Everything We Know About Ultraman: Along Came a Spider-Man

The upcoming Ultraman team-up manga will be written by Shigenobu Matsumoto and Shinji Oishi, with illustrations by Tomo Hirokawa (Sword Art Online: Alicization Lycoris). The series is getting a simultaneous English and Japanese release beginning on August 14, 2024.

The plot of Ultraman: Along Came a Spider-Man has been described as:

On Marvel Earth, Spider-Man joins forces with the Avengers to battle Doctor Doom in New York City, but when several civilians are killed in a building collapse as a result, Spider-Man becomes demoralized and finds himself whisked away in a strange spacecraft called the Interdimensional Train. Doctor Doom stows aboard and both find themselves in the Tokyo of the Ultraman universe! Witnessing Ultraman battle a giant Kaiju, Doom craves the Giant of Light’s power and joins forces with Alien Mefilas and his army of Kaiju from the Monster Graveyard to steal it.

Viz Media

While Ultraman has teamed up with Marvel heroes in the past – like Ultraman x Avengers, which will also be dropping on August 14, this is the first time the kaiju-fighting tokusatsu legend will be teaming up with the world’s favorite neighborhood hero.

After beginning serialization in 2020, Rooster Fighter quickly went viral for its hilarious premise, and its self-aware humor.

Rooster Fighter’s Anime Adaptation Helped Sakuratani Fulfill a Lifelong Dream

After announcing that the Rooster Fighter anime would be airing on Adult Swim, being produced by Sanzigen and Sola Entertainment, the mangaka shared his thoughts on the adaptation, stating:

Ever since becoming a manga artist, my biggest goal was to have my work adapted into an anime. So, I can’t tell you how happy I am to see my dream come true! This is all thanks to my readers’ continued support and Hero’s and VIZ Media’s contributions. I extend my gratitude to all of you.

Shu Sakuratani

He continued, saying this about his action comedy series:

I believe Rooster Fighter is very blessed. We have the best director, the best writer, the best production staff, and the best voice actors all working together to create the best anime. As the original creator, I am ecstatic! I can’t wait to see Keiji and the gang come to life on TV. I hope that everyone out there will enjoy this anime where chickens take center stage!

Shu Sakuratani

The upcoming anime will be directed by Daisuke Suzuki, previously known for his work on D4DJ Double Mix and 009 Re:Cyborg. Series composition will be handled by Hiroshi Seko, whose credits include Attack on Titan, Mob Psycho 100, and Jujutsu Kaisen.

While fans are still waiting on an official release date, the mangaka’s enthusiasm has the community excited to see what’s to come from the series when it finally airs on Adult Swim.

The New Trailer Shows Off How Hard the Team Worked To Adapt Ito’s Unique Style

In the official post from Adult Swim, it’s officially been confirmed that Uzumaki will begin airing on September 28, 2024, with episodes landing on the streaming service Max the day after.

the new trailer shows a number of updated visuals in the latest trailer, and it’s obvious the studio behind the upcoming adaptation, Studio Drive, have put a lot of love, care, and passion into the adaptation.

She is promised a paradise of male suitors but has her favorite things taken away until she chooses a boyfriend. The story is hilarious, heartwarming, and self-aware, so readers/viewers might wonder, who does Anzu end up with in Romantic Killer?

Does Anzu End Up With Tsukasa in Romantic Killer?

Anzu x Tsukasa

Tsukasa Kazuki is the first love interest introduced in episode 1 of the anime, but the pair are not end game. Anzu and Tsukasa encounter each other in numerous instances that seem to parody the meet-cute trope, where future couples meet under seemingly random and often humorous circumstances.

Tsukasa’s good looks and initial cold demeanor belie his kindness, with him becoming a wonderful friend to Anzu. While he finds himself falling for her, Anzu does not feel pressured to reciprocate his feelings.

Anzu x Junta

Junta Hayami is propped up by Riri as the encapsulating the childhood friend archetype, even referring to him as ‘easy mode’ in the context of otome games, but these two just weren’t meant to be. He idealized Anzu since elementary school when he was teased for being overweight and called Tonta by their classmates, becoming a baseball prodigy when he learned that Anzu liked athletic guys. While seemingly cowardly and resentful of Tsukasa, Junta is steadfast and loyal to his friends.

Anzu x Ryuya

Ryuya seems like the closest romantic fit for Anzu, but does not end up with her in Romantic Killer. Their mutual appreciation for video games is a strong indicator that they could have chemistry, but this alone doesn’t seem to be enough to bring the pair together. However, Ryuya joins other characters in protecting Anzu from some rather scary circumstances by the end of the series, and remains her friend.

Anzu x Koganei?

Hijiri Koganei is the rich, handsome suitor sent after Anzu by Riri, but they do not end up together in Romantic Killer. Their personalities clash, with Anzu going as far as to taunt him for his attitude, referring to him as a tsundere. Despite his arrogant demeanor, Anzu still regards him as a friend, playing into his confidence and showing him affection as she does for her other friends.

Anzu x Riri

One of the more complicated and admittedly odd pairings in the anime – these two do not end up together, but when Riri wishes to stay in her life, Anzu shrewdly uses the technicality that there’s a fraction of a percent chance they could end up together romantically. This forces Kate, a later wizard assigned to her case, to allow Riri to stay in the human world.

Will There Ever Be an “Endgame” Pairing For Anzu?

For those who have caught on at this point, the story isn’t meant for Anzu to end up with anybody, at least, not definitively. The series does a wonderful job showcasing the importance of platonic love, which is often devalued in romance stories as only another avenue for people to end up together. Anzu eventually is given access to her possessions, while keeping her invaluable friends, and keeps the autonomy to not have to date any of them or respond to their advances.

However, the anime ends on a cheeky ‘to be continued…?’ note while setting her up with a new quest given by Kate, to find a boyfriend before graduating. We’ll see if there’s ever a continuation, but for now, the anime and manga end on the same note, with Anzu ending up with her favorite things: video games, chocolate, her cat Momohiki, and her friends. The ending of the manga is equally open-ended, however, there are some hints that she and Tsukasa could eventually develop something, since the final chapters give him the spotlight.

Romantic Killer was released on Netflix on October 27, 2022, and is based on the manga originally released on July 30, 2019. You can read Romantic Killer on Shonen Jump.

In an exciting new teaser trailer uploaded by EMOTION Label Channel and a post made on the official X (formerly Twitter) accounts revealed that Unison Square Garden will be returning to perform the new opening song, as well as showing off some flashy new footage from Blue Lock season 2.

When Will Blue Lock Season 2 Release?

The second season of Blue Lock is slated to release during the Fall 2024 Anime Season, on October 5, 2024. Just like the first season, season 2 will be streaming on Crunchyroll, subbed and dubbed. The new season will be featuring some new additions to the voice cast, including Satoshi Hino as Oliver Aiku, Kakeru Hatano as Nijiro Nanase, Eiji Mikami as Yo Hiori, and Akihisa Wakayama as Shuto Sendo.

My Deer Friend Nokotan

My Deer Friend Nokotan brings back the same style of comedy anime that the community had been missing out on once the 2010s came and went, filled with slapstick reference humor that resonates with fans of every genre. Poking fun at properties like Dark Souls, the original Spider-Man trilogy, and other anime, it seems as though there’s no limit to the different places My Deer Friend Nokotan will draw inspiration from. Plus, the opening theme is infectiously catchy and hard to avoid.

The Magical Girl and the Evil Lieutenant Used to Be Archenemies

Based on the manga series of the same name by the late Cocoa Fujiwara, The Magical Girl and the Evil Lieutenant Used to Be Archenemies is a light-hearted spin on the classic Magical Girl – or mahou shojo – genre. The series takes place in a world where the villains have taken over, spearheaded by the son of the evil overlord, named Mira. Their plans for domination begin to struggle when the organization is contested by a magical girl named Byakuya, who turns Mira’s world upside-down when he finds himself falling in love with the enemy. As the two begin growing closer, their relationship becomes more complicated.

Perfectly capturing the classic enemies-to-lovers trope without all the angst but plenty of pining, The Magical Girl and the Evil Lieutenant Used to Be Archenemies may not have had a proper serialized ending, but the unlikely adaptation from Studio Bones may give the series the closure it deserves after all these years.

Twilight Out of Focus

One of the biggest BL releases in the last year, Twilight Out of Focus is a wonderfully well-produced anime that, despite some issues with its initial release in the west, has been met with overwhelming positivity from fans of the genre. Opening by following a school film project that blossoms into young love, the series’ two leads are easy to care about and root for as their relationship develops. The build up is done perfectly throughout the show, and each episode is laden with romantic tension.

Senpai is an Otonoko

Anime that explore nuanced LGBTQ concepts aren’t a rarity in today’s landscape, it is rare when one comes along that’s able to captivate an audience beyond its target demographic. Senpai is an Otonoko is a show that’s hit how with anime fans around the globe for discussing the complex journey that comes with navigating one’s gender identity and how we choose to present ourselves to the world. The show is filled with incredibly heartfelt moments discussing the topic of gender expression and learning to accept oneself despite what society may think, and it’s truly stood out this season because of that.

Wistoria Wand & Sword

The non-isekai high fantasy anime of the season, Wistoria has, so far, managed to draw in a sizable audience with a bright, colorful artstyle and high quality magic battles. Adapted from the original series written by the creator of Is It Wrong To Try and Pick Up Girls In a Dungeon?, Wistoria has an arguably stronger premise while still holding on to the same “dungeon crawl” inspiration that made the creator’s first series so successful.

Fairy Tail: 100 Years Quest

Fairy Tail was a long-running shonen series that got popular for its world-building and characters, but it’s been a while since the series received any new anime content, with the final season of the original series coming to an end in 2018. However, the shonen fantasy has made a big comeback with the release of the 100 Years Quest anime adaptation, and to the delight of longtime fans, Fairy Tail hasn’t lost any of the charm that made it so popular when it originally released.

NieR:Automata Ver1.1a (Cour 2)

Video games being adapted to anime have always had a dicey track record, with other A-1 Pictures’ attempts at this, like Persona 5: The Animation missing the mark on what makes the source material so special. Luckily, the studio has been taking back their reputation with their animated adaptation of NieR: Automata, which has done a decent job at adapting the game’s storyline and bringing its complicated characters to life. The first cour performed excellently among fans, and Cour 2 has, so far, been a strong sequel that keeps up the same quality and consistency as its first half.

Makeine: Too Many Losing Heroines!

While the anime is gaining a solid audience, Too Many Losing Heroines is absolutely the Summer Season’s sleeper hit anime. Despite its initial set-up being the typical “plain male lead surrounded by cute girls”, Too Many Losing Heroines! succeeds in actually shaking up this formula in a compelling way. The leading lady of the show, Anna, is a hilarious subversion of the standard “popular girl” trope, and the anime’s sense of humor perfectly encapsulates what makes these characters so fun to follow. It wouldn’t be surprising to see this show receive a 2nd season once the season comes to a close.

Oshi No Ko Season 2

After the unprecedented success of Oshi no Ko‘s first season around the world, it shouldn’t be surprising that a second installment was quickly greenlit and thrown into production. Oshi no Ko season 2 keeps the same level of quality from the first, and is focused on adapting one of the manga’s best story arcs, which has its audience absolutely enthralled. As the anime begins to dig deeper into its psychological crime thriller themes, fans are more devoted than ever to follow Aqua’s journey to unmask his mother’s killer.

The Elusive Samurai

The anime adaptation for The Elusive Samurai was initially met with a small level of excitement from longtime fans of the original manga, but from the moment episode 1 released, the series exploded in popularity. Complete with CloverWorks’ signature colorful animation style and striking color palette, and paired with an extremely well executed story, the anime has seen an extreme amount of success with only a handful of episodes currently available to stream.

When Does the Naruto x TMNT Comic Release?

The first issue of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles x Naruto is set to release on November 13, 2024.

IDW has said the following about the collab:

“It’s the coolest ninja matchup you could have ever dreamed of, had you dared! The Heroes in a Half-Shell meet the host of the Nine-Tailed Fox in the crossover everyone will be talking about.

When teenage reporter April O’Neil has a clandestine meeting with Tsunade, the leader of the Hidden Leaf Village, it garners the attention of Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura, and Kakashi. They aren’t the only ones who are wondering what the two women were discussing, though. The sinister Foot Clan have their own interest in April’s visit, as they think she might hold the valuable information on mutation research being conducted by the scientist Baxter Stockman. With April caught between the forces of the Hidden Leaf Village and the Foot Clan, it can’t be long before the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles show up to lend her a hand!”

Who Is Working On Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles x Naruto?

There’s an incredibly talented staff working on the upcoming collab, including Caleb Goellner (known for his previous work on Sonic the Hedgehog) is writing the story, Hendry Prasetya (known for his work on Mighty Morphin Power Rangers) will be handling the drawing, Raúl Angulo (known for his work on Buffy the Vampire Slayer) will be coloring, and Ed Dukeshire (known for his work on Irredeemable) is lettering the issues. The cover artwork for Issue #1 is being handled by Hendry Prasetya and Jorge Jiménez.

The last time Naruto and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles collaborated was for a merchandise line through BoxLunch.

The anime adaptation of Naruto can be streamed on Netflix, the original manga by Masashi Kishimoto can be purchased through retailers like Amazon.

Former Kodansha editor Jung-hyun Park, known for his work on Hajime Isayama’s Attack on Titan and Seven Deadly Sins has been sentenced to 11 years in prison for the murder of his wife.

Everything We Know About the Jung-hyun Park Case

On July 18, 2024, the former Kodansha editor was sentenced to 11 years in prison following a retrial for the murder of his wife, which had originally been investigated during August 2016. He was initially arrested for the horrific event back in January 2017, with prosecutors initially pursuing a 15 year sentence.

When the investigation began, Park gave a series of unreliable stories. Initially, he told investigators that his wife had committed suicide, and then changed his story, stating that she had fallen down a flight of stairs. Once the ambulance arrived, her body was found at the base of the stairs with the cause of death ruled as suffocation. In the court proceedings, when Park’s claims of suicide were challenged, he claimed that his wife has been acting violently before taking her own life. He continued to tell Tokyo Reporter that the reason for the inconsistencies in his story was to avoid their children learning of what happened with their mother. The judge concluded on July 18 that Park’s story had too many inconsistencies, stating, “It is too sudden and unnatural that the wife lost consciousness and then moved around so much that she made a noise, and then committed suicide.”

Park has announced that he intends to pursue an appeal on the decision. Park had been working for Kodansha since 1999, and had worked on the Bessatsu Shonen magazine as the editor for Attack on Titan, and later moved to begin work as an editor for Weekly Morning.

Source: Tokyo Reporter

With frequent updates from Togashi, an upcoming 3v3 fighting game, and a brand-new tankoban release confirmed by Shueisha, Hunter x Hunter is making a huge comeback in 2024.

Hunter x Hunter’s Indefinite Hiatus May Finally Be Coming To an End

With a record of taking multiple breaks due to his health, Togashi placed Hunter x Hunter on an indefinite hiatus in early 2023 due to his ongoing health and personal issues after the release of chapter 400. Though saddening to many fans, they’ve regained hope that the series could potentially begin serializing again after Togashi’s X (formerly Twitter) account had begun putting out multiple updates from the end of 2023.

These increasingly frequent updates have featured page numbers, and even fully-colored artwork. His most recent post at time of writing is a full color illustration of Chrollo from the Phantom Troupe.

In addition to this, Shueisha recently volume 38 of the manga for a Fall release on September 4, 2024. Togashi has also made posts stating that the new chapters are ready to hand off chapters 409 and 410 to his assistants, and has teased progress all the way through hapter 416. Despite the long break Togashi has taken, fans are elated for any potential updates, and are rooting for the mangaka to continue monitoring his health while working hard on the upcoming chapters.

The Upcoming Nen x Impact Game Has a Lot of Promise

While anime fighting games are often hit or miss with critics, the upcoming Hunter x Hunter video game project, Nen x Impact, looks incredibly promising, and the promotional videos showing of the game’s roster have been anything but bland.

From Arc System Works and Bushiroad Games, Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact features a variety of iconic characters from the series, including the core protagonists, and most recently announced the addition of Feitan and Meruem to the roster. While anime tie-in fighters often have lower budgets, it’s still interesting to see the amount of marketing Nen x Impact is receiving, so hopefully the project will have something for hardcore Hunter x Hunter fans to enjoy.

Hunter x Hunter‘s anime adaptation can be streamed on Netflix, the official manga can be purchased from retailers like Amazon.

A surprising hit from this season, however, has come in the way of CloverWorks’ adaptation of The Elusive Samurai, which has a remarkably high score on MAL despite only having one episode available at the time of writing.

What Makes The Elusive Samurai So Sensational?

While CloverWorks has solidified themselves as a solid and reliable studio, producing standout hits like Horimiya, Black Butler -Public School Arc- and My Dress Up Darling, from time-to-time their new releases can get buried amid a season filled with other promising titles. While there weren’t many anime fans talking about The Elusive Samurai before episode 1 dropped, it’s now become hard to avoid seeing Tokiyuki’s face all over the internet.

It’s clear that CloverWorks is putting a lot of love into this adaptation, with many fans of the original manga commenting on how well the studio has done to re-contextualize small details that were left in dialogue boxes in the source material, as well as offering the studio’s signature fluid animation to the show.. The characters and setting are fun and refreshing, with the series taking place during Japan’s Nanboku-cho period (1333), and following the up-and-coming successor of the Kamakura Shogunate. Historical fiction isn’t uncommon in anime, but it is rare to see something that sticks so closely to the era it’s attempting to portray.

Not to mention, watching the first episode, it’s fun to see child characters that actually behave like curious children, instead of having their personalities aged up. All around, The Elusive Samurai is a gem of a series, and we can’t wait to see where it goes from here.

Fans interested in getting caught up with The Elusive Samurai can stream the show on Crunchyroll.

Toei Animation recently dropped a new trailer filled with details about the anime, including its official release date.

Dragon Ball Daima Will Officially Drop In October 2024

The trailer shows of Daima‘s flashy animation style and high-energy vibe, once again showing a child version of Goku taking on the upcoming anime’s biggest threats. In addition to the new trailer, the official Dragon Ball X account dropped a new key visual for the anime.

The new visual is reminiscent of early Dragon Ball manga cover artwork, injecting the project with a rush of nostalgia.

Based on the original manga by Oshioshio, My Deer Friend Nokotan follows an ex-delinquent-turned-honor student named Torako Koshi, who, after rescuing a human-deer hybrid on her way to school becomes plagued by the presence of her “new” friend Noko. The worst part of her dilemma is that it seems as though nobody else around her sees anything wrong with their new classmate.

The First Two Episodes of ‘Nokotan’ Live Up To Wit Studio’s Zany Marketing

Something that’s noticeable from the opening animation in My Deer Nokotan is how much this series loves reference humor. Including hilarious tidbits like a nod to Dark Souls and other famous properties, the series wears its love for other media like a badge of honor, and takes every opportunity to fit some referential gag into the story. While this, understandably, isn’t every anime fan’s cup of tea, My Deer Friend Nokotan feels so genuine with its humor, that its hard not to crack a smile when a gag like this pops up.

In many ways, the series feels reminiscent of some of the 2010s best comedy anime, like Nichijou, Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid, and Mr. Osomatsu. The show’s humor isn’t limited to poking fun at other anime and video games, however, with episode 2 dropping a reference to Peter Parker’s iconic dance sequence in Spider-Man 3.

Wit Studio’s signature animation prowess can be seen even in Nokotan‘s silliest moments, proving once again that the studio has a broad range outside of more action-oriented productions like Vinland Saga and Spy x Family. Not to mention – the voice acting performances from the two female leads, Megumi Hand and Saki Fujita (as Noko and Koshi, respectively) add to the show’s persistent style and charm.

While this is an early take away of the series’ quality, episode 3 drops on July 21, 2024, and fans will know for sure if My Deer Friend Nokotan is one to keep on their watchlists for the remainder of the Summer 2024 Anime season.

While its great to see more people talking about the series, its even more incredible to see the vast number of fan projects pop up following the anime’s success, with many of the perfectly capturing the underlying themes of the series.

@mihaelillustrates Captures a Heartwarming Meal Shared By Laios’ Party

This gorgeously illustrated fanart features Laios, Marcille, Chilchuck, and Senshi sharing hotpot together. The color palette chosen for the piece gives it a warm and cozy feel – even with Marcille’s disgruntled expression. It beautifully captures one of Delicious In Dungeon‘s core themes: the importance of taking the time to share a meal with the people you care about.

With the tense season 1 finale ramping things up leading into the already announced second season, it can be easy to forget that some of the show’s best moments come from Laios and the rest of the party connecting with friends new and old through the power of home cooking, even if they are making their meals with monsters.

Delicious in Dungeon is available to stream on Netflix.

Rivaled in popularity only by her massively popular shonen series Inuyasha, Ranma 1/2 is by far one of Takahashi’s most recognizable works around the globe, and now even newer anime fans will have an opportunity to experience it.

The New Ranma 1/2 Trailer Perfectly Captures the Manga’s Energy

It’s been officially announced that the new anime will be produced by Studio MAPPA (Jujutsu Kaisen, Yuri!!! On Ice, Chainsaw Man) and is set to air on October 5, 2024 in Japan, with Netflix picking up the series for a worldwide release on October 6, 2024. It’s also been announced that much of the original voice cast will be returning to reprise their roles from the original Ranma 1/2 anime from the 80s and 90s, including Kappei Yamaguchi, Megumi Hayashibara, and Noriko Hidaka.

In addition to the exciting cast announcement, ano will be performing the opening song for the new series, also known for performing the 7th Chainsaw Man ending song, “Chu, Tayousei”. One Piece anime director Konosuke Uda will be directing the upcoming anime alongside Kimiko Ueno (Delicious In Dungeon) handling series composition, Kaoru Wada (Inuyasha) handling music composition, and character designs by Hiromi Taniguchi (FLCL Alternative).

That’s where AnimeNYC and the Japan Society come in, uniting to create the American Manga Awards. Aiming to celebrate and acknowledge the dedicated and hard-working individuals making our favorite titles more accessible, the American Manga Awards have finally revealed their nominees for 2024.

Every American Manga Award Nominee

The American Manga Awards are shaping up to be a huge event, and the committee in charge have selected a number of stand-out titles to join the ranks of their nominations for 2024.

Best New Manga:

• The Darwin Incident by Shun Umezawa | Kodansha
• #DRCL Midnight Children by Shin’ichi Sakamoto, based on Dracula by Bram Stoker | Viz Media
• Just Like Mona Lisa by Tsumuji Yoshimura | Square Enix Manga & Books
• Mothers by Kusahara Umi | Glacier Bay Books
• Soara and the House of Monsters by Hidenori Yamaji | Seven Seas Entertainment

Best Continuing Manga Series:

• Blood on the Tracks by Shuzo Oshimi | Kodansha (Vertical)
• Delicious In Dungeon by Ryoko Kui | Yen Press
• Dinosaur Sanctuary by Itaru Kinoshita | Seven Seas Entertainment
• She Loves To Cook, She Loves To Eat by Sakomi Yuzaki | Yen Press
• The Summer Hikaru Died by mokumokuren | Yen Press

Best New Edition of a Classic Manga Series

• Minami’s Lover by Shungiku Uchida | Fantagraphics
• My Name Is Shingo by Kazuo Umezz | Viz Media
• Okinawa by Susumu Higa | Fantagraphics
• UFO Mushroom Invasion by Marina Shirakawa | Living the Line / Smudge
• Neighborhood Story by Ai Yazawa | Viz Media

Best Translation

• Kevin Steinbach – for Issak by Shinji Makari & DOUBLE-S | Kodansha
• David Evelyn – for Doll-Kara by Kazuyoshi Ishii, Hanamura, and Kei Ryuzoji | J-Novel Club
• Stephen Paul – for Akane Banashi by Yuki Suenaga & Takamasa Moue | Viz Media
• Stephen Kohler – for Witch Hat Atelier by Kamome Shirahama | Kodansha
• John Neal – for Bocchi the Rock! by Aki Hamaji | Yen Press

Best Lettering

• Vadim K. – lettering for They’ll Make a Man Out of You by Shiwasu no Okina | J18 Publishing
• Rebecca Sze – lettering for Tokyo Interstellar Immigration Volume 3. by Mado Guchimoto | VAST Visual
• Tomoko Saito – for letteing & retouch for Blade of the Immortal Deluxe Edition Volume 10 by Hiroaki Samura | Dark Horse
• Lys Blakeslee – lettering for Witch Hat Atelier | by Kamome Shirahama | Kodansha
• Phil Christie – lettering & retouch for Search & Destroy Volume 1 by Atsushi Kaneko, based on Dororo by Osamu Tezuka | Fantagraphics

Best Publication Design

• Nicky Lim & Sandy Grayson – box set design for Orange Complete Box Set
• Nicky Lim & Karis Page – cover design, lettering, & interior design for My Lesbian Experience With Loneliness: Special Edition by Nagata Kabi | Seven Seas Entertainment
• Phil Balsman – design for Initial D Omnibus by Shuichi Shinego | Kodansha
• Andrea Miller – cover design for Tokyo Aliens by NAOE | Square Enix Manga & Books
• Adam Grano – design for My Name Is Shingo by Kazuo Umezz | Viz Media

The American Manga Awards Aim To Celebrate the Individuals That Make the Industry What It Is

The Western manga industry – and the manga industry in general – have faced a number of challenges over the last few years due to struggles with AI generated translations and publishers underpaying staff for work on a medium that is nothing short of lucrative. It can be easy to forget that there are very real, very passionate individuals that work on manga in the process of bringing it to English-speaking bookshelves, and that social media echo chambers discussing the industry often lack an ounce of empathy when it comes to understanding the workload.

That’s where the American Manga Awards come in – the committee seem dedicated to celebrating and acknowledging the behind-the-scenes folks that work hard every single day to bring the community’s favorite books to the West. The judging committee are all longtime members of the industry, and have been very vocal for their love of the medium.

Our Favorite Picks From the Nominees List

Obvious favorites from this year’s American Manga Awards are of course big-hitters like Delicious In Dungeon that have recently broken into the mainstream thanks to its impeccable anime adaptation on Netflix. The series is a wonderful high fantasy romp that wears its Dungeons & Dragons influence on its sleeve, as well as pulling from other major fantasy properties.

Something else we’ve loved seeing on this years nominations list is the recognition of smaller publishers, like Glacier Bay Books – which made it onto the list for their work on bringing Mothers to English readers. Mothers by Kusahara Umi is a debut work compiling fifteen years of self-published short stories. As described by the publisher:

“Mothers is Kusahara Umi’s debut English title, collecting and translating 15 years worth of self-published short stories developed on themes of love, family, and loss. Offset printed on a luxury cream paper stock, with a sewn binding. The cover will feature gatefold flaps spot printed with a mix of red and blue inks on uncoated paper, showcasing brand new artwork created by Umi specially for this, their first collected edition. Mothers contains 12 short stories that encapsulate different facets of the human experience.”

There’s also been a return of many iconic classics becoming more accessible for new manga fans, like the gorgeously designed Initial D Omnibus collection. One of the biggest series we’re rooting for is The Summer Hikaru Died, a haunting supernatural mystery that beautifully discusses the nature of loss and its relationship with grief.

While we’re still waiting for final results, in our eyes, this event marks everyone working in the industry as a winner. Those interested in voting for their favorite series and supporting their favorite publishers can find the link through AnimeNYC’s official website, here.

Despite having a dedicated fanbase, mountains of merchandise and record-breaking sales, fans have grown exhausted with the franchise – but why?

Despite Its Success, the Anime Is Drawing the Story Out Too Much

The original Demon Slayer manga, which was created by Koyoharu Gotouge and began running in Shonen Jump magazine from February 2016 to May 2020, with its chapters being collected into 23 single volumes, or tankobon. The series was an instant success, and in 2020, the year that the manga concluded, had an estimated ¥1 trillion ($8.75 billion USD) in annual revenue. According to Shonen Jump‘s editor-in-chief, Hiroyuki Nakano, the series’ sales began skyrocketing after the first season of the anime had concluded.

This makes total sense – Demon Slayer season 1 was nearly flawless. Featuring Ufotable’s signature animation style and introducing audiences to the main cast in a way that made it easy to get invested in their stories, the series had something for everyone. While action-packed and filled with terrifying demons, the anime also boasted one of the most endearing takes on the “found family” tropes in the industry.

The praise continues when the Mugen Train arc’s animated adaptation released – a feature length film that pushed the boundaries of modern anime cinema in terms of animation quality, storytelling, and hype. The film became an absolute sensation, and the perfectly orchestrated beats throughout the film highlighting the pivotal Hashira Rengoku is something that’s still discussed today. However, from this point onward, the anime starting facing controversies for something unexpected: “canon” filler.

Demon Slayer’s Reliance On Reusing Story Arcs Is Hurting the Series’ Reputation

While there are plenty of criticisms to be made about Demon Slayer being a shorter series and debates on whether or not it stuck the landing with its final arc, one thing is clear – the anime adaptation’s reliance on reusing content is a massive problem that’s causing fans to feel a lot of burn out.

As previously mentioned, the Mugen Train film was absolutely incredible – but then, when the subsequent televised season released afterward, Ufotable returned by retelling the film’s plot all over again. While the studio did add a precursor to provide extra Rengoku content which many fans of the series enjoyed, they proceeded to release an episodic “cut for television” version of the film. This was easy to overlook at the time with the addition of the new content, but this was an unfortunate trend that persisted into the Entertainment District arc and the Swordsmith Village arc, which saw a theatrical release of what ultimately culminated in a compilation film of the Entertainment District’s final episode, and the first episode of Swordsmith Village.

While marketing efforts made the formula seem as though it was doing well – and financially, it was – fans began to sour on this approach to the anime’s release. This happened again with the initial release of the Hashira Training arc, which has undoubtedly been the series’ lowest point.

Everything Wrong With the ‘Hashira Training arc’

The Hashira Training arc is relatively short in the manga, acting as a very brief montage that leads directly into the manga’s grand finale: the ‘Infinity Castle’ arc. Despite maintaining a good chunk of its popularity due to audience investment, the consensus is clear: this is the Demon Slayer anime’s lowest point, and fans of the show are exhausted.

While the animation quality is still solid, the arc added quite a bit of filler to pad out its run time, and had a record number of exposition dumps between characters that could have easily been cut for time. Why the team behind the anime made this choice is unclear, but grim speculation from fans are obviously accusing the team behind the anime of stretching out its length for money.

Not to mention, Demon Slayer is an easy money maker. The manga was the first series to ever take every single top 10 slot in Oricon’s weekly manga charts, and occupied the top 10 for an entire month. Even with the popularity boom of anime and manga in the last decade, those kinds of numbers are almost unheard of. Hopefully the anime adaptation can win its fans over and stick the landing with the adaptation of the final arc, which, in classic Demon Slayer form, will be split into an entire feature-length film trilogy. We just hope that they’re capable of sticking the landing and that the series won’t go out with a disappointed community.

Demon Slayer is available to stream on Crunchyroll. The original manga is published in English by Viz Media.

Titled Solo Leveling: Ragnarok, the sequel was originally announced back in April 2023, but fans mightfinally be able to start reading in 2024.

Solo Leveling: Ragnarok’s Release Date Is Coming Faster Than Fans Of the Series Expected

Solo Leveling: Ragnarok was originally a novel written by Daul that follows Sun Jinwoo’s son who aims to follow in his father’s footsteps. In addition to a gorgeously illustrated promotional piece, it looks as though the WEBTOON will begin on August 1, 2024 – which is right around the corner.

With the next season of the anime adaptation of Solo Leveling in production at A-1 Pictures, there’s no better time for Ragnarok to keep fans of the series invested while they wait for Jinwoo to return in season 2.

The new series is set to release on the streaming giant on August 29, 2024.

The Latest ‘Terminator Zero’ Trailer From Netflix Shows a Lot Of Promise

The trailer features multiple flashy and gruesome highlights, all of which perfectly capture what the Terminator franchise is all about. The trailer is narrated by Sonoya Mizuno, who plays Eiko.

Other cast and staff members working on Terminator Zero include Timothy Olyphant (Sheriff Seth Bullock in Deadwood), André Holland as Malcolm Lee, Rosario Dawson (Batgirl in The LEGO: Batman Movie, Mimi in RENT) as Koroko, and Ann Dowd (Joan in Hereditary) as The Prophet. David Ellison, Dana Goldberg, and Don Granger from Skydance are serving as executive producers; the project is directed by Masashi Kudo (known for his previous work on Hunter x Hunter, Bleach, and Golden Kamuy) at Production I.G.

The series will be available to stream worldwide on August 29, exclusively on Netflix.

Obvious favorites like Gon, Killua, Bisky, Chrollo, Leorio, Kurapika, and Hisoka, to name a few, have already found their home on the Nen x Impact roster, but a new Phantom Troupe member will be coming to the title.

Feitan Makes It To Nen x Impact In an Exciting New Trailer

In a new trailer uploaded by Bushiroad and Arc System Works, Feitan’s moveset and flashy animations are shown off in gameplay clips, including his intro animations. True to how he appears in the anime and manga, Feitan has his signature umbrella sword and all his usual edgy flare in tact for Nen x Impact.

While Hunter x Hunter may currently be in an indefinite hiatus due to Togashi’s health, it seems as though the series is slowly making a comeback, as indicated by the mangaka’s recent X posts and the upcoming fighting game.

One of the most notorious modern examples of an infamous harem series is Rent-a-Girlfriend, based on the original manga by Reiji Miyajima, a mangaka that’s managed to make himself just as controversial as his magnum opus.

Rent-a-Girlfriend Season 4 Enters Production With a Video Game Adaptation On the Way

With an admittedly adorable announcement illustration showing the series’ two leads holding hands, it’s official – Rent-a-Girlfriend is coming back for a fourth season. Despite ongoing controversy surrounding the series, including the mangaka’s use of AI in some of his recent work, it seems Chizuru and the rest of the girls are here to stay. As of writing, there’s no word on when exactly the season will air aside from it being planned for 2025.

In addition to a new season, Rent-a-Girlfriend will also be receiving a video game adaptation. The game will be releasing on both PS4 and Nintendo Switch, and its tentative English title is Rent-A-Girlfriend: The Girl of the Horizon and a Swimsuit. Pre-orders open August 5, 2024 in Japan, and the development team, MAGES, promises to reveal additional information about the game on the same day. The basic premise of the upcoming title is that it’s a completely original story taking place on an island, where each of the five main heroines will work part-time jobs.

Originally created by Paru Itagaki, creator of the highly underrated Beastars anime and manga, as well as being the daughter of Keisuke Itagaki, the creator of Baki, Sanda takes the classic holiday figure and turns him into a buffed-up action hero.

Why You Should Be Giving Sanda a Chance, Regardless of How It Looks

Sanda takes place in 2080, where the Japanese birthrate is on a sharp decline, and the country has placed strict control policies on minors that’s resulted in arranged marriages becoming a social norm, and preventing young people from sleeping as to not hinder their development. Christmas has all but disappeared, and the idea of ‘Santa Claus’ is long forgotten due to being sealed away.

One faithful December 25th, the protagonist of the series, Sanda Kazushige, has their ‘seal’ broken by a classmate, causing him to look like Santa Claus. Sanda discovers he can control this transformation by eating jellybeans to turn back into himself, or by wearing red to turn into Santa. Sanda’s classmate broke the seal in hopes that Sanda would help her search for their missing classmate, and to restore society’s belief in Christmas.

The series, admittedly, has a pretty ridiculous premise – but much like Beastars, tackles many of the sociopolitical issues plaguing up-and-coming generations. The manga has excellent characters, and the incredible writing style that Paru Itagaki pours into all of her work make Sanda an incredibly unique series that everyone should be reading. Plus, the anime adaptation will be handled by Science Saru, well-known for producing Devilman Crybaby and the upcoming animated adaptation of Dandadan.

Fans can take a deep breath, though – because Jujutsu Kaisen is officially in its final story arc.

The Shinjuku Showdown Arc Has Been a High-Stakes Finale From the Beginning

Jujutsu Kaisen has never held its punches when it comes to character death, gruesome plot twists, and the ongoing threats that cursed spirits cause, but the Shinjuku Showdown arc has truly cemented itself as pushing boundaries when it comes to what JJK fans can handle. Fighting off Sukuna, the series has said goodbye to multiple iconic characters – including Gojo Satoru, who was once thought to be the strongest.

This led to a dramatic turn wherein Yuta Okkotsu took over Gojo’s body by copying Kenjaku’s cursed technique, leading to a “true” final showdown against the King of Curses.

Fans have speculated for quite some time that the Shinjuku Showdown arc would be the series’ big send-off, but during a Q&A at the Jujutsu Kaisen Exhibition in Shibuya Hikarie, Japan, Gege Akutami, the series’ original creator, confirmed it. Alongside news that the series would not be appearing at the next Jump Festa event, its time for devoted fans of the series to begin preparing for the end.

Source: Translations provided by soukatsu on X.

Speaking of celebrations, to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Eiichiro Oda’s shonen epic One Piece, Toei Animation and Crunchyroll are teaming up to bring something truly special to San Diego this year.

The One Piece 25th Anniversary: Symphonic Voyage Performed by the San Diego Philharmonic Orchestra Is Guaranteed To Pull Fans Into Oda’s World

For the series’ 25th anniversary, Toei and Crunchyroll are bringing the One Piece 25th Anniversary: Symphonic Voyage to SDCC 2024 – a live outdoor concert experience celebrating One Piece. This once-in-a-lifetime experience will be performed by the San Diego Symphony at the Rady Shell in Jacobs Park, and is completely free with limited seating, on a first-come, first-served basis, to everyone with a San Diego Comic-Con badge.

The event is described as follows:

“Setting sail at on Saturday, July 27 at 7:00 pm, the One Piece 25th Anniversary: Symphonic Voyage with the 40+ piece San Diego Symphony will transport concertgoers on a 90-minute long immersive voyage combining emotional soundscapes and aerial pyrotechnics based on some of the most memorable moments from One Piece, the epic series created by Eiichiro Oda and produced by Toei Animation – now anime’s longest running global phenomenon.”

Further information and updates can be found on Toei Animation’s official social media outlets, as well as through Crunchyroll directly.

One of the best parts of watching the series flourish is seeing the many fan projects that have spawned from its popularity, especially cosplay.

u/This_Ad9873’s Cosplay Brings Frieren’s Cast Together In Gorgeous Detail

As shared on Reddit’s r/cosplay board, the photograph of u/This_Ad9873’s cosplay depicts Frieren, Fern, and Stark resting in the woods; napping, reading, and eating a snack, respectively. Each of the cosplayer’s beautifully embodies their character’s personality and look through the creative posing in the photo.

While simple, seeing fan projects like this is what keeps fandom moving and growing, and it’s always fun to see fans embracing the small eccentricities the characters they choose to cosplay embody.

In a bold move, however, Crunchyroll recently completely removed the ability to comment on content across the entire site, including on their “Crunchyroll News” page.

Why Did Crunchyroll Remove Comments?

The topic of Crunchyroll‘s removal of one of their core community features has been met with a great deal of scrutiny, but in a recent statement from the company, it seems as though they made the move with only the best intentions:

While some fans may not know what exactly happened that prompted a statement of this kind, it actually stems from the recent release of the BL (boys’ love) anime, Twilight Out of Focus. Boys’ Love anime being hosted on the platform isn’t surprising in the least, as anime like Given have existed for years, but for one reason or another, the new series was flooded with bigoted comments.

While unfortunate – and odd timing given other recent controversy that Crunchyroll has found themselves in with the alleged utilization of AI generated translations – it’s at least somewhat good to see the platform trying to protect users from absorbing unwarranted bigotry on the site. Popular anime content creator Mother’s Basement commented on the situation as well, saying the following on his public X account:

This is a developing story, and all information aside from what has been explicitly confirmed should be treated as alleged.

Adapted from the final arc in the original manga, which was originally quite controversial due to the story feeling rushed because of Tite Kubo’s health and ongoing pressure from Shonen Jump magazine, the anime adaptation has revitalized the story and truly made it something worth remembering.

Everything We Know About ‘Thousand Year Blood War’ Part 3

As confirmed during their Anime Expo 2024 panel, Bleach: Thousand Year Blood War will be returning in full swing in October 2024. With a flashy new trailer and visuals courtesy of Studio Pierrot and their freshly rebranded Pierrot Films, the next installment in the anime looks even more phenomenal than Parts 1 and 2.

The team working on Thousand Year Blood War are similarly enthusiastic, sharing their thoughts on X, courtesy of Viz Media’s official account:

As well as a new key visual, that especially observant fans may recognize as a recreation of official artwork drawn by Kubo all the way back in 2003.

With their still being a few months left before part 3, there’s never been a better time for new and returning fans of the series. Part 1 and Part 2 can be streamed on Amazon Prime, and Tite Kubo’s original manga can be purchased in print and digital through Viz directly, or on Amazon.

The web novel, which was later adapted into a manhwa (or Korean webtoon), follows Dokja, an average office worker whose one and only hobby is reading a web novel titled Three Ways To Survive the Apocalypse. To his dismay – the story in the novel begins to become a reality, and he seems to be one of the only people who knows how to stop whatever’s happening.

Everything That’s Been Revealed About the Omniscient Reader Anime

While the anime adaptation has been licensed by Aniplex and will be streaming on Crunchyroll, there’s been no official word at this time what studio will be animating the project. Expectations are understandably high for the anime, given the original property is a fan-favorite among community members.

Again, given the recent success of Solo Leveling and Tower of God, it’s exciting to see the anime industry entering a new era of embracing Korean manhwa as viable properties for anime adaptations, given how much the webtoon and webnovel industries respectively have grown in recent years.

In addition to sharing new artwork of the main cast, Studio Orange offered some insight on the production process for the anime and when fan’s can expect to see Vash return.

Everything That’s Been Confirmed About TRIGUN STAMPEDE’s New Season

Confirmed during the Anime Expo 2024 panel, the new season will be titled TRIGUN STARGAZE and is slated to air on Crunchyroll once the season is ready to be released. While there is no official release date at this time, we do have every updated character illustration from the upcoming season.

Vash:

Knives:

Wolfwood:

One of the most exciting, and perhaps unexpected of these announcements was that Bleach would be returning to consoles with a brand-new game.

Bleach’s First Console Title Since ‘Brave Souls’ Shows a Lot of Promise

The last Bleach game that made it to consoles was Brave Souls, which originally dropped on 2016. The game was relatively well-received at the time, and garnered a lot of love from critics and diehard Bleach fans. While there was already a mobile game in the works, Bleach: Soul Resonance, which has had an incredibly successful pre-registration period after launching in China with over 8.6 million sign-ups since early January 2024.

In its gorgeously flashy announcement trailer, Bleach: Rebirth of Souls looks to be an adventure-driven fighting game with graphics that beautifully captures Tite Kubo’s signature artstyle. The game’s official announcement trailer also showed off a number of fan-favorite characters that will be featured throughout, with some obvious picks like Rukia and Yoruichi. Bandai Namco has said the following about Rebirth of Souls on their official webpage:

“Awaken the blade within you and reverse your fate in BLEACH: Rebirth of Souls!

Engage in thrilling battles with powerful sword abilities and characters from this legendary anime franchise.”

Fan reception to the upcoming title has been overwhelmingly positive, with many excited to finally see the franchise receive a new entry after so many years, and based on the trailer and comments made during Anime Expo 2024, it seems the game is something of a passion project for the team. Developed by Tamsoft Corporation (Melty Blood: Type Lumina, Senran Kagura Shinovi Versus), the game is slated to be released on Xbox Series X|S, PS4, PS5, and PC – however, there is no official release date at this time.

Following a recent merchandise announcement during Anime Expo 2024, however, Filian has fallen into controversy as the VTubing community has realised that she may not actually have the proper commercial rights to be receiving collectible figures of her likeness.

Everything We Know About the Filian Controversy

Following a post made by Good Smile Company – a popular figure manufacturer’s official X account as a part of their “Anime Expo 2024 GSC Figure Update” posts, it was revealed that the popular VTuber would be receiving an official Nendoroid figure. The post began going viral, but probably not for the reason Fillian would have liked. As seen from the “community note” added to the original post, Filian’s design is based on an existing character named Ryudan by Jingo. Jingo then posted that they were not informed that this figure would be produced, nor were they asked by either party for permission to license the figure.

Jingo’s tweet is currently sitting at over 3.5 million views, and immediately sparked a discussion online on whether or not it’s legal for the figure to be produced by GSC. The situation has sent the VTubing community into a frenzy, with proof that this isn’t the first time Filian has had merchandise produced of the design – also allegedly without permission – and that she has allegedly failed to pay former clip editors, as well as seemingly being a vehement AI art promoter despite working and creating content in a very artist-driven community and industry.

It also seems another artist, komado on X, has called out Filian for selling merchandise without being given permission:

This story is currently in development, and at time of publication there has been no official comment made by Filian or Good Smile Company regarding the claims made against her, meanwhile, more and more creators are coming out to talk about their negative experiences with the content creator.

Witch Hat Atelier has been running in Kodansha’s seinen manga magazine, Morning Two, since July 2016, and currently has 5.5 million copies in circulation. The award-winning series has enchanted manga readers around the globe, and fans have been itching to here ore about its anime adaptation ever since it was announced all the way back in 2022.

Everything We Know About Witch Hat Atelier’s Upcoming Anime Adaptation

During its featured panel at Anime Expo 2024, it was revealed that Witch Hat Atelier would be produced by Bug Films, the same studio behind the perfectly handled adaptation of Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead that debuted on Netflix in the Summer 2023 anime season. Additionally, it was announced that the anime would begin streaming on Crunchyroll in 2025.

It was also announced that Ayumu Watanabe (Children of the Sea, Space Brothers) will be directing the anime, with Yuka Kitamura composing the original soundtrack, and Kairi Unabara handling character designs. Kodansha handles the publication of Witch Hat Atelier in English, and gives the following synopsis:

“A beautifully-illustrated story about a girl who longs for magic in her life and learns that, on the inside, she already is what she wishes she could be. Reminiscent of Studio Ghibli, this lushly drawn story was voted one of the Top 10 manga of the year in 2018 by the Japanese manga industry. In a world where everyone takes wonders like magic spells and dragons for granted, Coco is a girl with a simple dream: she wants to be a witch. But everybody knows magicians are born, not made, and Coco was not born with a gift for magic. Resigned to her un-magical life, Coco is about to give up on her dream to become a witch … until the day she meets Qifrey, a mysterious, traveling magician. After secretly seeing Qifrey perform magic in a way she’s never seen before, Coco soon learns what everybody “knows” might not be the truth, and discovers that her magical dream may not be as far away as it may seem …”

One of the most exciting – and, admittedly, anxiety inducing due to the nature of fandom apprehension – upcoming titles that was featured at the convention is The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim. The upcoming anime film looks absolutely gorgeous, and the latest updates dropped by Warner Bros. and Sola Entertainment are making this project feel like a perfect addition to the ever growing Lord of the Rings franchise.

Everything We Know About The War of the Rohirrim

The upcoming anime film shared a brand new image/still from production, depicting the film’s lead, Héra, in an action shot of her valiantly riding a horse with clear concern on her face. Kenji Kamiyama, the films director, stated that, “In Japanese [anime], it’s not uncommon for a female protagonist to be the main character, but it’s more rare in live-action films like The Lord of the Rings. Our film has a strong female lead in Héra, and our story is narrated by the noble Tolkien figure Éowyn, so women are very well represented. I think their are a lot of fans of Tolkien’s original work, so I hope those people will enjoy it. Making this movie has been a fun challenge.”

In addition to having Kenji Kamiyama (Eden of the East, Blade Runner Black Lotus, Ghost In the Shell: Stand Alone Complex – Solid State Society –) directing, the rest of the upcoming film’s production team is also promising, including the Academy Award-winning screenwriter Philippa Boyens (The Lord of the Rings films, The Hobbit films) credited as a producer, plus Phoebe Grittins and Arty Papageorgiou writing the film’s screenplay.

The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim is set 183 years before the events of the original film trilogy, follows the tale of the House of Helm Hammerhand, the King of Rohan. After a sudden attack from Wulf, a cunning and dangerous Dunlending lord on a quest for revenge after losing his father, Helm and his people are forced to try and make a daring “last stand” in the ancient stronghold Hornburg, a fortress that is later referred to as Helm’s Deep. The film’s lead protagonist, Héra, Helm’s daughter, is pushed to lead the army to resist against Wulf and his forces bent on her people’s destruction.

The film is currently slated for a wide theatrical release on December 13, 2024 in the United States, and features the voice talents of Brian Cox, Miranda Otto, Gaia Wise as Héra, and Luke Pasqualino as Wulf.

The film has been a resounding success, making a whopping 172 million yen (1.06 million USD) with over 137,000 admissions.

What Hideo Kojima Had To Say About ‘the New Film ‘Look Back’

On his official X account, Hideo Kojima noted that he found Look Back to be, “one of the most remarkable anime of the last decade.” He offered additional commentary, saying: “I was shaken to my core! The tenderness, the kindness, the strength! Such rich expressions and sensitivity, surpassing even a live-action film! I was moved by the present and future of entertainment! Anime is truly incredible. I’ve already ordered Tatsuki Fujimoto’s original manga and can’t wait to “look back” on it.”

Fans have taken notice of Kojima’s adoration for the film, too, with one popular tweet saying the following:

Madoka Magica, an anime series known for popularizing a darker take on the magical girl genre, is no stranger to game adaptations. The series has seen a few Japan-exclusive console releases, as well as a mobile game that expanded the greater lore and explored alternate timelines titles called Magia Record that was available globally for fans of the series. The latest installment in Madoka games, however, has made one major change that fans can’t stop talking about.

Madoka Magica Magia Exedra Takes a Few Pages From the miHoYo Playbook

Madoka Magica Magia Exedra‘s official Steam page is loaded with incredible details about the upcoming title, and something fans noted right away from the promotional screenshots is how is similar the combat encounters look when compared to Honkai Star Rail.

While they certainly aren’t 1:1, it’s obvious that the game’s developers, Pokelabo and f4samurai were by the Chinese studio’s success. From the official Steam page, Madoka Magica Magia Exedra is described as follows:

“Characters from the hit anime series “Puella Magi Madoka Magica” come together!
Featuring an all-new story setting and characters from the original ideas of Gekidan Inu Curry (Doroinu), experience the action alongside Magical Girl memories in this battle RPG!

Now go. Unveil the memories of these Magical Girls.

◆ Enter a Realm of Magical Memories! ◆
A place where the memories of Magical Girls illuminate the dark…
The Lighthouse.
Now a girl who’s lost everything has wandered into its sanctum.

Who am I…?
How did I get here…?

She will relive key moments of countless Magical Girls by opening windows into their memories…
Trusting she’ll one day find her own lost light of remembrance.”

Why Is It a Good Thing That Magia Exedra Shares Similarities To Honkai Star Rail?

Developers taking inspiration from other properties is a slippery slope, especially when certain mechanics are so glaringly inspired from whatever the new game is being inspired by. However, gaming fans have seen practices like this time and time again, whether it be with the ever evolving landscape of JRPGs, “Metroidvania” titles, and the entirety of the “Souls-like” genre. While gacha games can be predatory just in the way they’re constructed, it’s also exciting to imagine what a true RPG experience with the cast of Madoka Magica could look like.

Plus, Aniplex has already announced that the game will release far more global support compared to Magia Record, which is good enough news for fans of the franchise that nothing else really matters at this point in time. While there’s no official release date for Magia Exedra at this time, Magia Record is stille available on app stores, and Madoka Magica is available to stream on Crunchyroll.

While many fans of the series consider the manga a masterclass in storytelling and an absolute must-read, other adaptations of Sui Ishida’s work are far less favorable, and somehow, fans keep getting disappointed whenever Tokyo Ghoul tries to branch out its franchising opportunities.

Tokyo Ghoul Fans Feel Like the Series’ Latest Announcement Was Overhyped

To celebrate the series’ 10th anniversary, the official X account for Tokyo Ghoul began posting a cryptic countdown for a “big announcement”. Everyone’s mind went to the same place, obviously: Tokyo Ghoul would finally get the Brotherhood treatment. Unfortunately for many, instead of a new anime, Tokyo Ghoul will be celebrating the big “10” with an art exhibit.

While fans, especially those in the West, are understandably heartbroken to get their hopes dashed for a proper anime adaptation of such a beloved series; perhaps too many of us were putting faith in something that wasn’t even teased to be true. Plus, Sui Ishida’s latest series, Choujin X would be a far more interesting pick for a new anime.

While its narrative is relatively short compared to epic-length shonen franchises like Naruto and One Piece, Demon Slayer excels through its beautifully illustrated fight scenes and easily recognizable character designs.

In True Ufotable Fashion, the Infinity Castle Arc Will Be a Film Trilogy

While there has been some mixed reception following the Hashira Training Arc anime adaptation, fans are more than excited to see what exactly an Infinity Castle anime adaptation means for the franchise. As previously mentioned, Demon Slayer‘s story is short, and it wears its themes and ideas on its sleeves – and while the other seasons and anime adaptations have been well produced, many believe that Ufotable is dragging the story out much longer than it needs to be.

While there is no release dates in place for the trilogy just yet, it has already been confirmed that Crunchyroll and Sony will have distribution rights; meaning that fans should expect a wide theater release in the US, as this has been the case for all previous Demon Slayer feature films.

The series is no stranger to collaborations, with perhaps the most notable before the fast food collab being a crossover with the online game Fortnite, adding characters and abilities from the series to the game for players to select.

What Is the New “Special Grade” McDonald’s Sauce – and When Can We Try It?

The sauce, officially dubbed “Special Grade Garlic” by the fast food chain is actually a dipping option that’s been available at McDonald’s Japanese locations in the past that’s finally being brought overseas for American customers. It’s described as having a sweet and tangy soy-garlic flavor, and according to the chain, “… [the] first EVER garlic sauce to hit the menus at McDonald’s USA.”

The campaign will begin on July 9, 2024, and every customer who gets the sauce will also receive a 30-day free trial to the streaming service that hosts Jujutsu Kaisen, Crunchyroll, so fans of the sauce can binge the anime with their nuggets.

As with other services, HIDIVE is ready to start streaming their Summer 2024 lineup, and while we can’t wait to watch some of the obvious heavy-hitters, like Oshi no Ko Season 2, they have plenty of other new shows worth checking out.

Every New Anime Available on HIDIVE During the Summer 2024 Anime Season

Here’s every new anime that HIDIVE will air to kick off the summer anime season:

While their list of new anime may seem a little short, it’s filled with everything anime fans will need to enjoy this year’s seasonal summer lineup. With the comeback of one of the most sensational anime in the last year, Oshi no Ko, the streaming service has also licensed the hilarious ecchi comedy Plus-sized Elf; a series filled with cute fantasy-inspired girls trying and failing to work out, as well as 2.5 Dimensional Seduction, a romance series focusing on cosplay.

HIDIVE will also be airing a number of new English dubs for series they’ve already aired, such as Helck.

Magic Knight Rayearth Is Making a Big Comeback For Its 30th Anniversary

As announced by TMS Entertainment on their official social media accounts, the classic series will be getting a brand-new anime adaptation to celebrate its 30th anniversary, a massive milestone for any series. While details are sparse at this time, TMS has released a gorgeous key visual depicting the three leads wielding their iconic blades.

Surprisingly to new fans, Rayearth is one of the earliest examples of a series that falls under the “isekai” genre, following three girls – Hikaru Shidou, Umi Ryuuzaki, and Fuu Hououji – after being called by the mysterious Princess Emeraude to Cephiro to save her world.

The Summer 2024 anime season is no different, with the platform boasting a massive catalogue of shows for anime fans to keep up with.

Every Anime Releasing On Crunchyroll This Summer

Here’s every anime that Crunchyroll will be streaming during the Summer 2024 anime season:

Boasting well over 30 new and returning series this summer, Crunchyroll has truly outdone themselves by having an immense amount of variety in this year’s catalogue.

Some of the new series we’re most excited to watch this season include Wistoria: Wand & Sword, Delico’s Nursery, and Alya Sometimes Hides Her Feelings In Russian, a romance slice-of-life series produced by the same studio behind the electrifying Oshi no Ko.