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Feature — Anime

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The Summer 2024 Anime Preview Guide

It's forbidden love at first sight in The Magical Girl and The Evil Lieutenant Used to Be Archenemies. Plus, Love Is Indivisible by Twins, No Longer Allowed In Another World, Mayonaka Punch, My Deer Friend Nokotan, Narenare -Cheer for you!-, Fairy Tail 100 Years Quest, Tower of God Season 2, and more! ― Welcome to Anime News Network's Summer 2024 Anime Preview Guide! Here's how it goes: our team of ...
your score

Your Anime Rankings - Best of Spring 2024

Sound! Euphonium remain uncontested, but we see Delicious in Dungeon grab the #3 spotlight from Kaiju No. 8 and a number of other last-minute upsets! Check out the turbulent final week of the Spring 2024 season! ― Let's have a look at what ANN readers consider the best (and worst) of the season, based on the polls you can find in our Daily Streaming Reviews and on the Your Score page with the latest...
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The Summer 2024 Anime Preview Guide

Livestreaming vampires come in a few varieties in Mayonaka Punch! Plus, Nare Nare Cheer for You, A Journey Through Another World: Raising Kids While Adventuring, Fairy Tail 100 Years Quest, VTuber Legend: How I Went Viral after Forgetting to Turn Off My Stream, Tower of God Season 2, and more! ― Welcome to Anime News Network's Summer 2024 Anime Preview Guide! Here's how it goes: our team of critics ...
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The Summer 2024 Anime Preview Guide

July is here with a brand-new batch of anime! Check out SHY Season 2, The Ossan Adventurer, Suicide Squad ISEKAI, My Wife Has No Emotion, and more! ― Welcome to Anime News Network's Summer 2024 Anime Preview Guide! Here's how it goes: our team of critics writes up their impressions instantly, to be posted here as they go along. Each critic will cover as many shows as they can handle, giving you alte...
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The Summer 2024 Anime Trailer Watch Party Starts Soon!

Get yourself some snacks and a cold drink, but make sure you're back in time for too many anime trailers. The stream will be live on Friday, June 28 at 6pm Pacific/9pm Eastern. ― The Trailer Watch Party is back so beat the summer heat with Anime News Network executive editor Lynzee Loveridge, ANN video producer Jacki Jing, ANN reviewer James Beckett, and Mother's Basement's Geoff Thew as they watch n...
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Lunar Legend Tsukihime: Revisiting the Anime that 'Doesn't Exist'

Lunar Legend Tsukihime is widely considered to be among the worst visual novel adaptation anime of all time. What made it such a disaster? ― Ask a Tsukihime fan what they think of the hit visual novel's 2003 anime adaptation, and they'll probably say something to the effect of, “What anime? There is no Tsukihime anime!” Indeed, in a series that's spawned countless memes, the joke that there's no Tsuk...
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The Summer 2024 Anime Preview Guide

Mister J, I'm an anime now! Read our reviews of the Suicide Squad ISEKAI anime right here, plus My Wife Has No Emotion, Rising Impact, and The Strongest Magician in the Demon Lord's Army was a Human. ― Welcome to Anime News Network's Summer 2024 Anime Preview Guide! Here's how it goes: our team of critics writes up their impressions instantly, to be posted here as they go along. Each critic will cov...
your score

Your Anime Rankings - Best of Spring 2024, Jun 17-23

With only one week left to go, will Kaiju No. 8 be able to keep the #3 spot it managed to claim last week? See how your favorite shows stack up this week! ― Let's have a look at what ANN readers consider the best (and worst) of the season, based on the polls you can find in our Daily Streaming Reviews and on the Your Score page with the latest simulcasts. Keep in mind that these rankings are based o...
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The Most Anticipated Anime of Summer 2024

From returning big names like Oshi no Ko and Tower of God to newcomers like Suicide Squad ISEKAI, this summer anime season is bound to be interesting. ― This upcoming season looks to be an interesting one. However, returning big names like Oshi no Ko and Tower of God and newcomers like Suicide Squad ISEKAI and Alya Sometimes Hides Her Feelings in Russian are only the start of what will be airing. So...
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Interview: Director Kumiko Habara & Scenario Writer Kenta Ihara on Bringing History to Life in Blue Miburo

Hot off its world premiere at Anime Expo, we sat down with Blue Miburo's director and screenwriter about bringing the Shinsen-gumi to life. Blue Miburo, a historical fiction manga centered around the legendary group of swordsmen known as the “Shinsengumi,” is getting an anime adaptation this fall. Recently, I was able to sit down with director Kumiko Habara and scenario writer Kenta Ihara to talk n...
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The Worst Anime of Spring 2024

You've already seen the editorial team's picks for the best of the season, so now it's time for the opposite. From the painful to watch to the largely forgettable, here are our picks for the worst anime of spring 2024. ― You've already seen the editorial team's picks for the best of the season, so now it's time for the opposite. From the painful to watch to the largely forgettable, here are our pick...
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The Best Anime of Spring 2024

As we reach the end of the Spring 2024 anime season, now's the perfect time for our editorial staff to come together and highlight the best the season had to offer—both the mainstream hits and the hidden gems. ― As we reach the end of the Spring 2024 anime season, now's the perfect time for our editorial staff to come together and highlight the best the season had to offer—both the mainstream hits a...
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Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence 4K Release is a Sight to See

This 4K restoration is a must-see for fans and cinephiles. 2024 is closer only eight years away from the movie's setting of 2032, but the world of Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence is still an everlasting visual marvel. ― GKIDS is bringing Mamoru Oshii's Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence to theaters from June 23rd to 26th in celebration of its 20th anniversary. This follows the 2021 limited theatrical ru...
your score

Your Anime Rankings - Best of Spring 2024, Jun 10-16

The Duke of Death and His Maid ranks at #2 this week, which allows it to reach a tipping point and climb 7 spots in the cumulative! Discover what else is moving in the rankings. ― Let's have a look at what ANN readers consider the best (and worst) of the season, based on the polls you can find in our Daily Streaming Reviews and on the Your Score page with the latest simulcasts. Keep in mind that the...
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Cheering for Gunma: Narenare -Cheer for you!- Anime Producer Hayato Kanno

We spoke with producer Hayato Kanno about the upcoming cheerleader-focused series and why Gunma prefecture was the perfect setting for the show. ― While there aren't many anime in the cheerleading genre, a handful have been made over the years. Some of the more notable series include 2018's Hugtto! Precure or 2019's Cheer Boys!!. In 2024, we're getting another cheerleading-related anime series, Naren...
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New Projects Bring New Opportunities for Kinema Citrus Anime Studio

The Made in Abyss anime studio is celebrating its 16th anniversary with two new anime projects, so we sat down with founder Muneki Ogasawara to discuss the studio's next moves. ― Founded in March 2008, Kinema Citrus is known as a pillar in the anime industry for producing high-quality, compelling series. The studio has carved a niche in the competitive anime industry with popular works like Made in A...
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Heavenly Delusion Director Discusses Keeping the Story Straight

Mori also explained the creative process from inception to realization, shedding light on the collaborative efforts and artistic endeavors that brought Heavenly Delusion to life. ― In 2023, Heavenly Delusion captivated audiences with its suspenseful and intricately woven storytelling. The series was highly praised for blending psychological horror and science fiction. Director Hirotaka Mori was at t...
your score

Your Anime Rankings - Best of Spring 2024, Jun 3-9

While Sound Euphonium 3 is ruling the rankings again this week, Yatagarasu's last few episodes are pulling it up in the cumulative. Check out this week's user rankings! ― Let's have a look at what ANN readers consider the best (and worst) of the season, based on the polls you can find in our Daily Streaming Reviews and on the Your Score page with the latest simulcasts. Keep in mind that these rankin...
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The First Anime That Made Us Cry

Anime News Network's editorial team is digging deep into their repressed anime memories to trudge up the moments that left them in tears. What was the first anime to make you cry? ― Anime News Network's editorial team is digging deep into their repressed anime memories to trudge up the moments that left them in tears. Below are some of the most affecting moments, from major character deaths to bitte...
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Like Magneto, Scar In Fullmetal Alchemist Was Right

Anti-hero or villain? Scar and Magneto present evidence for either interpretation. X-Men' 97 has now concluded its stunning first season, and those ten episodes highlighted the best and worst of Magneto — a man who's been both the X-Men's nemesis and leader. Introduced at the very beginning of X-Men in Stan Lee and Jack Kirby's 1963 debut issue, the "Master of Magnetism" has changed a lot in his s...
your score

Your Anime Rankings - Best of Spring 2024, May 27-Jun 2

Sound Euphonium 3 is now the top anime both in weekly and cumulative rankings! Find out how your favorite shows fared in our weekly user rankings. ― Let's have a look at what ANN readers consider the best (and worst) of the season, based on the polls you can find in our Daily Streaming Reviews and on the Your Score page with the latest simulcasts. Keep in mind that these rankings are based on how pe...
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My Oni Girl Director Asks Viewers To Be True to Themselves

Now streaming on Netflix, Tomotaka Shibayama's first feature animation mixes the magical with reality to share a simple but important message. ― Director Tomotaka Shibayama's latest film, My Oni Girl, is an action-adventure drama with elements of a buddy comedy and a relatable coming-of-age story. The film, produced by Studio Colorido, was released in theaters in Japan and on Netflix on May 24, foll...
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Your Anime Rankings - Best of Spring 2024, May 20-26

Kaiju No. 8 takes the top spot this week while Tonari no Yōkai-san pushes to #3 in the cmulative! Check out our weekly user rankings! ― Let's have a look at what ANN readers consider the best (and worst) of the season, based on the polls you can find in our Daily Streaming Reviews and on the Your Score page with the latest simulcasts. Keep in mind that these rankings are based on how people rated in...
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Anime Overperforms - An Analysis of Netflix's 2023 Viewership Data

Miles Atherton crunched Netflix's latest numbers for some surprising anime discoveries, from the popularity of My Happy Marriage to the One Piece juggernaut. ― Since the advent of streaming, it's been notoriously difficult to gauge how popular a specific anime is with international audiences, both for publishers looking to make informed decisions for a market that generates most of its revenue outsi...
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6 Interesting Things I Learned About Anime From the Legendary Producer Maruyama Masao Documentary

The documentary was full of cool tidbits about the 82-year-old producer and the anime he's worked on—including Ninja Scroll, Pluto, and In This Corner of the World. ― Late last month, Japanese television network NHK put out a documentary on anime producer Masao Maruyama as part of their Anime Manga Explosion series. In it, the show delves into the now 82-year-old producer's life, philosophies, and so...
your score

Your Anime Rankings - Best of Spring 2024, May 13-19

Chillin' in Another World pulls off a major dramatic spike and goes from trawling the bottom to #2 this week! See how all your favorites fared in our weekly user rankings. ― Let's have a look at what ANN readers consider the best (and worst) of the season, based on the polls you can find in our Daily Streaming Reviews and on the Your Score page with the latest simulcasts. Keep in mind that these ran...
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First Episode Impression: Blue Archive the Animation

This show is made near-exclusively for existing fans of the mobile game and the YouTube presentation isn't ideal. ― What is this? Kivotos is a huge academic city made up of thousands of schools. Here, scuffles between students with guns in hand have become a daily occurrence. Amidst this, Abydos High School, which is covered in sand, is on the verge of closure. Five students from the "Task Committee...
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Anime Aunties Visit Japan: What I Learned at the Tokiwaso Manga Museum

Nestled in a Japanese neighborhood is the Tokiwaso Manga Museum, a detailed replica of the sharehouse that Osamu Tezuka, Shōtarō Ishinomori, and more manga artists called home. ― In the midst of the modern Toshima ward in Tokyo, there's a two-story, multi-flat building with an appearance straight out of the 1950s. It sits behind a wrought-iron gate, flanked by children's play equipment. The outer fa...
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Bringing Anime to Southeast Asia: Interview with Medialink, Ani-One Co-Founder Lovinia Chiu

Chiu shares how she brought the SEA simulcast service to the forefront after founding it at 17 years old. ― Over the past six years, many streaming and simulcast services have catered to otaku in Asia, offering simulcasts of seasonal anime and theatrical anime screenings. One such service is Ani-One Asia, a Hong Kong-based Medialink Group brand that offers a competitive lineup of simulcasts every se...
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Your Anime Rankings - Best of Spring 2024, May 6-12

Laid-Back Camp narrowly claims the top spot this week, but Delicious in Dungeon is having none of that and bumps it down in the cumulative. Find out where your favorites rank this week! ― Let's have a look at what ANN readers consider the best (and worst) of the season, based on the polls you can find in our Daily Streaming Reviews and on the Your Score page with the latest simulcasts. Keep in mind ...
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My Happy Marriage Director Takehiro Kubota and Creating a New Fairytale

Ahead of the romance anime's second season, director Takehiro Kubota discusses the choices, the challenges, and balancing the story between the everyday and the supernatural. ― My Happy Marriage began its life as a series of novels written by Akumi Agitogi, and it has since been adapted both as manga and, as of July 2023, an anime series simulcast by Netflix. Agitogi's tale, set in a nebulous time t...
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In the Shadow of the Beast: The Kaiju Genre & Kaiju No. 8

Grant Jones dives into the wild world of giant monsters and how Kaiju No. 8 builds on their legacy. Kaiju No. 8 is a series that wears its influences on its sleeves. As the first word in its title suggests, it comes from a long line of works in the kaiju genre, using giant monsters and burning skylines as a backdrop to tell stories. While many likely know kaiju in a passing sense, it may help to h...
your score

Your Anime Rankings - Best of Spring 2024, Apr 29-May 5

Train to the End of the World and Voice Actor Radio are getting a lot of love these last few weeks! Discover which other series stand out in our weekly user rankings! ― Let's have a look at what ANN readers consider the best (and worst) of the season, based on the polls you can find in our Daily Streaming Reviews and on the Your Score page with the latest simulcasts. Keep in mind that these rankings...
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Pop Star Crystal Kay on Singing Anime Songs and Growing Up Mixed-Race in Japan

Crystal Kay previously sang themes for 2004's Fullmetal Alchemist and Nodame Cantabile ― Recently, Anime News Network was able to sit down with singer-songwriter Crystal Kay and talk about not only her involvement with anime over the years but also what it was like to grow up in Japan as the child of a Korean-Japanese mother and an African-American father. Anime fans likely know of Crystal Kay throug...
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Creative Producer Goro Taniguchi, Director Junichi Yamamoto Talk Web3 Anime

The Code Geass creator discusses his new project with Web3 company Azuki, Enter the Garden, and his hope that this new path could help the medium evolve. ― Los Angeles-based Web3 anime-styled brand Azuki and advertising conglomerate Dentsu debuted the first nine-minute episode of their joint anime endeavor, Enter the Garden, on April 30. The episode, which has already racked up a quarter of a million...
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Welcome Back, Spice and Wolf

ZeroReq011 remembers what made Spice and Wolf a story for the ages, from its fully realized world and economics to Holo and Lawrence's romantic chemistry. ― Back when Funimation was still its own company and not owned by Sony, long before its in-house streaming service was terminated in favor of Crunchyroll's streaming platform, it owned a TV channel. Legal streaming had yet to dominate the Western a...
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Your Anime Rankings - Best of Spring 2024, Apr 1-28

Welcome to the rankings for the Spring 2024 season! The perfect place to check out which hidden gems might have flown under your radar. ― Let's have a look at what ANN readers consider the best (and worst) of the season, based on the polls you can find in our Daily Streaming Reviews and on the Your Score page with the latest simulcasts. Keep in mind that these rankings are based on how people rated ...
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Producer Masakazu Kubo on Making an Anime for Hardcore Golf Fans

Producer Masakazu Kubo shares the animation team's dedication to realism, including bringing in a pro golfer to produce the anime's sound effects. ― 64-year-old Masakazu Kubo has been planning and producing anime for decades. He's had a major hand in everything from Pokémon and Detective Conan to Teasing Master Takagi-san and Dorohedoro. Recently, he sat down with us to talk about Tonbo!, his attemp...
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The Beauty of Stop-Motion Animation with Bottle George Director Daisuke 'Dice' Tsutsumi

Daisuke 'Dice' Tsutsumi shares what it was like to leave Pixar and how his studio will never shy away from honesty in their work, even when honesty isn't pretty. ― Director Daisuke "Dice" Tsutsumi contributed to films like Toy Story 3 and Monsters University while simultaneously crafting what became his Academy Award-nominated animated short film, The Dam Keeper. His latest short film, Bottle George,...
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Anime to Watch if You Liked Shogun

The critically-acclaimed historical drama captivated audiences, but if you're craving more battle tactics and court intrigue, these anime will scratch your Shogun itch. ― For the past couple of months, it's been hard to ignore the loud promotion of Disney+/Hulu's mega-budget Shogun. Based on James Clavell's feted 1975 novel, it's a compelling and glossy historical drama following a large cast of fic...
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Interview: Author Akihiro Nishino on Bottle George, His New Stop-Motion Animated Film

Following Poupelle of Chimney Town, Nishino tackles addiction in his new stop-motion anime short film. ― In advance of the U.S. premiere of the new stop-motion animated short film Bottle George, Anime News Network sat down with writer Akihiro Nishino and chatted not only about the film and its creation but also its deeper message and how it connects to Nishino's past. While now well-known as a childr...
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Interview: Voice Actors Rika Hayashi and Hiroki Tōchi Talk About Their New Golf Anime, Tonbo!

Hayashi and Tōchi play mentee/mentor in heart-warming golf anime series. ― Golf anime Tonbo! is one of the new anime premiering in the Spring 2024 season. At Anime Japan 2024, we sat down with lead voice actors Rika Hayashi and Hiroki Tōchi to talk about their characters, their experiences with golf, and the positives of country life in Japan. In her first voice acting role as a main character, Hayas...
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The Best Weapons in BLUELOCK to Build The Perfect Team

We're taking Fantasy Football to the soccer field to build the perfect team of egoists. ― Unlike other sports anime, Bluelock's central theme doesn't revolve around teamwork and self-sacrifice. This, nevertheless, is to be expected considering the series' plot. For instance, when Jinpachi Ego introduces himself to the 300 personally curated prospects meant to participate in his battle royal-esque ex...
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The Spring 2024 Anime Preview Guide

The late premieres are coming in, including GRIMM VARIATIONS. Also: Touken Ranbu Kai Kyoden, YATAGARASU, Kaiju No. 8, Black Butler: Public School Arc, The Misfit of Demon King Academy II, KONOSUBA Season 3, Viral Hit, Mysterious Disappearances, Mushoku Tensei, Sound! Euphonium, Mission: Yozakura Family, Go! Go! Loser Ranger!, and more! ― Welcome to Anime News Network's Spring 2024 Anime Preview Guid...
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The Spring 2024 Anime Preview Guide

It's the most monstrous premiere of the season! KAIJU NO. 8 reviews join the guide! Also: Black Butler: Public School Arc, The Misfit of Demon King Academy II, KONOSUBA Season 3, Viral Hit, Mysterious Disappearances, Mushoku Tensei, Sound! Euphonium, Mission: Yozakura Family, Go! Go! Loser Ranger!, and more! ― Welcome to Anime News Network's Spring 2024 Anime Preview Guide! Here's how it goes: our t...
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The Spring 2024 Anime Preview Guide

Your favorite fantasy disaster children are back in KONOSUBA Season 3! Check here for all the newest anime reviews, including: Mysterious Disappearances, The Many Sides of Voice Actor Radio, Oblivion Battery, Mushoku Tensei, Sound! Euphonium, Mission: Yozakura Family, Go! Go! Loser Ranger!, and more! ― Welcome to Anime News Network's Spring 2024 Anime Preview Guide! Here's how it goes: our team of c...
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Chained Soldier Producer, Voice Actor Discuss Bringing Sexy Anime Series to Screen

We sat down with producer Yuki Watanabe and leading actor Yūya Hirose (Yuuki), to discuss bringing this unique combination of epic action and sexy comedy to the screen. ― Ever since author Takahiro and artist Yōhei Takamura first began publishing Chained Soldier on Shonen Jump+ in 2019, their manga has been a smash hit. The story tells of how humanity has been enlisting soldiers who use the magical ...
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The Spring 2024 Anime Preview Guide

The Omegaverse makes its jump into the world of anime with BL title Tadaima, Okaeri! Plus Chillin' in Another World with Level 2 Super Cheat Powers, Mushoku Tensei, Sound! Euphonium, The Duke of Death and His Maid, Grandpa and Grandma Turn Young Again, and more! Keep checking back for more new anime updates and reviews. ― Welcome to Anime News Network's Spring 2024 Anime Preview Guide! Here's how it...
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The Spring 2024 Anime Preview Guide

It's time for a brand-new caper with Mission: Yozakura Family! Plus Go! Go! Loser Ranger!, Tonari no Yokai-san, Jellyfish Can't Swim at Night, Tonbo!, The Irregular at Magic High School Season 3, That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime Season 3, and more! Keep checking back for more new anime updates and reviews. ― Welcome to Anime News Network's Spring 2024 Anime Preview Guide! Here's how it goes: ...
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The Spring 2024 Anime Preview Guide

Tatsuya and friends are back for more sci-fi magical action in the third season of Irregular at Magic High School. Plus, we have reviews for That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime Season 3, Astro Note, Highspeed Étoile, and more! Keep checking back for more new anime updates and reviews. ― Welcome to Anime News Network's Spring 2024 Anime Preview Guide! Here's how it goes: our team of critics write...
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Your Anime Rankings - Best of Winter 2024

It's showdown time for the last episodes of Winter 2024, and Solo Leveling triumphs over Mashle. Come see the last-minute surprises at the end of the season! ― Let's have a look at what ANN readers consider the best (and worst) of the season, based on the polls you can find in our Daily Streaming Reviews and on the Your Score page with the latest simulcasts. Keep in mind that these rankings are base...
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The Spring 2024 Anime Preview Guide

The new season continues with another return - it's time for Bartender Glass of God! Also get our reviewers' takes on Laid-Back Camp's third season, Studio Apartment, Good Lighting, Angel Included,Train to the End of the World, Gods' Games We Play, RE:MONSTER, I Was Reincarnated as the 7th Prince, The Banished Former Hero Lives as He Pleases and Spice & Wolf: the merchant meets the wise wolf! ― Welc...
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The Spring 2024 Anime Preview Guide

The new season continues with another return - it's time for Bartender Glass of God! Also get our reviewers' takes on Studio Apartment, Good Lighting, Angel Included,Train to the End of the World, Gods' Games We Play, RE:MONSTER, I Was Reincarnated as the 7th Prince, The Banished Former Hero Lives as He Pleases and Spice & Wolf: the merchant meets the wise wolf! ― Welcome to Anime News Network's Sp...
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First Look at Crunchyroll's Spring Anime Series Slate

Gearing up for the Spring 2024 anime season, Crunchyroll held a press-only event at their office and on-site theater in Los Angeles. ― Shaking up their usual rollup to a new season of anime for Spring 2024, Crunchyroll held a press-only event at their office and on-site theater in Los Angeles. MC'd by Crunchyroll News' Global Editor-in-Chief, Kyle Cardine, this event offered an early showing of some ...
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Anime Dad — How Mamoru Hosoda's Films Speak to Me

With Hosoda's films returning to theaters this year, Kevin Cormack looks at the award-winning director's anime films through a paternal lens. ― Mainstream anime is most often targeted towards, and prominently features, younger demographics — children, adolescents, and to a lesser degree, college-age students. As a lifelong anime fan, I've gradually aged out of these designations, and find myself wit...
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Your Anime Rankings - Best of Winter 2024, Mar 18-24

As we approach the end of the season, Delicious in Dungeon and Undead Unluck are steadily climbing the cumulative. Find out how your favorite shows performed in our weekly user rankings. ― Let's have a look at what ANN readers consider the best (and worst) of the season, based on the polls you can find in our Daily Streaming Reviews and on the Your Score page with the latest simulcasts. Keep in mind...
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The Most Anticipated Anime of Spring 2024

As we look in despair to a future without new episodes of Frieren, you may be wondering what could possibly fill the hole in your heart (and watch schedule). We're here to help. ― With the end of one anime season comes the start of another. As we look in despair to a future without new episodes of Frieren: Beyond Journey's End, you may be wondering what could possibly fill the hole in your heart (an...
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The Worst Anime of Winter 2024

From shows that are "just not for me" to pure animated shlock, here are our editorial team's picks for the worst anime of the winter 2024 season. ― Yesterday, we gave you our list of the best anime Winter 2024 had to offer. Now it's time for the opposite. From shows that are "just not for me" to pure animated shlock, here are our editorial team's picks for the worst anime of the season. Note: The co...
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The Best Anime of Winter 2024

With the end of the Winter 2024 anime season upon us, it's time to look back at the best of what the season had to offer. ― With the end of the Winter 2024 anime season looming, it's time to look back at the best of what the season had to offer. And so here's a list of our editorial team's favorite anime series this season. The big takeaway? We really like Delicious in Dungeon. Note: the commentary ...
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The Spring 2024 Anime Trailer Watch Party Will Be Live from Japan!

THIS TUESDAY! Anime News Network's Lynzee Loveridge and Richard Eisenbeis, and Trash Taste Pod's Gigguk as they watch over fifty anime trailers from the Spring 2024 anime season! ― The Trailer Watch Party is growing up with a live stream from Trash Taste Pod's After Dark studio. Join Anime News Network executive editor Lynzee Loveridge, ANN Japan correspondent Richard Eisenbeis, and Trash Taste Pod's...
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The One And Only Animerica Magazine

Brian Stremick flips through the pages of the seminal Japanese pop-culture magazine and how it helped shape anime fandom in the U.S. ― My first contact with anime was during my college years. I used to scour the web and look through the tiny manga section at my local bookstore in search of information. One day, a particular publication in that store's magazine section caught my eye. It was called Ani...
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Frieren Knocks Full Metal Alchemist Out of the Top Spot on Both MAL and ANN

After roughly a decade with Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood as the highest-rated anime on both sites, Frieren: Beyond Journey's End has now taken the top spot. ― [Editor's Note: An incomplete draft of this article was accidently published previously. It has been taken down and replaced with this, the completed version.] What is the greatest anime in the world? The show that's generally agreed to be ...
your score

Your Anime Rankings - Best of Winter 2024, Mar 11-17

Metallic Rouge and Meiji Gekken started the season high, but have been steadily dropping both in the weekly and cumulative. Discover what else is moving in the rankings. ― Let's have a look at what ANN readers consider the best (and worst) of the season, based on the polls you can find in our Daily Streaming Reviews and on the Your Score page with the latest simulcasts. Keep in mind that these ranki...
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Interview: JYOCHO's Daijiro Nakagawa Talks About Composing Songs for Junji Ito and Banished From the Hero's Party

Daijirō Nakagawa talks about his band, their evolution, and what it's like to compose anime theme songs. ― If you've seen either of the Junji Ito anthology anime or either season of Banished from the Hero's Party, I Decided to Live a Quiet Life in the Countryside, you've heard the music of JYOCHO's Daijiro Nakagawa. Recently, Anime News Network sat down with him to talk about his band, their evolutio...
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How Oshi no Ko Got Its Extra-Long Premiere

Director Daisuke Hiramaki, assistant director Ciao Nekotomi, and producer Shimpei Yamashita discuss the series' extra-long premiere, its depiction of the idol industry, and what fans can look forward to in season two. ― The 【Oshi No Ko】 anime series was a breakout hit last year. The series smashed records at streaming service HIDIVE to become its "#1 series launch in the streamer's history." The ani...
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The Spring 2024 Anime Trailer Watch Party Will Be Live from Japan!

Join Anime News Network's Lynzee Loveridge and Richard Eisenbeis, and Trash Taste Pod's Gigguk as they watch over fifty anime trailers from the Spring 2024 anime season! ― The Trailer Watch Party is growing up with a live stream from Trash Taste Pod's After Dark studio. Join Anime News Network executive editor Lynzee Loveridge, ANN Japan correspondent Richard Eisenbeis, and Trash Taste Pod's Gigguk a...
your score

Your Anime Rankings - Best of Winter 2024, Mar 4-10

Villainess Level 99 has been doing consistently great for the past few weeks, and climbed the cumulative up to #10 as a result. Find out how your favorite shows stacked up according to viewer votes. ― Let's have a look at what ANN readers consider the best (and worst) of the season, based on the polls you can find in our Daily Streaming Reviews and on the Your Score page with the latest simulcasts. ...
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Who Can Beat Goku? The Monumental Legacy of Akira Toriyama

When we shout Kamehameha, we speak the same tongue. ― On March 1, 2024, Akira Toriyama passed away. He was a husband, a father, and a friend to many. Those closest to him – including many of his industry peers – have shared fond memories of their interactions and deep sadness at his passing. To be loved in life and mourned in death by those nearest us is often the greatest legacy many can hope for, a...
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Mobile Suit Gundam: Where to Start and What's Worth Watching [2024 Edition]

Lauren Orsini is back with an update to our Gundam guide. If you're not sure where to start in this mecha franchise, start here. ― Forty-five years ago, Mobile Suit Gundam was a cartoon designed to sell robot toys to kids, and it initially received such low viewership ratings that it ended up being canceled. It was only later that the anime's hardcore fans, many of whom were teens and young adults a...
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Why Dragon Quest: The Adventure of Dai is One of the Greatest Shonen Anime

Now streaming on Netflix, Jairus Taylor makes his case for Dragon Quest: The Adventure of Dai and why it deserves a moment in the shonen spotlight. ― The landscape of shonen anime has changed a lot over the years, and largely for the better. In the past, anime adaptations of hallmark shonen titles like Naruto or Bleach were notorious for suffering from slow pacing, inconsistent animation quality, an...
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Your Anime Rankings - Best of Winter 2024, Feb 26-Mar 3

While the rankings have been on an unplanned hiatus over the past few weeks, our top 3 has remained unchanged with Dangers in My Heart ruling the season. Check out our latest user rankings! ― Let's have a look at what ANN readers consider the best (and worst) of the season, based on the polls you can find in our Daily Streaming Reviews and on the Your Score page with the latest simulcasts. Keep in m...
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Anime to Watch on Funimation Before They Disappear from Streaming

Crunchyroll is sunsetting the Funimation streaming service on April 2, and with it, these anime will disappear from streaming services. Watch these before they're gone! ― Funimation's days as an anime streaming service are numbered! And while much of their catalog is available on Crunchyroll or other anime streaming sites, a surprising number are not. With April 2 looming, here are our editorial team...
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Roleplaying in Re:Zero, the Dark Souls of Isekai

How I engage with games like Dark Souls, and how Subaru approaches his ordeals in Re:Zero are similar: they both hinge on roleplay. ― As someone who used to play games more actively, watching Re:Zero – Starting Life in Another World dredged up old memories of playing Dark Souls. Fans of both franchises could probably draw some easy comparisons. They're both dark and often bleak fantasy series known f...
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Chatting About Food and Adventures with Delicious in Dungeon's Director and Voice Actors

We were able to chat with Delicious in Dungeon's director, Yoshihiro Miyajima, as well as two of its main leads, Kentarō Kumagai (Laios) and Sayaka Senbongi (Marcille). ― Recently, Anime News Network was able to chat with Delicious in Dungeon's director, Yoshihiro Miyajima, as well as two of its main leads, Kentaro Kumagai (Voice of Laios) and Sayaka Senbongi (Marcille). They talked about how they b...
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How Avatar: The Last Airbender Made Me A Late Bloomer Anime Fan

Anime is a medium of imagination, and thanks to Avatar: The Last Airbender, it now captures my heart time and time again. ― When my father asked me what anime is, I realized this fandom is part of me now. Anime is not a passion I hide (you wouldn't be reading this if I did), but it's also one I've only had for a few years. I've been calling myself a “novice weeb,” even if the first part of that descr...
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The Eminence in Shadow Anime Producer Had His Own Cid Phase

ANN spoke with The Eminence in Shadow director Kazuya Nakanishi and producer Kazufumi Kikushima about the series' unique protagonist. ― Whether it's the dark comedy or its distinct main character, Cid, something about The Eminence in Shadow resonates with many anime fans. The series is one of the highest-rated shows on HIDIVE. Anime News Network was able to sit down and talk with the series' directo...
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Romance Anime to Make Your Heart Flutter

This Valentine's Day, why not cozy up with your favorite person and enjoy some of the best love stories that anime has to offer? Our editorial team has the best picks below, from romantic comedies to dramas and everything in between! ― This Valentine's Day, why not cozy up with your favorite person and enjoy some of the best love stories that anime has to offer? Our editorial team has the best picks...
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Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba -To the Hashira Training Red Carpet Premiere Report

Demon Slayer returned to the red carpet with voice actors Natsuki Hanae and Hiro Shimono in tow to welcome the new season! ― With season four of Demon Slayer just around the corner, I'm sure many people would foam at the mouth at the opportunity to get a preview of things to come, especially after the emotionally intense finale of season three. Thankfully, Anime News Network was able to check out the...
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The Ultimate Madoka Recap and Homura's Lost Paradise

Contrary to the memes, Homura did do something wrong. ZeroReq011 recaps the seminal magical girl series and Homura's parallels to Lucifer from John Milton's Paradise Lost. ― It has been over a decade since Puella Magi Madoka Magica mainline story received an anime project. It's now 2024, and the long-awaited movie follow-up to the controversial Rebellion film, Walpurgisnacht Rising, is set to come ou...
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No More Yielding but a Dream: Paprika and the Waking World

Many artists have attempted to take on the subject of dreams, from Ono no Komachi to Christopher Nolan. It is notoriously difficult to capture in a way that makes sense to others; there's nothing more difficult than describing a dream you had to an audience and giving them the same sense of fear, wonder, or magic that you experienced while your eyes were closed. That's because dreams are among the...
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Gundam: The Witch From Mercury's Lynn and Kana Ichinose Discuss Difficult Parents and Friendships

"It got me thinking that as long as there are humans, conflict will never disappear and there is no correct answer." ― At Anime NYC 2023, the official Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch From Mercury panel hosted voice actors Kana Ichinose (Suletta Mercury) and Lynn (Miorine Rembran) to discuss their work on the hit mecha series. Members of the press had further questions answered via a joint email interv...
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How the Shield Hero Director and Producer Pushed to Do the Series Justice

"One of the things that's important to me is to capture the world as it is with the wave of calamity; the trouble, the hunger, the sadness of the world that exists so that the heroes can shine. It's because the people are suffering that a hero is needed." ― In season three of The Rising of The Shield Hero, Naofumi and the gang must learn to put aside some of their differences with the other Cardinal...
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Your Anime Rankings - Best of Winter 2024, Jan 22-28

We've never seen a top 3 so steady, but Solo Leveling is climbing fast! How far do you think it will level up? Find out how your favorite shows fared in our weekly user rankings. ― Let's have a look at what ANN readers consider the best (and worst) of the season, based on the polls you can find in our Daily Streaming Reviews and on the Your Score page with the latest simulcasts. Keep in mind that th...
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A Photo Guide to the Real-Life Locations in Bottom-tier Character Tomozaki

With the newly premiered season of Bottom-tier Character Tomozaki, we decided to explore the real-life locations in Saitama, Japan! ― With the newly premiered season of Bottom-tier Character Tomozaki, we decided to explore the real-life locations in Japan. Much of Bottom-tier Character Tomozaki takes place in Saitama Prefecture, mainly around JR Omiya Station. Let's look at some of the iconic real-li...
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The First Slam Dunk Anime Loves Basketball As Much As I Do

The movie brilliantly translates the experience and attitude of being on the court to the medium of animation, and if you've so much as touched a basketball, you should watch it. ― Most sports movies ground themselves in the drama and families surrounding a sport, instead of creating tension within the designs and dynamics that make the chosen game so popular in the first place. The Sandlot is one o...
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An Early Look at the Dragon Ball Daima Character Designs

Greeting an excited crowd at Dragon Ball Games Battle Hour 2024, executive producer Iyoku came bearing an exciting new character trailer and early designs for the crowd. ― Long-time Dragon Ball executive producer Akio Iyoku shared the behind-the-scenes process for the upcoming series, Dragon Ball Daima. The anime will be released in fall 2024, featuring an original story by creator Akira Toriyama and...
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Bringing His Ego to the Role: BLUE LOCK Voice Actor Kazuki Ura

Ura explains, “As a voice actor, I have the ego that I don't want to lose to anybody. I want to be the best at everything, especially when it comes to the character of Isagi.” ― At Anime NYC 2023, Anime News Network had the opportunity to sit down with the voice actor Kazuki Ura, the voice of BLUELOCK's main protagonist Isagi, and Ryoya Arisawa, the producer of the hit sports anime BLUELOCK. One of ...
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Your Anime Rankings - Best of Winter 2024, Jan 1-21

It's a new season with old favorites and new contenders. Frieren is still going strong continuing from last season, but The Dangers in My Heart is the one stealing the spotlight! ― Let's have a look at what ANN readers consider the best (and worst) of the season, based on the polls you can find in our Daily Streaming Reviews and on the Your Score page with the latest simulcasts. Keep in mind that th...
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How Anime Helped Save Superman

ZeroReq011 looks at how shojo and shonen sensibilities have helped restore Superman to his original iconography: a kinder, stalwart hero for the people. ― Besides enjoying anime, I grew up watching Bruce Timm's Superman. From watching his Superman: The Animated Series and Justice League cartoons, Superman became the superhero with the biggest guns, the biggest shield, and the biggest heart. I was a b...
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The Winter 2024 Anime Preview Guide - Bang Brave Bang Bravern

The final entry for the Winter 2024 Anime Preview Guide is here...and it's a love letter to giant robots! What did our reviewers think of Bang Brave Bang Bravern? ― What is this? Lewis Smith and Isami Ao are enemy pilots. Lewis is a pilot for the U.S. armed forces who pilots the armored humanoid weapon Titanostride. In the midst of battle, he meets Isami Ao, the ace pilot for Japan's Ground Self-Def...
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The Winter 2024 Anime Preview Guide

This season's anime premieres are wrapping up and we've got all your reviews right here with BUCCHIGIRI?!, Witch and Beast, Metallic Rouge, Blue Exorcist, Mashle Season 2, Solo Leveling, and more! ― Welcome to Anime News Network's Winter 2024 Anime Preview Guide! Here's how it goes: our team of critics writes up their impressions instantly, to be posted here as they go along. Each critic will cover ...
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The Winter 2024 Anime Preview Guide

Today's new premieres include the highly-anticipated sci-fi anime METALLIC ROUGE from Bones! Find your next must-watch among our reviews for Cherry Magic! Thirty Years of Virginity Can Make You a Wizard?!, Sengoku Youko, Doctor Elise, Villainess Level 99, The Dangers in My Heart Season 2, Blue Exorcist, Mashle, Solo-Leveling, and more! ― Welcome to Anime News Network's Winter 2024 Anime Preview Guid...
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ANN's Most-Read News and Interest Articles of 2023

These are the stories that captivated our readers last year, from Naruto to...doing your taxes? ― The book of 2023 has turned its final page, but you could say its FINAL CHAPTERS were over a decade in the making. The year saw the anime finale of the blockbuster series Attack on Titan, and fans were here for it. The series appeared three times in our most-read news list, and our tour of creator Hajim...
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The Winter 2024 Anime Preview Guide

Preview Guide marches on with the tasty temptations of ITS TIME FOR TORTURE PRINCESS! Find your next must-watch among our reviews for Hokkaido Gals Are Super Adorable!, Synduality: Noir Season 2, Mr. Villain's Day Off, The Dangers in My Heart Season 2, Blue Exorcist, Mashle, Solo-Leveling, and more! ― Welcome to Anime News Network's Winter 2024 Anime Preview Guide! Here's how it goes: our team of cr...
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Bringing Imagination to the Sengoku Youko Supernatural Action Anime

The director and producer discussed the challenges working on the Sengoku Youko anime, from finding just the right voice for a 200-year-old yōkai to tapping into their imaginations to bring Jinka's attacks to life. ― Manga creator Satoshi Mizukami is already preparing his next manga series, but it's his supernatural action story Sengoku Youko that brought director Kagetsu Aizawa and producer Allian ...
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Your Anime Rankings - Best of Fall 2023

New series are starting up one after the other, but let's take a quick break to look back on the final user rankings of the Fall 2023 season! ― Let's have a look at what ANN readers consider the best (and worst) of the season, based on the polls you can find in our Daily Streaming Reviews and on the Your Score page with the latest simulcasts. Keep in mind that these rankings are based on how people ...

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