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Being Weak is Fun in Dragon Ball: Sparking! ZERO
Sure, you could play as Goku but why not play as the world's most popular hero, Mr. Satan?
― Like clockwork, another Dragon Ball fighting game is being released with Dragon Ball! Sparking: Zero. For a novice Dragon Ball fighting game player such as myself, it appears on the surface not much has changed. But with a little help from the Tokyo Game Show 2024 staff, I was able to navigate some of the new...
Monster Hunter Wilds TGS 2024 Demo Has Me Excited Thanks to its Story
New systems and a bigger focus on story might just be enough to draw back in this lapsed Monster Hunter player.
― The Monster Hunter game series is fascinating to me. It's a game that's designed around the grind of hunting or capturing monsters so you can use their body parts to make better weapons and armor so you can hunt even tougher monsters. It's as if you grind for the sake of grinding and noth...
Sonic X Shadow Generations is a Return to Form and Left Me Wanting More
This the TGS 2024 demo was fast and fun for even the most casual fan.
― Sonic is back with his edgelord rival Shadow in Sonic X Shadow Generations. I'm a lapsed and casual Sonic fan in that I've played some levels from the older Sonic games, namely Sonic the Hedgehog, Sonic 2, and Sonic: Adventure, about once every 3-5 years, and I have a blast every time. But I generally stick with the titular chara...
FAIRY TAIL 2 Brings Fans to Final Story Arc With Revamped Gameplay
This new game takes fans to Alvarez arc and beyond.
― In 2022, Fairy Tail fans were graced with the Koei Tecmo game FAIRY TAIL. Loosely following the story of the anime and manga of the same name, it was met with relative praise. However, with the manga series ending in 2017 and anime in 2019, there was still a bit of story for a video game adaptation of the series to explore. Now, in December 2024 w...
Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii Fuse Pirates and Yakuza in Fun New Romp
It's in the combat where some of the absurdity of Pirate Yakuza starts to shine.
― And here I was always wondering if ninja-pirates or pirate-ninjas were stronger. Turns out the real answer is pirate-yakuza. In 2024, fans of the Like a Dragon franchise once again took on the role of Ichiban Kasuga and were transported to the foreign local of Hawaii in Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth. So what if the Li...
Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake Converted Me into a Dragon Quest Fan
Dragon Quest III is back—and for a Dragon Quest noob like me it looks super cool and user-friendly.
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Dragon Quest is one of the most beloved long-running JRPG franchises in Japan. First developed in 1986 by Enix, the franchise has spawned 12 mainline games, several spinoff games, a handful of manga series, and some anime series. For older fans of the franchise, some of their lasting memories come f...
Phantom Blade 0's Hard Mode Sounds Intriguing
At Tokyo Game Show 2024, I got some hands-on time with the upcoming action game Phantom Blade 0. It was violent, bloody, and difficult enough that it wasn’t a cakewalk.
― At the Tokyo Game Show 2024, I got some hands-on time with the upcoming action game Phantom Blade 0. It was violent, bloody, and difficult enough that it wasn't a cakewalk. But it's the hard mode I'm most excited about. The demo was...
FANTASIAN Neo Dimension's Boss Difficulty is a Surprising Slap in the Face
I have been playing games designed by the father of Final Fantasy for over three decades—and it did not prepare me for the boss I faced in FANTASIAN’s Tokyo Game Show 2024 demo.
― I have been playing games designed by the father of Final Fantasy for over three decades—and it did not prepare me for the boss I faced in FANTASIAN's Tokyo Game Show 2024 demo. FANTASIAN Neo Dimension is the newest game fr...
Phantom Brave: The Lost Hero is the Sequel Fans Will Want to Play
Fans of the original Phantom Brave will be able to jump right into this sequel without any issue.
― Nippon Ichi Software is back with a sequel no one saw coming: Phantom Brave: The Lost Hero. And longtime fans of the original Phantom Brave will be able to jump right back into the sequel without any issue. Way back in Spring 2004 on a trip to Japan, an old Japanese friend of mine showed me Phantom Bra...
Metaphor: ReFantazio Respects Your Time By Turning Dungeon Traversal into a Fun Little Mini-Game
Some marked quality-of-life updates take away a portion of the grind.
― At the Tokyo Game Show 2024, I was able to spend some time playing the demo of the upcoming Atlus RPG, Metaphor: ReFantazio. This title comes from the minds behind the Persona series, including Katsura Hashino, the director, producer, and occasional writer of various games in the series. As such, the game looks and feels like a f...
SWORD ART ONLINE Fractured Daydream's 20-Man Co-op Raids are Pure Chaos
Me and 20-other players were thrown headlong into a boss battle against a giant dragon. It was a chaotic mess… but a fun chaotic mess.
― At Tokyo Game Show 2024, I was able to get some hands-on time with the newest Sword Art Online game SWORD ART ONLINE Fractured Daydream. There, I and 20 other players were thrown headlong into a boss battle against a giant dragon. It was a chaotic mess… but a fun ch...
I Beat The First Berserker: Khazan Demo and Feel Euphoric
Like Sekiro? Then you’ll probably enjoy upcoming Soulslike The First Berserker: Khazan—because just like in Sekiro, parrying is the key to victory.
― At Tokyo Game Show 2024, I was able to get 45-minutes with upcoming Soulslike The First Berserker: Khazan. Going in, even as a veteran player—or at least a person who has beaten almost all the core Soulsborne games and more than a few third-party Soulsl...
Keyboard Macros and World Building: Vocaloid P
While there will always be a commercial appeal to the “characters” popularized by the original Vocaloid voice packs, it's become more of a synth tool, allowing producers to create music easily and find a ready audience, hungry for more music and content.
― In the sixteen years since Hatsune Miku has been around, Vocaloid production has gone through peaks and valleys, through paradigm shifts, and ada...
Macross: Past, Present, Future
Tuck yourself in and get ready to hear the tale of one of the greatest mech franchises ever created.
― Have you ever wanted to learn the history behind Macross, from its early inception to its many iterations? The attendees who packed into the Macross: Past, Present, and Future panel had the chance to do exactly that, straight from the memory of legendary Macross creator and mech designer extraordin...
Artist Acky Bright Previews 1st NYC Exhibition, "Studio Infinity"
Known for his work on the viral WcDonald's campaign, Acky Bright shares his artistic insight ahead of the exhibition's October opening.
― The kawakakkoii (cute and cool) art of manga illustrator Acky Bright has become a recognizable presence in anime convention halls and advertising (his most famous work is probably this year's viral "WcDonalds" promotion). As Acky Bright returned to Anime NYC for h...
Loner Life in Another World Lives and Dies by Its Protagonist
Unless the humor picks up later on, there's not much to recommend with this one.
― After a few technical delays and some brief promotion for HiDive, the panel dived straight into the premiere of the show's first episode. As is evidenced by the title, Loner Life in Another World is an isekai parody starring a loner kid named Haruka who gets isekai'd alongside his classmates but ends up separated from...
Toshio Furukawa Still Can't Believe He's Piccolo
Piccolo is Furukawa's favorite character — he has a collection of over 3,000 figurines of the Namekian in his house!
― Toshio Furukawa has been in voice acting since he graduated college at the suggestion of his boss at a theater company. Starting off performing dubs of American TV shows (his first role was a bit part in the 1965-74 ABC series The F.B.I.), he'd find decades of success voicing anime ...
MF Ghost Is Still for the Car Tech Superfans
There's just less to cheer about this time around, unless you're really, really into cars.
― It's hard to describe the chokehold that Initial D had on some of us '90s kids. It was this… honestly, ugly, goofy show that convinced an entire generation of nerds that street racing was the stuff of legends, that heroes were born in the early-morning hours of tofu delivery, and that drifting old 'Rollas wa...
Yakuza Fiancé Anime Premiere is One of the Strongest Contenders for Fall
Maybe the characters' thick necks, buggy eyes, and alien giraffe-like limbs aren't the most beautiful, but Yoshino should more than make up for it. Am I in love? Maybe.
― In the pantheon of great literary love stories, there are enemies-to-lovers, friends-to-lovers, ex-lovers-to-lovers, and about a dozen other combinations on the route to true but unexpected love. Yakuza Fiancé: Raise wa Tanin ga Ii ...
Voice Actor Chiwa Saito Shares the Importance of a Supporting Role
Many lead roles tend to go towards younger, more junior actors, while seasoned veterans take on mentor positions.
― Legendary voice actor Chiwa Saito stepped out to cheers and applause on Friday afternoon to a crowd eagerly waiting in line to hear her chat about her life and experiences. She's played several notable roles, including the titular Yona from Yona of the Dawn, Hitagi Senjougahara from th...
HAIKYU!! The Dumpster Battle Anime Film Had 1,200 Animation Cuts
Lead animator Hideki Takahashi provided around 300 animation cuts himself.
― The panel began with a celebration of the 10th anniversary of the anime and played a trailer for the film, HAIKYU!! The Dumpster Battle. To talk about the film, they brought in the anime's producer, Keiko Matsushita, TOHO producer Shochiro Taguchi, and Riki Azuma, the current editor of the manga. Following their introductio...
Arming Up with the Mecha-Ude Anime Premiere
I'm 95% certain the creators of Mecha-Ude are trying, at least subconsciously, to make a kid-friendly, less fanservice-y version of Kill la Kill.
― After watching the first two episodes at Anime NYC, I'm 95% certain the creators of Mecha-Ude are trying, at least subconsciously, to make a kid-friendly, less fanservice-y version of Kill la Kill. Instead of alien clothing, it's sentient robot arms draw...
Ranma 1/2 Returns, The Same As It Ever Was
If you've seen or read Ranma 1/2 before, you know exactly what will happen in this premiere, but the comedy's still funny, the action packs a punch, and the characters remain as lovable as ever.
― Excitement was high at Anime NYC on Saturday for the premiere of the new Ranma 1/2 anime from MAPPA. Cosplayers gathered for photos at the front of the panel room. Before the screening, Viz Media's “Commun...
Shangri-La Frontier Season 2 Premiere Dives Right Into the Action
There is a certain satisfaction akin to watching a streamer figure out how to take down a demanding boss. I just hope there's less grinding this time.
― As the original creator Katarina, manga artist Ryosuke Fuji, and the anime producer Hiroyuki Aoi made their way to Anime NYC, we were blessed with another glimpse into the godlike game Shangri-La Frontier. While it is a hit series with many fans and...
Love Live! Superstar!! Idols Prepare for a 'Sparkling' 3rd Season
With the third season of Love Live! Superstar!! on the horizon, three members of Liella! made the long journey to New York to entertain Anime NYC attendees with a talk show on Friday.
― With the third season of Love Live! Superstar!! on the horizon, three members of Liella! made the long journey to New York to entertain Anime NYC attendees with a talk show on Friday. Present was Sayuri Date, who pla...
Good Bye, Dragon Life Anime Premiere is Another Ho-Hum Fantasy Entry
It's hard to talk about this one beyond a general summary because, for the most part, nothing much really happens.
― After a brief greeting to the crowd, the screening of Good Bye, Dragon Life's first episode kicked off immediately. The story here follows a dragon whose long, nearly eternal life ended by human hands and reincarnated into the body of a young man named Dolan. Dolan lives peacefully in...
All The Announcements from Anime NYC 2024
Anime NYC is well underway! Check out all our coverage here, sponsored by Yen Press!
― Friday, August 23 News Aniplex USA Confirms English Dub for Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai, Rascal Does Not Dream of a Dreaming Girl Anime Alterna Vvelt -Blue Exorcist Another Story- Smartphone Game Reveals New Trailer Gundam: Silver Phantom Anime Reveals Trailer, October 3 Release A Wild Last Boss App...
A Salad Bowl of Eccentrics' Connection to Gifu Prefecture
Novelist Yomi Hirasaka is a Gifu native and has some food recommendations for you.
― The staff of A Salad Bowl of Eccentrics stepped up to the stage to host their two Q&A panels during the first and final days of Otakon. Both panels starred light novel author Yomi Hirasaka, who shared the stage with editor Kentaro Iwaasa, character designer Kazuhiro Fukuchi, and TBS Sparkle producer Maiko Higa. Howev...
Building An Anime's Soundtrack with Composer Yuki Hayashi, Producer Hiroya Nakata
The My Hero Academia composer shared when he listens and when he follows his heart to create his iconic songs.
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During Otakon 2024, fans got a rare glimpse into how animation producers and music composers collaborate to create the soundtracks to some of our favorite anime. Producer Hiroya Nakata and composer Yuki Hayashi, both guests at the convention, are frequent collaborators. Most notably, they...
The Art is in Nature's Details: Laid-Back Camp at Otakon
When director Tosaka and crew did on-location research and scouting, they took ten terabytes of cherry blossom photos for the staff to reference.
― For such a relaxing and comforting series like Laid-Back Camp, you'd think that the production would be rather, well, laid back. But in reality, there were a lot of details the team had to make sure to get right to properly bring this fan-favorite back t...
Korean Comics Used to Be Burned; Now It Teaches Children
As the child of a famous manhwa artist, Park was especially aware of how government censorship affected her family's livelihood.
― Growing up in South Korea, Park Seulki Rhea remembers the comic book burnings. Every year on May 5, celebrated as Children's Day, government authorities would make a bonfire of manhwa under the premise of keeping children safe. “In 1967, manhwa was declared one of the six...
Passion Defies Genre: A Spirited Talkback with the Creatives of The Wrong Way to Use Healing Magic
Some may see isekai and fantasy series as dime a dozen, but the passion this quartet spoke with made it clear that Healing Magic is one of a kind.
― Only an hour before the announcement that The Wrong Way to Use Healing Magic anime series will be receiving a second season, some of its key creatives sat down to speak about the production in the first of two Otakon talkback sessions. Taking to the sta...
Aya Uchida Didn't Want to Be a Voice Actor, She Wanted to Be Sailor Moon
“As a child, I loved Sailor Moon,” she said. "I had a sister, and we played out the roles together. That was a lot of fun. I loved Usagi-chan, but my sister loved Sailor Mercury.”
― Aya Uchida made her Otakon debut with her own Saturday morning Q&A panel. The Love Live seiyū is no stranger to performing in front of large crowds, but even she was amazed by Otakon's huge draws. “I didn't expect to see...
K-pop Panel Reveals Market's Worst Tendencies
When all was said and done, I walked away weary of puppeteers pulling K-Pop's strings—regardless of any good intentions that might have entered the mix.
― Love it or hate it, K-pop has struck a major chord with millions of fans around the globe. When introduced to a new region, the genre faces challenges specific to those bespoke markets. Plum Tree Songs' CEO Jong Hoon Chae took to the Otakon stage t...
Career in Calligraphy from Garo -VANISHING LINE- to Jujutsu Kaisen
Known for his work on anime titles such as Jujutsu Kaisen, Dorohedoro, and Attack on Titan, Setta is an artist who synthesizes traditional and digital techniques to create striking art.
― Known for his work on anime titles such as Jujutsu Kaisen, Dorohedoro, and Attack on Titan, Setta is an artist who synthesizes traditional and digital techniques to create striking art. As I walked into his Otakon ...
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth Creators, Voice Actors Share Favorite Game Moments at Otakon
Barrett's voice actor John Eric Bentley shared how his father's death informed his performance. "...that's who became Dyne for me. I didn't want Barrett to be a caricature. I wanted him to be real."
― Final Fantasy fever was felt throughout this year's Otakon. With Final Fantasy VII being such an evergreen title, the cosplays and photoshoots were naturally aplenty. But it was the two Final Fantasy V...
Trigun Stampede Pays Respect To The Original Anime, Manga
The idea was to create something Yasuhiro Nightow might create today using this technology.
― Studio Orange pulled out all the stops to realize the world of Trigun Stampede in glorious 3D. At Otakon 2024, producers Yoshihiro Watanabe and Kiyotaka Waki and CG director Akihiko Orikasa made it a point to break down how every decision is dedicated to creating something that fully manifests as the world ...
Original Book Artwork is Integral in Orange's Leviathan Anime
Westerfeld attributed much of his book to Keith Thompson's artwork, so it was important to ensure that Thompson was an integral part of the anime's designs.
― Leviathan should be one of your most anticipated anime of 2025. Studio Orange has proven time and time again that they pull from a variety of different sources to create a distinct world that feels lived in. Based on the book series by acclaime...
How the Like a Dragon: Yakuza Actors Embody the Source Material
Ryōma Takeuchi and Kento Kaku delve into their characters, Kazuma Kiryu and Akira Nishikiyama, and how director Take's experience with real yakuza helped them in their roles.
― Amazon Prime's TV adaptation of SEGA's global hit Yakuza series will be available to stream in just a few months. Their recently released official trailer featured a look into the cast behind Kazuma Kiryu and his childhood fr...
I'll Become a Villainess Who Goes Down in History's Lackluster Visuals Hide Potential
This is probably one of the whitest shows I have ever seen, with incredibly washed-out colors and skin tones.
― I'm a big fan of this recent trend in anime that focuses less on the standard fantasy theatrics of being a hero and more on trying to exist in these worlds uniquely. Not everybody shares the same fantasy about being born or sent to an alternate world. Some people want to gain power in a sp...
LiSA Strikes a Chord at SDCC 2024 Concert
The popular theme song artist performed fan-favorite hits from Demon Slayer's "Gurenge" to My Hero Academia's "Datte Atashi no Hero."
― J-pop singer LiSA returned to the U.S. for the first time since her appearance at Anime Boston in 2015. Crunchyroll hosted two nights of concerts as part of their performance series at the Rady Shell behind the San Diego Convention Center. The show was free for Comic...
Like a Dragon: Yakuza Cast and Crew Explain How to Bring Kamurocho to Life
"Take-san rebuilt an entire city block, and the details of this project matter," said Barmack. "...Their rise to power, and their corruption of power."
― Amazon Prime brought the two leading actors to San Diego Comic Con 2024 to promote their six-episode TV adaptation of the Like a Dragon franchise. Joining Executive Producer Erik Barmack and Head of International Originals James Farrell, Ryoma Take...
Virtual Idols Take the Spotlight at Hatsune Miku Colorful Stage! Event
― Hatsune Miku Colorful Stage! returned to Anime Expo bigger, better, and with idol flair. Last year, Colorful Stage hosted panel in Petree Hall featuring the voice actors of Kanade Yoisaki and Mizuki Akiyama of Nightcord at 25:00 (Tomori Kusunoki and Hinata Satou). I attended this panel when I was at AX the previous year, and I thought it was good. There were fun talking points with the voice acto...
Post-Mortem: Anime Expo 2024 Felt Roomier, Programming Access More Complicated
The con was easier to navigate this year, but at least one security concern raised alarms. Volunteers and security kept the press and guests out of high-demand panels.
― Another year, another period where Anime News Network's team spends the July 4 weekend running around the Los Angeles Convention Center for Anime Expo. Speaking from personal experience, the organizational nightmare of preparing and...
Upcoming Anime Series Will See Guilty Gear Break New Ground
Anime News Network spoke with Dual Rulers' producers and series writer about new characters, fighting game mains, and more.
― At Anime Expo 2024, one of the very first panels of the entire show was something rather special. Arc System Works announced less than a month prior that their darling fighting game franchise Guilty Gear would be adapted into an anime series, and they've come to AX2024 to mak...
Reincarnated as a Slime, Wistoria, 7th Prince Editors, Producers Take Fans to Another World
Editors Riichiro Umetsu and Shiro Yamano and producers Shinichirō Narita, Makoto Oda, and Katsuki Aoyama treat fans to details about isekai anime production.
― Crunchyroll hosted their isekai panel, "That Time There Was A Lot Of Isekai Anime on Crunchyroll," within the spacious halls of JW Marriot's Platinum Ballroom on Day 1 of Anime Expo. Moderated by Curt Richy with Mike McNamara assisting with t...
FGO 7th Anniversary Panel Becomes Gilgamesh-Fest
Gilgamesh fans, they're just like us.
― There is something immensely thrilling about being at a panel where the panelists are just unabashedly huge nerds of the project they're working on. It creates an electric atmosphere and sets the tone for the whole hour. The Fate Grand Order 7th Anniversary x TYPE-MOON Projects panel kicked off with trailers for some of TYPE-MOON's new releases, starting with T...
Manga is Global: Japanese Manga Editors Share How Medium is Expanding
Publishers share how a non-native Japanese comic artist can get their big break.
― For those who like the business side of manga as much as the art and storytelling, the Japanese Manga Editors Industry Roundtable really is a fascinating learning experience. This year's panel mostly focused on two areas of discussion—new artist development, and a look into publishing trends. Moderated by Deb Aoki, jo...
We Need Disguises Cosplay Wins World Cosplay Summit USA at Anime Expo 2024
Prince Alcryst and Princess Hortensia from Fire Emblem: Engage will head to Japan to compete in the international competition!
― Every year, thousands of people flock to Anime Expo for cosplay alone. While truly impressive cosplay and some of the biggest cosplay creators can be seen on the convention floor and surrounding convention center campus, this particular expression of anime fandom shines br...
Ryukishi07 Discusses His Mystery-Horror Game Universe
The Umineko, Rose Gun Days and Higurashi creator answers fan questions like, "Where's Ciconia When They Cry?"
― After his last appearance at Anime Expo 2015, writer Ryukishi07 made his long-awaited return to Anime Expo. The Higurashi writer remained as energetic and enthusiastic in answering a panel of fan questions. Voice actress Sayaka Ohara joined him on stage, but more as support rather than par...
DanMachi Panel Honors Syr's VA to Kick Off Season 5, Unveils New Key Visual
Warner Bros. Japan's DanMachi panel was a feast for the fans clamoring for the anime's fifth season.
― Warner Bros. Japan's DanMachi panel was a feast for the fans clamoring for the anime's fifth season. It dedicated itself to all of the loyal DanMachians in attendance, but a special spotlight was cast on dub voice actress Juliet Simmons, whose longtime commitment to the series made her a special gu...
The Art of Clouds: Yoichi Nishikawa's Journey + GoH Q&A
Known by many of his peers as "The Painter of Clouds," Nishikawa has done background art for several Studio Ghibli movies, as well as several Studio Chizu productions.
― One of the anime industry's most sought-after background artists, Yoichi Nishikawa, graced Anime Expo with a stroll down memory lane as he regaled the audience with stories about some of his most notable works. Known by many of his ...
Crying in AX: Frieren, Beyond Journey's End & The Apothecary Diaries Panels
Frieren and Maomao share the spotlight as fan-favorites.
― The dual Frieren, Beyond Journey's End and The Apothecary Diaries panel was a hotly anticipated event, with fans being turned away from the line long before the panel even started. As the moderator introduced the first slate of guests—Himmel voice actor Nobuhiko Okamoto, TV series director Keiichiro Saito, animation producer Yuichiri Fukushi...
TO BE HERO X Has Incredible Momentum and Energy
Please refrain from screaming too loud when the episode concludes.
― There's happy and chaotic energy at the front of the Crunchyroll stage. There's a pair working the crowd before the panel gets under way, and once the program's ready to get started, they cede the stage to Tim Liu of Crunchyroll, who strides in confidently and commands the audience's attention. After whipping up the well-attended r...
Chosen Without An Audition: Ryukishi07 Voice Actress Sayaka Ohara Q&A
Ohara once joked in an interview that she wanted to play a role with multiple personalities. Beatrice has at least five.
― Sayaka Ohara, the voice behind popular characters like Beatrice in Umineko When They Cry, Erza Scarlet in Fairy Tail, and Sailor Neptune/Michiru Kaioh in Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Crystal, sent fans into a frenzy when she elegantly walked onto stage cosplaying as Beatrice. She...
Mamoru Miyano Brings Charm to the Kinnikuman Panel
It's no surprise that Mamoru Miyano's presence helped to elevate Kinnikuman's panel.
― Pony Canyon hosted a premiere screening for the newest anime within the Kinnikuman franchise: The Kinnikuman: Perfect Origin Hen. Longtime fans, as well as die-hard Mamoru Miyano fans, attended the moderately full panel with bated breath. Despite the voice actor's appearance at the event, the episodes focused very...
From Macross to Scooters: Q&A with Shoji Kawamori
To the muted enthusiasm and mild bewilderment of the attendees, Kawamori spent several minutes talking about his current collaboration with AVIOT designing the KB-S350 electric kickboard scooter for their Ridepiece project.
― Legendary creator, producer, mecha designer, and visionary Shoji Kawamori graced Anime Expo again for the first time in several years. Best known for creating the Macross franc...
BLUE LOCK panel – Meet the EGOISTS at AX!
At the BLUE LOCK panel, guests fed off of the room's energy and were clearly having a great time.
― The BLUE LOCK panel at AX2024 was electric from start to finish. The hall was packed, seeming to validate the series' meteoric rise to the top tier of the latest popular shonen titles in recent memory. With the much-anticipated second season airing in October of 2024, and the recent release of Blue Lo...
Jujutsu Kaisen Panel Celebrates Success of Season 2
This was a celebratory victory lap to thank fans for their support.
― Anime Goliath Jujutsu Kaisen dominated the latter half of 2023 with an intense two-part season. Ending on the unforgettable Shibuya Incident arc, season two brought fans to their knees. MAPPA brought three guests to the Anime Expo panel—Junya Enoki (Yuji Itadori), Shota Goshozono (Director of Season 2), and Keisuke Seshimo (Animat...
3… 2… 1…“GIYUUUUUU!" Demon Slayer's Fifth Anniversary Event
Let me tell you: Everyone was losing their damn minds.
― Is there a hotter property than Demon Slayer right now? Certainly, it springs immediately to mind if you try to think about what's popular right now. Judging by the energy in the Main Events hall at AX this year, Demon Slayer seems like it's comfortably sitting on the throne. The panel kicked off with a video clip, showing moments from the rec...
Sounds of the Sea: One Piece Musical Symphony Premiere
Being in a stage hall filled with people cheering at the top of their lungs over iconic tracks being performed live by the anime’s composer himself Kohei Tanaka was nothing short of a magical experience.
― The One Piece anime has gone on for so many years at this point. There are so many elements of the anime's production that have stirred emotion in fans worldwide, myself included. The One Piece Sy...
BLUE BOX and that "Waku Waku" Feeling
During the panel, the original manga creator texted, "It's 3 AM over here, but I'm very happy that all of you so far away in a different time zone love Blue Box. Let's enjoy the anime together!"
― The Platinum Ballroom at the JW Marriott had another packed audience for the Blue Box panel. Soothing music, blue lighting, and soft shapes swirling on the walls set a calm, cool tone for the panel. As the...
Never a Missed Deadline: Seven Deadly Sins Live-Art & Q&A
Sometimes it’s nice to sit down with a manga creator and just ask them casual questions while they are speed drawing some of their most iconic characters.
― Sometimes it's nice to sit down with a mangaka and ask them casual questions while they speed-draw some of their most iconic characters. Nakaba Suzuki was established in the industry for his work and he is proud of how fast he can draw. Accordin...
The Year of Shadow the Hedgehog
I can't speak for everybody, but I know for a fact that this game is going to consume my life the minute it comes out.
― Sonic X Shadow Generations is probably one of the more anticipated games releasing this fall. I can't speak for everybody, but I know for a fact that this game is going to consume my life the minute it comes out, so I jumped at the opportunity to find out what new details would be ...
Bocchi Crew Rock Out at Anime Expo Panel
The crowd burst into thunderous roars of “Bocchi!” before being reminded that the panel wouldn't make it to the end if the cheers continued.
― Anime Goliath, Bocchi the Rock, stole the hearts of many introverts (and extroverts) in late 2022. No surprise that a late-night group of die-hard fans were willing to wait in hour-long lines to see Bocchi's voice actress Yoshino Aoyama and Director Keiichiro...
Falcom's Trails through Daybreak Panel Shows Western Love for RPGs
After my own playtest of the first game on the Entertainment Hall floor, I could grasp exactly how deeply the staff thought about the player's experience in a JRPG.
― One of Nihon Falcom's long-standing franchises made a splash with gamers at Anime Expo. President Kondo took to the stage, and much to his surprise and delight, was greeted by a room full of eager fans. Despite lacking the scale and si...
He Said He'd Be Back: Terminator Zero
Gripping and suspenseful with top notch animation, there's a lot to be excited about in Terminator Zero.
― An energetic Jacki Jing takes the stage in front of a packed ballroom at the JW Marriott here at Anime Expo 2024. Jacki drops one of the iconic lines from the storied Terminator franchise: “Come with me if you want to live.” The eager crowd responds with cheers. The excitement in the room is pa...
Passionate Fandoms Never Die - The Sword Art Online Alternative: Gun Gale Online II Panel
While the anime community tends to put an increased focus on new series premiering titles, this panel made it clear that the Sword Art Online fandom is still thriving and just as passionate as ever.
― Fandom was the focus of the Sword Art Online Alternative: Gun Gale Online II panel at this year's Anime Expo. While there was some new information about the second season and broader franchise, the hig...
Everybody Talks Too Much:The Return of Re:Zero
When the first episode of Re:Zero season 3 comes out, do not expect a lot of action or intense drama - it's a whole lot of moments of characters talking.
― This has definitely been one of the longest and densest anime premieres I have sat through. The return of Re:Zero has been years in the making and there is a lot here to catch fans up to speed. While the premiere didn't default to a generic serie...
The Apocalypse is Nigh: Season Two of The Seven Deadly Sins Four Knights of the Apocalypse
It’s clear there’s a great deal of passion being poured into
this production and it’s always nice to know more about the
relationship between the original creator and the anime production
staff. ― When we last left off, our titular four knights had finally been brought together despite the warning of the prophecy and we're now staring down the big bad of the series, King Arthur. The preview displaye...
this production and it’s always nice to know more about the
relationship between the original creator and the anime production
staff. ― When we last left off, our titular four knights had finally been brought together despite the warning of the prophecy and we're now staring down the big bad of the series, King Arthur. The preview displaye...
Not Just Another Persona Game: Metaphor: ReFantazio
To show how serious they are about committing to the fantasy genre, the panel played a cutscene of Louis stabbing the bedridden king of Euchronia with a tone akin to Game of Thrones.
― Famed Persona duo Katsura Hashino and Shigenori Soejima brought the band back together for their newest endeavor: Studio Zero's Metaphor: ReFantazio. The game is set to release on October 11th, 2024 and an excited pan...
The Beauty of Takarazuka Transcends Borders
The most thrilling part of the panel was when the two actresses were asked to show the audience a movement that encapsulated their roles. The audience shrieked in delight as Nanami spun Reimi by the waist, dipping her in an elegant pose that ended in an outstretched arm.
― Theatre fans received a rare treat on Day 2 of Anime Expo with the On Stage & Beyond panel, which featured two very special gues...
Studio Bones Brings Plenty of Passion to Gachiakuta Adaptation
Considering Bones' track record, the fact that there is a clear passion for this manga, and the uniqueness of the material,Gachiakuta will be in good hands.
― Studio Bones is one of the most established and highly respected animation studios in the industry. They are responsible for modern classics that still live rent-free in the minds of anime fans everywhere from Eureka Seven, to Soul Eater to Fu...
All the Announcements from Anime Expo 2024
Find all of our updates from Anime Expo 2024 here, in one handy place!
― Thursday, July 4 News New Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt Anime Project Unveils Visual, Main Staff Kinnikuman Perfect Origin Arc Anime Streams International Trailer Exclusive: Beyblade X Anime to Premiere in U.S. on Disney XD on July 13 Guilty Gear Strive: Dual Rulers Anime's Teaser Trailer Confirms Cast, 2025 Debut J-Novel Cl...
Orange's Steampunk Leviathan Anime Project Shows Promise
This panel got me more excited for Studio Orange's new upcoming series than I was originally expecting.
― The Studio Orange panel at Anime Expo 2024 mainly served to act as a teaser and set up for things to come. There was a little information about a future Trigun project and even a confirmed release date for the much anticipated season three of Beastars. However, the star of the panel was Studio O...
GoHands' Momentary Lily Is What We Expect from the Studio, For Better or Worse
I felt like I was having keys dangled in my face while multicolored bleach was poured into my eyes.
― This might be one of the worst anime premieres I've ever seen. GoHands productions need to be studied to some extent. They can look very technically impressive with many experimental animation techniques, unique lighting, and ambitious use of camera movements. However, their shows are also a perfect...
Hundreds Miss the Best Part of Toho's SpyXFamily and Kaiju No. 8
This panel reminded me that everything featured at or premiering at Anime Expo is made by people. Whatever trailer, artwork, or other media is on display could have been someone's passion project.
― Between three tremendously popular seasons and a movie that grossed nearly 60 million dollars, it's clear that Spy×Family and Kaiju No. 8 are Toho's latest anime darlings. It's no surprise then that dist...
Blue Miburo Anime Series World Premiere
The new historical anime about the Shinsengumi holds a lot of promise judging from its first impression.
― For many anime fans, merely mentioning the Shinsengumi will usually elicit some reaction. Awe, perhaps historic reverence. But almost always, there will be a twinge of nostalgia—not for the swordsmen themselves, but for the outsized role they've played in manga and anime. For all their controve...
Anime Boston 2024: Whisper Me a Love Song Premiere
Whisper Me a Love Song centers around the complex (and often romantic) relationships of a group of high school girls in a band.
― HIDIVE's second big premiere of Anime Boston 2024, Whisper Me a Love Song, has a few things in common with their first, Jellyfish Can't Swim in the Night. Both shows center around the relationships between high school girls in a band. Where the nature of the relationships ...
Anime Boston 2024: HIDIVE Presents Working in the Japanese Anime Industry
HIDIVE hosted a panel with two special guests, producer Yuki Watanabe and voice actor Yuya Hirose, to discuss what it's like to work in the anime industry.
― Friday at Anime Boston, HIDIVE's Star Butler hosted a panel with two special guests from Chained Soldier, producer Yuki Watanabe and voice actor Yuya Hirose, to discuss what it's like to work in the anime industry. Hirose didn't always want to b...
Anime Boston 2024: Jellyfish Can't Swim at Night Anime Premiere
The first two episodes of Jellyfish Can't Swim in the Night arrived with relatively little fanfare but ended up being the clear highlight of the first day of Anime Boston 2024.
― Compared to new series premieres at Anime Boston's past, the first two episodes of Jellyfish Can't Swim in the Night arrived with relatively little fanfare. There were no exclusive giveaways or special guests to talk about t...
Sakura-Con 2024: Gundam Seed Freedom Panel
Voice actors Soichiro Hoshi and Rie Tanaka took some time to sit down with fans and talk about Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Freedom at Sakura Con this past weekend.
― This year, Sakura-Con welcomed the voice actors Soichiro Hoshi and Rie Tanaka among their special guests. Hoshi and Tanaka took some time to sit down with fans and talk about Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Freedom, the film sequel to Mobile Suit Gu...
All the News From AnimeJapan 2024
― Curious about all the news and panels that happened at AnimeJapan 2024 last weekend? 132,557 people descended upon Tokyo Big Sight across two days to experience all the latest and greatest in anime! Stage Events
Voice Actors Natsuki Hanae & Hiro Shimono Talk About Meeting Fans on Demon Slayer World Tour Ojamajo Doremi Cast Reunite for 25th Anniversary Special Show at AnimeJapan Suicide Squad Isek...
Anime NYC 2023: A Sign of Affection, The Unwanted Undead Adventurer, Classroom of the Elite Season 3 Premieres
Get a sneak peek of three shows coming this fall, including the incredibly charming romance A Sign of Affection.
― The last round of Crunchyroll premieres featured A Sign of Affection, The Unwanted Undead Adventurer, and Classroom of the Elite season 3. There were no transitions between any of these premieres, which felt incredibly awkward shifting from a sweet romance series like A Sign of Affectio...
Anime NYC 2023: The Seven Deadly Sins: Four Knights of the Apocalypse Premiere
This is a stronger and more emotionally gripping start compared to the franchise's previous entry.
― The Seven Deadly Sins: Four Knights of the Apocalypse is a sequel and spiritual successor of The Seven Deadly Sins created by Nakaba Suzuki. Considering the immense popularity and attention that the early seasons of The Seven Deadly Sins anime received, Four Knights of the Apocalypse seems to be hold...
Anime NYC 2023: Tales of Wedding Rings and The Demon Prince of Momochi House Premiere
One is about building a harem in another world. The other... well, it feels a lot like Fruits Basket.
―
Tales of Wedding Rings Tales of Wedding Rings is an interesting show that has a lot of potential despite its rather simple and mundane premise. It is an isekai story about a high school boy who gets transported to another world. Years ago when the protagonist Satou was a young boy, he ended up com...
Anime NYC 2023: My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom! The Movie Review
This is the definition of a filler anime movie. That doesn't make it bad but that does make it disappointing.
― This is the definition of a filler anime movie. That doesn't make it bad but it's disappointing—especially following a second season that already lacked narrative urgency and mostly coasted on goodwill towards the characters. Those hoping for any follow-through on the Fortune Lover II teas...
Anime NYC: Oshi no Ko Panel
At HIDIVE's Oshi no Ko panel at Anime NYC 2023, director Daisuke Hiramaki, assistant director Ciao Nekotomi, and producer Shimpei Yamashita delved deep into the making of the anime phenomenon.
― At HIDIVE's Oshi no Ko panel at Anime NYC 2023, director Daisuke Hiramaki, assistant director Ciao Nekotomi, and producer Shimpei Yamashita delved deep into the making of the anime phenomenon with a series ...
Bengaluru Comic Con 2023
Bengaluru Comic Con 2023 took place in India the same weekend that Anime NYC occurred in the USA and ANN was at both. Curious how the two events compare? Check out our coverage.
― Comic Con India has kicked off with Bengaluru Comic Con, which is running from November 17-19! Crunchyroll is the "Powered By" partner for the event, as well as for the upcoming Comic Cons in Delhi, Hyderabad, Chennai, and...
Anime NYC 2023: Great Pretender razbliuto World Premiere
Dorothy takes the lead in the new anime set in Taipei!
― It's time to return to the sundrenched world of con artists with WIT Studio's freshly announced sequel, Great Pretender razbliuto. Studio president George Wada, anime director Hiro Kaburagi, and producer Hitoshi Ito held a panel at Anime NYC on Saturday to discuss the new work. The anime's actual format and length are still under wraps; it wil...
Anime NYC 2023: High Card Season 2 Anime Premiere
Finn's backstory and political intrigue take center stage for the next season of High Card!
― Last year, I found myself in one of the premiere halls at Anime NYC, watching the first episode of an original anime called High Card. Now, I found myself in that same hall to watch the premiere of season two. This premiere wasn't as involved as last year. The original creator, Homura Kawamoto, could not ma...
Anime NYC 2023: The Ancient Magus' Bride Season 2 Special Panel
When conventions host a live drawing panel with a manga artist, you don't usually expect them to be working on their actual manga!
― When conventions host a live drawing panel with a manga artist, you don't usually expect them to be working on their actual manga. They often spend such panels doing sketches, sometimes to give away to people in the audience. This is one of the big things that made The...
Anime NYC 2023: The Sasaki and Peeps Anime Premiere
Can a cute wizard bird and a 40-year-old salaryman inject new charm into the isekai genre?
― The Sasaki and Peeps premiere event at Anime NYC 2023 started by showing the recently released trailer, leading into a discussion between host Allie Norado and Kadokawa producer Kosuke Arai. This was Arai's first time in New York, which excited him as a fan of American TV shows like 24, Heroes, and Gossip Gi...
Anime NYC 2023: Behind the Scenes of Dr. Stone
Staff members share their favorite characters and the unique research required to bring Dr. Stone to life.
― With the third season of Dr. Stone airing on Thursdays, Crunchyroll hosted a panel looking behind the scenes at the making of the hit Shonen Jump anime. Kyle Cardine moderated the discussion with producers Shusuke Katagiri and Hiroto Matsukuma, director Shuhei Matsushita, character designer Y...
Anime NYC 2023: Sengoku Youko Anime Premiere
"Even though this series takes place in an era of battle, it is really a story about weakness and people overcoming that weakness to improve and improve the world."
― The panel began with the introduction of series director Kagetsu Aizawa and the series producer, Ailian Cai, who briefly introduced the setting and characters before the premiere began. The Sengoku Youko premiere follows a cowardly swo...
Anime NYC 2023: Chained Soldier Anime Premiere
From the creator of Akame ga KILL! is a harem anime with a few splashes of battle shonen painted over it. If that sounds like a negative, let me clarify that it's hard to be annoyed with something this shameless.
― After a quick introduction to the show from the presenter, the panel immediately kicked off with the premiere of the first two episodes. Chained Soldier takes place in a world where human...
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