to minimize damage to the fabric. The bag's inner and outer fabric will be 1...
World Series MVP Yoshinobu Yamamoto Meets Super Mario's Yoshi
Fans at March 31 Dodgers game can receive Yoshi bobblehead as Yamamoto
― The Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team released on Saturday a video of World Series MVP Yoshinobu Yamamoto meeting Super Mario Bros. character Yoshi. The post shows Yamamoto doing a handstand while being bothered by Yoshi. The video's caption reads "Yoshinobu meets Yoshi" and announces that the Dodgers will collaborate with The S...
Momoiro Clover Z Idol Ayaka Sasaki Announces Marriage
MCZ members Kanako Momota, Shiori Tamai, Reni Takagi congratulate Sasaki on news
― Momoiro Clover Z idol group member Ayaka Sasaki announced on March 5 that she had gotten married. In her statement, she thanked her fans for helping her achieve the milestone. The other Momoiro Clover Z members released congratulatory statements after Sasaki posted the news. Kanako Momota said, “May the many years ahe...
Cowboy Bebop Helmer Shinichiro Watanabe Shares 'Closet Picks' from Criterion Films
From The Killing of a Chinese Bookie & Branded to Kill, to Jacques Tati & of course, Bruce Lee
― Legendary anime director Shinichiro Watanabe shared his “Closet Picks” from the library of over 1,500 titles in The Criterion Collection, an American home entertainment distributor, on Tuesday: In the four-and-a-half-minute video, Watanabe waxes poetic about the films The Killing of a Chinese Bookie, Bra...
The Pokémon Company Issues Statement on White House Use of Pokémon-Inspired Images
Also: Yu-Gi-Oh! voice actor Dan Green criticizes White House's videos using clips to promote war with Iran
―
The Pokémon Company issued a statement last Friday regarding the White House's X (formerly Twitter) account using a modified version of the Pokémon Pokepia game's box art to read the current administration's slogan "Make America Great Again." According to American news outlets The Hill and Ti...
New Evangelion Anime Short Amasses Over 2.7 Million Views in 1st 24 Hours
Asuka-centered “Evangelion 30th Anniversary Special Screening” streams after debuting at February festival
― Studio Khara officially streamed the “Evangelion 30th Anniversary Special Screening” anime short to celebrate the Evangelion 3.0+1.0: Thrice Upon A Time film's fifth anniversary on Sunday. 24 hours later, the short has amassed 2,750,058 views (and counting). The short also received nearly 13,...
Kodansha Celebrates Its Biggest Manga in Papercraft Crossover Anime Short
Featuring Akira, Attack on Titan, Ghost in the Shell, Cardcaptor Sakura, Initial D, Fairy Tail, Cells at Work, & more
― Kodansha debuted a little short, lovingly animated with stop-motion papercraft, on Saturday. Kodansha asked fans, “We've all seen the legendary Akira bike slide before - but have you ever seen it animated entirely out of paper?” At just over a minute and a half, the video celebrate...
Mobile Suit Gundam Announces Collaboration with Apex Legends
Both in the game and with plastic model kits
― The Gundam franchise announced on Wednesday that it is collaborating with the popular battle royal-hero shooter Apex Legends. The "Apex Legends x Gundam Event" is set to start on March 11 Japan Time. Apex Legends teased the collaboration with the tagline, “Big mechs. Bigger Fights. Gundam x Apex is coming.” Broken Moon will become a Gundam-inspired batt...
'The Mortifying Ordeal of Being Seen' Manga Tops AnimeJapan's 'Manga We Want to See Animated' Poll
Strikeout Pitch, Ketsu Battler were close behind
― The AnimeJapan event announced on Wednesday the results for this year's “Manga We Want to See Animated” poll with 222,758 votes cast. The Mortifying Ordeal of Being Seen by mmk took the top spot. Kyu Sumiyoshi's Strikeout Pitch and Naotaka Takade's Ketsu Battler placed second and third, respectively. The creators of the top 10 manga gave messages to...
One Piece's Luffy Teaches Sesame Street's Elmo a New Japanese Word
Luffy & Elmo are now NAKAMAAAAA!
― Popular streaming service Netflix released a collaboration short video between the American children's program Sesame Street and the live-action One Piece series on Tuesday. The short features Sesame Street character Elmo dressed as One Piece character Monkey D. Luffy. Iñaki Godoy (Monkey D. Luffy) joins Elmo to teach the Muppet a very special Japanese word: none o...
Happy Hina Matsuri 2026 From Around the Anime World, Part III
Featuring Dan Da Dan, My Dress-up Darling, Animal Crossing, Capcom, Charisma, & more!
― It's time to break out the dolls of the Emperor and Empress for Girls' Day in Japan! Animal Crossing みなさ～ん！今日は、ひなまつりですね♪みなさんの島では、どのようなひなまつりが行われているでしょうか？思い思いに、桃の節句をお過ごしくださいね！ pic.twitter.com/uBZBJmNBzZ— どうぶつの森 (@doubutsuno_mori) March 3, 2026 Everyone~! Today is Hina Matsuri♪ How do you celebrate Hina Matsuri on y...
Happy Hina Matsuri 2026 From Around the Anime World, Part II
Featuring Sqare Enix, Doraemon, Chibi Maruko-chan, Chibi Godzilla Raids Again, Jun Inoue, & more!
― It's Hina Matsuri, or Girls' Day, in Japan. However, the holiday also goes by the name "Momo no Sekku" (Peach Festival) — a name used when Japan was on a lunar calender system, since March 3 used to land just after peach trees blossomed. The anime and manga industries are showing off their flowers for ...
Happy Hina Matsuri 2026 From Around the Anime World, Part I
Featuring Girls Band Cry, MAPPA, Tezuka Productions, Final Fantasy VII Remake, Dragon Quest, more!
― March 3 marks the Japanese cultural holiday of Hina Matsuri, or Girls' Day. Families celebrate by displaying dolls representing the Emperor, Empress, attendants, and musicians. They enjoy the displays while eating snacks and singing the traditional song “Ureshi Hina Matsuri." The anime and manga world...
Live-Action One Piece Cast to Help Toss 1st Pitch at World Baseball Classic
Main cast to appear at March 6 Japan vs. Chinese Taipei matchup
― The live-action One Piece series announced on February 24 that the members of the Straw Hat Pirates will appear during the World Baseball Classic's Japan vs. Chinese Taipei game on March 6. Iñaki Godoy (Monkey D. Luffy), Emily Rudd (Nami), Mackenyu (Roronoa Zoro), Jacob Gibson (Usopp), and Taz Skylar (Sanji) will take part in the game'...
Gundam Franchise Teases Collaboration with Hololive Productions
Will the VTuber's become mobile suits or Gundam pilots?
― The Mobile Suit Gundam franchise teased on Monday that a "Special Collaboration Project" is launching with Hololive Productions. The franchise will appear at the hololive SUPER EXPO 2026 event with a booth, where it will distribute "logo stickers." The account shared a five-second teaser. ◤◢◤◢◤◢特報◤◢◤◢◤◢ 《ガンダムシリーズ》 ✖ 《ホロライブプロダクション》スペシャルコ...
The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya Filmstrip Bookmark Sells for US$740
Theaters gave away bookmarks made from strips of celluloid film from movie's 2010 release
― A bookmark made from a filmstrip of The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya movie sold on the Japanese reselling site Mercari for 114,514 yen (about US$740) in February. The bookmark features a close-up of titular character Haruhi Suzumiya during her meeting with the series' point-of-view character Kyon at a fami...
Ado's Newest Music Video Is Live-Action
Will we finally see the singer's face?
― Japanese singer Ado released a new music video for her song “Vivarium” on Saturday. This is her first live-action music video and features several shots highlighting her facial features. In a livestream before the music video's release, Ado spoke about its lead-up: “Of course, I was the one who said that I wanted to make the 'Vivarium' music video live-action...
Original Pokémon Star Rica Matsumoto Marks 30th Anniversary With Her 1st-Ever Game Stream
Voice actor has returned to Satoshi/Ash's origins
― For those who celebrate, Happy Pokémon Day! Voice actor Rica Matsumoto released her first ever "Let's Play" stream of her playing the original Pokémon games, all to celebrate the franchise's 30th anniversary. The video features Matsumoto playing Pokémon Red up to the first battle with her in-game rival and leaving Pallet Town. The video is currentl...
Hang Your Clothes on Yujiro Hanma's Epic Split
Hanma would make Van Damme proud
― Japanese toy brand Banpresto revealed on Wednesday a new prize for crane games: a clothes hanger based on Baki character Yujiro Hanma's iconic split. Banpresto teased the clothes hanger with the caption, “If you want to become stronger, hang me!!” The 50-centimeter (20-inch) Yujiro Hanma splits hanger is set to appear in crane game machines this fall. Sources: Banpr...
Play Tetris on Kyoto Station's 9-Story-High LED Grand Staircase
Thankfully, clearing lines won't remove floors from the station
― JR West announced on Wednesday that Kyoto Station will let travelers play Tetris — using the station's Daikaidan grand staircase as a giant, nine-story LED screen. Dubbed "Kyoto Daikaidan Tetris," up to two people can play Tetris per session. Players can select between Easy, Normal, or Hard difficulty levels. Player ranking and scores ...
Kyoto University Team Made an AI Buddharoid
Institute for the Future of Human Society also has a “Catechism Bot"
― The Japanese newspaper Mainichi Shimbun reported on Tuesday that a team at the Kyoto University Institute for the Future of Human Society developed a humanoid "Buddharoid" robot. Dr. Seiji Kumagai's team trained the walking robot using Buddhist scriptures on the project's generative AI program Buddhabot Plus. Researchers hope the ...
Evangelion Voice Actor Fumihiko Tachiki Assumes Gendō's Final Form
Tachiki: "Execute Human Instrumentality Project: Pen Light"
― Evangelion's Gendō Ikari voice actor Fumihiko Tachiki entertained fans during the "Evangelion:30+; 30th Anniversary of Evangelion" festival on Sunday by recreating Gendō's iconic final form from Evangelion: 3.0+1.0: Thrice Upon A Time … with a little help of the festival's official pen light: After Yoko Takahashi (the performer of the orig...
Pokémon Unveils Special 30th Anniversary Logos … All 1,025 of Them
One for each Pokémon from each game
― On Monday, the Pokémon franchise unveiled its 30th anniversary logos — a whopping 1,025 of them, one for each Pokémon released during the games' 30-year history. Fans who click the image embedded in Monday's social media post can post one random logo to their account with the tagline, “Which Pokémon will you meet?” The franchise's staff also announced that the lo...
Evangelion's Hideaki Anno: Creators Reach Their Peak Around Age 30
Anno quotes Yamato/Macross director Noboru Ishiguro, cites Ghibli's Hayao Miyazaki & Gundam's Yoshiyuki Tomino
― During the "Evangelion:30+; 30th Anniversary of Evangelion" festival on Saturday, franchise creator Hideaki Anno stated that creators reach their peak around 30 years old. Anno was in a Q&A session with Rebuild of Evangelion director Kazuya Tsurumaki and animator Mahiro Maeda, and voice ac...
Watch All Evangelion Episodes in Just 25 Minutes on Period-Correct CRT TVs
But only at the "Evangelion:30+; 30th Anniversary of Evangelion" festival
― Eva fans were greeted with a surprise during the "Evangelion:30+; 30th Anniversary of Evangelion" festival this past weekend: all 26 episodes of Neon Genesis Evangelion playing nonstop, simultaneously on 26 TVs — each of them blocky and cathode ray tube, as ('90s) Sony intended. The display was part of the festival's retrospe...
Solo Leveling: ARISE Brings Jin-woo Sung to Fortnite
Jin-woo Sung, Hea-in Cha, and Igris are available in Fortnite
― Netmarble, a Korean gaming publisher, has officially launched a global crossover between its hit action RPG Solo Leveling: ARISE and Epic Games' Fortnite, bringing characters from the Solo Leveling universe into one of the world's biggest battle royale platforms. The collaboration runs through March 2 and introduces playable skins based...
Happy Cat Day 2026 From Around the Anime World, Part II
Featuring Monster Hunter, Cat and the Dragon, Sega, Sony, Fujiko F. Fujio Museum, & more!
― It's not the dog days of summer in Japan, but rather the cat days of winter on February 22. The anime and manga world send its greetings to all the cat lovers around the world: Atlus 2月22日は #ねこの日アトラス作品で好きな「ねこキャラ」をぜひリプライで教えてください！#猫の日 #にゃんにゃんにゃんの日 pic.twitter.com/WFUM8hSDuo— アトラス公式アカウント (@Atlus_jp) February 21,...
Happy Cat Day 2026 From Around the Anime World, Part I
Featuring Dragon Quest, Doraemon, Palworld, Google Japan, Tama & Friends, & more!
― February 22 marks Cat Day in Japan! As a Japanese wordplay on the number two (ni) sounding like a cat's meow (nyan), 2/22 is a celebration all things feline. The anime and manga world does its part for all the cat lovers the world over: Doraemon From Doraemon Volume 12 “Yurei no Hoshimono” Panel: Doraemon: Meow meow ...
Anime World Offers Condolences After Voice Actor Masaru Ikeda's Death, Part II
Colleagues honor one of their own
― February 16 marked a sad day for anime fans around the world with the news of prolific voice actor Masaru Ikeda's death. His works are beloved around the world, and professionals and fans alike have taken to social media to express their tributes to the late Ikeda. FieldWorks 池田勝さんには、2024年発売の『デルタ・フォース 日本語吹替完声版ブルーレイ』の追加録音にて、36年ぶりに同じアブドル・ラファイ（演：ロバート・フォスター）役を務めていただきま...
Anime World Offers Condolences After Voice Actor Masaru Ikeda's Death, Part I
Creators, artists, & fans came together for their farewells
― The world lost a veteran anime voice actor with the announcement of Masaru Ikeda 's death on January 31. He is best known for his roles as Jamitov Hyman in Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam, Gelsadora in Gatchaman II, Master Nekomamushi in One Piece, Jean Carne and Mysterious Old Taoist in Souten no Ken, Yatter-Wan in Yatterman, General Commander I...
The Apparent Origin Story of Olympic Gold Skater Alysa Liu's Pochita Plush
Japanese fan reported gifting Liu the Chainsaw Man plush after her Grand Prix Final win
― American figure skater Alysa Liu is arguably the most televised anime fan this month, with her twin gold medals (and Pochita plush tissue case from Chainsaw Man) at the 2026 Winter Olympics. But where did her Pochita come from? Japanese social media offers a likely origin story: On February 7, Japanese X (former...
Pokémon Card Auctioned for Record US$16.5 Million
Controversy ensues over how Logan Paul once sold "shares" in card before buying shares back
― American auction house Goldin announced on Monday that Internet personality and professional wrestler Logan Paul sold his rare Pikachu Illustrator card from the Pokémon Trading Card Game at auction for US$16.492 million. According to Goldin, “[Paul] passes the torch of the [Professional Sports Authenticator...
Turn Your Favorite Manga Pages Into Official T-Shirts
Pick pages from over 270 titles on Manga Plus to put on a shirt
― Japanese publisher Shueisha announced on Monday that the new T-Shirt Maker feature is now available in the Manga Plus service. With this feature, manga fans can “choose from over 270 titles and create your official manga tee!” Manga Plus users can “select a manga page directly on the platform from any language and create a custom T-shi...
Latest Love Live! Idols Offer 1st Music Video
Video debuted at Ikizu Live! Love Live! Bluebird's 1st-ever concerts
― Ikizu Live! Love Live! Bluebird, the latest project from the popular idol franchise Love Live!, debuted its first music video over Valentine's Day weekend. The music video for the song “Dou-Da? Doing” premiered during the Ikizu Live! idols' first-ever concerts at the Makuhari Event Hall in Chiba Prefecture, and is now streaming o...
Happy Valentine's Day From Around the Anime World, Part III
Featuring Though I Am an Inept Villainess, Natsuki Hanae, Atelier, You Can't Be in a Rom-Com with Your Childhood Friends, Sega, Pole Princess!!, Space Brothers, & more!
― Every Valentine's Day, I'm reminded of the greatest love poem of all time: Roses are red. Violets are blue. Omae wa Mo Shindeiru. Such a powerful verse can only be matched by the Valentine's Day greetings from around the anime and m...
Happy Valentine's Day From Around the Anime World, Part II
Featuring Demon Slayer, Final Fantasy, Oshi no Ko, Samurai Troopers, Doraemon, Square Enix, Mega Man, & more!
― Many Western countries mark Valentine's Day with children giving cards to friends and couples sharing a date night. In Japan, though, women also hand out chocolates to their friends and colleagues. They're known as giri chocolates (chocolates given out of obligation), but quality-wise, they...
Happy Valentine's Day From Around the Anime World, Part I
Featuring Pokémon, Naruto, Persona, Always a Catch!, ufotable, PlayStation, & more!
― Love is in the air, and the anime and manga world wants to share some of that love! Let's take a look at this year's Valentine's Day greetings: Always a Catch! Cogimyun (Sanrio) みゅ･･ チョコレートのケーキ、しっぱいしちゃったみゅん･･ちいさくなっちゃったけど、うけとってくれるみゅん･･？#こぎみゅん #バレンタインデー pic.twitter.com/w6u9xgS6Q2— こぎみゅん【公式】 (@cogimyun_sanrio) February...
For all articles, see the archives