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Anime Spotlight - Handa-kun
Everybody can't help but follow the misadventures of Handa-kun!
― Handa-kun Visit the Official Site Story Characters Trailer Cast & Staff Gallery On air starting July 7, 2016 (JST) Key Staff Director: Yoshitaka Koyama ("Noramimi" series, "Kero Kero Chime") Series Supervisor: Michiko Yokote ("Prison School", "Shirobako" as Series Composition) Character Design: Mayuko Matsumoto ("KanColle", "Gingitsun...
Interview: Unified Pictures and Vampire Hunter D
Last year, Unified Pictures announced a new Vampire Hunter D TV series - now they're back with more details, some exclusive concept art, and a Kickstarter proposal!
― In June of 2015, it was announced that a new Vampire Hunter D animated coproduction was in the early planning stages, but since that time there have been no further publicized developments. Ahead of their Anime Expo 2016 panel, we touch...
Anime Spotlight - Love Live! Sunshine!!
Nine high school girls, led by second-year student Chika Takami, are driven by one seriously big dream: To become the next generation of bright, sparkling “school idols”!
― Love Live! Sunshine!! Visit the Official Site Story Characters Trailer Cast & Staff Gallery On-air starts July 2016. Key Staff Director: Kazuo Sakai ("Mushi-Uta" as director, "Mobile Suit Gundam AGE"as episode director) Series Co...
Anime Spotlight - Fate/kaleid liner Prisma☆Illya 3rei!!
A battle to grant the magical girl's normal yet grand wish begins!
― Fate/kaleid liner Prisma☆Illya 3rei!! Visit the Official Site Story Characters Trailer Cast & Staff Gallery On air starting July 6, 2016 Key Staff Chief Director: Shin Oonuma ("Kokoro Connect" sa chief director, "Baka and Test - Summon the Beasts" as director,"WATAMOTE" as director) Series Composition: Kenji Inoue ("Baka and Test -...
The Best and Worst Anime of Spring 2016
The Spring 2016 anime season is wrapping up, so it's time for our reviews crew to pick their best and worst shows of the season! My Hero Academia, RE: Zero and more - and don't forget to tell us yours!
― Spring is wrapping up, which means it's time to poll our Daily Streaming Reviews team and find out which shows they loved the most, and which shows they'll try the hardest to forget! Once you're done...
The Best and Worst of the Season So Far: Week of June 17-23
We're closing in on the final week, and the rankings are starting to firm up - Assassination Classroom makes a play for the top spot! Where did your favorite shows wind up on our weekly user rankings?
― Our team of reviewers are following 25 anime series of the Spring 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...
Berserk: Past, Present, and Future
With a new Berserk anime adaptation on the horizon, series superfan Brittany Vincent takes a look at how this legendary manga has been adapted to the screen over the years and what we can hope to see from the upcoming continuation.
― Kentaro Miura's Berserk is twisted, grim, and otherworldly. It also happens to be one of the greatest dark fantasy series ever penned. From its humble beginnings in Mont...
Inside the 10th Anniversary Higurashi When They Cry Exhibition
The Higurashi franchise turns ten years old this year, so Animate celebrated this June with a special art exhibition, and we've got a detailed look at all the displays.
― Independently published manga and videogames have steadily been gaining popularity in Japan, and a small handful of these independent works have been adapted into anime series. Recent examples range from Ojisan to Marshmallow, Hetal...
Ten Must-See Anime Classics You Can Stream
The best classic anime isn't only on DVD anymore - if you've been looking for a big pile of awesome retro anime to dig into, look no further! Daryl Surat picks 10 of the best classic anime you can watch free right now.
― I was a guest once again recently at AnimeNEXT, where I sacrificed seeing a convention-exclusive episode of Inferno Cop to do what I always do: run panels where I show people video c...
Interview: Ray Chiang, SPJA CEO, on Anime Expo 2016
With an enormous guest lineup, Anime Expo 2016 is bigger than ever and it's right around the corner. We spoke with the SPJA's brand-new CEO about what to expect this year, and all those controversial policy changes.
― 2016 marks the twenty-fifth anniversary of Anime Expo, the country's largest anime convention, hitting a new record attendance in 2015 with 90,500 fans – and they're hoping to crack six...
The Rebirth of Sailor Moon Crystal
It's safe to say Sailor Moon Crystal had a rocky and controversial start - but now, in its third season, is it finally becoming the show fans wanted? Rebecca Silverman investigates.
― With any franchise that has a strong fanbase, a reboot or reworking of the source material is going to make some waves. That has certainly proven true for Sailor Moon Crystal. Where once fans could simply be divided abo...
The Best and Worst of the Season So Far: Week of June 10-16
My Hero Academia comes roaring back into the top 5, but what had to fall to make space for it? Find out how all your favorite shows performed in our weekly user rankings!
― Our team of reviewers are following 25 anime series of the Spring 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 season. Keep in...
The Tragic Girl in Anime
You know the type - she's terminally ill and she's here to shepherd the hero to greatness. Theron Martin examines the "tragic girl" character in anime with an unlikely comparison: Your Lie in April and Sword Art Online II!
― Note: This article contains major spoilers for Air, Your Lie in April, and Sword Art Online II and more minor spoilers for Utawarerumono. You've seen 'em before: a Tragic Girl is...
Seven Manga That Need An English Release Right Now
There are mountains of manga that remain unlicensed, unreleased and unread by English-language speakers; here are seven thrilling unlicensed manga we're dying to see on the shelves!
― It's sometimes overwhelming to think about how many different books exist out there that we'll never be able to read. For bibliophiles like me, that's a sad thought, and for many manga fans, it becomes a frustrating one...
First Impressions: Sherlock: A Study in Pink
At long last, Benedict Cumberbatch's unique portrayal of Sherlock Holmes has finally been captured in manga form. Rebecca Silverman investigates how it stacks up to the TV series.
― Manga and anime adaptations of Western properties tend to be limited to the classics – children's literature such as Heidi, fairy tales, and roughly nine hundred versions of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. However, ever...
The Best and Worst of the Season So Far: Week of June 3-9
As Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress takes a precipitous fall from grace, what other anime are creeping in to take the top spots? See how your favorite shows stack up this week!
― Our team of reviewers are following 25 anime series of the Spring 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 season. Keep...
Your Favorite Anime Couple
Just about every fan has a favorite anime couple, two lovebirds they were really rooting for - our critics run down their favorites, from Baccano to My Love Story, and we're dying to hear yours!
― Even if you don't consider yourself a romantic, most every anime fan has a favorite couple - two characters whose special relationship really connected with them, two people they were seriously rooting for....
Anime's Fiercest Frenemies
Even when they're locked in a battle between good and evil, sometimes our favorite anime characters can't help picking a fight with their friends instead! Jacob Chapman explores what makes a great anime rivalry.
― Sometimes they're called rivals, and sometimes they're called foils, but I think there's no finer word than "frenemy" for one of the most enjoyable tropes in anime. Of course, the dynamic b...
The Best and Worst of the Season So Far: Week of May 27-June 2
Jojo's Bizarre Adventure claims the top spot in the cumulative rankings and the rest of the list is shaken up! Find out how your favorite shows ranked this week!
― Our team of reviewers are following 25 anime series of the Spring 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 season. Keep in mind tha...
Inside Tokyo's New Sailor Moon Exhibition
High in the sky above Tokyo with a spectacular view of the city, a special exhibition of Sailor Moon rarities and treasures is currently being held - here's a tour inside!
― The February 1992 issue of Kodansha's Nakayoshi magazine introduced a genre redefining manga series to the world: Naoko Takeuchi's Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon. The series quickly captured the imagination of Japanese girls and was...
First Impressions: Netflix's Voltron Legendary Defender
We sent super robot expert Mike Toole to watch the 70-minute pilot episode of Netflix's brand-new re-imagining of Voltron, by the folks who brought you The Legend of Korra! Is it any good? How faithful is it to the original?
― As the content wars of the current days heat up, it's not surprising to see major players like Netflix spreading their wings—they've underwritten original hits, brought a serie...
Your Ultimate Guide to Anime Ending Credits: Part III
The third installment of our in-depth look at the people who make the anime you love covers the most stressful jobs in the industry and what you might not know about outsourcing animation!
― It's been a while since the previous chapter of this guide following the ending credits of TV anime, attempting to shed some light into its production. Hopefully that break allowed everyone to catch up with the p...
Is Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress Just An Attack On Titan Clone?
These two post-apocalyptic action series sure do look and sound a lot alike, and they even share a director - but there's a lot more to Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress than that. Jacob Chapman argues his case.
― The countryside has been devastated by undead humanoid monsters, forcing humanity into packed walled cities ruled by fear and a rigid class structure. Then disaster strikes when those monsters ...
The Best and Worst of the Season So Far: Week of May 20-26
It's an action-packed week with real winners and losers on the charts - Kiznaiver shoots up as a sudden rival for the top spot, while Kabaneri sinks like a stone! See how your favorite shows placed!
― Our team of reviewers are following 25 anime series of the Spring 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 w...
Interview: The World's Biggest Visual Novels with Visual Art's
Visual Art's CEO Takahiro Baba, character designer Na-Ga and music composer Shinji Orito discuss the incredible success and behind-the-scenes details of some of their biggest games, including Air and Angel Beats!
― Three members of Japanese visual novel company Visual Art's – CEO Takahiro Baba (left in picture), character designer Na-Ga (not pictured by request), and music composer Shinji Orito (rig...
What Makes Magical Girls So Popular?
They're an anime staple, embraced by audiences of all ages and types, and are frequently described as "empowering" - but what is it exactly that makes magical girls connect with so many people?
― Sailor Moon just got remade, Madoka Magica was the biggest anime hit of the past five years, and US-made cartoons are getting more mahou shoujo-tastic by the day. I think it's fair to call magical girls, you...
Hunting for Rare Anime Swag in Japan
For the hardest of the diehard otaku in Japan, finding the ultimate limited edition items comes with a serious price, and now that retailer exclusives are all the rage, it's a jungle out there.
― There are two Japanese phrases that describe serious Japanese collectors rather well. Roughly translated they're “Japanese people can't resist the words ‘limited edition’” and “Always buy sets of three. One ...
The Best and Worst of the Season So Far: Week of May 13-19
Kiznaiver leaps up the charts while Assassination Classroom drops like a rock - what other chaos awaits your favorite shows in our weekly user rankings?
― Our team of reviewers are following 25 anime series of the Spring 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 season. Keep in mind that these r...
The Heroic Spirit of My Hero Academia
Even in this age of gritty superhero reboots, My Hero Academia has an undeniably optimistic idea of what heroes really are - Nick Creamer gets into it.
― There's just something about heroes. Soaring through the sky or charging across the earth, brows furrowed, ready for action. Halting the spread of evil, or simply offering assistance where they can. Pursuing an ideal of justice, carrying the hopes o...
The Real Legends of Bungo Stray Dogs
The supernatural detectives of Bungo Stray Dogs share a common thread: they're all based on world-famous authors from the past! Rebecca Silverman walks us through the real history behind the show's beautiful bishonen.
― It's a conceit more common to straight mysteries and steampunk – plucking authors out of their times and places and plunking them down in a semi-modern world (or an alternative versio...
The Best and Worst of the Season So Far: Week of May 6-12
The weekly rankings are shaken up by the introduction of Tanaka-kun is Always Listless, but does it change the order of the top 5? Found out how your favorite shows performed in our user rankings!
― This week, Tanaka-kun is Always Listless joins the rankings. Our team of reviewers are following 25 anime series of the Spring 2016 season and readers are rating each episode as the reviews go up. So let...
Interview: Legendary Evangelion Illustrator Yoshiyuki Sadamoto
The man behind the most iconic illustrations of Neon Genesis Evangelion and one of the most recognized character designers in the world opens up about his career and the state of the anime industry.
― During FicZone, a recent anime, manga and videogames event in Granada, in the south of Spain, we sat down to talk with Yoshiyuki Sadamoto about his current projects, hoping to get his thoughts about the...
Anime Time Travel: Who Got It Right?
Anime has a ton of different ways to travel through time, but which one of them seems the most plausible? Paul Jensen straps in to determine which method makes the most sense, from Haruhi Suzumiya to Re:Zero!
― Re:Zero has been making a bit of a splash this season, thanks in part to its time-bending premise. Every time the main character dies, he gets a chance to go back and try again, sort of like h...
Manga vs. Anime: Fullmetal Alchemist
The debate about which version of Fullmetal Alchemist is the best one rages to this day - we break down all the arguments to determine which one is actually better, the manga, the 2003 anime, or Brotherhood?
― For every popular anime based on a manga, there's the age-old question: which version is better? This is especially true with any anime that diverges significantly from its source material. Som...
The Best and Worst of the Season So Far: Week of Apr 29-May 5
Re:Zero shoots up the charts and threatens the top two spots - see how all your other favorite shows are faring in our weekly user rankings!
― Our team of reviewers are following 24 anime series of the Spring 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 season. Keep in mind that these rankings are ...
The Takarazuka Experience: Rurouni Kenshin
All about Japan's legendary all-female theater troupe, which has delighted audiences for generations with lavish, impeccable stage productions of some of your favorite anime - including Rurouni Kenshin!
― Anime fans might not think about this too often, but there have been stage productions of popular anime, manga, and video game titles as early as 1966 with Sazae-san; such productions became dramati...
What's The One Beloved Anime You Just Don't Get?
Everyone's got one: the enormously popular and beloved anime series or movie that they just didn't fall in love with like everyone else. Our critics confess theirs, and we're dying to hear yours!
― This question can be tough to answer: what's the one beloved anime masterpiece, the show or movie or OVA or whatever it is where you feel like you're the only person who just doesn't get it and didn't fall...
Can You Name 10 More Anime from the 90s?
How well do YOU remember the anime of the 1990s? Here are 10 more classic shows - but can you recall them all?
―
The Best and Worst of the Season So Far: Week of Apr 22-28
The Spring 2016 season rolls along and while Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress hangs on to its #1 position in the cumulative rankings, there's a new challenger to the #1 spot in the weekly chart!
― Our team of reviewers are following 24 anime series of the Spring 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) o...
All Might vs. Superman: How Our Heroes Are Different
What is it that makes the superheroes in Japan's megasize hits One-Punch Man and My Hero Academia feel so different from our old friends Iron Man and Batman? The differences are wider than you might think.
― Superheroes are extremely popular right now. Regardless of how you feel about the trend of a new comic-based movie or television series premiering every five minutes, it's undeniable that cape-we...
Your Favorite Anime Mascot
They capture your heart and, more significantly, your money - from Haro to Ryo-Ohki, our critics pick their favorite anime mascot characters, and we'd love to hear yours!
― Though their relative ubiquity has declined somewhat since the 90s, mascot characters have been a staple of anime forever; your first piece of anime merchandise might've likely been a Kuroneko keychain or a Keroberos plush doll. T...
The Best and Worst of the Season So Far: Weeks of Apr 1-21
The results are in from the first round of voting on Spring 2016's anime lineup! Find out which shows are already breaking out and which might already be heading for the scrap heap.
― Our team of reviewers are following 24 anime series of the Spring 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 seas...
The Real Legends of Magi: The Kingdom of Magic
The next season of the Arabian Nights-flavored action-adventure hit Magi is on the way to Netflix; learn the folkloric history behind the show's heroes and get a refresher on seasons past.
― The Arabian Nights' Entertainment. 1001 Nights. Whatever you call it, the collection of Middle and Far Eastern folklore collected around the 13th century in Persia (now Iran) has had impressive reach in all corne...
Why We Love Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney
Fans have clamored for a Phoenix Wright anime for years - the one we finally got left a little to be desired. Jacob Chapman explains what makes the game series so special... and why the anime might not stack up.
― This spring, after over a decade of waiting and hoping, Phoenix Wright fans finally got the TV anime adaptation they always wanted. Well, sort of. After the first episode of A-1 Pictures's...
The Spring 2016 Anime Preview Guide
The Spring 2016 Anime Preview Guide has begun! Check back daily for fresh takes on all of this season's hottest new shows.
Available Now: Big Order - Spring 2016 Shorts - Three Leaves, Three Colors - Flying Witch - Haifuri - Kiznaiver - Tanaka-kun is Always Listless - Haven't You Heard? I'm Sakamoto - Shonen Maid - Concrete Revolutio: The Last Song - Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress - And you think there is never a girl online? - Anne-Happy - Super Lovers - Bungo Stray Dogs - Twin Star Exorcists - and much more!
Available Now: Big Order - Spring 2016 Shorts - Three Leaves, Three Colors - Flying Witch - Haifuri - Kiznaiver - Tanaka-kun is Always Listless - Haven't You Heard? I'm Sakamoto - Shonen Maid - Concrete Revolutio: The Last Song - Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress - And you think there is never a girl online? - Anne-Happy - Super Lovers - Bungo Stray Dogs - Twin Star Exorcists - and much more!
Interview: Kazuya Sasahara on Dai-Shogun VR
The man behind the soldier bunnies of Apocalypse Meow has a vision: anime in virtual reality. Specifically, Dai Shogun in virtual reality, via Kickstarter. Naturally, we had a few questions about his ambitious plans.
― Kazuya Sasahara is known among Western fans chiefly for his directorial work on Cat Shit One (also known as Apocalypse Meow in the US), a little CG OVA featuring realistic fuzzy animal...
Anime Spotlight - Shonen Maid
After his mother passed away, grade school boy Chihiro Komiya starts working as a "maid" at his uncle's grand estate.
― Shonen Maid Visit the Official Site › Story Characters Trailer Cast & Staff Gallery On air starting April 7, 2016 (in Japan) Key Staff Director: Yusuke Yamamoto (Aquarion Evol, Walkure Romanze) Series Composition: Yoshiko Nakamura (Hiiro no Kakera - The Tamayori Princess Saga, Mont...
Anime Spotlight - Haven't You Heard? I'm Sakamoto.
The cool, cooler, coolest high school student is here, and his name is Sakamoto.
― Haven't You Heard? I'm Sakamoto. Visit the Official Site › Story Characters Trailer Cast & Staff Gallery On Air starting April 7, 2016 (in Japan) Key Staff Director: Shinji Takamatsu (Gintama (TV), Mobile Suit Gundam X, School Rumble, Cute High Earth Defense Club LOVE!) Character Design: Kana Ishida Atsuko Nakajima (T...
Which Shonen Jump Series Hooked You?
Weekly Shonen Jump has been the most potent gateway drug for anime since 1968 - most anime fans have a story about the one Shonen Jump title that won their heart. We asked our critics - and now we're asking you!
― Weekly Shonen Jump has been acting as the world's most potent gateway drug for anime & manga since 1968, offering up undeniably addicting, globe-conquering action-adventure epics like Drago...
Anime Spotlight - Haven't You Heard? I'm Sakamoto.
The cool, cooler, coolest high school student is here, and his name is Sakamoto.
― Haven't You Heard? I'm Sakamoto. Visit the Official Site › Story Characters Trailer Cast & Staff Gallery On Air starting April 7, 2016 (in Japan) Key Staff Director: Shinji Takamatsu (Gintama (TV), Mobile Suit Gundam X, School Rumble, Cute High Earth Defense Club LOVE!) Character Design: Kana Ishida Atsuko Nakajima (T...
Anime Spotlight - Shonen Maid
After his mother passed away, grade school boy Chihiro Komiya starts working as a "maid" at his uncle's grand estate.
― Shonen Maid Visit the Official Site › Story Characters Trailer Cast & Staff Gallery On air starting April 7, 2016 (in Japan) Key Staff Director: Yusuke Yamamoto (Aquarion Evol, Walkure Romanze) Series Composition: Yoshiko Nakamura (Hiiro no Kakera - The Tamayori Princess Saga, Mont...
Interview: Bluefin and the World of Anime Collectibles
If you've ever bought a Gundam model, it likely says 'Bluefin' on it somewhere; we sat down for a chat with the folks at Bluefin, who are responsible for getting some of the coolest anime merchandise into your hot little hands.
― If you've ever purchased a Gundam model kit in America, you've probably seen the name Bluefin on the back somewhere. Having recently opened a brand-new warehouse space in So...
Anime Spotlight - Bakuon!!
Discouraged by riding uphill to her school on a bicycle, high school girl Hane Sakura joins the motorcycle club and acquired a motorcycle license.
― Bakuon!! Visit the Official Site › Story Characters Trailer Cast & Staff Gallery On air starting April 2016 Key Staff Director: Junji Nishimura (GLASSLIP, Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan, Samurai Deeper Kyo, Ranma ½) Introduction If highschool girls ride a...
Anime Spotlight - And you thought there is never a girl online?
Hideki Nishimura thought female characters in online games were all played by male players. He is about to change his mind, however, when he receives a confession of love from a female character......
― And you thought there is never a girl online? (Netoge no Yome wa Onna no ko ja Nai to Omotta?) Visit the Official Site › Story Characters Trailer Cast & Staff Gallery TV Anime on air starting April 7...
Anime Spotlight - Haifuri
Childhood friends Akeno Misaki and Moeka China enroll in a marine high school in Yokosuka in order to become "Blue Mermaids," a new female force established to protect the remaining coastal towns after many countries have sank into the sea.
― Haifuri Visit the Official Site › Story Characters Trailer Cast & Staff Gallery Broadcast Begins April 9, 2016 (JST) Key Staff Director: You Nobuta (A Good Lib...
The Pro Wrestling-Shonen Anime Connection
If you've ever wondered why shonen anime like Dragon Ball Z seems like pro wrestling so often, Daryl Surat is here to illuminate the Japanese pro wrestler who's likely responsible for influencing a generation of mangaka.
― I lack mental organization. I don't keep a list of everything I've seen, read, played, or own. It is one thing to say you watched a series, but how much do you remember? As I look ...
Anime Spotlight - Bungo Stray Dogs
Armed Detective Agency, a group of prolific Japanese writers with supernatural powers, solve disputes that army and police couldn't step into.
― Bungo Stray Dogs Visit the Official Site › Story Characters Trailer Cast & Staff Gallery On air starting April 6th 2016 Key Staff Director: Takuya Igarashi (Ouran High School Host Club, Sailor Moon Sailor Stars, Soul Eater) Series Composition: Yoji Enokido ...
The Best and Worst of the Winter 2016 Season
The final rankings for the entire Winter 2016 anime season are in! Find out how ERASED, Grimgar, Konosuba and more fared according to your votes!
― 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 season. Keep in mind that these rankings...
Anime Spotlight - SUPER LOVERS
High school student Haru Kaido is suddenly introduced to a boy named Ren, a wild child who happens to be his adoptive little brother.
― SUPER LOVERS Visit the Official Site › Story Characters Trailer Cast & Staff Gallery Broadcast Begins April 6th 2016(JST) Key Staff Director: Shinji Ishihira (Fairy Tail,LOG HORIZON) Series Composition: Yoshiko Nakamura (Monthly Girls' Nozaki-kun, Hiiro no Kakera - ...
Anime Spotlight - JOKER GAME
In 1937, the Imperial Army established "Institution D" to train spies. The recruitment method, training, and core values of the Institution were, however, very unorthodox and different from those of the Army.
― JOKER GAME Visit the Official Site › Story Characters Trailer Cast & Staff Gallery Broadcast Begins April 5th 2016(JST) Key Staff Director: Kazuya Nomura (Ghost in the Shell: The New Movie, R...
Anime Spotlight - The Asterisk War (2nd season)
Ayato Amagiri takes up the challenge along with his partner Julis, the Witch of the Resplendent Flames (Glühen Rose).
― The Asterisk War (2nd season) Visit the Official Site › Story Characters Trailer Cast & Staff Gallery Broadcast Begins April 2, 2016 (JST) Key Staff General Director: Manabu Ono (Horizon in the Middle of Nowhere, Saki, The Irregular at Magic High School) Original Character Designs:...
Anime Spotlight - The Lost Village
30 young men and women sign up for a suspicious bus tour to “Nanakimura Village” – a phantom village that may or may not really exist.
― The Lost Village Visit the Official Site › Story Characters Trailer Cast & Staff Gallery Broadcast Begins April 2016 (JST) Key Staff Director: Tsutomu Mizushima (Another, Big Windup!, Blood-C, Girls und Panzer, Prison School, Shirobako, xxxHOLiC) Series Composition...
Anime Spotlight - Kumamiko - Girl meets Bear
A middle school student works as the shrine maiden for a shrine that worships bears.
― Kumamiko - Girl meets Bear Visit the Official Site › Story Characters Trailer Cast & Staff Gallery Broadcast Begins April 3rd 2016(JST) Key Staff Director: Kiyoshi Matsuda (Macross Frontier (TV) (Episode Director (5 episodes)) Story Deep in the mountains somewhere in the Tohoku region, Machi is a middle school stu...
Photos from AnimeJapan 2016: Finale
Our last gigantic batch of photos from AnimeJapan 2016, including Hundreds, Jojo's Bizarre Adventure, My Hero Academia and much more. PLUS: a visit to the Love Live shrine!
― Okay, so here's how Anime Japan was laid out – you'd enter the facility behind the cool sign above, go downstairs, and then dash across across two huge halls (hall ‘A’ and hall ‘J,’ natch) of Tokyo Big Sight to see everything. ...
Your Ultimate Guide to Anime Ending Credits: Part II
Last time we ran through the entire process of actual animation - this time we'll cover the people who polish it up and make it shine for you. Kevin Cirugeda's incredible guide to the folks who make anime continues!
― It's time for another installment in this guide detailing the ins and outs of anime production, structured around the roles listed in the ending credits of a TV anime episode. When desc...
AnimeJapan 2016 Photos: Part I & II
The sights, the sounds, the booths, the cosplayers - this is the show floor at this year's AnimeJapan 2016, where everything from My Hero Academia to Macross Delta were shown off.
― It's finally here! The reason I flew across the country, over Alaska, and across the Pacific to Japan, the nation's biggest anime exposition, and it… …well, it seems kinda empty, doesn't it? Let's head inside Tokyo Big S...
The Best and Worst of the Season So Far: Weeks of Mar 18-24
The winter season comes to a crashing finale with a surprising pick climbing up the ladder just in time to claim the top spot! How did the rest of your favorite shows fare in the end?
― 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...
Tour the Swag of AnimeJapan 2016
Here's an avalanche of photos of all the incredible toys, costumes, models, cels, statues, posters, sake, trading cards, blurays, gashapon and more on display at AnimeJapan 2016!
― As anime and manga fans from around the world gather at the Tokyo Big Sight exhibition center for the annual Anime Japan fair (March 26 to March 27, 2016), it begs the question of what sort of merchandise fans are looking ...
Touring The Real-Life Anohana
Take a stroll through the real-life locations and natural beauty that inspired the smash hit tearjerker Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day!
― In recent years, an entire sub-culture of anime fans dedicated to finding the real-life locations of different anime series has emerged. You might think this is an easy task, but consider the effort put into it. First, we must pinpoint the actual city or town ...
Can You Name These 12 Anime from the 2000s?
How well do you remember the previous decade? Test your knowledge of the anime of the 2000s!
―
Toole Japan Part II: Attack on Titan and Evangelion at Universal Studios Japan
Mike valiantly fights the crowds on a holiday weekend at Universal Studios Japan to experience the park's Attack on Titan, Evangelion and Kyary Pamyu Pamyu rides - and that's just the beginning!
― After the glorious, unexpected insanity of the Nipponbashi Festa, Prairie and I figured that hitting Universal Japan on Monday would be a good idea, to avoid the crowds. After all, who goes to a theme park ...
What Was Your First Anime Obsession?
Our critics revisit the shows that transformed them from normal everyday teens into full-fledged Anime Fans, and we want to know what YOUR first real anime obsession was!
― We asked our writers one simple question: which anime made you a fan? Not the first anime you ever saw - not the blurry memories of Robotech or Gundam Wing before you knew what anime was - the first show you really embraced as an ...
The Best and Worst of the Season So Far: Week of Mar 11-17
ERASED rebounds while Konosuba's finale takes the top spot. Find out how your other favorite shows are performing as we head into the Spring season!
― 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 season. Keep in mind that these ranki...
Toole Japan Part I: Nipponbashi Street Festa 2016
We sent Mike Toole to Japan, so naturally he stumbled across an enormous cosplay street festival on his first day in beautiful Osaka. Witness: incredible cosplay by Japanese fans! Giant robots! Dogs and cats in costume!
― I'm on assignment for ANN here in Japan, getting ready to cover the great big Anime Japan event later this week at Tokyo Big Sight! But before heading to Japan's megalopolis, my wif...
Interview: Inio Asano
The acclaimed author of Goodnight Punpun, Solanin and Nijigahara Holograph talks about his currently-ongoing manga Dead Dead Demon's Dedededestruction and the modern manga market.
― During the past Salón del Manga de Barcelona, Spain's largest anime and manga event, which took place in Barcelona from October 29th to November 1st, we had the opportunity to talk with Inio Asano, the manga creator respo...
Ten Years of Death Note: Is Light The Bad Guy?
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...
Interview: Akira in Color with Steve Oliff
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...
Your Ultimate Guide to Anime Ending Credits: Part I
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 Best and Worst of the Season So Far: Week of Mar 4-10
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...
How Fire Emblem Became a Phenomenon
A cult classic for years, RPG series Fire Emblem has become a bonafide phenomenon among anime fans. Gabriella Ekens dives into the franchise to uncover what suddenly made anime fans sit up and take notice.
― For the longest time, Fire Emblem stood alongside Earthbound as one of those Nintendo franchises people primarily knew from Super Smash Bros. That all changed in 2013, when Fire Emblem: Awakening...
Interview: Eric Beckman, Founder & President of GKIDS
The man behind GKIDS, the company with the magic touch for getting anime nominated at the Oscars, talks about both the business and the New York International Children's Film Festival, happening now!
― Eric Beckman is the co-founder and president of GKIDS, a film distributor well-known among anime fans for their careful (and Academy Award nomination-laden) handling of several Studio Ghibli films in t...
Comparing Comedies: Konosuba vs. Dagashi Kashi
This season's two hit comedies, Konosuba and Dagashi Kashi, don't have much in common on the surface, but comparing them reveals a lot about what we get out of anime comedies. Nick Creamer considers the possibilities.
― What is it that makes you laugh? Is it watching a character who's earned their fall hit the banana peel, or watching someone you've come to love be their ridiculous self? What do you ...
The Best and Worst of the Season So Far: Week of Feb 26-Mar 3
Haruchika comes blasting up the charts in a surprise upset, but is it enough to shake up the top 5? See how your favorite shows fared 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 season. Keep in mind th...
Interview: "Queer Japan" Filmmaker Graham Kolbeins
The folks behind MASSIVE, the first gay manga anthology in the US, return with a documentary exploring LGBT mangaka and the community in Japan (Mild NSFW images).
― Blushing school boys kiss in BL manga, magical anime girls coyly hint at their “more than friends” relationship. Male kabuki performers dress up as elegant women, and androgynous female actresses in Takarazuka theater troupes have legions...
Gundam Front Tokyo: The Ultimate Tour
Step inside the ultimate Gundam fan experience at Gundam Front! Explore enormous replicas of famous mobile suits and locations from the show, learn how Gunpla gets made and more in this exhaustive photo tour.
― In 1979 the All-Nippon News Network affiliate in Aichi Prefecture, Japan, Nagoya Broadcasting Network, aired an anime series that changed the face of the anime industry. That series was Mobil...
What's The Best (And Worst) Anime Ending You've Ever Seen?
Simple question, tough answer: what's the very best anime ending you've ever seen, and which one let you down the most? Our critics discuss their favorites, and we can't wait to hear yours!
― It's a simple question with a deceptively difficult answer: what's the single best anime ending you've ever seen, and which one is the worst? A good ending can redeem an otherwise mediocre show, or bring somethi...
The Best and Worst of the Season So Far: Week of Feb 19-25
In a shocking twist, Active Raid climbs up the chart and threatens the top spots! How did the rest of your favorite Winter 2016 anime perform 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 season. Keep in...
Interview: The Past, Present and Future of Dragon Ball
Resurrection 'F' and Dragon Ball Kai director Tadayoshi Yamamuro and producer Norihiro Hayashida discuss the fascinating process of making Kai, the new DBZ films and those pesky animation errors in Dragon Ball Super.
― Last year's Salón del Manga de Barcelona, celebrated in Barcelona from October 29th to November 1st, hosted a fascinating pair of creatives dedicated to the world of Dragon Ball. Tada...
Can You Guess These 15 Classic 90s Anime From Just One Image?
It's easy to forget just how much anime there was in the 90s, and just how much of it came out in the US! Can you guess all 15 of these classic 90s anime from just one image?
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The Magic of the Stage in Showa Genroku Rakugo Shinju
A drama about rakugo performance seems like a strange fit for animation, but somehow this season's Rakugo Shinju makes it work. Nick Creamer digs into the secrets of one of this season's most unique and memorable shows.
― The glare of the bulbs. The blinding dust of the spotlight, and the faces beyond. The way the art moves through you or abandons you, and meets the audience in turn. Expression of th...
Grimgar and the Consequences of Death
Life is often cheap in anime - death is rarely permanent, but in Grimgar, something's different. Rebecca Silverman explores how anime typically deals with death, and what makes this show's handling of it so special.
― Spoiler Warning: this article contains important story information from Grimgar of Fantasy and Ash, From The New World, Fushigi Yugi, Natusyuki Rendezvous, and Akame ga Kill Many words...
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