Reviews - July 2026

This Week in Games - Into the Fading Dusk

Jul 24, 10:00

games

Can you believe it's been twenty years since Final Fantasy X and X-2 were released? If you've got an urge to replay them, you're in luck! Plus an interview with the creator of Duskfade. ― Welcome back, folks! The heat is well and truly on; while it's already been sweltering in most parts of the country, my city also had its own little two-day heat wave. I can only hope that our spot of rain cools thi...

How BanG Dream! YUME∞MITA Uses Anime and Manga Culture To Shape Its Identity

Jul 24, 10:00 anime music otaku

The musical adventures of the girls bands in BanG Dream! have always been integrated with anime. But as a new entry BanG Dream! YUME∞MITA is even more marinated in said culture. The characters of YUME∞MITA live adjacent to Akihabara, long seen as a mecca of otaku culture in Japan. So, of course these girls are going to be steeped in anime and manga material, and it shapes both their identities and the vibe of YUME∞MITA.

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11 comments

Summer 2026 Manga Guide

Jul 24, 09:05

11 comments

manga

Explore worlds of East Asian mythology in the haunting short story collection Princess Da Huang as the Summer Manga Guide continues! ― Welcome to Anime News Network's Summer 2026 Manga Guide! You may have seen one of our seasonal Anime Preview Guides, where a team of critics writes up each new anime television premiere as it airs at the beginning of a season. Now, doing something like that for manga...

feature

Summer 2026 Light Novel Guide

Jul 24, 09:00 novels korean danmei

Looking for a new book to read? We've got you covered! Check out our reviewers' thoughts on a Lovecraftian Korean novel, two separate books about space orcs, and the much-anticipated print release of sci fi danmei classic Little Mushroom! ― Welcome to Anime News Network's Summer 2026 Light Novel Guide, the companion to our manga guide! Every included novel was published in June or July or is an upco...

interview

Interview: Looking Back on Dr. STONE with the Anime's Director and Scriptwriters

Jul 24, 09:00 anime

Director Shuhei Matsushita, series composition/scriptwriter Kurasumi Sunayama, and scriptwriter Aki Kindaichi delve into the triumphs and challenges behind bringing the acclaimed manga to the screen. ― After nearly seven years and 97 episodes (not to mention an additional TV special), the animated adventures of Dr. STONE have finally reached their end. In light of this accomplishment, Anime News Netw...

news

Ghost in the Shell: SAC's Kenji Kamiyama Helms Gundam RG XARX-ZERO Anime in 2027

Jul 23, 14:23

anime

Takeo Otsuka stars as war orphan pilot 45 years after alien takeover ― Bandai Namco Filmworks announced at San Diego Comic-Con International on Thursday that Kenji Kamiyama (Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex, Star Wars: Visions' "The Ninth Jedi", Eden of the East), is directing the new Mobile Suit Gundam RG XARX-ZERO anime at Sola Animation for release next year. Kamiyama is also in charge of t...

review

2 comments

Beat & Motion Volumes 1-6 Manga Review

Jul 23, 12:00

2 comments

manga

This charming romantic comedy strikes at the heart of being a working creative and dating one too! ― I initially stumbled upon Naoki Fujita's Beat & Motion in the first few days of January '25—not long before the series came to an end. Despite the less-than-opportune timing, I saw Beat & Motion as a solid little comic about rediscovering your creative passions and the doldrums that come with pursuing...

column

5 comments

This Week in Anime - Let's Get Together

Jul 23, 10:00

5 comments

events

Third spaces may be harder to find these days, but as Coop and Chris discuss, they're more important than ever in the anime fandom. ― Third spaces may be harder to find these days, but as Coop and Chris discuss, they're more important than ever in the anime fandom. Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by the participants in this chatlog are not the views of Anime News Network. @RiderStrike @...

game review

Dead or Alive 6: Last Round Game Review

Jul 22, 12:00

games

Dead or Alive 6 Last Round is a solid game, but a fundamentally mishandled product. ― Dead or Alive 6 Last Round is a solid game, but a fundamentally mishandled product. This is a game that has multiple layers worth discussing. I mean, all games are more than merely gameplay. There are the aesthetics, the soundtrack, monetization, all sorts of caveats and considerations that have to be taken into acc...

convention

'A New Era' for Kyoto Animation: An Interview with Sparks of Tomorrow Director and Producer

Jul 22, 09:00 anime

The acclaimed studio's current work takes place in gritty, steam-covered Kyoto. We talked to Minoru Ōta and Satori Senami about KyoAni's new, original work. ― Kyoto Animation's newest anime title, Sparks of Tomorrow, has been making waves after its July 5 premiere. The animation project was originally announced in 2018, but no updates followed until 2025. Now, as global viewers have caught up with th...

news

Agri Uma's Studio Cabana Manga Gets TV Anime in 2027

Jul 21, 22:52

anime

Sayumi Suzushiro stars in anime from director Shin'ichirō Ushijima, Juvenage ― Kadokawa announced on Wednesday that Agri Uma's Studio Cabana manga is inspiring a television anime next year.Sayumi Suzushiro plays protagonist Yukari Maki, reprising her role from a 2022 promotional video for the manga.The staff did not announce the cast for Yūsuke Kusaka, but presented the visual for the character:Shin'...

news

26 comments

Godzilla vs. Kong Actress Kaylee Hottle Dies at 18

Jul 21, 12:45

26 comments

people

Deaf actress played Jia in Godzilla vs. Kong films ― Actress Kaylee Hottle died on Tuesday morning in a car accident in Maryland, according to her father Joshua Hottle. She was 18. The deaf actress played deaf character Jia in the Godzilla vs. Kong film in 2021 and the Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire sequel in 2024. Hottle was nominated for Best Younger Performer in a Film for her role in Godzilla x ...

review

Super Dimension Fortress Macross: Do You Remember Love? 4K Remaster Anime Film Review

Jul 21, 12:00

anime

The Super Dimension Fortress Macross: Do You Remember Love? has been revered as a classic for decades. Watching it for the first time in 2026, I came away understanding exactly why it's endured for more than 40 years. ― The Super Dimension Fortress Macross: Do You Remember Love? has been revered as a classic for decades, holding a special place in anime history. I was fortunate to catch the special s...

column

This Week in Anime - Brand New Worlds

Jul 21, 10:00