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When we think about nostalgia, Akira Toriyama’s name would instantly come to mind. The Godfather of Anime made our childhoods memorable with his magnum opus, Dragon Ball. Over the years, the series has not only remained relatable to the Shonen fans but has also been attracting more and more viewers.

Goku. Credits: Toei Animation

To keep the series relevant, new series were gradually added to the franchise. Each series showcases Goku and his journey of making new friends and becoming the strongest mortal in Universe 7. However, fans would be at a loss for words when they learn how the legendary mangaka would have ended the lore of Kakarot long before its most critically acclaimed show, Dragon Ball Z.

During an exclusive interview, the late mangaka expressed his views on how he would have concluded the series long ago.

Akira Toriyama had planned things differently with Dragon Ball’s conclusion...

Dragon Ball was nearly canceled during its early 1980s run in Weekly Shonen Jump. A famous artist associated with the series confirmed this surprising fact in a recent interview.

Katsuyoshi Nakatsuru, a celebrated key animator and character designer for the Dragon Ball anime franchise, was interviewed alongside other guests in the most recent episode of KosoKoso, a Japanese podcast hosted by former Dragon Ball editor Kazuhiko Torishima and Dragon Quest creator Yuji Horii. Similar to the previous KosoKoso episode, those closely associated with the franchise discussed the history of Dragon Ball and its late creator, Akira Toriyama, who passed away in March 2024. During this two-hour conversation, Nakatsuru revealed that Dragon Ball was losing steam during the "Emperor Pilaf" story arc.

Original Dragon Ball Viewership Drop Led to Akira Toriyama Shortening Emperor Pilaf's Story Nakatsuru's debut in Dragon Ball🧵12/n pic.twitter.com/mcttXoFd4J— Enomis (@Venixys) March 22, 2025

Nakatsuru began...

Good news for our folks in the UK and Ireland. Chinese box office darling Ne Zha 2 will be released this weekend, on Friday, March 21 and will be followed by 37 other countries in the coming weeks. Previews have started as early as March 14.

Ne Zha 2 is a follow-up to an also succesful 2019 Chinese film Ne Zha about a demon boy raised by humans and strives to cultivate himself and protect the people around him from demons and gods. It has broken multiple box office records including the highest grossing Chinese film of all time, the highest grossing animated film of all time beating Inside Out 2, and placing within the top 5 highest grossing films of all time, beating the likes of Spider-man No Way Home, Avengers Infinity War, and Star Wars the Force Awakens, with $2.07B as of writing.

The film is inspired by Chinese mythology with stories...

The animation industry in Asia has expanded significantly in recent years and has a key role to play in boosting the entertainment sector in coming years. Mainland China in particular, where animation has been given a major lift by the success of “Ne Zha 2”, which has taken over $2 billion and become the highest-grossing animated film in history, and the fifth-highest-grossing film ever.

“’Ne Zha’ is going to be the best performing animation in the world – in the future we will see a bigger role for Chinese animation and big box office is awaiting us,” Catherine Ying, president of Pearl Studios, told a panel on the animation industry at Hong Kong FilMart.

“Ne Zha 2” is based on “Journey to the West,” one of China’s four great classical novels, and toon houses in China are likely to mine ancient texts for further content. Pearl is expecting to release “Eight...

Late Kim Sae-Ron’s Clip Goes Viral!(Photo Credit –Instagram)

It’s getting scandalous each day as new evidence gets introduced in front of the public regarding Kim Soo-Hyun and Kim Sae-Ron’s case. After the actress passed away, her aunt made some shocking revelations about her past relationship with the Queen of Tears actor that left everyone shocked. As per her claims, they had a six-year-long relationship which started in 2015 when she was just 15 years old while he was 27 and ended in 2021. The massive age gap sparked the controversy.

Based on Sae-Ron’s aunt’s claims, Soo-Hyun groomed, harassed, and pushed her to the brink of committing suicide. According to the aunt, the actor and his agency even tried to extort money from her. However, while many fans have already been talking about boycotting the actor, others had faith in him. But, after the recent leaked video, things have gone out of hand.

Journey to the West has been adapted multiple times since it was first published in the 16th century, but this story holds relevance to this day as it was announced that it will receive a film trilogy. Variety reported that this upcoming adaptation aims to "introduce and expand Eastern mythology to global audiences" as the story continues to gain traction in entertainment.

Stars Collective Film Entertainment Group is mounting an ambitious animated film trilogy based on “Journey to the West,” one of China’s four great classical novels, the company revealed on the first day of Hong Kong FilMart.

The trilogy — comprising “Bajie,” “Monkey King” and “Nezha” — aims to introduce and expand Eastern mythology to global audiences, building on recent successes in the space. The project comes as Eastern mythology continues gaining traction in entertainment, with video game ”Black Myth: Wukong,” which is based on Chinese mythology, hitting record-breaking sales of 28 million copies ($1.25 billion in revenue) since its August 2024 release, while Lunar New Year release “Ne Zha 2” has passed $2 billion at the global box office.

“Journey to the West,” which has been translated into more than 40 languages, is described as an Eastern fusion of “The Odyssey” and “The Lord of the Rings,” spanning realms of gods, demons and humans. Currently in script development,...

It's easy to understate just how much of a cultural impact "Dragon Ball" has had. The 40-year-old franchise is recognized as a household name by several generations of anime fans. Both "Dragon Ball" and "Dragon Ball Z" are foundational works of fiction, inspiring virtually every single anime and manga that's come out since then. Around the world, Goku is not just a popular anime character, he is The anime character. If you think the show's reputation is overblown, think again.

It's wild to think that author Akira Toriyama never really planned to make what would end up becoming "Dragon Ball." What's more, the manga constantly evolved and changed, with Toriyama pivoting to what readers were most interested in, changing the story from a fun fantasy adventure inspired by "Journey to the West," to a Jackie Chan-inspired martial arts action story, to a sci-fi epic influenced by Superman's origin. This...

For many new fans, me being one of them, Dragon Ball doesn’t immediately hook the way Dragon Ball Z does. The original shonen series leans more on slapstick comedy and adventure with small-scale fights. While the series introduces key characters and showcases Akira Toriyama's masterful world-building, the stakes are relatively low for much of its run. As a result, I struggled to stay engaged long enough to see the series evolve.

Luckily, I stuck it out because everything changes with Dragon Ball Z. Toriyama refines his storytelling and cosmically raises the intensity. The series shifts to serious epic battles and introduces galactic threats, which ultimately lead to Dbz becoming a cultural phenomenon. With higher stakes and iconic power-scaling, the shonen series cements itself as a must-watch and must-read for any anime/manga fan. While Dragon Ball set the foundation, Dragon Ball Z is where the franchise truly takes off.

"Ne Zha 2," or "Ne Zha: The Demon Boy Havoc in the Sea," is making waves at the box office, breaking records and making history every week. Like its predecessor, it took five years to make this movie, and over 100 animation companies around the world and thousands of artists contributed to it. That's an epic production worthy of its epic story, and audiences are responding in kind, showing up to movie theaters in droves to see it. This has catapulted "Ne Zha 2" to the very top of the list of highest-grossing animated films ever made, despite only releasing outside of China a couple of weeks ago.

Loosely based on the 16th-century Chinese novel "Investiture of the Gods," the film tells the mythical story of Nezha, a popular character in Chinese mythology who becomes a deity. These films follow the rise of Ne Zha, a rebellious prankster of a boy born from a heavenly pearl,...

In the world of anime and mangas, one name keeps popping up, proving its undeniable passion from fans worldwide. Akira Toriyama's greatest title celebrated its 40th birthday last year, which we will be celebrating in this article. Dragon Ball Daima ended its 20-episode run a few minutes ago, but we couldn't have been happier to have new Goku-related content in 2025. What made Dragon Ball successful? How did it turn into this phenomenon? Why do we always want more stories with Goku, Vegeta and the rest of the fighters? Before we go all in with Toei Animation's anime, Bandai Namco's video games and even real life stuff, let's go back to the basics with the original work, Akira Toriyama's manga. Table of contents Celebrating 40 Years of the Manga The Evolution of Dragon Ball Dragon Ball's Worldwide Appeal The Anime's Impact on Pop Culture A Few Numbers to...

The Dragon Ball series follows Goku’s journey, from childhood to having grandchildren. His adventures and fight scenes might be the most thrilling part of the franchise, but heritage and family are a huge part of his character too. The revelation that Son Goku is a Saiyan was a major turning point.

Goku from Dragon Ball Daima. [Credit: Toei Animation]

However, as it turns out, Akira Toriyama had not planned for the protagonist to be a Saiyan since his inception. Dragon Ball is so intricately written that it fooled us all. The mangaka always kept the audience on their toes with his numerous plot twists and surprising storylines.

Goku being a Saiyan wasn’t the only plotline Akira Toriyama randomly inserted into Dragon Ball. He wanted his franchise to be unpredictable and fresh. Even his editors, who revealed these facts about his writing style, were shocked by some of his decisions.

History was made on February 26, 1986, when Dragon Ball premiered with its first episode on Fuji TV in Japan. The anime debuted in what became known as the ‘Toriyama Time Slot’, Wednesdays at 7 Pm, just a week after the conclusion of Dr. Slump, Akira Toriyama’s previous blockbuster series.

A scene from Dragon Ball Daima. | Credit: Toei Animation

It was a huge hit, capturing a whopping 27.4% viewership rating. Fast forward to almost four decades, and now it is one of the most valuable and influential media franchises ever. Although few would have guessed its success at the time, this was the beginning of what would develop into a $23 billion global franchise.

The foundation of Dragon Ball: Breaking down $23 billion brand value

Akira Toriyama‘s Dragon Ball took inspiration from the 16th-century Chinese novel Journey to the West, specifically the figure of Sun Wukong, upon whom Son Goku was based. In...

Picture: Apple Cider Vinegar is now available to stream on Netflix UK

It’s a busy start to February on Netflix UK with 56 new additions to the library, including more legacy content from the WWE.

First of all, here are the week’s top highlights:

Apple Cider Vinegar (Limited Series) N

Episodes: 6

Genre: Drama | Runtime: 60 Minutes

Cast: Kaitlyn Dever, Alycia Debnam-Carey, Aisha Dee, Tilda Cobham-Hervey, Ashley Zukerman,

Kaitlyn Dever previously wowed audiences for her performance in Unbelievable and will star in the upcoming second season of HBO’s adaptation of The Last of Us.

Belle and Milla, two young women scammed the world into thinking their wellness remedies were cures for deadly illnesses, but as the lies began to catch up with them, their lives began to unravel.

Cassandra (Limited Series) N

Episodes: 6

Genre: Drama | Runtime: 50 Minutes

Cast: Lavinia Wilson, Mina Tander, Michael Klammer, Franz Hartwig, Joshua Kantara

Given the...

Dragon Ball is a legendary series created by the genius Akira Toriyama. It is so well received that even the Big 3 have been inspired by it, and it singlehandedly developed the Shonen scene in Japan and furthered the development and influence of both anime and manga.

Goku | Credits: Toei Animation

When Dragon Ball first started, its author, Toriyama, was deeply inspired by Journey to the West, as he himself has stated many times. The Journey to the West is one of China’s most famous classical novels.

The Son Goku protagonist (though he looks like a human) was a direct homage to Sun Wukong, the legendary Monkey King.

Toriyama’s freeform approach to storytelling

The early arcs of Dragon Ball had a distinct martial arts adventure feel, with a lot of mythical feeling locations and entities. The locations resemble ancient Chinese landscapes in line with Toriyama’s original thoughts.

Quick LinksDragonball: Evolution Is Considered To Be One of the Worst Anime Adaptations and Worst Movies Of All TimeWhat Was Akira Toriyama's Reaction to Dragonball: Evolution?Dragonball Evolution Inspired Akira Toriyama To Return to the Anime

For many Westerners, Dragon Ball was the very first introduction to all the wonder that anime had to offer. It's a franchise that remains incredibly popular and dear to people's hearts, and the impact it's had on pop culture is undeniable. Because of this, in the mid-2000s, it was only a matter of time before Hollywood came knocking at the door to produce a live-action film. The first and so far only attempt to bring the Dragon Ball franchise to the realm of live-action, Dragonball Evolution, has not only garnered a reputation as one of the worst anime adaptations ever made but as one of the worst films ever made in general.

Dragon Ball is one of the most popular anime in history, with millions of fans worldwide. Some die-hard fans may be aware of its origins, but others may find Dragon Ball’s roots surprising. Before Goku achieved intergalactic combat experience and powerful transformations, his adventures were more Earth-centric and inspired directly by myths.

In fact, Dragon Ball came to be thanks to the famous 16th-century Chinese folklore, Journey to the West. Understanding the connections between the two offers a deeper understanding of the storyline as it evolves throughout the franchise. Understanding the ties to Journey to the West also creates a deeper appreciation for Akira Toriyama’s work and the thought he put into giving the tale a spin of his own.

Every Journey To The West Reference In Dragon Ball Explained The Characters in Dragon Ball Were Inspired by Those in Journey to the West

The early chapters of...

It’s been over four months since Black Myth: Wukong took the world by storm, shattering records and capturing hearts with its stunning interpretation of the Journey to the West saga. While PlayStation and PC players have been living their best Monkey King lives, Xbox fans have been left watching from the sidelines, clutching onto the vague promise of a “later date” release.

Journey to the Green Team’s platform? Not so much. | Image Credit: Game Science

That promise has grown increasingly hollow with each passing month, as Game Science continues to shower PlayStation players with updates and improvements. And now, with the latest PS5 Pro patch dropping just in time for the holidays, it seems the writing is finally on the wall for Xbox hopefuls.

A tale of broken promises and technical excuses

When Black Myth: Wukong skipped its Xbox launch in August, the initial explanation seemed reasonable enough.

Game Science’s Black Myth: Wukong is undoubtedly one of the most successful games of 2024. To leech off its growing popularity, an unknown video game developer plans to release a shameless ripoff of the game on Nintendo eShop. Black Myth: Wukong was released on almost all major platforms except the Nintendo Switch and now, this rip-off plans to give Switch players the same experience with its recycled mobile mechanics.

Black Myth: Wukong is one of the fastest-selling games of all time (Image via Game Science)

Nowadays, it is very common for developers to pull off something like this. Whatever is trending is quickly plagiarised as everyone hopes to profit from it. Another great example of this is Light of Motiram, a game by Tencent subsidiary Polaris Quest. Many have pointed out that the game looks very similar to Guerrilla Games’ Horizon Zero Dawn and Forbidden West.

Black Myth: Wukong ripoff...

Shortly after a successful showing for Black Myth: Wukong at The Game Awards 2024, where it won in multiple categories, an apparent imitator seemingly "inspired" by its success appeared on the Nintendo eShop, drawing mockery from Switch owners and Black Myth: Wukong fans alike. First released in August 2024, Black Myth: Wukong has enjoyed a largely positive reception from players, having been nominated for Game of the Year.

As reported by IGN, however, a game with an extremely similar title, Wukong Sun: Black Legend, has appeared on the Nintendo eShop, in an apparent attempt to capitalize on Black Myth's popularity and success. Wukong Sun is set to be released on December 26, 2024, and the game's cover art features a 3D render of an anthropomorphic monkey, presumably Wukong, which bears a resemblance to Black Myth's own cover image of its main character, The Destined One. Like Black Myth, Wukong Sun's description relates it to Journey to the West.

The trailer for the new "Superman" movie is finally here, and the stakes are high. The entirety of James Gunn's new DC Universe rests entirely on the success of this movie. The film also features a brand-new Superman for a new generation, one who — much like when "The Flash" came out in 2023 — also has to contend with TV audiences having recently gotten to know and love a phenomenal (arguably all-time great) iteration of the titular superhero through the small screen thanks to "Superman & Lois." It doesn't help that said CW show already covered much of the same ground that Gunn's movie will.

The "Superman" trailer does a lot of things right though, like establishing that Superman and Clark Kent actually look different for reasons that go beyond their respective hairstyles, the fantastic casting, and its general sense of optimism. Seeing Superman actually helping kids is such a small but impactful thing-

Still,...

The 2024 Game Awards ended with Sony’s Astro Bot winning the Game of the Year (Goty) title, and this has left many fans and developers divided. Feng Ji, CEO of Game Science and producer of Black Myth: Wukong, took to social media to express his feelings.

Wukong is possibly the biggest game of 2024. Image Credit: Game Science

Feng Ji expressed disappointment at Wukong not winning Goty and claimed to have prepared an acceptance speech two years prior. This in particular has sparked controversy, humor, and critique. It really takes away from the criticism of the criteria of The Game Awards and what truly defines the best game.

Game Science’s CEO makes it hard to feel bad for Black Myth: Wukong‘s loss

Black Myth: Wukong has been a cultural phenomenon since its release. The game topped the Steam charts with 1.4 million concurrent players on launch day, the highest for any single-player game.

The Game Awards has become the gaming industry’s equivalent of the Oscars, a stage where innovation, artistry, and impact are celebrated. The 2024 Game Awards concluded with Sony’s Astro Bot taking home the coveted Game of the Year (Goty). But did it really deserve it over the other nominees?

The little bot has done it! | Image Credit: Team Asobi

While Astro Bot is an amazing, charming, and polished platformer, its win over critically celebrated nominees like Black Myth: Wukong and Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth raises questions with a part of the community. It’s a minority but a vocal one that questions the legitimacy of the awards and the biases within its selection process.

Astro Bot made players have genuine fun, but did it innovate? A lot of people think Black Myth: Wukong should’ve won. | Image Credit: Game Science

One glaring issue with The Game Awards is the voting process,...

The Game Awards 2024 has proven, yet again, that it’s less about celebrating gaming excellence and more about maintaining the status quo. While Black Myth: Wukong shattered records and redefined what’s possible in gaming, the jury was busy polishing their Sony-tinted glasses for another mostly predictable year of PlayStation favoritism.

No other nominee came close—or so we thought. | Image Credit: Game Science

Let’s be real here—we’re talking about a game that didn’t just meet expectations; it dropkicked them into orbit. Black Myth: Wukong didn’t need marketing gimmicks or political pandering to become the most played single-player game in Steam’s history. It just needed to be exactly what gamers have been craving: pure, unadulterated excellence.

But apparently, breaking every conceivable record and revolutionizing action RPGs isn’t enough when you’re competing against Sony’s annual Goty reservation. Who needs merit when...

This week on The Anime Effect: We recommend musical anime if your Spotify Wrapped left you wanting more, dream up lesser known sports anime and share our chat with writer and director Echo Wu! In our audio-only episode we fill you in on the latest news in the anime world including Creepy Nuts' creeping up the karaoke charts, Solo Leveling getting a LiSA opening song, and more! Episode 43 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 43 Summary In this week's audio-only episode, LeAlec is joined by Alex to discuss Lupin the 3rd 's upcoming movie and My Happy Marriage returning for another season, among other updates. Plus, we bring you an interview with Jentry Chau vs.

It's not uncommon to discover that many well-known anime or manga draw inspiration from famous Hollywood films, and Akira Toriyama's legendary Dragon Ball is no exception. This iconic franchise, which has been captivating audiences for over 40 years, chronicles the adventures of Son Goku and his journey as a martial artist. Goku has forged bonds with various allies and faced a pantheon of formidable enemies along the way. Throughout his epic journey, Toriyama has skillfully woven references to other renowned media into the fabric of the series.

At its core, the story—a boy with a monkey tail embarking on a grand adventure—pays homage to the iconic Chinese novel Journey to the West. Yet, the series' inspirations extend far beyond that. From its colorful cast of characters to fan-favorite plotlines, Dragon Ball draws from a rich tapestry of influences, including international comics, classic literature, and even some of Hollywood's most celebrated films.

Black Myth: Wukong is a highly anticipated soulslike game releasing on August 20, 2024, for PS5 and PC. The game offers challenging combat, expansive mythological landscapes, and diverse weapons and abilities. Players can choose from four different editions of the game, which is an adaption of the famed Chinese novel Journey to the West.

Black Myth: Wukong is almost here after fans have waited four long years since that first initial unbelievable gameplay reveal in August 2020. Ever since that trailer, anticipation and hype have been building, and it seems almost impossible that it'll finally be in players' hands any day now. Naturally, with any hotly-anticipated game, there's plenty to know and learn before jumping straight into it.

There's a reason Black Myth: Wukong is one of the most hyped soulslike games of 2024. Despite plenty of other great titles releasing around it, Black Myth: Wukong has already earned itself a dedicated fanbase who...

Toei Animation, the famous Japanese animation studio behind the Dragon Ball anime franchise, is about to launch an ambitious video game collaboration project for its most ambitious animated movie. The upcoming CGI animated film Hypergalactic, will soon appear in popular video games like Roblox and Fortnite.

Spaceport, an industry leader in licensing and creator-driven tools, is partnering with Toei Animation for its new animated movie aimed at a global audience. Hypergalactic follows a teenage girl and her younger brother as they search for their missing parents in the not-too-distant future of Earth. Their seemingly hopeless quest leads them to awaken a forgotten protector of Earth -- a monkey-man hero who takes visual inspiration from the Monkey King from Journey to the West. Naoto Oshima, the co-creator of Sonic the Hedgehog, is developing the films characters and story with Toei Animation.

Related Dragon Ball Reveals New Tech Accessory Collection in Original...

Few series within the realm of manga and anime have reached the heights of Dragon Ball in terms of popularity and cultural significance. Still, behind its epic battles, intense training arcs, and universe-spanning adventures lies a surprisingly very simple and heartwarming origin story.

Kid Goku from the Dragon Ball series | Toei Animation

Refreshingly simple, it just had to please the Japanese boys, more precisely, Akira Toriyama’s own child self. Having no designs or plot overarching it, Toriyama began his creative journey just like that, which later took the world by storm with thousands of fans across the globe.

Akira Toriyama Did Not Care About Fame At All While Making Dragon Ball Goku | Toei Animation

In an interview in 2013, Akira Toriyama had a very interesting statement to make about Dragon Ball. He indicated that most of the time, fans read more into his series than he intended. However, it is...

Goku is making the jump from his own Shonen Jump series to another in a surprising Dragon Ball Z cameo. The show in question is quickly becoming one of the most talked-about anime of the summer 2024 season.

In Episode 3 of The Elusive Samurai, Hojo Tokiyuki and his friends encounter a familiar black-haired character from the Dragon Ball anime series. The caricature of Goku is seen wearing religious attire while summoning what appears to be a Spirit Bomb. It happens early on in the episode -- around 13 minutes, to be exact -- and is treated like a throwaway gag.

Related Naruto Swaps Frog Kata for Turtle Power in Official Tmnt Crossover Series

Naruto joins forces with America's best crime-fighting, pizza-munching turtles in a new series, with first-look artwork and a release date revealed.

Dragon Ball's Goku Powers Up a Signature Attack in Summer 2024's The Elusive Samurai Goku makes a...

Black Myth: Wukong is one of the most highly anticipated RPG titles developed by Game Science, based on the famous novel Journey to the West by Wu Cheng-en. In this game, players will embark on a fantastic journey and come across plenty of challenges along the way.

Despite being an action RPG title, Black Myth: Wukong is yet another exciting addition to Soulslike games, which to some degree follow the classic FromSoftware formula. However, the game has managed to bring one feature, which Hidetaka Miyazaki and his team need to steal in a completely different way.

Black Myth: Wukong’s Unique Boss Fight Mechanism Black Myth: Wukong brings unique boss mechanics. (Image via Game Science)

The Soulslike genre has gone through tons of iterations and evolutions over the past decade, with many Aaa games and indie teams putting their own spin on it. However, we’ve never seen anything like Black Myth: Wukong before,...

PC gamers have a lot of fun titles to look forward to this year. From a brand-new World of Warcraft expansion to epic mythological tales to the first open-world Star Wars game, there are so many worlds to explore, foes to defeat, and adventures to be had.

To help keep things straight, we’ve put together a handy guide of upcoming games that PC owners should definitely keep an eye on in 2024.

Final Fantasy Xiv: Dawntrail

Square Enix – July 2

Final Fantasy fans have even more to be excited about this year with the release of Final Fantasy Xiv: Dawntrail. In this expansion, the Warrior of Light has reunited with their comrades for an unexpected mission on the continent of Tural. Dawntrail not only features new quests, new areas to explore, and new characters to meet, it also includes new jobs like Viper and Pictomancer as well as female Hrothgar as a new playable race.

Owners of the Xbox Series X/S and Xbox Game Pass subscribers have a lot to look forward to this year between sequels to Dragon Age and the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. series, the first Star Wars open-world game, an exclusive Indiana Jones adventure, and so much more. There are so many new and familiar worlds to explore this year from galaxies far, far away to mythological Africa, Iceland, and China to fantasy realms full of magic and wonder.

To help keep things straight, we’ve put together a handy guide of upcoming games that Xbox owners should definitely keep an eye on in 2024.

The First Descendant

Nexon Games – July 2

Our hands-on time with Nexon’s new third-person looter shooter, The First Descendant, at Summer Game Fest, revealed fun take on the genre that also looks great. The slick art style, empowered by Unreal Engine 5, truly brings the sci-fi world of the game to life.

With changing release dates, surprise announcements, and an ever-fluid development landscape, it can be a challenge to keep track of every single video game coming out in a given year. 2024 may not have titles like Baldur’s Gate 3 or Spider-Man 2 on the horizon, and Sony has confirmed it won’t be releasing any new installments from its major franchises before 2025, but there are still plenty of noteworthy games coming to the PS5 that are worth checking out in the coming months.

To help keep things straight, we’ve put together a handy little guide here of the upcoming games that PS5 owners should keep an eye on in 2024.

Final Fantasy Xiv: Dawntrail

Square Enix – July 2

Final Fantasy fans have even more to be excited about this year with the release of Final Fantasy Xiv: Dawntrail. In this expansion, the Warrior of Light has reunited with their comrades for an...

Xbox Games Showcase gave us a peek into some of the video game titles that are valid Game of the Year contenders. However, despite Avowed and Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 being shown at the biggest games presentation of the year, fans seem more into action RPGs, precisely, Black Myth: Wukong.

Despite bad news from Summer Game Fest saying Black Myth: Wukong is delayed for Xbox X/S consoles, fans of the genre believe is the game of the year. The action RPG pre-orders were opened on June 7 and since then Sun Wukong has made its way to the top on Steam, generating great hype around its release.

Black Myth: Wukong Rooted in Chinese Mythology Black Myth Wukong has stunning visuals

Black Myth: Wukong topped the China charts while also generating significant buzz in the US (#42) and UK (#81) just three days after the pre-order was made available. It is deeply connected to Chinese mythology,...

The anticipation for Shadow of the Erdtree, which arrives in the coming weeks, is high among Soulslike fans. However, the Summer Game Fest has left players equally excited for another title in this genre that has caught the attention of industry giants.

Hideo Kojima, one of the most renowned game developers, expressed his enthusiasm for a new release that promises to bring significant innovations to one of the most popular genres in recent years. Black Myth: Wukong, if it truly delivers the fun and complexity promised by its promotional materials, has everything to be a strong contender for Game of The Year.

Is Kojima More Excited for Shadow of the Erdtree or Black Myth: Wukong? The game by Game Science is a strong contender against Shadow of the Erdtree.

The newest Elden Ring Dlc is certainly on the radar of many players, but it seems that Kojima has a new favorite on the horizon.

The Summer Game Fest 2024, hosted by Geoff Keighley, has concluded, and boy, did we get a lot of new teasers and trailers for upcoming games. This year’s Summer Games Fest showcased a wide range of games, from Lego Horizon Adventures to Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions and more.

Summer Game Fest 2024 was full of exciting teasers and trailers. | via Gamespot

Fans of all genres got a little bit of something as we saw trailers for new games and trailers for content additions to fan favorites like Palworld and Alan Wake 2‘s new Dlc. Here’s every new announcement at the Summer Games Fest 2024

All New Trailers From Summer Games Fest 2024

1. Delta Force: Hawk Ops – The latest installment in the Delta Force shooter franchise, including multiplayer PvP, an extraction mode, and a full remaster of the original Delta Force: Black Hawk Down video game.

2. Lego Horizon Adventures – A Lego-fied take on the open-world adventure series,...

FromSoftware’s Elden Ring has been a monumental success, captivating players with its expansive world and challenging gameplay. In fact, it is still one of the top three best-selling and top ten most-played games on Steam—at the time of writing. However, the upcoming Dlc, Shadow of the Erdtree, is set to face significant competition from another highly anticipated Soulslike game: Black Myth: Wukong.

Developed by Chinese developer Game Science and the title’s release just around the corner, Black Myth: Wukong is generating immense hype, and for good reason!

A “Journey to the West” Like No Other “A world unseen, where new sights rise with every stride.” | Image via Game Science

Black Myth: Wukong (Bm: W?), based on the classic Chinese novel “Journey to the West,” follows Sun Wukong, a.k.a. “The Destined One.” This dark and gritty take on the beloved tale promises to engage players in...

Kaleidoscopic visual overload is on the menu in this chaotic animation from the director of Chinese blockbuster Monkey King: Hero Is Back

Having conquered the Chinese box office with the superhit Monkey King: Hero Is Back in 2015, director Tian Xiaopeng plunges into the whirlpool of childhood blues for his latest animated adventure. In contrast to the earlier film, which was drawn from the 16th-century novel Journey to the West, Deep Sea carries Tian’s first original screenwriting credit. While fantastical elements abound, the story is at its heart a coming-of-age tale about weathering the storm of grief and trauma.

The central figure is a young girl called Shenxiu. Abandoned by her mother after her parents’ divorce, she also feels alienated from her father and his new wife, whose attention is showered solely on their own child. Outside, the world seems as hopelessly grey as Shenxiu’s nightmares, in which she...

Goku’s Saiyan lineage is one of the reasons why the protagonist of Dragon Ball is so overwhelmingly strong. The Saiyans are always looking for fights and battles and are training hard to become stronger. All of these are the defining traits of Goku and make them the perfect main character for Akira Toriyama’s magnum opus.

Goku in Dragon Ball | Toei Animation

Goku’s Saiyan roots not only get him excited for battles but have also become a part of his identity. However, Toriyama initially had no interest in focusing on Goku’s origins. He rather wanted to focus on his upcoming journey. Goku’s origins were reflected in the story only because of Vegeta.

Additionally, he never even thought of Goku being an alien, which later became an important narrative of the story. Toriyama also talked about how he didn’t anticipate that the story would go on...

Exclusive: Buenos Aires-based sales FilmSharks has taken international sales rights to the Chinese animated film A Hero’s Journey to the West.

Made with a budget of $26M, the film is directed by Phil Nibbelink (The Fox and the Hound) and written by James Felder (Ultimate Spider-Man). A Hero’s Journey to the West will have its world premiere on May 18 at the film market during the upcoming Cannes Film Festival.

A Hero’s Journey to the West is set to be the first instalment of a trilogy telling the story of Sun Wu Kong (also known as the “Monkey King”), one of the most well-known characters from the 16th-century Chinese novel Journey to the West.

The first instalment will focus on Sun Wu Kong’s discovery of his extraordinary fate from birth as well as his fight with the gods. The second instalment will follow Wu Kong’s rise as he meets other heroes.

Dragon Ball is famous for its action scenes, iconic protagonist, and the classic ‘Kamehameha’ move. But did you know that Akira Toriyama began Dragon Ball as a comedy series at first? At its inception, the manga was not very popular, and Akira Toriyama was inspired by Journey to the West and Jackie Chan’s kung-fu movies.

The resulting Dragon Ball manga had a tiny Goku with a lot of gag elements. However, it started gaining popularity only after some of the battles were featured. In the end Toriyama had to change the style of Dragon Ball as well as Goku.

How Akira Toriyama Changed the Original Dragon Ball Manga Kid Goku Vs Popo | Dragon Ball Fandom

When Dragon Ball first began serialization, it was hardly popular. Akira Toriyama was content with his Journey to the West inspired storyline with plenty of gag elements. However, Kazuhiko Torishima, the editor of Dragon Ball,...

Jrpg fans are a starving lot, stuck in an era of replaying their golden oldies and praying the latest indie game on Steam at least partially sticks the landing. Even recommending the classics can be difficult. Many of the best games have never received a revival port, or, worse, the revival is still up in the air. That’s the fate of the Suikoden franchise, whose first two games received a Japan-only PSP port in 2006 and which was originally meant to be released on modern consoles last year.

It’s another indignity for a series whose Western introduction in 1996 was festooned with an infamously bad replacement cover because Konami thought Westerners didn’t like manga. Or something.

Yet the turn-based franchise, which consistently featured a cast of over 100 characters to collect and a lively if simple settlement-building system, remains beloved to those hardcore RPG devotees that can find it. Continually...

After a long wait, Ninja Theory’s Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 is finally gearing up for release this year. After being in development for quite some time, the devs revealed that the game would be developed on the Unreal Engine 5. At the Gdc 2023 event, a 68-second video showcasing Senua’s realistic-looking facial animations was also launched.

Earlier this year, Ninja Theory and Microsoft confirmed that Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 will hit the shelves on May 21, 2024, exclusively on the Xbox Series X/S and PC. It has also been confirmed that Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 will be made available on day one on Xbox Game Pass.

Senua’s Saga Hellblade 2

Talking of the Unreal Engine 5, it was made available for all game developers during the State of Unreal 2022 event. The latest version of the game engine is a leap forward when it comes to crafting geometry, lighting, and animation. That being said,...

Dragon Ball‘s Goku is often seen as the epitome of a Shonen hero. Goku’s status in the anime world sparks millions of controversies every year. Under the video of any strong anime character, fans comment that they would be defeated by Goku in an instant.

So, how did Goku become a universal scale of strength? Obviously, all credits go to Akira Toriyama, the creator of Dragon Ball, who ensured that Goku stood out in a field of extremely similar protagonists.

From Goku’s struggle to win the Tenka’ichi Budokai to giving him a tail, here are all the things Akira Toriyama incorporated in Dragon Ball to make Goku “not like the rest.”

Why didn’t Goku win the Tenka’ichi Budokai sooner in Dragon Ball? Goku in the Dragon Ball saga.

In an interview, Akira Toriyama revealed that when Goku participated in the Tenka’ichi Budokai in Dragon Ball,...

Zee End Is Nigh

Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd., the disappointed bride in the failed engagement between Zee and Sony India, has formally ended its quest for a merger. On Tuesday, it withdrew its application before the industry regulator National Company Law Tribunal and said that it will focus instead on internal growth. Pulling the Nclt application also makes it somewhat easier for Zee to pursue its arbitration and other legal actions against Sony.

The plan to merge the two mid-size film and TV businesses was on the table for over two years, but finally (acrimoniously) collapsed in January 2024. Sony is also seeking restitution from Zee, which it says failed to live up to the agreed merger terms. Since the wedding bells stopped ringing, Zee has also announced that it will slice its workforce by 15%.

Netflix Starts Filming Guillaume Canet’S ‘Taken’-Style Thriller

Guillaume Canet, whose latest directorial outing “Asterix and Obelix: The Middle Kingdom...

Quick Links Dragon Ball Was Initially a Fantasy Martial Arts Story Dragon Ball Z Plunged the Franchise Into Science Fiction Dragon Ball Gt and Dragon Ball Super Embrace the Tones of Their Predecessors

The Dragon Ball franchise is one of the biggest anime and manga properties ever, being renowned by fans for several decades at this point. The manga is currently still going as Dragon Ball Super, while an anime spinoff titled Dragon Ball Daima is on the way. This shows how popular the brand has become, but that can also be seen in how it survived a full-on genre change.

As originally envisioned by creator Akira Toriyama, Dragon Ball was a fantasy-based martial arts series. Actual training and skill took precedence over special attacks, even for as fantastical as characters such as Goku were. Nevertheless, these roots gave rise to a science fiction series, changing drastically from the much...

The manga and anime fans are intensely shocked and sad as it is revealed that the legendary creator of Dragon Ball, Akira Toriyama, passed away at the age of 68. The author has left an indelible mark in the world of manga with creations like Dragon Ball and Dr. Slump.

Akira Toriyama and Jackie Chan

Before Akira Toriyama became a legendary figure in the world of manga by creating Dragon Ball, he was driven to mainstream success by his Dr. Slump manga. Interestingly, Dr. Slump manga also had a massive impact on the works of Jackie Chan. Earlier, it was revealed in Toriyama’s interviews that movies by Chan and Chinese literature were the main inspiration behind Dragon Ball. However, in a rare interview, Jackie Chan has also admitted Toriyama’s impact on his films.

What did Jackie Chan say about Akira Toriyama’s Dr. Slump? Dr. Slump

Dr. Slump follows...

Akira Toriyama, the influential manga artist who created the Dragon Ball anime franchise, died March 1 due to an acute subdural hematoma — blood clots on the brain that usually form after an injury. He was 68.

A statement from his Bird Studio said it was “deeply saddened” to report that he had passed on.

“It’s our deep regret that he still had several works in the middle of creation with great enthusiasm,” the statement added. “Also, he would have many more things to achieve. However, he has left many manga titles and works of art to this world.”

Toriyama’s most famous work was manga series Dragon Ball, which follows Son Goku, a man who goes from failing martial arts student to a globe-trotting master with powers that defeats all manner of villains while searching for seven Dragon Ball orbs. It was inspired by the classic Chinese novel Journey to the West.

Akira Toriyama, the Japanese manga artist who created the incredibly popular Dragon Ball and Dr. Slump series, has died. He was 68.

Toriyama died March 1 from an acute subdural hematoma, the official Dragon Ball website revealed Friday, adding that his funeral was already held by close relatives. “He has left many manga titles and works of art to this world. Thanks to the support of so many people around the world, he has been able to continue his creative activities for over 45 years,” a statement on the website said.

The statement continued, “We hope that the world of Akira Toriyama’s unique works will continue to be loved by everyone for a long time to come.”

One of Japan’s best-known and most-loved manga creators, Toriyama is indelibly linked with Dragon Ball, a series he created, wrote and illustrated that was first serialized in 1984. The martial arts-heavy series, which gave the world characters like Goku,...