News Anime Central Friday Coverage

Watari-kun's ***** is About to Collapse Volume 1 Manga Review

Jun 26, 12:00

manga

This book felt like watching somebody slowly wind a guitar string. Are they tuning the instrument, or do they want the wire to snap? ― Have you ever finished reading a volume of a manga where you just feel unnerved by the end? When I first picked up Watari-kun's ****** Is About to Collapse, I was expecting a semi-tragic story about two siblings trying to persevere in a new environment after losing th...

feature

5 comments

The Most Anticipated Anime of Summer 2025

Jun 26, 11:00

5 comments

anime

There's no getting around it: Summer 2025 is one of the biggest anime seasons we've ever seen. Find out which anime our reviewers can't wait to watch! ― There's no getting around it: Summer 2025 is one of the biggest anime seasons we've ever seen. While preparing for the Summer Anime Trailer Watch Party, I counted no less than 70 trailers between TV anime and Netflix originals premiering between lat...

column

This Week in Anime - Rocking Out to Anime Music Videos

Jun 26, 10:00

anime

Lucas and Chris dive into the long history of AMVs and their evolution from the early days of the internet through to today. ― This week in anime, Lucas and Chris dive into the long history of AMVs (anime music videos) and their evolution from the early days of the internet through to today. Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by the participants in this chatlog are not the views of Anime N...

interview

The Summer Hikaru Died Director Ryohei Takeshita on Crafting a Sense of Dread

Jun 26, 09:00 anime

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...

news

2nd Gundam Hathaway Film's Teaser Announces Staff, Title, Winter Debut

Jun 26, 08:32

anime

Circe no Majo previously had tentative title of "Son/Sun of Bright" ― The official website for the Mobile Suit Gundam: Hathaway (Kidō Senshi Gundam: Senkō no Hathaway) anime project posted a teaser for the second film on Thursday. The teaser announces the film's staff, Kidō Senshi Gundam: Senkō no Hathaway - Circe no Majo (Mobile Suit Gundam Hathaway: The Sorcery of Nymph Circe, or literally, "The Wi...

giveaway

The Great Dr. STONE Battle Craft X Giveaway Week 1 Winners

Jun 25, 17:35 games

Announcing our first 3 winners of the $100 Dr. Stone prizes! Did you win? ― Dr. STONE Needs you! We are calling on all Dr. STONE fans to mobilize and support the official Dr. STONE Battlecraft X account (@dsbc_staff_en). 18 people who heed this call to arms will be rewarded with their choice of one US$100 prize package from the list below. Every week Dr. STONE Battlecraft will send out a new X post t...

news

N LITE Announces Chiure: Child of the Sea Animated Film

Jun 25, 13:15 animation

MFINDA unveils new film inspired by Mozambican folklore ― Multimedia company N LITE announced on Wednesday that it is producing a new animated film titled Chiure: Child of the Sea at its studio in Japan in collaboration with South African animation studio LUCAN. The company unveiled a visual: The company describes the story: Inspired by Mozambican folklore, CHIURE: CHILD OF THE SEA tells the story of...

news

Moonbug Entertainment Partners with Sanrio for Crossover Series Featuring Hello Kitty, CoComelon Characters

Jun 25, 12:15

animation

Moonbug to distribute series globally in 2026 ― Moonbug Entertainment announced on Wednesday that it is partnering with Sanrio to produce a crossover series featuring characters from CoComelon and Sanrio franchises, such as Hello Kitty and Cinamoroll. Moonbug will distribute the series globally in 2026. Candle Media, parent company of Moonbug, previewed the multi-year deal for co-branded content at t...

review

Super Dimensional Fortress Macross II: The Movie Anime Review

Jun 25, 12:00

anime

In many ways, Macross II is a product of its time—for better and for worse. ― Often regarded by fans as the red-headed stepchild of the Macross franchise, 1992's six-episode Macross II OVA series was rights holder Big West's attempt to make a sequel to seminal 1984 movie Macross: Do You Remember Love (DYRL) without the involvement of original creators Studio Nue. As a result, this is the only Macross...

news

Rock Band TOKIO Announce Disbandment

Jun 25, 11:00

music

Group disbanded following member Taichi Kokobun's multiple past compliance violations ― The official website of rock band TOKIO announced that the group has decided to disband as of Wednesday, after it had been recently discovered that one of its members Taichi Kokubun had committed multiple "compliance" violations in the past. The group sincerely apologized to all concerned parties for Kokubun's com...

feature

48 comments

The Worst Anime of Spring 2025

Jun 25, 09:00

48 comments

anime

Which is more disappointing? A show with all the makings of a competent sci-fi thriller that fumbles it from the starting line, or a series backed by one of the industry's biggest stars that fails to deliver on its promises? ― Which is more disappointing? A show with all the makings of a competent sci-fi thriller that fumbles it from the starting line, or a series backed by one of the industry's big...

watch

NIJISANJI EN VTuber Vantacrow Joins The Summer 2025 Anime Trailer Watch Party!

Jun 24, 15:05

anime

― The Anime News Network Trailer Watch Party crew is excited to welcome NIJISANJI EN VTuber Vantacrow Bringer to this season's stream! Vantacrow is the hero the team needs to face this season's 70-trailer challenge on Friday, June 27. You can join us and chat live on YouTube and X while discovering your next anime obsession. The stream will be live on Friday, June 27 at 6pm Pacific/9pm Eastern. If y...

game review

Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Battle Destiny Remastered Game Review

Jun 24, 12:00

games

It's incredibly easy to load up, blow up a few robots, drop the points in your robot, then do it all again a few minutes later. ― Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Battle Destiny Remastered is a fun enough title for what it is, but it struggles to feel like more than a solid port of a decent game. Battle Destiny Remastered is a port of the original PS Vita title, launched back in 2012. The original title was o...

feature

56 comments

The Best Anime of Spring 2025

Jun 24, 11:00

56 comments

anime

The spring season seemed quiet if it weren't for the enormous mecha in the room. Check our the ANN reviewer team's picks for the best anime of spring! ― The spring season seemed quiet if it weren't for the enormous mecha in the room. Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuux dominated conversations week-to-week as Evangelion and Shin Godzilla director Hideaki Anno penned scripts alongside Utena's Yōji Enokido fo...

column

This Week in Anime - Yasuomi Umetsu and Young Girls with Massive Handguns

Jun 24, 10:00

anime

With new anime Virgin Punk hitting Japanese theaters this week, Coop and Steve break down the past works of its director: Yasuomi Umetsu of Kite and Mezzo Forte fame. ― With new anime Virgin Punk hitting Japanese theaters this week, Coop and Steve break down the past works of its director: Yasuomi Umetsu of Kite and Mezzo Forte fame. Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by the participants i...

interview

Opening the Apocalypse Hotel with CygamesPictures President Nobuhiro Takenaka, Director Kana Shundo, & Screenwriter Shigeru Murakoshi

Jun 24, 09:00

anime

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...

news

Reincarnated as the Daughter of the Legendary Hero and the Queen of Spirits Anime's Teaser Unveils More Staff, October Debut

Jun 24, 06:32