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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.
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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 ...
Dinosaur Sanctuary Manga Creator Itaru Kinoshita Wants to Show a Different Side of the Prehistoric
How does a triceratops sit? What are dinosaurs like as they enter old age? Itaru Kinoshita spoke with ANN about his passion for prehistory and how he's bringing dinosaurs to life.
― After a rousing panel with special appearances by “real” dinosaurs, Dinosaur Sanctuary manga creator Itaru Kinoshita sat down with ANN to speak more on his journey as a manga artist, why he chose to humanize dinosaurs, an...
A Celebration of 25 Years: An Interview with Manga Creators PEACH-PIT
From Rozen Maiden to Shugo Chara! Jewel Joker, PEACH-PIT has captivated manga readers for decades.
― Celebrating twenty-five years together, the manga artist duo behind PEACH-PIT made their long-awaited return to Anime Expo 2025 after a decade away. In addition to their anniversary, Anime News Network had the well-timed opportunity to speak to them after ANN's first interview with them twenty years a...
The Silent Hill f Staff on Moving the Horror to Japan
Amidst the screams of onlookers, I had the opportunity to discuss Silent Hill f's new setting in Ebisugaoka, and try our best to avoid major story spoilers.
― In Anime Expo's Entertainment Hall, there was a plethora of booths dedicated to gaming and merchandise, but one of the largest was Konami's Silent Hill presentation. Enveloped by black walls covered in red spider lilies, a huge line of fear-s...
How No Sleep for Kaname Date Developers Gave the Game Its Name
Director Kazuya Yamada and localization producer Alex Flagg answered our questions about certain game mechanics and how they came up with the game's name.
― During Anime Expo 2025, we got to sit down with Spike Chunsoft and talk about No Sleep For Kaname Date from AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES. It's the latest entry in the visual novel series. Director Kazuya Yamada and localization producer Alex Flagg answe...
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...
Gundam GQuuuuuux Band NOMELON NOLEMON Strives to Make Their Music Universal
With hits like “Midnight Reflection,” “afterimage,” and “HALO,” we spoke with NOMELON NOLEMON about crafting songs for one of anime's most iconic franchises.
― Japanese music duo, NOMELON NOLEMON, made an explosive U.S. debut on the Anime Expo stage during the Gundam GQuuuuuuX panel. While 2025 also marks their fourth anniversary, they're only just getting started on their launch into stardom. Their ...
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...
BAND-MAID's MIKU Kobato Talks About the Future and How the Band Decides on Album Names
BAND-MAID is hot off a successful tour and following the recent release of their latest song "What is justice?," we spoke to MIKU about what's next.
― With BAND-MAID taking a break from the middle of a nearly sold-out tour in Japan, Anime News Network had the opportunity to speak with its frontwoman, MIKU Kobato, at Anime Expo 2025. Formed in 2013, BAND-MAID recently celebrated its 10th anniversary a...
Fighting for a Better Anime Industry - An Interview with Animator Supporters' Jun Sugawara and Genga-chan
Burnt-out animators, low wages, excruciating deadlines, and toxic working conditions. How is Animator Supporters continuing to push to make a better workplace in anime production?
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Over the past few years, I've had amazing and unique opportunities to speak with some of the anime industry's greatest creatives. However, these luminaries' experiences don't always precisely align with those of animator...
Reading with Manga One App Editor-in-Chief, NOVELOUS App Producer Yuki Wada
Longtime editor Yuki Wada discusses his experience in the Japanese publishing industry and where it's going from here.
― Yuki Wada has been an editor for various publications in Japan for quite some time, working on a wide range of titles. He has been instrumental in the creation of the NOVELOUS platform, a light novel serialization app that offers readers a variety of light novels not otherwise ava...
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...
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...
Inside the Director's Toy Box: An Interview with Hiroshi Nagahama at Animazement 2025
If there's a director who embodies the childlike wonder of believing that a man can fly, look no further than Hiroshi Nagahama.
― If there's a director who embodies the childlike wonder of believing that a man can fly, look no further than Hiroshi Nagahama. While speaking at Otakon last year, the Mushi-Shi and Flowers of Evil director was so passionate about his work, he ended up having to leave the ...
Digimon Story: Time Stranger Reintroduces the Digital World to New Audiences
“To bring out that experience to its fullest, we intentionally didn't make it an open world. We wanted everybody to get that same story experience from playing this game.”
― Bandai Namco Entertainment's latest addition to the Digimon Story game franchise, Digimon Story: Time Stranger, marks the first time the series will have a fully English dub. Coming nearly eight years after Digimon Story: Cyber ...
Persona5: The Phantom X Developers Speak About the Game's Success
Persona5: The Phantom X was released globally on June 26, and even though it has only been about two weeks since its launch, Atlus is satisfied with the reception so far.
― It's almost been nine years since Atlus released Persona 5 in Japan, and since then, the game has garnered critical acclaim and become wildly successful. The original and Royal versions sit at scores of 93 and 95, respectively, a...
Final Fantasy XVI Producer on the Series' Future
Final Fantasy XVI producer Naoki Yoshida discusses how the series will progress in the future, as well as what he'd like to accomplish in the next several years.
― At Anime Expo 2025, Anime News Network got the chance to sit down with Final Fantasy XVI producer Naoki Yoshida to discuss how the series will progress in the future, as well as what he'd like to accomplish in the next several years. With ...
New Director Kazuaki Kuribayashi is Risking it Big on KILLTUBE Anime Film
The film staff revealed a new scene at AX this year; read how the team raised US$6.68 million for this animated "experiment."
― On April 8, a one-minute clip circulating on social media caught anime fans' attention worldwide. It's actually the pilot film of the newly-announced anime film titled KILLTUBE. The film is scheduled to be released sometime in 2026, but it's safe to say that the release win...
Small-town Horror: Interview with The Summer Hikaru Died Creator Mokumokuren
Ahead of The Summer Hikaru Died anime's premiere at Anime Expo today, dive into the series' creeping horror with manga creator Mokumokuren!
― Manga creator Mokumokuren is having a good year. Their debut manga The Summer Hikaru Died was recently tapped for an anime adaptation, but not before making multiple entries on top manga lists, in the U.S. and Japan. Dripping with the sticky heat of summer, Th...
Kana Hanazawa on Becoming Echika in Your Forma
We sat down with prolific voice actor Kana Hanazawa to discuss what draws her to investigative science fiction stories, how she crafted her role, and the appeal of Your Forma.
― Kana Hanazawa is no stranger to playing tough women in science fiction series. She previously starred as Akane Tsunemori in Psycho-Pass, a role not dissimilar to her current work as Echika, the protagonist of Your Forma. We ...
ODDTAXI's Baku Kinoshita Wants to Take His Time in The Last Blossom
For his follow-up, The Last Blossom, Baku Kinoshita has crafted a feature film that's both strikingly different than ODDTAXI while being recognizably from the same creative mind.
― ODDTAXI was a singular piece of TV animation, a character drama that is crushingly sad but with enough magical realism to give it a sense of whimsy. It created a unique world filled with memorable and complex side characte...
Deconstructing Villainesses and Heroines: An Interview with I'll Become a Villainess Who Goes Down in History's Author, Izumi Okido
Author Izumi Ōkido shares how her story twists the standard villainess sub-genre formula, her impressions of the anime adaptation, and why she decided to write a villainess story in the first place.
― To say there is an ongoing “villainess” boom in light novels, manga, and anime would be an understatement. One such story is I'll Become a Villainess Who Goes Down in History, which got an anime adaptat...
The Summer Hikaru Died Director Ryohei Takeshita on Crafting a Sense of Dread
We spoke with the director of one of the most anticipated anime of the summer about how to make horror work in an animated series.
― The upcoming The Summer Hikaru Died anime series has big shoes to fill. The anime series, written and directed by Ryohei Takeshita (Jellyfish Can't Swim in the Night), is based on Mokumokuren's best-selling manga series. With over three million copies in print, the ser...
Opening the Apocalypse Hotel with CygamesPictures President Nobuhiro Takenaka, Director Kana Shundo, & Screenwriter Shigeru Murakoshi
We spoke with the original anime's staff about crafting this alternate version of Tokyo's high-end Ginza district, how the team connected robots with their audience, and if the studio has more original anime works on the horizon.
― In the remains of Tokyo's Ginza district stands the glamorous Gingarou Hotel. The staff work diligently to provide expert service for its guests. The only problem? Humanit...
CGI Veteran Hiroyasu Kobayashi Breaks Down How He Mech-ed the Magic Happen In Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX
At Anime Central 2025, the renowned CGI animator shared insights on blending GQuuuuuuX’s 2D and 3D animation and his favorite mobile suit.
― At Anime Central 2025, veteran CGI designer and director Hiroyasu Kobayashi made a special guest appearance to discuss his extensive career in the anime industry. With a portfolio spanning video games, anime, and films such as Gravity Rush, Honkai Impact 3rd [R...
There From the Beginning: An Interview with Anime Legend Masao Maruyama at Animazement 2025
If you compare the anime industry to a historical document, Masao Maruyama has been around since ink was first put to parchment—or, in his case, paint to celluloid.
― If you were to compare the anime industry to a historical document, Masao Maruyama has been around since ink was first put to parchment—or, in his case, paint to celluloid. In his over-60-year career, the prolific creative producer had...
Producer Keita Iizuka: Code Vein 2's Story Will be Darker Than the First
From a darker story and more customization options, here's what to expect from this sequel.
― Bandai Namco Entertainment's sequel to its 2019 hit, Code Vein, is set to release next year. The action RPG features a unique Buddy System that gives the players a partner to explore within Code Vein 2's dystopian world. After the debut trailer gave the world a first glimpse into the story, the game is still...
From Sanji to Kotetsu T. Kaburagi — An Interview with Hiroaki Hirata at Animazement 2025
The One Piece and Tiger & Bunny actor spills the beans on Tiger & Bunny 2 production and a whole season worth of scripts that weren't used.
― For two-and-a-half decades, audiences around the world have known Hiroaki Hirata as the Straw Hats' womanizing, chain-smoking chef Sanji. But just as One Piece started to take over the Western world and long before I knew what a “Going Merry” was, I'd come to ...
Look Back Director Discusses Artistic Struggles, Anime Adaptation Philosophy, and AI's Role in Creativity
― Studio Durian's film adaptation of Chainsaw Man creator Tatsuki Fujimoto's emotionally resonant one-shot manga, Look Back, is arguably one of the most moving pieces of art to come out of animation in quite a while. As evident by its booming box office success both in Japan and North America and numerous award circuit sweeps, Look Back stands as a testament both to the grueling labor of love that ...
Look Back Director Discusses Artistic Struggles, Anime Adaptation Philosophy, and AI's Role in Creativity
Kiyotaka Oshiyama discusses AI’s impact on traditional arts and whether anime adaptations should be dogmatically faithful to the source material.
― Studio Durian's film adaptation of Chainsaw Man creator Tatsuki Fujimoto's emotionally resonant one-shot manga, Look Back, is arguably one of the most moving pieces of art to come out of animation in quite a while. As evident by its booming box office su...
Merging Western Comics and Anime: An Interview with Batman Ninja vs. Yakuza League Writer Kazuki Nakashima
“I think it's rude for a creator to talk about the essence of a character. What's important is if people can watch the work and feel that on their own."
― Batman Ninja vs. Yakuza League is a superhero anime film that takes DC Comics' Justice League of America and reimagines them as yakuza. But that's only the start of how over-the-top this film gets. It's got everything from sudden musical numbers to...
Turning the Justice League into Yakuza: An Interview with Character Designer Takashi Okazaki
The new film Batman Ninja vs. Yakuza League reimagines the JLA as yakuza. Character Designer Takashi Okazaki talks about how he did it.
― The sequel to 2018's Batman Ninja, Batman Ninja vs. Yakuza League follows Batman and the larger Bat Family as they venture into a strange land where the Justice League of America have all been warped into yakuza versions of themselves. While the film itself is part...
Rockin' Out With Sumiko Arai, The Guy She Was Interested In Wasn't a Guy at All Manga Creator
In her first-ever English-language interview, Green Yuri creator Sumiko Arai talks about WLW stories, the inspiration for her characters, and what's on her music playlist.
― When Sumiko Arai launched The Guy She Was Interested In Wasn't a Guy at All on her Twitter account in 2021, she couldn't have predicted its meteoric rise in popularity. From social media to Pixiv Comic, the four-page serializatio...
Production +h Want Dark Machine To Be For Gaming What Slam Dunk Was For Basketball
Producer Fuminori Honda and director Tomoyuki Kurokawa discuss working on Dead Dead Demon’s Dedede Destruction and what viewers can look forward to with Production +h’s video game anime Dark Machine.
― Despite being newer on the scene, Production +h is an anime studio already making waves with animated films like Netflix's The Orbital Children and the anime adaptation of Inio Asano's post-apocalypti...
Edo Era's Brave Firefighters: Interview with Oedo Fire Slayer Novelist Shogo Imamura & Mangaka Shinobu Seguchi
Discover the history behind Oedo Fire Slayer in our interview with author Shōgo Imamura and manga creator Shinobu Seguchi.
― Japan's history is teeming with everyday heroes, and there may not be a stronger example than the Edo period's firefighters. Known as hikeshigumi, community firefighters rose to meet a 17th-century challenge: protecting the fragile wooden and paper homes in what would become th...
Bringing Utaite to the World: Singer Ado on Tour
The chart-topping singer is in the midst of her Hibana world tour, with a special concert film opening in U.S. theaters this week. We spoke with Ado about her performances and the special place Hatsune Miku holds in her heart.
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Since her debut in October 2020, Ado has taken the music world by storm. She released her first single, "Usseewa," at only 17 years old, topping the Billboard Japan charts. ...
Rock is a Lady's Modesty Director Shinya Watada and the Rise of Girl Bands
The hit series' director Shinya Watada discusses working with real-life group BAND-MAID, the inescapable appeal of female rockers, and how they reflect the times we live in.
― Inside the walls of Oshin Girls' Academy, an unexpected story is forming. Lilisa, the new step-daughter of a rich father, is determined to cement her status and become the school's next Noble Maiden. However, deep in her heart ...
Returning to Hell Teacher: Jigoku Sensei Nube After 30 Years: Voice Actor Ryōtarō Okiayu
Voice actor Ryōtarō Okiayu returns as Meisuke “Nube” Nueno this summer, and his Demon's Hand is fired up!
― In 1996, a modern action-horror series graced the airwaves of Japan. That series was none other than Jigoku Sensei Nube. Following the clumsy elementary school teacher Meisuke “Nube” Nueno, he fights off spirits who would harm his students with his Demon's Hand. The series was massively popular...
Anne Voice Actress Eiko Yamada on What Anne of Green Gables Means to Her
Yamada shares her thoughts on the story and characters that have been integral to so much of her life—starting with the titular Anne.
― With the new anime Anne Shirley on the air and the recently-held concert for the 1979 World Masterpiece Theater Anne of Green Gables anime in Tokyo, the over 100-year-old story is back at the forefront of the Japanese popular consciousness. Thanks to this, Anime News...
Honkai: Star Rail Lead Game Designer Chengnan An on Creating an Immersive World
― ANN caught up with Hoyoverse's Lead Game Designer, Chengnan An, at this year's Game Developer's Conference. After graduating from Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Chengnan An joined HoYoverse in 2016 as the Lead Combat Designer of Honkai Impact 3rd, responsible for developing and fine-tuning the game's combat mechanics. He advanced to a more strategic role in 2019 and now serves as the Lead Game Des...
Backstage Stories About the Making of 1979 Classic Anne of Green Gables with Anne Herself, Eiko Yamada
Eiko Yamada shares how she got the role, working with acclaimed Ghibli directors Isao Takahata and Hayao Miyazaki, and her most memorable moments.
― 2025 is looking to be a big year for Anne of Green Gables. Not only is there a new anime adaptation of Anne Shirley currently airing, but a concert showcasing the music from the 1979 World Masterpiece Theater classic adaptation was held in Tokyo recentl...
CoMix Wave Films President and CEO Tomohiro Tokunaga Shares His Vision
Tokunaga talks about the studio's decades-long history with director Makoto Shinkai, navigating the pandemic, and a brand-new project with a 'rookie director.'
― CoMix Wave Films entered a new era on May 28, 2024 with the appointment of Tomohiro Tokunaga as President and CEO of the company. A former producer at Telecom Animation Film, Tokunaga has been involved in projects such as Lupin III and sever...
Voice Actors Shōgo Sakata and Miharu Hanai Talk About Their Love for The Brilliant Healer's New Life in the Shadows
ANN caught up with Shogo Sakata and Miharu Hanai to get their thoughts on playing Zenos and Lily in The Brilliant Healer's New Life in the Shadows.
― At the recent world premiere for upcoming spring anime The Brilliant Healer's New Life in the Shadows
here in Tokyo, ANN sat down with voice actors Shōgo Sakata and Miharu Hanai. Together, they talked
about their respective characters (Zenos and Lily), ...
Director Shu Watanabe on The Too-Perfect Saint and Turning it into an Anime
ANN sat down with Shu Watanabe to discuss the anime adaption of The Too-Perfect Saint and what viewers can expect.
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Koki Fuyutsuki's light novel series The Too-Perfect Saint may sound like every other saint-based story out there, but it offers some variations on the theme. More Cinderella than its isekai compatriots, the story follows Philia, a protagonist. She carries out her duties perfectly as t...
Sailor Moon: The Super Live Cast Interview
Ahead of the Sailor Moon: The Super Live North American tour, we sat down with the London company to discover what it's like to bring Naoko Takeuchi's beloved magical girl series to the stage.
― Ahead of the Sailor Moon: The Super Live North American tour, we sat down with the London company to discover what it's like to bring Naoko Takeuchi's beloved magical girl series to the stage. Could you intr...
Interview: Zero Escape's Kotaro Uchikoshi on Ever 17 and Never 7 Finally Coming West
Newly available to Western gamers, Uchikoshi talked to us about the evolution of his themes, his popularity overseas, and how COVID changed his thoughts on sci-fi themes.
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Kotaro Uchikoshi has garnered something of an international cult fandom. He's known for science fiction-themed adventure games such as Zero Escape and AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES and his collaboration with Danganronpa creator Kazutaka ...
Getting To Know The Hosts Of The Award-Winning Shoujo Sundae Podcast
Shoujo Sundae hosts Giana Luna and Chika Supreme share what keeps them motivated, the secret to creating a successful podcast, and their mangaka interview wishlists.
― Anime and manga may be booming worldwide, but when it comes to things like award ceremonies, we all know that anime, manga, and media related to it rarely get the recognition they deserve. So when an anime-related podcast gets nominate...
The Beginning After The End Web Comic's TurtleMe on His Upcoming Anime Adaptation
A decade after launch, The Beginning After The End is getting the anime treatment. We spoke with the series creator about developing the world and any concerns about the format change up.
― The Beginning After the End is a lot of things. It's a web novel, a webcomic and in 2025, it's going to be an anime directed by Keitaro Motonaga at studio A-CAT. Written by TurtleMe, the story starts with King Gr...
Studio Mir Director Kang Hei Chu on The Little Mermaid Twist in The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep
Kang Hei Chu discusses the oceanic world-building, A Little Mermaid, veteran voice actor Cockle of The Witcher video games, and whether it's right to call the movie an “anime.”
― The Witcher has sown a bountiful crop of a franchise since Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski published the first Witcher short story in 1986. Sapkowski's The Witcher books acquired adaptations in the form of the CD Projekt Re...
Creating a Classic JRPG in the Modern Era: An Interview with Final Fantasy Creator Hironobu Sakaguchi
"I write a certain amount every morning, but I do it while I'm engaging in "gameplay" within an imaginary world."
― This past December, Hironobu Sakaguchi, the man known as “The Father of Final Fantasy,” brought an upgraded remaster of his studio's latest JRPG to PC and consoles with Fantasian Neo Dimension. Recently, ANN asked him a few questions about his return to making traditional turn-based RPG...
Bringing Übel Blatt to the Screen - An Interview with Director Takashi Naoya
Director Naoya shares the reasoning behind some of the anime's story changes and how the team brought Köinzell's vengeance to life.
― Etorouji Shiono's Ubel Blatt manga may seem like an odd choice for a contemporary anime adaptation at first blush - the series was serialized between 2004 and 2019, and it definitely retains the feel of its era of dark fantasy with its grimdark qualities and moments of...
Hiro Mashima Praises Fairy Tail 2 Video Game in New Interview
“The level of accuracy is high, and being able to walk to places that were actually in the manga is fantastic.”
― While video game adaptations of popular anime are now more than commonplace, few anime are as well suited to jump between the mediums as Hiro Mashima's Fairy Tail. With its sprawling fantasy world, extensive cast of colorful characters, and focus on explosive action, it's no wonder there...
A Chat with Lena Atanassova, Editor-in-Chief of TOKYOPOP
Rebecca Silverman talks to Atanassova about her history with TOKYOPOP, the publisher's LGBTQ+ imprints, and how they're trying to maintain readers' trust.
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As a manga publisher, TOKYOPOP has undergone some difficulties, a statement some readers may think is an understatement. But in its new incarnation, the publisher has made a lot of good changes with solid choices in titles and a dedication to pr...
Overtime Is Bringing Sports and Young Anime Fans Together
Founded in 2016, Overtime looks to marry social media, youth sports, and anime fandom. Their latest project? The Overtime Elite webcomic created by Brandon Chen and Inuupen.
― The idea that dorky hobbies and media are niche and ridiculed by more mainstream culture persists in the public consciousness despite there being a growing number of examples to the contrary. Olympic 100-meter dash gold medali...
Creating Realism in a Sports-Romance Anime: An Interview with Blue Box Director Yuichiro Yano and Series Composition Writer Yuko Kakihara
When the two began working together, they found they shared a bit of a problem when it came to making a high school sports anime: neither of them played sports in high school.
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Currently airing anime Blue Box is a love story about a pair of sports-playing high school kids. The way it mixes the romance and sports genres to create a grounded story has made it a hit with audiences both inside Japan an...
Director Kenji Kamiyama Calls The War of the Rohirrim an 'Unprecedented Opportunity' for Anime
Kamiyama shares how The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim anime film is important to him as a unique chance to feature animators' work on a global scale.
― Director Kenji Kamiyama has been in the business of making anime for over 30 years and has since garnered acclaim for his work on Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex and Eden of the East. His latest project offers an unprecedented opp...
Brian Cox and Gaia Wise Share Their Voice-Acting Stories from LotR: The War of the Rohirrim Anime Film
The War of the Rohirrim film's leads, Wise and Cox, share their personal connections with the franchise, the difference between voice acting and live-action, and their characters' interiority.
― Actors Brian Cox and Gaia Wise lead the cast as Helm Hammerhand and Hera in the upcoming The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim anime film. The War of the Rohirrim expands on a scant few pages from J....
Interview: BE:FIRST Vocal Group Returns to the High Seas of One Piece
We spoke with the seven-member dance and vocal group recently to learn more about the project, their creative process, their experience with One Piece, and more.
― The band BE:FIRST is collaborating with Toei Studios to perform the new ending song for the new version of the One Piece Log: Fish-Man Island Saga anime arc. First formed via the reality program The First, Sota, Shunto, Manato, Ryuhei, Ju...
WEBTOON and A New Era of Digital Comics
Anime News Network spoke with David Lee, Head of U.S. WEBTOON, and Aron Levitz, president of Wattpad WEBTOON Studios, to discuss the platform's creative process, what makes webtoons distinct as a medium, and the company's upcoming projects.
― WEBTOON is a global storytelling platform that features the work of creators from all over the world. Whether it's through their mobile app or through physical...
Shinichiro Watanabe on How the John Wick Director Joined the Lazarus Anime Team
― Cowboy Bebop, Samurai Champloo, Space Dandy, Carole & Tuesday – the legendary director behind all those blockbuster anime – Shinichiro Watanabe – is dropping a new anime, Lazarus, premiering on Adult Swim's Toonami in 2025. Watanabe did a ton of promotion at New York Comic-Con, and Anime News Network was able to speak with him about Lazarus, past projects, music, and more. WATANABE MULTIVERSE How ...
From Music Videos to Feature Film: An Interview with A Few Moments of Cheers Director POPREQ
Why don't I try [the art path] just once and see what I can do? And, if in the end, I find out that I don't have any talent, I will just give up. That's how I got started."
― Recently at the Tokyo International Film Festival, I sat down with POPREQ, the director of the recent film A Few Moments of Cheers. Throughout our conversation, we talked about the film's production and how much of its story com...
Directors Takahito Sakazume and Shun Enokido on Adapting Fate/strange Fake to the Small Screen
Learn more about their philosophy when it comes to adapting the novels into animation and the involvement of the original author, Ryohgo Narita.
― As the Fate series celebrates its 20th anniversary, Anime News Network was able to speak with Shun Enokido and Takahito Sakazume, the directors of the upcoming anime Fate/strange Fake. Together we talked about their history with the series, their philosoph...
Interview: Romance of the Three Kingdoms 8 REMAKE Producer Kazuhiro Echigoya
We spoke with producer Kazuhiro Echigoya for more insights into how the strategy video game remake promises to bring a beloved classic into the modern era.
― Koei Tecmo's Romance of the Three Kingdoms – known in Japan as Records of the Three Kingdoms - is a long-running and beloved strategy game series. It is set during the Three Kingdoms era, much like Koei Tecmo's famous Dynasty Warriors franchise....
The Importance of 'Blue' in Blue Period: Interview with Tsubasa Yamaguchi
At the Kodansha House pop-up venue in New York City, Tsubasa Yamaguchi made her U.S. fan event debut and revealed her own experience in fine art.
― Regardless of when you start or how much talent you have, there are always hurdles to creating art that can truly speak to people. The Blue Period manga has managed to speak to many readers, myself included, as a story that lays bare all of the trials and...
The Complicated Process of Color Design in Anime - An Interview with Nokotan's Arisa Komatsu
Many unsung heroes have a vital part in getting your favorite anime made. Let's take a look at the art of color design with Wit Studio's Arisa Komatsu.
― When you think of anime production, you probably think of the directors, animators, and writers. But of course, there are many unsung heroes who have a vital part in getting your favorite anime made. Once such overlooked position is that of color d...
Onward to the Alvarez Empire: Hiroshi Kataoka Discusses FAIRY TAIL 2
The longtime action RPG producer acknowledges the criticism levied against the original FAIRY TAIL game and how this sequel will offer a fundamentally different experience.
― Can you name a popular anime that doesn't have a tie-in video game? Sure, there are some rare exceptions, but just about every anime series that's even moderately popular will get the video game treatment sooner or later. Some ...
What Exactly Does an Animation Director Do? - An Interview with Nokotan's Karin Omura
To shine a spotlight on this job and what it entails, Richard Eisenbeis recently sat down with My Deer Friend Nokotan's animation director Karin Ōmura at Wit Studio's main office in Tokyo.
― While most people have an idea what directors, animators, or scenario writers do, these are only a few of the jobs involved in the creation of anime. Many jobs in the industry are relatively obscure at best to ou...
How Witch Hat Atelier's Manga Creator Made Magic for Everyone
We spoke with Kamome Shirahama at Kodansha House in NYC to discuss disability representation in her work, her art studies, and, of course, Qifrey.
― A packed room of enthusiastic fans gathered in the hall at the Kodansha House pop-up in NYC for the chance to have a live Q&A session with the mangaka of Witch Hat Atelier, Kamome Shirahama. The session began by introducing the moderator and local librar...
Miki Yamamoto, Creator of A Smart and Courageous Child Manga
Her single-volume book explores a couple's first pregnancy and their emotional trajectories as they go from thrilled to fearful, examining the role of news and how the written word impacts people.
― Miki Yamamoto's work isn't what most people think of when they hear the word "manga." Eschewing a typical manga style, the creator and picture book scholar has a deft hand with telling stories that rely e...
Making The Colors Within: An Interview With Director Naoko Yamada and Composer Kensuke Ushio
Yamada and Ushio discuss their latest film, that Trainspotting music reference, and designing different character body types.
― Naoko Yamada's newest feature film The Colors Within is due to open in the U.S. on January 24 next year, but some viewers will be able to see it sooner. The film is screening in Glasgow on November 2 (including a live Q&A with Yamada and composer kensuke ushio), Edinburgh on...
New Director Kazuaki Kuribayashi is Risking it Big on KILLTUBE Anime Film
The team raised US$6.68 million for the first-ever film, described as an "experiment" that will blend 2D and 3D elements and audience participation.
― On April 8, a one-minute clip circulating on social media caught anime fans' attention worldwide. It's actually the pilot film of the newly-announced anime film titled KILLTUBE. The film is scheduled to be released sometime in 2026, but it's safe to s...
Interview: Danganronpa Creator Kazutaka Kodaka is Gambling His Studio's Future on His New Game
Previously stuck in development hell, Kodaka and Uchikoshi are betting the very existence of their studio, Too Kyo Games, on the success of The Hundred Line.
― The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy is an upcoming visual novel/TRPG from the creative minds of Danganronpa's Kazutaka Kodaka and Zero Escape's Kotaro Uchikoshi. At Tokyo Game Show 2024, Anime News Network was able to see a bit of the new ...
Interview: Bridging Dungeon Fighter Online and Dark Souls with The First Berserker: Khazan
We got hands-on with the the big upcoming Souls-like games: The First Berserker: Khazan.
― One of the big upcoming souls-like games is The First Berserker: Khazan. I got some hands-on time with the title at the Tokyo Game Show 2024. I also got to sit down with the game's creative director, Junho Lee, and art director, Kyuchul Lee, to discuss the game's connection to the nearly 20-year-running Dungeon...
Look Back: Director Oshiyama's Inherent Need to Draw
Oshiyama spent the last week of the film's production drawing “1,000 key animations.”
― Studio Durian's movie adaptation of Tatsuki Fujimoto's one-shot, Look Back, has been the talk of the town. Following critical acclaim from some of the most influential Japanese moviegoers, US fans had the chance to see the movie with Director Oshiyama. GKIDS hosted three public screenings, which included a live Q&...
Blood on the Tracks Manga Creator Shūzō Oshimi Can't Help But Get Personal
We met with Oshimi at the Kodansha House pop-up in NYC to look back at Flowers of Evil, gender themes in his work, and what might come next.
― “Have you ever read a comic that crept up on you? A story that lingers long after you put the book down? You turn off the lights and get ready to sleep, and then, from the darkness, this story reaches out and grabs your ankle? Congratulations, you've just read...
A Bright and Colorful Adventure: An Interview with BAKERU Director Tadanori Tsukawaki
We spoke with BAKERU's director—Tadanori Tsukawaki of Good-Feel about a wide range of topics—from the game's anime inspirations, its educational elements, and even giant robots for good measure.
― While playing through BAKERU, I couldn't help but reminisce about the 3D platformers that defined a large part of my childhood—Ape Escape, Sly Cooper, the list goes on. But as mentioned in my review, my fo...
Managing the Stress System: REYNATIS Creative Producer TAKUMI
With its combination of style, fashion, and high-flying action, REYNATIS was one of the bigger action RPG surprises of the summer. We sat down with creative producer TAKUMI, to speak more about the game.
― With its combination of style, fashion, and high-flying action, REYNATIS was one of the bigger action-RPG surprises of the summer. We sat down with TAKUMI, REYNATIS's creative producer, to speak mo...
Fresh and New Everytime: The Music of Creepy Nuts
Hip-hop duo Creepy Nuts delivers a high-energy show filled with multi-genre hits. We had the privilege of sitting down with them for a quick conversation about their writing process and inspirations.
― Hip-hop duo Creepy Nuts performed earlier this year at Anime NYC, delivering a high-energy show filled with multi-genre hits. Made up of DJ Matsunaga and rapper R-Shitei, the setlist included many of ...
Creating a Multi-Volume Rom-Com Manga from a One-Shot
According to series creator Yūki Kanamaru, More Than a Married Couple, But Not Lovers was originally only supposed to be three chapters long!
― More Than a Married Couple, But Not Lovers certainly caught me by surprise when it aired back in 2022. Within its unique premise is a story about love and looking past our preconceptions about each other. At Anime Expo 2024, Anime News Network sat down and s...
Performing in the 2.5 Dimension: Producer Shimpei Yamashita on Oshi no Ko Season 2
Ahead of its final episode, Shimpei Yamashita discusses the challenges of following up Oshi no Ko's first season with one equally as good.
― Oshi no Ko, based on the manga by Aka Akasaka and Mengo Yokoyari, may not have surprised readers of the series by being a hit. The story is by turns intense and humorous, balancing detailed examinations of what it means to project a perky, lighthearted image to ...
Bringing Hololive to the U.S.: An Interview With Motoaki Tanigo, CEO of COVER Corp
With major collaborations and sold-out concert halls slowly starting to crop up here in the U.S., hololive has been one of the spearheads of this rise in popularity.
― In the past couple of years, VTubing has continued to grow as an inventive and influential form of entertainment. With major collaborations and sold-out concert halls slowly starting to crop up here in the U.S., hololive has been one ...
Guilty Gear's Artistic Identity, Upcoming Anime with Ken Miyauchi, Shoichi Kitazono, and Genki Mamada
ANN sat down with GUILTY GEAR -STRIVE- staff to discuss how important art is to not just Guilty Gear’s gameplay, but also its identity.
― GUILTY GEAR -STRIVE-, which recently surpassed 3 million players and has an anime adaptation in the works, is arguably the most stylish fighting game currently on the market. Moreover, it leans very heavily into this stylishness by allowing its visuals to play a r...
The Staff of My Deer Friend Nokotan Were Shocked by Its Worldwide Popularity
With its horned protagonist, disturbingly realistic deer, and off-the-wall absurdist humor, My Deer Friend Nokotan has been one of the most popular shows—inside of Japan and out.
― With its horned protagonist, disturbingly realistic deer, and off-the-wall absurdist humor, My Deer Friend Nokotan has been one of the most popular shows of the Summer 2024 anime season—both inside of Japan and out. To fin...
Director Hiroshi Nagahama, From Wicked City to Uzumaki
We sat down with the Uzumaki anime director to see what hints he could give us about the horror series before it premieres this weekend.
― On the screen in front of a crowded Otakon panel room, Director Hiroshi Nagahama shows a slide featuring the cover art for the 1987 film Wicked City, directed by Yoshiaki Kawajiri of Studio Madhouse on the screen in front of a crowded Otakon panel room. Several a...
Shangri-La Frontier Cheat Codes: How Its Creators Built Its Video Game World
Before Sunraku returns in season two, ANN spoke with light novel author Katarina and manga creator Ryōsuke Fuji on fleshing out its VR world.
― Shangri-La Frontier is an exciting action anime showcasing the fun exploits of our main character Sunraku. With a shoebill bird mask and an assortment of daggers by his side, Sunraku seeks to overcome challenges and learn more about the god-tier game Shangri...
Reimagining A World-Famous Monster: #DRCL Manga Creator Shin'ichi Sakamoto
Shin'ichi Sakamoto gives us a deeper look at his award-winning title's LGBTQ+ themes and how hie draws "with an awareness of beauty."
― Shin'ichi Sakamoto's storied manga has at last begun coming stateside, with English releases of Innocent and #DRCL midnight children now several volumes in, and The Climber announced to be coming soon. #DRCL, a dramatic reimagining of Bram Stoker's Dracula, was nomin...
Recreating a Video Game Classic with Final Fantasy VII Rebirth's Naoki Hamaguchi, Yoshinori Kitase, & Teruki Endo
In ANN's exclusive interview, the team behind Final Fantasy VII Rebirth reveals the wildest fan theories, streamlining its technical aspects, and what they think of the mixed reactions to its conclusion.
― Taking on one of the most beloved entries in the Final Fantasy franchise was never going to be an easy task. Square Enix's Final Fantasy VII was originally released in January 1997 to high demand,...
ODDTAXI's Baku Kinoshita On His New Film, Housenka
The director sheds light on his in-progress Showa-era film starring an aging yakuza and how it differs from his critically-acclaimed ODDTAXI anime series.
― Three years after ODDTAXI, Baku Kinoshita is back with a feature film, Housenka. This movie will be focused on an old yakuza, agonizing in his cell and remembering his past life while chatting with his talking flower. The director was present at...
TOUGEN ANKI's Main Cast Talks About Their Roles in the Upcoming Anime
Recently, Anime News Network was able to sit down with voice actors Kazuki Ura, Koutaro Nishiyama, and Hiroshi Kamiya to talk about their roles in TOUGEN ANKI.
― Recently, Anime News Network was able to sit down with voice actors Kazuki Ura, Koutaro Nishiyama, and Hiroshi Kamiya to talk about their roles in the upcoming anime TOUGEN ANKI—as well as the tricks of the trade that help them get into char...
Exploring the Past, Present, and Future of UNDER NIGHT IN-BIRTH II Sys:Celes with Director Kamone Serizawa
ANN got to chat with UNDER NIGHT IN-BIRTH II Sys:Celes director about what’s in store for its future, and Serizawa’s other favorite fighting games.
― Since its release earlier this year, fighting game fans have been loving French-Bread's UNDER NIGHT IN-BIRTH II Sys:Celes—which, just as Arc System Works CEO Minoru Kidooka expressed hoping for at EVO last year, was fought on by players on EVO's mainst...
The Rise of Terminator Zero with Writer Mattson Tomlin & Director Masashi Kudo
Ahead of it's Netflix premiere, we spoke with the Terminator Zero director-writer team about the AI apocalypse and exploring James Cameron's sci-fi world.
― Leading into the Terminator Zero premiere panel at Anime NYC Saturday night, a bit of the show's soundtrack started playing with that iconic Terminator "du-dum du-du-dum" beat. Just a couple of "du-dum du-du-dum" in, one audience member started ...
A Chat with Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection Producer Shuhei Matsumoto
ANN sat down with producer Shuhei Matsumoto at EVO to talk about the highly anticipated re-release of Marvel vs. Capcom 2, Street Fighter’s new DLC, and more.
― It's hard to overstate how intensely fighting game fans have been pleading for an official re-release of Marvel vs. Capcom 2, which initially came out in 2000. So as you can likely imagine (if you didn't see it for yourself), the news that i...
From Page to Screen: DAN DA DAN Director Fūga Yamashiro and Voice Actor Shion Wakayama
Director Yamashiro shared the methods behind the series "god-tier" animation, its tokusatsu visual connection, and whether he believes in ghosts (or aliens).
― Creator Yukinobu Tatsu's DAN DA DAN manga has been a fan-favorite, deftly blending a smorgasbord of supernatural elements with comedy, romance, and intense fight scenes. Director Fūga Yamashiro and studio SCIENCE SARU had the unenviable task o...
Empathizing with Pregnancy: An Interview with My Girlfriend's Child Manga Creator Mamoru Aoi
"I thought about what I could do as a woman, as a mother, and as a shojo manga artist."
― Shojo manga artist Mamoru Aoi has been busy this summer completing her highly recognized manga, My Girlfriend's Child. Also known as Ano Ko no Kodomo, the romantic drama was nominated for an Eisner award under Best Publication for Teens. In addition, the live-action TV drama based on the manga began broadcasting...
When Old Work Reaches New Audiences: An Interview with Bubblegum Crisis' Kenichi Sonoda
Seasoned manga creator and character designer Kenichi Sonoda discusses reinvigorating retro art and Rally Vincent's updated ride.
― Kenichi Sonoda, Japanese manga artist and character designer for Bubblegum Crisis, returned to the US for his appearance at San Diego Comic-Con 2024. Udon Entertainment brought him as a guest in celebration of Bubblegum Crisis Complete Archive, which includes an extensi...
Visualizing Lovecraft: An Interview with Manga Creator Gou Tanabe
The Eisner-nominated horror manga creator shares his experience adapting Lovecraft's darkest stories.
― Japanese artist Gou Tanabe made his first appearance at San Diego Comic-Con 2024. Known for his manga adaptation of H. P. Lovecraft's novels, Tanabe first started with the publication of The Outsider in 2007 and has continued his work to now. His take on The Shadow Over Innsmouth was nominated for ...
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