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Broadcast Dub Review Roundup
We've got reviews of Funimation's biggest fall season simuldub premieres, and you can find them all right here!
― This fall, Funimation partnered with Crunchyroll to dub a heaping helping of their seasonal simulcasts. Now that we're several weeks into the season, we have reviews of most of these new dubs available from our daily streaming reviews team! (Shows from past seasons like 91 Days and Orange...
Don't Get Jaded: Cynicism in Anime
Nick Creamer explores the snarky, biting, and sometimes wildly relatable cynicism in anime like SNAFU and this season's Girlish Number, shows that speak with a sardonic smirk.
― I've been watching some pretty jaded shows recently. Girlish Number is the new one - written by Wataru Watari, the author of My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU, its protagonist harbors all the snark and world-facing resentment you...
The Biggest Animation Highlights of Fall 2016
As the year's fall anime slate reaches its midway point, Kevin Cirugeda explores this sakuga-heavy season's most jaw-dropping and soul-warming animation showcases!
― Every now and then we're blessed with particularly strong anime seasons, batches of new series with a surprising wide range that gives any viewer at least something to treasure. This wonderful fall didn't quite sneak up on us though, the...
The Best and Worst of the Season So Far: Week of Oct 29-Nov 4
Flip Flappers shoots up the rankings this week, while Bungo Stray Dogs takes a precipitous plummet! Find out where your own favorites rank!
― Our team of reviewers are following 27 anime series of the Fall 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 bas...
Interview: Studio SHAFT president Mitsutoshi Kubota
At this year's first annual Akiba Fest, Studio SHAFT's president sat down with a roundtable of interviewers to discuss his career and philosophy for creating great anime!
― Mitsutoshi Kubota is the president of Studio Shaft, which is currently celebrating its 40th anniversary. His body of work includes popular and diverse titles ranging from the Hidamari Sketch, Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei, and Bakemono...
Inside the 2016 Barcelona Manga Fair
Spain's biggest anime and Japanese culture convention broke its attendance records once again this year with over 140,000 visitors! Manu G. has the inside scoop on this king-sized event.
― The 22nd Barcelona Manga Fair (also known as Salón del Manga de Barcelona) took place this last weekend, which has been the largest event related to Japanese culture in Spain from its very first year. Every new ed...
Fairy Tales in Anime and Manga
From Snow White with the Red Hair to Flip Flappers, anime and manga are no stranger to classic fairy tales, but their reinterpretations can be very strange, as Rebecca Silverman explains...
― Are there any words filled with more anticipation than “once upon a time?” They've moved beyond being a stock phrase in oral storytelling; that four-word phrase has become the signal that we're about to hear som...
What's So Gay About Yuri!!! on Ice?
In the wake of Yuri!!! On Ice, Jacob Chapman surveys LGBT characters throughout anime to explore what "representation" for the gay community really looks like in this medium.
― Even if you haven't seen this anime season's breakout hit Yuri!!! on Ice yet, it only takes a quick Google image search to make it clear that this show is pretty fabulous. Just five episodes into its run, Yuri!!! on Ice has ca...
The Best and Worst of the Season So Far: Week of Oct 22-28
Haikyu and Keijo race up the charts while Flip Flappers drops a few spaces - find out how all your favorite shows performed in our weekly user rankings!
― Our team of reviewers are following 27 anime series of the Fall 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 ran...
Interview: Sword Art Online Hollow Realization's Yosuke Futami
SAO's newest RPG is getting a special edition english release in just one week! Producer Futami tells us all about it.
― Sword Art Online's stock is still rising if its attendant video games are any indication. Namco Bandai brought Sword Art Online: Hollow Fragment to the West only in carelessly translated digital form in 2014, but this year's Hollow Realization gets a physical release with a lavish...
Interview: Ei Aoki
The director of Fate/Zero, Aldnoah.Zero and Wandering Son goes in-depth on his career, his influences, his most popular works and what's next.
― On a bright and sunny Saturday at this year's first annual Akibafest in Little Tokyo, Los Angeles, Ei Aoki sat down for a roundtable interview to discuss his accomplished career as an anime director. Since Aoki has helmed so many projects from Ga-Rei Zero to...
The Best and Worst of the Season So Far: Weeks of Oct 1-21
The first round of rankings for the Fall 2016 anime season are here - and you won't believe what took the #1 spot! Find out where your favorites rank!
― Our team of reviewers are following 27 anime series of the Fall 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...
Interview: Dragon Ball Super's Toyotarou
First he was a super-fan of Dragon Ball - now he's drawing the official manga adaption of Akira Toriyama's Dragon Ball! Find out what makes mangaka Toyotarou tick!
― Dragon Ball Super is a big step for Akira Toriyama's vast and influential action series. It's the first major follow-up to the original Dragon Ball Z storyline in a long time, and it's the first Dragon Ball TV anime series since Dragon ...
Twenty Years Ago: The Best Anime of 1996 (And Some Others Too)
Twenty years ago right now some of the most incredible anime ever made were released; Daryl Surat is here to run down the best of them, including Escaflowne, Gundam, Detective Conan and more!
― I've long been of the opinion that the number of great works in anime is a relatively constant thing from year to year. But as I noted in my previous feature, Thirty Years Ago: The Best Anime of 1986, the amou...
What's A Light Novel?
Light novel adaptations have overwhelmed the anime industry for years - but what's a "light novel", anyway? Who writes them, who reads them, and how did they come to dominate anime?
― Light novels are some of the most common sources of anime adaptations today. While light novels have served as a basis for anime for many years (think of titles like Slayers and The Record of Lodoss War), they have beco...
Interview: Assassination Classroom's Yusei Matsui
The creator of Korosensei, that iconic grinning yellow face from the smash hit manga and anime Assassination Classroom, sits down to discuss his career, his influences, and his thoughts on classroom bullying.
― Yusei Matsui does wonders with weird creatures. His widely successful Assassination Classroom poses an inventive battle: misfit students take on a Koro-sensei, a grinning yellow alien who thr...
The Fall 2016 Anime Preview Guide
The Fall 2016 Anime Preview Guide has begun! Check back daily for fresh previews of every new show this season!
Available Now: Girlish Number - Fall 2016 Short Anime - Magic of Stella - March comes in like a lion - Occultic; Nine - Poco's Udon World - Long Riders - ClassicaLoid - Kiss Him, Not Me! - Haikyu! Season 3 - Drifters - Lostorage incited WIXOSS - ALL OUT!! - Keijo!!!!!!! - FLIP FLAPPERS - Brave Witches - and much more!
Available Now: Girlish Number - Fall 2016 Short Anime - Magic of Stella - March comes in like a lion - Occultic; Nine - Poco's Udon World - Long Riders - ClassicaLoid - Kiss Him, Not Me! - Haikyu! Season 3 - Drifters - Lostorage incited WIXOSS - ALL OUT!! - Keijo!!!!!!! - FLIP FLAPPERS - Brave Witches - and much more!
Mobile Suit Gundam: The Strongest (And Strangest) Newtypes
X-Men has Mutants, Mob Psycho 100 has Espers, Mobile Suit Gundam has Newtypes. Here are some of the most powerful - and bizarre - superpowered citizens of the Gundam universe!
― Whenever a group of people with better-than-human abilities appear in popular fiction, creators come up with cool names to explain them. In the Marvel universe, they're X-Men. In Mob Psycho 100, they're espers. And in Gundam ...
Anime Spotlight - Drifters
Escaped from the jaws of death, military commander Toyohisa Shimazu arrived in an alternate universe where humans and "non-humans" called demi-humans lived.
― Drifters Visit the Official Site Story Characters Trailer Cast & Staff Gallery On air starting October 7, 2016 (in Japan) Key Staff Director: Kenichi Suzuki (Gundam Evolve (OAV), JoJo's Bizarre Adventure (TV)) Series Composition: Hideyuki Kura...
Anime Spotlight - All Out!!
Anyone can be a hero in rugby
― All Out!! Visit the Official Site Story Characters Trailer Cast & Staff Gallery On air starting October 6, 2016 Key Staff Chief Director: Kenichi Shimizu (Parasyte -the maxim- (TV)) Story Editor/Script by: Masahiro Yokotani (Free! - Iwatobi Swim Club (TV)) Script by: Shingo Irie (Kuroko's Basketball (TV)) Character Designs by: Masanori Shino (Black Lagoon (TV)) Music ...
Anime Spotlight - Sound! Euphonium 2
North Uji High School Wind Ensemble won a gold award in the Kyoto prefectural contest. Next stage: Kansai regional contest.
― Sound! Euphonium 2 Visit the Official Site › Story Characters Trailer Cast & Staff Gallery On air starting October 5, 2016 in Japan Key Staff Director: Tatsuya Ishihara (The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, Air, Nichijou - My Ordinary Life) Series Composition: Jukki Hanada (The...
The Best and Worst of the Summer 2016 Season
The final rankings are in - find out which shows took the top spots as Best of the Summer 2016 season!
― Our team of reviewers are following 30 anime series of the Summer 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 based on how people rated individual e...
Anime Spotlight - Girlish Number
Wanna be a Voice Actor? Wanna hit the Jackpot!?
― Girlish Number Visit the Official Site Story Characters Trailer Cast & Staff Gallery On air starting October 6, 2016 in Japan Key Staff Director: Shota Ihata ("KanColle(TV)" as episode director (eps 2, 11),"Medaka Box (TV)" as episode director (eps 1, 5, 8, 12)) Series Composition: Wataru Watari ("My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU TOO!" as original creat...
Anime Spotlight - Matoi the Sacred Slayer
Middle school student and part-time shrine maiden who wants nothing but an ordinary life ends up as an exorcist
― Matoi the Sacred Slayer Visit the Official Site Story Characters Trailer Cast & Staff Gallery On air starting October 4, 2016 in Japan Key Staff Director: Masayuki Sakoi (Needless, Strawberry Panic!) Series Composition: Yousuke Kuroda (Big Windup!, Gundam Build Fighters,Hayate the Combat...
Anime Spotlight - Kiss Him, Not Me
"A prince should be with a prince."
― Kiss Him, Not Me Visit the Official Site Story Characters Trailer Cast & Staff Gallery On air starting October 6, 2016 (in Japan) Key Staff Director: Hiroshi Ishiodori (Gunslinger Girl: Il Teatrino (TV), Peach Girl (TV)) Series Composition: Michiko Yokote (Bleach: The DiamondDust Rebellion (movie), Cute High Earth Defense Club LOVE!, Genshiken, ReLIFE, xxxHOLiC)...
Anime Spotlight - World Witches Series: 502nd Joint Fighter Wing Brave Witches
Another group of girls with special magical powers fighting against Neuroi over cold skies of eastern Europe
― World Witches Series: 502nd Joint Fighter Wing Brave Witches Visit the Official Site Story Characters Trailer Cast & Staff Gallery On air starting October 5, 2016 in Japan Key Staff Director: Kazuhiro Takamura (Strike Witches,Vividred Operation) Series Composition: Striker Unit (Strike Witc...
Anime Spotlight - Bungo Stray Dogs 2
Prolific American writers join forces with their Japanese peers
― Bungo Stray Dogs 2 Visit the Official Site › Story Characters Trailer Cast & Staff Gallery On air starting October 5, 2016 Key Staff Director: Takuya Igarashi (Ouran High School Host Club, Sailor Moon Sailor Stars, Soul Eater) Series Composition: Yoji Enokido (FLCL, Revolutionary Girl Utena (TV), Revolutionary Girl Utena: The Movie, S...
Anime Spotlight - BBK/BRNK: The Gentle Giants of the Galaxy
Can these teenagers take on the burden of saving their world?
― BBK/BRNK: The Gentle Giants of the Galaxy Visit the Official Site › Story Characters Trailer Cast & Staff Gallery Broadcast Begins October 1, 2016 (JST) Key Staff Character Design: Yusuke Kozaki (Fire Emblem Awakening, NO MORE HEROES) Music: Masaru Yokoyama (Your Lie in April, Plastic Memories) Introduction Can they pull it off? Story L...
The Best and Worst Anime of Summer 2016
The Summer 2016 anime season is over - so it's time to pick our favorites! From Mob Psycho 100 to Sweetness & Lightning, find out our critics' picks for the best and worst of the season - and don't forget to share yours!
― Summer 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 forge...
The Best and Worst of the Season So Far: Week of Sep 16-22
Mob Psycho 100 and New Game! race up the charts as we head into the final weeks of Summer 2016! Find out how all your favorite shows fared in our weekly rankings!
― Our team of reviewers are following 30 anime series of the Summer 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...
Inside Tokyo Game Show 2016
From Bandai-Namco to Square-Enix, we've got the inside scoop on the sights and sounds of this year's big Tokyo Game Show exhibition!
― While there are numerous gaming conventions held around the world, many of the larger news stories come from major tradeshows. For instance, E3 generally has the gaming community abuzz with news about major publishers' future releases. Unfortunately, E3 is closed to t...
Which Re:Zero Girl Should Win the Election?
Politics can be harrowing enough on their own, but when you throw five cute anime girls into the running, things could really get ugly! Who's the best choice to rule the kingdom and why?
― When Subaru Natsuki is pulled into the fantasy world of Lugunica, he hardly knows up from down, much less the political machinations that await him and his selected paramour. He's first introduced to the kingdom as...
The Best and Worst of the Season So Far: Week of Sep 9-15
The summer season is winding to a close, but that doesn't mean it's too late for Jojo's Bizarre Adventure to suddenly leap up the charts! Find out how all your favorite shows did in our weekly rankings!
― Our team of reviewers are following 30 anime series of the Summer 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 (a...
Mobile Suit Gundam: A Char For All Seasons
It isn't a great Gundam show without a great villain! Lauren Orsini starts with Char and counts down the complex, ruthless and iconic bad guys of Gundam.
― Sometimes it's not the hero that makes a story great—it's the villain. This is especially true for the Gundam franchise. Each of these space opera stories focuses on the tireless rivalry between the protagonist and antagonist, and with so many var...
Inside the English Dub Premiere of Digimon Adventure Tri
The original English cast of Digimon Adventure reunited for the first time in over a decade for the first Digimon Tri movie, and we've got the inside scoop from Thursday night's premiere!
― It was a packed house at the TCL Chinese Theater for the English dub premiere of Digimon Adventure Tri's first movie, as everyone settled in their seats, goodie bags and tickets in hand, with nervous energy. I hav...
A Beginner's Guide to Tales RPGs
Now that Tales of Zestiria has gotten its own anime adaptation, you may be wondering what this long-running JRPG series is all about and where to start playing. Gabriella Ekens has the answers!
― Deluging the market with a new game every year or so, the Tales series is the biggest JRPG franchise that you might not know about. While still slightly beneath the notice of the average Western gamer, the s...
The Best and Worst of the Season So Far: Week of Sep 2-8
ReZero retakes its place at the top of the heap, but it's a 12-point jump up the ladder for Thunderbolt Fantasy! How did your favorite summer 2016 shows fare in our weekly rankings?
― Our team of reviewers are following 30 anime series of the Summer 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...
Interview: Aniplex of America President Hideki 'Henry' Goto
Aniplex of America is throwing a huge party in Los Angeles on the weekend of October 15th! We sat down with president Henry Goto to get the details - and get his take on the anime industry in 2016.
― Hideki “Henry” Goto needs very little introduction – the president of Aniplex of America, Goto has had a storied career in the Japanese animation industry, having been a familiar face to American fans si...
The Secret of Love Live's Success
Love Live has a passionate, devoted audience and demonstrably broad appeal, but what makes this silly idol show so entertaining? Nick Creamer has a few ideas.
― So recently I've been thinking about a question I get from time to time: “what's the deal with Love Live?” It's not a surprising question. I'm normally a person who gravitates towards really personal character dramas, or thematically heavy sh...
Interview: Nami Sano, Author of Haven't You Heard? I'm Sakamoto
The mangaka behind the smash hit comedy Haven't You Heard? I'm Sakamoto speaks out about her influences, how she got her start, and what she thinks of the recent Sakamoto anime!
― Nami Sano, the manga creator of Haven't You Heard? I'm Sakamoto made her first visit to an overseas comics convention at Anime Expo 2016 in Los Angeles earlier this summer, as a guest of BookWalker Global. While she didn't ...
The Best and Worst of the Season So Far: Week of Aug 26-Sep 1
Mob Psycho shoots to the top of the heap, while Re:Zero takes a significant dive from its eight-week streak at the top. Find out where your favorites stack up this week!
― Our team of reviewers are following 30 anime series of the Summer 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 ...
Thirty Years Ago: The Best Anime of 1986
1986 wasn't just another year in the anime industry - from Castle in the Sky to Megazone 23, countless iconic and influential productions were released. Daryl Surat takes you on a journey through the year that was.
― The amount of new anime released every year is staggering. It's now the norm in the 2010s that every few months there are at least thirty new series starting, but ask yourselves: on aver...
Interview: Kyoto Animation's Taichi Ishidate
Correspondent Mike Toole visited the legendary Kyoto Animation, the studio behind Sound! Euphonium, K-On!, Haruhi Suzumiya and more - for a wide-ranging interview with director and animator Taichi Ishidate!
― I just love Kyoto. It's more of a walking city than Tokyo or Osaka, with its charmingly narrow avenues dotted by literally thousands of temples. With picturesque parks right in the throes of han...
The Best and Worst of the Season So Far: Week of Aug 19-25
91 Days and Love Live Sunshine come surging from behind to leap up the charts! Find out how your favorite shows fared in our weekly user rankings!
― Our team of reviewers are following 30 anime series of the Summer 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 ranking...
Interview: Knights of Sidonia Mangaka Tsutomu Nihei
Deeply influential sci-fi mangaka Tsutomu Nihei talks about his incredible career, and goes in-depth about his most famous creations: Knights of Sidonia and Blame!
― Mecha suits, space motorcycles, morphing space aliens, epic futuristic cities, and talking bears with guns – this and more are the product of the imagination of manga artist Tsutomu Nihei. The creator of mind-bending science fiction seri...
First Impressions: Attack on Titan: Wings of Freedom (PS4)
Eren and his Titan-killing pals finally arrive in proper videogame form, with the thrilling ability to zip around on your very own 3D Maneuver gear - but is the rest of the game worth the hype?
― It's been a few years since monster-killing mega-franchise Attack on Titan hit critical mass, and now Tecmo Koei's flagship development team, Omega Force, has been put to the test to deliver an Attack on Tit...
Comiket 90: Cosplay and More
Our Tokyo correspondent Ken shares both his experience attending the massive Comic Market 90 at Big Sight and a horde of new cosplay photos!
― The biannual Comiket (Comic Market) is the largest anime and manga related event in Japan. Every August and December, thousands of hobbyists flock to the Tokyo Big Sight exhibition center in Odaiba, Tokyo for the three-day festival, where they can sell and pur...
The Best and Worst of the Season So Far: Week of Aug 12-18
Mob Psycho 100 descends more than a few spaces while Danganonpa is on the ascent - find out how your favorite summer anime fare in our weekly user rankings!
― Our team of reviewers are following 30 anime series of the Summer 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 the...
Subaru Natsuki: The Best and Worst Thing About Re:Zero
Re:Zero's protagonist is no ordinary NEET, but is he extraordinary in a good way or a bad way? Jacob Chapman dives into this otaku hero's mind to uncover what makes him tick and why it matters.
― Spoiler Warning: This article contains spoilers through episode 18 of Re:Zero. Re:Zero is definitely the kind of anime that draws polarized feelings out of people. Right off the bat, it's based on a series o...
The Best and Worst of the Season So Far: Week of Aug 5-11
Orange and Food Wars! stomp down the competition with outstanding episodes, but halfway through the season, can they shake up the status quo? Here are your weekly user rankings!
― Our team of reviewers are following 30 anime series of the Summer 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. ...
Your Ultimate Guide to Anime Ending Credits: Part IV
The final installment of Kevin Cirugeda's guide to anime closing credits rounds out the creative team - learn about storyboarding, screenwriting, what exactly an Episode Director does and much more!
― If you found last time's quick look at the producers and studio interactions less exciting, you'll be glad to see this guide delve back into the artistic side of production. Right at the end of TV serie...
Interview: Your Lie in April Mangaka Naoshi Arakawa
The award-winning creator of the smash hit tearjerker Your Lie in April discusses his biggest hit, sudden success, his first trip to the US (or even on an airplane) and his brand-new manga series.
― Anime Expo 2016 was notable for having not just one, but several noted manga creators from Japan featured as their special guests. One such guest was Naoshi Arakawa, the award-winning creator of the drama...
Interview: Love Live Sunshine - Aqours
Six brand-new school idols appeared at Anime Expo 2016 to introduce the world to Love Live! Sunshine!! We sat down with the group to find out what their visit to America was like and what inspires their music.
― It's been a big year for the girls from Love Live Sunshine. It's the first voice role for many of the girls; they're the new "school idols" from the Love Live project, an all-media project th...
The Best and Worst of the Season So Far: Week of Jul 29-Aug 4
Alderamin on the Sky shoots up the rankings in an unprecedented bid for the top spot - but Re:Zero remains king of the hill. See how all your favorite shows fared in our weekly rankings!
― Our team of reviewers are following 30 anime series of the Summer 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...
Five Lessons I Learned From Assassination Classroom
Longtime Koro-sensei pupil Paul Jensen reflects on the lessons he learned from his time inside this chaotic classroom, after graduation.
― Now that Assassination Classroom's final season is over, it's time to take a look at some of the themes and ideas hiding under all the quirky comedy and over-the-top action. Open up those notebooks and turn your brains back on, because we've got some learning to d...
Can You Name 10 More Anime From The 2000s?
It's time to reach back into the deepest parts of your otaku memory - can you name all 10 of these anime from the 2000s?
―
The Best and Worst of the Season So Far: Weeks of July 1-28
The first user rankings of the Summer 2016 season are finally in! Find out where Re:Zero, Mob Psycho 100 and all your other favorite shows landed on the list.
― Our team of reviewers are following 30 anime series of the Summer 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 t...
Interview: Okayado, The Father of Monster Musume
The man behind the smash hit manga Monster Musume opens up about his career, what inspires him, and just how much fan input influences where his beautifully bizarre creation goes next.
― Anime Expo 2016 in Los Angeles attracted an all-star array of top talent from Japan, including several manga creators. One notable guest making his first visit to a N. America comics convention was Okayado, the creat...
Report: Under the Dog's Tokyo Premiere
A quick report and early impressions from the premiere of Under the Dog, the highly-anticipated new crowdfunded OVA from Kinema Citrus and director Masahiro Ando.
― On August 9, 2014 at the Otakon convention in Baltimore, a unique and intrepid anime project was announced to the world: Kinema Citrus's Under The Dog. Many new anime projects are announced at conventions, but Under The Dog’s announcement...
Interview: Shoji Kawamori
Whe Shoji Kawamori gets creative, the results can be spectacular - and controversial! The visionary creator of Macross discusses his brand new, completely original sci-fi anime due out in 2017.
― Shoji Kawamori scarcely needs an introduction – as the father of the hallowed Macross franchise and a legend in the field, Kawamori has racked up hits both critical and commercial throughout his entire block...
Interview: The Cast and Crew of My Hero Academia
The incredible creative talent behind this spring's smash hit My Hero Academia - Director Kenji Nagasaki, producer Wakana Okamura and voice actors Justin Briner and Chris Sabat - go in-depth!
― At Anime Expo this year, we had the opportunity to sit down with the Japanese crew and English cast of My Hero Academia. Director Kenji Nagasaki, producer Wakana Okamura, the voice of Midoriya Justin Briner, a...
Interview: Blue Exorcist Mangaka Kazue Kato
The action blockbuster Blue Exorcist is back with a brand-new anime in 2017 - we sat down with the original creator of the Blue Exorcist manga to explore her incredible success (and dig up details on the new anime!)
― Kazue Kato, the creator of Blue Exorcist made her N. American comic/anime convention debut appearance at Anime Expo 2016 in Los Angeles on July 4th weekend. She came to meet fans and to...
The Most (And Least) Relatable Gundam Heroes
Lauren Orsini lists the Gundam pilots whose decision-making skills and emotional fortitude she can relate to the most - while exploring how your favorite Gundam pilots can say a lot about you and the Gundam series you respond to most.
― Gundam has given us a lot of main characters who are strong, capable, and smart. But how many of them can you actually relate to? Since Mobile Suit Gundam first aired...
Interview: Studio Bones President Masahiko Minami
The president of the studio behind classics like Fullmetal Alchemist and recent smash hits My Hero Academia and this season's Mob Psycho 100 speaks his mind on the state of the industry and his studio's incredible output!
― Masahiko Minami is a co-founder and the president of BONES, the studio behind world-class anime classics like Fullmetal Alchemist, Eureka Seven, and most recently, the internation...
In Memory of Innocence: A Guide to D.Gray-Man
D.Gray-Man Hallow is one of the hottest shows of the summer, but there are over 100 episodes to catch up on - hit the fast forward button on this supernatural blockbuster with our handy guide!
― Almost eight years have passed since Allen Walker and his fellow Exorcists vowed to continue fighting before the screen faded to what, back then, felt like a permanent fin. As the memory of even the show's m...
The Summer 2016 Anime Preview Guide
The Summer 2016 anime preview guide has begun! Check back daily for reviews of all of this season's biggest new shows.
Available Now: Battery - Summer 2016 Short Anime - Danganronpa 3: Future Arc - Mob Psycho 100 - The Disastrous Life of Saiki K. - Active Raid - Ange Vierge - Qualidea Code - hitorinoshita The Outcast - Handa-kun - Time Travel Girl - Thunderbolt Fantasy - 91 Days - Amanchu! - This Art Club Has a Problem! - and much more!
Available Now: Battery - Summer 2016 Short Anime - Danganronpa 3: Future Arc - Mob Psycho 100 - The Disastrous Life of Saiki K. - Active Raid - Ange Vierge - Qualidea Code - hitorinoshita The Outcast - Handa-kun - Time Travel Girl - Thunderbolt Fantasy - 91 Days - Amanchu! - This Art Club Has a Problem! - and much more!
Interview: Xavier Lim, Bluefin's Gundam Guru
If you've ever bought a Gundam model from a store in America, chances are Xavier Lim was responsible for it. Gundam expert Lauren Orsini grills Lim about the market for Gundam models and why it's now bigger than ever!
― If you've bought a do-it-yourself plastic model kit from the Gundam anime franchise in the United States, you've probably got Xavier Lim to thank for it. Lim is Brand Manager at Bluef...
Anime Spotlight - New Game!
Graduating from high school, Aoba Suzukaze starts working at "Eagle Jump", the game production company that created the game, “Fairies Story” she was engrossed in when she was young. There, she meets Ko Yagami, the character designer for that game.
― New Game! Visit the Official Site Story Characters Trailer Cast & Staff Gallery On air starting July 4, 2016 Key Staff Director: Yoshiyuki Fujiwara ("P...
Alice in Anime Wonderland
Follow the white rabbit on a journey through the world of cool, exciting, adorable, often scary and sometimes violent anime and manga adaptations of Alice in Wonderland!
― Few children's novels have achieved the level of notoriety that Lewis Carroll's Alice duology has – 1864's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and its 1871 follow up, Through the Looking Glass have been the inspiration for more spin-o...
Anime Spotlight - ReLIFE
Have you ever thought, "I want to live my life over again"?
The #1 popular comic running in the web comic site "comico" is finally turning into anime! ― ReLIFE Visit the Official Site Story Characters Trailer Cast & Staff Gallery On air starting July 2016 Key Staff Director: Tomochi Kosaka ("Yowamushi Pedal" as Unit Director for eps 29) Series Composition: Kazuho Hyodo ("Big Windup" (episodes 6, 11...
The #1 popular comic running in the web comic site "comico" is finally turning into anime! ― ReLIFE Visit the Official Site Story Characters Trailer Cast & Staff Gallery On air starting July 2016 Key Staff Director: Tomochi Kosaka ("Yowamushi Pedal" as Unit Director for eps 29) Series Composition: Kazuho Hyodo ("Big Windup" (episodes 6, 11...
Is The Lost Village Actually A Comedy?
Love it or hate it, the supernatural thriller The Lost Village held fans captive with a shocking (and often shockingly goofy) twist each week. But was it really a comedy all along? Nick Creamer makes the case.
― At last, The Lost Village has rambled to an end. Ostensibly a psychological horror piece about getting in touch with past trauma, the show ended up being a lot more and a lot less than that -...
The Best and Worst of the Spring 2016 Season
The votes have been cast and counted and the jury is in on the Spring 2016 anime season: which shows did you vote in as the best and the worst? Check out the final ranking!
― 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 ...
Anime Spotlight - Hybrid × Heart Magic Academy Ataraxia
Summoned by his elder sister, Kizuna Hida visits the Tactical Defense Academy Ataraxia on the Japanese Float. There he meets Aine Chidorigafuchi, a girl fighting enemies from another world using the Heart Hybrid Gear Zeros.
― Hybrid × Heart Magic Academy Ataraxia Visit the Official Site Story Characters Trailer Cast & Staff Gallery On air starting July 2016 Key Staff Director: Hiroyuki Furukawa ("Si...
Anime Spotlight - Berserk
Slam in the chunk of steel.
"That night" is coming again. The "night" of battle where the "Black Swordsman" roars— ― Berserk Visit the Official Site Story Characters Trailer Cast & Staff Gallery On air starting July 2016 Key Staff Director: Shin Itagaki ("Black Cat", "Basquash! (TV)" as director for episodes 1-20) Series Composition: Makoto Fukami ("Psycho-Pass (movie)" as screenplay) Story Slam in...
"That night" is coming again. The "night" of battle where the "Black Swordsman" roars— ― Berserk Visit the Official Site Story Characters Trailer Cast & Staff Gallery On air starting July 2016 Key Staff Director: Shin Itagaki ("Black Cat", "Basquash! (TV)" as director for episodes 1-20) Series Composition: Makoto Fukami ("Psycho-Pass (movie)" as screenplay) Story Slam in...
Anime Spotlight - The Heroic Legend of Arslan: Dust Storm Dance
The King's caliber is being tested.
― The Heroic Legend of Arslan: Dust Storm Dance Visit the Official Site Story Characters Trailer Cast & Staff Gallery On air starting July 3, 2016 Key Staff Director: Noriyuki Abe (Bleach, Flame of Recca) Series Composition: Makoto Uezu (Arpeggio of Blue Steel, D-Frag!) Music: Taro Iwashiro (Gargantia on the Verdurous Planet, Blade and Soul) Story The King's calib...
Anime Spotlight - Ange Vierge
I will "evolve" with you―
― Ange Vierge Visit the Official Site Story Characters Trailer Cast & Staff Gallery On air starting July 9, 2016 (in Japan) Key Staff Director: Masafumi Tamura ("Dragonar Academy" as episode director for eps 3, 7, 11) Series Composition: Katsuhiko Takayama ("Aldnoah.Zero", "Baka and Test - Summon the Beasts", "The Future Diary") ↑ Top Story I will "evolve" with you―. One da...
Anime Spotlight - Cheer Boys!!
Break apart your limits and your common sense!
― Cheer Boys!! Visit the Official Site Story Characters Trailer Cast & Staff Gallery On air starting July 5, 2016 (in Japan) Key Staff Director: Ai Yoshimura ("Blue Spring Ride", "My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU") Series Composition: Reiko Yoshida ("Bakuman", "Girls und Panzer", "K-ON!", "Yowamushi Pedal") Story Break apart your limits and your common sen...
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...
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