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The Best and Most Memorable Manga of 2015
2015 was a banner year for manga in the US, so it's time for our resident senior manga critic to run down her favorites and the most memorable (for better or worse) manga of the year!
― 2015 is coming to its inevitable close, something that we can say for every year but not for every manga series. It's been an interesting year for us manga readers, though – a drastic increase in digital content has b...
The Legends Behind Noragami
Noragami has captured the imagination of anime fans everywhere, but the show's mystical references can be a little dense. Here's your complete guide to the world of Japanese folklore, mythology, religion and customs that define Yato's world.
― With its second season almost over, Noragami has quickly established itself as one of the most beloved new anime of the past few years. As it follows the adven...
The Best and Worst of the Season So Far: Week of Nov 26-Dec 2
Our long national nightmare is over and One-Punch Man retakes the top spot. Find our how your other favorite shows fared in our weekly rankings!
― Our team of reviewers are following 24 anime series of the Fall 2015 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 ar...
What's The Best First Episode You've Ever Seen?
We asked our team of critics one simple question: what is the single best first episode of an anime series you've ever seen, regardless of how the show turned out? Find out what they said and sound off on your own picks!
― It's a pretty simple question, but it can tell you a lot about someone's taste in anime: what's the single best first episode of an anime series you've ever seen? It doesn't matter...
What Makes Kyoto Animation So Special?
Anime fans have been waxing rhapsodical about the glory of Kyoto Animation, the house behind megahits like K-On! and Free!, for years. What is it that makes their work so meaningful to so many? Nick Creamer tries to figure it all out.
― So I've been watching K-On! lately. This hasn't been difficult. It's a very easy show to watch! You can just sort of lie back on your couch and lean your head in its ...
The Best and Worst of the Season So Far: Week of Nov 19-25
The show that's dominated the top of the charts all season long drops to #2, while another king is crowned. It's an exciting week for your favorite shows!
― Our team of reviewers are following 24 anime series of the Fall 2015 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 r...
Anime News Network's Holiday 2015 Gift Guide - Games
Our week-long gift guide wraps up with the one thing everyone wants: videogames! A smattering of the best games for every otaku on your Christmas shopping list awaits.
― Clannad There are a couple factors that make this visual novel release basically the ideal otaku Christmas gift, so let's run them down: Long-awaited English-language release of the visual novel most fans of the medium will tell you...
Anime News Network's Holiday 2015 Gift Guide Part V: Collectibles & Cool Stuff
The blockbuster second-to-last page of our week-long holiday gift guide is here, overflowing with toys, statues, action figures, and much much more!
― Royal Twintails Pillow Have you ever loved a hairstyle so much you wanted to wrap yourself up in an enormous pillow-like representation of it? No? Well here's your chance! This is pretty clearly a novelty item, but I'll be honest – it looks pretty com...
Anime News Network's Holiday 2015 Gift Guide Part IV: DVD & Blu-ray
DVD and Bluray finally arrive in our week-long Christmas gift guide! We've rolled out some awesome limited editions, 2015's best and most elaborate releases and much more!
― Anime itself is a highly personal gift, and it's tough to know exactly what a fan might actually want. Some tips up front if you're buying anime for someone: Ask them what shows they like first and narrow it down. Don't ask what...
Anime News Network's Holiday 2015 Gift Guide Part III: Tech & Gadgets
Today's the day for tech in our week-long gift guide! Figure out the ultimate streaming package for the otaku on your Christmas shopping list, plus a bunch of fun gadgets and weird stuff.
― The Streaming Bundle The start of any tech gift guide on a site like this is liable to give you a long list of bluray players and high-end TVs, but as any anime fan will tell you, times have changed - all we real...
A Quick, Easy Guide to the Gintama Drama
At nearly 300 episodes, Gintama is most famous for its incredible comedy, but the show has a serious storyline fans love. With a big new arc starting next week, here's a quick and easy way to catch up with the show's real story before the new arc begins.
― Because Hideaki Sorachi's popular revisionist history comedy is so very wacky, it's easy to forget that Gintama has an overarching plot. With the...
Anime News Network's Holiday 2015 Gift Guide Part II: Fashion
Our week-long gift guide keeps on truckin' with a shockingly wide variety of anime shirts, jackets, hats, and jewelry. Who knew there was so much anime stuff you could put on your body?
― Women's Totoro Tights Within the last year, silhouette tights have become increasingly popular with many online shops stocking cat and rabbit versions. These tights are another iteration for fans of Ghibli's (argua...
Anime News Network's Holiday 2015 Gift Guide Part I: Art & Books
The first part of our week-long 2015 gift guide kicks off with a menagerie of art, books and manga! Prints, collector's editions, framed art and much more! Check back every day this week for more giftgiving ideas for the otaku in your life.
― Welcome to Anime News Network's 2016 Holiday Gift Guide! We've put together a pretty extensive catalog of great gifts for the anime and manga fan in your life,...
The Best and Worst of the Season So Far: Week of Nov 12-18
The fall season enters its middle stretch this week; time to check in and see how your favorite shows are faring in our user polls!
― Our team of reviewers are following 24 anime series of the Fall 2015 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 ho...
The Ultimate Guide to the Animator Expo
The first two seasons of the wildly creative explosion of light and color known as the Animator Expo are going away soon - Kevin Cirugeda is here to guide you through what's worth watching and what isn't before they're gone forever.
― People love to bring up Hideaki Anno's grim outlook on the anime industry (even after he clarified he was being misunderstood), while overlooking his efforts to improve...
Why Dangerous Anime Boys Are All The Rage
Harem shows for women are full of 'em: emotionally manipulative vampires, boys who shove you around, men as dangerous as they are desirable. What is it about these guys that drives female fans wild?
― Back in September, I wrote about how Ouran High School Host Club kickstarted new genre sensibilities by parodying reverse harem anime. "Fujoshi comedies" are all the rage now for female otaku, but it's ...
The Best and Worst of the Season So Far: Week of Nov 5-11
Once again it's time to check in and see how your favorite shows are ranking according to our user polls!
― Our team of reviewers are following 24 anime series of the Fall 2015 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 individual ...
Why We Still Love Digimon
15 years since Digimon's debut, with a reunion film right around the corner, Hope Chapman unpacks why Digimon of all things has endured as a seminal fan favorite.
― At the turn of the millennium, Japan was burning up with a contagious monster fever. Pokemon had become a worldwide phenomenon, and all sorts of other monster-based children's franchises began flooding the market. There was the Tamagotchi...
The Secret of One-Punch Man's Success
If you've been watching this season's smash hit One-Punch Man, you may have asked yourself "how'd they make this show look so good"? It's time to meet the wizards who make this show possible.
― One-Punch Man is one of the most impressive TV anime productions this year, one that casual fans and experts, viewers and industry members are equally amazed by. These fans are so impressed by its visuals that...
The Best and Worst of the Season So Far: Week of Oct 29-Nov 4
Check out how your favorite shows are faring in our user rankings, now that we're a full month into the new season!
― Our team of reviewers are following 24 anime series of the Fall 2015 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 i...
Whatever Happened to Bleach?
10 years ago there was a show called Bleach that was considered one of the biggest shonen franchises going. 10 years later, the show's been canceled and it's barely a memory among anime fans, but the manga's still running. What happened?
― Roughly ten years ago,Tite Kubo's Bleach was among the most popular manga franchises in the world. Online debates raged constantly, with Bleach, Naruto, and One Pi...
Bridging the Gap between US Comics and Manga with Kodansha USA
Nobody denies there's a huge canyon between US comics fandom and manga fandom, but what are manga companies doing to close that divide? Deb Aoki talks to Kodansha USA's top brass for the answers.
― In Part 1, ANN spoke with the editorial team behind the Attack on Titan Anthology. Part 2 is our conversation with some of the top executives at Kodansha USA Publishing and Kodansha Publishing Japan, as th...
The Neverending Debate over the End of Naruto
When the Naruto manga wrapped up, a controversial romantic decision caused fandom to explode into a singular argument, one that rages still in comments sections today. Our resident Naruto expert explains this phenomenon.
― When an orange-jumpsuit-clad 12-year-old ninja named Naruto Uzumaki burst onto the pages of Weekly Shonen Jump in 1999, few people gave much thought to whom the hyperactive young ...
"The Biggest Attack on Titan Manga Announcement Ever" Part I
A hype-tastic Kodansha USA panel at New York Comic-Con announced that for the first time, American artists have been invited to play in the world of Attack on Titan. Deb Aoki investigates in the first part of this 2-part interview.
― At New York Comic-Con 2015, Kodansha Comics tantalized fans with a panel with the hype-tacular title "The Biggest Attack on Titan Manga Announcement Ever." So what was t...
The Best and Worst of the Season So Far: Week of October 22-28
How did your favorite fall series stack up in our user ratings? Find out here!
― Our team of reviewers are following 24 anime series of the Fall 2015 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 individual episodes of the current sea...
The Resurrection of Vampire Hunter D with Hideyuki Kikuchi and Yoshiaki Kawajiri
There's a new Vampire Hunter D series on the horizon, so we spoke to the show's two chief creative influences: series author Hideyuki Kikuchi and legendary director Yoshiaki Kawajiri.
― This summer, Unified Pictures announced ambitious plans for an animated Vampire Hunter D series, to be produced entirely in CG. Given how early this new series was in the production cycle (and still is), very little ...
The Sex-Obsessed Cyberpunk Dystopia of Shimoneta
Did you know this summer's controversial sex comedy Shimoneta is just Psycho-Pass with sex jokes? You didn't? Well, Joe Dempsey is here to open your mind (NSFW Language).
― What anime from the past few years is Shimoneta's story and world most similar to? From the outside we can see that it's based off a light novel with the classic light novel naming scheme of a plot description title ( the idea be...
The Best and Worst of the Season So Far: Week of October 15-21
It's a brand-new season, so it's time for brand-new rankings! Find out how your favorite shows are faring so far according to our reader voting!
― Our team of reviewers are following 24 anime series of the Fall 2015 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 ar...
Gatchaman Crowds, Explained!
Gatchaman Crowds is about so many things it's hard to keep track - the show touches on crowdsourcing, gamification, the role of government, complacency, and tiny pandas riding roombas. Nick Creamer sorts it all out for you.
― The internet has changed everything, while somehow also not changing much of anything. The context of our engagement with others has been completely transformed by the internet…...
Mobile Suit Gundam: Where to Start and What's Worth Watching
Our resident Gundam expert is here with a complete guide to the ENTIRE Gundam franchise, with pointers on where to start if you're new and which among the dozens of series is worth your time!
― You don't have to be a Gundam fan to get the most out of the latest Gundam series. Iron Blooded Orphans, the latest installment in the franchise, is entirely standalone, taking place in its own setting apart ...
These Manga Need An Anime!
Everyone's got a wishlist of manga they think absolutely deserves an anime. Our manga critic Rebecca Silverman lists her most-wanted anime adaptations... and we need to know yours!
― Every season, it seems, the amount of new anime series based on a manga or a light novel source grows exponentially. It's sometimes tempting to rant about how there are no original ideas anymore, titles are getting more ...
Interview: The Pilot's Love Song director Toshimasa Suzuki
The director of the high-flying action-adventure drama The Pilot's Love Song answers your in-depth questions about the series, how to make a fictional death impactful, the challenges of animating flight and more.
― Toshimasa Suzuki is the director of The Pilot's Love Song, an adventure set against the striking colors of the sky. Originally released in 2014, the show is available now on bluray from N...
Naruto creator Masashi Kishimoto: The Anime News Network Interview
The creator of one of the most famous and successful manga of all time visited the US for the first time, and we were there. Catch up with Masashi Kishimoto's panel from New York Comic-con and dive deeper with our exclusive interview!
― For manga fans, Masashi Kishimoto and Naruto needs no introduction. It is simply one of the most popular manga series ever created, not just in Japan, but throughout ...
The Fall 2015 Anime Preview Guide
The final new series has been added to The Fall 2015 Anime Preview Guide! Check out the complete feature.
Available Now: Valkyrie Drive Mermaid - Testament of Sister New Devil BURST - Garo: Crimson Moon - Shomin Sample - The Perfect Insider - Anti-Magic Academy - Dance with Devils - Beautiful Bones: Sakurako's Investigation - Yuru Yuri 3rd Season - One Punch Man - Concrete Revolutio - and much more!
Available Now: Valkyrie Drive Mermaid - Testament of Sister New Devil BURST - Garo: Crimson Moon - Shomin Sample - The Perfect Insider - Anti-Magic Academy - Dance with Devils - Beautiful Bones: Sakurako's Investigation - Yuru Yuri 3rd Season - One Punch Man - Concrete Revolutio - and much more!
Anime Spotlight - Valkyrie Drive Mermaid
The Mermaid islands are about to explode with sexy battle action!
― Valkyrie Drive Mermaid Visit the Official Site › Story Characters Trailer Cast & Staff Gallery Broadcast Begins October 10, 2015 (JST) Key Staff Director: Hiraku Kaneko (The Qwaser of Stigmata, MAKEN-KI! BATTLING VENUS 2) Series Composition: Yosuke Kuroda (Best Student Council, Gundam build Fighters Try) Introduction With you in my ...
Anime Spotlight - The Testament of Sister New Devil BURST
Basara Tojo is back and he will do anything to protect his little sisters! Let the battle that breaks heaven and earth begin!
― The Testament of Sister New Devil BURST Visit the Official Site › Story Characters Trailer Cast & Staff Gallery Broadcast Begins October 9, 2015 (JST) Key Staff Director: Hisashi Saito (Bamboo Blade, Heaven's Lost Property) Series Composition: Sumio Uetake (Burn-Up Scramble...
Giant Robo and the Beautiful Night
In the middle of the excitement of a new season, Nick Creamer looks back, digging deep into the classic series Giant Robo to discover what's hidden in the shadows of a show obsessed with light and darkness.
― “The future has shone upon us with its glorious brilliance! The time to seize our destiny and conquer all our fears is now! In ancient times, man rubbed sticks together to make fire. Then they s...
Anime Spotlight - Beautiful Bones -Sakurako's Investigation-
Sakurako has had a fascination with bones since she was very young.
― Beautiful Bones -Sakurako's Investigation- Visit the Official Site › Story Characters Trailer Cast & Staff Gallery Broadcast Begins October 7, 2015 (JST) Key Staff Series Composition: Takayo Ikami (Yurikuma Arashi, Penguindrum) Character Design: Michio Sato (Viper's Creed) Music: TECHOBOYS PULCRAFT GREEN-FUND (Trinity Seven, Witch...
Anime Spotlight - Anti-Magic Academy: The 35th Test Platoon
The 35th Test Platoon has always been seen as insignificant. However new member Ouka Ohtori may have what it takes bring the 35th to the forefront!
― Anti-Magic Academy: The 35th Test Platoon Visit the Official Site › Story Characters Trailer Cast & Staff Gallery Broadcast Begins October 7, 2015 (JST) Key Staff Director: Tomoyuki Kawamura (Kamigami no Asobi) Series Composition: Kento Shimoyama (Serv...
Anime Spotlight - Seraph of the End: Second Half
The noble extermination mission in Nagoya is about to begin!
― Seraph of the End: Second Half Visit the Official Site › Story Characters Trailer Cast & Staff Gallery Broadcast Begins October 2015 (JST) Key Staff Director: Daisuke Tokudo (Episode Director Attack on Titan (Eps. 17, 25), Episode Director Guilty Crown (Eps. 5, 13, 19)) ↑ Top Story Second Half 'Battle in Nagoya' Yuichiro has reunited wit...
Anime Spotlight - Aria the Scarlet Ammo Double A
Akari may be the weakest in her class but she will do what ever it takes to score a one on one training session with her idol Aria!
― Aria the Scarlet Ammo Double A Visit the Official Site › Story Characters Trailer Cast & Staff Gallery Broadcast Begins October 6, 2015 (JST) Key Staff Director: Takashi Kawabata (Magic Madoka Magica The Movie: Rebellion) Series Composition: Fumihiko Shimo (Infinite S...
The Best and Worst of the Season So Far: Week of September 23-29
It's the end of Summer 2015, and we decided to compare your scores for every single finale of the season! Find out which shows had the most spectacular endings... according to you!
― Our team of reviewers are following 27 anime series of the Summer 2015 crop. And this season, at the top of each Daily Streaming Review, we added a little rating widget to let our readers chime in. So let's have a look ...
Anime Spotlight - Owarimonogatari
This is the story that reveals the “beginning” of everything.
― Owarimonogatari Visit the Official Site › Story Characters Trailer Cast & Staff Gallery Broadcast Begins October 3, 2015 (JST) Key Staff Original Creator: Nisioisin (Monogatari Series) Chief Director: Akiyuki Shimbou (Puella Magi Madoka Magica (TV) (Director), Puella Magi Madoka Magica the Movie (Chief Director)) Director: Tomoyuki Itam...
Anime Spotlight - Asterisk War
The players are ready! Let the Star Warrior Festival Begin!
― Asterisk War Visit the Official Site › Story Characters Trailer Cast & Staff Gallery Broadcast Begins October 3, 2015 (JST) Key Staff General Director: Manabu Ono (Horizon in the Middle of Nowhere, Saki, The Irregular at Magic High School) Original Character Designs: okiura (Plastic Memories, Infinite Stratos ) Music: Rasmus Faber (Lagran...
Interview: VAMPS' HYDE and K.A.Z
The lead singer of L'arc~en~Ciel and the lead composer and guitarist from Oblivion Dust joined forces to form VAMPS, an "evil" rock band appearing on the west coast next week, and we dared to interview them.
― VAMPS is the brainchild of maybe the most famous Japanese rock musician of the modern era: HYDE, lead vocalist of L'arc~en~Ciel, and K.A.Z, the guitarist and composer for Oblivion Dust. Togethe...
Anime Spotlight - STARMYU
― STARMYU Visit the Official Site › Story Characters Trailer Cast & Staff Gallery Broadcast Begins October 2015 (JST) Key Staff Director: Shunsuke Tada (Dragonar Academy, Kuroko's Basketball) Character Designs: Asami Watanabe (Agami ga KILL!) Introduction "I don't know how to give up on my dreams--" ↑ Top Story Yuta Hoshitani enters Ayanagi Academy, a school renowned for music and showbiz, to follo...
Anime Spotlight - ONE PUNCH MAN
Finally, the hit manga gets animated!
― ONE PUNCH MAN Visit the Official Site › Story Characters Trailer Cast & Staff Gallery Broadcast Begins October 2015 (JST) Key Staff Director: Shingo Natsume (Space Dandy) Character Design: Chikashi Kubota (ROBOTICS;NOTES) Theme Song Opening: Jam Project (Mazinkaiser: Shito! Ankoku Daishogun, Mazinkaiser Edition Z: The Impact!) Introduction The man who became t...
The Joy of Sakuga
If you've ever noticed a cool piece of animation in your favorite anime, then you're already on the road to becoming a sakuga fan! Expert Kevin Cirugeda guides you through the world of fans who really know the "animation" part of "Japanese animation".
― Animation is fascinating. Even in the case of a struggling industry like TV anime, the amount of notable work being regularly made is staggering. It ...
Anime Spotlight - Comet Lucifer
― Comet Lucifer Visit the Official Site › Story Characters Trailer Cast & Staff Gallery Broadcasting October 2015 (JST) Key Staff Director: Yasuhito Kikuchi (Buso Shinki, Infinite Stratos) Series Composition: Yuichi Nomura (Lagrange – The Flower of Rin-ne) Mechanical Design: Takayuki Yanase (Toward the Terra, Valvrave the Liberator) Character Design / General Animation Director: Yuichi Takahashi (G...
Anime Spotlight - K RETURN OF KINGS
"K RETURN OF KINGS" will depict what happens after the "K MISSING KINGS" theatrical release.
― K RETURN OF KINGS Visit the Official Site › Story Characters Trailer Cast & Staff Gallery Broadcast Begins October 2015 (JST) Key Staff Director: Shingo Suzuki (Coppelion) Introduction Bonds come around ↑ Top Story A modern Japan where a history differing from reality exists. There, seven "Kings" with mass...
Anime Spotlight - Fafner EXODUS 2nd Season
2150 A.D. The battle with the Festum, the silicon life-forms from distant outer space, had reached a new dimension.
― Fafner EXODUS 2nd Season Visit the Official Site › Story Characters Trailer Cast & Staff Gallery Broadcast Begins October 2 (JST) Key Staff Director: Nobuyoshi Habara (Dancougar - Super Beast Machine God, Fafner ) Series Composition: Tow Ubukata (Psycho Pass 2, Ghost in the Shell Ari...
Interview: Koji Morimoto
Legendary key animator and director, co-founder of Studio 4°C, known internationally for his work on films like Akira, Robot Carnival and now Short Peace - get to know Koji Morimoto in this revealing talk about his career and the animation business.
― Anime director and J-Pop Summit 2015 guest Koji Morimoto is best known for his innovative, dynamic work on films like Akira, and short features in anim...
Anime Spotlight - Young Black Jack
Welcome to the Fall Spotlight! Young Black Jack premieres on October 1st, find out what it's all about.
― Young Black Jack Visit the Official Site › Story Characters Trailer Cast & Staff Gallery Broadcast begins October 1, 2015 (JST) Key Staff Director: Atsuko Kase (SaiKano, Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory ) Music: Daisuke Ikeda (Saiyuki Reload, Tantei Gakuen Q) Introduction Why did he fall...
The Best and Worst of the Season So Far: Week of September 16-22
We're in the final week of the waning summer season; see how your favorite shows are faring with the popular vote right before their finales send them off into the sunset.
― Our team of reviewers are following 27 anime series of the Summer 2015 crop. And this season, at the top of each Daily Streaming Review, we added a little rating widget to let our readers chime in. So let's have a look at what A...
Why Clannad Made You Cry
Jun Maeda - the screenwriter behind megahits like Air, Clannad, and Kanon - is best known for making anime fans bawl like a toddler with a skinned knee. Hope Chapman attempts to figure out what the secret to his magical melodrama is.
― If sad girls with big eyes slowly dying of magical diseases (often in the snow) have ever made you cry, you've probably been moved by the mind of Jun Maeda. Combining ...
The Intoxicating Lure of Idol Anime
Nick Creamer takes a journey into the catchy, brightly-lit heart of idol anime, from Love Live to Symphogear to The Idolmaster, on a quest to discover just what drives people so passionately wild about idols.
― I arrived an hour early, planning to grab lunch before the screening, but by the time I got there the line was already snaking up to the street and down the block. There's no real point in goi...
The Best and Worst of the Season So Far: Week of Sept 9-15
As we enter the final 2 weeks of the Summer 2015 season, see how your favorite shows are doing according to user voting. Did your favorite show rise or fall?
― Our team of reviewers are following 27 anime series of the Summer 2015 crop. And this season, at the top of each Daily Streaming Review, we added a little rating widget to let our readers chime in. So let's have a look at what ANN readers con...
History Comes Alive with Fate/Zero
It's time once again to turn the pages of history and find out the thrilling story behind the legendary heroes summoned by the Grail War mages of Fate/Zero!
― Welcome back to part two of our compendium on the legends behind Type-Moon's hit Fate franchise! Part one was all about Fate/stay Night, and you can read it here. This time, I'll be covering F/SN's prequel series, Fate/Zero. Based on a series o...
Interview: The New Ultraman with Eiichi Shimizu and Tomohiro Shimoguchi
One of Japan's most recognizable and popular superheroes received a major reboot, courtesy of two artists with some wildly creative ideas on how to bring Ultraman into the 21st century. Deb Aoki chats with both artists and their editors for some real insight.
― In N. America, superheroes are synonymous with comics; they represent what most Americans think about when they talk about comic books. In Ja...
So You Want To Build A Gundam Model
The allure of the Gundam model kit is difficult to resist, but the technical skill involved (and all those little parts!) can be daunting. Veteran mech assembler Lauren Orsini walks you through the basics, proving anyone can build one!
― Gundam is one of the most enduring and recognizable franchises in anime. It has been around for more than 25 years of television, producing so-so shows and iconic sp...
Interview: Kodansha Advanced Media on the Future of Manga
Several top-level executives from the largest Japanese publishing house discuss the future of the manga industry, simulpublishing, fighting scanlation piracy and more in this wide-ranging, eye-opening interview.
― In early August 2015, several top executives from Kodansha, one of Japan's largest publishing companies came to Northern California to celebrate the opening of the Kodansha Advanced Media o...
History Comes Alive with Fate/stay night
The hit fantasy drama Fate/stay night features powerful mages summoning legendary figures from history, but who exactly are these mythical heroes, how has Kinoko Nasu transformed their characters for the show? Gabriella Ekens investigates.
― Sick of scouring wikis and disparate fan materials for the stories behind the myths featured in Type-Moon's hit Fate franchise? Well, I've got you covered with a...
The Best and Worst of the Season So Far: Week of Aug 26-Sept 1
As the summer season winds down, the highest and lowest-rated shows of the season begin to fall into place. See your latest rankings here!
― Our team of reviewers are following 27 anime series of the Summer 2015 crop. And this season, at the top of each Daily Streaming Review, we added a little rating widget to let our readers chime in. So let's have a look at what ANN readers consider the best (and...
A Field Guide to Dating Monster Girls
Interested in dating a monster girl but don't know where to start? Our handy guide to the world of monster ladies will help you select the perfect mate while avoiding her crushing death coils or venomous fangs!
― The non-human ladies of Monster Musume have gotten a lot of attention this season, but actually dating a monster girl seems like quite a challenge. In the unlikely event that you find yourse...
The Secret Revolution of Ouran High School Host Club
Before Free!, before Uta no Prince Sama, before fujoshi merchandise filled every anime shop in Japan, there was Ouran High School Host Club, which secretly established an entire genre. Rose Bridges finds out how.
― I like Free! a lot. I started watching it between classes in the summer of 2013, and it helped me relax and adjust to the new semester. Many people who aren't part of Free!'s target audien...
Interview: Mega Man Legacy Collection Producer Rey Jimenez
Capcom's Mega Man Legacy Collection is out, featuring the first 6 Mega Man games and a ton of archival artwork. Todd sat down with one of the project's producers to get the dirt on what went in to this museum-quality collection.
― Mega Man is in the midst of a comeback. Well, a minor comeback. After spending a few years on Capcom's disabled list, the plucky robot hero returns with Mega Man Legacy Col...
The Best and Worst of the Season So Far: Week of August 19-25
Your weekly rankings are here! Find out which shows soared to new heights and which fell a little in the public esteem.
― Our team of reviewers are following 27 anime series of the Summer 2015 crop. And this season, at the top of each Daily Streaming Review, we added a little rating widget to let our readers chime in. So let's have a look at what ANN readers consider the best (and worst) of the seas...
Why I Can't Stop Watching Prison School
Prison School is disgusting. Prison School is degenerate. Prison School is juvenile. Prison School has no likable characters. So why can't Hope Chapman tear her eyes away from Prison School? WARNING: NSFW imagery.
― I can't stop watching Prison School. I'm not sure I'd call myself a fan of the show, and I'm not sure why I can't stop watching it, but I'm definitely hooked. Unfortunately, I'm also the ...
Interview: International Otaku Expo Association
These three guys are attempting to create a global otaku community by encouraging communication and collaboration between otaku events (like, say Comiket and Otakon). Let's find out what they're all about!
― We had the pleasure of chatting with three representatives from the International Otaku Expo Association, an organization established this year to "encourage new developments within the wider ota...
Interview: Yuki Yuna director Seiji Kishi
The director of the late night magical girl anime Yuki Yuna is a Hero answers a few questions about the show, including what went in to writing a disabled character.
― We sat down with director Seiji Kishi to talk about Yuki Yuna is a Hero, which he was representing at Otakon 2015 as a special guest of Ponycan USA. Over his long career, Kishi has also directed other notable series, including Assassin...
Satoshi Kon 1963-2010
On the fifth anniversary of the day the world lost Satoshi Kon, we're reprinting our original retrospective of his ouvre for fans who may be reminiscing today about this great artist and his incredible work.
― Editor's Note: this retrospective was produced by Anime News Network shortly after Kon's death in 2010. We're reposting it today on the anniversary - some of the information may be a little ou...
The Best and Worst of the Season So Far: Week of August 12-18
Your favorites of this season get shuffled around once again according to the voting decisions of our daily streaming reviews audience! Did your favorite show rise in the ranks?
― Our team of reviewers are following 27 anime series of the Summer 2015 crop. And this season, at the top of each Daily Streaming Review, we added a little rating widget to let our readers chime in. So let's have a look at ...
Ranpo Kitan: A Twisted Metamorphosis from Page to Screen
The gruesome mystery anime Ranpo Kitan serves as a flashier, gorier, modern adaptation of several famous Japanese horror stories by author Edogawa Ranpo. But how much did they change in the transition?
― Note: This article contains some spoilers for the first seven episodes of Ranpo Kitan. You've probably heard the names Edgar Alan Poe and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle before. They're two of English literat...
The Grim, Disgusting Magic of Tokyo Ghoul
The wildly entertaining, fantastically bloody and visceral Tokyo Ghoul has drummed up enormous enthusiasm from the fan community; Gabriella Ekens digs in to the manga and the anime to find out why.
― If you've been to an anime con lately, you might've seen flocks of people walking around in white wigs and black leather S&M masks. Don't worry, it's not the latest gimmick in salacious teen sex, but cos...
The Best and Worst of the Season So Far: Week of August 5-11
Check out which episodes of the summer streaming season you and your compatriots loved the most in the last week!
― Our team of reviewers are following 26 27 anime series of the Summer 2015 crop, now with Shimoneta joining the fun. And this season, at the top of each Daily Streaming Review, we added a little rating widget to let our readers chime in. So let's have a look at what ANN readers consider...
Interview: Shinji Takamatsu
The director of the hit magical boy comedy Cute High Earth Defense Club Love! talks about what it was like creating a show for the fujoshi market.
― We had the pleasure of sitting down with Shinji Takamatsu at Otakon 2015, where he was an invited guest of PonycanUSA to promote the recent North American release of Cute High Earth Defense Club Love. How does it feel to be here at Otakon, promoting Cute...
Why Persona Is Still A Big Deal
The last game in the Persona series is around 7 years old, but the games remain wildly popular, maintaining a special place in the hearts of anime fans. With the fifth game right around the corner, Gabriella Ekens explores why Persona still means so much.
― When I first encountered Persona 3 as a young JRPG fan, it was a revelation. I'd grown up on Final Fantasy and just entered puberty. This JRPG di...
The Best and Worst of the Season So Far: Week of July 29-August 4
Recently we enabled user voting on each new episode of the series we're covering. Here's what you thought the best (and worst) new shows of the summer season were (so far)!
― Our team of reviewers are following 26 anime series of the Summer 2015 crop. And this season, at the top of each Daily Streaming Review, we added a little rating widget to let our readers chime in. So let's have a look at what ...
Interview: Zero Escape series creator Kotaro Uchikoshi
Fresh off the announcement of Zero Escape 3, series creator Kotaro Uchikoshi talks about his creative process.
― Fresh off the announcement of the final installment in his Zero Escape game trilogy, scenario developer Kotaro Uchikoshi made a surprise appearance at Anime Expo this past spring. We sat down with him to discuss his work on this unique adventure game series, along with what might be in sto...
How To Satisfy Your Curiosity About Gintama
The sprawling, irreverent smash hit comedy Gintama has over 280 episodes in the can and it's more popular than ever, but how can new fans sample the best the show has to offer? Amy McNulty has some suggestions.
― When given the choice between the typical 12- to 13-episode anime, one that runs an additional cour or two, and a massive Shonen Jump series approaching 300 episodes, few people are likely ...
Interview: GARO Producer Toru Kubo and Director Yuichiro Hayashi
The producer and director of the mature, violent action-fantasy tokusatsu-turned-anime answer a few questions. PLUS: the complete fan Q&A from Otakon 2015, featuring Romi Park!
― The action-fantasy-drama anime GARO has an interesting genesis: it's the animated version of a live-action tokusatsu series that's undeniably for an adult audience. GARO the live-action series has spawned several sequels an...
Monogatari is a Disaster
Monogatari is a phenomenon, but it's also one of the messiest shows you could imagine. Nick Creamer dives into the contradictory quirks of this very strange anime.
― Look, Monogatari is a mess. I feel I have the right to say that. I've written thousands of words of glowing praise for the show, including several highly positive reviews here at Anime News Network. I've covered it from a thematic front,...
Interview: Studio Trigger
Two directors, the men behind Kill la Kill and Little Witch Academia, sit down with us for a few questions about their hit shows, Ninja Slayer, and just how much they held back on Panty & Stocking.
― Studio Trigger hasn't been on the scene very long, but they've already made a big impression. We sat down with two directors of their biggest hits, Kill La Kill (Hiroyuki Imaishi) and Little Witch Acade...
In Defense of Fullmetal Alchemist 2003
Most people these days will sing the praises of Brotherhood, Fullmetal Alchemist's bigger, flashier brother, but the 2003 series remains near and dear to a generation of fans. Rose Bridges offers this defense of the original classic.
― I've been watching anime since I was in grade school. Like lots of '90s kids, my Saturday mornings were dominated by Sailor Moon, Pokemon and Digimon. Anime was fun, b...
Interview: The Cast and Crew of live-action Attack on Titan
The director, producer and the two lead actors from the live-action Attack on Titan film take questions from the movie press. PLUS: a one-on-one interview with director Shinji Higuchi!
― This press conference was held before the world premiere of the first live-action Attack on Titan film in Hollywood, California. In attendance were the film's director, Evangelion storyboard artist and scriptwriter S...
Interview: Street Fighter V's Peter Rosas and Matt Dahlgren
Two of Capcom's company men discuss all things Street Fighter V, including some recently announced new characters and what to expect from the game.
― Capcom's presence at San Diego Comic-Con scaled back in recent years. No longer does the company put on panels for every series it backs, be it Monster Hunter or Resident Evil. Yet Street Fighter still merits its own panel, complete with an appearance b...
Anime Spotlight - Fate/kaleid liner PRISMA ILLYA 2wei Herz!
Even magical girls need a little time to enjoy the summer!
― Fate/kaleid liner PRISMA ILLYA 2wei Herz! Visit the Official Site › Story Characters Trailer Cast & Staff Gallery Broadcast Begins July 24, 2015 (JST) Key Staff Original Creator: Type - Moon (CANAAN, Fate/stay night, The Garden of Sinners) Director: Masato Jinbo (Fate/Kaleid liner Prisma Illya, Nozo x Kimi (OVA) ) Introduction Hot sun! Blu...
Anime Spotlight - Castle Town Dandelion
The Sakurada syblings every move is being televised before the national election. Who will win the hearts and minds of the town people and suceed in their father's footsteps?
― Castle Town Dandelion Visit the Official Site › Story Characters Trailer Cast & Staff Gallery Broadcast Begins July 2, 2015 (JST) Key Staff Director: Noriaki Akitaya (Bakuman, BONJOUR Sweet love Patisserie) Series Composition...
Why Are Anime Fans Obsessed with Steven Universe?
If you went to an anime convention this summer or have used the internet lately, you may notice anime fans seem to have fallen in love with Steven Universe. Why? Because the show loves them right back.
― If you've been to an anime convention in the past year, you've probably seen colorful, gem-studded cosplay like this filling the hallways. Photo credit links: top left, top right, bottom left, bottom...
We Need Your Questions for the Director of The Pilot's Love Song
If you've got questions for the director of the high-flying fantasy series The Pilot's Love Song, we've potentially got answers for you!
― We've been given the opportunity to interview The Pilot's Love Song director Toshimasa Suzuki, and we need your help! NISA, who will be releasing the fantasy action drama The Pilot's Love Song on bluray September 22nd, asked for fan questions for Mr. Suzuki, whos...
Anime Spotlight - SHIMONETA: A Boring World Where the Concept of Dirty Jokes Doesn't Exist (Shimoneta to iu Gainen ga Sonzai Shinai Taikutsu na Sekai)
The revolution is about to begin!
― SHIMONETA: A Boring World Where the Concept of Dirty Jokes Doesn't Exist (Shimoneta to iu Gainen ga Sonzai Shinai Taikutsu na Sekai) Visit the Official Site › Story Characters Trailer Cast & Staff Gallery Broadcast Begins July 4, 2015 (JST) Key Staff Director: Youhei Suzuki (The Hentai Prince and the Stony Cat ) Series Composition: Masahiro Yokotani (Free! Eternal...
Interview: Yamada-kun and the Seven Witches creator Miki Yoshikawa
The creator of the hit manga, recently adapted into a popular anime series, talks about her inspirations, how she got her start, and what it's like to watch your manga become a TV show.
― As you might guess from the story, the main character of the story is a high school roughneck named Ryu Yamada. Yamada meets cute, quiet, and studious Urara Shiraishi, who is his complete opposite in almost every wa...
Anime Spotlight - To loveru -Darkness 2nd
After a brief break To Love Ru Darkness returns for a second season!
― To loveru -Darkness 2nd Visit the Official Site › Story Characters Trailer Cast & Staff Gallery Broadcast Begins July 6, 2015 (JST) Key Staff Director: Atsushi Otuski (Argevollen, Ladies versus Buttlers!) Character Design: Yuchi Oka (Argevollen , Motto To loveru) Music: Takeshi Watanabe (Strike the Blood, Saki) ↑ Top Story The fo...
Five Steps to Better Fanservice
Everyone loves fanservice - except, as the common wisdom goes, anime critics. Paul Jensen dismantles this age-old assumption with a recipe for how good fanservice can make a cool show even better.
― Speaking as both a fan and a critic, I'm of the opinion that fanservice is like a spice; just the right amount in the right recipe and it's fantastic, but too much overpowers the dish. Not every anime ser...
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