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Interview: God Eater and Code Vein's Yusuke Tomizawa
The producer behind these anime-style action RPGs shares his inspirations as a developer and his ambitions for the simultaneous worldwide release of Code Vein!
― A long-time employee at Bandai Namco Entertainment, Yosuke Tomizawa is best known as the producer for the God Eater franchise. The God Eater games feature co-op multiplayer monster hunting within a story-focused experience. He is currently w...
The Controversial Politics of Classroom of the Elite
So besides T&A, what is this season's Classroom of the Elite really about? Gabriella Ekens explores its takes on Nietzsche, Rousseau, and even other anime!
― What's the best way to organize society? How much power should be vested in the general population versus an elite leadership? And how should people be educated as to their best interests and true capabilities? Political philosophers have been m...
Interview: Natsuko Takahashi
The screenwriter behind next season's URAHARA offers insights about how anime fandom has changed over the years and how Crunchyroll is perceived within the industry.
― Natsuko Takahashi is a veteran writer in the anime industry, having worked on the screenplay for projects like Gankutsuou: The Count of Monte Cristo, Moyashimon, and Tokyo Magnitude 8.0. Although she wasn't officially announced as a gu...
Interview: Dai Sato
One of anime's most prolific screenwriters discusses his legacy of work on Eureka Seven, Cowboy Bebop, Samurai Champloo, Ghost in the Shell, and what it takes to succeed as a writer in the industry.
― Dai Sato is one of anime's most prolific and accomplished screenwriters. He was the series composer for Eureka Seven and Ergo Proxy, and also wrote individual episodes for numerous series including Cowb...
The Best Anime About Nerds
Many anime revolve around the lives of otaku and other oddballs, but how many actually get their depictions right? Paul Jensen shares his best recommendations.
― The video game-themed comedy Gamers! has drawn a fair amount of attention this season, and not just for its wicked sense of humor. This show seems to have a strength that many anime series try and fail to obtain; it feels like Gamers really ...
Easing into Ys
It may never grab the spotlight like other long-running JRPG series, but the Ys games have a long legacy and a strong pedigree. With a new game on the horizon, here's everything a beginner needs to know.
― At one time a premier role-playing franchise that stood toe-to-toe against the likes of Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest, a variety of factors prevented Nihon Falcom's Ys from achieving the mainstrea...
How Mari Okada Went From Shut-In to Anime Director
The inimitable screenwriter behind Hanasaku Iroha, anohana, and Anthem of the Heart just released her autobiography. Kim Morrissy shares the recent director's enlightening story.
― Mari Okada recently became a topic of discussion when it was announced that she was directing an original anime film at P.A. Works. For many, this news came as a surprise, because unlike most anime directors, Okada has no ...
Anime Spotlight - INUYASHIKI LAST HERO
Ichiro Inuyashiki, a dull-looking elderly employee who has been diagnosed with terminal cancer, is struck by a UFO falling from the sky and reborn with a mechanical body.
― INUYASHIKI LAST HERO Official Website: http://www.inuyashiki-project.com/ Official Twitter: @inu_noitamina Official Facebook: https://ja-jp.facebook.com/inuyashiki/ Introduction Characters Cast & Staff Gallery Premiering on Octob...
Interview: Studio Ghibli Theme Singers Azumi Inoue & Yuyu
The singer behind the legendary theme songs for Totoro, Laputa and more talks about her incredible career alongside her daughter, who is following in her mother's footsteps.
― Even if you haven't heard of Azumi Inoue, you're probably intimately familiar with her work; Inoue sang some of the most iconic and internationally-recognized theme songs for several classic Studio Ghibli films, including Castl...
What is the "Absolute Territory"?
"Zettai ryōiki" refers to one of the most popular fetishes in anime that you may never have noticed before! Eric Stimson explains what makes this "absolute territory" of ZR so widespread.
― Anime is rife with fanservice, which often means pandering to fans' favorite fetishes. Some are fads that burst onto the scene and then fade without ever really disappearing, like maids 15 years ago, catgirls 20 y...
Interview: The Staff of Napping Princess
The creative team behind the new family action film discusses the work that went into this heartfelt story's unique look.
― At this year's AnimeFest in Dallas, one of the top-billed events was a screening of Napping Princess, the latest film by celebrated director Kenji Kamiyama. Kamiyama is best known for sci fi thrillers for adult audiences like Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex and Eden of t...
Interview: Amica Kubo
The director of next season's URAHARA discusses her first TV anime work and the road she took to get to this milestone.
― Amica Kubo is one of the best animation directors that anime fans have probably never heard of. She has dealt primarily with commercial animations for TV programs and short animation films, many of which have won prizes at international film festivals. Her short film Bloomed Words...
The Best (And Worst) Of Studio Ghibli
Our team of critics name their two favorite (and their least favorite!) film in the long and storied Studio Ghibli catalog - and we can't wait to hear your picks!
― "What's your favorite Studio Ghibli movie?" is a common question to ask any anime fan, but it's surprisingly hard to come up with an answer - the Ghibli catalog contains a long list of beloved classics, movies that have touched and inspi...
All About The Los Angeles Anime Film Festival
America finally has its own anime film festival, and it's happening in Los Angeles this weekend! The folks behind it all tell us what to expect.
― On September 15th, the first-ever Los Angeles Anime Film Festival begins in Downtown Los Angeles with the English Dub premiere of No Game No Life Zero, a hotly-anticipated follow-up to the smash anime series. That same weekend, a raft of anime films both c...
Interview: Keiichi Sigsawa
The author of Kino's Journey discusses the legacy of his classic light novel series and what fans can expect from this fall season's anime remake!
― As the author of one of the most beloved long-running light novel series ever, Keiichi Sigsawa has been telling the story of Kino's Journey, one volume per year, for almost two decades now. After receiving an anime series in 2003 and an aborted publishin...
The Best and Worst Pokemon Movies Of All Time
With over 20 years of franchise history and 20 different films to choose from, Callum May runs down which legendary Pokemon adventures are worth watching and which are best left in the past.
― There's a lot to love about Pokemon movies. With twenty different big-screen stories told so far through this world-famous franchise, each movie has its own fun and exciting way to represent the ideals of the P...
Interview: Studio Ghibli Key Animator Hiroshi Shimizu
A legendary animator with credits ranging from the best of Studio Ghibli to a bundle of Lupins to Michiko & Hatchin and Yuri!!! on ICE shares his life and incredible career with us.
― It isn't often you're given the chance to sit down and talk to someone like Hiroshi Shimizu. As a key animator, his work spans virtually the entire history of anime most fans these days are familiar with, from Studio Gh...
The History of Tokusatsu in Anime
With the announcement of another GARO series from MAPPA, the worlds of tokusatsu and anime continue to grow closer. Chris Farris explores the relationship between these two mediums and how anime fans can get into the world of tokusatsu!
― You see news about Kamen Rider pop up on Anime News Network from time to time. You see that Crunchyroll has subtitled episodes of some show called Ultraman availabl...
Interview: Mugi Tanaka
The character designer behind the kinetic aesthetic of this fall's URAHARA talks about illustrating Harajuku, surviving Comiket and more.
― Mugi Tanaka has a full-time job at a printing company, but that doesn't get in the way of her passion for drawing cute manga art. A long-time participator of Comiket, her art was noticed by the otaku goods and apparel shop PARK, located in Tokyo's Harajuku distri...
The Best and Worst of the Season So Far: Week of Aug 26-Sep 1
Princess Principal continues to rise up the charts while Rage of Bahamut begins to tumble. Find out where your favorites ranked this week!
― Our team of reviewers are following 28 anime series of the Summer 2017 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 ba...
Interview: Welcome to the Ballroom's Tetsuya Kinoshita and Shimba Tsuchiya
Welcome to the Ballroom's producer and leading man answer a few questions about how their performance is going so far.
― We first spoke to the production team behind this season's Welcome to the Ballroom back at the show's world premiere during Anime Expo 2017, and had the chance to catch up with producer Tetsuya Kinoshita (Attack on Titan, From The New World) at Otakon 2017 this year. Kinoshita brou...
The Best Anime For Foodies
While your mouth waters in anticipation for Food Wars' third season, Rebecca Silverman will sate your appetite with the history of anime about cooking, baking, and enjoying food with the ones you love!
― As Garfield the cat once said, “If I couldn't eat food, I'd just die.” Food and its preparation, are central to most of our lives, and in many houses, the kitchen is where everyone naturally gravitat...
The Best and Worst of the Season So Far: Week of Aug 19-25
Tsuredure Children joins our weekly user rankings - and immediately becomes a contender for the top spot! How did your favorite shows perform?
― This week, Tsuredure Children joins the rankings. Our team of reviewers are following 28 anime series of the Summer 2017 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) ...
Interview: FLOW
The band behind some of the most beloved anime theme songs in recent history, from Naruto to Code Geass, spill their career secrets and discuss what's next.
― Chances are, most anime fans today know a few theme songs from the five-member rock band FLOW. Kohshi, Take, Keigo, Got's, and Iwasaki have performed theme songs for more than 20 anime together. The group's songs for Code Geass, Eureka Seven, a...
Interview: Studio MAPPA's Masao Maruyama
Industry giant Masao Maruyama talks about the struggle to get the deeply touching, critically-acclaimed In This Corner of the World off the ground.
― Anime industry giant Masao Maruyama is one of the founders of Madhouse, the legendary anime studio responsible for an ocean of incredible films and TV series, ranging from the high art of Satoshi Kon to pop spectaculars like Trigun and Card Captor Sakur...
The History of American Superhero Comics in Anime
Long before the success of superhero manga like My Hero Academia and One Punch Man, many anime sought to bring Western superheroes to life in a uniquely Japanese way. Theron Martin explores all the anime inspired by American comics.
― The Summer 2017 season has seen the advent of two anime series connected to American comic books: Marvel Future Avengers and The Reflection, but they are hardly the fi...
Interview: Gundam Wing scribe Katsuyuki Sumisawa
The prolific screenwriter behind Gundam Wing and countless anime from Inuyasha to Dragon Ball shares some incredible stories from his incredible career.
― One look at the incredible resume of screenwriter Katsuyuki Sumisawa and it's clear you're dealing with a legend – over his long career he's worked on everything from Inuyasha to Macross 7 to Saiyuki to Sailor Moon, having stood alongside industry ...
Everything You Need to Know About Yakuza
If you're intrigued by the positive reception of Yakuza 0 and want to jump into the franchise, Dustin Bailey's got you covered with a rundown of how this unique, tongue-in-cheek game series came to be!
― The Yakuza series has been telling the grimy and glitzy stories of the Japanese underworld for over a decade now to wild popularity—in its home country, at least. Its combination of high stakes, pulp...
The Best and Worst of the Season So Far: Week of Aug 12-18
As My Hero Academia dips out of the weekly top ten, what will rise to take its place? Find out where your summer season favorites in this week's user rankings!
― Our team of reviewers are following 27 anime series of the Summer 2017 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 ...
First Look: Dragon Ball FighterZ
We got a little hands-on time with the gorgeous, hyperkinetic Dragon Ball Z fighting game from Arc System Works that everyone's been saiyan is just great.
― Ever since it was first shown off at E3, Dragonball FighterZ has been consistently delivering hype levels over 9000. Yes, I know, it's a worn-out reference, but I haven't seen this much enthusiasm around a fighting game for a long time: packed c...
First Look: Little Witch Academia: The Chamber of Time
Studio Trigger's Little Witch Academia is coming to a console near you as a Dragon's Crown-style action RPG - here's what to expect.
― If there's anything that proves that localizing anime-based games have been a phenomenal success for Bandai Namco games, it's the fact that the video game adaptation of Little Witch Academia was shown publicly to the west before Japan. It goes to show both how commit...
Behind the Music of My Hero Academia with Yuuki Hayashi
We find out what makes MHA's soundtrack go beyond Plus Ultra, as Callum May details composer Yuuki Hayashi's own unique origin story!
― “Without further ado, Hayashi is here!” This was how music composer Yuuki Hayashi announced his involvement with the My Hero Academia anime, but for those familiar with his work, this announcement wasn't much of a surprise. The sporty and energetic music that he's be...
Ten Years of Piercing the Heavens with Gurren Lagann
It's the 10th anniversary of Studio Gainax's explosive modern classic, but what legacy has Gurren Lagann left behind after the memes and hype have faded? Chris Farris explores the show's impact beyond the phenomenon.
― I like to describe Gurren Lagann as ‘the last anime you should ever watch’. I don't mean that you should actually quit watching anime after you've seen this series, which celebrates it...
The Best and Worst of the Season So Far: Week of Aug 5-11
Restaurant to Another World races up the charts! Find out how your favorite Summer 2017 anime fare in our weekly user rankings!
― Our team of reviewers are following 27 anime series of the Summer 2017 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 ...
Interview: Food Wars author Yuto Tsukuda
The writer of smash hit cooking manga Food Wars spills his secrets, and answers the all-important question: Megumi or Erina?
― Cooking manga and anime have become their own genre, but the ongoing Food Wars! Shoukugeki no Soma is inarguably one of the top titles in recent years. With a third anime season upcoming, Yuto Tsukuda and Shun Saeki's competitive cooking manga has garnered praise for its art,...
Interview: Sunao Katabuchi
The director of In This Corner of the World discusses the research that went into his award-winning film and what he wanted to convey through Suzu's story.
― In May 2017, director Sunao Katabuchi (Black Lagoon, Mai Mai Miracle) sat down with ANN's Andrew Osmond to talk about his new film, In This Corner Of The World. Since then, the film has gone on to sell over two million tickets in Japan, and win ...
How to Get Into Captain Harlock
With so many different versions of the famous space pirate out there, it's hard to know what's worth watching! Dawn H. runs down the best series, OVAs, and movies in Harlock's legacy, and how to find them.
― With Seven Seas announcing that they'll finally be releasing one of Leiji Matsumoto's most iconic manga titles in English, and Discotek Media releasing more Harlock-related anime this year, you m...
Interview: The Legend of Zelda's Akira Himekawa
The creators behind Nintendo's beloved Legend of Zelda manga discuss the legacy that led to the new Twilight Princess series, and their experiences with bronies after working on My Little Pony!
― Despite the single alias, the artist behind Nintendo's beloved long-running Legend of Zelda manga series is actually two women, A. Honda and S. Nagano, who work together to create not only the art, but the o...
Interview: Tensai Okamura
From Darker than Black to Kuromukuro, Okamura has directed a ton of original anime work. We asked him what it takes to make these projects succeed, and what it was like working under Hideaki Anno and Shinichiro Watanabe back-to-back!
― In an industry where it's become more and more difficult to get original projects greenlit, director Tensai Okamura has an astounding number of anime-original series u...
Sakura Quest: How To Revive a Dying Town
Just as Yoshino and her friends try to save the humble village of Manoyama, many real-life Japanese towns have made their own efforts to revitalize rural areas. Chris Farris take a tour through these many tourism efforts to find out what works and what doesn't.
― The fading appeal of small towns is a wistfully popular subject in fiction these days, especially in a country with population and economic...
Interview: Mari Iijima
The voice of the original anime idol Lynn Minmay talks about how Macross changed her life, her career, and the entire industry.
― Before Hatsune Miku or The Idolm@ster, there was Do You Remember Love?, a movie adaptation of the hit Macross TV series that turned anime idols into a phenomenon. The voice beyond this phenomenon, Mari Iijima, finally returned to perform classic songs from Super Dimension ...
What's So Great About the Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel?
Fans have long sung the praises of this complex, satisfying RPG series - Dustin Bailey takes the new PC port out for a spin to discover why!
― The opening hours of Trails of Cold Steel are slow. It's schoolside drama in an elite military academy, one which happens to be at the center of a shifting society that's reconsidering its positions on social class. It's full of characters at every point on th...
Interview: My Hero Academia's Yoshihiko Umakoshi and Chris Sabat
The lead animation director and English voice of All Might share their thoughts on My Hero Academia's pulse-pounding second season!
― As the second season of My Hero Academia roared to a fever pitch, attendees at Anime Expo 2017 cheered on the series' animation director Yoshihiko Umakoshi and the English voice of All Might Chris Sabat in a panel room packed to capacity. Just after their panel, we ask...
Interview: Infini-T Force's Kiyotaka Suzuki
The director of Tatsunoko's upcoming superhero crossover series discusses his work on next season's Infini-T Force.
― This year's Anime Expo hosted the premiere of Infini-T Force, a new 3D CG series starring a superhero team of classic Tatsunoko characters set to air on TV in Japan next fall. Before its first episode premiered, we had the opportunity to sit down with Kiyotaka Suzuki, the director of ...
The Best (And Worst) Anime Comedies
It's a surprisingly tough question to answer - what's your favorite (and least favorite) anime comedy? Read our critics' picks - and don't forget to tell us yours!
― "What's your favorite anime comedy?" is a surprisingly hard question to answer - what someone finds funny is one of the most subjective and personal things about them, and your "favorite comedy" might depend on your mood, the circumstanc...
Interview: Full Metal Panic's Shoji Gatou and Shiki Douji
The creator and illustrator of Full Metal Panic talk up the new series due in 2018, their 20-year history together and of course, Deadpool and Kanye West.
― It's hard to believe it, but 2018 marks the 20th anniversary of Shoji Gatoh's beloved, bestselling sci-fi light novel series Full Metal Panic. The franchise never really settled down over the last two decades - a series of smash hit anime adaptat...
The Best and Worst of the Season So Far: Week of July 22-28
My Hero Academia pushes for the top of the heap while Vatican Miracle Examiner tumbles to the bottom. Find out where your favorites rank this week!
― Our team of reviewers are following 27 anime series of the Summer 2017 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 rankin...
Why Legend of the Galactic Heroes is Worth Your Time
The space opera classic almost 10 years in the making is finally available streaming for the first time! Anne Lauenroth breaks down the intimidating barriers that might be keeping you from experiencing one of the all-time greats.
― For 20 years since its completion, Legend of the Galactic Heroes has been one of anime's classic holy grails, yet there never was a way to experience the monumental space ...
Interview: Yousei Teikoku
The goth metal band behind the themes for Future Diary and Katanagatari opens up about what it's like to rule over the "fairy empire" ahead of their live show at Otakon next weekend.
― “You're getting quite fired up, aren't you, my subjects?” says the woman in black as she gazes down imperiously at the crowd. Then, with a shrug of her head, she asks, “Are you enjoying yourselves?” The woman in the go...
Interview: The Staff of Fate/Grand Order
As this hit mobile game breaches western shores, the executives behind its creation and the voice actress behind the many faces of Saber discuss Fate/GO's history and future.
― Fate/Grand Order is one of the most popular – and profitable – mobile games in Japan. Based on Type-Moon's bestselling Fate franchise, this smartphone RPG puts you in the role of a master who must travel back in time to win se...
The Best and Worst of the Season So Far: Weeks of July 1-21
It's the first official user ranking of the Summer 2017 anime season - find out which shows are already making a claim for the top spot!
― Our team of reviewers are following 27 anime series of the Summer 2017 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 base...
The Real Anime Inspirations Behind the Creations of Re:Creators
Gabriella Ekens breaks down the secret inspirations behind every "fictional" character in Re:Creators' cast, ranging from manga to video games and beyond!
― Spoiler Warning for Re:Creators up through episode 15. Re:Creators is a copyright-safe version of that fanfiction every otaku has wanted to write at some point in their lives: a metatextual crossover showdown between characters from all the bigge...
Interview: Hironobu Sakaguchi and Kimihiko Fujisaka
The creator of the very first Final Fantasy and his chief character designer on Terra Battle discuss their new projects at Mistwalker and the legacy of their JRPG work.
― Since he's responsible for creating the most well-known JRPG franchise of all time, Final Fantasy's Hironobu Sakaguchi has a vast legacy of game development behind him. But he's also got a wealth of ambitious projects ahead of him a...
Did Netflix Make A Decent Death Note Film?
Our full, spoiler-free report from the premiere of Netflix's hotly anticipated live-action Death Note film, complete with photos and what you should expect from the movie.
― San Diego Comic-Con: The epicenter of western pop culture entertainment. As fans lined up for hours to get a peek at the latest Thor and Justice League movies, a few blocks away from Hall H, a smaller, but enthusiastic crowd vied...
Interview: Castlevania producer Adi Shankar
The producer of Netflix's Castlevania answers a few questions about his favorite anime, working with an international team and dealing with fan expectations.
― Named “one of the most influential global Indian men” by GQ magazine in 2014, producer and director Adi Shankar has very quickly made a name for himself among anime fans as producer of Netflix's Castlevania, an animated adaptation of Konami's ...
Explaining the English Light Novel Boom with Bookwalker Global
There were 80 light novels released in English in 2016, and 2017 has already surpassed that number. Kim Morrissey takes a in-depth look at the blossoming light novel market.
― Light novels are becoming a hot new property in the English-speaking market these days. In 2016 alone, over 80 light novel volumes were published in English translation, a number that 2017 has already surpassed. These Japanese ...
Interview: The Staff of Welcome to the Ballroom
We sat down with the talents behind the anime adaptation of this hit shonen manga to discuss what it was like bringing competitive dance to life through animation.
― Shortly before its first two episodes premiered at Anime Expo, we sat down with the staff behind this season's Welcome to the Ballroom, a visually ambitious action drama about the world of competitive dance. Animation Director Takahiro C...
The Summer 2017 Anime Preview Guide
Looking for a fresh Summer anime? Our complete guide to the entire season is available now.
Reviews Include: Gamers! - Classroom of the Elite - My First Girlfriend is a Gal - Magic Circle Guru-Guru - In Another World with my Smartphone - New Game!! - Angel's 3Piece! - Chronos Ruler - Princess Principal - A Centaur's Life - Hitorijime My Hero - Action Heroine Cheer Fruits - and much more! ― Welcome t...
Reviews Include: Gamers! - Classroom of the Elite - My First Girlfriend is a Gal - Magic Circle Guru-Guru - In Another World with my Smartphone - New Game!! - Angel's 3Piece! - Chronos Ruler - Princess Principal - A Centaur's Life - Hitorijime My Hero - Action Heroine Cheer Fruits - and much more! ― Welcome t...
Interview: Attack on Titan's Trina Nishimura and Yui Ishikawa
The voices behind Mikasa Ackerman come together to discuss what it's been like to be part of Attack on Titan's legacy!
― As Attack on Titan's second season came to an end, and Cartoon Network's Adult Swim block aired a supersized marathon of episodes from the series over the weekend, both the Japanese and English voice actresses for Mikasa Ackerman convened at Anime Expo to celebrate this mega-series...
The Controversial Legacy of Final Fantasy XII
Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age is an ambitious remaster of a game with a notoriously rocky development and release. Dustin turns the pages of Ivalice history for a look back.
― There is perhaps no Final Fantasy game—and certainly no 3D entry in the series—which has been uncontroversial. Maybe that's the cost of a franchise where each iteration is wildly different from its predecessor, making group...
Interview: Tokyo Ghoul (live-action) Director Kentarō Hagiwara
The director behind this challenging action/horror manga adaptation discusses the process behind bringing the shock and wonder of Tokyo Ghoul to life on the big screen.
― Just before its wide Japanese release, the live action Tokyo Ghoul film premiered at Anime Expo on July 3rd, 2017. Hundreds of people waited hours in line for a chance to see the film, whose screening filled the JW Marriot's Diamond...
Why Affordable Housing for Animators Matters (and What You Can Do to Help)
Callum May takes an inside look at the Animator Supporters Dormitory Project that aims to give affordable housing to overworked animators. Find out how you can help support the lifeblood of the anime industry!
― If you're interested in finding out more about the anime industry, you'll undoubtedly come across numerous reports of struggling animators. For the most part, anime is not a practical way to ...
Interview: Ali Project
The idol royalty behind a string of hit anisong themes from Code Geass to Kizumonogatari answers a few questions about her incredible career (and her incredible fashion!)
― ALI PROJECT doesn't have a hard time getting recognized – if you're not familiar with their signature aristocratic fashion style, then odds are you've heard at least a few of their unique, chart-topping anime theme songs, seen in ...
Interview: Konomi Suzuki
She's the rising star behind a solid stack of anisong hits, including themes for Re:Zero, Akashic Record of Bastard Magic Instructor and more, and we had a few questions for her.
― Konomi Suzuki's road to stardom has been sudden and swift; the winner of the Animax All-Japan Anisong Grand Prix in 2011, Suzuki's theme songs started showing up in front of new anime almost immediately. 2012 saw the relea...
Interview: Walküre's Minori Suzuki and JUNNA
The passionate idols of Macross Delta's Walküre were in Los Angeles for the first time ever this summer, breathing fire on stage for an ocean of thrilled fans. We had a few questions for them.
― The latest in a long line of idols birthed by the legendary Macross franchise, Minori Suzuki (as Freya in the series) and JUNNA (as Mikumo Guynemer) flew in to perform for their overseas fans as part of the A...
Interview: THE IDOLM@STER CINDERELLA GIRLS
The dazzling pop idols of THE IDOLM@STER CINDERELLA GIRLS spill the beans on their first-ever American performance.
― THE IDOLM@STER is a massive mixed-media pop franchise that needs very little introduction. With more than a decade in the limelight, dozens of games, a handful of well-received anime series and countless live idol events, THE IDOLM@STER has long held its place among the most revered i...
The Best (and worst) Summer 2017 Short Anime
Every season there's a small mountain of anime under 15 minutes long - here's our guide to the best and worst short anime of the Summer 2017 season!
― James Beckett At last, it's time to check in on the shorts premiering this season, and we're starting off with AHO-GIRL, a ten or so minute comedy centered around the lives of Yoshiko Hanabatake, and her perpetually miserable counterpoint, Akkun. Like ...
3DCG in Anime: An Introduction
CG in anime can look pretty crummy sometimes, but before you throw the CG baby out with the CG bathwater, read this article and get an education on the hows and whys of 3D anime.
― The prevalence of social media has had a big effect on media criticism, whether it is well-intentioned, innocuous fun or genuinely toxic attacks. A title as popular as Berserk getting a new and by all means subpar adaptati...
Anime Spotlight - Princess Principal
Profession: Spy
Mission: Female High School Student ― Princess Principal Official Website: http://www.pripri-anime.jp/ Twitter: @pripri_anime Introduction Characters Cast & Staff Gallery On air starting July 9th, 2017 Available at: Key Staff Director: Masaki Tachibana (.hack//Quantum (OAV), Tokyo Magnitude 8.0 (TV)) Series Structure: Ichiro Ohkouchi (Angelic Layer (TV), Azumanga Daioh (TV), Berserk:...
Mission: Female High School Student ― Princess Principal Official Website: http://www.pripri-anime.jp/ Twitter: @pripri_anime Introduction Characters Cast & Staff Gallery On air starting July 9th, 2017 Available at: Key Staff Director: Masaki Tachibana (.hack//Quantum (OAV), Tokyo Magnitude 8.0 (TV)) Series Structure: Ichiro Ohkouchi (Angelic Layer (TV), Azumanga Daioh (TV), Berserk:...
PC Impressions - Danganronpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girls
The "harrowing, horrifying, macabre, and generally icky" Danganronpa spinoff finally gets a PC port, and Dustin dares to give it a spin.
― I'm enough of a post-ironic 90s child to have allowed “rad” to slip back into my vocabulary as a catch-all for things that are pretty good, but there's no better word than that to describe the style of Danganronpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girls—as long as yo...
What the Heck Happened to Berserk?
Thanks to its truly bizarre CGI animation efforts, fans often came away from Berserk's recent TV series revival disappointed, but what went wrong with this production behind the scenes? Callum May has the answers.
― “I want to see what will happen if we make a Berserk TV anime mainly with 3DCG animation.” - Tetsuro Satomi (LIDEN Films) To call Berserk's new adaptation “divisive” would be an understat...
Anime Spotlight - In Another World With My Smartphone
15-year-old Mochizuki Touya ends up dying due to a mistake by God, and starts his new life in another world. All he has in this new world is his body that God powered up for him and his smartphone.
― In Another World With My Smartphone Official Website: http://isesuma-anime.jp/ Twitter: @isesumaofficial Story Characters Cast & Staff Gallery On air starting July 11th, 2017 Key Staff Director: Takeyuk...
The Best and Worst of the Spring 2017 Season
The final chart of the Spring 2017 season is here - find out which of your favorite spring anime made it to the top of the charts in our weekly user rankings!
― Our team of reviewers are following 27 anime series of the Spring 2017 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...
How to Get Into Fate/Grand Order
The Fate universe expands to the world of free-to-play mobile games, and Gabriella Ekens is here to shepherd you through this strange - and fun - new world.
― From a business perspective, cell phones are the future of gaming. Mobage (short for “mobile games”) is the Japanese term for this genre of video games that can fit in your pocket. While its usage there is pretty expansive, in the West it refer...
Anime Expo 2017: Violet Evergarden World Premiere
Long before it premieres in 2018, here's our (spoiler-lite) overview of Kyoto Animation's highly anticipated Violet Evergarden. Will this first episode be worth such a long wait?
― Most anime studios wouldn't be able to premiere one episode of a TV series six months in advance to a room of over 3,000 people, but Kyoto Animation isn't like most other studios. After releasing a PV over a year ago of 4...
The Best and Worst Anime of Spring 2017
A blockbuster spring season winds down, and it's time for our critics to pick the best and worst shows of the Spring 2017 anime season!
― The Spring 2017 anime season saw sequels to some of the biggest anime of this generation - Attack on Titan and My Hero Academia - alongside some incredibly promising newcomers like Re:Creators. Now that the season is wrapping up, we asked our crew to tell us their ...
Interview: Jojo's Bizarre Adventure Creator Hirohiko Araki
The legendary artist behind one of the most beloved manga in history shares his secrets in a fascinating new book - we had a few questions for him!
― You may know him best as the creator of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, but there's more to Hirohiko Araki than that one series. Araki began actively attempting to publish manga in high school, pursuing his chosen career relentlessly before finally breaking t...
Anime Spotlight - Hina Logic - from Luck & Logic
This is the story of the energetic and adorable days the Logicalists-in-training spend together. It's time to Trance!
― Hina Logic - from Luck & Logic Official Website: http://hinalogic.com/ Twitter: @HinaLogic Introduction Characters Cast & Staff Gallery On air starting July 1st, 2017 Streaming available at: Crunchyroll Key Staff Director: Hiroaki Akagi ("Hetalia The Beautiful World" (TV) as Episod...
The Best and Worst of the Season So Far: Week of June 17-23
Natsume's Book of Friends climbs to the top of the charts, and the middle of the pack begins a mad shuffle as the spring season enters its last couple weeks.
― Our team of reviewers are following 27 anime series of the Spring 2017 season and readers are rating each episode as the reviews go up. So let's have a look at what ANN readers consider the best (and worst) of the season. Keep in mind that th...
Our Most Anticipated Summer 2017 Anime
The summer anime season is right around the corner - from Welcome to the Ballroom to Made In Abyss, here are the shows our reviews crew is most excited for!
― After a blockbuster spring, the summer season is right around the corner, so we asked our reviews crew which shows they're most looking forward to. Keep an eye out for our Best & Worst of Spring 2017 on Friday June 30th, and then the Summer 201...
The Beginner's Guide to The King's Avatar
We're not used to smash hit anime coming from China, but they have a bonafide success in The King's Avatar - here's everything you need to know about the phenomenon.
― It seems fair to say that every country has its own basic style or flavor of animation. When we think of Asian animated works, most of us go immediately to anime, the Japanese variant, and it certainly is among the most prevalent and a...
The Best and Worst of the Season So Far: Week of June 10-16
Attack on Titan races up the charts as the Spring anime season closes out! How did your favorite anime fare in our weekly user rankings?
― Our team of reviewers are following 27 anime series of the Spring 2017 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 base...
The Mobile Suit Gundam Films: The Best, The Worst, and What's Worth Watching
Your complete guide to through the best (and the worst) theatrical feature films the Gundam franchise has to offer.
― Spanning 38 years of giant robot battle action and space opera drama, the Gundam franchise has remained hugely popular. It is also, to put it simply, huge. Between TV series, OVAs, and movies, hundreds of hours of anime bearing the Gundam name has been produced. It's a lot to take in,...
Making First Contact with KADO: The Right Answer
While it's not rare to find space aliens in anime, KADO The Right Answer takes a unique approach to extraterrestrial encounters. Paul Jensen explores the history of first contact with the unknown in anime past and present.
― When visitors from another world show up in an anime series, it's usually not a good sign for the inhabitants of Earth. The typical chain of events involves a sudden burst of vio...
The Best and Worst of the Season So Far: Week of June 3-9
Rage of Bahamut: Virgin Soul makes a daring break for the top spot, but it has some tough competition on the way! Find out how your favorite shows fared in our weekly user rankings.
― Our team of reviewers are following 27 anime series of the Spring 2017 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...
Your Complete Guide to the Spin-Offs of Attack on Titan
From prequels to spoofs to even coloring books, we've got you covered when it comes to picking the best Titan side materials from the pile. Theron and Rebecca run down what's worth checking out and what you should skip.
― In a franchise as titanic as Attack on Titan, where is the line drawn between canon and fanfiction? With spin-off media from anime to manga to light novels to choose from, some adhe...
Final Fantasy's 30th Anniversary Event Lives In The Present
Projection-mapping and Amano artwork descend on Yokohama for the 30th anniversary of Final Fantasy, but the series' past is conspicuously absent.
― Full disclosure: I'm a retro Final Fantasy fan. I haven't played any Final Fantasy game past FFVI. So I've teamed up with Callum May, who hasn't played any Final Fantasy game before FFVII. Hopefully, we've covered all the bases between us. The Final Fanta...
The Spring 2017 Manga Guide
Looking for new manga to read? Our first-ever Spring Manga Guide has you covered!
Available Now: Delicious in Dungeon Vol. 1 - My Lesbian Experience with Loneliness Vol. 1 - Grimgar Vol. 1 - Your Name Vol. 1 - Tales of Zestiria Vol. 1 - Appleseed Alpha Vol. 1 - Aho-Girl Vol. 1 - After Hours Vol. 1 - Rakugo Shinju Vol. 1 - Re:Zero Chapter 2 Vol. 1 - and much more! ― Welcome to Anime News Network's ...
Available Now: Delicious in Dungeon Vol. 1 - My Lesbian Experience with Loneliness Vol. 1 - Grimgar Vol. 1 - Your Name Vol. 1 - Tales of Zestiria Vol. 1 - Appleseed Alpha Vol. 1 - Aho-Girl Vol. 1 - After Hours Vol. 1 - Rakugo Shinju Vol. 1 - Re:Zero Chapter 2 Vol. 1 - and much more! ― Welcome to Anime News Network's ...
Rakugo Shinju, Kabukibu and The Traditional Arts of Japan
From Touken Ranbu to Kabukibu to Rakugo Shinju, anime has been embracing Japanese traditional arts more than ever. Lynzee Loveridge examines the phenomenon.
― Japan is a country with a very old cultural history, dating back millennia before what we consider modern U.S. history. Those millennia produced a wealth of traditional art forms, ranging from the graceful strokes of shodo (calligraphy) to the ...
The Best and Worst of the Season So Far: Week of May 27-June 2
My Hero Academia races up the charts as the Spring 2017 season starts to wind down! Find out how your favorites performed in our weekly user rankings.
― Our team of reviewers are following 27 anime series of the Spring 2017 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...
How Polygon Pictures is Changing the 3D Anime Industry
From Knights of Sidonia to Blame!, Polygon Pictures has led the charge in CGI anime innovation. Callum May explores what makes their production process so unique for the anime industry.
― At 10:00 PM in the Polygon Pictures studio, the lights turn off for the night. Polygon Pictures is like few other animation studios in Japan. In an industry where working overnight is painfully normal, a studio turn...
Spring 2017 Manga Guide: Light Novel Roundup
From Grimgar of Fantasy and Ash to Rokka, there are plenty of light novel series premiering this spring - here's a look at some of the most exciting new titles.
― Light novels, which are roughly equivalent to young adult fiction in the west, are increasingly being used as the basis for both manga and anime series. Luckily for us, there's been an interest in translating and publishing them for English...
The Best and Worst of the Season So Far: Week of May 20-26
My Hero Academia drops few slots while One Piece rockets up the chart - find out how your favorite shows performed in our weekly user rankings!
― Our team of reviewers are following 27 anime series of the Spring 2017 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 a...
The Games That Defined Platinum's Legacy Are Back
An in-depth look about what Vanquish and Bayonetta - newly resurrected in shiny PC ports - say about the legacy of the legendary company that birthed them, PlatinumGames.
― In certain ways, the story of PlatinumGames is a tragedy. Founded in 2009 by ex-Capcom developers whose credits include the likes of Resident Evil, Devil May Cry, and Okami, the goal of the new company was to escape that corporate...
The Kick-Ass Women of Attack on Titan
From fearsome warriors to gluttonous goofballs, Attack on Titan's cast is filled with a variety of colorful female characters. Rose Bridges explains what makes its cast of ladies so unique.
― Spoiler Warning: This article contains spoilers for the Attack on Titan anime up through episode 31, and also vaguely alludes to events from the Attack on Titan light novel "Lost Girls." Since the first season's...
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