Those Xbox players among us who have been waiting to get their hands on open-world adventure RPG Genshin Impact, I have good news.
At this evening's Gamescom Opening Night Live, the team revealed Genshin Impact will be making its way to Xbox Series X/S and Game Pass on 20th November. It is available to wishlist now on the Microsoft Store.
A flurry of Pokémon news has confirmed a launch date for the long-awaited Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket, and a look ahead at what's next for Pokémon Go.
Pokémon TCG Pocket, a digital version of the phenomenally-popular trading card game, will go live via the iPhone App Store and Google Play for Android worldwide on 30th October.
As previously announced, you can open two packs of Pokémon cards for free per day - just enough to get you hooked - and it's interesting to see the pack-opening mechanic front and centre in the game's trailer below.
There's a great deal of good Manhwa to discover and read out there, but the truth is that most of them do not have an official English translation yet. So, when browsing around, fans might find sites that do "unofficial" translations of some of the most popular stories in Korea that haven't reached the international market just yet.
Who doesn't love an amazing fantasy story? From serious tales like Lord of the Rings to lighter-hearted romps like My Princess Bride, it's a genre that begs to be explored repeatedly. Still, few forms of animation have told more fantasy stories than those shown in anime. With countless good fantasy anime available for viewing, it can be difficult to decide which ones to prioritize.
After the series originally ended, Horikoshi delivered a brief message as his final author’s note in Weekly Shonen Jump, which read:
“I was so glad to be in Jump! I’m so glad for everyone who read my series. Thank you so much!”
Kohei Horikoshi
The author recently came back on his X (formerly Twitter) to deliver another new message, telling fans:
The manga My Hero Academia has concluded in this week’s issue of Jump! I’ve been exhausted for a long time, but I managed to make it to the end! Thank you to everyone who read it!!!!!!
I will never forget the joy and weight of being able to battle with so many interesting manga in the coveted Jump. And above all, the fact Deku was entrusted by Luffy’s side, even if only for a short time, even if it was just luck!
I’m still drawing Deku and the others for the comics, the anime is still airing, the movie is in theaters, the games are still ongoing, the spin-off manga is still being serialized, there are events, and so many other people are keeping My Hero Academia going, so it doesn’t feel like it’s over at all.
Please continue to support My Hero Academia!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Plus Ultra
While it’s still a bittersweet feeling to see the series go, it is an absolute delight to see how much love is being sent Horikoshi’s way to celebrate its big finale.
With the successful release of Deadpool & Wolverine, fans of the infamous anti-hero may be wanting to find more adventures featuring Wayne, and Sanshiro Kasama, the mangaka behind Deadpool Samurai, is here to deliver.
Though relatively underrated, Deadpool Samurai is a spin on the Merc with a Mouth by taking him on various adventures, some of which feature icons of Shonen Jump manga, like All Might from My Hero Academia. While it seemed as though the manga was over, Deadpool made an unexpected appearance in a brand-new Jump Plus manga.
The Merc With a Mouth’s Return To Manga
Initially announced as a project completely unrelated to the popular Marvel character, Viz Media announced that Sanshiro Kasama would be launching a new series on their online service titled Secret Steward, a relatively standard rom-com following a girl and her butler. When the series finally launched, though, it majorly deviated from what potential fans might have expected.
At the end of Secret Steward‘s debut chapter, the main character is struck by a giant truck in classic isekai intro style, instantly killing him. The driver who committed this heinous and gorey act is no stranger, though, with Deadpool proudly sitting behind the wheel, announcing the return of Deadpool Samurai to the manga reading service.
While unexpected, the twist was insanely clever – and was even partially set up, with Secret Steward‘s description being “Love hits you when you least expect it!” This type of return is rare, too, with many manga series returning without playing any sort of tricks on their readers. Regardless, it was the most Deadpool approach possible, and gave the anti-hero the opportunity to garner some new fans, too – if they weren’t too put off by the gore.
Spice and Wolf, based on the original light novel by Isuna Hasekura has a long-standing history with anime fans from the 2000s, however, the original anime adaptation, produced by Imagin and Brainbase fell into the same trap many other series from this era did – deviating from its source material and taking on a brand-new narrative.
The latest anime adaptation of the series, handled by Studio Passione, which began airing in April, 2024, has chosen to stay faithful to the source, and has officially entered a story arc that fans of the original anime haven’t experienced before.
"Spice and Wolf" NEW ANIME VISUAL REVEAL!
The new anime will now enter a new arc that hasn't been adapted in the previous anime adaptation before.
Animation Studio: Passione
Based on the Fantasy LN Series by Hasekura Isuna about the relationship of a travelling merchant & a… pic.twitter.com/7YoAC8YuOT
— Manga Mogura RE (Manga & Anime News) (@MangaMoguraRE) August 12, 2024
Studio Passione Will Be Adapting an Arc the Original Anime Skipped
Studio Passione
Skipped over in the original anime adaptation due to the production team not believing that the arc would be relevant, the upcoming story arc that will be adapted in 2024’s Spice and Wolf becomes crucial in the plot of the original novels. The official synopsis of the story arc from Spice and Wolf‘s English publisher, Yen Press, reads as follows:
“Continuing their journey north, Lawrence and Holo stop in the village of Tereo in hopes of finding a local abbey where they might uncover more information regarding the fate of Holo’s ancient home, Yoitsu. Soon after their arrival, though, the companions are caught up in a local dispute between Tereo and the neighboring town of Enberch that could cost Lawrence and Holo both their fortunes and their lives! With the Wisewolf’s help, can Lawrence devise a way to save an entire town from ruin – and his skin and that of his traveling companion in the process?”
The character’s that appear in this arc reappear later in the series, and serve as a pseudo-constant in Holo and Lawrence’s journey.
While some fans of Spice and Wolf are still mixed on their feelings toward the new adaptation, with many mourning the nostalgia of the original series, Studio Passione has made an effort to cut the filler from the original anime and tell a more direct, faithful story for fans of the light novels, and returning fans who are only familiar with the 2008 anime.
As revealed by voice actress Veronica Taylor (who plays Ash in the Pokémonanime), on Monday, August 12, 2024, iconic voice actress Rachel Lillis has passed away at 46 years-old after a battle with breast cancer.
We all know Rachael Lillis from the many wonderful roles she played. She filled our Saturday mornings and before/after school hours with her beautiful voice, her terrific comic timing, and her remarkable acting skills. #RachaelLillispic.twitter.com/XOjFqY0C1L
Many other talents from the animated shared their condolences, and it has been announced that there will be a memorial service held at a later date.
Rachel Lillis had an extremely successful voice acting career, taking on a number of roles in the Pokémon franchise, including Misty and Jessie. Her repertoire extended beyond Pokémon, playing the titular Utena Tenjo in Revolutionary Girl Utena and Nagi Kirima in Boogiepop Phantom.
Naruto is full of its fair share of quotes as one of the best, most iconic shonen manga and anime. Its cast of beloved characters is loaded with quirks and distinct personalities. Some lines are generic, tropey shonen fare, but many words spoken by them will be remembered forever.
The all-time favorite series of many anime fans, and even after two decades, it still feels so familiar and comfortable. There are moments of sage wisdom and inspiration, along with potent themes like processing grief, overcoming isolation, and embracing love in all its forms.
10. “Those Who Break the Rules Are Scum, But Those Who Abandon Their Friends Are Worse Than Scum.” – Obito Uchiha
Image: Pierrot
Obito Uchiha was a bit of a black sheep compared to the rest of the Uchiha clan. He was brash, incompetent, and didn’t show much promise. But what he had was a lot of heart that reminds us a lot of Naruto Uzumaki, and this potent line was enough to break through Kakashi Hatake’s walls and leave a lasting impression.
Well, if you’re just starting in the series, you might have thought this was originally a Kakashi quote. He may have said it the first time in the series, but Obito was responsible for reminding Kakashi that he could be an elite shinobi while still protecting his comrades. It’s something he’d impart on Team 7, and so forth from there.
9. “If you don’t like your destiny, don’t accept it. Instead, have the courage to change it the way you want it to be!” – Naruto Uzumaki
Image: Pierrot
Naruto made a ton of profound speeches in his youth that would resonate with others around him, and it was quotes like these that would win over far more respected peers of his. Whether it was humbling Neji Hyuga, or convincing Gaara that he deserved to live like anybody else, Naruto’s endless optimism is a product of him refusing to be isolated as an orphan or an outcast.
8. “People Call Me a Failure…I’ll Prove Them Wrong!” – Naruto Uzumaki
Image: Pierrot
Speaking of humbling Neji, this one goes out to the underachievers and those who weren’t nurtured for their strengths. This scene from the Chunin Exams Arc is among the many that cemented Naruto as one of my top Shonen manga, and seeing it brought to life in anime was gratifying as well.
It was so interesting that in the original series, he didn’t have an ounce of self-doubt, and in many ways left the strongest lasting impressions on major characters that rippled through the franchise. He won the respect of one of the most brilliant fellow genin of his generation in the moments that followed this line, to the point of him being followed into battle years later.
7. “If I Could, If I Were Able, I Would Want to Go to the Same Place on the Other Side As You.” – Zabuza Momochi
Image: VIZ Media / Shueisha
The afterlife is a tricky subject depending on who you ask, but for Zabuza Momochi, the first monstrously strong opponent Naruto and Team 7 would encounter, it was all but a given. This character left a strong impression on me, and it clicked many years later: aesthetically he had the tiniest hints of Guts from Berserk in him. He was ferocious, bloodthirsty, and wielded a giant sword, but most relevant to this discussion, he was a mentor to his comrade, Haku, and he loved him like a son.
Disarmed by Kakashi, injured and brought to death’s door, and able to take out one last act of defiance against Gato, he laid down next to his apprentice. Knowing that while he is likely destined for hell, all he cares about is seeing Haku again in the afterlife. I use the manga panel from Chapter 33 here because this arc endeared me to Naruto forever, and I still have that issue of Shonen Jump to this day.
6. “To Be a Parent Is to Have Undying Faith in One’s Child.” – Minato Namikaze
Image: Pierrot
The Pain Arc is peakNaruto, and this ranks among the top individual moments. When Naruto met Minato, there wasn’t a dry eye in the house. It was seemingly impossible, but Minato left just enough of him behind after he died to guide Naruto past the lowest point in his life. The demon sealed inside him was wreaking havoc when he fell prey to his grief, and in this moment he ignited Naruto’s Will of Fire.
Naruto had plenty of doubt left in himself. His mentor was killed by his strongest opponent yet, and loved ones were mercilessly massacred all around him in this story. But Minato, in a moment where he’s confirmed as Naruto’s father and the Fourth Hokage, reminded his son of their mutual ability to be sanguine in the worst of times. Naruto needed that, just as much as he needed a father all these years.
5. “For You Are a Distinguished Student of One of the Legendary Sannin; Acknowledged by the Great Jiraiya Himself.” – Iruka Umino
Image: Pierrot
Most of these quotes are total tearjerkers to play even now. The context is key here: Iruka was one of the first teachers to believe in Naruto, giving him the time of day when nobody else would. Cut to the present, when Iruka is saying this the night after Naruto learns Jiraiya was killed in battle, wandering at night, holding a popsicle he would normally split with his mentor.
It’s heartbreaking to think about even now. But Iruka did what he always did, reminding Naruto he is not alone and has accomplished a lot. The final kicker of this moment was when Iruka broke the popsicle in half and offered it to Naruto, mimicking how the late sage would do the same. Saccharine, yet fitting.
4. “As For Friends, I Have Lots of Good Ones. I Wish You Could Have Met Them. There’s One That I’m Not Getting Along With Though.” – Naruto Uzumaki
Image: Pierrot
This one felt like a total gut punch that nobody talks about. Naruto has come so far and won over so many hardened, traumatized fellow ninja and improved their lives by being himself. So when he finally got a chance to tell his late mother beyond the grave about this, it was a reminder of his personal growth.
It’s also a reminder of how stubborn he was with the last part of that line. It’s loaded with subtext about his fraught friendship with Sasuke, who thoroughly betrayed all of Konoha multiple times. It was also foreshadowing how he’d never give up on trying to win back his friend. The moment he said it was also endearing for the fact that Kushina Uzumaki is a wonderful character and a charming mother figure.
3. “Rejection Is a Part of Any Man’s Life. If You Can’t Accept and Move Past Rejection, or at Least Use It As Writing Material — You’re Not A Real Man.” – Jiraiya
Image: Pierrot
This one is a precious lesson for any adolescent males reading this, which is good because that’s the primary target audience of Naruto, and this is one of the best, most timeless quotes. I’d argue that it’s a lesson that can be transferred to any gender though. Jiraiya carved a niche for himself as not being able to practice what he preached in many ways (do NOT make him an idol) this speech should be mounted on a plaque in any father’s study that he can point to when lecturing his child.
2. “Because You Fail, You Have the Strength to Face Your Failure…I Think That’s Real Strength.” – Hinata Hyuga
Image: Pierrot
Hinata Hyuga’s demure demeanor was adorable the first time fans were introduced to her. But in how she idolized Naruto, yet cheered him on and loved him from afar, she helped reassure him of his self-worth. The courage to embrace failure is what helps us grow, and Naruto certainly had his share of those in the series.
The story of their love made fans glad, not only because it deviated from a problematic pairing like him and Sakura (even if her pairing with Sasuke has some issues) but because they were perfect for each other. They were both looked down upon and found strength in being each others’ better angels.
1. “I’ll Pick Up Your Pieces.” – Shikaku Nara
Image: Pierrot
For those unfamiliar, Shikamaru Nara’s favorite pastime is Shogi, aka Japanese Chess. The quote in question here has extra meaning as it caps off a potently delivered line by his father, Shikaku, seconds after Shikamaru tosses aside the board and all the pieces they’re using the play together. This one is a fantastic moment for the anime-only viewers in the audience.
It’s only fitting that one of the best arcs of the Naruto Shippudenanime would also get one of its best quotes. Shikamaru recently lost his mentor Asuma Sarutobi, and after a devastating scene at the beginning of the episode where he broke the news to Kurenai, Asuma’s lover, and mother of Asuma’s unborn child, Shikamaru went quiet.
But Shikaku did what any father should at this moment. He sat and played, coaxing Shikamaru’s grief and frustration, being just coarse enough to get across. When he goaded Shikamaru about his playstyle between questions about what he would do about his mentor dying, Shikamaru lost his temper, throwing the board and shogi pieces aside, and Shikaku said the following:
Just Let it all out. All of the sadness, fears, and anger, and everything else! You’ve got to let it go. It all starts from there. I’ll pick up your pieces.
-Shikaku Nara
It’s haunting, and such a powerful way for a father to say “It’s okay to cry, son.” It’s also not only one of the best quotes in Naruto but quietly among the best in popular fiction. You’d be surprised how many people need that in their lives. Shikamaru was given the space to grieve, and then to plan his next course of action, where he’d grow as a shinobi, and avenge the lost while keeping himself and his friends alive.
Shojo anime is a demographic of Japanese anime and manga that’s typically directed at younger female audiences. The word “shojo” means “young woman” in Japanese, and shojo anime typically features young girls or teenagers in the leading roles.
The stories found in shojo anime often revolve around deeper emotional themes compared to shonen, such as love, friendship, and coming-of-age stories.
Kimi Ni Todoke
Kimi ni Todoke is a staple shojo series that deserves to be on every anime fan’s watchlist, especially with the return of season 3 on Netflix. The anime follows Sawako, a 15-year-old girl in Hokkaido that is constantly picked on by her peers for her resemblance to Sadako from The Ring.
Despite her reputation, Sawako is very mild-mannered and kind. When the class clown and popular boy, Kazehaya, starts taking an interest in Sawako, her life gets flipped upside down as she’s finally able to live like a normal teenage girl; making friends and falling in love for the very first time.
Say “I Love You”
Image: Sentai Filmworks
Say is a shojo romance anime that follows Mei Tachibana, a high school girl who doesn’t have any friends and doesn’t want any either. However, her life changes when she meets Yamato Kurosawa, the most popular boy in school.
The two eventually become friends, and then something more. The anime explores their relationship as they deal with the ups and downs of teenage love.
My Little Monster
Image: Brain’s Base
The story shows the life of Shizuku Mizutani, a high school student who is content with her life being nothing but academics. She doesn’t have time for friends, let alone love.
However, everything changes when she meets Haru Yoshida, a transfer student with an unpredictable personality. Through their unlikely friendship, Shizuku starts to see the value in other things besides academics.
Yona of the Dawn
Image: Pierrot
Akatsuki no Yona is about the life of Princess Yona as she lives a sheltered life in the Kingdom of Kouka. Her idyllic world is turned upside down when her father is murdered and she is forced to flee the palace with her bodyguard Hak.
As she sets out on a journey to find allies and take back her throne, she must learn how to survive in a world full of war and betrayal, while still building unbreakable bonds with the people she meets along the way.
Maid-Sama
Image: J.C.Staff
Set in the modern day, Kaichou wa Maid-sama! is a story that follows the life of Misaki Ayuzawa. She’s the perfect example of a tough and independent woman; she’s strong, intelligent, and most importantly, she’s the president of her school’s student council.
But there’s just one little problem: Misaki secretly works part-time at a maid café in order to support her family. Of course, it doesn’t take long before Misaki’s biggest secret is revealed to the public by none other than her arch-rival, Takumi Usui.
But instead of using this information to blackmail her, Usui actually ends up falling in love with Misaki. And so begins a hilarious and heartwarming story of two people from completely different worlds learning to understand and accept one another.
Ouran High School Host Club
Image: FUNimation Entertainment
If you’re looking for a shoujo anime that’s both heartwarming and hilarious, then look no further than Ouran High School Host Club. The story follows Haruhi, a bright-eyed girl who stumbles into an elite club full of gorgeous boys who cater to the needs of female students.
While it may sound like a typical reverse-harem anime, Ouran High School Host Club is actually a clever satire that pokes fun at the shoujo genre while still managing to be a charming story in its own right.
Cardcaptor Sakura
Image: Madhouse
Cardcaptor Sakura tells the story of Sakura Kinomoto, a fourth grader who discovers that she possesses magical powers after accidentally releasing a set of tarot cards from a book in her basement. She then embarks on a journey to capture all the cards while dealing with everyday life and relationships with her friends and family.
Cardcaptor Sakura has a rich history in the industry, and for many anime fans that grew up with old-school shojo, Sakura’s adventures made a huge impact on them as children, well into their adulthoods.
Vampire Knight
Image: Studio Deen
Vampire Knight introduces viewers to Yuuki Cross, a student at Cross Academy. The academy is home to two groups of students: the Day Class, which is made up of humans, and the Night Class, which consists of vampires.
Yuuki is tasked with protecting the Day Class from the Night Class, but she finds her world turned upside down when she meets Zero Kiryu, a vampire who hates all bloodsuckers with a passion.
Fruits Basket
Image: TMS Entertainment
Fruits Basket is the story of a girl, Tohru Honda, who’s living in a tent after her mom dies in a car accident. She then gets taken in by the Sohma family, who have a curse where they turn into animals from the Chinese zodiac when hugged by someone of the opposite sex.
Tohru tries to help break the curse and falls in love with one of the members. The anime adaptation of Fruits Basket was originally released in 2001 but it was remade in 2019. Both have a certain kind of charm that makes them an enjoyable watch.
Sailor Moon
Image: Toei Animation
The OG shoujo anime, Sailor Moon, is one of the most popular and enduring franchises of all time. It’s the story of a group of super-powered girls who use their powers to defend the world from evil. The show is full of action, romance, and comedy.
It is also significant for its strong female friendships and its positive portrayal of women in general. Sailor Moon definitely has something for everyone, not just young girls.
This trope-breaking shonen romance Romantic Killer is the perfect blend of hilarity and expressive moments, all while giving fans a unique perspective on the romance genre. It’s a series that caters to every type of anime fan, regardless of their preconceived notions.
There are plenty of incredible shows with similar premises, humor, and characters for fans of the series to watch next.
10. The Wallflower
After being cruelly rejected and made fun of her looks by the boy she liked, Sunako began distancing herself from the world and gained an interest in the occult. Sadly, her plans of living a lonely life get thrown out the window when she is sent to live with her aunt and the four young men who live with her.
The older woman promised the four men that they would be given free rent if they helped turn her loner of a niece into a classy lady. As the five of them get to know each other, Sunako realizes that maybe she is not as much of a loner as she first thought.
9. Maid Sama!
Screenshot: J.C. Staff
After decades of men being the ones to hold the position, Misaki becomes the first Student Council President in her high school. While she is kind and helpful to women, men fear her for how strict and ruthless she can be with them. One day, as she walks around the school looking for troublemakers, she finds a girl crying after being rejected by Usui, the most popular boy in school.
Misaki tries to scold the boy for being so cruel, but she is ignored by Usui. Later, Misaki is working at a maid café when Usui enters the establishment, recognizing his classmate. She begs Usui to keep her secret, to which the boy surprisingly agrees. From that moment on, Usui begins visiting the café almost daily, anime Misaki begins to question his true intentions.
8. My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom!
Screenshot: SILVER LINK
Without warning, the noble young woman Catarina Claes begins remembering her past life. This would have been an amazing occurrence, if not for the fact that she was reincarnated into the body of the villainess of her favorite game, Fortune Lover. In all the routes of the game, Catarina meets with a terrible fate.
Determined not to die in such a manner, the young woman begins using her knowledge about the world she now lives in to change history. Nonetheless, this mission will not be as easy as she expected, as death could be lurking around any corner.
7. Recovery of An MMO Junkie
Screenshot: Signal.MD
For 11 years, Moriko worked herself to the bone at the same company. Now that she has quit her job, she can relax and immerse herself in an MMORPG. Assuming the identity of the handsome warrior Hiyashi, Moriko spends most of her days playing the world-famous game Fruits de Mer.
Accompanied by her close online friend, the beautiful healer Lily, Moriko begins spending more and more time playing, neglecting every other need in her life. The only times that she steps out of her apartment are when she needs to go to the store. During one of these trips, she encounters Yuuta, a shy worker that could change her life completely.
6. Kiss Him, Not Me
Screenshot: Brain’s Base
Unknown to most of her classmates, the caring and friendly Kae is a massive fan of Boy Love stories. She spends most of her time at school imagining her male classmates falling in love with each other. One day, as she is watching one of her favorite shows, her favorite character is killed, severely depressing the young woman.
Unable to do anything due to the sadness, Kae begins to lose weight and misses school for a week. When she comes back, her classmates are shocked, as she now looks like a completely different person. Her new beauty attracts the attention of most male students, who wish to date her. Still, Kae is more interested in seeing the boys fall in love with each other, creating a hilarious and complicated situation.
5. God Troubles Me
Screenshot: L2Studio, TrioPen Studio
The Gods and Demons of Earth are in trouble, as the world they once controlled is rapidly plunging into chaos. Desperate to find a solution, the Gods team up with various monsters to find something or someone that can help them. As this is happening, a young woman named Su is being kicked out of her parent’s house for her bad attitude.
While roaming the streets, Su encounters Tianjin, a charismatic and attractive God who asks the young woman to help him search for an answer to the problems of the world. With them is an enigmatic demon cat, who will also aid in their mission. Can this unlikely trio find a way to prevent utter chaos from taking over the planet?
4. The World Only God Knows
Screenshot: Studio Manglobe
Best known for his title of God of Conquests, Keima is a young student who became famous for being able to complete any dating sims that he plays. The boy is a firm believer that video game girls are superior to their real-world counterparts, as they are not as unpredictable as the girls he knows. Woefully, his worst fears come to life when a demon named Elsie asks for his help.
The female demon informs him that she needs to capture runaway souls that have been hidden inside the hearts of human girls. The only way for them to drive them out is by filling the heart of their host with love. Without any choice, Keima will have to use everything that he learned while playing dating sims to conquer the hearts of various girls.
3. Horimiya
Screenshot: CloverWorks
Against all odds, the loveable and charismatic Hori and the meek Miyamura became friends. Most of their classmates could not believe it, as they had always been complete opposites. Their peers do not know that there is much more to the duo than what they let everyone else see. Hori is not popular outside of school, as she is often too busy helping at home.
On the other hand, Miyamura is not as timid as everyone else thinks, as his school uniform hides his various tattoos and piercings. Aware of the other’s secret, Hori and Miyamura begin hanging out after school, a decision that will forever change their lives.
2. Tomo-chan Is a Girl
Screenshot: Studio Lay-duce
Since childhood, Tomo and Junichirou have been best friends. They were inseparable, doing everything together from playing to sleeping. As they grew up, Tomo began developing feelings for her best friend, all while Junichirou remained oblivious to her affection. When the duo began their first year of high school Tomo decided to confess her feelings for Junichirou.
Lamentably, due to her tomboyish attitude and looks, her friend rejects Tomo’s confession, telling her that he sees her more like another male friend. Dejected, Tomo begins a journey to become a woman that Junichirou will want to date. Can she enchant her best friend without changing who she is at heart?
1. Monthly Girls’ Nozaki-Kun
Screenshot: Studio Doga Kobo
When Sakura confessed to her crush Nozaki, she never expected him to give her an autograph. As it turns out, the young man is a notorious shojo mangaka, publishing his work under the pseudonym of Sakiko Yumeno. Nozaki confused Sakura’s love confession with an adoring fan praising his work.
To make matters worse for Sakura, she ended up becoming Nozaki’s assistant, working with him to make sure that his manga gets published in time. As Nozaki’s assistant, Sakura meets many attractive and unique young men, who begin showing an interest in the young woman. Can Sakura use her new position as Nozaki’s assistant to make the mangaka aware of her true feelings?
Content leaks have been an ongoing controversy in the entertainment sphere for decades, effecting every industry from film, television, to comic books and print novels. While fans obviously want to know everything they can about an upcoming release, it can be easy to forget just how harmful leaks can be to the people working on a project.
Dubbed one of the “biggest leaking disasters” in the anime industry’s lengthy history, the recent Netflix leaks that’s caused highly anticipated shows like Dandadan, Ranma 1/2, and Arcane Season 2, and more to be partially or fully leaked online has fans and industry professionals in an understandable outrage.
How Did So Many of Netflix’s Biggest Animated Releases Get Leaked?
While details are still sparse at this time on how the site was hacked, online sleuths have speculated the leaker may be located in Japan due to the content being recorded in Japanese and lacking subtitles. The leaked footage from these episodes are low quality and covered in watermarks, which seems to suggest that many of them were still in production when the files were taken.
This leak isn’t just a bad look on Netflix’s part, it’s also extremely harmful for the team’s involved in each of these series’ and film’s productions. Fans and professionals alike are furious over this series of events, and many are urging the streaming to giant to make an official statement.
This is our hard work. It is meant to be released on its due date, something we, as animators, really look forward to.
It is incredibly disrespectful and just straight up annoying. You think you are doing some kind of service to the community but you are not. https://t.co/UX0lCrZbuZ
Warning: The following contains spoilers for Oshi no Ko.
Oshi no Ko is one of the most compelling, layered manga series currently available. It is at times a bleak and poignant critique of the entertainment industry in Japan, while also remaining relentlessly entertaining and filled with strong characters.
Its grasp on subtlety in visual storytelling and characterization is no less apparent than in one feature shared by several key characters. This sparks the question, what’s with the star eyes in Oshi no Ko, and why do some characters’ eyes have bright or dark stars?
Star Eyes in Oshi no Ko Fan Theories: Explained
Image: Doga Kobo
The most important thing to note about the star eyes in Oshi no Ko is that while it’s not been explicitly explained, there’s a significant and conceivable set of reasons. Some are simple and have some layers of truth and logic behind them, such as being hereditary, inherited by Ruby and Aqua from Ai Hoshino.
Others dive deeper, looking into the previous reason’s inconsistencies, and finding symbolic meaning behind the stars. There’s even meaning behind why they are bright or dark for some characters at different points, and why certain characters have them at all.
Are Starry Eyes Hereditary in Oshi no Ko?
Image: Doga Kobo
There’s some half-truth to starry eyes being hereditary in Oshi no Ko, but the full answer is complicated. While it might be a simple conclusion to say they’re not genetic, with characters like Akane Kurokawa developing them through intensive method acting, Aqua and Ruby still had one each at birth.
This is partially due to inheriting Ai’s characteristics genetically, but there are reasons for each of them having starry eyes beyond this simple connection, that vary depending on who you’re talking about. This includes Ai herself.
Two Bright White Lies: Why Does Ai Hoshino Have Dark & Bright Star Eyes?
Image: Doga Kobo
Ai Hoshino is the driving force of the story’s main plot, despite being murdered in the prologue arc. Her eyes are undeniably the most spellbinding in the series, while also being a loaded subject.
Being described as coming from a broken home with an abusive mother, Ai was incapable of recalling a moment she felt loved, and unable to express it to others. This intimidated her as a prospective idol in Chapter 8 / Episode 1, but upon being scouted, she was taught that lying was a desirable skill and a way to protect herself. She resolved to tell lies to please others, even though it would be her downfall.
While she had stars in her eyes at this moment, it was more thoroughly conveyed in the anime when her eyes went from dark stars, to full of radiant, glittery light. The brightness and charm of her eyes were fueled by lying, and the darkness was due to her fraught past and less desirable, or even ostensibly human traits.
Image: Doga Kobo
What makes this meaningful is the moment of Ai’s murder in Chapter 9 / Episode 1, where she lay dying, back against the door, professing her love for her children. She had previously said that she was afraid of saying it only for it to be a lie, but at this moment, she speaks her final truth, acknowledges it, and dies.
Image: Doga Kobo
It’s heartbreaking that the moment she feels safe to speak her truth is also the one she draws her last breath. The life, and stars, fade from her eyes the moment she stops lying, leaving her children to carry on in their ways.
Where Do Aqua and Ruby Get Their Starry Eyes From?
Image: Doga Kobo
Even as infants and toddlers, Aqua and Ruby bore these eyes as traits from their mother. But the meaning behind these eyes goes deeper than the surface. Each of these characters is the reincarnation of people who were victimized by cruel circumstances, forced now to play the part of Ai’s children.
Goro was murdered while trying to protect Ai from her stalker, while Sarina died as a terminally ill child, abandoned by her parents in her final moments. Their respective identities of Aqua and Ruby are charades to mask their troubled past lives.
Image: Doga Kobo
Aqua’s star eyes in Oshi no Ko are often dark, with him concealing his soul’s desire to kill Ai’s murderer, while also using manipulation of others as a means to an end. Even being reborn and starting with a bright star in his right eye, losing his new mother sent him into a dark spiral of vengeance in a chilling scene from the anime premiere. This moment was even accented with crow imagery, which we’ll explore later.
Aqua occasionally has bright starry eyes, indicating more innocent or palatable motives, yet upholding the lie, in that he maintains the illusion that he’s just another aspiring teen actor. He also uses his dishonesty and manipulation for the gain of others in these moments, with the black stars seemingly hinting when his actions are tied to his personal goals.
Like most of the other characters, at one point the stars left Aqua’s eyes entirely. In Chapter 68, upon learning what he believed to be the truth about Ai’s killer and that he would never get his vengeance, he resolved to live a normal life at first.
He even claimed to be leaving that path behind in Chapter 78, but upon learning about Ai’s true killer, not just the original eye, but both eyes now sported a grim, black star by Chapter 98. Aqua then began to use more shameful tactics to achieve his goals, once more to track down this killer.
Image: Shueisha
In true seinen fashion, instead of Aqua becoming a misunderstood villain in an inferior story, this just creates a more layered, nuanced protagonist. But this does nothing to discredit just how compelling the rest of the characters are.
Image: Doga Kobo
Ruby Hoshino is the reincarnation of Sarina Tendoji, a cancer patient from the same hospital where Goro worked and treated Ai during her pregnancy. She was a fan of Ai’s since the start, introducing Goro to her, and her death was not discussed in greater detail until Chapter 75. What’s more, her troubled past and similarly absentee mother made this second life as the daughter of her idol a blessing of sorts of which she could live blissfully unaware. In the beginning, Ruby’s eyes symbolized her lying to herself.
Ruby’s eyes have the distinction of becoming possibly the most complex in the series. As she loses sight of her goals, you see the points of the stars waning in her eye, such as in Chapter 79. There are even moments where one eye is black while the other is still light such as when her desire for vengeance is softened by her urge to protect her friends. When she determines that Goro’s killer could still be out there, and the star comes to both eyes, a deep, menacing black.
Ruby’s past as Sarina is exceptionally cruel, and one I noticed her finally realizing in Chapters 118-119, or at least grasping at it. Sarina’s mother was too “busy” to be present in her final moments, yet appears outwardly normal later when Aqua meets her, beloved by her family as a present mother figure.
Image: Shueisha
Image: Shueisha
Image: Shueisha
This part hurts particularly to read again, but as you see the mask slipping, Ruby has been lying to herself for so long that she is on the verge of a breakdown. Upon reading Ai’s script, where Ai’s mother similarly neglected her, Ruby is frozen. In a moment where she appears to come to terms with this about her past, the stars leave her eyes entirely in the final moments of Chapter 119.
Why Does Akane Kurokawa Have Starry Eyes?
Image: Doga Kobo
Akane Kurokawa was the main anomaly of this series for this reason alone. Originally a supporting character and member of the reality show cast Aqua joined in pursuit of Ai’s true killer, Akane Kurokawa recovered from the brink of suicide and bounced back hard. In a bid to protect herself from online abuse while also cultivating a persona onscreen, she studied Ai Hoshino’s past and channeled her personality quirks. Akane wound up becoming a carbon copy of Ai, as wonderfully brought to life in Episode 7.
But Akane’s eyes indicate two main things: star eyes in Oshi no Ko are not necessarily hereditary, and they can fade and reappear frequently for some characters. More importantly, Akane’s performance and persona which causes these eyes to appear, in essence, is another form of lie.
Image: Shueisha
Despite immersing herself the most overtly in this lie, Akane is also one of the most outwardly honest characters, and this honesty is on full display when you don’t see the stars in her eyes. In moments like Chapter 116, she confronts Aqua wanting to stop his violent revenge fantasy, not a star in sight in her eyes.
Why Does Hikaru Kamiki Have Black Star Eyes in Oshi no Ko?
While Hikaru Kamiki is the least-known character in Oshi no Ko for fans of the anime, the stars in his eyes have a more obvious meaning thanks to the precedent set by other characters. His eyes are seemingly permanent black stars, telegraphing his darker qualities as the main overtly evil character in the series. His blonde hair and starry eyes make him a dead giveaway as the biological father of Aqua and Ruby Hoshino.
Image: Shueisha
Hikaru Kamiki doesn’t lie for his own protection or to look out for others, but rather to gain the trust of his future victims, before staging their death as an accident or tragedy. Hikaru appears to fit the bill of a serial killer and mastermind. He orchestrated Ai’s murder, and even the murder of Goro before he was reincarnated.
Kamiki has had visibly black stars in his eyes in every appearance since his introduction in Chapter 96, and his teased appearance in Chapter 72. His motives remain unclear, but a glimpse at his targets hints at something else: Yura Katayose (from Chapter 109) briefly showed a glimpse at a star in her eye, at the time the #1 actress in Japan. After learning of her mountain hiking plans, he warned her as a show of trustworthiness, only to follow her and kill her, adding to his list of victims.
Perhaps he’s after the lives that show this quality, and the stars have a deeper purpose than simply the capacity to lie, which brings us to a mysterious connection. This leads us to the crows and a mysterious ethereal girl who appears before Aqua.
Yatagarasu: What’s Up With the Crows?
Image: Doga Kobo
One of the most striking recurring images in Oshi no Ko, aside from the star eyes, is the use of crows. They accentuate the scene of death such as Goro’s death in Episode 1 of the anime. They even form the black star in Aqua’s eye in a brilliantly illustrated moment in the prologue, but they are also connected to divine guidance and intervention in Japanese folklore. They’re intensely symbolic, such as in the closing scene of Chapter 79, where a tearful Ruby sits in a pool, surrounded by falling crow feathers.
This suggests a connection to Yatagarasu, a guiding God in Japanese culture. This connection was implied since the beginning when Aqua and Ruby as children pretended to be divine messengers, invoking the name of Amaterasu. It could suggest a divine presence in the series that makes the reincarnation happen, with the clearest possible manifestation of this being of course, crow girl.
Image: Shueisha
Image: Shueisha
The crow girl is often sardonic but guides Aqua when his path falters in dreamlike sequences, possibly suggesting that she’s the embodiment of Yatagarasu. Her connection in the series plot is unclear but hints at enormous potential beneath the surface of this drama.
Conclusion: What Do the Star Eyes and Crows in Oshi no Ko Mean?
Lies, reincarnation, and a divine connection are fascinating but entirely fan theories about the stars in peoples’ eyes in Oshi no Ko until explicitly confirmed. They make the most sense, but the truth will probably be stranger than fiction when it’s introduced. The meaning behind these eyes could be the primary motive of the antagonist and is a secret closely guarded, possibly by divine forces.
Image: Shueisha
It’s far less likely that it’s just an aesthetic choice given how much detail has been put into these gorgeous eyes. It’s too anglocentric to assume that the character Ai’s name is just a pun, too. That’d be too overt, especially since no characters seem to talk specifically about the stars. Finally, it’s too tantalizing a secret for Aka Akasaka and Mengo Yokoyari to keep locked up for too much longer.
Oshi no Ko is a stellar anime and manga series from Aka Akasaka and Mengo Yokoyari. The Oshi no Ko story arcs enable us to see the entertainment world from the starry eyes of Aqua and Ruby, as they make a name for themselves in order to honor their mother.
What Are the Story Arcs of Oshi no Ko?
Doga Kobo
The main plot begins after a poignant prologue beautifully told in Episode 1 of the Oshi no Ko anime, while the manga does so from Chapters 1-10. Beyond this, we see a time skip where Gorou, Ai’s doctor reincarnated into the body of her son, Aqua, goes into the entertainment industry to identify his father and the culprit behind Ai’s murder.
The ensuing story arcs concern different facets of the entertainment industry the siblings go through, such as TV dramas, dating shows, stage plays, and even movies.
Every Oshi no Ko Arc & Its Corresponding Anime Episodes
The 2.5D Stage Play arc is currently the longest of the series, as it had the most compelling concept until the Movie arc, and forced Aqua further out of his comfort zone as an actor than ever before. One neat part about that arc, in particular, is the meta-commentary on manga creators, and just how many times a story changes hands before it’s turned into a script for an adaptation.
Image: Doga Kobo
In fact, much of the series enables us to look at the entertainment industry in a rather satirical sense, seeing our preconceptions about dying sectors of the industry turned on their head, and other seedy elements put on display. While the identity of the culprit behind Ai’s killing at this point has been revealed, he has not been brought to justice yet, and we’re along for the ride, however long it takes.
VTubers – a type of content creator that uses an animated virtual avatar to represent them as opposed to using their real face – has become a cultural staple over the past few years, and are typically synonymous with the anime and manga community.
One of the largest VTuber agencies in the industry, hololive production, is famous for introducing some of the biggest talents in the space, including Sakura Miko, Houshou Marine, and Usada Pekora. One of their Gen 2 talents, Minato Aqua, recently announced through X (formerly Twitter) that she would be “graduating” – or retiring – at the end of August 2024, with her graduation stream taking place on August 28.
Sadly, for fans of the content creator, this isn’t the only piece of heartbreaking news surrounding Minato Aqua in recent days.
Minato Aqua’s New Visual Novel, ‘AQUARIUM’, Has Officially Been Cancelled Following the Vtuber’s Graduation
Something that really made Minato Aqua stand out compared to other talents in hololive was the release of her Aquarium game, which originally dropped in 2022 for the Playstation 4 and Nintendo Switch before later being ported to Steam in October 2023. During the live event, “Hololive Expo 2024”, Entergram, the company behind the first Aquarium game announced a sequel was in development in March 2024.
Tragically, following Minato Aqua’s graduation announcement, Entergram swiftly followed up by stating that the game’s production had been cancelled.
While fans are understandably distraught over the news, they still expressed gratitude for the team working at Entergram on all their hard work, even if they would never be able to see the finished product.
Originally beginning serialization in Weekly Shonen Jump in 2014, Kohei Horikoshi’s My Hero Academia has finally come to an end. With 430 chapters, a successful anime adaptation, merchandise, spin-off films, and even video games – the series has become nothing short of a cultural phenomenon.
The action shonen initially became popular for its unique artstyle and zero-to-hero story that resonated with manga readers around the globe. Now, with the series having officially ended, those effected by Horikoshi’s groundbreaking series are giving thanks for his hard work over the years.
Fellow Mangaka & Other Industry Professionals Praise Horikoshi For My Hero Academia’s Impact
Image: Kohei Horikoshi
My of Horikoshi’s colleagues have been sharing sentiments toward the popular mangaka over the past week commending him on his newfound legacy with the conclusion of My Hero Academia, including the likes of One Piece‘s Eiichiro Oda and Gege Akutami:
So now you get to play Pokémon Go as much as you want! Congratulations on ten years, Horikoshi Sensei!
Eiichiro Oda
Jujutsu [Kaisen] would not exist without My Hero. Congratulations!
Gege Akutami
Other mangaka with newer series running in the magazine, like Koji Miura, the creator of Blue Box, also shared their love for Horikoshi on social media, stating:
Congratulations on the final chapter of My Hero! Ten years of some of the most passionate manga ever. Well done!
Other newly published mangaka, like Kagurabachi‘s Takeru Hokazono, shared how My Hero Academia affected them before ever pursuing manga, saying:
I still remember reading volume 17 while I was in high school. From Mirio to One For All 100 percent. What a legend!
Takeru Hokazono
Professionals within the manga industry weren’t the only ones to send Horikoshi praise, however, with the Animation Director of My Hero Academia‘s anime adaptation, Anna Yamaguchi, sending Horikoshi a special message to celebrate:
Kohei Horikishi-sensei, Congratulations on completing My Hero Academia!!
I personally empathized with and sympathized with the villains, thought about many things, was emotionally stirred, and shed tears as I read every week. I love the world of Hero Aca where they struggle to survive. I have gained a lot from Hero Aca. It is an important part of my life. Now and forever PLUS ULTRA!! Thank you very much!
Anna Yamaguchi
and Chief Director, Kenji Nagasaki, saying:
Congratulations Horikoshi-sensei on completing the series! [My Hero Academia] is the best hero to me! Not only does the manga give me energy, but I also gained a lot of new experiences from working on the anime, and I was able to grow along with Deku and the others. I’m really glad I came across this work, which changed my life. Thank you very much!
Kenji Nagasaki
The Best Fan Contributions To #ThankYouHorikoshi
Fans of the beloved series have been pitching in to send love to the mangaka, too, with an influx of gorgeously illustrated fan art and other fan projects being uploaded to sites like X (formerly Twitter) to celebrate the series’ legacy.
It’s clear that My Hero Academia‘s impact will be sitting with readers for years to come, and with the anime adaptation still ongoing with season 7 currently airing, and a brand-new My Hero Academia film, My Hero Academia: You’re Next releasing in the U.S. in October 2024, fans of the series still have plenty more of Deku and his friends to look forward to.
My Hero Academia is available to stream on Crunchyroll. The original manga is available on Viz Media’s Shonen Jump app.
Kaiju No. 8 has quickly become one of the most popular new shonen anime of the year, with exciting kaiju action and an endearing underdog story at its core that makes the series relatable to just about anyone.
The anime’s first season did incredibly well, garnering a devoted fanbase and meeting the expectations held by longtime fans of Naoya Matsumoto’s original manga. While season 2 was announced right away when season 1 of the anime adaptation concluded, the budding franchise has even more in store for fans of Kafka’s journey.
Kaiju No. 8’s Anime Adaptation Is Set To Return In 2025
Image: Production I.G.
On Monday, August 5, 2024, the official website for Kaiju No. 8 announced that season 2 of the popular shonen series would release in 2025. At this time, there’s no confirmation on when in 2025 the new season will drop, however, the website did provide some additional news for fans: a brand-new anime original episode titled, “Hoshina’s Day Off” is currently in production alongside a feature-length compilation film meant to compile the events of season 1.
The new episode and the compilation film will be screening alongside one another in Japanese theaters sometime in 2025.
Kaiju No. 8 season 1 can be streamed on Crunchyroll. The original manga can be read through Viz Media’s Shonen Jump app.
Warning: The following contains major spoilers for My Hero Academia.
After ten long years, My Hero Academia has finally come to a close, and of course, the manga‘s official ending has sparked controversy among fans and non-fans of Kohei Horikoshi’s superhero-centered action manga.
While definitive endings rarely work for everyone, regardless of medium, My Hero Academia has been notorious during its run for having judgement passed on the character writing and handling of the narrative. It begs the question on whether the finale truly works to wrap up the story, or if it missed the mark.
My Hero Academia’s Ending Isn’t What Fans Expected
After defeating Shigaraki, the world is finally at peace now that the League of Villains have been thwarted, all thanks to Midoriya. This conclusion is then followed by an epilogue detailing the events and fates of the core cast now that the war is over. Chapter 430 opens with an 8-year-old time-skip, showing how much has changed after nearly a decade in My Hero‘s world. Ochaco and Deku have both been left feeling haunted and forever jaded after their experiences with Toga and Shigaraki, respectively.
During My Hero Academia‘s final arc, Deku officially lost his Quirk and is no longer a hero. Now in his mid-20s, Deku has become a teacher working in UA, teaching a brand-new generation of heroes. Despite being left Quirkless, Deku felt satisfied with the brief experiences that he had with his friends during the time of the war. Despite his being satisfied with a quiet life, his friends refused to let him retire, and it’s revealed that Deku has a special set of battle armor – making him almost adjacent to a hero like Iron Man.
Did My Hero Academia’s Ending Live Up To Expectations?
Image: Crunchyroll
While there is beauty in an ending that prioritizes how one can be happy living a slow, average life, My Hero Academia fails to deliver its message effectively. Something Horikoshi, the creator of My Hero Academia, has struggled with over the series’ run is wrapping up story arcs in a satisfying way. One of the most glaring examples of this comes from Deku’s “rogue” or “dark” arc where the young hero very briefly goes rogue before turning around and returning to his friends shortly after.
While Horikoshi occasionally does an excellent job delivering his story to readers, the grand finale, unfortunately, just misses the mark. It doesn’t fully commit to Deku’s satisfaction with a normal life by giving him a super-powered suit, and doesn’t truly allow him to live the life as one of the most impactful heroes in the world, either. While My Hero Academia certainly has a legacy, it is unfortunate to see how the series struggled to stick the landing.
The Summer 2024 Anime season has been absolutely excellent, with big-hitters like Oshi no Ko season 2, Tower of God: Return of the Prince, Fairy Tail: 100 Years Quest, and Suicide Squad Isekai leading online discussions within the anime community.
One of the resident rom-com additions to the season, Too Many Losing Heroines, has proven itself to be the perfect subversion of many of the standard tropes found in shonen rom-coms, and from everything that’s been released from the anime so far, it’s looking to be the summer season’s best.
Too Many Losing Heroines Gives Shonen Rom-Com Fans Everything They Could Ever Want
Produced by A-1 Pictures, the anime adaptation of Too Many Losing Heroines by Muru Imigi and Takibi Amamori follows Kazuhiko, a friendless and plain young man who unexpectedly catches the cool and popular Anna Yanami getting friend-zoned by her childhood friend. In an interesting domino effect, all the popular girls at Kazuhiko’s school are getting rejected left and right by the guys they like.
Kazuhiko subsequently ends up surrounded by said popular girls, and his boring, quiet high school life gets flipped on its head as he helps keep the shockingly eccentric girl-failures’ spirits up in the face of heartbreak. While the plot may initially sound pretty standard for an anime in this genre, the execution of Too Many Losing Heroines makes it stand out in an oversaturated genre for the performances delivered by the main cast and the show’s incredible writing.
A-1 Pictures
Hikaru Toono, the voice actress that plays Anna, is particularly talented, perfectly bouncing between the typical “popular girl” persona and being a total eccentric when she thinks nobody’s watching. The rest of the cast feel equally lively, and when pairing this with A-1’s vivid and stylish animation, the anime has been nothing short of incredible.
Of course, for anime fans not keen on shows that delve into harem tropes, this one may be a miss. While it definitely focuses more on the struggles of the girls after being rejected and moving on, there is still just a hint of a harem brewing beneath the surface. Whether the show will commit to this or truly subvert the genre by staying removed from the harem trope has yet to be seen. Despite that, though, Too Many Heroines’ first three episodes have been infectiously fun and any fan of rom-coms should give it a try.
San Diego Comic-Con is one of the hallmark fandom events of the year that promises new and exciting announcements from just about every industry imaginable, including anime and manga.
This year’s programming was no different, and as the manga industry’s presence has become stronger at Comic-Con, so too have the influx of new series announcements from English manga publishers.
Twilight Out of Focus Box Set – Kodansha USA
Originally created by Jyanome, Twilight Out of Focus is a popular Boys’ Love romance manga Mao Tsuchiya and Hisashi Otomo, two second-year high school students sharing a dorm. The pair of them have three core rules: Mao can’t tell anyone that Hisashi is gay, Hisashi will never look at Mao as a romantic partner, and that they must always knock before entering – just in case one of them is having a private moment. While their plans seem airtight initially, things slowly fall apart as the two grow more attached to one another over time, developing into a steamy relationship.
The new box set from Kodansha USA will contain all four volumes of the original manga as well as a special U.S.-exclusive art book, a short story that has never been translated in English, and brand-new, full color illustrations.
The POOL – Kodansha USA
From the creator of Ajin: Demi-Human, The POOL is Gamon Sakurai’s next sci-fi thriller that follows Chief Yugi Oishi, who’s tasked with leading her men on an alien planet after finding themselves barricaded in an abandoned mine as alien threats close in around them. While the series only has a handful of chapters currently, each new release has been absolutely spine-tingling.
Plus, Sakurai’s signature artstyle really brings the story to life, with horrific looking alien beasts that add a particular eeriness to the paneling.
Snegurochka of the Spring Breeze – Kodansha USA
From the creator of the classic Blade of the Immortal, Hiroaki Samura’s Snegurochka of the Spring Breeze is an award-winning political drama making it to English-speaking bookshelves beginning in 2025. The series follows Bielka, a young woman in a wheelchair, and Schenok, her companion, who must keep their true identities concealed in the harsh political climate of the Soviet Union.
Weaving together events between the Romanovs and Rasputin alongside Hiroaki’s knack for historical fiction, the series is absolutely incredible and something that every fan of manga and comic books should pick up.
Sailor Moon Naoko Takeuchi Collection Manga Box Set – Kodansha USA
Image: Netflix
Naoko Takeuchi’s Sailor Moon is a hallmark shojo and a magical girl staple whose popularity and influence can still be felt across the industry today. While the series is no stranger to English releases, Kodansha unveiled a special box set edition of the latest print edition of the series, dubbed the “Noako Takeuchi Edition” which is packaged in a special holographic box with 16 art cards and the first 6 volumes of the Sailor Moon manga.
While there’s no updates on when the second box set will release, the box set announced by the publisher will be available for purchase during the Holiday season.
Issak – Kodansha USA
One of the American Manga Award nominees for 2024 that up to this point had only been released digitally, Taking place in 1620, Catholics and Protestants have been in conflict right at the crux of the Thirty Year War. Amid the battlefield is a lone Japanese soldier named Issak, who’s come to Europe in pursuit of the man who killed his master. The physical release of the series will be in a 2-in-1 omnibus format that will begin publishing in Spring 2025, but the series is available digitally through Kodansha right now.
A new manga trailer for Jujutsu Kaisen has been released, paying tribute to the series' characters as the story nears its conclusion. The video, available on the official Shonen Jump YouTube channel, features a mix of iconic scenes and heartwarming moments from the manga.
You can view the official trailer video below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1GSIFAgYz3M
The trailer, presented as an edited motion comic, culminates in a face-off between Sukuna and Itadori Yuuji, highlighting the dramatic stakes the series has taken on as it approaches it's final five chapters. In addition to the manga trailer, Shueisha announced they are offering 245 chapters of Jujutsu Kaisen for free on the Jump+ app and Zeblack platform. This initiative allows readers to relive key moments or catch up on the series as it heads towards its conclusion.
This trailer follows a similar style to a previous teaser released for the third season of the anime, which focused on the Culling Game arc. That teaser used stylized manga animation and video editing to give a preview of the upcoming anime adaptation of the arc.
With only five chapters left until the finale, the trailer serves as a poignant reminder of the journey the characters have been on and the challenges that still lie ahead.
Good Smile Company announced seven Rebuild of Evangelion Huggy Good Smile figures of Asuka, Kaworu, Mari, Rei, and Shinji. These will cost ￥1,800/$10.99 each, and will debut in February 2025 in Japan and Q3 2025 worldwide.
While there are seven figures in this collection, two of them are alternate versions. All of them feature Asuka, Kaworu, Mari, Rei, and Shinji in their plugsuits. The bonus Asuka one is her Eye Patch Version one, while the extra Rei is a Long Hair Version. Each one is about two and a half inches tall, which is 65mm. You can adjust the position of the arms. However, the other parts can’t be moved. The extra magnet is in the back of the head, should someone want to display it on a magnetic surface.
Here’s the Japanese announcement, which also shows how the Huggy Good Smile Evangelion figures of Asuka, Kaworu, Mari, Rei, and Shinji can be posed on shelves or displayed on magnetic surfaces like fridges.
We also have a better idea of each one looks, as Good Smile Company shared individual photos of each character.
The Huggy Good Smile Rebuild of Evangelion figures of Asuka, Kaworu, Mari, Rei, and Shinji will come to Japan in February 2025, followed by a global release in Q3 2025. Pre-orders close on September 18, 2024. People can catch the Evangelion anime on Netflix, and the Rebuild of Evangelion films are on Amazon.
My Hero Academia is, without a doubt, one of the most influential anime and manga to release in the past few decades. Initially compared to other Shonen works ad nauseam, it managed to set itself apart thanks to its creative characters, dazzling art, and engaging story arcs.
And yet, when one looks back at all of its different arcs, some are clearly a cut above the rest. To that end, we’re here to rank every My Hero Academia arc from worst to best.
Romance anime comes in all sorts of flavors. The classic romantic comedy gives fans a nice balance of 'awws' and laughs. The more tragic romances pull at the heartstrings and leave viewers in tears. Then there are those shows that explore the darker side of love, diving into obsession and unhealthy relationships.
"My Happy Marriage" is a show on Netflix that tells a sweet and exciting story from a popular book by Akumi Agitogi. People are really excited about it, especially after a movie based on the same story came out in Japan. The show has already released five episodes, and the newest one came out on Wednesday, August 2nd.
Every Wednesday, a new episode of "My Happy Marriage" comes out on Netflix. This season, the anime will have 12 episodes, but Netflix hasn't said the exact number for sure. So, there might be more or fewer episodes.
They release new episodes every week. If the show really has 12 episodes and they release one each week, the last episode could come out on Wednesday, September 20, 2023. But remember, this isn't confirmed by Netflix.
Episode Number
Release Date
1
July 5, 2023
2
July 12, 2023
3
July 19, 2023
4
July 26, 2023
5
August 2, 2023
6
August 9, 2023
7
August 16, 2023
8
August 23, 2023
9
August 30, 2023
10
September 6, 2023
11
September 13, 2023
12
September 20, 2023
Weekly Episode Releases and Season Length
People all over the world can enjoy watching this interesting show whenever they want, thanks to Netflix. You can easily watch the whole series and get lost in the lovely romance between Miyo and Kiyoka.
In Japan, the home video Blu-ray has confirmed that "My Happy Marriage" has 12 episodes.
The Storyline of 'My Happy Marriage
What is My Happy Marriage about?
"My Happy Marriage" is an anime series that follows the story of Miyo Saimori, a young woman from a noble family known for having special powers. Despite her family's importance, Miyo faces difficulties due to her mean stepmother.
When Miyo becomes old enough to get married, her dreams take a hit when she finds out she's supposed to marry Kiyoka Kudou, a commander known for being cold and unkind.
But as time goes on, Miyo learns that Kiyoka isn't as bad as she thought. They start to understand each other and realize that they could find real love and happiness in their unexpected marriage.
Audiences are in for a treat with "My Happy Marriage." This TV series beautifully brings to life the wonderful story of Miyo and Kiyoka as they search for true love and happiness. The show is based on a popular romance novel from Japan, which has become really famous.
With amazing visuals and a touching plot, this anime version is expected to have 12 episodes in this season. It's likely to hold people's attention with its deep emotions and characters that feel real. As you watch Miyo and Kiyoka, you'll see a mix of romance, drama, and personal growth, sharing in their happy moments and challenges.
"My Happy Marriage" isn't like other anime shows. It goes beyond with its exciting story and captivating animation, raising the bar for this type of show. In the end, this anime gives you a wonderful break from everyday life and brings you on a special adventure filled with love, change, and fate.
Naruto, Sakura and Lee are hired to escort a "Ninja Dropout"- a criminal ninja- named Gantetsu to prison, and guard him against his comrades, who may be trying to free him. They learn that Todoroki, the captain of the guard, has a personal vendetta against Gantetsu for what happened to his parents and younger brother.
The ninjas are split into three teams by Kakashi. The Sealing team is made up of Shizune, Sakura, Ino and Hinata. Kakashi, Naruto, Sai and Shino form the Fighting team and the Guarding team consists of Yamato, Lee, Tenten and Kiba. Tenten passes Naruto a scroll for the mission that the Fifth Hokage gave to her.
Death Note (stylized in all caps) is a Japanese manga series written by Tsugumi Ohba and illustrated by Takeshi Obata. It was serialized in Shueisha's shōnen manga magazine Weekly Shōnen Jump from December 2003 to May 2006, with its 108 chapters collected in 12 tankōbon volumes. The story follows Light Yagami, a teen genius who discovers a mysterious notebook: the "Death Note", which belonged to the shinigami Ryuk, and grants the user the supernatural ability to kill anyone whose name is written in its pages. The series centers around Light's subsequent attempts to use the Death Note to carry out a worldwide massacre of individuals whom he deems immoral and to create a crime-free society, using the alias of a god-like vigilante named "Kira", and the subsequent efforts of an elite Japanese police task force, led by enigmatic detective L, to apprehend him.
A high school student named Light Turner discovers a mysterious notebook that has the power to kill anyone whose name is written within its pages, and launches a secret crusade to rid the world of criminals.
Light is an extremely brilliant but bored high-school student. Until the strange day where he accidentally encounters the Death Note; a mysterious notebook with the power to kill anyone whose name is written inside it.
With the Death Note in hand, he goes on a personal crusade and moves to kill all evil in the world and become God. He does this all in his new name, Kira, and declares himself the law and justice of the world.
At first things go as he planned, and he moves toward making a 'better' world. However, things don't go as he had anticipated as the relentless 'L' works to track him down, and arrest him.
Few figures blaze as luminously as Yoko Littner, the fiery heroine of “Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann.” In the energetic ballet of mecha battles, Yoko is a vibrant embodiment of courage…
Anime today is full of vibrant colors, immaculately flowing animation, and detail reminicent of fine art. However, its foundation lies in the elegance and stylistic integrity of black and white.…
Anime feet aren’t just drawn for realism or anatomical correctness; they often serve as visual cues, enhancing the characterization, setting, and overall emotional tone of a scene. Whether it’s the…
The great Anos Voldigoad is omnipotent enough to take on many of the infamously overpowered demonic anime characters (and give a few heroes a run for their money), but who else could contend with his epic story?
CTW Inc.(i.e. Change The World) has just announced a Queen’s Blade Limit Break x Shinobi Master Senran Kagura: New Link crossover, set to be held from August 16th to August 29th. The (Breast)Best Crossover is Coming! Asuka, Yumi, and Ikaruga from Shinobi Master Senran Kagura: New Link will be playable characters in Queen’s Blade Limit […]
The official Digimon social media account posted a new promo to celebrate 25 years since the anime debuted back in 1999.
Digimon fans have a lot to remember and celebrate. With 25 years of the anime content, Digimon (known as Digimon Adventure in Japan) is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. A special video has been published to commemorate the momentous occasion. The video (below) features new animation capturing classic moments from the show, as well as Koji Wada performing “Butter-Fly”—the opening theme song for the series.
The video begins with the original main cast finding their respective Digimon: Tai, Matt, Sora, Izzy, Mimi, Joe, T.K., and later on Kari. For those who may have forgotten the premise of the series, it revolved around on the DigiDestined (the Chosen Children) who are a group of children chosen to protect the Digital World. Each child is partnered with a Digimon and use a Digivice to help them Digivolve into stronger forms. It was a nice alternative to the Pokémonfranchise, with some similarities across both separate universes.
In 2020, the Digimon franchise was rebooted, retaining and reworking some of the main cast while adding some new characters. What distinguished Digimon from Pokémonthe most is probably how the characters had a little more agency. Yes, they were kids but they dealt with some more real-world issues—such as exploring how kids cope with divorced parents.
Another cool distinction was its ability to build out the DigiWorld and the Network. As many people born in the 1990s or earlier would remember would be the fear of computers and the whole Y2K scare. Digimon sort of played around that concept, as computers and the internet were still becoming more widely used. In a certain sense, it was a great gateway for learning about how computer networks and the internet worked back then before we could ask Siri or Google it all.
The series also spawned so much merchandise, games and toys. One of the coolest things to get back in the days was a personal DigiVice. This was similar to the generation before with Tamagotchis. It was a cool way to experience raising a Digimon, evolving it and battling others too. It was also a great alternative between Pokémon and Yu Gi Oh, which were leaning more heavy into the trading card game industry. Digimon eventually joined them a little while after.
But like Pokémon, Digimon also teaches certain interpersonal skills particularly through the interactions between friends. This was an important aspect at its core. Also at its core, the anime series had a very iconic opening for both the English version on 4Kids and the Japanese version. After showing some old footage, it was followed by the OG opening theme, with the original opening animation. The nostalgia of seeing this could make anyone cry.
The 2020 Digimon Adventure reboot is currently streaming on Crunchyroll; here is a description of the story for this latest series:
“It’s the year 2020. The Network has become something humans can no longer do without in their daily lives. But what humans don’t know is that on the other side of the Network is the Digital World, a realm of light and darkness. Nor are they aware of the Digimon who live there. Fifth grader Taichi Yagami’s mother and little sister Hikari went to Shibuya, and now they’re aboard a runaway train. Taichi hurries to Shibuya to save his mother and sister, but the instant he heads toward the station platform… a strange phenomenon befalls the DigiDestined, and Taichi goes to the Digital World!”
Body horror? Check. Gratuitous amounts of gore and violence? Check. Psychological horror? Check. Fans of Junji Ito’s work will love this series about aliens taking over human hosts.
Imagine a parasitic alien race that suddenly descended to Earth one day without warning. That is the sudden reality that Shinichi Izumi has to face when a Parasite miserably fails to take over his mind and becomes part of his right hand instead.
Unable to relocate and find a new host, the Parasite now named Migi by Shinichi, is forced to rely on and co-exist with him. But thanks to Migi’s infection on his right hand, he can use the Parasite’s abilities to get them out of sticky and often deadly situations.
Now that Migi failed to take over a host’s brain, fellow Parasites see Migi as a threat and the unlikely duo must face other Parasites and infected hosts for their lives. Shinichi must now balance his regular life and the parasitic life of his alien partner for them to survive their new reality.
The Notable Humans
Shinichi Izumi
Our main protagonist and one of the few infected hosts resisted being taken over by his Parasite, Migi and now co-exists with the alien in a rocky way. Using Migi’s abilities, Shinichi wants to protect his fellow humans like a superhero, while keeping his infection a secret to avoid being killed or becoming a lab specimen.
Over time, he becomes highly efficient at dealing with Parasites, thanks to the mutation of his cells due to Migi’s infection, giving him heightened abilities and senses against Parasites. He goes to South Korea and helps Jun-Kyung and his Team Grey to get rid of Parasites.
Satomi Murano
Satomi is Shinichi’s love interest, being romantically attracted to him despite being best friends thanks to the latter’s kind and sensitive nature. However, their relationship is almost broken when Shinichi becomes cold and distant when infected with Migi, trying to keep Satomi out of harm’s way from the Parasites.
And despite knowing the truth behind Shinichi’s infection with the Parasite, her feelings and support towards him didn’t wane, becoming stronger, saying that his humanity remained even after being infected.
Mamoru Uda
Another human host wherein the Parasite failed to take over his brain, Mamoru is a gentle, friendly person who becomes nervous under pressure and highly emotional, whether fighting other Parasites or facing complicated things in his daily life. His parasite is attached to his mouth and lower jaw, unofficially being nicknamed Joe by the fans (due to the word Joe sounding like Jaw in Japanese, referencing the “Jaws” movie).
Despite his peaceful and easygoing nature, since he’s just like Shinichi, he often finds himself in deadly fights against fellow hosts with hostile Parasites. And just like in Migi’s case, the other aliens consider Joe to be a threat as well, putting Mamoru at a disadvantage since he isn’t like Shinichi with heightened senses and abilities.
Takeshi Hirokawa
Acting as the second major antagonist in the latter part of the story, Takeshi is the ringleader of a Parasite conspiracy group who later becomes the Mayor of East Fukuyama City. Using his position and power, he funds both resources and his political understanding so that his conspiracy of the Parasites taking over humanity can be realized.
Due to his hatred of humanity, he wants the Parasites to become successful in their conquering, dubbing them “Mincemeat Murderers” and wants to streamline the process of mass murdering humanity by using them and their abilities.
The Notable Parasites
Reiko Tamura
An intelligent Parasite driven by scientific inclinations to learn more about her kind, she originally infects a female human named Ryouko Tamiya, one of Shinichi’s teachers in his high school. Wanting more about her race, she intentionally gets pregnant with a human baby after assuming herself as Reiko Tamura in the latter half of the series, joining Takeshi in his plans and his conspiracy group.
However, she had a change of heart after giving birth to her baby and developing maternal instincts for it. That change resulted in other Parasites in Takeshi’s group targeting her when she doubted their plans. Now considered an enemy, Reiko kills most of them in Takeshi’s group after escaping, believing that Parasites can peacefully co-exist with humanity.
Gotou
Hosting five parasites in his body (Miki being his main Parasite and four others), Gotou is considered the strongest Parasite that invaded Earth. With the aid of Miki, Gotou can freely control the other four Parasites in his body, transforming most of his body mass into Parasite tissue. That makes him the strongest and most violent of all the aliens, despite being the most intelligent host.
He hunts humans merely for sport and is initially Takeshi’s right-hand man and easily overpowers Shinichi and Migi in their first encounter. Despite being a cold-blooded killer, he has somewhat of a code of honor as he wants to exact vengeance against Shinichi for killing Miki’s kind earlier in the series.
Netflix’s ambitious venture into the world of “One Piece” continues to build excitement with Season 2 of its live-action adaptation now in full swing. The streaming giant recently unveiled a slew of new cast members set to embody some of the manga/anime’s most beloved characters.
In a series of announcements via their official social media channels, Netflix introduced Clive Russell as Crocus, Werner Coetser as Dorry, and Brendan Murray as Broggy, among others, over the past two days. Today, the lineup expanded further with Callum Kerr stepping into the role of Smoker, Julia Rehwald as Tashigi, Rob Colletti as Wapol, and Ty Keogh as Dalton.
Set against the backdrop of the Arabasta Saga, Season 2 promises to delve into additional manga arcs, including Reverse Mountain and Little Garden, with confirmation of the Drum Island arc’s inclusion. With these recent casting revelations, fans can expect a comprehensive exploration of the Baroque Works saga and beyond.
Netflix’s adaptation, praised for its fidelity to the source material, garnered acclaim upon its debut season, boasting an impressive 85% on Rotten Tomatoes among critics and a stellar 95% Audience Score. Anticipation is high as filming commences this month, aiming for a 2025 premiere.
While details on Season 2 remain under wraps, the success of the first season has set a promising precedent for what lies ahead in this epic adaptation of “One Piece.”
Developer Type Moon Studio BB and publisher Bandai Namco have teamed up for Fate/EXTRA Record, a remake of Fate/EXTRA that will be coming to Switch, PlayStation, and PC in 2025. As part of FGO Fest 2024, Type Moon has provided a trailer and release window for Fate/EXTRA Record, which was initially announced in 2020. Unlike… Read More »Fate/EXTRA Record to release on Nintendo Switch in 2025
Type Moon has confirmed development of a Fate/Hollow Ataraxia remaster for Switch. The sequel to Fate/Stay Night, like its predecessor, was until now unreleased in the West and is getting a remaster based on its PS Vita version. The PS Vita version of Fate/Hollow Ataraxia added in full voice acting, two opening cinematics by animation… Read More »Fate/Hollow Ataraxia Remastered announced for Nintendo Switch
Aniplex and Type Moon have announced through a trailer that Fate/Stay Night Remastered will summon its way onto Switch on August 8th. It is now available on the US Switch eShop at a discounted price of $26.99, a 10% sale off of its MSRP of $29.99, which will last until August 21st. This marks the… Read More »Fate/Stay Night Remastered coming to Nintendo Switch next week
HIGH A riveting supernatural story with a legendary legacy.
LOW What do you mean the other half is still in production?!
WTF The tonal shifts when encountering a bad ending and reading the cast commenting on your failures.
Frankly speaking, the mere thought of being able to draft a review of the official English-language international release of Tsukihime feels unreal. For nearly 24 years, it seemed like Type-Moon’s legendary visual novel would forever be Japan-exclusive, never to appear in English without the help of fan translations — but it’s here now, and all is well.
To be accurate, the subject of this review is not, strictly speaking, the Tsukihime that I first played a fan translation of in high school. Instead, I’m reviewing Tsukihime -A piece of blue glass moon-, a remake developed by Type-Moon and released in Japan in 2021. It features a fully rewritten story and new original art from Type-Moon co-founders Kinoko Nasu and Takashi Takeuchi.
Though the story has been rewritten, the core premise hasn’t changed. As before, the narrative is told almost entirely in the first person, experienced through the very special eyes of Shiki Tohno, a young high school student.
Shiki possesses the Mystic Eyes of Death Perception, causing him to see supernatural “lines” drawn all over everything around him. Cutting along those lines instantly kills almost anything… or anyone, unless Shiki wears a pair of special magical glasses that hide the lines from his sight. After years living in exile away from his aristocratic family, Shiki is called back to the massive Tohno mansion following the death of his father. A shockingly violent encounter with a mysterious, beautiful woman named Arcueid kicks off the story proper, drawing Shiki deeper into a mystical world that lies just beneath the surface of the urban ordinary. It’s a world where vampires war in the city streets under cover of night, all the while dodging monster hunters empowered by the church itself, and where seemingly anyone, from the family doctor to one’s own classmates, might be hiding some kind of supernatural secret.
Adventure stories with a horror twist aren’t new, but it’s notable that Tsukihime -A piece of blue glass moon- is also, at its core, a romance.
Alongside the vividly rendered passages describing magical battles and vampire hunts are meet-cutes straight out of a romantic comedy playbook. In these instances, the writing bubbles with a sweet puppy-love vibe, full of dramatic teenage infatuation rendered in flowery, heartfelt passages. Thanks to an top-class English-language localization, the mood of reckless teenage romance is perfectly captured. It’s even thanks to this localization that segments where Shiki essentially ogles his female conversation partners come across as cutely awkward, rather than creepy — immensely helpful considering the large number of pretty girls that interact with Shiki. That said, the story of Tsukihime does focus on two main narrative branches, each centered around a different heroine.
One of the biggest departures A piece of blue glass moon makes from the original Tsukihime is in the writing of the second branch, which focuses on Ciel, Shiki’s mature, reliable, enigmatic upperclassman.
The original game presented Ciel as an alternative romantic “route,” as is the custom for games in the genre, though the bulk of written material and development was clearly concentrated on Arcueid as the “main” heroine. The result was a Ciel route that felt like a variation of Arcueid’s — an alternative path included less as an equally valid option than a value-add for players seeking replayability.
By comparison, Ciel’s route in Tsukihime -A piece of blue glass moon– truly feels distinct, with its own plotting, cast of characters, and and exploration of a different side of Tsukihime‘s setting and lore. If Arcueid’s story route largely involves vampires and other supernatural kindred, Ciel’s dips heavily into the holy church, a vaguely Christian organization that defends human society against supernatural threats and violently suppresses the ones that come too close to revealing the magical world’s existence to mankind at large. In their way, the two main routes in Tsukihime‘s remake feel like genuinely equal options, fitting well with Type-Moon’s permissive attitude towards what counts as “canon” in its various properties.
With that in mind, players must read through Tsukihime -A piece of blue glass moon- multiple times to get the most out of the story. Thankfully, it includes plenty of tools to ease exploration. Players can save and load anytime, and a handy “flowchart” system not unlike the one seen in Vanillaware’s 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim allows players to jump back and forth in the timeline, checking the results of choices at their leisure. The main routes and their endings are also unlocked sequentially, so there’s no danger of making the “wrong” choice and being forced to reload or wait until the next playthrough.
There are even more than a dozen different “bad endings” to acquire for completionist players. Bad endings are very much the “wrong choices,” usually in the sense that picking them results in Shiki’s death, described in gruesome, embarrassing detail. These are usually played for laughs, though, and invariably conclude with a post-credits classroom sequence where the characters discuss what just happened and advise the player on what choices to pick after they reload.
Outside of the occasional typo and an odd bug where a small amount of voiced Japanese-language lines aren’t properly subtitled in other languages, Tsukihime -A piece of blue glass moon- is larger in scale than the original, polished to a mirror sheen, and convenient almost to a fault. Its writing expands the story in an appealing way that’s conscious of Type-Moon’s status as a company at the top of its field managing its own multiverse of related stories and projects (such as the Fate/Grand Order mobile game and more besides). It doesn’t supplant the scrappy, rough-hewn, original Tsukihime, but rather compliments it, presenting the visual novel equivalent of a breathtakingly costly but inimitably entertaining triple-A blockbuster to contrast with the original’s history as an out-of-nowhere indie hit.
The only wrinkle in this otherwise perfect remake story is that A piece of blue glass moon is just the first entry of the Tsukihime remake project. The two routes contained in this release are just the “Near Side” routes. The original game’s three other “Far Side” routes — routes that were more psychodrama-focused and starred supporting characters like Akiha, Kohaku, and Hisui, are due to be included in another installment, Tsukihime -The other side of red garden-, which is still in production. This isn’t to say that the experience feels incomplete without the additional routes, but it’s an acknowledgement that those who want to know more about certain other characters and see how Type-Moon will address their respective stories may end up waiting a while for the second half of the remake project to release.
Nevertheless, as it is, Tsukihime -A piece of blue glass moon- remains a superlative visual novel, and a must-read for any fan of Type-Moon’s work, as well as a great potential entry point for those looking to get into visual novels as a medium.
Rating: 9 out of 10
Disclosures: This game is developed Type-Moon and published by Aniplex. It is currently available for the Switch and PS4. This review is based on a paid download and reviewed on Switch. A PS4 code provided by the publisher was tested. Approximately 47 hours of play were devoted to the single-player mode and acquiring all main endings. There is no multiplayer mode. The game was completed.
Parents: This game is rated M by the ESRB, with content descriptors for Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language, and Suggestive Themes. The rating description is as follows: “This is a visual novel in which players follow the story of a high-school student who encounters vampires and ghouls in Japan. As players progress through the narrative, they view stylized story sequences (mostly still images), some depicting violence and blood: blood splatter; pools of blood; characters killed off camera; a character’s hand repeatedly stabbed. The text includes descriptive details of violent acts (e.g., “I stab, I cut, I slice, I carve. Severing piece after piece until nothing is left…”; “After listening to the weakling beg for its life, she begins her meticulous work…Once the other arm is gone too, she swaps her tools and sets work on its inside.”). Some sequences depict severed limbs and dismembered body parts in large pools of blood. A female vampire is depicted partially nude, with exposed pelvic area (no genitalia), and her arm covering her breasts. The words “f**k” and “sh*t” are heard in the game.”
Colorblind Modes: The game has no colorblind modes.
Deaf & Hard of Hearing Gamers: The gameplay is not reliant on audio cues. All voiced dialogue is represented by on-screen text. There are no options for text size or readability configuration, but detailed options exist to manage text display speed. This game is fully accessible.
Remappable Controls: This game’s button controls are not remappable.
Viz Media’s SDCC 2024 panel has given anime fans a lot to look forward to in the next year, including the release of a Rooster Fighter anime adaptation on Adult Swim. One of the biggest manga announcements made during the event, though is a collaboration between two iconic heroes.
Officially announced to release in August 2024, Ultraman: Along Came a Spider-Man is set to bring together the two heroes in an epic battle against Doctor Doom and Alien Mefilas.
Everything We Know About Ultraman: Along Came a Spider-Man
The upcoming Ultraman team-up manga will be written by Shigenobu Matsumoto and Shinji Oishi, with illustrations by Tomo Hirokawa (Sword Art Online: Alicization Lycoris). The series is getting a simultaneous English and Japanese release beginning on August 14, 2024.
The plot of Ultraman: Along Came a Spider-Man has been described as:
On Marvel Earth, Spider-Man joins forces with the Avengers to battle Doctor Doom in New York City, but when several civilians are killed in a building collapse as a result, Spider-Man becomes demoralized and finds himself whisked away in a strange spacecraft called the Interdimensional Train. Doctor Doom stows aboard and both find themselves in the Tokyo of the Ultraman universe! Witnessing Ultraman battle a giant Kaiju, Doom craves the Giant of Light’s power and joins forces with Alien Mefilas and his army of Kaiju from the Monster Graveyard to steal it.
Viz Media
While Ultraman has teamed up with Marvel heroes in the past – like Ultraman x Avengers, which will also be dropping on August 14, this is the first time the kaiju-fighting tokusatsu legend will be teaming up with the world’s favorite neighborhood hero.
SDCC 2024 has given fans from every corner of the world something to be excited about – especially anime fans. As part of Viz Media’s panel, one of the biggest news the publisher shared with fans was the official anime adaptation announcement for Rooster Fighter by Shu Sakuratani.
After beginning serialization in 2020, Rooster Fighter quickly went viral for its hilarious premise, and its self-aware humor.
Rooster Fighter’s Anime Adaptation Helped Sakuratani Fulfill a Lifelong Dream
After announcing that the Rooster Fighter anime would be airing on Adult Swim, being produced by Sanzigen and Sola Entertainment, the mangaka shared his thoughts on the adaptation, stating:
Ever since becoming a manga artist, my biggest goal was to have my work adapted into an anime. So, I can’t tell you how happy I am to see my dream come true! This is all thanks to my readers’ continued support and Hero’s and VIZ Media’s contributions. I extend my gratitude to all of you.
Shu Sakuratani
He continued, saying this about his action comedy series:
I believe Rooster Fighter is very blessed. We have the best director, the best writer, the best production staff, and the best voice actors all working together to create the best anime. As the original creator, I am ecstatic! I can’t wait to see Keiji and the gang come to life on TV. I hope that everyone out there will enjoy this anime where chickens take center stage!
Shu Sakuratani
The upcoming anime will be directed by Daisuke Suzuki, previously known for his work on D4DJ Double Mix and 009 Re:Cyborg. Series composition will be handled by Hiroshi Seko, whose credits include Attack on Titan, Mob Psycho 100, and Jujutsu Kaisen.
While fans are still waiting on an official release date, the mangaka’s enthusiasm has the community excited to see what’s to come from the series when it finally airs on Adult Swim.
After what feels like forever, the team behind the anime adaptation of Junji Ito’s Uzumaki have finally dropped a new trailer and an official release date for the project.
The New Trailer Shows Off How Hard the Team Worked To Adapt Ito’s Unique Style
the new trailer shows a number of updated visuals in the latest trailer, and it’s obvious the studio behind the upcoming adaptation, Studio Drive, have put a lot of love, care, and passion into the adaptation.
Romantic Killer is a subversive romantic comedy series, originating from a 2019 manga, and recently adapted as an anime on Netflix. It follows protagonist Anzu Hoshino, an endearing teenage girl who loves three things: video games, chocolate, and her cat. However, when she discovers a game she is playing was swapped out for a romance game, a tiny wizard named Riri appears to her and turns her life upside down.
She is promised a paradise of male suitors but has her favorite things taken away until she chooses a boyfriend. The story is hilarious, heartwarming, and self-aware, so readers/viewers might wonder, who does Anzu end up with in Romantic Killer?
Does Anzu End Up With Tsukasa in Romantic Killer?
Anzu x Tsukasa
Image: DOMERICA
Tsukasa Kazuki is the first love interest introduced in episode 1 of the anime, but the pair are not end game. Anzu and Tsukasa encounter each other in numerous instances that seem to parody the meet-cute trope, where future couples meet under seemingly random and often humorous circumstances.
Tsukasa’s good looks and initial cold demeanor belie his kindness, with him becoming a wonderful friend to Anzu. While he finds himself falling for her, Anzu does not feel pressured to reciprocate his feelings.
Anzu x Junta
Image: DOMERICA
Junta Hayami is propped up by Riri as the encapsulating the childhood friend archetype, even referring to him as ‘easy mode’ in the context of otome games, but these two just weren’t meant to be. He idealized Anzu since elementary school when he was teased for being overweight and called Tonta by their classmates, becoming a baseball prodigy when he learned that Anzu liked athletic guys. While seemingly cowardly and resentful of Tsukasa, Junta is steadfast and loyal to his friends.
Anzu x Ryuya
Image: DOMERICA
Ryuya seems like the closest romantic fit for Anzu, but does not end up with her in Romantic Killer. Their mutual appreciation for video games is a strong indicator that they could have chemistry, but this alone doesn’t seem to be enough to bring the pair together. However, Ryuya joins other characters in protecting Anzu from some rather scary circumstances by the end of the series, and remains her friend.
Anzu x Koganei?
Image: DOMERICA
Hijiri Koganei is the rich, handsome suitor sent after Anzu by Riri, but they do not end up together in Romantic Killer. Their personalities clash, with Anzu going as far as to taunt him for his attitude, referring to him as a tsundere. Despite his arrogant demeanor, Anzu still regards him as a friend, playing into his confidence and showing him affection as she does for her other friends.
Anzu x Riri
Image: DOMERICA
One of the more complicated and admittedly odd pairings in the anime – these two do not end up together, but when Riri wishes to stay in her life, Anzu shrewdly uses the technicality that there’s a fraction of a percent chance they could end up together romantically. This forces Kate, a later wizard assigned to her case, to allow Riri to stay in the human world.
Will There Ever Be an “Endgame” Pairing For Anzu?
For those who have caught on at this point, the story isn’t meant for Anzu to end up with anybody, at least, not definitively. The series does a wonderful job showcasing the importance of platonic love, which is often devalued in romance stories as only another avenue for people to end up together. Anzu eventually is given access to her possessions, while keeping her invaluable friends, and keeps the autonomy to not have to date any of them or respond to their advances.
Image: DOMERICA
However, the anime ends on a cheeky ‘to be continued…?’ note while setting her up with a new quest given by Kate, to find a boyfriend before graduating. We’ll see if there’s ever a continuation, but for now, the anime and manga end on the same note, with Anzu ending up with her favorite things: video games, chocolate, her cat Momohiki, and her friends. The ending of the manga is equally open-ended, however, there are some hints that she and Tsukasa could eventually develop something, since the final chapters give him the spotlight.
Romantic Killer was released on Netflix on October 27, 2022, and is based on the manga originally released on July 30, 2019. You can read Romantic Killer on Shonen Jump.
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Following its success during SacAnime Winter 2024, the Call of Duty cosplay gathering is returning for the Summer 2024 event.
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