It's been a decade since Death Note took over the world, and there are some who still argue that Light Yagami had some pretty solid ideas. Jacob Hope Chapman investigates.― Ten years ago, Tsugumi Ohba's bizarre and controversial creation, Death Note, became an anime series. It also became a mainstream success almost immediately, infecting Hot Topics everywhere and creating the world's most inexpensi...
In spite of inviting unflattering comparisons to the original series, Cinderella Girls still has enough merit to stand on its own feet.― It's hard not to compare Idolmaster: Cinderella Girls to the original Idolmaster. While Cinderella Girls isn't a direct sequel, it's an adaptation from the same broader media empire, takes place in the same universe, and even following roughly the same structure. A...
Banpresto's DXF One-Punch Man Saitama Figure might be the best looking figure to come out this year, and it's very affordable.― Depicted giving one of his famous punches, Saitama from the hit series One-Punch Man is beautifully captured in this exciting painted ABS and PVC figure! With a height of 7.9”, it captures both his realistic form with carefully detailed muscles and his overwhelmingly powerf...
Ann Tomoko Yamamoto got Time of Eve off the ground on Kickstarter, and now she's back with the beloved - and underseen - shojo comedy Skip Beat, which has a big crowdfunding mountain to climb.― ANNCast Episode 254: Beat The Clock Ann Tomoko Yamamoto got Time of Eve off the ground on Kickstarter, and now she's back with the beloved - and underseen - shojo dramedy Skip Beat, which has a big crowdfund...
The man who brought full color to the Akira manga at Marvel Comics so many years ago has unearthed his original pages for sale. Deb Aoki talks to the artist about his experience working on a classic.― In the 1980's and early 1990's, there was no bigger manga series than AKIRA by Katsuhiro Otomo. Otomo's dynamic, detailed artwork and mind-blowing post-apocalyptic story was a game-changer in Japan, an...
This week: a rundown on the new Senran Kagura: Estival Versus cavalcade of ninja! Plus the PlayStation VR, Romancing SaGa, and a shocking piece of Fire Emblem’s past!― I hope you're enjoying Anime News Network's expanded video-game coverage, including Gabriella's look at Fire Emblem's history. It's very thorough, but there's one minor piece of the series I'd like to examine in greater detail: its e...
Legend of the Galactic Heroes’ clumsy writing only somewhat detracts from its sharp commentary and engaging storytelling.― Western fans have been waiting a long time for Legend of the Galactic Heroes. Created over the course of twelve years, the series' lengthy anime adaptation has never received a western release, in spite of garnering consistent praise from fans. It's not hard to guess why; the co...
You know what a director on a Hollywood movie does, but what does an "animation director" do in anime? Kevin Cirugeda takes apart the end credits in our guide to the folks who make the shows you love!― There's an understandable disconnect between western anime fans and the craft of their hobby. Anime production is shrouded in mystery, starting with the credits at the end of every TV anime episode; i...
The second half of Zeta Gundam suffers from a little tonal whiplash and struggles in places - is it still worth taking the dive on bluray? Lauren Orsini is ready to find out.― It's nothing new to say that Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam is a coming-of-age story. However, it becomes more apparent in the second half of the series that it's also a coming-of-age story for the Gundam franchise itself. The first ...
It's Konosuba's time to shine as the fantasy-comedy climbs up a tremendous number of spots on the weekly chart! Find out how your other favorite shows did in our weekly user rankings!― Our team of reviewers are following 27 anime series of the Winter 2016 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 se...
ANN has two internships coming up in Spring 2016 and Summer 2016. Now is the time to apply for either of these internships if you are interested.― Read the FAQ and related forum threads before e-mailing us.Do not CC multiple ANN e-mail addresses with your application. If you do, your application will not be considered. Send your application only to the e-mail address listed for the position. News or...
For all that this blending of epic high fantasy and fan service-y harem antics is a mess, an engaging cast plays a key role in making it tough to dislike.― Tactical fantasy warfare meets fan service-laced harem antics in this Fall 2014 TV series. Though based on light novels, Lord Marksman actually feels more like a game adaptation, as it boasts distinct RPG flavoring and an emphasis on combat overv...