Produced by Science Saru, DAN DA DAN boasts an expressive, highly stylized art style courtesy of character designer Naoyuki Onda, alien and monster designer Yoshimichi Kameda, color designer Satoshi Hashimoto, and lead series director Fuga Yamashiro.

While its over-the-top plot might not work for everyone, DAN DA DAN has plenty to offer anime fans, especially those who like to see the medium pushed to extremes – making it a worthwhile add to almost every anime fan’s watch list.

DAN DA DAN Hooks Into Its Audience & Refuses To Let Go

DAN DA DAN‘s initial plot summary is pretty to the point, following a self-described gyaru named Momo after getting dumped by her boyfriend on her way to school. Annoyed and somewhat dejected, she comes across a young man from a neighboring classroom getting picked on. After sticking up for him, he follows her and begins gushing about all things related to the occult – particularly, his vehement belief in aliens. Dubbing him “Occult-kun”, Momo tells him that she doesn’t believe in aliens, in fact, she’s hold a deep-seeded belief in ghosts – which, obviously Occult-kun (or Okarun), doesn’t believe in.

The two decide to have a challenge to see if they can prove the other wrong, which subsequently leads them to discovering that, not only are they both correct, but Okarun has been cursed by a malevolent spirit called Turbo Granny, and Momo’s newfound psychic abilities are the only thing keeping him from transforming into a ghoulish beast.

Obviously this is a lot of information for a first episode, but DAN DA DAN manages to execute everything extremely well while maintaining just enough mystery lurking beneath the surface to keep its hooks in its audience. The end of episode 1 also features a stunningly animated fight sequence featuring Momo and Okarun being pit against a troupe of alien invaders that left us begging to see what episode 2 had in store.

That isn’t to say the the story is without its faults, however, as something that may put off potential fans of the series is a pretty glaring plot point that very unabashedly makes itself very clear. DAN DA DAN gets pretty raunchy in its first episodes, with not only Okarun suffering having his manhood stolen from him by Turbo Granny when he got cursed, but Momo being threatened with a pretty dicey scene that had terrifying implications if Okarun hadn’t have swooped in to save her. Neither of these moments are drawn out past a visual threat and verbal confirmation, but for those sensitive to this kind of content, its something to keep in mind when going into DAN DA DAN.

Episodes 2 and 3 easily matched the same quality and energy of the first, following Momo and Okarun’s misadventures as they head back to the shrine Momo resides in with her grandmother, a spiritual medium. Episode 2 in particular shows off an incredibly unique sequence that shifts the anime to a monotone color palette with occasional pops of color to exemplify truly gorgeous action sequences.

It’s so easy to find oneself completely enamored by all the eccentricities in the anime, and DAN DA DAN succeeds in wearing its heart fully on its sleeve. DAN DA DAN isn’t just a love story, its a love song to all things weird. Science SARU, known for its successes with series like Devilman Crybaby and films like INU-OH, was a perfect choice to embody that specific brand of wild. The anime’s soundtrack, produced by Kensuke Ushio (Devilman Crybaby, Chainsaw Man) makes the already lively animation feel even more put together. The series was clearly a labor of love, and despite its one questionable plot point, is the perfect series to put at the top of just about any anime fan’s watch list.

Be sure to catch the official release of DAN DA DAN on Crunchyroll when it premieres on October 3, 2024. Special thanks to Crunchyroll for providing Attack of the Fanboy with advance screeners of DAN DA DAN episodes 1-3.

For fans wanting to relive the first season, or for new fans wanting to crash course everything that happened in season 1 so they an be caught up in time to enjoy season 2, Solo Leveling -Reawakening- will be debuting in select theaters in the US and Canada on December 6, 2024.

The film’s synopsis, provided by Crunchyroll, is as follows:

Solo Leveling -ReAwakening- features a catch-up recap of the first season coupled with an exclusive sneak peek of the first two episodes of the highly anticipated second season in one momentous theatrical fan experience.

Over a decade has passed since a pathway called a “gate” which connects this world and another dimension suddenly appeared, and people with superhuman powers called “hunters” have been awakened. Hunters use their superhuman powers to conquer dungeons inside the gates to make a living, and Sung Jinwoo, a hunter of the lowest rank, is considered the Weakest Hunter of All Mankind.

One day, he encounters a double dungeon, a high-level dungeon hidden inside a low-level one. In front of a severely wounded Jinwoo, a mysterious quest window pops up. On the verge of death, Jinwoo decides to take on the quest, which makes him the only person who can level up. 

Crunchyroll

The anime adaptation for Solo Leveling is produced by A-1 Pictures with motion graphics by Production I.G., and is based on the novel and manhwa of the same name by Chugong and DUBU. The anime adaptation is directed by Shunsuke Nakashige (Sword Art Online).

Solo Leveling season 2 has already been confirmed to be streaming on Crunchyroll once it begins airing in January 2025.

From learning to let go of our egos to becoming a beacon of hope for everyone around you, you can bet that Goku and his friends have a quote for such an occasion. With so many iconic lines being delivered, it is hard to choose which ones are the greatest. Nonetheless, we have compiled some of the best quotes across the entire Dragon Ball series.

The following phrases were selected for how much impact they had on audiences throughout the years. Some inspire fans to try their best and never give up, while others simply represent epic moments that occurred during Goku’s journey.

10. “Closing Your Mind to the Prospect of Failure Will Only Ensure Your Defeat!” – Muten Roshi

Despite how irritating his antics can be at times, Master Roshi is still one of the oldest and most skilled warriors in the world. He is the man who trained Goku and Krillin and turned them into the amazing men they are today. He is wiser than most, and while he keeps his wisdom hidden most of the time, he has proven several times how knowledgeable he is.

The 22^nd Tenkai-Ichi Budokai Tournament saw Master Roshi joining the roster under the alias of Jackie Chun. When Krillin began boasting about his strength, his master had to remind him to stay humble, risking his cover being blown off. This phrase reminds us that even the best can fail at times, and we should always stay humble.

9. “You’ll Laugh at Your Fears When You Find Out Who You Are.” – Piccolo Jr.

After Goku’s death during the battle against Raditz, Piccolo took the young Gohan to train him for the Saiyan Invasion that would occur. During this time, the Namekian realized how much stronger than Goku Gohan could be with the proper preparations. Sadly, the small child was constantly crying and continuously complained about being scared.

Related: Dragon Ball: 10 Strongest Characters, Ranked

To Piccolo, these claims were outlandish, as Gohan was stronger than most other creatures nearby. He knew that Gohan had nothing to be afraid of, as he could surpass any obstacle put in front of him. Piccolo reminds us that even our worst fears can be conquered once we realize how powerful we are just by being ourselves.

8. “You May Have Invaded My Mind, and My Body, but There’s One Thing a Saiyan Always Keeps… His Pride!” – Prince Vegeta

One of the most shocking moments in Dragon Ball was when Vegeta allowed Babidi to invade his mind and become one of his lackeys. He used the power boost granted to him by the wizard to finally beat Goku in a fight. Still, once he realized what he had done, Vegeta knew that he should have never allowed the villain to take over his mind.

Babidi tried everything, from suggestions to threats to keep the prince under his control. Vegeta persevered, staying true to his ideals and holding onto his Saiyan Pride, the feature that defines his character. This moment is the perfect example of how strong and determined Vegeta can be, even against impossible odds.

7. “On This Planet, We Know That Even the Lowest-Born Can Outdo the Elite if They Work Hard Enough.” – Son Goku

Woefully, when Vegeta first arrived on Earth, he was nothing like the stern but loyal friend he is today. Being the Prince of the Saiyan Race, Vegeta saw himself as superior to most creatures in the universe. Throughout his fight with Goku, the prince continued mocking our hero, calling him a low-class warrior with no chance of winning.

Related: All Dragon Ball Super Filler Episodes to Skip

Goku, aware that hard work can overcome natural talent, stated that things do not work on Earth as they did on planet Vegeta. The young warrior went on to prove the validity of his words by defeating Vegeta with the help of his friends. This is a moment that serves as a reminder that no matter what, training and perseverance can help you beat even the strongest opponents.

6. “It is not a sin to fight for the right cause. There are those who words alone will not reach.” – Android 16

Android 16 is best known for his kind nature, love for animals, and unbreakable will. Even when he was built specifically to kill Goku, the android went beyond his programming and became a protector of the Earth. He proved how willing he was to protect life on the planet when he sacrificed himself to stop Cell from destroying everything.

Before being destroyed, Android 16 addressed Gohan, who was refusing to fight Cell. He knew that the boy was not fond of fighting and abhorred the idea of killing someone. Nonetheless, he also reminded Gohan that fighting for a noble cause was not evil, and there was no alternative to stop Cell’s plans. This is a harsh truth that we are not often reminded of in our daily lives.

5. ”I Am Truth. Ally to Good! Nightmare to You!” – Son Goku

When thinking about Dragon Ball, most fans think back to one of the most iconic moments in the franchise, the battle against Frieza. This was one of the most brutal encounters Goku and his friends had in the series. The galactic tyrant not only almost erased the Namekian race from existence, but he also killed or severely injured most of Goku’s friends.

Related: Dragon Ball: Is Broly Stronger Than Goku?

These atrocities were enough to send Goku into a rage and awaken the Super Saiyan state. The sudden transformation and massive increase in power shocked Frieza, who asked Goku what kind of creature he was. In one of the most chilling speeches in anime, Goku proclaimed himself as the savior of the universe who would destroy the ruthless emperor.

4. “Trunks… Bulma… I Do This for You. And Yes… Even for You, Kakarot…” – Prince Vegeta

Once freed from Babidi’s influence, Vegeta decided to face the evil Majin Buu in a last-ditch attempt to redeem himself. Woefully, he knew that not even the power boost granted by the wizard would be enough to deal with the being. After a short self-debate, Vegeta chooses to create a gigantic explosion that would destroy his body but would also vaporize Majin Buu.

Before being killed by his attack, Vegeta let go of his ego, admitting his wrongdoing and how attached he got to the people of Earth. His last thoughts before passing were those of his wife, son, and best friend. This was the moment when Vegeta went from being a reluctant ally to the Z Warriors to a real friend.

3. “You Wallow in Your Own Justice Alone, We’ll Never Let You Crush Our Will to Live!” – Future Trunks

Among all the villains in the Dragon Ball Franchise, Zamasu is arguably the one with the most interesting motivation. This deity saw mortals as a mistake that should be erased from existence for the universe to be at peace. Zamasu’s twisted sense of morality almost cause the entire universe to be erased, if not for the bravery of Future Trunks.

Related: Dragon Ball Super Manga Release Date Schedule 2023: When You Can Expect New Chapters

Despite having witnessed the deaths of all his friends, family, and almost every other human on Earth, Trunks stood as the hope of all living creatures. He fought the deity despite being terrified of dying, all to prevent Zamasu from achieving his goal. His words are a reminder of how resilient and powerful the will of humanity can be when used for good.

2. “I Would Rather Be a Brainless Monkey Than a Heartless Monster.” – Son Goku

When Goku was sent to Earth as a baby, he was tasked with becoming a conqueror and taking over the planet. Thanks to an unexpected hit in the head and the amazing tutelage of his grandpa Gohan, he instead became the most ardent protector of the planet. He may not be the smartest being, but he has a heart of gold and always fights for what is right.

Frieza, on the other hand, has been using his power to conquer and kill from childhood. The emperor and Goku could not be more different, as stated during their conversation on Planet Namek. After being mocked for his below-average intellect, Goku reminded Frieza that strength and intelligence mean nothing when you use them for evil.

1. “It’s Over 9,000!” – Prince Vegeta

Arguably one of the most popular and beloved quotes of all time, this moment has been ingrained in the minds of Dragon Ball fans all over the world for decades. The battle against Vegeta and Nappa was one of the most important battles in Goku’s life. His training with King Kai elevated his power to a level unheard of at the time.

At first, Vegeta underestimated him, as the prince saw Goku as nothing more than an inconvenience for Nappa to eliminate. When our hero powered up to show his enemies how much trouble they were in, Vegeta had no other choice but to admit that he was wrong. 9,000 units of power may not be impressive nowadays, but back then, this was proof that Goku was the strongest.

The beloved animated adaptation of Castlevania‘s latest installment, Nocturne, has finally received its official release window along with a gorgeously animated trailer to get fans excited for whats to come in the new year.

Originally announced in October 2023, the second season of Castlevania: Nocturne is dropping on Netflix in January 2025. The trailer gives fans a glimpse at Alucard and Richter’s impending, iconic team-up, along with a sneak peak at some of the enemies the pair will be pit against in the new season.

Castlevania: Nocturne‘s first season was a hit with critics and fans alike, scoring a 96% on Rotten Tomatoes. The series takes place in 1792 during the French Revolution and primarily follows Richter Belmont, a Vampire Hunter, alongside his adoptive sister Maria as they attempt the stop the rise of the Vampire Messiah. The end of season 1 marked the return of Alucard, the son of Dracula and an iconic figure that appeared in the original Castlevania animated adaptation.

Beginning on October 11, 2024, fans will be able to stream Dragon Ball DAIMA in Japanese with subtitles in the United States, Canada, Latin America including Brazil, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, India and Southeast Asia, with new episodes releasing every following week.

The story’s plot, from Crunchyroll:

Due to a conspiracy, Goku and his friends are turned small. What sort of adventure awaits Goku, Supreme Kai, and the new characters Glorio and Panzy in this unknown world, the “Demon Realm”?

The anime series is based on the original manga created by the legendary Akira Toriyama, and produced by Toei Animation. The original Dragon Ball anime series can also be streamed directly on Crunchyroll.

What is Jujutsu Kaisen’s Manga Release Schedule?

Jujutsu Kaisen releases weekly on Sundays and is available on Manga Plus and the VIZ Media Jujutsu Kaisen portal, with occasional hiatuses. Aside from the usual holiday breaks for Weekly Shonen Jump series like New Years, Golden Week, Obon, and Christmas, I will keep you posted on any developments.

Full Jujutsu Kaisen Manga Chapter Release Date Schedule (2024)

Please, note that the Jutusu Kaisen chapter release date schedule might change due to unforeseen circumstances regarding the author’s condition and problems with the magazine. If that happens, the data here will be updated to bring you the most accurate release schedule. As of early June 2024, Gege Akutami, the mangaka behind Jujutsu Kaisen, has announced that he will be taking a three week break as he deals with a series of health issues.

Given that Gege doesn’t take any breaks after he returns at the end of this month, Jujutsu Kaisen‘s schedule in 2024 should go as follows:

Fans will want to buckle up – it seems as though, with current events in the series, that Jujutsu Kaisen is officially coming to an end on Monday, September 30, 2024. At time of writing, only five chapters of the series remain, and with everything that’s happened, Gege has quite a bit of ground to cover before the mana concludes.

Full Jujutsu Kaisen Manga Chapter Release Date Schedule (2023)

Below you can find our previously-covered 2023 schedule! As you might have guessed, several unexpected hiatuses happened, but some explosive moments followed too!

It’s bittersweet to imagine the Dark Trio soon losing its second pillar, but the series has had a spectacular run! However, Chainsaw Man has lately been bringing up the rear with some crazy chapters of its own.

Whether they continue an existing story, adapt a popular manga, or exist as their own original concept, film and anime go together better than just about anything else. Plus, Netflix has been working hard to get some of the most beloved, critically acclaimed anime films available for fans around the globe.

Jujutsu Kaisen 0

The official prequel to the smash-hit shonen series Jujutsu Kaisen, Jujutsu Kaisen 0 introduces fans to Yuta Okkotsu, a permeating figure in the series’ key narrative, and his introduction to the world of jujutsu sorcery. Growing up outside the influence of the jujutsu world, Yuta’s fate is forever changed when his best friend, Rika, unexpectedly dies after the two make a vow to always be together.

From that moment on, Yuta tries to find a way to free Rika, believing that she’s cursed him and is attached to him due to their promise. Gojo intervenes, revealing that it’s actually Yuta who cursed her, and that he possesses far more power than the meek young man ever oculd have imagined.

One Piece Film: Red

The One Piece franchise is well known for being flashy and eccentric, and One Piece Film: Red dials this idea up to eleven. Starring Shanks’ estranged daughter, Uta, as the film’s antagonist – though not a traditional villain – FIlm: Red explores a more human and conflicted side to Shanks that fans don’t get to see much of in the canon series. Regardless of the viewer’s inherent knowledge of the franchise, anyone can enjoy One Piece Film: Red‘s striking visuals, fight sequences and songs, most of which are performed by popular Japanese vocalist Ado.

maboroshi

maboroshi is far from being the perfect film, with a convoluted and confusing story that may lose some audience members. That isn’t to say the film isn’t without its strengths, though. For what the film lacks in narrative, it excels with its visuals and unique character designs. The fantasy film follows a 14-year-old boy and his friends after an explosion in his small town leaves the area frozen, leaving his adolescent friend group to grapple with a fractured reality.

Complicated yet beautiful, for anime fans that enjoy indulging in high quality animation and beautifully illustrated landscapes, they shouldn’t miss out on what maboroshi has to offer.

Violet Evergarden the Movie

Violet Evergarden is a beautifully complex series from Kyoto Animation that explores a variety of bittersweet narrative themes, exploring everything from the grief left behind in the wake of war to the inherent longing human beings feel for one another. The feature length Violet Evergarden film is just as powerful as the television series, and finally puts a spotlight on the series’ main protagonist, expertly exploring her own grief and emotions she’s pushed down for far too many years.

While it is recommended to watch the original series before diving into the film, it’s a beautifully haunting film that uses its story to attempt to reunite Violet with her commanding officer after so many years estranged, with so much left unsaid between them.

The Quintessential Quintuplets Movie

Harem anime can divisive among anime fans, but occasionally there will be a series that successfully stands out from others in the infamous genre. Quintessential Quintuplets is one of those series, and the feature-length film, which is a sequel to the original anime series, beautifully wraps up the story with bright visuals and adorable character designs. While viewers do need to possess knowledge of the original anime, the Quintessential Quintuplets movie is worth a watch.

Words Bubble Up Like Soda Pop

Filled with unique visual flair and vibrant colors, Words Bubble Up Like Soda Pop is an eccentric exploration of adolescence that follows a reserved young man named Cherry who enjoys writing haiku poems to help him express his feelings, and Smile, an online influencer who wears a face mask to cover up her teeth, her biggest insecurity. This film is a fun, low stakes slice-of-life story for anime fans that need something to just kick back and relax.

5 Centimeters Per Second

Fondly remembered as one of – if not the best of – his films, Makoto Shinkai’s 5 Centimeters Per Second is a powerful, bittersweet love story that transcends the entire life of a young man named Takaki Tono exploring the complexities of life and love.

The film is divided into three seperate “episodes” that explore different periods in Tono’s life and his longstanding infatuation with a young woman named Akari that he grew up with. The film beautifully captures the idea of mutual longing, and learning that moving on isn’t black and white. While it is an emotionally taxing film, its final act is laced with an unavoidable silver lining that solidifies it as a classic.

Suzume

From the critically acclaimed director Makoto Shinkai, Suzume is the filmmaker’s latest work that’s successfully won hearts around the globe, even managing to branch into mainstream appeal. Set in a low fantasy environment, the titular Suzume accidentally opens a door that unleashes chaos on her world, forcing her to team-up with an eccentric young man to help her put the pieces back together.

Shinkai is no stranger to blending the fantastical with every day life, especially when it comes to exploring the complexities of the relationships young people make. Suzume is no different, and much like his other films, is filled with gorgeous environments and visuals.

Blue Giant

An adaptation of the original manga of the same name, Blue Giant is a fill that encapsulates artistry and musical passion in a wholly unique way that can bring even the most seasoned anime fans to tears. The story follows Dai Miyamoto, who, upon hearing a jazz performance, vows to become the world’s best saxophone player.

The film follows his journey as he begins to learn the tenor saxophone with no formal education or training. Blue Giant boasts absolutely stunning visuals and an impeccable musical score that truly solidify it as something special. The film perfectly translates Shinichi Ishizuka’s original manga to an animated medium, and it’s an absolute must-watch for anime fans on Netflix.

Luckily, the magazine’s latest addition doesn’t just look promising – it also marks the comeback of an all-star manga creating duo. Ichi the Witch, a joint project between Osamu Nishi (Welcome to Demon School! Iruma-kun) and Shiro Usazaki (the artist half of the short-lived Act-Age) is an absolutely gorgeous fantasy series that’s filled with potential.

In a world filled with magic witches and powerful creatures, one human hunter eagerly waits for the right moment to strike!

Shonen Jump on X

Ichi the Witch takes place in a high fantasy setting wherein witch’s have to hunt down the magic that they use in combat. The first chapter introduces the series’ protagonist, Ichi, after he swoops in to join a battle between the King of Magic and the strongest witch. The series boasts a gorgeous artstyle that is reminiscent of other major ongoing fantasy manga like Witch Hat Atelier and Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End.

While there’s only so much story that can be gleamed from the first chapter, the series has a lot of potential – and hopefully the series will survive long enough to be able to properly build its world and show readers what the iconic mangaka duo is capable of.

Ichi the Witch is available to read in English on Viz Media’s Shonen Jump service.

For “anime-only” fans that aren’t sold on adding the series to their seasonal watchlists, the latest trailer is an easy sell.

In addition to showing off additional visuals in the upcoming anime, the new trailer also gives fans a quick preview of the series’ opening theme, “UNDER and OVER”, written and performed by THE ORAL CIGARETTES.

Yakuza Fiancé is set to air in Japan beginning on October 7, 2024 on Tokyo MX at 11 PM JST, as well as Amazon Prime at roughly the same time. For audiences located in the west, Crunchyroll will be streaming the series in North America, South and Central America, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Oceania, and the Commonwealth of Independent States.

The anime will be produced by Studio DEEN, with leading staff members including Toshifumi Kawase as the lead director, Rika Takasugi handling scripts and writing, Itsuko Takeda in charge of character designs, and Masato Suzuki and Hiroaski Tsutsumi composing music for the series.

For those interested in getting caught up with the series before the anime begins airing, the original manga is available in English through Seven Seas Entertainment on retailers like Amazon.

There is also its treatment of female characters, avoiding the gender tropes so prevalent in shonen anime to portray a wider variety of female perspectives. With Jujutsu Kaisen coming to an end with just a few more chapters, fans now have the opportunity to experience other, similar shonen anime and manga that have gone under the radar.

Ushio To Tora 

Remember the initial relationship between Sukuna and Yuji? Now imagine that but if Sukuna was a softie who came around and started working with Yuji instead of against him. That’s the premise of Ushio To Tora. The anime centers around a young boy, Ushio Aotsuki and a supernatural tiger-like monster called Tora who follows him around. 

Ushio accidentally frees Tora at the start of the series, but is able to keep him from devouring him. The two’s relationship starts as an antagonistic one, but as Tora agrees to help Ushio, the antagonism becomes more comical than anything. The anime is fast-paced with lots of good action and plenty of funny scenes as the ancient tiger-like demon tries to adapt to modern life.

Devilman Crybaby 

Based on Go Nagai’s Devilman, Devilman Crybaby follows Akira Fudo, who becomes the titular Devilman after being possessed by a powerful demon named Amon. Not too different from Yuji gaining cursed energy via Sukuna’s possession of him – he major difference, however, is that unlike Yuji, Akira completely absorbs Amon, gaining access to all his powers.

The story then follows Akira’s childhood friend Ryo Asuka’s attempts to expose the existence of demons while protecting Akira’s secret, with plenty of twists along the way. Much like Jujutsu Kaisen, Devilman Crybaby is also a dark fantasy. The anime features a lot of graphic violence and adult content, making it a must-watch for any dark fantasy fan.

Fire Force 

Another dark fantasy like Jujutsu Kaisen, Fire Force features a post-apocalyptic world with few habitable areas after “The Great Cataclysm” set everything on fire. Almost 200 years after this incident, the Fire Force fights “Infernals”, humans made into living infernos via spontaneous human combustion. 

The anime follows Shinra Kusakabe, who’s a third generation pyrokinetic with the ability to ignite his feet at will. This leads him to join Special Fire Force Company 8 made up of other pyrokinetics. While there, Shinra learns that his presumed-dead brother was actually kidnapped by a doomsday cult called the White Clad. Now they’re after him to redo the Great Cataclysm for an ancient being. 

Beyond the Boundary

Despite its moe artstyle, Beyond the Boundary is a great series for fans of Jujutsu Kaisen to dive into, and is actually relatively short – making it a great binge-watch. The series follows Akihito Kanbara after rescuing his classmate, Mirai Kuriyama, from taking her own life. Suddenly, Mirai stabs Akihito with a sword, discovering that the very normal-looking Akihito is actually a “half-youmu”, making him immortal. Akihito subsequently discovers that Mirai is a Spirit World Warrior sworn to protect humanity from youmu.

She’s also the last surviving member of her clan, so, in classic shonen fashion –she and Akihito join forces to help her gain enough confidence to properly fight youmu. Beyond the Boundary is a gorgeous series, whose animation is just as impactful as its story. It’s a great choice for fans that want something that isn’t afraid to deliver powerful gut-punches to its audience.

D. Gray-Man 

Katsura Hoshino’s D.Gray-Man takes place in an alternate 19th century where exorcists fight to protect humanity against demons called Akuma. This premise is already similar to Jujutsu Kaisen’s, except Akuma are artificial creatures made by the Millennium Earl. 

In contrast to Jujutsu Kaisen’s sorcerers use cursed energy, D.Gray-Man’s exorcists fight using sentient holy artifacts called Innocence. The titular character Allen Walker starts by working with other Black Order exorcists to search for Innocence, but things quickly become complicated as the series continues.

Hell’s Paradise

Hell’s Paradise asks its audience what they would be willing to do to return home with grisly, horrific body horror and mythology-fueled action. The series follows “Gabimaru the Hollow”, a shinobi on death row with a reputation as a soulless, mindless killing machine, who’s given the opportunity to earn his freedom by traveling to a deadly island of Shisenkyo in search of the elusive elixir of youth.

Competing against other death row inmates, Gabimaru, alongside his would-be executioner must traverse the deadly landscape and survive against not only other criminals, but against the horrific monsters on Shisenkyo.

Soul Eater 

Soul Eater is a shonen anime set at the Death Weapon Meister Academy or DWMA, a school for humans that can transform into weapons and their Meisters who can wield them. The anime follows Meister Maka Albarn and her scythe partner, Soul “Eater” Evans, on their journey to have Soul ‘eat’ the souls of 99 evil humans and one witch to turn into a “death scythe”.

Akame Ga Kill!

One of the edgiest anime of its time, Akame Ga Kill! is a staple for fans of anime that get gritty and dark just for the sake of breaking the hearts of its audience. The series initially follows Tatsumi, a young man who’s setting off to the Capital to earn enough money to send home and aid his poverty-stricken village. After unsuccessfully trying to join the army, Tatsumi is taken in by a noble family in the city who gets attacked by a group of assassins called the Night Raid. He then, in true edgy fashion, learns that this noble family was planning to brutally torture him.

After surviving the attack made on the family, Tatsumi joins the Night Raid, consisting of powerful fighters – including the titular Akame – who wield Teigu, ancient weaponry forged 900 years before the story takes place. Life doesn’t get any easier, though, as being a member of the Night Raid is filled with grievous challenges that threaten Tatsumi and the other member’s lives at every turn.

Baccano! 

Featuring alchemists, demons, and immortals, Baccano! is a highly underrated 16-episode anime based on Ryohgo Narita’s award-winning light novels by the same name. The anime follows a non-linear storyline with lots of interesting characters and has a good mix of drama, adventure, action, and fantasy.

Much like Jujutsu Kaisen, many Baccano! characters are highly eccentric, like the assassin Vino or the nonsensical thief duo Isaac and Miria. The anime even features immortals reminiscent of Jujutsu Kaisen’s Master Tengen, except Baccano!’s immortals do not age or evolve beyond the point they became immortal.

Dororo 

Dororo follows the mysterious warrior Hyakkimaru as he travels with a young Dororo in Sengoku era Japan. Hyakkimaru had his organs and limbs sacrificed to demons as a newborn. Now, much like Yuji and his fellow sorcerers’ quest to collect all of Sukuna’s fingers, Hyakkimaru is on a journey to regain his body by fighting and killing these demons.

Much like Jujutsu Kaisen, Dororo also falls in the dark fantasy genre, although the former has more adventure elements while Dororo is more horror and action elements. There’s also a parallel between Dororo’s Hyakkimaru and Jujutsu Kaisen’s Mechamaru, as both have weak/damaged bodies and must rely on prosthetics to fight. 

Tokyo Ghoul 

Tokyo Ghoul‘s anime adaptation is far from being perfect, and while the original manga absolutely reigns supreme, those wanting to fill the void left behind in Jujutsu Kaisen‘s absence would be missing out if they didn’t at least give the series a try.

The anime follows Ken Kaneki, a young man who exists in an alternate version of the real world where a subspecies of humans called ghouls exist, creating a looming threat as they can only survive by consuming human flesh. Going about his days as a normal young adult, Ken is asked out by a striking woman named Rize, who reveals herself to be a ghoul and tries to eat him, when in a twist of fate, heavy construction materials collapse, killing her and injuring Kaneki. Awaking in the hospital, surgeons inform Kaneki that they replaced his damaged organs with Rize, and in turn, he begins to realize that he’s turning into a ghoul.

Yu Yu Hakusho 

While not exactly underrated, Yu Yu Hakusho is a great retro shounen anime centered on a teenage delinquent named Yusuke Urameshi. Despite his troubled past, Yusuke has a soft side, much like Jujutsu Kaisen‘s protagonist Yuji Itadori. After Yusuke dies trying to protect a kid from a car accident, he enters the afterlife where he is named the Spirit Detective and sent back. 

This opening is very similar to Jujutsu Kaisen’s, with both Yuji and Yusuke being sucked into the world of supernatural creatures due to circumstances beyond their control. And while Yusuke’s new position is initially about investigating cases concerning demons and spirits, the anime quickly transitions into a more fighting-oriented one.

Shaman King

A supernatural adventure like Jujutsu Kaisen, Shaman King follows the medium Yoh Asakura on his quest to become the Shaman King capable of channeling the Great Spirit. To do this, Yoh must win the Shaman Fight, a tournament held once every 500 years.

While this anime is very different from Jujutsu Kaisen on the surface, thanks to its tournament style, fans of the Kyoto Goodwill Event arc will find it to be a very enjoyable watch nonetheless. The series features lots of interesting characters, imaginative plot twists, and nonstop action which will have any shonen fan hooked.

Noragami: Stray God

Noragami is a supernatural shonen series that follows a minor God named Yato who yearns to someday be recognized and have a shrine made in his honor. One day, Yato is saved from being hit by a young woman named Hiyori, who tragically dies in the process. Her soul becomes suspended in an in-between state, and requests Yato’s help to return her to normal. As the two bond and spend more time together, she becomes involved in the matters of gods, the afterlife, and other supernatural beings.

The series explores concepts like death and identity through many tried-and-true shonen tropes, and, much like Jujutsu Kaisen, tackles it all in a narrative structure that doesn’t spoon-feed its audience its true message.

Blue Exorcist

In the world of Blue Exorcist, demons possess living beings to hide unnoticed among humans. But like Jujutsu Kaisen, there are Exorcists who can see and destroy these demons. The story follows Rin Okumura, who, along with twin brother Yukio Okumura, is the son of Satan. Neither care much for that fact, with Rin seeking revenge against Satan for the death of their adoptive father. 

The main character’s origins are reminiscent of Jujutsu Kaisen’s Yuji, who doesn’t have the most conventional parentage either and gained his power by getting possessed by the King of Curses Sukuna. 

Trying to chase this success, Netflix will be bringing another Shonen Jump giant to live-action, and we can only hope that their take on Demon Slayer will be able to match the same level of passion and quality poured into One Piece.

According to Giant Freakin Robot, Demon Slayer, another wildly successful shonen series with mainstream appeal will be receiving a live-action adaptation on the streaming giant. With the anime adaptation set to conclude after the release of the Infinity Castle films, it actually makes sense for Netflix to be making this move. If the studio manages to pull it off, a live-action adaptation could be just what fans need after the tear-jerking finale finally releases.

Of course, when compared to something like One Piece, Demon Slayer has a much tighter narrative, concluding after releasing only 23 collected volumes. One Piece‘s first season was able to condense 50 of the original anime’s episodes, but what would a structure like this look like for a story like Demon Slayer? Visual effects will also play a huge roll in adapting Demon Slayer, as properly depicting the different Breathing Techniques and demon designs might pose a challenge.

We can’t speculate much until Netflix gives us more to work with, but until then, we can at least look forward to the second season of the live-action One Piece and wonder if the inevitable live-action Demon Slayer can keep up the pace with good live-action anime adaptations.

One of the biggest mysteries surrounding Yamato was who mothered Kaido’s fiery heir, but with the help of One Piece‘s “Vivre Cards”, fans have started to piece together their mother’s identity.

While nothing has been explicitly confirmed, Yamato’s Vivre Card revealed that they’re roughly 28-years-old. Interestingly, when Kaido landed on Wano, he was conspiring with none other than Higurashi, who is capable of changing forms around the same time Yamato would have been born.

This, interestingly enough, points to Higurashi being a prime candidate to have being the person that mothered Yamato. Even more interesting is that Higurashi was ultimately killed by Kaido – so, if the rumors are true, Yamato will never have a chance at a mother-son reunion.

Source: Comicbook

Warning: The following contains major spoilers for the final arc of Jujutsu Kaisen.

During the Shinjuku Showdown arc, Gojo decides to take Sukuna on in a one-to-one battle. While it seems to be a fair fight in the beginning – as fair as it could be against the King of Curses – in Chapter #236, Gojo is defeated, and subsequently killed. To rub salt in the wound, something Gege Akutami excels in, Gojo has a quick flashback to a conversation he shared with Geto, wherein the pair express the idea that we’re ultimately alone when we die.

Gojo Tragically Suffers the Same Fate as His Closest Friend

In Chapter #261, after copying Kenjaku’s cursed technique and acting in a moment of desperation to try and finish Sukuna off, Yuta Okkotsu does the only thing he feels like he can, and takes over Gojo’s body, piloting it like Kenjaku did to Geto.

This turn of events has devastating implications, showing that even in death, Gojo was treated as though he was nothing more than a weapon by the mass majority of jujutsu society. The reveal of Yuta taking over Gojo’s body was poetic and tragic, and led to Gojo unofficially having a rematch against Sukuna. Of course, being Yuta’s first time piloting another living person, he struggles to control Gojo’s body, and is swiftly defeated by Sukuna in Chapter #262.

Jujutsu Kaisen is available to read in English on Viz Media’s Shonen Jump service, with the anime adaptation available on Crunchyroll.

Set to release on October 11, 2024, both Dragon Ball Daima and Dragon Ball Sparking! Zero tackle two very different mediums, but give fans of Toriyama’s smash-hit shonen something to hang on to and enjoy for the remainder of the year.

Daima, a brand-new anime series whose concept, story, and character designs were all handled by Akira Toriyama, takes place in the Demon Realm and follows Goku and Vegeta in pint-sized forms trying to figure out a way to go back to normal. Sparking! Zero is a new game being released by Bandai Namco coming to PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC that’s loaded with gorgeously animated fight sequences and some of the best graphics that any of the Dragon Ball fighters have ever had.

While Toriyama is sorely missed by fans around the globe, it’s great to see that his legacy has been truly memorialized and continues to live on in his absence.

Nobara Fugisaki is one of Jujutsu Kaisen‘s most popular characters. This made Jujutsu Kaisen Season 2, Episode #20 very painful to watch – especially for fans that wanted to see more of her character. At the end of the episode, the no-nonsense country girl was brutally cut down by the Cursed Spirit Mahito.

Fans of the Jujutsu Kaisen manga by Gege Akutami have known this painful moment was coming for some time, but many still aren’t sure if Nobara somehow managed to survive the attack.

The Fight Between Mahito & Nobara Was Epic, But Quick

Mahuto’s Idle Transfiguration Cursed Technique is one the deadliest in all of Jujutsu Kaisen, instantly killing or transforming its target into deformed monsters that are probably better off dead. However, while Idle Transformation did blow mutilate part of Nobara’s face, it was never confirmed during the Shibuya Incident arc what happened to her.

In the manga, Aoi Todo and Aratta Nita arrive on the scene soon after Nobara hits the floor, and Nita tells Yuji that he might be able to save her. Nita’s Cursed Technique, Pain Kille, allows the first-year Jujtusu High student to soothe pain and prevent injuries from worsening. However, Nita makes it clear that her chances of survival are still low.

“Rejoice, Boys” – Nobara’s Comeback Was Shocking For Fans

Against all odds, Nobara Kugisaki is alive. In a shocking turn of events, it was officially confirmed during Chapter #267 of the manga that the fiery young sorcerer was, in fact, still alive and ready to help Megumi and Yuji take down Sukuna once and for all.

During the chapter, it was revealed through a flashback that the reason Gojo refused to let Rika eat Sukuna’s last finger was that he was plotting one final scheme, that if Nobara woke up from her coma in time, she would be able to use her Cursed Technique to attack Sukuna’s soul directly. While Chapter #265 initially seemed to confirm that she had in fact died, it was also revealed that many of the supporting characters were deliberately withholding the truth from Yuji just in case Sukuna still had a mental link with him to ensure that the King of Curses wouldn’t try to truly finish Nobara off.

While shocking for many, it’s great to see Jujutsu Kaisen‘s main trio finally reunited after hundreds of chapters filled with devastation and heartache.

Jujutsu Kaisen is available in English through Viz Media’s Shonen Jump service. The anime adaptation is available to stream on Crunchyroll.

From the first chapter of the manga, Ryomen Sukuna is set up to be a truly sinister, almost omnipotent force in the realm of jujutsu sorcery, earning himself the title as the “King of Curses”.

It’s always been obvious that Sukuna would end up being the final challenge faced by the characters in Jujutsu Kaisen, but for some fans that might not be caught up with the manga, it’s unclear what exactly happened to him.

Did Ryomen Sukuna Die?

As of chapter #268 of Jujutsu Kaisen, Sukuna has been defeated – being killed by Yuji, Megumi, and Nobara. When the chapter begins, Sukuna and Megumi have a conversation with one another in their shared space, and Megumi becomes strikingly aware that Sukuna has grown desperate in their conflict.

The battle continues, and Yuji makes one last attempt to truly connect with the King of Curses, offering to share his body with him again as a vessel so that the two can live together and walk their own path, so to speak. Sukuna of course refuses, wanting to prove that he’s truly a curse and chooses to go out on his own terms.

Considering the astronomically high stakes and lives lost to finally make it to this point in the story, Sukuna’s demise feels poetically pathetic, reducing the villains to nothing more than what is literally a fraction of his former self, slinging insults at Yuji until the very end.

Jujutsu Kaisen by Gege Akutami is available to read each week in English through Viz Media’s Shonen Jump service, with the anime adaptation available to stream on Crunchyroll.

When Jujutsu Kaisen originally released and began gaining traction with mainstream anime fans, it was clear from the get-go that despite its tropes, Gege Akutami’s action-horror manga truly excelled in showcasing complex and nuanced female characters – something that other shonen manga has notoriously struggled with in the past.

Unfortunately, as the series has progressed and approaches its grand finale, it’s become increasingly frustrating to see how the women in the story have been treated – even with Nobara making a heroic comeback to the narrative just in time to wrap up all the loose ends left behind from Sukuna’s defeat.

When Jujutsu Kaisen initially introduces its audience to its female characters, it goes to great lengths to make them feel as self actualized as possible. Nobara Kugisaki is a young woman in the same class as Megumi and Yuji who is filled with self confidence. She shows no romantic interest in either of the male leads, and has her own very clearly defined goals. Maki Zenin, one of the “main 3″‘s upperclassman is similarly independent, and makes the best of her circumstances to truly make herself a uniquely powerful combatant as someone who’s incapable of using Cursed Energy.

While some of the women introduced in the anime and manga do fall into some common tropes, like Miwa’s meek and sometimes cowardly behavior, each of them exist purely on their own and aren’t used as “vessels” for any of the male character’s progression – at least, that’s how it is at first.

How Jujutsu Kaisen Subverted Stereotypes In Shonen, and Then Fell Into the Same Trap

The trouble truly begins right as the Shibuya Incident arc comes to a close. With Nobara seemingly dead along with a number of other characters in the cast, Yuji and the rest of the sorcerer society are left heartbroken and exhausted. Upon hearing about Mechamaru’s death and learning that he held feelings for her, Miwa chooses to completely retire as a sorcerer. While not completely unrealistic, it was shocking and, in all honesty, disappointing to see a side character that had so much potential as an “unlikely hero” type to rise up and avenge her friend, only to throw it all away in her grief.

From this point on, the female characters in Jujutsu Kaisen are treated very differently. Shortly after the Shibuya Incident, Maki has her major character moment – completely wiping out the Zenin clan. This act of (deserved) violence effectively morphs her into what many fans call “Toji 2.0”, and while not an incorrect descriptor, Maki doesn’t fall into the exact same deranged headspace as Megumi’s father. Still, the story begins to insist upon comparing her to Toji instead of recognizing that she is still very much still herself. It removes her agency from her choice, and in many ways makes what she did less impactful – especially when looking back on the powerful moment she shared with her sister.

The Special-Grade Sorcerer Yuki Was Killed Off So Quickly, It Made Her Status Seem Like Nothing

One of the biggest mistakes that Jujutsu Kaisen ever made in its writing was how it handled the death of one of the series most eccentric and interesting women, Yuki. Yuki was one of four special-grade sorcerers that existed in the series, and her methods and reasonings were rich with storytelling potential. Yuki refused to take on missions and vehemently opposed the methods of the higher-ups.

Yuki marched to the beat of her own drum and was insanely powerful, which made her special. Her abilities were incredible, including her innate Cursed Technique, Star Rage, which allowed her to grant herself and her shikigami Garuda virtual mass to deliver devastating blows. She could also heal herself and had an ability called “Simple Domain” that allowed her to resist a Domain Expansion’s special attack, something that she passed on to Todo.

Unfortunately, though, despite her many strengths, Yuki was ultimately killed in a battle against Kenjaku. Selflessly using the last bit of strength she had to punch a black hole in existence to eliminate the antagonist, he ultimately survived, with Choso later confirming that Kenjaku had managed to kill Yuki in the process.

Look: characters die, especially in a series like Jujutsu Kaisen. However, Yuki Tsukumo was among the four strongest sorcerers in the world, and received an ending that was undeserving of her strength, and the way that the series had hyped her up opened plenty of doors to take her story in an interesting direction, especially when looking at Jujutsu Kaisen‘s biggest conflicts.

All in all, despite the series having some of the best written female characters in the shonen demographic, especially in terms of the type of manga published by Weekly Shonen Jump, Jujutsu Kaisen ultimately fumbled what made these characters so interesting by robbing them of their depth, character arcs, and agency in the narrative.

Beginning on Thursday, September 5, 2024 at 5 PM Pacific, 7 PM CST, and 8 PM EST, Spy x Family CODE: White will be widely available for audiences around the world in Japanese with subtitles and dubbed in English, Latin American Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese, French, German, Italian, and Castilian Spanish.

The film follows an anime-original story that stands alone from Tatsuya Endo’s original manga and anime adaptation, and follows the Forgers as Loid takes them on a totally normal weekend getaway when Anya accidentally finds herself involved in a dangerous sequence of events that threatens world peace. The film features two original songs by Official Hige Dandism and Gen Hoshino (titled “SOULSOUP” and “Why”, respectively) who also produced the opening and ending themes from season 1 of the anime.

Seasons 1 & 2 of Spy x Family are available to stream on Crunchyroll.

With My Hero Academia‘s manga officially coming to a close this year and the anime adaptation rapidly catching up, anime-only fans have been holding their breath to see who will survive to see the end of the war.

In an interview published by Comicbook.com, Elizabeth Maxwell, the English voice actor who plays Midnight in My Hero Academia‘s English dub recently spoke with the outlet at DragonCon in Atlanta, GA to discuss the anime, her character, and her bittersweet feelings toward Midnight’s final moments.

In the interview, Maxwell stated:

“With all due respect to the creators, who I respect to the moon and back, I was disappointed that we didn’t get to see Midnight’s last stand, especially since an episode or two ago, we saw these beautiful fight scenes with pro-heroes and see them fighting for their lives. It was a little disappointing to me that her fight and death was a little glossed over but it was still really cool and heartbreaking to portray those last moments. She’s a Momma Bear and to go down feeling like you let your babies down is heartbreaking.”

Elizabeth Maxwell in an interview with Comicbook.com

The quote is in reference to Midnight’s death, more specifically, how the UA teacher was killed off-screen. The moment is heartbreaking, especially in the original manga where the solemn paneling adds an additional layer of heartbreak for the characters, but Maxwell is right – it is painful to see a character as beloved by fans as Midnight have her epic final moments happen completely off screen.

For fans that want to see more of the UA teacher, there is a silver-lining. In the My Hero Academia spin-off manga, My Hero Academia: Vigilantes, Midnight actually plays a rather significant role in the story, detailing her life before the events of My Hero Academia alongside other fan-favorite pro heroes like Present Mic and Eraserhead.

Source: Comicbook.com

There latest anime announcement brings another classic series to the spotlight that dates back to the late 80s.

Debuting with a flashy trailer, Wit Studio has officially announced that they’ll be handling a remake of the classic series Yaiba, based on the original manga series created by Gosho Aoyama that originally ran from 1988 to 1993. In addition to dropping a gorgeous PV, the studio also revealed the series’ key visual, as well as the anime’s staff and voice cast.

Yaiba’s Cast & Staff

The Yaiba remake boasts an impressive staff lineup, including Takahiro Hasui (Mob Psycho III) who will be directing the series, alongside Toko Machida (Kemono Michi: Rise Up), who will be handling series composition; Yoshimichi Kameda (Mob Psycho 100), who will be working on character designs and chief animation direction; and music composition being handled by Yoshiaki Dewa (Hell’s Paradise) and Yutaka Yamada (Vinland Saga).

The upcoming anime adaptation will also feature what’s shaping up to be a strong voice cast, with Sayaka Mine being voiced by Manaka Iwami (who also voices Akane in Oshi no Ko); Takeshi Onimaru being voiced by the legendary Yoshimasa Hosoya (who voices Reiner in Attack on Titan); and Yaiba Kurogane, the protagonist, who will be voiced by Minami Takayama (best known for her role as Conan Edogawa in Case Closed).

While there’s no official release date at this time, the trailer looks gorgeous and shows off every bit of visual flair that Wit Studio is known for. On the anime’s official website, they describe Yaiba as:

The protagonist, Yaiba (Kurogane Yaiba), is a wild samurai boy who trains in the jungle with his father, Kenjuro! By chance, Yaiba returns to Japan, where he meets his rival Takeshi Onimaru, who has the same samurai spirit as Yaiba, in a new training ground.

Yaiba is living a life of serious competition, but when Onimaru obtains the “Legendary Demon Sword”, he is on a journey full of spectacle and great adventure…!

Source: Yaiba Official X Account, Yaiba Official Website

With brand-new chapters on the way, so are collected volumes of the series, and a brand-new trailer showing off fan-favorite characters of the manga just dropped to hype fans up before Volume 38 hits bookstore shelves on September 4, 2024.

The trailer shows off members of the ever-frightening Phantom Troupe in manga panels from throughout the series in a striking monotone palette.

Volume 38 of Hunter x Hunter compiles ten chapters of the original manga, specifically chapters 391 – 400. The volume continues the Succession Contest arc, which began with Chapter 349 and opened by putting the spotlight on Kurapika, who’s hired as a bodyguard for the youngest prince of the Kakin Empire in an attempt to get closer to the owner of the Scarlet Eyes.

Ahead of the comic’s official release on November 13, 2024, a brand-new alternate cover for the first issue of the comic – featuring art by the extremely talented Kim Jacinto – which depicts Naruto Uzumaki using his iconic Rasengan ability alongside the turtles in similar action-packed poses.

As revealed by Anime News Network, the cover is vibrant and filled with movement – which makes the already exciting collaboration even more interesting. Caleb Goellner, who’s writing the comic, told Anime News Network:

Can you believe Kim Jacinto’s awesome cover? It’s beyond humbling to get to be part of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles x Naruto crossover and to see artists like Kim, Hendry Prasetya, Jorge Jiménez, Felipe Smith, and others put their respective spins on Masashi Kishimoto and Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird’s creations. We’ve been working hard to deliver pure fun with the power of friendship and can’t wait to show everyone what we’ve got cooking.”

While this collaboration may seem unexpected to many, it’s shaping up to be a project made up of pure passion – something that fans of these two franchises absolutely adore.

Source: Anime News Network

Under the direction of showrunner and executive producer Mattson Tomlin, Terminator Zero, produced by Production I.G., No Brakes, Skydance Television, and Netflix Anime has successfully met fan (and critic) expectation, debuting with an outstanding 100% on Rotten Tomatoes (with a 91% audience score).

Critics raving about the series say that Terminator Zero has incredibly high production value, with gorgeous animation, intense action sequences, and a meaningful story discussing humanity, mortality, and morality.

Terminator Zero takes place in 1997 Tokyo, and follows Malcolm Lee, a man developing a powerful AI system named “Kokoro” that’s designed to compete with the infamous Skynet. Right before Judgement Day, Malcolm finds himself, as well as his children, being hunted by an indestructible robot when a mysterious soldier from the distant future finds him, claiming that they’ve been sent to protect him.

Terminator Zero is available on Netflix

The cosplay emulates one of Chappell’s iconic outfits with the addition of Chopper’s hat and antlers, creating an adorable combo that nobody could have expected. Complete with a sash that reads: “Chopper Roan”, the cosplayer goes on to explain in the initial post’s replies that the look was inspired by a piece that they had commissioned earlier in the year:

Considering Chappell Roan’s rapid and overwhelming rise to fame, it’s awesome to see fans of the pop star from every corner of the internet find a way to mesh the star’s iconic looks with their favorite characters and other fandom projects.

Recently, fans of the manga artist learned that drawing next-level art isn’t the only thing Murata is talented at – in fact, Murata is a hardcore bodybuilder.

Placing 2nd in the championship, the artist even used the song “The Hero” from the One-Punch Man anime adaptation for his stage performance.

While it’s not surprising that manga artists have hobbies – after all, they’re people too – it is awesome to see that the artist behind such an incredible skill that compliments the characters he writes about.

The renowned studio will be producing an animated promotional video (PV) to celebrate Transformers‘ 40th anniversary.

The announcement video shows off action-packed sequences between different autobots from throughout the series, and given Studio Trigger’s propensity to create passionate and fluid animations, the PV is sure to be astounding.

Plus, with the studio’s history with large-scale action series – especially their work on Gurren Lagann and Promare, which feature mech-like designs – Trigger is the perfect choice to do justice to the long running robotic franchise.

In a landslide victory, Takeru Hokazono’s Kagurabachi took first place in 2024’s NEXT MANGA AWARD with an astounding 101,000 votes – beating out the second and third place winners that received 33,000 and 30,000 votes, respectively.

In 2023, Seitokai ni mo Ana wa Aru! by Muchimaro took home first place with 40,000 votes. The fact Kagurabachi has managed to double the previous year’s winner in votes is astounding, even for a Shonen Jump series.

Kagurabachi is published in English by Viz Media, who describes the series as:

Chihiro Rokuhira’s father, Kunishige, is the most famous swordsmith in the land. Thanks to his six enchanted blades, the war that has been gripping the nation ends, and peaceful days follow. After the war, he retrieves all six blades and hides them in the cellar of his workshop—but sorcerers raid his home and leave Kunishige dead in front of Chihiro. Many years later, Chihiro wields Kunishige’s seventh and final enchanted blade on a mission to retrieve the stolen swords!

Viz Media

Kagurabachi is available on Viz Media’s official Shonen Jump service, with physical volumes available through retailers like Amazon beginning in November 2024.

To celebrate the grand finale, Shonen Jump recently launched a brand-new popularity poll to commemorate the series, and the results were astounding.

While it may not be surprising to some fans of the series, the latest Jujutsu Kaisen popularity poll was a landslide victory for Gojo Satoru:

• Gojo – 113,392 votes

• Yuji – 48,131 votes

• Megumi – 28,502 votes

• Geto – 19,156 votes

• Naoya – 11,731 votes

• Choso – 6,247 votes

• Yuta – 5,991 votes

• Nanami – 4,162 votes

• Sukuna – 4,077 votes

• Toji – 3,218 votes

The series’ strongest sorcerer stomped the competition, earning double the votes compared the the series’ lead protagonist, Yuji Itadori. It’s of course nice to still see Nanami make it onto the list, considering how impactful his death was on the series all the way back in the recently animated Shibuya Incident arc.

The editor of the series, Shehei Lin, shares a deep love for the series alongside the mangaka, and in a recent interview, described what makes the series so fun to read and plan with Yukinobu.

In the interview, Shehei said about the series:

I think it is a story that almost nobody can predict what will happen next. Both Tatsu and I enjoy the unexpected turns we take during our meetings… When he thinks up something outrageous and tells me about it, I usually laugh or back away. But if I laugh, it is often the right way to go… so I hope readers can enjoy it.

Shehei oversees much of the content published through Shonen Jump+, and seeing the editor show a genuine love and admiration for the zany flair that Yukinobu gives his writing is admirable, and makes it clear that he’s an editor that truly commends passion and personality.

Additionally, Yukinobu Tatsu discussed the series’ focus on the occult, describing how stories about the occult were popular when he attended elementary school, and his love for the series Gakko no Kaidan (School Ghost Stories). The mangaka goes on to explain how his fascination with supernatural topics in his youth directly influenced the creation of Dandadan, which explains what shaped the series into what it has become.

There’s truly no better time to become invested in Dandadan, with Science Saru (the studio behind Devilman Crybaby) set to drop the anime adaptation starting in October 2024.

The manga is currently ongoing, and is available in English through Viz Media.

As the industry has grown and legal distribution has become more widespread, production companies have finally decided to take a step in cracking down on one of their biggest roadblocks: piracy.

Every entertainment industry has dealt with piracy in its own unique ways, but for anime and manga, it can be complicated. There are tons of websites that host unofficial “scanlations” – scans of manga that are translated without holding rights to localizing the original series – of manga, or unofficial distribution of anime series.

There have been talks for several months now that both industries would begin taking measures against this, with Kumamoto Prefectural Police arresting two individuals in February 2024 on charges of various Copyright crimes for distributing leaks illegal scans from Weekly Shonen Jump.

More recently, more than ten popular unofficial anime streaming sites have been wiped from the web, proving how hard industry officials are working to get anime fans to support the official release and distribution of their favorite series.

Which Anime Streaming Sites Were Shut Down?

In the recent anime piracy crackdown, the following piracy sites were shut down:

• filmoflix
• papadustream
• animesuge
• vidsrc2
• 2flix
• theflixtor
• mov2day
• fboxz
• cinezone
• aniwave (9 Anime)
• zoroxtv

While it may be frustrating to some to see these sites shut down, there’s no better time to support the official releases of anime and manga, with publishers and global distributers ramping up the releases of of physical and digital media, and most anime being released with a simulcasting schedule that allows Western fans to watch anime the same day as Japanese audiences.

Though short-lived, the arc left a major impact on viewers, and Deku’s drastically different costume was just the right amount of edgy to become iconic among fans of My Hero Academia‘s anime and original manga, as well as people that are outside of the fandom.

In a stunning photo from AnimeNYC 2024, redditer u/Cosplayben shared stunning photos of his own spin on “Dark Deku” that’s good enough to appear in a live-action adaptation of the popular shonen series.

Cosplayben Elevates Dark Deku With Incredible Results

The craftsmanship on u/Cosplayben’s Dark Deku cosplay is impeccable, with the added textures on the fabric giving the character a rigid comic-book look. Additionally, the work put into bringing the mask on the suit to life translating stunningly well for a real-world suit.

The work put into u/Cosplayben’s cosplay makes the sting of how short the story arc ended up being hurt just a little bit more, however, the passion and love put into to such a brief costume change for the protagonist of My Hero Academia is admirable, and shows how dedicated fans of the series are to representing the franchise.

My Hero Academia can be streamed on Crunchyroll, and the original manga is available in English through Viz Media’s Shonen Jump imprint.

The series is recognized as being a gateway for many anime fans, and despite lukewarm reception to its sequel, Boruto, Naruto Uzumaki’s journey is still beloved by anime and manga fans.

Kishimoto Mentioned He May Return To Manga – But Family Comes First

The famous mangaka recently stated during an interview with French manga publisher Kana alongside Boruto co-writer Mikio Ikemoto that:

“It’s a difficult question. I think I have a goal, but the most important thing is to spend time with my family. I love the moments with the fans, I want to have a little more. I think that in these moments I find motivation and will for a new work.”

He didn’t drop any details on the type of story he’d want to write next, or even when he would consider picking up a pen – but it seems as though Kishimoto is motivated to get back to work, eventually.

Kishimoto has tried to make manga outside of the Naruto canon in the past, most notably being the very short-lived Samurai 8: The Tale of Hachimaru, The series only ran for only around one year (from May 13, 2019 to March 23, 2020), and was reviewed critically by some for being geared for a far younger audience than Naruto. With only five collected volumes compared to Naruto‘s 72, Samurai 8 was never going to reach the same heights.

Regardless of what Kishimoto decides to do next in his career, his legacy has been secured thanks to everyone’s favorite shinobi, Naruto Uzumaki.

When faced with this choice, Eren chooses to destroy the world with the Rumbling. But the series’ ending suggests that’s not what the Rumbling was really about.

Explaining Attack on Titan’s Controversial Ending

In the last five chapters of Attack on Titan’s manga, the Rumbling comes to an end after Zeke reveals himself to Captain Levi who immediately beheads him. This redeeming sacrifice happens after a conversation with Armin in the Path. But despite Zeke’s death and Eren’s Titan being beheaded, the nightmare is far from over.

As the shiny centipede from previous chapters releases a gas shifting all nearby Eldians except the Titan Shifters and Ackerman’s into mindless titans, Mikasa sees a vision of a different life with Eren where he asks her to forget him. The vision ends with Mikasa rejecting that wish, tying Eren’s scarf back around her neck and making her way inside Eren’s new Titan form‘s mouth to kill him.

Armin also recalls a vision of Eren telling him his reasons for triggering the Rumbling. Vision Eren admits he pushed Mikasa and Armin away to set them up as humanity’s heroes. He then tells Armin about how the Founder Ymir’s restriction lasted 2000 years because she was in love with King Fritz. She’s finally freed from this love by Mikasa, although how or why is something even Vision Eren doesn’t know.

The vision’s surroundings shift as Armin asks Eren if he really thinks Mikasa could live happily with someone else. Vision Eren is initially apathetic, but when Armin gets angry, he admits he only wants her to have feelings for him. Armin exits the vision/memory to see Mikasa holding Eren’s severed head and after the two mourn their friend, she leaves to give him a proper burial. 

At the same time, the Eldians who transformed into Titans earlier become human again as the power of Titans is completely erased from the world. Eren’s former comrades also remember being visited by him, and they all mourn his death before reuniting with their remaining friends and family. Mikasa then sees a vision of Ymir who she bids goodbye to and the story skips to three years later.

What the Attack on Titan Epilogue Means

Three years after “The Battle of Heaven and Earth” we see Historia with her family while Eldia forms an army to defend against the remainders of humanity who hold a grudge against them. At this point, a group consisting of Armin, Reiner, Jean, Connie, Pieck, and Annie sails to Paradis to serve as ambassadors of peace negotiations between them and the Allied Nations. A flashback reveals Levi living in Marley with Onyankopon, Gabi, and Falco.

Meanwhile, Mikasa sits at Eren’s grave, telling him that everyone will be there to see him soon. The next few panels feature even more time skips, with one panel showing a woman who is implied to be Mikasa visiting Eren’s grave with a man and a child. We next see an aged Mikasa dying and being buried with her scarf while Paradis becomes a land of tall skyscrapers.

The following panels see Paradis carpet-bombed by the rest of the world with the manga‘s very last page featuring a young boy and his dog standing in front of a tall tree greatly resembling the one Ymir originally got her powers from. The cycle of war and hatred among humans continues, but whether this nameless boy’s story will end the same way as Eren’s or meet a better fate, only time can tell.

Differences Between the Anime and Manga Endings

Armin’s Vision 

One noticeable difference between the Attack on Titan anime and manga can be seen when Armin meets Eren in his vision. The anime alters this scene a bit to be more consistent with Armin’s personality and better embody the two’s friendship. Unlike the manga, Armin tells Eren near the start of the vision; that although he’s set them up as the world’s heroes, that’s not a role they intend to play.

Later, when Eren tells Armin that he will destroy 80% of humanity and that outcome has been determined, Armin argues with him, saying the massacre hasn’t occurred yet so he could just stop it. This leads Eren to reveal that he’s tried to change things multiple times. But the outcome is always the one he saw in his memories of the future. This change aligns better with Eren’s personality, letting audiences know that he did try to find another way and only did what he did because he believed it was the only possible outcome.

The anime also expands on Eren’s philosophy regarding freedom, with Eren saying that he’s “a slave to freedom.” And emphasizes genocide not being the solution to conflict with Armin arguing that while there may be no end in sight for their conflict, they have to believe they can eventually understand each other. Eren’s plan will make people lose faith in that, hammering in the lesson that they must kill or be killed.

Another change is that after questioning why things turned out this way, Eren answers himself, saying it’s because he’s an idiot with power. In response, Armin says he too has felt the desire to erase everyone from the world. And since he showed Eren the book about the outside world that led him down this path, he’s responsible for this too and the two will be together forever in hell. The vision ends with Armin saying that their next meeting will be as enemies and the one after that in hell. 

Historia’s Letter

The letter Historia sends to Armin and the others is a bit different in the anime and ends on a much different note, with her talking about fighting to end the fight. The anime also expands the conversation between Armin, Reiner, Jean, Connie, Pieck, and Annie as they sail for Paradis. This emphasizes the risk they’re taking by returning to the island while giving fans a more satisfying experience.

Epilogue 

The anime’s epilogue is also slightly different. The biggest difference is that unlike the manga where he’s traveling with Falco and Gabi, Levi is seen distributing goods to refugees with Yelena and Onyankopon. While Falco and Gabi are seen planting a tree in a later scene. 

Attack on Titan is available in English through Kodansha USA, the anime adaptation can be streamed on Crunchyroll.

With the success of a series like Jujutsu Kaisen, especially a series that so rapidly takes its audience on a break-neck journey into despair with story arcs like the Shibuya Incident, one has to wonder what message it is that Gege Akutami wants to convey with his work. In an interview with Le Figaro all the way back in 2020, he opens up about his worldview and the effect it had on JJK‘s story.

For Gege Akutami, the World Isn’t Strictly Black & White

During the interview with Le Figaro, the interview asks Gege Akutami a very frank question about the message behind Jujutsu Kaisen, to which the mangaka responds by saying: “If there is one thing to mention, it is that no one has the ultimate truth… Some seek to kill the hero out of sheer selfishness, but others are led to this decision by logical reasoning.”

While some may criticize the mangaka’s choice of character writing and pacing, Gege’s approach to writing his story speaks volumes on his own personal philosophies, and in the context of Jujutsu Kaisen, especially with characters like Geto and Gojo, beautifully explains why their relationship deteriorated over time.

This style of writing, though, does bring the final arc into question: while it could just be that the story is ultimately told from Yuji’s perspective, where is the nuance in a character like Sukuna, for example, that’s actively been labeled as the “King of Curses”, and as one of the most evil beings in existence? It’s easy to chalk this up as “every story needs a villain”, but even Kenjaku, Toji, and Geto, all of which had antagonistic traits, had a heavy layer of nuance associated with them.

Jujutsu Kaisen is available to read in English through Viz Media on the official Shonen Jump app. The anime adaptation is available to stream on Crunchyroll.

Source: Le Figaro

Look Back, a powerful oneshot that explores the passions and grief that go into discovering oneself through art received an incredible anime adaptation that rapidly became a hit in Japan – even being praised by Hideo Kojima.

When Can US Fans See Look Back In Theaters?

As announced by GKIDS on their official X (formerly Twitter) account, Look Back will begin showing in US theaters on October 4, 2024 alongside a subtitled trailer showing fans what they can expect from the film.

On the official website, GKIDS describes the film:

Popular, outgoing Fujino is celebrated by her classmates for her funny comics in the class newspaper. One day, her teacher asks her to share the space with Kyomoto, a truant recluse whose beautiful artwork sparks a competitive fervor in Fujino. What starts as jealousy transforms when Fujino realizes their shared passion for drawing.

Based on the acclaimed manga by Tatsuki Fujimoto, the creator of “Chainsaw Man”, Look Back captures the highs and lows of pursuing artistic excellence and the special bonds formed through creative collaboration. The heart-wrenching story is the stunning feature-length directorial debut from Kiyotaka Oshiyama that will leave you in tears and inspire you to chase your own artistic dreams.

GKIDS Films

The original manga is available in English through Viz Media.

In an interview conducted during Anime Expo 2024 by Lynzee Loveridge at Anime News Network, the network sat down with Ryoko Kui to discuss the series in depth, especially the fandom’s perceptions of Laios’ party, and Laios himself.

While Kui States That There Isn’t Anything Special About Laios, She Aimed To Make Him Relatable

A popular fan theory surrounding Laios is that he’s neurodivergent, or that he could fall somewhere on the autism spectrum. This theory stems from a multitude of examples throughout the series, including his confrontation with Shuro, which the interviewer references in their conversation, as something that a lot of neurodivergent Delicious in Dungeon fans relate to. Ryoko Kui responded to the question by saying:

So my understanding is Laios is a really normal person; there’s nothing special, and everyone can relate [to a person like him]. I also relate to him, so I don’t think I’m writing anything special [regarding Laios]. That’s why I think people can relate to or appreciate him. Some people might say Laios is a little bit autistic, but Shuro has his own difficulties.

Everyone has their individual problems. It’s not just Laios or Shuro; the problems are mutual. We always need to try to understand and learn from each other. Sometimes, you might hurt another person, but that’s the process we need to understand other people.

Ryoko Kui in an interview with Anime News Network

While the creator denounces that she intentionally made Laios neurodivergent when creating him, her statement invites fans to still find him relatable and that, if they see a piece of themselves in him, that that’s okay too.

She goes on to provide an incredibly nuanced and powerful statement regarding interpersonal relationships in response to the confrontation between Shuro and Laios and the growing pains we sometimes have to go through as people to understand one another.

Fan interpretations of characters is part of what keeps fandom discussions (and occasional discourse) thriving. With Delicious in Dungeon season 2 currently in production, conversations surrounding the series and its character won’t be going anywhere anytime soon.

The original Delicious in Dungeon manga is available in English from Yen Press on retailers like Amazon and Barnes & Noble. The anime adaptation is available to stream on Netflix.

Source: Anime News Network

The New Lord of the Rings Film Is Oozing With Style

In a tweet from the official Japanese Lord of the Rings X (formerly Twitter) account, the official trailer shows off some truly incredible animation from Sola Entertainment. Everything in the trailer appears action-packed and fluid, and the previously announced cast and staff have clearly put in the work to make this film something special.

The plot of The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim is as follows:

The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim is set 183 years before the events of the original film trilogy, follows the tale of the House of Helm Hammerhand, the King of Rohan. After a sudden attack from Wulf, a cunning and dangerous Dunlending lord on a quest for revenge after losing his father, Helm and his people are forced to try and make a daring “last stand” in the ancient stronghold Hornburg, a fortress that is later referred to as Helm’s Deep. The film’s lead protagonist, Héra, Helm’s daughter, is pushed to lead the army to resist against Wulf and his forces bent on her people’s destruction.

The film is currently slated for a wide theatrical release on December 13, 2024 in the United States, and features the voice talents of Brian Cox, Miranda Otto, Gaia Wise as Héra, and Luke Pasqualino as Wulf.

After an encounter with Mahito that left the fandom fearing the worst, and her blatant disappearance after the fact, chances of Nobara’s return seemed slim at best. However, with the release of Jujutsu Kaisen chapter #266 and the anticipation surrounding chapter #267 is hinting at Nobara’s comeback.

Nobara Has Been the Key To Defeating Sukuna All Along

In a shocking twist during the final moments of Jujutsu Kaisen chapter #265, Gege finally gave readers a glimpse at the location of the final finger.

The positioning of the panel and the cliffhanger had fans clamoring with excitement, as it seemed there was only one possible outcome of this turn of events: Nobara is alive, and she’s going to swoop in to save Yuji and Megumi.

While Yuji has been holding his own against the King of Curses after an emotionally powerful moment that led Megumi to regain some of his autonomy and fight back alongside his friend. While Jujutsu Kaisen likes to play with its audiences by routinely ripping their hearts out – it seems that the finale is gearing toward a classic shonen ending by unifying its three leads to take down Sukuna once and for all.

This shouldn’t really come as a surprise, Gege Akutami has gone on record multiple times discussing his love for series like Naruto, and has gone on record discussing his admiration for the “Three Man Cell” that Team 7 had in the series.

While nothing has been confirmed, fans are elated to have a chance at seeing the three united after such a long stretch.

Jujutsu Kaisen is available in English through Viz Media’s Shonen Jump app, with the anime adaptation availabel to stream on Crunchyroll.

Adapted from Coffee’s manga of the same name, Wandance is a series that celebrates all things hip-hop and dance culture, and the anime adaptation’s choreography team is guaranteed to make Wandance look like an absolute dream.

Wandance Has Some Of the Industry’s Top Performers Working On the Dance Choreography

In the official anime adaptation announcement, it was revealed that the choreography for the dances featured in the series will be handled by RIEHATA, who does the choreography for Japanese pop groups like EXILE, and has worked with the sensational K-Pop group BTS.

For readers that want to get caught up before the anime officially announced, the series is published in English through Kodansha USA, who describes the series:

A boy named Kaboku sees a girl named Wanda dance, and suddenly burns with a need to join in. With its thrilling scenes of Japanese hip-hop dance and quirky, charming characters, this is a new, inspirational manga for fans of coming-of-age stories like Blue Period and Your Lie in April. Get up and join the Wandance!

Kaboku has always just gone with the flow, marching in step to the drumbeat of the expectations of those around him: parents, school, plans for the future. It feels predictable, safe, and… empty. But one night, Kaboku’s at school late, and he happens on a girl alone, moving wildly, turning a blank space of concrete into a canvas. This is Hikari Wanda, a member of the hip-hop dance club. Kaboku is immediately smitten, but the road to stepping out of his shell is a long one. The club is almost entirely girls, and they’re all, well, way better than him. What’s ahead is unknown, and that’s terrifying, but it also means, for the first time in Kaboku’s life… a taste of freedom.

Wandance is available for purchase through any retailer that sells print and digital manga, including Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Thankfully, one of the biggest marketing tools for manga in the industry is anime, and the latest anime adaptation to be picked up from the magazine is an infectiously fun, magic-filled slice-of-life series called Witch Watch.

The Witch Watch Anime Adaptation’s Official Release, Staff, & Cast Announcements

From the same mangaka behind Astra Lost In Space, Kenta Shinohara, Witch Watch has been running for over 167 chapters. According to the MANGA Plus service that the series is hosted on:

Morihito, a boy with the strength of an ogre, is about to start living together with his childhood friend Niko, who is training to be a witch. NIko’s magic leads to all sorts of unpredictable trouble, and with two teens under one roof… Let the fantastical antics begin! Magical comedy series by Kenta Shinohara creator of SKET DANCE and Astra Lost in Space.

The anime adaptation is set to air in April 2025, and will be directed by Hiroshi Ikehata (Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood) alongside assistant director Masao Kawase (Magical Destoyers). The series is confirmed to be produced by Bibury Animation Studio, which has previously worked on The 100 Girlfriends Who Really, Really, Really, Really, Really Love You.

Weekly Shonen Jump also revealed cast details for the leads protagonists of the series, which includes:

• Ryōta Suzuki as Morihito Otogi
• Rina Kawaguchi as Nico Wakatsuki
• Tomori Kusunoki as Nemu Miyao
• Kōhei Amasaki as Kanshi Kazamatsuri
• Kaito Ishikawa as Magami Keigo

While fans are waiting for the anime adaptation to release, the manga is readily available on the Weekly Shonen Jump website, with the official volumes available as ebooks on retailers like Amazon.