News

Five seasons, a spin-off series, a film and multiple specials later, the Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? anime is officially celebrating ten whole years since the first episode aired on April 4, 2015, with a new visual and other celebrations. The first three episodes with new audio commentary are streaming on the Warner Bros. Japan Anime YouTube channel for a limited time, and a staff panel event will be held in Tokyo on May 9. Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? 10th Anniversary Visual Related: Food Wars! Shokugeki no Soma Anime 10th Anniversary Art Revealed Based on the light novels by Fujino Omori and Suzuhito Yasuda, Hideki Tachibana ( The Honor at Magic High School ) directed the latest season of Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? at studio J.C.Staff, with series composition by Hideki Shirane,...

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Japanese TV broadcast of Food Wars! Shokugeki no Soma , the anime adaptation of the cooking battle manga, which began broadcasting on Tokyo Broadcasting System and other networks on April 4, 2015. To celebrate, the official Food Wars! social media account has published a special piece of anniversary art. Additionally, the Warner Bros. Japan Anime YouTube channel released a short anniversary video for the series with rebroadcast notices in Japan . Related: Tenmaku Cinema Manga by Food Wars! Creators Launches in Shonen Jump Based on the manga by Yuto Tsukuda, Shun Saeki and Yuki Morisaki, Yoshitomo Yonetani directs the TV anime adaptation at animation studio J.C.Staff. An English language version of the original manga is also available from Viz Media. Crunchyroll describes Food Wars! Shokugeki no Soma : Shokugeki no Soma centers on Yukihira Soma, a middle school student who is determined to surpass his father’s culinary skills.

This week on The Anime Effect: LeAlec and Leah chat with husband and wife Harley Quinn comic duo Amanda Conner and Jimmy Palmiotti about their '60s to '80s anime roots, what Margot Robbie is really like, and more! In our audio-exclusive episode, we fill you in on the latest news in the anime world, including  Gachiakuta  coming to Crunchyroll, a  Konosuba  sequel announcement, and more! Episode 56 of The Anime Effect is now available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and anywhere else you listen to your podcasts! If you're waiting to watch the video episode, it'll be live on Crunchyroll and YouTube at 7 p.m. Et. Listen or Watch on: Episode 56 Summary In this week's news episode, Leah, Nick and LeAlec discuss the  All You Need Is Kill  light novel getting an anime adaptation and Tokyo Ghoul collaborating with Dead by Deadlight , among other updates. Plus, we talk to comic...

Yuto Tsukuda, the creator of Weekly Shonen Jump's hit culinary comedyFood Wars!: Shokugeki no Soma, recently promoted an up-and-coming fellow Shonen Jump IP. The manga in question is Shinobi Undercover, a zany action-comedy revolving around a ninja and a high school girl.

Tsukuda's new recommendation was shared by @WSJmanga, an unofficial Shonen Jump news hub on X (formerly Twitter). Shinobi Undercover, which was created by Ippon Takegushi (story) and Santa Mitarashi (art), revolves around a ninja named Todaka who lives and works in modern-day Japan. One day, he is ordered to protect a cheerful but klutzy high school student named Aoi. In order to be a proper guard, he masquerades as Aoi's fellow classmate. According to the X post, Tsukuda is particularly fond of the "moe" (cute and/or innocent) attributes of the lead character.

New Shonen Jump Series Gets High Praise From Food Wars!: Shokugeki no Soma's...

It's sometimes a rare treat to see an anime series actually finish its story, since it's rather common for an anime to either go on hiatus or never finish the original manga's story at all. Recent anime titles, meanwhile, haven't even had a chance to finish their stories yet, such as My Hero Academia and Jujutsu Kaisen, so anime fans end up with a lot of unfinished stories. However, there are some wonderful exceptions to that trend.

In past decades, fantastic anime like Neon Genesis Evangelion and Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood finished their stories, and more recently, other great anime titles have done the same. From 2020 to the present, fun anime series in all different genres crossed the finish line and aired their final seasons or concluded with anime movies. Anime fans can either watch these series for the first time or revisit them so they can get a complete viewing experience.

As anime’s largest and most popular demographic, shonen anime is full of titles spanning over every genre and subgenre imaginable. Many of the medium’s most iconic titles come from shonen, topping the charts as the greatest series of all time. From beloved classics like Dragon Ball and Fullmetal Alchemist to modern hits, such as Dandadan or Demon Slayer, shonen anime have been some of the most influential series in anime history. But while these popular series have gotten fans hooked for decades, they’re still far from perfect.

The anime industry is constantly evolving, improving with each new release. As a result, even some of the most legendary shonen series start to feel outdated. Many of the genre’s best haven’t aged as well as fans might have hoped, with visuals that no longer meet modern standards and writing that feels out of touch with today’s audiences.

Many anime fans enjoy watching shows for the action-packed scenarios series can come up with. However, sometimes, a fan craves something a little more peaceful, where the series can progress with no big fights or conflict. While arguments and combat have their place, sometimes an anime with zero action just feels better.

The anime come in all different varieties. Some feature singing idols rocking out to catchy pop songs. Others feature a slice-of-life telling a dramatic story that can touch one's heart. No matter what the circumstances are, sometimes it's better to have no action at all than too much action to stay engaged with a series.

Zombie Land Saga is Full of Friendship, Songs, & a Quest for Dreams Streaming on Crunchyroll

Zombie Land Saga is a zombie series unlike any other. Instead of craving human flesh, these zombie idols merely want to sing to revitalize the Saga prefecture. They...

Ahead of a planned 2025 release, the upcoming TV anime adaptation of Rocket Shokai and Mephisto's Sentenced to Be a Hero light novels today revealed three more cast members, adding to leads Yohei Azakami and Mayu Iizuka: Patausche Kivia voiced by Shizuka Ishigami (Ikumi in Food Wars! Shokugeki no Soma ) Dotta Luzulas voiced by Shun Horie (Kyotaro in The Dangers in My Heart ) Venetim Leopool voiced by Shunichi Toki (Setsu in Summoned to Another World for a Second Time ) All five voice actors will be present at the series' AnimeJapan 2025 stage event on Sunday, March 23 . Patausche Kivia Dotta Luzulas Venetim Leopool Related: Sentenced to Be a Hero Anime Reveals New Teaser Visual, Release Date Studio Kai ( Skeleton Knight in Another World ) is producing the series' animation. Key staff members, including the director, are yet to be confirmed at the time of reporting. Yen Press publishes an official English version...

No long-running anime is ever perfect, but many can recover after a sub-par story arc. For other anime, a singular storyline can be so disastrous that it ruins the anime moving forward and destroys its reputation. This happens most commonly, but not exclusively, to shōnen series, because of most of them not being planned out in advance, and the typical structure of anime within the genre.

Popular anime like Naruto and My Hero Academia have been ruined by singular arcs time and time again. These storylines derail character arcs, conclude plotlines in unsatisfying ways, shift their respective series in controversial directions, and/or are simply not good enough to hold an audience's interest. In the worst-case scenario, an arc can be so destructive that it brings its series to an abrupt end.

Dragon Ball Gt's Black Star Dragon Ball Saga Got the Sequel Off to a Poor Start Dragon Ball Gt...

Will Senku and the rest of the members of the Kingdom of Science be able to take their mission to the final frontier? The stars await in Dr. Stone Science Future , which brings the adventure back to Crunchyroll today as part of the Winter 2025 Anime Lineup ! Whether you're ready to blast off or still catching up, you can dig into a spoiler-free overview below, all in the name of science. Dr. Stone Science Future Guide Release Date and Exact Time Where to Watch Official Trailers Characters and Voice Actors Anime Staff Anime Key Visuals Plot When is Dr. Stone Science Future Coming Out? English Sub Release Date: - Dr. Stone Science Future premieres on January 9, 2025 at 7:00 a.m. Pt English Dub Release Date: - January 9 Territories: North America, Central America, South America, Europe, Africa, Oceania, the Middle East and Cis Related: Dr. Stone Science Future Release Date and Exact Time Where to Watch Dr.

The highly anticipated fourth season of Dr. Stone will soon have its worldwide broadcast premiere. After several months of feverish anticipation, Yusuke Kobayashi, the Japanese-language voice actor behind Dr. Stone's Senku Ishigami, is extremely excited to return for the conclusion of the epic sci-fi saga.

Per Mantan Web, Kobayashi recently participated in an interview alongside co-star Ryota Suzuki (Ryusui Nanami) to answer questions related to the new series. While the performer has been involved with a number of other famous TV anime, including Food Wars: Shokugeki no Soma and Re:Zero -- Startling Life in Another World, Kobayashi explained that the role of Senku is particularly special to him. "It has given me confidence as an actor. It is loved by many people, and the passion of the staff is so overwhelming that it can be felt through the screen..." he explained. "...I savor every episode of the joy of being involved.

Dragon Ball has become an evergreen shonen classic that’s connected with audiences for many diverse reasons, but Akira Toriyama’s signature artwork and storytelling is one of its greatest selling points. There are many different mangaka who could tell the same story, but it wouldn’t hit with the same intensity without Toriyama’s sweet character designs, battle choreography, and artwork. Toriyama has a distinct style that makes it easy to identify his contributions to other manga and video game series.

Toriyama was Dragon Ball’s creative mastermind for four decades. That being said, there are several instances where other passionate artists have attempted to replicate Toriyama’s style and enter the Dragon Ball universe. Some of these artists are more successful than others, but some actually go above and beyond with capturing the magic that’s present in every panel of Akira Toriyama’s Dragon Ball artwork.

Related 40 Years Ago Today,...

The official website for Kimi to Idol Precure♪ ("You and Idol Precure♪"), Toei Animation's upcoming 22nd Precure TV series, fully opened today, revealing the main information such as a teaser trailer, visuals, main voice cast members, and theme song singers. The site also announced that the anime is set to premiere on the ABC/TV Asahi networks' 24 affiliate stations in Japan on February 2, 2025. Kimi to Idol Precure♪ Teaser Trailer Main Visual Related: Toei Animation Announces 22nd Precure TV Series "Kimi to Idol Precure♪" The voice actors portraying the three Precure girls are as follows: Cure Idol / Uta Sakura voiced by Misato Matsuoka (Tsubame Mizusaki in Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken! ) Cure Wink / Nana Aokaze voiced by Minami Takahashi (Megumi Tadokoro in Food Wars: Shokugeki no Soma ) Cure Kyunkyun / Kokoro Shigure voiced by Natsumi Takamori (Komekome in Delicious Party Precure ) Additionally, visuals of two fairy characters named Purirun (left) and...

Takopi’s Original Sin is one of the most controversial manga ever to be published by Shōnen Jump, and it’s finally getting an anime. Takopi’s Original Sin is about an alien octopus named Takopi who comes to Earth to help spread happiness, but when he tries to help a troubled girl named Shizuka, things quickly spiral out of control, and Takopi is forced to take drastic measures to keep everything together.

With a combination of dark and thoughtful storytelling, Takopi’s Original Sin is a truly standout manga, and it’s about to get even more prestige. In a surprise announcement, it’s been officially confirmed that Takopi’s Original Sin will be receiving an anime adaptation, with more information set to be revealed during Jump Festa 2024.

One Of Shōnen Jump's Best & Darkest Manga Is Finally Getting An Anime Based On The Manga By Taizan 5

Between the excellent...

One-Punch Man fans hoping for an encouraging update on Season 3 are again dealt a serious blow. Chikashi Kubota, the animes character designer, has revealed that things arent necessarily going smoothly for the once-beloved series.

Dpdm (@/DPDM44), a social media user on X (formerly Twitter), revealed he spoke with Kubota at an anime convention in France. While the user didnt specify which convention it was, Art to Play 2024 recently ran from Nov. 16-17 and listed Kubota as one of its guests. According to Dpdp, Kubota had very little to say about the status of One-Punch Man Season 3, and what was said about it wasnt very encouraging.

Related Black Friday Deals Go Live With Massive Gaming PC Discounts for Highest-Rated Anime of All Time & More

Black Friday deals include discounts on prebuilt gaming PCs with impressive specs and stunning anime aesthetics, like the limited edition Frieren PC.

One-Punch Man Character Designer...

This week on The Anime Effect: Cosplayer, influencer and Satoru Gojo enjoyer Lena Lemon joins Nick and LeAlec as guest host to chat with fighting game commentator Tyrant about Dragon Ball games, while Evo champions Justin Wong (JWong) and IFC Yipes intimately describe their love for Food Wars! Shokugeki no Soma . Episode 24 of Crunchyroll Presents: The Anime Effect is now available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and anywhere else you listen to your podcasts! If you're waiting to watch the video episode, it'll be live on Crunchyroll and YouTube at 7 p.m. Et. Listen or Watch on: Episode 24 Summary Nick, LeAlec and Lena Lemon chat about the brand-new Dragon Ball Daima trailer and which characters they want to see in the Honkai Star Rail x Fate/Stay night collab before diving into the deep connection between anime and the fighting gamer community with Tyrant, IFC Yipes and Justin Wong. All that and more,...

Kinnikuman and Food Wars!: Shokugeki no Soma collaborate for a special one-shot. Yuto Tsukuda, Shun Saeki, and Takashi Shimada create the visual showcase. The collaboration will release in Kinnikuman Jump volume #5 on July 4, 2024.

Fans of wrestling manga already have plenty to be excited about with Kinnikuman's 45th anniversary in 2024, but the news doesn't stop there, in light of a new collaboration. Announced by

Yuto Tsukuda on X he will be joined by Shun Saeki and Takashi Shimada, creator of Kinnikuman for a special one-shot Food Wars!: Shokugeki no Soma and Kinnikuman collaboration.

7/4vol.5 pic.twitter.com/fP9z0EG1IY (@tsukudayuto) July 3, 2024

Further corroborated by Shimada on X, this will feature the artwork of Shun Saeki and writing of Yuto Tsukuda to create another visual showcase in the vein of their previous One Piece collaboration. Tsukuda mentions using Prince Suguru, Meat-kun, and Bibimba, alongside Food Wars' Sma Yukihira and,...

Quick Links One Piece: Shokugeki no Sanji is a Self-Contained, Gorgeous Spinoff Manga One Piece Food Wars! Manga is a Strong Case for More from the Creators One Piece Newcomers Get a Sample of the Manga's Popular Arcs One Piece in the Food Wars! Style in More Ways Than Food Shokugeki no Sanji Makes Readers Wish to Sail the High Seas One Piece: Shokugeki no Sanji offers a self-contained, gorgeous spinoff manga showcasing delicious dishes by the Food Wars! team. The spinoff manga keeps the fanservice of Food Wars! with Saeki's enticing art and a blend of One Piece themes. Exciting seafood creatures in Shokugeki no Sanji makes readers wish for more and could attract newcomers to the One Piece universe.

One Piece is Eiichiro Oda's global smash hit, the current best-selling manga ever. However, its spinoffs continue to drive public interest, especially with Shokugeki no Sanji by Yuto Tsukuda and Shun Saeki.

DanMachi Season 5 Cast: All Confirmed New and Returning Characters - Main Image

DanMachi’s next installment is still over a season away, but it is being hyped up now with a new trailer. There, new DanMachi season 5 cast members were revealed who will join the show’s returning VAs.

Along with the cast, the trailer also shows off new footage featuring the new and returning cast members in action.

DanMachi Voice Cast Returns in Season 5

The DanMachi anime began with season 1 back in April 2015. It took four years, but the show finally returned with season 2 in July 2019.

Since then, the series has gotten two more seasons, with the fourth one being split into two halves.

All of the show’s seasons were animated by J.C.Staff, the studio behind One-Punch Man season 2 and Fairy Tail.

Along with the studio, the show’s voice cast has also stuck around throughout the seasons,...

After nearly 30 years of publication, the One Piece manga by Eiichiro Oda has established a rich world filled with many characters worth exploring. An upcoming prequel release will examine the past of former Pirate Hunter Roronoa Zoro.

News broke on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) that the One Piece series will release a light novel prequel dedicated to Monkey D. Luffy's second-in-command. As reported by Shonen Jump News, the new One Piece light novel will be called Zoro - Josho Sasakaze and focus on Zoro's early adventures before becoming a member of the Straw Hat Pirates. X user @/MoonGod_Zika states that the Zoro light novel will be written by Jun Esaka with illustrations by Nakamaru.

Related Official One Piece Animator Teases Epic Garp & Koby Scene Months Before the Episode's Release A fan-favorite animator for the One Piece anime teases a highly-anticipated moment in the Egghead saga featuring Captain Koby and Monkey D.

From “Cooking Papa” and “Food Wars: Shokugeki No Soma” to “Delicious in Dungeon” and every Ghibli film in between, anime has a rich history of wholesome food porn. Yet even so, it might still come as a surprise to some fans of “Spy x Family” that the show’s first theatrical outing would revolve so heavily around a cooking competition.

It’s not just any cooking competition, mind you. After it looks like spy extraordinaire Loid Forger might be taken off Operation “Strix,” the mission that first brought his found family together, he decides to help his adopted daughter Anya win a coveted prize at Eden Academy, thereby ensuring that the Forgers can stay together for at least a little bit longer. The ever-perceptive Loid quickly realizes that the key to victory lies in making the principal’s favorite meal, a rather “elegant” pastry named Melemele. And so off the...

There are so many directions that a Spy x Family could pursue. The ongoing anime has a deeply versatile story structure that allows it to indulge in diverse missions so that the series always feels fresh. Accordingly, it’s seriously surprising to see Code: White function as a covert cooking anime movie.

It’s the type of story that audiences would expect to see in a Food Wars! or Toriko feature film, but not Spy x Family. It’s also an ambitious approach to Spy x Family’s first movie that hedges its bets and is too cautious to disrupt the status quo. Code: White is still rich in classic Spy x Family elements, even if it amounts to an empty meal.

Loid Forger has previously thwarted international incidents, avoided assassination, and pulled off precision exchanges. Spy x Family has repeatedly proven that he’s an expert spy who can...

Kaiju No. 8 is one of the most anticipated anime of 2024. The manga became pretty popular due to its unique plot. Mangaka Naoya Matsumoto has created one of the best manga of the modern generation, with the possibility of becoming one of the best anime in the upcoming days. The anime is scheduled to air on April 13, 2024.

Fans loved the trailer and have high expectations from the anime. Kafka’s journey is quite interesting compared to other Shonen protagonists. During an interview, the editor-in-chief mentioned that Kaiju No. 8 was created from the mangaka’s desire to do something different. He is a massive fan of superhero stories, and it is reflected in his magnum opus.

Kaiju No. 8’s Weird Origin Kaiju No. 8 (Credit: Crunchyroll)

Kaiju No. 8 follows the story of Kafka Hibino, who aspires to join the Defense Force, which prevents Kaiju from rampaging. His childhood...

The life of Sanji before and after he became a member of the Straw Hat Pirates is set to be explored in the upcoming release of One Piece: Shokugeki no Sanji by the creators of Food Wars!.

English manga distributor Viz Media uploaded a teaser trailer for One Piece: Shokugeki no Sanji on social media website X (formerly Twitter). Releasing on March 12, One Piece: Shokugeki no Sanji is written by Yuto Tsukuda and illustrated by Shun Saeki, the creative team behind Food Wars!: Shokugeki no Soma. The outrageously risqué take on the culinary industry ran in publication from Nov. 26, 2012, to Aug. 29, 2019, accumulating 36 volume releases and gaining a complete anime adaptation by One-Punch Man studio J.C.Staff.

Related One Piece's Eiichiro Oda Teases Mihawk's "Lonely" Backstory in New Release One Piece manga creator Eiichiro Oda teases Mihawk's backstory in Volume 108, suggesting more to the World's Strongest Swordsman than meets the eye.

Shonen Jump has revealed the first official teaser for the anime adaptation of Magilumiere Co. Ltd.

Alongside the trailer, Shonen Jump has also released a key visual and several pieces of character artwork for the upcoming series. In contrast to popular Shonen Jump titles like Dragon Ball and One Piece, Magilumiere Co. Ltd. is a satirical work that pokes fun at magical girl tropes by planting its protagonists in a modern work setting. J.C. Staff (Food Wars: Shokugeki no Soma) and Moe (Lupin III vs. Cat's Eye) are collaborating to produce the anime series, which is set to debut in 2024.

Related SpongeBob SquarePants Makes Shonen Jump Anime Cameo SpongeBob SquarePants makes an unexpected cameo in the latest episode of a currently airing Shonen Jump manga adaptation. Close

Written by Sekka Iwata and illustrated by Yu Aoki, Magilumiere Co. Ltd. takes place in a world frequently beset by unusual natural disasters called Kaii.

Hidive looks set to end service in many regions outside of North America.

Per Reddit users, the popular anime streaming has begun communicating its change in global provision to customers. "We are constantly evaluating the Hidive offering and our area of operation and unfortunately," the standard email reads. "The service will no longer be available in certain areas outside of North America, as of 12/14/2023. Going forward, we will endeavor to make our content available to you via local platforms when possible. Please note that you will have full access to our content library on our website www.hidive.com through 12/31/2023. We sincerely appreciate your business and apologize for the inconvenience."

Crunchyroll to Terminate Digital Manga App on Both Web and Mobile

Hidive has yet to make a formal statement. Nevertheless, the above text is also available on its support site. After users went to customer service, a new statement began to circulate the internet,...

The most rewatchable shonen anime combine drama, romance, and comedy, with well-developed characters and nuanced plots. Soul Eater stands out with its unique art style and dark, quirky vibe, despite a lackluster ending. Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is an expansive story with compelling character development and unmatched world-building.

Shonen anime are some of the most popular shows worldwide. Their stories of adventure mix in many different genres to give them wider appeal. The best shonen anime are so lovable that fans find themselves rewatching them all over again - even if they have a high episode count.

The most rewatchable shonen anime combine dramatic, romantic, and comedic moments to create dynamic stories. The characters in these shows are well-developed, with side characters able to affect the plot just as much as the main characters. These shonen anime have proven themselves to be even better the more times they're watched due to excellent animation,...

Shonen anime characters are known for being dynamic. Most shonen shows involve epic battles and supernatural powers that make many of the characters into superheroes. Other, more realistic shonen tales focus a lot on character development and growth. These aspects are mostly attributed to the series' protagonists. Yet, many shonen side characters have just as much of a bombastic presence as the main characters.

These side characters are not featured as much as the main cast, but they affect the story enough that the anime would be poorer without them. They provide particular skills or emotional impact that the main cast couldn't go without. They may be side characters, but these underrated shonen cast members demonstrate how valuable they are at every junction in their stories.

Related: 10 Best Dark Shonen Anime, Ranked

Sakura Kono (Horimiya)

Sakura Kono is a severely underrated character in Horimiya. Although she isn't in the main cast,...

Mr. Osomatsu fans are getting a dog-themed anime inspired by the iconic comedy series.

According to Anime News Network, Matsuinu's official website recently announced a TV anime series featuring the canine counterparts of the six Matsuno brothers. This will be the first animated work featuring the Inu tribe, which got its start as a merchandise line with toys, books and even café collaborations. It will premiere as a segment of TV Tokyo's Iniminimanimo (or Eeeny Meeny Mini Mo), a television block that features programming for young children. The site announced the series release date with a key visual featuring the furry main cast. Mr. Matsuinu will premiere on TV Tokyo on Oct. 7. At-x will begin broadcasting the series on Oct. 12. No international release dates have yet been announced.

Related: 10 Weirdest gag Humor Anime

Point Pictures (Phantasy Star Online 2 Comic) is producing Matsuinu. Tetsuya Endo, who previously served as an...

The following contains spoilers for the My Hero Academia manga.

Some Japanese anime characters are obviously villains from the very start, such as Madara Uchiha in Naruto or the sadistic Jason/Yamori in Tokyo Ghoul, and everyone knows to beware of them and not trust them. Other villains, meanwhile, wait until the right moment to strike and betray the people who once trusted them. This often leads to some of the best plot twists in anime.

A shocking betrayal will turn any anime story on its head, and shatter everyone's trust in the traitorous character once they show their true colors. Some traitorous anime characters always intended to backstab the people who trusted them, while others were once loyal but were eventually convinced to switch sides, such as for glory or sheer survival. Some anime traitors are loyal only to themselves, and might betray more than one party.

Related: 10 Controversial...

Whatever one's favorite flavor of anime is, they all have one thing in common: the infamous "beach episode". From horror to romance, isekai to slice of life, this one-off adventure is like a show's rite of passage. Inevitably, needing a break from the action and drama, the characters will find themselves donning their swimsuits and heading to the nearest body of water.

Another, Hamtoro, Food Wars, Bleach--no anime series is safe from going through at least one episode full of fun in the sun. But why are beach episodes so common? Viewers may see them as just the dreaded anime filler used between story arcs, or an excuse for some mild fan service. The truth is, there's a lot more to these random episodes than meets the eye. Beach Episodes are sometimes also called "bottle episodes", and that is a fitting name for them. When characters are pulled from...

Spice & Wolf fans who have kept up with the light novels are delighted to see a remake announced for 2024. It gives them hope that more of the story not covered in the original 2000s run will finally be animated, and newer anime fans who didn't see Spice & Wolf's original series should get ready for what's to come. Spice & Wolf isn't like other anime; it doesn't have the typical elements designed to make people want to watch it. Despite this, it has maintained popularity as a cult classic among its devoted fanbase. New collectible merchandise has continued to be made for it in recent years, and it even has a sequel light novel series called Wolf & Parchment.

Even more interesting is the Steam VR game featuring Holo, and this is all to say nothing of the original Spice & Wolf light novel series continuing to thrive today, featuring more adventures with Lawrence and Holo.

The strongest student councils in anime are often the most entertaining characters in their show. Typically, student councils are elected by their peers to represent them and handle school functions such as events, funding, and enforcement of rules. Japanese students in these positions tend to hold more sway than Western students, namely having much more authority over school clubs and policies.

Many anime gleefully portray student councils as all-powerful entities that rule their schools with absolute authority. Throwing their weight around with the student body (and even with the faculty) is usually played for humor, but in the right hands, they can also be intimidating antagonists. Whether they are played seriously or as a fountain of jokes, these schools’ student councils always manage to steal any scenes they’re in.

Ohtori Academy - Revolutionary Girl Utena (1998)

In one of the best anime for fans of prestige TV, Ohtori Academy’s...

Anime comes in many genres, delivering superheroes in My Hero Academia, horror in Death Note, and even cooking in Food Wars! In the 2000s, anime based on trading card games were all the rage. Some anime inspired trading cards, such as Pokémon, but others featured a card game essential to the story itself, like in Yu-Gi-Oh!

Card game anime series eventually released actual trading cards, allowing fans to collect cards and play the game their favorite characters played. Considering many of the most popular card game anime aired on channels like Cartoon Network, they were likely how many kids were first exposed to anime. While this genre is supposedly aimed at children, they still have stories everyone can enjoy.

Updated by Sage Ashford on July 25th, 2023: Anime has always been about promoting merchandise, so it isn't surprising that there are tons of anime with card games. This list has...

Anime is beloved for its unique, creative stories that are very different from other media. They sometimes involve complicated plotlines that can take mere episodes or years to resolve. Most of these story beats are great. Yet, some are just plain dumb.

Dumb anime plotlines tend to be tedious, nonsensical parts of the overarching story that bog down the rest of the show. They can be irrelevant to what's going on around them or portray characters contrary to their personalities. Dumb anime plotlines only serve as time-consuming nuisances to otherwise great stories.

Related: 10 Anime Reveals No One Saw Coming

Dark Deku (My Hero Academia)

My Hero Academia has had many twists and turns recently. Yet, one of the more heartwrenching ones is Izuku Midoriya's turn as Dark Deku. Knowing that he is Shiguraki's ultimate prize, Dark Deku treks off on his own to save anyone he can — keeping his friends at bay.

Anime Expo 2023 brought exciting news for DC and anime fans by announcing a new Isekai anime series, Suicide Squad Isekai. The acclaimed Wit Studio produces this groundbreaking series in collaboration with Warner Bros. Japan is set to bring beloved characters from DC Comics Suicide Squad into a new animated realm.

Eri Osada, celebrated for her work as Jujutsu Kaisen’s chief animation director, is steering the helm of this highly anticipated project. Osada is joined by character design leads Akira Amano, recognized for their work on Psycho-Pass, and Naoto Hosoda. The screenplay will be crafted by Tappei Nagatsuki and Eiji Umehara, both known for their remarkable job on the original anime series Vivy: Fluorite Eye’s Song.

The Suicide Squad, a DC Comics series modernized by John Ostrander, has significantly impacted pop culture, with its comic book series and two blockbuster movies raking in a combined total of $914 million worldwide. This...

Anime villains are imposing figures. They incite fear wherever they tread and do whatever it takes to ensure chaos. Anime villains are some of the most vicious characters. However, there are some whose stature makes them less intimidating at the onset. They may be some of the most evil villains, but they are also the shortest.

Related: 10 Best Anime Villains, Ranked

Short anime villains are deceptively evil, as their size makes people underestimate them. This phenomenon can also work for small anime villains, as they can charm their way toward their ultimate goals. These characters prove that anime villains are still some of the most evil characters, even if they are small.

Rachel (Tower Of God) 5 Feet 4.5 Inches

For most of Tower of God, Rachel is thought to be Bam’s ally and closest friend. Yet, all thoughts of their relationship are cast aside when Rachel pushes Bam out of a bubble.

Everyone seems to have a favorite shonen anime, whether it is an old classic like Dragon Ball or a recent release like My Hero Academia. Fans cannot seem to get enough of scrappy heroes overcoming the odds and winning the day. Though many great anime with these types of stories exist, some shows get even better after the first season.

Related: 10 Great Manga That Only Got One Anime Season

These anime may have great first seasons, but once they get past the lore and world-building, their stories really take off. With characters coming into their own, and villains posing more of a threat, second seasons and beyond tend to be more exciting and action-packed. The first seasons of these shows are good, but it is the latter seasons that make them great.

Dr. Stone

Dr. Stone is a quasi-isekai anime where the characters are petrified, only to reawaken in a primitive future.

Fan service is nothing new in anime. By now, it's been around for decades, and even the greenest newcomers have come across it. Anime fans have always been torn when it comes to fan service — some like it, while others can't stand it. However, the general consensus nowadays is that it's unnecessary and distracting.

Related: 15 Shonen Anime With Over-The-Top Fan Service

Many agree that fan service tends to bring down an otherwise great series, and most would rather it just go away. Some of the worst offenders practically ruin a series, taking away from the story and making characters far less likable. Though there are countless examples out there, these are some of the worst instances of promising series ruined by fan service.

Mieruko-Chan

Mieruko-chan is a horror-based comedy series following the everyday life of a young girl named Miko, who sees horrific ghosts everywhere she goes but simply ignores them,...

The Summer 2023 anime line-up is filled with several promising series, with plenty of returning ones such as the second season of Jujutsu Kaisen. There are also numerous new adaptations, especially within the beloved isekai genre. In fact, isekai anime has seen a surge in production so far this year, with some taking on culinary themes, such as Farming Life In Another World and Campfire Cooking in Another World with My Absurd Skill.

Although it might be thought of as uncommon, many manga and anime series have featured a combination of the isekai and gourmet themes, such as Restaurant To Another World and Isekai Izakaya: Japanese Food From Another World. Now, the upcoming dessert-based anime Sweet Reincarnation is ready to partake in this combo, perhaps being the first culinary isekai to focus on the sweet aspect of food. With Sweet Reincarnation's air date drawing nearer, fans who are looking forward to...

The hero's journey is a tale as old as time itself, after struggling through trials and tribulations, the protagonist scores a spectacular win that changes everything. While victories come in many forms, the best of them are always extremely satisfying to see, and this goes for the medium of anime too.

Related: 10 Anime Heroes Who Snatched Victory From The Jaws Of Defeat

Whether it's the final battle, a crazy over-the-top win, or just a character taking down someone who really deserved it, anime has seen characters rising to the occasion and winning the day in ways that have become iconic in themselves. There are many to choose from, but for one reason or another, they all deserve their spot in the "anime victory hall of fame."

Soma Humiliates Eizan (Food Wars!)

Etsuya Eizan was a smug and arrogant antagonist in Food Wars! who delighted in crushing his challengers, and after Totsuki's hostile takeover,...

There's a certain thrill to seeing the characters of one mangaka's work in another mangaka's style. This holds especially true when the two mangakas have achieved similar levels of popularity. This thrill can also be invoked when two creators under the same brand use the same characters.

In Weekly Shonen Jump, for example, Tenmaku Cinema recently paid tribute to the characters from The Promised Neverland. This new series is being done by Yuto Tsukuda and Shun Saeki, who previously teamed up to bring Jump readers Food Wars. In other words, this shout-out to Tpn is a chance for readers to see what the main cast would look like in the Food Wars style.

Related: Review: Tenmaku Cinema Chapter 2 Has the Potential To Be Shonen Jump's Next Big Hit

Where Do the Promised Neverland Kids Show Up?

The Tpn cast made their appearance in Tenmaku Cinema Chapter 7, "The Director's Job." The...

Crossovers in anime and manga are relatively rare--or at least, those that make it outside Japan are. However, both anime and manga are actually quite prone to crossovers for all the usual reasons, like marketing and hype, or just because two creators really like each other's work. The legal rights on crossovers can be quite complicated, hence why many never see release internationally. Still, there are a lot of crossovers out there worth checking out, from the predictable to the utterly insane.

To count as a crossover, the series should normally have separate continuities; two series simply being set in the same universe isn't enough to qualify, typically. Crossovers are often non-canonical, so as not to worry about the implications of the two series coexisting, but that doesn't have to be the case. Crossovers can also vary from a full TV special or movie to a few pages of manga.

Cooking may not be a top-rated anime genre, but it has a solid following. Once in a while, a few standout titles come along and keep the genre breathing. Fans may be familiar with staples like Food Wars, but several recent shows have also left viewers' mouths watering. Anyone who simply gets entranced by the sight of anime food should tune in to one of the most popular donghua out there.

Cinderella Chef touches on more than one genre, and that’s precisely what makes the show special. The anime follows a cooking theme but is also an isekai with a dash of romance and comedy. The show is about a modern girl trying to survive in a historical palace setting with her exceptional culinary skills. That’s just the tip of the iceberg, though; there are several reasons why Cinderella Chef is one of the best cooking anime to watch right now.

The trailer for the new anime Delicious in Dungeon from Studio Trigger has just been released, giving fans their first look at the food-themed fantasy series, as well as an official release date. Delicious in Dungeon is based on a manga series of the same name, which began its run in 2014 and is still ongoing. Trigger had previously produced a TV commercial for the series in 2019, so fans had hoped they would pick up the series for a full adaptation since then.

The anime adaptation was previously announced in August 2022, and that it would be created by Studio Trigger, a well-known animation studio in the world of anime responsible for a number of hits in the past decade, like Ssss.Gridman and Kill la Kill. Now, fans have a new trailer, along with the series' final release date: January 2024.

Delicious in Dungeon's Anime Releases in January 2024

Delicious in Dungeon follows the...

Warning! Contains spoilers for Tenmaku Cinema #Chapter 5!

The hit anime Oshi no Ko is the most popular show of the season, but one new Shonen Jump manga is acting as its opposite in the best way possible. That manga is Tenmaku Cinema by Yuto Tsukuda and Shin Saeki, the creators of Food Wars. The manga follows passionate cinephile Shinichi who becomes possessed by the ghost of a scriptwriter and embarks on a journey to make an amateur film.

In chapter #5, translated by Camellia Nieh, Shinichi and the star of the film Kurai scout various locations for their movie. Location scouting is a vital part of movie making that often doesn't get discussed, so it is fascinating to see it shown off here. Shinichi and Kurai have to take into account how crowded a given location is likely to be or whether it's even allowed to film there. Along the way,...

In the story of Food Wars!, creativity and passion in the kitchen are key to making the best dishes around. Protagonist Soma Yukihira grew up in the kitchen of his family's diner, and he learned all kinds of vital lessons there. Then he got enrolled at the Totsuki culinary school, where he faced all-new challenges.

Related: 10 Anime Heroes Who Lost the Battle But Won the War

At that competitive school, Soma Yukihira won many formal cooking duels, or shokugeki, by using his incredibly resourceful kind and cooking with the power of love. He always won when it mattered most, but even Soma sometimes fell short, and there were times his recipes failed him in the kitchen.

Update on May 18th, 2023 by Louis Kemner: it's time to revisit the fan-favorite shonen cooking anime Food Wars! and see how well Soma Yukihira really did against his many opponents and rivals in that anime.

As summer starts, manga fans are keen to see what new series will become the season's breakout hit. While several big contenders are vying for the title, Shonen Jump's latest series, Nue’s Exorcist, is quickly becoming a favorite, as the first chapter has already grabbed the eyes and hearts of many manga fans. The question is, why is it doing so well?

Written by Kota Kawae, the creator behind several popular one-shots such as Tsukumogiri Life, Nue’s Exorcist follows Yajima, a young boy who can see spirits. However, Yajima's life is not easy, as his past haunts him. Years ago, Yajima's father was murdered in front of him by a spirit. Since then, he's tried to avoid conflict, desperately trying to protect others from harm.

Related: How the Owl House Is Like a Canceled Shonen Jump Series

The Plot of Nue's Exorcist

One day, Yajima's life gets...

Several different anime, especially shonen anime, have a complicated relationship with romance. The romances are often subtextual or implied, without outright having the characters interact as a couple. That implied romance is on a sliding scale, ranging from possible feelings to almost dating.

Related: 10 Best Anime Parodies

This makes a tricky case for shippers, especially when the characters so obviously both have feelings for the other. Certain ships are so close that they even walk the line between whether they are canon or not. Sometimes, especially for ongoing shows, the characters seem to be on the path to a potential future romance.

Shoto Todoroki & Momo Yaoyorozu My Hero Academia

Shoto Todoroki has consistently been one of My Hero Academia's most important characters, while his friend Momo's plot relevance is more arc-dependent. However, they've found themselves in many situations together, and the two clearly have a deep friendship.

Todoroki and...

Anime follows the same basic rules as any other work of fiction, from establishing and commenting on resonant themes to allowing characters to grow and change through conflict and introspection. Most of the best anime heroes gradually change and evolve over time, such as learning humility or figuring out their future path, but some heroes seemingly break these storytelling rules.

Fans hear criticism of characters being flat or static, but while flat is always a problem, static is not. When written correctly, a static anime protagonist can be a stable, fun way to explore a fictional narrative, and these characters change the people and world around them rather than change themselves. Examples are many, with some static characters staying true to themselves and others stabilizing as static characters after learning and growing up earlier in the story.

Related: Recent Jujutsu Kaisen Manga Chapters Challenge Itadori's Worth as a Protagonist

How...