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Interview: Devilman Crybaby Director Maasaki Yuasa
Acclaimed director Masaaki Yuasa talks about his new film, the problem of overworking in the anime industry, and the possibility of a Devilman Crybaby sequel.
― Masaaki Yuasa is the director of numerous critically acclaimed anime series and films. From The Tatami Galaxy and Night is Short, Walk On Girl to Lu Over the Wall and Devilman Crybaby Yuasa's unique animation style and directorial vision make...
The Spring 2019 Anime Preview Guide: Simuldub Edition
The Spring 2019 Anime Preview Guide returns with impressions of this season's new English dubs!
Available Now: Fruits Basket - YU-NO ― Welcome to Anime News Network's Spring 2019 Preview Guide! Here's how it goes: our team of critics write up their impressions instantly, to be posted here as they go along. Each critic will cover as many shows as they can handle, giving you alternate takes on most ev...
Available Now: Fruits Basket - YU-NO ― Welcome to Anime News Network's Spring 2019 Preview Guide! Here's how it goes: our team of critics write up their impressions instantly, to be posted here as they go along. Each critic will cover as many shows as they can handle, giving you alternate takes on most ev...
The Spring 2019 Anime Preview Guide
Searching for the perfect new anime? The Spring 2019 Anime Preview Guide is here to help!
Available Now: Spring 2019 Shorts Roundup - Bungo Stray Dogs Season 3 - Sarazanmai - Wise Man's Grandchild - The Helpful Fox Senko-san - Isekai Quartet - Strike Witches 501st - One Punch Man Season 2 - RobiHachi - Namuamidabutsu! - Midnight Occult Civil Service - and much more! ― Welcome to Anime News Network'...
Available Now: Spring 2019 Shorts Roundup - Bungo Stray Dogs Season 3 - Sarazanmai - Wise Man's Grandchild - The Helpful Fox Senko-san - Isekai Quartet - Strike Witches 501st - One Punch Man Season 2 - RobiHachi - Namuamidabutsu! - Midnight Occult Civil Service - and much more! ― Welcome to Anime News Network'...
Rolling The Dice: The Very Best RPG Anime
Diehard tabletop RPG veteran Theron Martin takes a journey through the anime that do the best job capturing what it feels like to roll for initiative.
― Although the foundation of computer and console-based fantasy RPGs has always lain in tabletop fantasy RPGs (hereafter abbreviated TTRPGs), even from their earliest years some of them markedly strayed from their origins in terms of mechanics; featur...
30 Years Ago: The Best Anime of 1989
1989 was a massive year for anime, with enduring classics like Ranma 1/2 and Dragon Ball Z taking shape. Daryl Surat leads a tour through the classics!
― It keeps getting easier for audiences outside of Japan to see Japanese animation and read Japanese comics, with increasingly shortened delays. The largest entertainment companies in the world such as Sony and AT&T now have financial investments in a...
The Spring 2019 Anime Preview Guide
The Spring 2019 anime season has begun! Check back every day for reviews of this season's premieres.
Available Now: Spring 2019 Shorts Roundup - Bungo Stray Dogs Season 3 - Sarazanmai - Wise Man's Grandchild - The Helpful Fox Senko-san - Isekai Quartet - Strike Witches 501st - One Punch Man Season 2 - RobiHachi - Namuamidabutsu! - Midnight Occult Civil Service - and much more! ― Welcome to Anime New...
Available Now: Spring 2019 Shorts Roundup - Bungo Stray Dogs Season 3 - Sarazanmai - Wise Man's Grandchild - The Helpful Fox Senko-san - Isekai Quartet - Strike Witches 501st - One Punch Man Season 2 - RobiHachi - Namuamidabutsu! - Midnight Occult Civil Service - and much more! ― Welcome to Anime New...
Here's What We Know About SARAZANMAI
Kunihiko Ikuhara's newest surrealist fantasy about psychology, sexuality, and society is just around the corner! Lynzee Loveridge analyzes the show's tricky title and kappa imagery for just a hint of the insanity to come.
― "People can freely reproduce and reinvent folklore, transmitting it from person to person across time and space." — Michael Dylan Foster (The Book of Yōkai) The traditions and sto...
Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon: The Super Live Comes To America
Go backstage with some of the creative team behind the lavish, sparkling Sailor Moon stage musical, which recently premiered for the first time in America!
― For eager American otaku with a penchant for stage productions, anime and manga fans interested in experiencing more visceral, live adaptations of their favorite characters in person --- so close they could almost (and in some cases, can literal...
The Best and Worst of Winter 2019
Right at the crowded finish line, Run with the Wind dashes past JoJo, and a whole slew of other upsets in the final episodes of the Winter 2019 season!
― Our team of reviewers are following 27 anime series of the Winter 2019 season and readers are rating each episode as the reviews go up. So let's have a look at what ANN readers consider the best (and worst) of the season. Keep in mind that these ra...
Premiere Report - Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba
The first five episodes of this Shonen Jump adaptation from studio Ufotable premiered in LA this weekend! Jacob Chapman has your spoiler-free breakdown on what to expect from this supernatural action extravaganza.
― A small crowd of otaku gathered at the Aratani Theater in Los Angeles' Little Tokyo district this past Sunday to enjoy a whopping five-episode premiere screening for ufotable's first Shon...
The Best and Worst of Winter 2019, Mar 19-25
With just one week left to go, The Promised Neverland is making a final push to dethrone Mob Psycho. Find out where your favorites rank this week!
― Our team of reviewers are following 27 anime series of the Winter 2019 season and readers are rating each episode as the reviews go up. So let's have a look at what ANN readers consider the best (and worst) of the season. Keep in mind that these ranking...
Our Most Anticipated Anime of Spring 2019
The Spring 2019 anime season is upon us, so it's time to pick the upcoming new shows we're most excited about - and don't forget to share yours!
― Don't look now, but Spring has arrived and with it, a fresh crop of new anime! Anime News Network's Spring 2019 Anime Preview Guide begins on April 1st, so it's time to talk about the shows we're looking forward to the most. Once you've perused our staff p...
Premiere Report - Fruits Basket 2019
The first two episodes of this classic shojo manga's new adaptation have been screened in both Japanese and English, and Jacob Chapman has the scoop on whether this remake can live up to fans' high expectations.
― After many long years of waiting (and many bushels of paper cranes from Funimation), Natsuki Takaya's beloved shojo manga Fruits Basket has received not just a second season, but a complete...
The Best (and worst) Anime of Winter 2019
The Winter 2019 anime season is drawing to a close, which means it's time for our critics - and you! - to pick our favorite (and least favorite) anime of the season.
― The birds are singing, the flowers are blooming, and the Spring 2019 anime season is right around the corner - which means it's time to thaw out our picks for the best (and worst) anime of the Winter 2019 season just as it draws to a c...
Fate/Grand Order THE STAGE Babylonia: The Absolute Frontline in the War Against the Demonic Beasts
Our inside look at this Gilgamesh-centered musical extravaganza gives you the best and worst of what this elaborate stage production has to offer for Fate/GO fans!
― In their ongoing time-traveling adventures to prevent the extinction of mankind, the shield-wielding Mash Kyrielight and her partner mage Ritsuka Fujimaru are transported to Mesopotamia at the dawn of human civilization. But this time, i...
The Best and Worst of Winter 2019, Mar 12-18
The top 5 runners are firmly entrenched as we enter the final weeks of the season, but Boogiepop and The Quintessential Quintuplets are not giving up the fight!
― Our team of reviewers are following 27 anime series of the Winter 2019 season and readers are rating each episode as the reviews go up. So let's have a look at what ANN readers consider the best (and worst) of the season. Keep in mind that...
The History Behind Osamu Tezuka's Dororo
This year's reboot of the God of Manga's historical fantasy epic becomes much richer when you understand the real history underneath it. Marco Oliveros is your guide to the complex themes behind this classic story.
― The blood of a cleric coats a sanctum's interior like mud. The broken neck of an idol resembles a tree wrenched crudely from its stump. Dororo begins not with the adventures of its misch...
20 Years of Boogiepop
Kim Morrissy explores the legacy of the massively influential cult hit Boogiepop and Others, a supernatural story about adolescent anxieties with an unprecedented impact on the light novel industry.
― In 1997, Kouhei Kadono's Boogiepop and Others won the 4th Dengeki Novel Prize (then the Dengeki Game Novel Prize). Despite the publisher's obvious faith in the novel's quality, when the manuscript was p...
The Best and Worst of Winter 2019, Mar 5-11
A glitch in the matrix rankings caused FIVE stellar Boogiepop episodes to appear last week. The rankings have been adjusted accordingly, propelling Boogiepop and Others in the cumulative.
― Our team of reviewers are following 27 anime series of the Winter 2019 season and readers are rating each episode as the reviews go up. So let's have a look at what ANN readers consider the best (and worst) of th...
Interview: Pokémon the Movie: The Power of Us Character Designer Shizue Kaneko
Get an in-depth education on the crucial art of character design from key animator and veteran designer Shizue Kaneko, the artist behind the designs of Pokemon the Movie: The Power of Us!
― It'd be difficult to overstate the importance of a great character designer on any anime. Not only are they responsible for creating the aesthetic and style of the characters themselves, but it's also their job to...
Interview: Creating Manga Art with Rena Saiya and Danica Davidson
The two women behind the twin volumes Manga Art for Beginners and Manga Art for Intermediates get in-depth on what makes their books so different from the rest.
― Creating manga requires more than just the ambition to do it – you also need a good grasp of storytelling and artwork to carry that ambition through. While there are many books on the subject, we readers don't always know which are going to...
Diana Garnet: an American Performer in Japan
TV host, singer, and songwriter extraordinaire Diana Garnet shares her unique experience working as a foreigner in the Japanese entertainment industry.
― Much like the title of the song from YURI!!! On Ice that she performed at Ohayocon 2019, in a concert compilation of her original tunes plus popular anisong covers mashed up in a collaboration with Shin Kurokawa, Diana Garnet -- an American performe...
Interview: The Directors of That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime
Director Yasuhito Kikuchi and assistant director Atsushi Nakayama from Studio 8-Bit go in-depth on one of the most charming and popular isekai series in recent memory.
― Based on Taiki Kawakami's manga adaptation of Fuse's original novel of the same name, That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime has been a pleasant surprise for many anime fans recently, thanks to its endearing characters and unique ta...
The Best and Worst of Winter 2019, Feb 26-Mar 4
Mob Psycho stumbles a little, allowing Run with the Wind to finally push its way to the top spot. See how your favorite shows stack up this week!
― Our team of reviewers are following 27 anime series of the Winter 2019 season and readers are rating each episode as the reviews go up. So let's have a look at what ANN readers consider the best (and worst) of the season. Keep in mind that these rankings...
Character Spotlight: The Cast of Devil May Cry 5
Meet the main cast of Devil May Cry 5. They're all here, Nero, Dante, V, Lady, Trish and Nico.
― NERO The Young Devil Hunter The young Devil Hunter operating out of the mobile Devil May Cry. Having lost his demonic arm (the Devil Bringer) before the events of the game, he stands against the invading demonic forces with a new power provided by Nico. DANTE The Strongest Demon Slayer The proprietor of ...
Character Spotlight: The Cast of Devil May Cry 5
Meet the main cast of Devil May Cry 5. They're all here, Nero, Dante, V, Lady, Trish and Nico.
― NERO The Young Devil Hunter The young Devil Hunter operating out of the mobile Devil May Cry. Having lost his demonic arm (the Devil Bringer) before the events of the game, he stands against the invading demonic forces with a new power provided by Nico. DANTE The Strongest Demon Slayer The proprietor of ...
Interview: JAM Project's Hironobu Kageyama
The lead singer of this beloved powerhouse j-rock band shares his experience making anime theme songs, staying fit for high-energy concert performances, and what to expect from One-Punch Man season 2's opening!
― J-Pop and Anisong superstar Hironobu Kageyama has spent the majority of his life making music and has become a major force in the world of anime music. His anisong solo debut was the theme s...
The Best and Worst of Winter 2019, Feb 19-25
ENDRO comes back down down down to reality, and the lead group continues to duke it out unperturbed. Find out where your favorites rank this week!
― Our team of reviewers are following 27 anime series of the Winter 2019 season and readers are rating each episode as the reviews go up. So let's have a look at what ANN readers consider the best (and worst) of the season. Keep in mind that these ranking...
Ranking the Films of Satoshi Kon
This master of animation left behind a powerful filmography, but which films of Kon's will stand the test of time? Matthew Roe analyzes the oeuvre of this departed genius.
― Satoshi Kon is my favorite animation director. Throughout his tragically brief career, he managed to make a single-season series and a small collection of films that all rank as some of the greatest achievements in animation hist...
Interview: Boruto Manga Artist Mikio Ikemoto
The hard-working illustrator behind the adventures of Naruto's son Boruto answers a few questions about their incredible career.
― Mikio Ikemoto has been involved with the Naruto almost from the very beginning; he was an assistant on the manga for fifteen years. In 2016, he began drawing the artwork for the Boruto: Naruto Next Generations manga, which is written by Ukyō Kodachi and supervised by Naru...
The Best and Worst of Winter 2019, Feb 12-18
ENDRO strikes upward while One Piece strikes out. See how all you favorites fared in our weekly user rankings.
― Our team of reviewers are following 27 anime series of the Winter 2019 season and readers are rating each episode as the reviews go up. So let's have a look at what ANN readers consider the best (and worst) of the season. Keep in mind that these rankings are based on how people rated indi...
Character Spotlight: The Cast of Devil May Cry 5
Meet the main cast of Devil May Cry 5. They're all here, Nero, Dante, V, Lady, Trish and Nico.
― NERO The Young Devil Hunter The young Devil Hunter operating out of the mobile Devil May Cry. Having lost his demonic arm (the Devil Bringer) before the events of the game, he stands against the invading demonic forces with a new power provided by Nico. DANTE The Strongest Demon Slayer The proprietor of ...
The Best and Worst of Winter 2019, Feb 5-11
Mob Psycho 100 barely dips, yet leaves the way open for a strong contender! Did your favorites sink or soar? Find out in our weekly user rankings.
― Our team of reviewers are following 27 anime series of the Winter 2019 season and readers are rating each episode as the reviews go up. So let's have a look at what ANN readers consider the best (and worst) of the season. Keep in mind that these ranking...
Revisiting The Big O - 20 Years Later
Sunrise's mecha-stuffed take on Batman: The Animated Series is 20 years old this year. Does it still hold up? Matthew Roe takes a deeper look.
― Studio Sunrise is a name that even the most casual anime fans should be able to easily recognize. Founded by former members of Osamu Tezuka's Mushi Production in 1972, they took the medium in a different direction - stories by committee. With productions fir...
Weekly Shonen Jump Editor-in-Chief Hiroyuki Nakano
Get the inside scoop on exactly what it's like to be the editor of the most powerful manga magazine in the world - Weekly Shonen Jump, home of One Piece, Dragon Ball Super and more.
― Have you ever wondered what it's like to be an editor for Weekly Shonen Jump? Like a lot of manga fans, I've read Bakuman and was touched at how the editor Hattori was like a mentor to Ashirogi Muto from the time they w...
The Best and Worst of Winter 2019, Jan 29-Feb 4
One Piece seeks to reclaim its glory as it competes for the top spot this week again! Find out how your favorites show fared in our weekly user rankings.
― Our team of reviewers are following 27 anime series of the Winter 2019 season and readers are rating each episode as the reviews go up. So let's have a look at what ANN readers consider the best (and worst) of the season. Keep in mind that these ...
Interview: Cosplay Drag Diva Oriana Perón
From Sailor Moon cosplayer to one of the most in-demand convention guests in the midwest, Oriana Perón has come a long way from early fandom years to hosting Drag Race competitions at cons. Perón breaks down her journey so far and what she's looking forward to in the years to come.
― Hailing from Bloomington IN, Christopher Simanton — whose larger-than-life drag persona, Oriana Perón, has quickly sol...
Interview: nano
Passionate rocker Nano, the voice behind the anisong openings for Arpeggio of Blue Steel and Kakuriyo, talks about their career, New York City, and when Detective Conan might finally end.
― If there is one phrase artist, singer, and songwriter nano says the most, it is “Rock on!” Regardless of saying it to pump up the crowd or used as a casual sendoff, nano carries the spirit of a high energy, rock a...
Passport to Iron City with Battle Angel Alita Mangaka Yukito Kishiro
Prepare yourself for Alita: Battle Angel by stepping inside iam8bit's elaborate Iron City experience, with commentary from none other than Battle Angel mangaka Yukito Kishiro!
― First announced all the way back in 2003, James Cameron and Robert Rodriguez' Alita: Battle Angel finally – finally – hits theaters the evening of February 14th after spending most of the 21st century as vaporware. While it s...
The Best and Worst of Winter 2019, Jan 22-28
One Piece makes a shocking climb - 22 places up the list, challenging Jojo's Bizarre Adventure and Mob Psycho 100 II for the top spot! Find out how your favorite shows performed in our weekly user rankings.
― Our team of reviewers are following 27 anime series of the Winter 2019 season and readers are rating each episode as the reviews go up. So let's have a look at what ANN readers consider the bes...
Why A Certain Magical Index Fans Love Touma
The unconventional male lead of the Index/Railgun series can be divisive with fans, but he's one of the most enduring protagonists in light novel history. Kim Morrissy explains this idiosyncratic character's appeal.
― It took me about 14 volumes of the A Certain Magical Index light novels before I finally "got" the appeal of Touma Kamijou, protagonist of the series. It wasn't that I particularly disl...
Everything You Need to Know about MANGA Plus by Shueisha
Shueisha is launching a new global manga service - with nearly the entire Shonen Jump lineup available! Get the inside story straight from the editor of Shonen Jump+, plus commentary from Dragon Ball Super's Toyotaro and Naruto's Masashi Kishimoto!
― If you're an anime or manga fan, you've probably heard of Weekly Shonen Jump, published by Shueisha. The story behind the very first anime you ever watc...
Rimuru Tempest and Robinson Crusoe: How to Build a Civilization
That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime joins a rich history of Robinsonade adventures, but what does it really mean to build a society from the ground up? Marco Oliveros explores the themes underlying this hit isekai story.
― I remember reading The Swiss Family Robinson over and over when I was little. Washed ashore in a strange land, marooned away from everything comfortable and familiar, a family ...
The Best and Worst of Winter 2019, Jan 1-21
Mob Psycho 100 II takes an astonishing early lead in the very first user rankings of the Winter 2019 season! Find out how your favorite shows stacked up according to reader votes.
― Our team of reviewers are following 27 anime series of the Winter 2019 season and readers are rating each episode as the reviews go up. So let's have a look at what ANN readers consider the best (and worst) of the season...
Everything You Need to Know about MANGA Plus by Shueisha
Shueisha is launching a new global manga service that provides nearly the entire Jump lineup for free all over the world, the same day as Japan! Get the inside story straight from the editor of Shonen Jump+, plus commentary from Dragon Ball Super's Toyotaro and Naruto's Masashi Kishimoto!
― If you're an anime or manga fan, you've probably heard of Weekly Shonen Jump, published by Shueisha. The story ...
Interview: The Staff of That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime
Director Yasuhito Kikuchi and character designer Ryouma Ebata discuss their history creating this hit isekai series at Anime NYC. How do you animate a slime's walk cycle anyway?
― In a landscape filled with isekai shows, That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime offers a different approach. What if you were brought into a new world not as a wise wizard, powerful swordsman, or with your smartphone, but ...
How Square Enix Convinced Disney to Make Kingdom Hearts
Given the iron-fisted control Disney wields over their intellectual property, how did Tetsuya Nomura get away with something so crazy? Callum May runs down the history of this franchise's creative development from the earliest days to this year's greatly anticipated Kingdom Hearts 3!
― In the early days at Disney, the idea for Kingdom Hearts was regarded by some as an “abomination”. Instead of the ty...
TOY REVIEW: Gundam Astray Red Frame (HIRM)
Lauren Orsini takes an in-depth look at this Perfect Grade model kit to determine if this beloved release is a good choice for newcoming or veteran Gundam builders.
― Gundam Astray Red Frame has its origins in the manga Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Astray. Published by Tokyopop, this manga has been out of print in the US since 2004. Nevertheless, its lead mobile suit's samurai-inspired design has captiva...
Anime Spotlight - Mysteria Friends
When Anne and Grea cross paths, their life at the Mysteria Academy of Magic will never be the same.
― Mysteria Friends Official Website: https://manaria.jp/ Introduction Story Characters Cast & Staff Gallery Premieres at 0:30 of January 21, 2019 (JST) Key Staff Director: Hideki Okamoto ("Nagasarete Airantou (TV)", "D.C. II: Da Capo II (TV)") Series Composition: Satoko Sekine ("Is This a Zombie? of t...
The Winter 2019 Anime Preview Guide
The Winter 2019 Anime Season has begun! Check back every day for new reviews of this winter's new anime:
Now Available: Kemono Friends 2 - Winter 2019 Shorts - VIRTUALSAN: LOOKING - The Magnificent Kotobuki - Kaguya-sama: Love is War - ENDRO! - Date A Live III - Magical Girl Spec Ops Asuka - Domestic Girlfriend - The Quintessential Quintuplets - Girly Air Force - The Promised Neverland - Kemurikusa - My Roommate is a Cat - Meiji Tokyo Renka - Dororo - Mob Psycho 100 II - The Rising of the Shield Hero - Boogiepop and Others - W'z - and MORE!
Now Available: Kemono Friends 2 - Winter 2019 Shorts - VIRTUALSAN: LOOKING - The Magnificent Kotobuki - Kaguya-sama: Love is War - ENDRO! - Date A Live III - Magical Girl Spec Ops Asuka - Domestic Girlfriend - The Quintessential Quintuplets - Girly Air Force - The Promised Neverland - Kemurikusa - My Roommate is a Cat - Meiji Tokyo Renka - Dororo - Mob Psycho 100 II - The Rising of the Shield Hero - Boogiepop and Others - W'z - and MORE!
Anime Spotlight - Date A Live III
High-schooler Shido Itsuka has the power to seal away a Spirit's power by making them blush and planting a kiss on them. Up until now, the spirits that have opened their hearts to him are Tohka, Yoshino, Kotori, Kaguya, Yuzuru, and Miku.
― Date A Live III Official Website: http://date-a-live-anime.com/ Introduction Characters Cast & Staff Gallery Premieres on January 11, 2019 (JST) Key Staff Directo...
Anime Spotlight - Pastel Memories
Once known for its otaku culture, nerdy shops of Akihabara have been closing one by one. Twelve girls are trying their best to bring Akihabara back to its former fun glory.
― Pastel Memories Official Website: https://pasumemotv.com/ Introduction Characters Cast & Staff Gallery Premieres at 12:30 AM of January 8, 2019 (JST) Key Staff Director: Yasuyuki Shinozaki ("Aishiteruze Baby (TV)" as episode di...
Interview: Studio Ponoc Founder Yoshiaki Nishimura on Modest Heroes
The sparkling ex-Ghibli talents at Studio Ponoc have a new anthology showcase out in theaters this weekend - studio founder Yoshiaki Nishimura elaborates on the project.
― Anthology films – feature-length movies composed of individual segments and stories, usually with a different director for each segment - are typically a pretty big risk for any studio, whether it's live-action or animation. The f...
Anime Spotlight - revisions
An isolated city. An unknown enemy. An uncertain past and a prophecy of the future. The children fight the "future" to bring back the "present". No matter what, they're going home...
― revisions Official Website: http://revisions.jp/ Introduction Story Characters Cast & Staff Gallery Premieres in January 2019 Key Staff Director: Goro Taniguchi ("Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion (TV)", "Planetes ...
Interview: Sword Art Online: Alicization Director of Photography Kentaro Waki
Learn all about the profound art of "compositing" in anime from the Director of Photography behind the lush and gorgeous look of shows like Sword Art Online: Alicization!
― When discussing the visual appeal of an anime, it isn't often that we take a deep dive into the element of compositing and the effect that has over the final image. We might talk about how exciting the animation is or how detailed...
The Best and Worst of Fall 2018
As the new year ramps up, let's find out where your favorite shows placed in the final user rankings of last season!
― Our team of reviewers are following 27 anime series of the Fall 2018 season and readers are rating each episode as the reviews go up. So let's have a look at what ANN readers consider the best (and worst) of the season. Keep in mind that these rankings are based on how people rated ...
The Best (and Worst) Anime of Fall 2018
Before we can ring in the new year's fresh batch of anime premieres, our staff takes one last look back at a Fall season that was packed with great (and a couple not so great) shows!
― A brand-new year has arrived, but before we can start previewing all of 2019's newest anime, it's time to decide which shows were the best—and the worst—of an incredibly hype-packed Fall! We asked our critics to pick t...
The Best Anime of 2018 Part V
We've got three more Best of 2018 lists ready for you - Rose Bridges, Jacob Chapman, Zac Bertschy, and the result of our 2018 MEGA POLL!
― This is it - the results of our 2018 Mega Poll! Look forward to the Winter 2019 Preview Guide, which begins Saturday, January 5th! Rose Bridges 5. Bloom Into You When I picked up the first manga volume of Bloom Into You, months before the anime's release, I thoug...
The Best Anime of 2018 Part IV
Nick Creamer and Mike Toole file their best anime of 2018, and it's finally time to talk about the shows that hurt us the most.
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ANN's Most Read News Articles of 2018
The top 25 anime, manga, and video game headlines of 2018!
― The sheer output of anime each season in 2018 means more news articles for our team to tackle to keep our readers in the know. This year, Anime News Network's News team published 8,159 articles. This feature went dormant for a few years, but 2017 had a total of 7,711 news articles. Our output has continued to grow year after year thanks to ...
ANN's Most Read Interest Articles of 2018
― 2018 brought a lot of change-ups to Interest as our small time spent more time creating in-depth articles from the industry, breaking news about controversy on social media, and still including all the fun "most anticipated" and strange developments you expect from us. I got to close out the year writing about how a bot seized control of Rokka: Brave of Six Flower's website and posted a bunch of g...
The Best and Worst of Fall 2018, Dec 17-23
The puppet boys of Thunderbolt Fantasy reclaim the top spot as the fall season winds down - find out how your favorite shows performed in our weekly user rankings!
― Our team of reviewers are following 27 anime series of the Fall 2018 season and readers are rating each episode as the reviews go up. So let's have a look at what ANN readers consider the best (and worst) of the season. Keep in mind tha...
The Best Anime of 2018 Part III
Just in time for New Year's Eve, we've got more Top 5 Anime of 2018 lists and what are - clearly - the best anime theme songs of 2018!
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The Best Anime of 2018 Part II
Rebecca Silverman and Theron Martin file their top 5 anime for 2018, and we've got the Best Characters of 2018!
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Anime Spotlight - Boogiepop and Others
There is an urban legend that children tell one another about a shinigami that can release people from the pain they may be suffering. This "Angel of Death" has a name: Boogiepop.
― Boogiepop and Others Official Website: http://boogiepop-anime.com/movie/ Introduction Characters Cast & Staff Gallery Premieres on January 4, 2019 (JST) Key Staff Director: Shingo Natsume (One Punch Man (TV)) Series Comp...
The Best Anime of 2018 Part I
It's time to celebrate the best anime of 2018, and we're kicking off with Top 5 lists from Paul Jensen, Amy McNulty and Lauren Orsini, plus our picks for the best plot twists of the year!
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The Best and Worst of Fall 2018, Dec 10-16
The Fall season is winding down, and a surprise contender races to the top spot in these waning moments! Find out how your favorite Fall anime fared in our weekly user rankings.
― Our team of reviewers are following 27 anime series of the Fall 2018 season and readers are rating each episode as the reviews go up. So let's have a look at what ANN readers consider the best (and worst) of the season. Ke...
Anime Spotlight - The Magnificent KOTOBUKI
The mercenary bodyguard unit "Team KOTOBUKI" is made up of a variety of unique characters; together, they are ready to fight against sky pirates!
― The Magnificent KOTOBUKI Official Website: https://kotobuki-anime.com/ Story Characters Cast & Staff Gallery Premieres on January 13, 2019 Key Staff Director: Tsutomu Mizushima (Another (TV), Girls und Panzer(TV), xxxHOLiC (TV)) Series Composition: Michi...
20 Years of KareKano: His and Her Circumstances
20 years ago, director Hideaki Anno followed up a little show called Neon Genesis Evangelion with a funny, relatable, challenging and famously unfinished adaptation of a shojo manga that's still beloved today, warts and all.
― His and Her Circumstances is the story of Yukino Miyazawa, a high school first year who defines herself entirely by other people's perception of her. Perceived as intelligent, ...
Anime Spotlight - Domestic Girlfriend
A pure, yet extreme and forbidden love triangle begins between the three as they start their new lives under one roof.
― Domestic Girlfriend Official Website: http://domekano-anime.com/ Introduction Characters Cast & Staff Gallery Premieres in January 11, 2019 Key Staff Director: Shōta Ibata (Girlish Number (TV)) Series Composition: Tatsuya Takahashi (Eromanga Sensei (TV), The [email protected] Cinderella ...
Anime Spotlight - Mob Psycho 100 II
The mysterious group "Claw" stands before Shigeo "MOB" Kageyama once again; where will his roaring heart take him!?
― Mob Psycho 100 II Official Website: http://mobpsycho100.com/ Introduction Characters Cast & Staff Gallery Premieres on January 7, 2019 Key Staff Director: Yuzuru Tachikawa (Detective Conan: Zero the Enforcer (movie 22), Death Parade (TV)) Series Composition: Hiroshi Seko (Ajin (TV), ...
Deciphering Nadesico: Prince of Darkness 20 Years Later
It's been 20 years since director Tatsuo Sato's gorgeous, ambitious, deeply confusing movie "killed" Martian Successor Nadesico - but is it worth a closer look today?
― More than once, Neon Genesis Evangelion has been cited as the game-changing series of late 1990s anime that made way for a veritable rush of exploratory properties expanding the medium to seemingly new horizons. This sentiment has ech...
Interview: The English Cast of Fairy Tail
Veteran voice actors Cherami Leigh, Tia Ballard and Todd Haberkorn along with Fairy Tail dub director Tyler Walker reflect on being part of Hiro Mashima's longrunning fantasy smash - and whether or not they're ready for it all to end.
― As charming, fun and big-hearted as the Fairy Tail anime series and characters are, the cast -- Cherami Leigh (who voices Lucy Heartfilia), Todd Haberkorn (Natsu Drag...
The Best and Worst of Fall 2018, Dec 3-9
Our rankings are ready for the first full week of December, just as the Fall season winds down, and it's still a close race between the top shows of the season!
― Our team of reviewers are following 27 anime series of the Fall 2018 season and readers are rating each episode as the reviews go up. So let's have a look at what ANN readers consider the best (and worst) of the season. Keep in mind that t...
Looking Back on 20 Years of Studio Bones
Embark on a journey through 20 years of history with Studio Bones, the legendary animation house behind Fullmetal Alchemist, My Hero Academia and many many more!
― Hands up those of you who love Cowboy Bebop. That's a lot of you. Can you really believe that it's been 20 years since it first came out? It still looks impressive today, which serves as a potent reminder that although the landscape around...
The Best and Worst of Fall 2018, Nov 26-Dec 2
Not even Zombie Land Saga can rattle Thunderbolt Fantasy 2's iron grip on the top spot! Find out how your favorite shows performed in our weekly user rankings.
― Our team of reviewers are following 27 anime series of the Fall 2018 season and readers are rating each episode as the reviews go up. So let's have a look at what ANN readers consider the best (and worst) of the season. Keep in mind that th...
Interview: Tuxedo Mask Voice Actor Toru Furuya
The legendary voice behind a cast of icons like Mobile Suit Gundam's Amuro Ray and Sailor Moon's Tuxedo Mask chats about his storied career and the popularity of Dragon Ball and Gundam!
― Voice actor Toru Furuya's career is not easy to summarize. For 52 years, Furuya has forged an extensive resume, donning some of the biggest roles in anime to his name. As Amuro Ray in Mobile Suit Gundam, Mamoru Chib...
A Brief History of One Piece Video Games, Part 2
Our second trip through the history of One Piece video games covers 2004-2018, featuring burning blood, pirate carnivals, and...dancing!
― The year was 2004, and One Piece was coming to North America. VIZ had begun releasing the manga the previous year, and 4kids premiered an edited version on Fox with an all-new opening theme that must be heard by everyone. Debate continues to this day as to whether...
Interview: Kill la Kill the Game: IF Director Hideaki Mizota
Get the inside story and some fun details from the director of the upcoming collaboration between Aplus Games and TRIGGER, Kill la Kill the Game: IF.
― Kill la Kill the Game: IF has been picking up more steam lately, introducing more playable characters and features ahead of its 2019 release. The game is being published by Arc System Works, and although the developer is Aplus, who previously worked o...
The Fall 2018 Manga Guide
We're reviewing an avalanche of Fall manga premieres! Check back every day this week for fresh reviews.
Available now: Arte - Kamakura Monogatari - Goblin Slayer: Year One - Tomo-chan Is A Girl - Abara - Creature! - BAKI - Ran and the Gray World - Wakako Zake - Interspecies Reviewers - Ne Ne Ne - Pop Team Epic - We Never Learn - That Time I Got Reincarnated As Yamcha - and much more! ― Welcome to A...
Available now: Arte - Kamakura Monogatari - Goblin Slayer: Year One - Tomo-chan Is A Girl - Abara - Creature! - BAKI - Ran and the Gray World - Wakako Zake - Interspecies Reviewers - Ne Ne Ne - Pop Team Epic - We Never Learn - That Time I Got Reincarnated As Yamcha - and much more! ― Welcome to A...
The Best and Worst of Fall 2018, Nov 19-25
That Time I Got Reincarnated As A Slime oozes up 8 places on the chart to claim the #1 crown for this week! Find out how your favorite shows performed in our weekly user rankings.
― Our team of reviewers are following 27 anime series of the Fall 2018 season and readers are rating each episode as the reviews go up. So let's have a look at what ANN readers consider the best (and worst) of the season. ...
The Fall 2018 Light Novel Guide
Prepare yourself for the relentless onslaught of new light novels this fall with our guide to the best, the brightest, the strangest and the most satisfying new reads to get you through the end of 2018.
― October and November are relatively light months in terms of new series debuting, but that doesn't mean that there wasn't enough to keep our review team busy reading! The offerings this time do vary...
Ranking the Films of Mamoru Hosoda
Summer Wars and Mirai Director Mamoru Hosoda has had a meteoric career, captivating audiences with one gorgeous, touching fantasy after another - but how would you rank all the films in his catalog?
― What exactly makes a director “great”? We often talk about the tropes and techniques of the perceived masters of Japanese animation; from the wondrous splendor of Hayao Miyazaki, the stark sociological ...
Blade Runner's Unbelievable Influence On Anime
With a new Blade Runner anime series recently announced, it's the perfect time to revisit Daryl Surat's exploration of the mindblowing amount of influence Ridley Scott's Blade Runner has had on the way a tremendous amount of anime looks, sounds, and feels.
― In 2017, it's very easy to forget that 1982's Blade Runner was neither a commercial success at the time of its release nor the mainstream critic...
Interview: Mirai Director Mamoru Hosoda
The latest film from Summer Wars director Mamoru Hosoda hits theaters in the US this week, so it's the perfect time to ask the man himself a few questions about his legendary career, and his latest acclaimed film.
― Mamoru Hosoda has quickly become one of the best-known Japanese filmmakers in the world. He's best known for his original films like The Girl Who Leapt Through Time, Summer Wars, Wolf Chi...
Studio Trigger Panel at Anime NYC
Some of Trigger's big personalities were at Anime NYC this year to talk about upcoming projects from the new Kill La Kill game to the theatrical feature, Promare! Here's our full report.
― At Studio Trigger's Anime NYC panel, the first question Tatsuru Tatemono (Tattun) asked was “who here has visited from the west coast?” For their first convention in New York, it was in many ways an update to their...
Holiday Gift Guide 2018 - Games
2018 saw a tidal wave of great games - so which ones make the perfect gifts? From Dragon Quest XI to Pokemon: Let's Go Pikachu, here's a list of the best and brightest - that might just make the perfect present.
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Holiday Gift Guide 2018 - Books & Manga
It's a blizzard of the year's best artbooks, light novels and manga, just in time to help find the perfect gift for the bookworm in your life.
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The Best and Worst of Fall 2018, Nov 12-18
Golden Kamuy races up 8 places on our chart, just in time for Thanksgiving! Find out how your favorite fall anime performed according to readers' votes!
― Our team of reviewers are following 27 anime series of the Fall 2018 season and readers are rating each episode as the reviews go up. So let's have a look at what ANN readers consider the best (and worst) of the season. Keep in mind that these ran...
Interview: The Staff of Studio SHAFT's Fireworks
The director and producer behind this nostalgic summer romance movie reflect on their experience making the film.
― Studio SHAFT's Fireworks, Should We See it from the Side or the Bottom? is a nostalgic film about teenage summer love, based on a classic TV drama. We sat down with director Nobuyuki Takeuchi and producer Genki Kawahara to discuss the film and its impact one year after its release. For ...
Holiday Gift Guide 2018 - DVD & Bluray
Our 2018 Gift Guide continues with an avalanche of this year's best, brightest and most feature-packed anime blurays and DVDs!
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Interview: Hideyoshi Shigeta, General Manager of VOLKS USA
Big eyes, imposing stature and shimmering hair - the Dollfie line of ball-jointed dolls is iconic, and now the company is moving in to licensed characters, from Sailor Moon to Nier: Automata and Sword Art Online!
― Bright hair, pale complexions, tall physiques, and really big eyes – that's the first impression you get when you see a Volks doll in person. They've been fixtures at anime conventions in ...
Holiday Gift Guide 2018 - Figures & Collectibles
It's time to get all your holiday shopping done, but what do you get for the anime fan in your life? Our guide begins with a smorgasbord of figures, statues and collectibles!
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The Best and Worst of Fall 2018, Nov 5-11
Thunderbolt Fantasy races to the top spot as we catch up on our weekly user rankings! Find out how your favorite shows performed according to our readers' votes.
― Our team of reviewers are following 27 anime series of the Fall 2018 season and readers are rating each episode as the reviews go up. So let's have a look at what ANN readers consider the best (and worst) of the season. Keep in mind that ...
Interview: Record of Grancrest War Creator Ryo Mizuno and producer Yurika Tsukita
Ryo Mizuno, creator of wars both Lodoss and Grancrest, talks up his long and storied career in novels and RPGs alongside the producer of the new Grancrest War mobile game from Bandai Namco.
― Ryo Mizuno's career has been pretty spectacular – both a novelist and a game designer, Mizuno made his mark after creating a legend with the blockbuster fantasy novel series Record of Lodoss War back in 1988 (wh...
A Brief History of One Piece Video Games, Part 1
We journey through the lineage of One Piece games, uncovering brawlers, baseball, and something called the WonderSwan!
― One Piece had a short voyage to success. Creator Eiichiro Oda devised the pirate epic as a series of one-shot stories in 1996, and One Piece was a prominent Shonen Jump manga by 1997, an anime OVA by 1998, and a TV series by 1999. And from there it took the next logical step for an...
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