Invincible Fight Girl will soon be making its highly anticipated debut with Adult Swim, and we got to talk with series creator Juston-Gordon Montgomery all about the new series ahead of its premiere. Invincible Fight Girl has been in production for quite a while, and was one of the animated series left in flux during all of the changes happening at Warner Bros. Discovery over the years. But thankfully, it’s gearing up to finally make its debut after all this time and soon fans will be treated to a new kind of action series mixing the fun of anime and wrestling together into a new experience.

As Invincible Fight Girl is finally going to make its premiere on Saturday, November 2nd at midnight with Adult Swim with its first two episodes (and then streaming with Max the next day), ComicBook got the chance to speak with series creator Juston-Gordon Montgomery about the new action series. Montgomery opened up about the anime influences that went into the new animated series, incorporating wrestling into the storytelling, that tease about its power system and more. Read on below for our full interview (which has been edited for clarity).

NICK VALDEZ, COMICBOOK: I first remember [Invincible Fight Girl] being announced back in 2022, and it’s probably been in development long before that. So how do you feel seeing it that it’s going to finally premiere on Toonami, the big anime showcase block for Cartoon Network and Adult Swim?

JUSTON-GORDON MONTGOMERY: It’s surreal. It sort of surpassed my wildest hopes and expectations. I think when I started this project, it was just an opportunity to create maybe a different type of show that we had seen in the West, and do something that who knows how big of an impact it would it would have. It would be something different in the space. So the fact that it’s been sort of elevated to this level where it’s gonna be viewable by everyone and it’s gonna be on Toonami, this place where that personally kind of has a lot of meaning for me. It feels surreal. It’s not something that if you would ask me in 2022, I would have said it was in the cards for us, yeah.

Toonami feels perfect for it too because, as you just mentioned, it’s got kind of like an anime flow to it that I don’t think I’ve ever seen in an action cartoon over here in terms of inner monologues, a lot of dust thrown up everywhere, stuff like that. And so I wanted to know, what are some of your direct anime influences that went into how you’ve laid out this show, and its action, and its world?

MONTGOMERY: Dragon Ball Z is a place that I always start, because that’s kind of like the granddaddy, just for tone, for intensity. You may have noticed some of our sound effects are even kind of like…we’re dog whistling to people who know that a little bit to be like, “Hey, you hear that sort of flying sound?” But then as we sort of get into kind of the genetic makeup of the show, Naruto is a big, big place that I start personally. That being one of the first anime outside of Dragon Ball Z as a kid that I found, and just being sort of mystified by this blend of sort of goofiness and at the same time, like, really heavy adult themes.

You know, we’re deal dealing with this main character who has this insane, oppressive loneliness that he feels, and he’s ostracized from his community. And at the same time, has to constantly sort of do this, to your point of the inner monologue, he has to constantly self talk to get himself to this place that he can be like, “No, I am gonna be someone that people respect. I am gonna achieve this dream that seems improbable and impossible” and the world view, world building of that.

One Piece, same for that world building. Hunter x Hunter is a big one as well. That was more of a recent sort of discovery for me, like, in the past 4 years. And as someone who had watched a lot of anime and for some reason had missed that, and had even seen Yu Yu Hakusho, I don’t know how I missed it. I was just so blown away by the twists and turns and the ways that the show almost seemed to be speaking to people who viewed Shonen and being like, “I know what you think is gonna happen. I’m deliberately gonna subvert that.” Oh, you think we’re gonna follow these characters? Nope. We’re gonna cut away to this other side of the world. We’re gonna follow these guys.

And you’re gonna be like, “Who the hell are these people? Why am I following them?” And then you’ll be like, “Ah, shit. This is really compelling. Okay.” What’s gonna happen, you know? So that was big. Just as a way of even rethinking what it meant to make a show and what it meant to create the focus of a show, world building, and the intricate-ness and all of that stuff. Then finally, I would say Hajime no Ippo was a massive one. As someone who loves boxing myself, I did boxing for a lot of years.

The show is beautiful in its ability to, whether you are familiar with boxing or not, convey to you the stakes and the why everything is meaningful, and the struggle, and the grind of it all. Again, whether or not you have a background to understand boxing or not. And so just that storytelling ability was huge in us looking at that and being like, well, we’re doing something like wrestling where, obviously, we want people who have a background and understand it to be able to appreciate it, but we sort of assume that a lot of our audience might not. So we want to convey to them why things are meaningful, why wrestling is awesome, but why moment to moment certain things they should feel a certain way about.

That’s interesting too because, wrestling is also a very much a storytelling focused art. And so, what era in particular of wrestling were you drawn to the most? Are you keeping up with anything right now by chance?

Not as much now. For me, my kind of formative era was Attitude Era. I’m a nineties kid. So, it was interesting too because that, to my perception, was when wrestling really kind of occupied a lot of the public spotlight. You know, even people who weren’t into it. It was kind of inescapable. It was sort of a perfect time for me as a kid to find it. There was something about the pageantry and the heights to which they would push the storytelling. The characters, the personas, and mistakes that felt, to your point, like a type of storytelling that was rivaling and surpassing anything that we could see that was written in terms of TV shows, sitcoms, movies or anything like that.

It’s cool seeing Andy too because Andy is such a character that combines all of that. She’s got the underdog wrestling story as well as that Shonen hero vibe of wanting her to overcome and eventually achieve her dreams. So what went into developing Andy as your main character for this series?

Andy, I like to sort of think of her as this stand in for the spirit of youth. So in this sort of grand metaphor that is the show where we’re talking about people following their dreams and following their passions, I think that there’s a sort of universal truth in anything that you pursue. There’s you kind of coming into this space that you’re unaware of, and then there’s the space itself, the institution that has these pre-established hierarchies. It has these dynamics. It has these big top dominant players already. Everything is sort of already sorted out.

Then here’s you who’s coming into the space as a young person who has to sort of fight for your spot. And a lot of that, I think, has to do with this sort of audaciousness. The audacity of youth and the hunger of youth. The ability to, while you have reverence for what came before, also kind of be ignorant of it and be like as a boxer, “Yeah, one day, I am gonna be as good as or better than Mayweather.” I think once you’ve lived a little bit, those sorts of claims seem kind of crazy.

But for young people who are looking to sort of establish themselves and make their mark, that is their lifeblood. That’s what fuels them. And so to me, that is Andy. Andy is that sort of young, audacious hunger that has this reverence for this world that exists already, is fascinated by it, is in love with it, and at the same time, is like “I’m gonna come in and find my way to be out on top of it.” There’s a combination of lots of different complex things that have to go into someone to be able to say that and stick to that. They experience a lot of different obstacles and adversity, still push through and decide, “Yes, this dream is something that’s possible for me.”

Speaking of dreams Quesa Poblana — great name, by the way — she’s got an aura. Speaking to how we talked Dragon Ball Z and One Piece earlier, she has a literal aura that has the kind of Dragon Ball Z visual and sound. Then it’s got a little bit of the One Piece Haki with just basically knocking everybody else out. So as a tease for the future, is this something that Andy can potentially do? Is it just specific to Poblana? Is this something that if Andy’s able to train, she can unlock?

Flat out, I would say yes. I think, for audiences who catch it, we are teasing a power system that exists in this world. Quesa Poblana is not the only one who can do it. She’s just the only one that we’ve seen do it. Andy will eventually get there, but there’s a bit of a secret to it beyond just developing your strength to a certain level. Quesa Poblana is kind of like a great window in our world, into what some of the higher level matches and higher level battles will be. So she exists both as a character and as a window into what the ceiling of this world looks like. How much room there is between that and where Andy, and some of the people she’s fighting, are currently.

The post Invincible Fight Girl Creator Talks Favorite Anime Shows, Coming to Toonami and More appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Black Clover’s manga will be returning with the next few chapters of its final arc, and it really needs to avoid Jujutsu Kaisen’s mistakes if it wants to stick the landing. Black Clover has been in the midst of the manga’s final arc for the past year or so. Series creator Yuki Tabata shifted away from Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump magazine’s weekly release schedule to a new quarterly release schedule for Jump GIGA magazine. This has resulted in hefty updates for the manga’s final chapters in the year thus far, and the next update will bring us closer to the grand finale than ever before.

Black Clover will be returning with three new chapters on November 15th in Japan, and it will feature 61 pages in total. What has also been teased is that it will be featuring the “final battle” for the series overall. It’s yet to be explained as to whether or not the manga will be starting the final battle with this update, or be entirely focused on it, but what is clear is that the manga will be coming to an end fairly soon. So it really needs to make sure to avoid doing what Jujutsu Kaisen did as it ended if it wants to be a hit with fans.

What Happened With Jujutsu Kaisen?

Jujutsu Kaisen wasn’t the only Shonen Jump series to end this year, but it probably had the more notorious ending. It’s all because it felt incredibly rushed. It was suddenly announced that the series would be ending five chapters ahead of its actual ending, and it seemingly came out of nowhere because it really did. The final arc didn’t seem like it would be the final one as the fight against Sukuna still had lingering bigger threats overhead.

The biggest issue of that finale was the fact that it introduced a ton of new characters in the later arcs only to then not only many of them to have a proper resolution. It just all felt like it was cut short despite it being series creator Gege Akutami’s intention. So thanks to all of the questions left unanswered, fans had felt like the ending didn’t hit its mark. There just wasn’t enough time to be properly ready for that ending, and ultimately it’s why the series ended so divisively. At the end of the day, there just wasn’t enough time spent getting ready for the grand finale. Thankfully, Black Clover has already avoided this.

Black Clover Won’t Have the Same Problem

It’s hard to gauge whether or not Black Clover will have a truly satisfying ending when it comes to tying up its own loose ends, but it’s already got a head start at making sure it avoids Jujutsu Kaisen’s biggest mistake. Black Clover has been in the midst of its final arc for quite a while. Even before it shifted its scheduled to quarterly releases, the manga had been spending the better part of a year properly setting the stage for the final battles to come.

Jujutsu Kaisen‘s issue was that it didn’t properly fill out the scope of its finale. The final arc didn’t feel like one because the fight against Sukuna initially seemed like it was only the first phase of something bigger to come instead of the single fight it turned out to be. But Black Clover has properly avoided this with a steady amount of build up for its own grand finale. The series’ last few arcs have been setting the stage for what’s to come as Asta and the others have been facing off against the Zogratis siblings. And once they were defeated, a final reveal had unleashed a final sibling.

This led to a first string of fights as the members of the Spade Kingdom invaded the Clover Kingdom, and even had Asta in the midst of a final training arc before these fights began. Then as the final arc kicked in fully, there were even bigger opponents to deal with from that point. There was a steady incline in growth, and with it fans were able to properly prepare for the end. Now that each chapter this year has been so meaty in length as well, Black Clover has really been setting up for its grand finale.

This means there will be fewer chances for leftover questions or loose ends when Black Clover finally wraps. It’s already doing the work to make sure it doesn’t have the same divisive conclusion that Jujutsu Kaisen did, and now it just needs to make sure that its actual finale really does stick the landing at the end of the day. It’s almost there, it just needs to end in a satisfying way. A big ask for sure, but one that Black Clover seems ready to take on.

The post How Black Clover’s Finale Can Avoid Jujutsu Kaisen’s Mistakes appeared first on ComicBook.com.

King of the Hill is now in the works on a new revival series, and it might be the time for Dale Gribble to find out that Joseph isn’t actually his biological son. King of the Hill‘s original run came to as close to perfect of an end as an animated series could hope for. It ended without many mysteries for the rest of the characters, and teased that they would all be heading into a bright future despite the fact that we wouldn’t be following them anymore. Now that King of the Hill is coming back with a new series, there will undoubtedly be shake ups.

Joseph’s parentage had been one of the core side plots for King of the Hill as while Dale had nothing but love for his wife and son, it was made clear early on that his son was actually the biological child of John Redcorn, a man that Nancy Gribble had many affairs with. Despite Dale being so paranoid and untrusting of the world around him, he never really had any doubt that Joseph was his son despite the blatantly obvious happening in front of him. But with the new episodes, this could finally happen and we could see how Dale feels about it all.

Will Dale Find Out About Joseph?

According to updates from those involved with the production, King of the Hill‘s new revival series is taking place nearly a decade after the events of the original series. This means that nearly ten years have passed as Joseph continues to age, and John Redcorn himself likely loses patience with the fact that he’s not as involved with his biological son’s life as he wants to be. This was one of the key plot points of the original series between Dale and John, but the two eventually formed a friendship that seemed to temporarily settle things between them.

But ten years is a long, long time. Plenty of changes have been made to the characters in the series that are more than just them all getting older. Joseph himself has always been shown to be curious about why he seems so different from his parents, and an adult aged Joseph is even more likely to have connected the dots eventually. It’s something that even could have happened off-screen in the years ahead of the new series’ stories that we’ll see when they premiere.

Why Dale Won’t Care

But the question of whether or not Dale will figure out Nancy cheated on him ultimately won’t matter. While he might feel betrayed by Nancy, Dale has shown nothing but love for his son regardless. As has been seen multiple times through the original King of the Hill series, Dale is a great father. While he has his shortcomings when it comes to seeing eye to eye with his son, the two ultimately share a very close bond. It’s even to the point where Dale was challenged with the idea that Joseph isn’t his biological son directly and he didn’t back down.

In the Season 6 episode, “Of Mice and Little Green Men,” Dale actually confronted the idea that Joseph wasn’t his son. It was in a roundabout way as he believed that aliens had impregnated his wife, and it was Hank that talked him out of giving up. Hank told Dale that he was the one that was around for all of the important moments of Joseph’s life, and thus he was his father. This was what Dale needed, and thus he was able to confidently claim Joseph as his own. In Dale’s way (even convincing himself that he must have been abducted and those are his genes Nancy was implanted with), this was Dale overcoming his doubts that the son in front of him wasn’t his.

So even if he discovers that Joseph isn’t his own biological son, he’s already been through the process of accepting Joseph anyway. He’s already broken through his doubts, and love Joseph as his son either way. It’s not going to change his relationship with his son, and while it might shift things around for his relationships with Nancy and John Redcorn, at the end of the day Dale is still going to love Joseph regardless.

Dale Already Might Know, Anyway

There’s also a good chance that Dale already knows about all of this anyway. Along with “Of Mice and Little Green Men” teasing the fact that Dale already suspected Joseph wasn’t his own son, there have been a few key examples that have had Dale put the pieces together on his own. It’s teased that Dale might be too oblivious to truly understand what’s going on in his own (which adds to the tragic irony of his paranoia), but it also could be that he’s already fully accepted the reality and just doesn’t outwardly acknowledge.

The two big examples you can point to for this are Season 7’s “Vision Quest,” as Dale quite literally sees his subconscious telling him that John Redcorn is Joseph’s father. The second is Season 12’s “Untitled Black McCormick Project” where John Redcorn’s surprise daughter appears in the neighborhood and Dale figures out that she shares similar DNA with Joseph. In both cases, his thoughts go so off the mark that he convinces himself that he’s still involved genetically. What these importantly showcase is that deep down, Dale likely understands that Joseph isn’t his own.

So while King of the Hill’s new revival might be where Dale finally pieces together that Joseph isn’t his genetic son, it’s also not the first time he’s discovered this fact. We’ve seen multiple examples of Dale coming face to face with this reality only to brush it off, so it’s likely going to be the same case here. But there’s one big difference this time around, unfortunately, and that’s Johnny Hardwick’s role in the revival overall.

Johnny Hardwick, Dale Gribble’s voice actor, was reportedly only able to record “a couple” of his episodes before his tragic passing. If this big scene were to happen, it might not be in one of these episodes. If Dale is recast for the series’ future, then it’d be weird to then do this kind of story without the famous actor that brought him to life in the first place. This is all such a wild tightrope to walk, but the King of the Hill team is likely very up to the task for the new revival.

The post King of the Hill: Dale Might Discover Nancy’s Biggest Secret in New Revival appeared first on ComicBook.com.

If you’re an anime fan of a certain generation, then you’re likely very acquainted with shows featuring maids. There was a period of time in the early 2000s where maids were a big trend, so you’d see multiple shows with maids in some form. The biggest stand outs in this regard were also very wish fulfillment heavy as a maid suddenly enters the protagonist’s life and begins changing it in incredible ways. But like many anime trends, maids eventually fell out of style. While there are still notable maid releases such as the most recent big entry, Akiba Maid War in 2022, it’s far from their heyday.

But also like most trends and styles, maids are coming back to the spotlight. Trends often repeat themselves in a cycle every decade or so, and the 2020s have begun to really tap into the 2000s for their nostalgia. It’s led to shows getting revived with new episodes, new reboots of classic hits and more, and now we’ve finally gotten a brand new show that capitalizes on that nostalgia while still offering something new. If you want a new maid anime that feels like you’re watching a classic show, then You Are Ms. Servant is going to be perfect for you.

2000s Anime Were Just Built Different

Before even digging into You Are Ms. Servant, we have to talk a little about being an anime fan in the 2000s. It was kind of the wild west really as the Internet was just really blowing up, and that meant that there was a greater ease of access to more shows. While anime is in a boom right now (with some reports even claiming that there will soon be one billion anime fans worldwide), it seemed even bigger back then. There might have been fewer options to enjoy, but there was a spirit of experimentation that allowed for all kinds of original anime releases.

This period wasn’t dominated by light novel adaptations, or all seemed to stem off the same kind of core genre, but instead there were just a ton of wild releases that you might be a fan of that no one else heard of. It was both an isolated, yet connected time where you’d basically just watch anything you could get your hands on. That means watching a lot of these maid shows, and now those shows have a spirit that has been carried on by You Are Ms. Servant in that crossroads between wish fulfillment, great action, and fluid animation production.

What Is You Are Ms. Servant?

Originally created by Shotan, You Are Ms. Servant first made its debut in the pages of Shogakukan’s Sunday Webry in 2020. The series stars Hitoyoshi Yokoya, a boy who’s currently living on his own until one day a maid suddenly appears at his door. Claiming she’s been sent by a (very) distant relative, this mysterious maid reveals that she actually is an assassin and has been working as one until very recently. Although he doesn’t need one, Hitoyoshi reluctantly decides to hire her as a live-in maid despite the fact that she doesn’t really have any real household skills.

The premise along should feel familiar to many fans as it’s set up exactly like some of the most classic maid anime releases. It’s a maid with a secret skill, and it’s a young boy living alone who’s about to have his life changed with this sudden new introduction. As seen through the first four episodes of the new anime series this Fall, this new maid named Yuki (as Hitoyoshi named her due to the fact that she didn’t really have a name of her own during her assassin life) has already warmed her way into fans’ and Hitoyoshi’s heart.

Why You Should Watch You Are Ms. Servant

You Are Ms. Servant is serving a particular need. In the 2000s (and still to this day to be honest), a big part of anime was wish fulfillment. There was a lackluster main character that fans could superimpose themselves onto and imagine the kind of life they could lead with these wacky characters. It’s the idea that you wouldn’t be lonely, and that you’d suddenly have your life dramatically changed when someone special comes into your life for the first time.

It was an idea built for the young adult audience in mind, and with the maid trend of the time it resulted in these kids of shows. It ranged from the rather raunchy with the likes of He Is My Master, the more action focused like Mahoromatic, and eventually went on to the point of parody with the likes of Kamen no Maid Guy at the tail end of the trend. But You Are Ms. Servant seems to be a more elevated take on the idea. Honing in on the more grounded, sweet qualities of the idea as Yuki and Hitoyoshi form a makeshift family.

It’s just hard to describe, but You Are Ms. Servant just perfectly taps into that vibe. There’s even a hint that it’s going to be even more 2000s as it continues as a new assassin has made themselves known with the latest episode, and now it’s the perfect time to watch. If you wanted to check out the new anime as it airs this Fall, you can check out the latest episodes as they’re available to stream exclusively with Crunchyroll.

The post Love Anime From the ’00s? This New Anime Is Ready to Take You Back appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Bleach’s creator was recently asked about his favorite fight scene in Jujutsu Kaisen, and he’s a big fan of one of the deadliest one sided fights in the entire series! Bleach and Jujutsu Kaisen have quite a lot to celebrate because while both series have ended their respective runs with Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump magazine, both franchises are experiencing a major high among fans. Tite Kubo’s Bleach is taking over screens with the latest batch of episodes in Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War this Fall, and Gege Akutami’s Jujutsu Kaisen is now in the works on coming back with Season 3 of the TV anime in the future.

Kubo and Akutami were recently recruited by Shueisha as judges for the special Jump Next Generation Battle Manga Award alongside My Hero Academia creator Kohei Horikoshi and Black Clover creator Yuki Tabata. They are looking through tons of submissions from fans in Japan to award a series that they think represents the next generation of battle series for Jump magazine. As part of this gathering, the creators were asked about their favorite fights from each others’ series, and Bleach creator Tite Kubo revealed that he was a huge fan on Maki’s one vs. all fight against the Zenin clan in Jujutsu Kaisen.

Bleach Creator’s Favorite Jujutsu Kaisen Fight

Kubo’s favorite fight in Jujutsu Kaisen might be a bit spoilery for fans who are only caught up with the anime as it takes place right before the events of the Culling Game arc. After the Shibuya Incident Maki is unrecognizably injured, and decides to eliminate the rest of her family in order to tap into the true extent of her strength. In Chapters 148 through 150 of the manga, Maki decides to basically go on a path of vengeance and starts tearing through the other members of her clan.

Kubo praises the scene as such, “While making every effort to avoid explanations of complex magic formulas, which is generally considered to be a feature of jujutsu battles, the story follows Akutami’s signature flashbacks that alternate between fact and fiction, followed by a succession of magic formulas that are easy to understand and look good on screen, a series of battles full of gore and scenes that make you envious of the loosening of the jumps, and mountains of corpses. The flow leading up to the fight with Naoya is exhilarating and perfect. This is what it means to be in the flow of a writer’s strokes.”

Why This Jujutsu Kaisen Fight Is Important

It’s no surprise that this is a major fight that stood out to Bleach’s creator as it’s one of Jujutsu Kaisen‘s most brutal. As Kubo rightly points out, it’s not a fight that’s primarily concerned with Jujutsu techniques as Maki cleanly cuts through everything in her path. It’s not like many of the other scenes in the Shibuya Incident or Culling Game as Maki has no cursed techniques of her own. Instead, her raw strength and bloodlust eventually lead her to a full massacre of the rest of her family.

It’s a huge pivot for Maki as a character as she becomes a modern age version of Toji Fushiguro, who also fought in very much the same way. The strength of their bodies, and speed of their strikes allowed them to get the upper hand on many curse users. It’s what brings Maki to the level necessary to put up a real fight later as Yuji and the others eventually challenge Sukuna, and it’s still one of the biggest moments in the series. When it gets animated in Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3, fans are going to be in for a wildly brutal time.

The post Bleach Creator Really Loves Jujutsu Kaisen’s Deadliest Fight appeared first on ComicBook.com.

For years, Dragon Ball has commanded the attention of fans globally, and that grip is only getting tighter. Son Goku is one of the most famous characters on television, after all. From movie to TV, Dragon Ball knows what it takes to win, and it is proving as much with Dragon Ball Daima. The new anime is just a few episodes in, and despite its few critics, the show is eating up streaming ratings.

If you did not realize, Dragon Ball Daima came to life at the start of October, and it marks the anime’s first foray since 2018. The show began strong with an extended premiere, and Toei Animation cleaned the plate with its animation. From is lore drops to its solid visuals, Dragon Ball Daima is thriving, and Netflix has confirmed this truth with a new ratings update.

Dragon Ball Daima Is a Big Hit

You can head over to Netflix’s Top 10 to see this much for yourself. If you look at the service’s global numbers, Dragon Ball Daima ranked in second place for non-English TV shows. The anime made this push between October 21st and October 27th despite competition from other top-notch anime titles.

For instance, Dandadan came in third place during this time frame with 3.1 million views. Ranma 1/2 also popped up on the list with a sixth-place ranking. The main competition facing these anime titles comes with South Korean drams. But so far as anime is concerned, Dragon Ball Daima is doing well at Netflix just two episodes in.

This data is only paired with Dragon Ball Daima‘s success elsewhere online. According to Google, the anime has ranked as one of the top ten most-searched anime series since its release. It is competing against shows like Dragon Ball Z hilariously enough, and other hits like Blue Lock and My Hero Academia are included. In Japan, the popular news site Mynavi has ranked Dragon Ball Daima as the top anime to watch in Fall 2024. So if you ever doubted Goku, well – think again.

Oh, and that doesn’t even touch the success Dragon Ball Daima has on Max. The streaming service oversees the anime’s release in South America as well in select European markets. Dragon Ball Daima has not left the service’s Top 10 list since its debut. Markets like Belize, Mexico, and Haiti have leaned into the anime especially. There is no shortage of love for Son Goku, and that is true no matter where you go.

Dragon Ball Daima Is the Perfect Anime for Beginners

If you have not checked out Dragon Ball Daima, we can tell you the anime is the perfect place to start your journey with Goku. The show is set after the events of Dragon Ball Z, but it almost gives our heroes a blank slate. We meet Goku and his friends after they defeated Majin Buu, and their lives are thrown into chaos when the Demon Realm makes a move.

Dragon Ball Daima follows Goku as he is transformed into a mini version of himself, and we have some demons to blame. The hero is tasked with traversing the Demon Realm to figure out what changed his group into minis. And along the way, we have been given a massive update on lore and history that will give beginners a good idea of where Dragon Ball stands.

Right now, Dragon Ball Daima is streaming on Crunchyroll, and it has a delayed cast over on Netflix. The anime has an English dub in the works as well, but don’t go looking for it just yet! The dub of Dragon Ball Daima will premiere in U.S. theaters this November before it makes its way to streaming.

Have you checked out Dragon Ball Daima yet? Give me a shout at @meganwpeters with your take! You can also let us know what you think over on X (Twitter) and Instagram.

The post Dragon Ball Daima Disproves Critics With Impressive Netflix Ratings appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Megan Thee Stallion has long worn her love of all things anime on her sleeve. Recently, the worldwide sensation helped to host the latest Crunchyroll Awards, the ceremony that honored some of the biggest franchises in the anime world. While she was doing so, Megan would switch between cosplays of some major characters in the anime world. For this year’s Halloween, Thee Stallion has shared a new costume that has her hitching a ride on the Golden Wind. This spooky season just got a little more spicy as Megan takes on the role of Trish Una via her social media account

For those who might not know the character that is Trish Una, she played a significant role in JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Golden Wind. While she didn’t originally join up with Giorno and his friends who were looking to overtake the Passione mafia, she was on a crash course with the Stand-wielding stars. Trish just so happened to be the daughter of Diavolo, the nefarious head of Passione who was gunning for his offspring to make sure that no one discovered his alter-ego. Luckily for Trish, she was discovered by Giorno just in time as her father looked to strike her from this Earth.

Megan Thee Joestar

Megan Thee Stallion might be one of the biggest JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure fans, routinely not only paying tribute to Hirohiko Araki’s anime online but also routinely making visits to Japan to see some Joestar sights. In recent years, she has visited JoJo exhibits and as previously mentioned, took on the look of Bruno Bucciarati at the Crunchyroll Awards to show off her admiration for all things Joestar. It should come as no surprise that she was more than willing to take on the look of Trish and her Stand, “Spice Girl” (or Spicy Lady for North American fans).

What Happened to Trish?

Trish was luckily able to ultimately survive the fight against her father, as Giorno was able to defeat Diavolo and take over the Italian mob. When the Golden Wind ended, Giovanna stood at the top of the ladder but it is the last that we saw of the Golden Wind characters so far. While JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure has featured Joestars returning for certain segments of the future arcs, Trish has remained absent from the likes of Steel Ball Run, JoJolion, and the JOJOLands.

In terms of JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure’s anime future, Trish probably won’t make an appearance in a potential new season that would take anime viewers into the Steel Ball Run. While neither Netflix nor David Production has confirmed that another season is in the works following the Stone Ocean’s conclusion, rumors are still swirling that the story of Johnny Joestar might be on the way.

Megan Thee Stallion’s Anime Recommendations

On top of JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, Megan Thee Stallion has shared quite a few recommendations in the anime world. Some of the singer’s biggest recommendations have been the likes of Hunter x Hunter, My Hero Academia, Soul Eater, and many others. In fact, one of the biggest cosplay examples from Megan’s past includes Shoto Todoroki of My Hero Academia fame, as the musician was more than willing to take on the appearance of the Hot and Cold hero. As anime continues to grow in popularity, expect Megan to continue to discover new anime to share with her fans.

Want to see what the future holds for both the Joestars and Megan Thee Stallion’s Bizarre Anime Adventure? Follow along with Team Anime on ComicBook.com for the latest updates on JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure and hit me up directly @EVComedy to talk all things comics and anime.

The post Megan Thee Stallion Debuts ‘Hot Girl’ Stand With JoJo Halloween Costume appeared first on ComicBook.com.

From Tower of God to Solo Leveling and True Beauty, webtoons are taking over anime. We have seen the industry explode in recent years, and as webtoons become bigger, more fields are eyeing web comics. Anime has been at the forefront, and thanks to a new report, we have learned Studio Pierrot is jumping into the fray. The studio behind Naruto and Bleach is teaming up with a South Korean animator to bring webtoons to the screen.

As you can see below, Studio Pierrot and Red Dog Culture House have come together. The two companies have locked in a partnership, and it will bring their teams together. Moving forward, the companies will do joint productions targeting “global” audiences, and the partnership will focus on Latna Saga.

Studio Pierrot Is Getting Into Webtoons at Last

According to the deal, Latna Saga: The Survival Sword King is the first IP gunning for an adaptation under this deal. The series will move into production later this year, so no release window has been decided. However, the anime adaptation of Latna Saga could arrive as soon as 2025 if industry trends hold up.

As for this specific deal with Studio Pierrot, it is expected to last three years. It will be back by investment and funding from Japanese production companies. Once Latna Saga has been handled, future projects will be up for grabs as Studio Pierrot and Red Dog Culture House have more IPs in their future.

Now if you are not familiar with Latna Saga, the webtoon went live in 2019 under creators YKB and Soon Q. Studio Khit oversees the web comic, and it tells the story of Hanbin Ryu as he is taken to a new world isekai style. Following a career in the military, Hanbin is keen to fight, but things go wrong with his isekai hop. The man took 20 years to travel, and when he reaches his new world, Hanbin is faced with a society that hates travelers. He is forced to rank up his reputation in-world to show the world wrong, and of course, plenty of villains made themselves known to the Sword King.

Anime Is Expanding Its Webtoon Ties in Big Ways

Clearly, Studio Pierrot is ready to turn its attention to webtoons, and this kind of expansion is warranted. When it comes to graphic novels, manga and webtoons are leading the game globally. Series like Solo Leveling have earned billions of views to date, and their anime adaptations are popping. Next January, Solo Leveling season two will make its grand debut, and hype for the show is high.

There is no denying the anime industry’s interest in webtoons, so Studio Pierrot’s new partnership will expand its reach. This year, shows like True Beauty brought their anime to life, and Tower of God season two made its grand debut. From The God of High School to Noblesse, the list of anime webtoons is growing by the day. So while Studio Pierrot keeps focus on Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War, well – you should know its staff is also looking at WEBTOON and Tapas for new projects.

What do you make of this latest anime x webtoon deal? What webtoon series would you like to see tackle the small screen? Give me a shout at @meganwpeters with your take! You can also let us know what you think over on X (Twitter) and Instagram.

The post Naruto Studio Lands Bi Webtoon Anime After Signing South Korean Partnership appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Announced on October 30, Death Note: Killer Within is a social deduction game which pits Light Yagami (a.k.a. Kira), and his equally demented Kira Followers, against (Interpol Detective) L and a squad of investigators in a classic battle of the wits. Here’s a quick description to save you a click. Stop me when you’ve heard this one before.

Killer Within is game of two phases. The Action Phase sees players gather clues and complete tasks as they move through the overworld. The Meeting Phase brings everyone together to discuss their findings and establish suspects. The game can end in a few ways. Team Kira will win if L is eliminated. Team L will win if Kira is arrested. Alternatively, whichever team fills up the Progress gauge (tied to the aforementioned tasks) will take home the victory.

Now, there’s nothing inherently wrong with this—Death Note makes for an admittedly compelling setting for such a game—but don’t you feel like you’ve already played this by now? Overlooking the obvious examples, there was already a version of this game done on Nintendo DS back in 2007.

Death Note: Kira Game never received a U.S. release, but there’s plenty of footage of it on YouTube, and fans translated the whole game to English years ago. Now, it goes without saying, but Killer Within is a dramatic step up in quality from a mid-2000s text-based handheld game. I personally don’t care for the toddler toy shaped-character models or their hauntingly empty eyes, but there is a novelty to the game’s inoffensive aesthetic compared to the grim, grisly nature of the manga and anime.

We haven’t seen much gameplay, but the quick glimpses in the reveal trailer look like a refined version of what Konami was going for all those years ago. Is it an improvement? Absolutely. Is it interesting? Not really, and that’s a major letdown for something as cool as cool and powerful as the Death Note.

However, maybe that’s unfair. Perhaps Fisher-Price Death Note will surprise me and be the game of my dreams. It’s free via PlayStation Plus (as part of November’s PS Plus lineup), so I’ll certainly give it an honest shot, but from the outside looking in, I can’t help but feel like we’ve already walked this path, and that the game is doomed from the start.

Anime adaptation video games have been stuck in a box for a long time. Fighting shows get the Ultimate Ninja Storm wrapping. More complex fantasy shows get the .HACK treatment. Everything else is consigned to the dark depths of mobile game genericism—uninspired Puzzle games, worn out Gacha systems, and the general death of all creativity.

Sure, it feels awesome to jump into a brawler filled with your favorite Jujutsu Kaisen characters, but when every single franchise starts to feel the same, what’s left to do? Killer Within is a step out of those particular confines, but only by the thinnest of margins, which is a bit ridiculous for such a high-quality franchise. Death Note is a transcendental story. It stands the test of time as one of fiction’s best mysteries, thrillers, and psychological horrors ever. Just look at the sales numbers. The manga has received a barrage of adaptations and cultivated a legacy as strong as near any piece of popular fiction in the last twenty years. So, why have we not cracked the code on a proper videogame adaptation?

The easy answer lies in the story’s core identity. Death Note is super cerebral. Maybe there’s no way to make a compelling game when 90% of the drama takes place in the brain of deranged criminal (and the genius-level investigator who is chasing him.) Perhaps there’s no way to make an interesting game primarily about constructing a flawless string of murders. Especially not one that would require you to switch to the POV of various citizens of the most populous metropolitan area in the world. In fact, I can’t think of a single successful game that manages to balance methodical, slice-of-life concepts with anything bizarre at all. Maybe it is all too much. Too bad there’s no established formula for interesting choice-based games in the horror-thriller genre either.

Look, none of this is to say Killer Within won’t be fun. I still think you should give it a shot. I’m simply disappointed anime fans rarely get to dream big. Just like Death Note, other proven properties struggle to get a shred of original content. We’ve gone nearly 20 years without a Cowboy Bebop game. Doesn’t that feel criminal? I don’t want to wear a Faye Valentine skin in Overwatch 2, I want to be Faye Valentine and get up to hijinks on the Bebop. In that way, Death Note: Killer Within feels equally lame.

This is still a step in the right direction, given the entire game could have been an Among Us crossover, but the industry’s internal compass is way off. It’s a long way back to the trail, too. At this rate, we’ll never get that Dr. Stone open-world survival game of my dreams, and who wants to live in a world without that?

The post Death Note Deserves Better Games appeared first on ComicBook.com.

It’s wild to think that at one point, Bleach was facing cancellation. Once the original anime series came to a close, many shonen fans never believed that the Thousand-Year Blood War would ever come to the screen. The Soul Society, luckily, proved many fans wrong by not just returning to television but taking the anime world by storm once again. While Studio Pierrot is the production house responsible for the latest anime episodes, Bleach creator Tite Kubo has been working alongside the animators on this recent season. On top of the collaboration, Kubo has been working to create a new fashion line that takes some major inspiration from the shonen series.

Bleach has always been a series that has had a unique take on fashion in general. While Ichigo and the Shinigami might routinely wear their normal attire while fighting against Hollows, Arrancar, and the Sternritter, the opening and ending themes would feature new fashion for its heroes and villains alike. Such has been the case with the Thousand-Year Blood War, as Bleach has once again proven that it can be a juggernaut in the anime fashion business. It goes to show just how talented creator Tite Kubo is now that he is helping to create a real-life fashion line.

Bleach’s Fashion Line

The latest social media post from Tite Kubo’s official account highlights the fashion design, while also sharing details on the upcoming line, “A new illustration drawn for the special project by Kubo Tite and Maison Margiela has been released! The full-body illustration will also be published on the article page in the December 2024 issue of UOMO.”

While this fashion line hasn’t been confirmed to arrive in North America, Bleach’s popularity might give it a good chance. There are quite a few Western fans that have fallen in love with Ichigo and company, to say nothing of their unique styles.

The Blood War Continues

The third part of Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War has been a major part of this anime fall season. When we had previously left Yhwach and his war against the Soul King, the leader of the Sternritter was looking to take over the afterlife while gaining his revenge for the outcome of the original conflict. Unfortunately for Ichigo, his status as a Quincy has had an unforeseen circumstance wherein he came quite close to eradicating the Soul King himself, as vengeance has been built into his DNA.

As of the writing of this article, it has yet to be confirmed if Bleach’s anime will continue past the Blood War. While Kubo himself did weave a tale that came after the fight against Yhwach in Bleach: No Breathes From Hell, there has been no word that it will be animated or will continue the Soul Society’s journey in Weekly Shonen Jump. Considering just how successful the Thousand-Year Blood War has been on the small screen, the future might be looking bright for Ichigo and his comrades.

What do you think of this fresh new fashion line from Bleach’s creator? Feel free to let us know in the comments or hit me up directly @EVComedy to talk all things comics and anime.

The post Bleach Flexes Fashion Ties With Maison Margiela Collaboration appeared first on ComicBook.com.

When Beastars by Paru Itagaki originally launched in 2016, it very quickly gained notoriety for its expressive art style, as well as its incredibly unique world – in place of human protagonists, Beastars is a story told through the lens of anthropomorphic animals living in a modernized society in place of humans. The manga excelled in telling a compelling coming-of-age story that challenged many common struggles that young people face as they enter adulthood by reimagining many of those struggles as a conflict between being born as a carnivore, or an herbivore.

Beastars was incredibly successful, having over 7.5 million copies in circulation by the time the series ended, and received a gorgeous anime adaption courtesy of Orange. Paru Itagaki has experimented with other types of stories, encapsulating everything from an autobiographical essay manga to an action-packed Santa Claus-themed shonen series. Her latest upcoming series, Ushimitsu Gao, which is slated to begin serializing in Champion Cross, might take the cake as her most unhinged work yet.

Ushimitsu Gao Explores a Peculiar Love Triangle

Paru Itagaki’s latest work follows a married thirty-two-year-old woman named Megumi Sano with a strong sense for the supernatural trying to have a baby with her husband. One night, she notices what appears to be a ghost watching them from a corner in their home, and instead of being frightened, is overwhelmed with a feeling of shame. From that point forward, the ghost visits her every night and begins to put her into a state of sleep paralysis, which, interestingly, reminds her of bondage – and not in a negative way. The series is categorized as a horror romance, but with no official English translation as of writing, details regarding the story are still relatively sparse. The manga is currently available on Champion Cross, and began serializing on October 16, 2024.

This, of course, isn’t Itagaki’s first time writing an offbeat love story. One of her more popular mini-series, Drip Drip, followed a similarly macabre, raunchy premise, which follows a young woman who gets a nosebleed any time she encounters something that she perceives as dirty, which makes her intimate love life extremely difficult. Her most popular work, Beastars, explores plenty of complicated romantic relationships as well, with many of the series’ core couples struggling with their identities as predator and prey. While Ushimitsu Gao may sound like her most unhinged serialized work so far, if anyone can pull off a quirky adult drama this intense, it’s Paru Itagaki.

H/T Manga Mogura

The post Beastars Creator Just Launched the Raunchiest Manga of 2024 appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Godzilla is easily one of the most popular and recognizable kaiju to ever hit the silver screen. Since hitting theaters in the 1950s, the king of the monsters has taken many forms to help increase his rampaging longevity. Whether it be via Legendary’s MonsterVerse or with the Academy Award-winning film, Godzilla Minus One, it doesn’t appear as though the kaiju king’s reign will be ending any time soon. In a recent interview with a long-running Toho producer, the modern era of the lizard king is explored and said producer explains why now might be the best time for the giant monster.

Godzilla Minus One and Shin Godzilla are often referred to as two examples of the best that the king of the monsters has to offer. While Shin was created by director Hideaki Anno and takes place in the present, Minus One examines a very different take on the lizard king during a different Japanese era. While it’s debatable which of these two films reigns supreme, they both remain exemplary examples of what Godzilla can be not just in terms of witnessing kaiju destruction on a massive scale but the ways that humanity can unite and/or dissolve in the face of such a rampage.

Godzilla’s Modern Era

Producer Shogo Tomiyama has been with the kaiju king for quite some time. Having a major hand in the “Heisei” and “Millennium” eras of Godzilla, Shogo first began with 1989’s Godzilla Vs. Biollante and continued to play a role for twelve movies in total. In discussing Godzilla’s modern era, Tomiyama noted his love of both Shin Godzilla and Godzilla Minus One, proving how versatile the giant beast can truly be.

“I think that their directors’ artistic talents are infused throughout the films and that they are both wonderful works that are highly artistic, with a passion for creation and rare imagination. I expect and have a hunch that we will see more Godzilla films with strong artistic qualities in the future. But, the two most recent films do not really show Godzilla’s creative intention of being ‘scary but cute’.”

Godzilla’s Future in America And Japan

On the Western Front, Godzilla has quite a few avenues to return thanks to Legendary’s MonsterVerse. Following the success of Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, a third film in the crossover series has already been confirmed. On top of the theatrical plans, Apple TV+ has renewed Monarch: Legacy of Monsters for a second season, once again revisiting the kaiju-examining organization. If these two venues weren’t enough, the streaming service also confirmed that a spin-off series is in the works, though little to no details have been revealed as of yet.

When it comes to the Godzilla of Japan, the king of the monsters’ future is still anyone’s guess. Despite the massive critical, financial, and audience success of Godzilla Minus One, a sequel film has yet to be confirmed. That hasn’t stopped director Takashi Yamazaki from stating his desire to return to this universe as the creator has hinted that he’d love to give Godzilla a monstrous adversary should he make a comeback. While the latest Toho film saw Godzilla blown to pieces, the final moments of the film hinted at the fact that nothing can keep the lizard king down as his very cells appear to be reconstructing themselves.

Want to stay up to date on the King of the Monsters’ future, in both North America and Japan? Follow along with Team Anime on ComicBook.com for the latest updates on Godzilla and hit me up directly @EVComedy to talk all things comics, anime, and kaiju.

Via TV Guide

The post Classic Godzilla Producer Believes the Kaiju’s Current Era Is Perfect appeared first on ComicBook.com.

For quite some time, anime has predominantly either been original works that were forged for the screen or based on Japanese manga that made the leap to the anime world. In recent years however, Korean WEBTOONs have become a serious competitor for manga as more series are receiving anime adaptations and are taking the world by storm. Unfortunately, it appears as though there is some massive drama surrounding the WEBTOON universe following the original company being made public. Company stock is plummeting and a new development has placed the industry in jeopardy as a labor dispute and a Chief Executive Officer’s recent raise come to light.

Earlier this year, WEBTOON Entertainment, the company that is one of the premiere spots for reading the printed works, went public on the United States stock market. While this might have initially seemed like a boon, it ultimately might be viewed as a curse as the stock has fallen nearly fifty percent in the months following. Thanks to a brewing labor dispute revolving around employee pay and the exorbitant salaries of the company’s CEO, WEBTOON might have to take a major break from producing some of the biggest series in the medium that has become a big part of the anime world.

The WEBTOON Drama Explained

WEBTOON Entertainment’s Chief Executive Officer, Joonkoo Kim, has gotten into hot water with his employees thanks to receiving $30 million USD in cash and stock options. Anime News Network had the opportunity to speak with a union official tied to WEBTOON’s employees, laying down the issue with this move, “Employees who worked tirelessly to get the company to its IPO expected fair compensation, but instead, management unilaterally decided on stock allocations without any real negotiation. There was no negotiation at all.”

Employees had reported that Kim had taken the opportunity to have an all-hands meeting with WEBTOON employees, pleading his case. As one anonymous employee reported, Joonkoo was seemingly in tears as he defended his moves as employees remarked that they were “crocodile tears.” While a labor strike has yet to be confirmed for WEBTOON’s employees, it also isn’t entirely out of the question. The previous union official made the following statement with regard to a potential strike, “We can’t predict if a strike will happen but if negotiations fall through, we’ll communicate with our members and start ramping up from rallies to full-on strikes.”

What Are WEBTOON Anime?

You might not realize that some of the biggest anime of the day have arrived thanks to the South Korean medium. Solo Leveling, for example, which will return with a second season in the coming months, was based on a WEBTOON that told the story of Jinwoo Kim and his quest to take care of his family in a supernatural world. On top of this example, anime series such as Tower of God, The God of High School, Noblesse, Lookism, and Viral Hit all got their start from the Manwha world.

A potential labor strike wouldn’t affect the anime adaptations that are on the way but it could potentially throw a major monkey wrench into many of the ongoing series that are still running from WEBTOON Entertainment. This would include series such as Hellbound, All of Us Are Dead, Sweet Home, and more.

Want to see what the future holds for the WEBTOON industry? Want to stay up to date on the potential strike that might throw the Manwha world into turmoil? Follow along with Team Anime on ComicBook.com for the latest updates on all things Manwha and hit me up directly @EVComedy to talk all things comics and anime.

Via ANN

The post Webtoon Industry Faces Labor Reckoning Thanks to One CEO’s Raise appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Fire. Earth. Water. Air. These are the four elements of the Avatar universe and Funko just released the Gaang’s masters of each! The latest drop from Funko includes four deluxe Pops: Aang, Katara, Toph, and Zuko, each masters of their respective element, and Katara, Toph, and Zuko are the masters who taught Aang everything he knows.

This deluxe drop not only includes some of the best (and arguably, more vital) Gaang members, but each Pop also includes an elemental background, visually similar to the opening credits of the show. My favorite would have to be the Katara Pop, which includes a great icy background that really looks like ice. Check out the details for the Pops below to get your pre-order in.

• Pop! Deluxe: Avatar: The Last Airbender – Aang: The Avatar, master of all four elements, and also just Aang, a kid who likes to go penguin sledding. / $29.99 / Pre-order here at Entertainment Earth / Pre-order here at Amazon
• Pop! Deluxe: Avatar: The Last Airbender – Katara: Katara, the hot-headed water-bender who becomes Aang’s teacher and future paramour. / $29.99 / Pre-order here at Entertainment Earth / Pre-order here at Amazon
• Pop! Deluxe: Avatar: The Last Airbender – Toph: The even more hot-headed, blind, earth-bending girl who becomes Aang’s earth-bending teacher! / $29.99 / Pre-order here at Entertainment Earth / Pre-order here at Amazon
• Pop! Deluxe: Avatar: The Last Airbender – Zuko: The disgraced Fire Nation prince! Zuko’s redemption is one of the best stories in the entire Avatar series, and also Aang’s fire-bending teacher. / $29.99 / Pre-order here at Entertainment Earth / Pre-order here at Amazon

The future of Avatar is long and vast, especially with the popularity of Netflix’s live-action reboot. When it premiered back in February this year, the show was breaking Netflix’s viewership records. According to the most recent Netflix data, which covers from January to June 2024, Avatar: The Last Airbender took the 5th spot for Most Watched Series on the platform, above other live-action adaptation content like Bridgerton. 

Beyond just the numbers, fans have considered this adaptation to be leaps and bounds above the previous adaptation – the disappointing M. Night Shyamalan 2010 movie. Netflix greenlit season 2 of the series quickly, jumping on the success of season 1. Back in September, Netflix released a sneak peak of a certain earth-bender who’s getting a Funko Pop today… the incredible Toph Beifong! As soon as season 2 was announced, we knew they were looking for their perfect Toph. Now she’s here! The fan-favorite character is certainly a selling point of season 2, and we’re excited to see how Netflix does with her. 

To stay in the know on new collectible drops, keep an eye on our Gear page!

The post Avatar: The Last Airbender Gets New Deluxe Funko Pops appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Magic: The Gathering remains one of the biggest card games in the world today. While an anime adaptation for the popular game has yet to materialize, this hasn’t stopped the card-slinging activity from bringing some major anime faces to its universe. In recent years, Magic: The Gathering has crossed over with the likes of Cowboy Bebop, Hatsune Miku, and even Junji Ito. In a surprise reveal, not only is Magic coming to North America with a manga that highlights the game in an anime world but it is coming with a big incentive for Gathering players that make up the platform which first landed in 1993.

When it comes to Magic: The Gathering, the card game might not have released an anime series as of yet but there is one in development. Netflix revealed last month that the streaming service was teaming up with Wizards of the Coast on an original anime series set in the “Gathering Universe.” In a joint statement, the companies confirmed that the Russo Borthers might have departed the project but the anime was happening.

“While the Russo Brothers are no longer part of the animated series, their passion for the game combined with their early creative perspective and input helped us to shape the project to a place where we believe fans of the game and those new to the ‘Gathering Universe’ will enjoy the series and discover what millions of fans around the globe have known for the past 25 years.”

Magic: The Gathering – Destroy All Humans

In a new social media post, Viz Media confirmed that “Destroy All Humans. They Can’t Be Regenerated. A Magic: The Gathering Manga” would arrive this fall. Along with the North American release of the manga by creators Katsura Ise and Takuma Yakota, this upcoming manga will include an exclusive Magic: The Gathering Card to use in any Magic exhibition. If this is your first time hearing of this series, Viz has a description for this series that has one of the wildest titles we’ve heard in recent memory.

“It’s the nineties at Tokiwaga Middle School. And for gamers like Hajime Kano, the release of Magic: The Gathering means nothing will ever be the same again! In everything he does, it seems like geeky Tokiwagi Middle School student Hajime Kano comes in second place behind popular honor student Emi Sawatari. But when Hajime takes a trip to a new game store he’s been hearing about, their rivalry takes an unexpected turn. Welcome to the early years of Magic: The Gathering, when a trading card game shaped a generation forever!”

Magic: The Gathering’s Manga History

Destroy All Humans is far from the only manga that explores the Magic: The Gathering Universe. The card game has released several manga stories in the past that will either document the lives of players or venture within the fictional, supernatural universe to highlight events that had taken place. The manga series include The Purifying Fire, Magic – Urza & Mishra, War of The Spark, Rivals of Ixalan, Throne of Eldraine, and Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty to name a few.

There has yet to be word on whether Destroy All Humans will receive its own anime adaptation as of the writing of this article but there is always hope. Considering Netflix and Wizards of the Coast’s plans, it’s possible that some of these Magic manga series will get the chance to hit the small screen.

Want to stay up to date on Magic: The Gathering and how it continues to cross over into the anime world? Follow along with Team Anime on ComicBook.com for the latest updates on this card-slinging universe and hit me up directly @EVComedy to talk all things comics and anime.

The post Magic: The Gathering to Bring Hit Manga Stateside With a Very Special Card appeared first on ComicBook.com.

In 1996, the world’s best Pokemon debuted, and Eevee has only gotten better over the years. The Normal-type Pokemon is nothing short of adorable, and when Generation I checked in on Eevee, fans were sold. From the anime to the video games, Pokemon knew Eevee was a hit, and that success was due to its evolutions. To date, a total of eight adorable Eevee evolutions have gone live. Fans have been begging for a new evolution for years now, and a new leak reveals such an evolution for Eevee was scrapped behind the scenes.

The report surfaced this week as Game Freak, the developer of the Pokemon games, was hit by a major leak. Netizens discovered a 40 GB folder containing unseen assets and documents regarding Pokemon, and they allegedly hail from Game Freak. It did not take long for fans to parse over the information, and it was there a document appeared detailing Eevee’s axed Flying-type evolution.

Eevee’s Flying-type Evolution Was Scrapped for Generation VII

“After being told that the design was similar to a design created by a fan, it was decided that the design costs [of the Pokemon] would be very high,’ the document reads. “Unless there is a game where Flying Eevee is the main character, or if they have high value in the game, then it is not worth the high cost. We could make that decision [someday], but that is not the case at the moment. We will put it on hold until we can determine the importance of this new Pokemon.”

According to the leak, the original design for Flying-type Eevee still exists, but it was never digitized. The artwork lives in the Game Freak office, so there is no telling what they look like. If this leak is accurate, Game Freak originally wanted to bring the Eevee evolution to life in Generation VII, but the Pokemon was axed over a cost analysis.

If the Flying-type Eevee evolution had debuted, well – the fandom would be better for it. In Generation VI, the world watched as Pokemon brought Eevee’s Fairy-type evolution to the screen. Sylveon made a splash with their arrival, and to date, they are the latest evolution to join Eevee’s line. Before Sylveon, Leafeon and Glaceon were introduced in Generation IV. So as you can see, it has been a hot minute since Eevee was given a new evolution.

Will We Ever Get a New Eevee Evolution in Pokemon?

As you can imagine, this latest Pokemon report has fans in an uproar. The fandom has been begging Game Freak for a new Eevee evolution since Generation VI closed, and they could have gotten that addition in Generation VII. We are now staring down the barrel of Generation X, and we have yet to get such an update. Given how popular the Eevee line is, the choice to axe a Flying-type evolution is hard to comprehend, but Game Freak was confident in its choice to hold the character back.

Luckily, the axed debut did not shut the door on Eevee as a whole. The document suggests Game Freak is open to a Flying-type Eevee, but its current design needed an overhaul. The evolution could very well appear in the future, and of course, there are other Eevee evolutions to explore. From Rock-type to Dragon-type, there are tons of types that Eevee has yet to embrace. But given this latest leak, it seems a Flying-type Eevee could join the Pokedex next.

What do you make of this latest Pokemon leak? Is there an Eevee evolution you are desperate to see? Give me a shout at @meganwpeters with your take! You can also let us know what you think over on X (Twitter) and Instagram.

The post New Pokemon Leak Reveals an Axed Eevee Evolution appeared first on ComicBook.com.

It is hard to believe, but this year marks the 15th anniversary of One-Punch Man. While the anime came to life in 2015, we first met Saitama and his allies in 2009 thanks to ONE. The creator didn’t expect much when they thought up One-Punch Man, but as their web comic grew, all bets were off. Now, ONE has thrown the fandom into a frenzy with a surprise update as the artist just updated their original web comic out of the blue.

The whole thing came to light this week as ONE took to social media with a special update. The artist posted a link to the One-Punch Man web comic out of nowhere, revealing they had just posted chapter 151. The new chapter was not expected in any way, and ONE says the update is a birthday gift of sorts to fans.

One-Punch Man Chapter 151 Is Officially Live

Hilariously enough, the birthday in question has nothing to do with One-Punch Man itself or its stars; Rather, the birthday belongs to ONE. The artist was born on October 29, 1986, after all. To celebrate their 38th birthday, ONE posted One-Punch Man chapter 151, so you can find the posting here.

If you did not realize ONE had a birthday this month, well – don’t feel too bad. The artist behind One-Punch Man is a private guy. ONE, who also goes by Tomohiro in the business, began inking web comics in the ’00s with few goals in mind. With no publisher in sight, ONE drew what spoke to him, and his work snowballed into a viral hit. Eventually, One-Punch Man was licensed by Shueisha with help from artist Yusuke Murata. ONE and Murata worked together to create a One-Punch Man manga for Weekly Young Jump, and the superhero satire exploded from there. From a hit anime to a number of video games, One-Punch Man is known the world over, but ONE has not forgotten its humble origins.

As for ONE, the artist is staying busy outside of One-Punch Man. He finished Mob Psycho 100 a few years back, another web comic of his that became a global phenomenon once given an anime. These days, the artist is tied up with new projects including Versus. After working on a short Mob Psycho 100 spin off, ONE brought Versus to life in 2022. The series has three volumes at this time, and the heroic fantasy can be found under Kodansha’s Monthly Shonen Sirius.

One-Punch Man Season 3 Is On the Horizon

While ONE focuses on his art, fans are still keeping close tabs on One-Punch Man. The series is still rolling out new manga chapters under Murata, but to be frank, most of their focus rests on the anime. After all, One-Punch Man season three is on the horizon, and fans are wary about the comeback.

Following the success of One-Punch Man season one, fans were very ready for season two to go live, but their excitement was for naught. The follow up took four years to hit television, and thanks to a studio shift, One-Punch Man season two left fans wanting. Some were convinced the anime would end because of season two’s negative press, but One-Punch Man is not staying down. A third season was announced in 2022, but no further information has been given on the One-Punch Man comeback.

In the past year, a number of One-Punch Man visuals have been posted for season three, but that is about it. When it comes to studio or staffing, One-Punch Man season three is staying mum. Rumors have long suggested the anime is eyeing a 2026 return, but nothing official has been said about its release. But if season three wants to repeat history, a four-year stint in production sounds about right.

What do you want to see from One-Punch Man season three? Give me a shout at @meganwpeters with your take! You can also let us know what you think over on X (Twitter) and Instagram.

The post One-Punch Man Revives Original Series with Surprise Chapter appeared first on ComicBook.com.

My Hero Academia‘s creator has opened up about his favorite fight in Black Clover, and it’s one of the best fights in the entire series. My Hero Academia recently came to an end earlier this Summer, and Black Clover will be ending its run very soon as well. This means both series creators Kohei Horikoshi and Yuki Tabata respectively are in the midst of an interesting phase of their respective careers. As each of these former pillars of Shonen Jump look ahead to what’s next and what’s ahead in the next generation of that action magazine, they’re also reflecting on each others’ careers.

Kohei Horikoshi and Yuki Tabata have been recruited as the judges alongside Jujutsu Kaisen’s Gege Akutami and Bleach’s Tite Kubo for Shueisha’s special Jump Next Generation Battle Manga Award. They’ll be looking at submissions from fans in Japan and award the creator who they think can help usher in the next generation of the magazine. As part of this award the creators were asked about highlights from each others’ series by Shueisha, and Horikoshi revealed that his favorite fight in Black Clover was between Magna Swing and Dante Zogratis during the Spade Kingdom Raid arc.

Why My Hero Academia’s Creator Loves Magna vs. Dante

When asked about his favorite battle scene in Black Clover, My Hero Academia creator Kohei Horikoshi revealed that it was Magna vs. Dante Zogratis because, “As the story reaches its climax and the scale of the battles grows, this is a very bitter fight that ends with a fistfight. It represents the underlying theme of Black Clover, the rise of the common man, while also being a very unexpected piece of manga, which feels really good.” Which makes a lot of sense as it’s a pivotal moment for Magna as he quite literally levels the playing field against Dante.

During the Spade Kingdom Raid arc of Black Clover (which has yet to be adapted in the TV anime), Magna and Zora team up against Dante Zogratis. In order to make up for the gap in magical power between the two of them, Magna trains to use a new spell that would literally even the odds. Dubbed the “Soul Chain Death Match,” this spell attaches them together and splits their magic power evenly. So Magna and Dante end up bringing their fight to an end with a close up fist fight, making it one of the most unique fights in the entire series to date.

Why This Black Clover Fight Is Special

This was a rather pivotal victory for Magna as he had been feeling left behind as Asta and Luck seemed to be getting much stronger than him. This unique spell was something entirely his own, and it perfectly fit the character because it was a feat that not even Asta could have pulled off. Asta has covered a lot of ground through sheer tenacity, but he’s never actually taken down a foe with just his fists alone. It’s something no other character has ever come close to.

As Horikoshi explains, it’s a fight that perfectly encapsulates what’s so great about Black Clover as a whole. It’s a fight that reveals that even an underdog can take down someone who thinks highly of themselves, and it’s been what Asta and the Black Bulls have been proving since they started fighting alongside one another all those years ago. It’s a fight that’s yet to be given the anime treatment, but is surely one of the big reasons Black Clover really needs to come back someday to adapt the final arcs of Yuki Tabata’s manga.

The post My Hero Academia Creator Is a Big Fan of Black Clover’s Best Fight appeared first on ComicBook.com.

The Game Freak hack from this month continues to trickle out new Pokemon leaks just about every single day. Alongside a new Pokemon Legends: Z-A leak that may reveal the starters of the upcoming Pokemon Legends: Arceus sequel, what is under Mimikyu’s disguise has finally been revealed. What was likely going to forever remain a secret inside the walls of Game Freak is now on X, Reddit, 4chan, and other parts of the Internet.

For those unfamiliar with Mimikyu, it is a ghost/fairy type that was introduced in Generation 7, which is to say Pokemon Sun and Moon. What is unique about the Pokemon is that it lives life completely disguised with a full body cloth that keeps it hidden at all times. Meanwhile, in the Pokemon universe, it is believed that if you see what is underneath a Mimikyu you will be overcome with a mysterious illness. To this end, residents of the Alola region always make sure never to see what is underneath the disguise.

In line with the hidden theme, Mimikyu’s health fails when in the sun, which means it tends to stick to dark places away from the sun. It is believed this is why it covers itself, to avoid direct sunlight in case it can’t be in a dark place.

Since it was added, Pokemon fans have wondered what is underneath the disguise. Whether Game Freak was ever going to reveal this, we don’t know. However, some confidential files obtained in the Game Freak hack have done this for it. After eight years, what is under the disguise, which can be seen below, courtesy of Centro Leaks.

Of course, like any leak this one should be taken with a grain of salt. There is a very small possibility this is a fake, but right now there is no reason to expect as much. As for Game Freak, Nintendo, and The Pokemon Company none have commented on this new specific leak. We don’t suspect this will change for a variety of reasons, but if it does, we will be sure to update the story accordingly.

In the meantime, for more Pokemon coverage — including all of the latest Pokemon news, all of the latest Pokemon rumors and leaks, and all of the latest Pokemon speculation — click here.

The post Pokemon Leak Finally Reveals What’s Under Mimikyu’s Disguise appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Boruto: Two Blue Vortex has been steadily setting up the next major arc against the Divine Trees, and the newest chapter of the manga finally explains why Boruto Uzumaki has kept Kawaki’s huge role reversal secret all this time. Boruto: Two Blue Vortex has been picking up three years after the events of Boruto: Naruto Next Generations. That first series ended with a massive cliffhanger that saw Kawaki force Eida to use her Omniscience to make it where everyone in the Hidden Leaf Village believe that he’s Naruto’s actual son and Boruto killed the Hokage. This made Boruto a fugitive for years, and continues to put him in dire straits with the rest of the village after all this time.

Boruto: Two Blue Vortex’s first major arc has been spending its time revealing much of how the Hidden Leaf Village has changed in the three years since Boruto was forced out of the village, and Kawaki has become one of their most trusted allies. But as Boruto is now heading back into the village to help with the Divine Tree threats, Kawaki had begun to wonder why Boruto has yet to try and tell them the truth. But Boruto believes it wouldn’t make a difference anyway.

Why Boruto Is Still Keeping Kawaki’s Big Secret

Boruto: Two Blue Vortex Chapter 15 sees Boruto and Kawaki meeting up with one another in the Hidden Leaf Village as they have their first real conversation since the time skip. Kawaki doesn’t immediately attack Boruto, and thus allows the two to actually talk it out for once. Kawaki wants to know why Boruto hasn’t told the others about his using Eida’s power, and Boruto truly believes that nothing good would be coming from telling the truth about what really happened. They just won’t believe him.

It’s been previously established that Eida’s ability works in a lot more complicated of a way than you would think at first. Rather than acting as a sort of hypnosis or jutsu, Omniscience fully rewrites everyone’s memories to make them believe that Kawaki’s been Naruto’s real son this entire time and Boruto is the outside. So Boruto knows that telling everyone wouldn’t amount to much because while some might believe him, others won’t. It’ll cause unnecessary problems when the Divine Trees need the most focus to defeat before things get even worse. So in Boruto’s eyes, as long as the Hidden Leaf Village is functioning normally during this situation, he’ll be fine with being labeled as a rogue ninja.

Telling the Truth Won’t Work Anyway

Omniscience is such a tricky ability that Boruto telling the others the truth won’t work anyway. Because even if he has supporters that believe him, Eida’s power is constantly rewriting their memories anyway. It was previously showcased that Shikamaru was able to piece together that Boruto was likely Naruto’s real son, but even he himself could not trust his own memories. His head became cloudy when it comes to Boruto, and he even started to forget why he feels like Boruto is telling the truth.

So to overcome Eida’s power, those who hear the truth would have to overcome their own thoughts and doubts. For some reason, Sarada Uchiha and Sumire Kakei are the only ones who had been able to completely avoid Eida’s power without having the ties to the Otsutsuki that Boruto and Kawaki have. Everyone else would likely steadily forget any of their support for Boruto, so unfortunately he’s right to make this move. Telling the others would only complicate things further. With threats like the Divine Trees out there at the moment, the Hidden Leaf Village needs as much united power as they can muster.

The post Naruto Explains Why Boruto Hasn’t Revealed Kawaki’s Biggest Secret appeared first on ComicBook.com.

One Piece recently celebrated the 25th anniversary of the anime’s very first broadcast in Japan with a brand new special, and One Piece Fan Letter is anything but “filler” for the anime’s story. One Piece Fan Letter made its debut earlier this month, and quickly became regarded as one of the best anime specials of all time. It’s been ranking high with fans ever since its debut as One Piece celebrates how far its come in the 25 years since its release, but there’s been a bit of debate about the content for the episode itself as fans wonder about its place in the canon.

One Piece Fan Letter tells a story during a very important time in the Straw Hats’ journey. Taking place after the events of Marineford as Luffy and the rest of the Straw Hats gather at the Sabaody Archipelago, the anime special showcases the events through different characters’ perspectives. But while it’s revealing how other characters saw the events, it’s far from being “filler.” It’s an officially recognized part of the original canon, and it’s not even what “filler” is supposed to refer to when talking about anime releases anyway. It’s far from it.

What Is Filler Anyway?

To further debunk whether or not One Piece Fan Letter as filler, it’s time to explain what “filler” refers to anyway. To put it simply, it’s additional materials exclusive to an anime that have been created to give the manga release more time to develop. It happens quite a bit with TV anime adaptations taking on a then in-progress weekly manga series. It’s when during scheduling, the anime’s content is quickly approaching the most recent chapters of the manga. Thus the anime team then decides to instead craft an original story to help further distance their materials from the manga.

In One Piece‘s case, “filler” arcs exclusive to the anime release include the likes of the Ice Hunter arc from Episodes 326-335 ahead of Thriller Bark, or G-8 (from Episodes 196-206) ahead of Long Ring Long. These arcs aren’t seen in Eiichiro Oda’s original One Piece manga, and thus is literal content made to fill time. Thus it had been dubbed by fans as “filler” because it’s considered non-canonical to the events of the series as anything that happens in these arcs usually is not considered important to anything that could happen later. It’s even gotten to the point where fans have even shared edited versions of the anime to make the experience faster without these extra episodes. But that’s not One Piece Fan Letter.

Why One Piece Fan Letter Isn’t Filler

First of all, One Piece Fan Letter isn’t something the anime produced to fill time. As production on the weekly series goes on hiatus until next April for the second half of the Egghead Arc, One Piece Fan Letter is an additional project released to celebrate the 25th anniversary. It’s something that was produced alongside with the anime, and not just meant to fill time on the schedule. Secondly, it’s adapting a novel that’s been recognized by Oda as part of the official One Piece timeline. Therefore, it’s part of the main series’ canon.

One Piece Fan Letter adapts material from the One Piece Novel: Straw Hat Stories spinoff novel written by Tomohito Ohsaki. This novel doesn’t shake up anything that happened during the Sabaody Archipelago, and doesn’t really shift any big moments to make them worse. It’s only making everything more fleshed out and full as One Piece fans actually get a new perspective on what the Straw Hats had been up to. It’s not like it’s a completely different story than seen in the manga.

Although it’s not adapting the manga, it’s by far from being a piece of “filler” meant to just buy time. It’s just an extra anime special adapting one of the many canonical side stories that have been released in novels and other materials that fans of the anime might not be entirely privy too. And with it being the only new piece of One Piece anime we’re going to get in several months, One Piece Fan Letter thankfully exists as, ironically, a way to fill the time until we get those new episodes.

The post No, One Piece Fan Letter Is Not Filler and Here’s Why appeared first on ComicBook.com.

The Simpsons are gearing up for a full Monday Night Football takeover with the NFL, and Homer Simpson is finally going to live out his greatest dream of sharing the field with the Dallas Cowboys. The Simpsons will be officially turning 35 years old later this year, and it’s really going all out for the occasion. Not only will there be a brand new, exclusive Christmas special releasing on Disney+ this December, but The Simpsons is also teaming up with the NFL for a cool new take on Monday Night Football. Dubbed Funday Football, The Simpsons will be interacting with an upcoming game entirely live through special technology.

As a special collaboration between Disney, ESPN, The Simpsons and the National Football League, The Simpsons Funday Football will be premiering on Monday, December 9th. Using Sony’s Beyond Sports Technology, this will be an animated version of the Monday Night Football game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Dallas Cowboys taking place within Atoms Stadium in Springfield. Which means, Homer will finally own the Dallas Cowboys as he once wished in one of the most famous episodes in the entire series, “You Only Move Twice.”

The Simpsons’ Monday Night Football Takeover

While the traditional Monday Night Football telecast will be available on ESPN, ABC and ESPN Deportes with Monday Night Football with Peyton and Eli on ESPN2 on December 9th, The Simpsons Funday Football will be streaming exclusively with Disney+, ESPN+ and NFL+ beginning on Monday, December 9th at 8:00PM EST. During the game, Homer will be representing the Dallas Cowboys and Bart will be representing the Cincinnati Bengals. It’s teased that along with the animation tracking the live plays, Homer and Bart will be able to jump in at special times to actually play in the game themselves. They won’t be the only characters involved with all of this either.

Marge and Lisa will be interviewing players during the game while Maggie flies the SkyCam. Cast members Hank Azaria, Nancy Cartwright, Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner and Yeardley Smith will be voicing their respective characters in pre-recorded bits and skits throughout the game as well. There will also be special intros and outros for the game with special other animated scenes teased throughout for many of the characters and players involved with the coming game. So for fans who want a little more of The Simpsons in their football, this is going to be the best way to actually make it all happen.

What Is Homer’s Greatest Dream?

Homer’s favorite football team is the Dallas Cowboys. Although he’s had dream sequences where he’s been John Elway, and he’s actively wanted the Cowboys to lose, on more than one occasion he’s been revealed to be a Cowboys fan. It was then revealed in the Season 8 classic, “You Only Move Twice” that his greatest dream was to actually own the Dallas Cowboys. Then it comes full circle as the episode comes to an end where his former boss and supervillain Hank Scorpio gifts him the Denver Broncos, much to his disappointment.

He also wears a signed hat from famous Dallas Cowboys coach Tom Landry throughout the episode too to further drive his fandom home, and it remains one of the funniest details about his character. Now it’s coming full circle as he’s going to be playing alongside the Dallas Cowboys in a very real game, and has a chance of winning with his dream team before it’s all over. It’s just one of the many reasons to tune into the upcoming The Simpsons Funday Football broadcast later this December when it hits Disney+.

The post The Simpsons x NFL Collab Finally Lets Homer Live Out His Greatest Dream appeared first on ComicBook.com.

When JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure arrived on Netflix with the Stone Ocean, many thought that a golden age had arrived for the Joestars. The female protagonist-led story coming to one of the biggest streaming services as an exclusive had anime fans thinking that Netflix could truly see how popular the franchise was. Unfortunately, Stone Ocean’s release was one that was mired with problems, according to fans, and there are quite a few lessons for the platform to learn. Should Netflix be looking to continue to follow the Joestars with a potential new season, we have some tips and tricks for the platform to keep in mind.

If you haven’t had the opportunity to check out the Stone Ocean, the entirety of the season is available now to stream on Netflix so now is the perfect time to explore Jolyne Cujoh’s world. Jolyne had some strong ties to the previous seasons, not just thanks to her blood as a Joestar but also thanks to being the daughter of Jotaro Kujo. Kujo was the star of Stardust Crusaders, eliminated the villainous Dio Brando, and was a supporting character in Diamond is Unbreakable. While his Stand, Star Platinum, is one of the strongest in the universe, Jotaro found himself in dire straits and needs to be saved by his daughter.

JoJo’s Bizarre Mistakes

So what went wrong when it came to JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure becoming a Netflix exclusive? First and foremost, it came down to the anime adaptation’s release schedule. When the television season first began, Jolyne’s story was one that arrived first in the form of a thirteen-episode block. Unfortunately, while this might have been fine to star, the delays between the three blocks on the streaming service had fans wondering what had taken place in the anime months prior.

Throughout JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure’s anime history, there was a trend that fans came to love. The anime’s episodes were released weekly, dropping installments on Fridays that affectionately were dubbed “JoJo Fridays.” Thanks to Netflix taking on a more “block” approach to episode releases, these community events were lost. Luckily, the streaming service has gotten much better on the idea of releasing anime episodes weekly, so should JoJo return, “JoJo Fridays” might return with it.

Steel Ball Run Cannot Fail

Since Stone Ocean ended its run, it has been the longest period between JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure seasons. This has left many anime fans wondering if David Production has been secretly working on Steel Ball Run, the potential next season of the anime adaptation. For many Joestar fans, the story of Johnny Joestar and Diego Brando is one that is considered one of the best of the franchise to date. To help nail its release, the Steel Ball Run needs as much time in the oven as possible to truly have an impact.

Another aspect of making JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure receive a glorious return is simply marketing. One major issue that Stone Ocean had, which will need to be avoided by Steel Ball Run, is making sure that anime fans know when episodes are arriving. While this issue wasn’t as big of a problem for the season’s debut, the follow-up blocks almost came as a surprise to many. JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure has earned its place as one of the biggest anime franchises around and it needs to be treated as such.

Want to see what the future holds for the Joestars in both their anime and manga formats? Follow along with Team Anime on ComicBook.com for the latest updates on JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure and hit me up directly @EVComedy to talk all things comics and anime.

The post Can JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure Be Saved From Stone Ocean’s Mistakes? Ask Netflix appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Boruto: Two Blue Vortex is now in the midst of the fights against the Divine Trees, and the newest chapter of the manga has revealed just how deadly Boruto’s use of Karma has become since the time skip began. Boruto: Two Blue Vortex has introduced a new version of Boruto’s world three years after the events of Boruto: Naruto Next Generations, and Boruto has been training during all of that time to become strong enough to defeat Code and Kawaki. But following the time skip, an even greater foe has started to emerge as the Divine Trees are now what need to be dealt with first.

It’s something that Boruto and Kawaki discuss when they meet for the first real time outside of Konoha and talk about their current situation. While Boruto reveals why he has yet to try and tell the others about Kawaki using Eida’s power to change history, he also explains why he’s trying to avoid using Karma as much as he did as a kid. Because when he uses it now, he’s closer to fully losing control to Momoshiki than ever before. It’s just not worth the temporary boost of power.

Boruto’s New Karma Problem Explained

Boruto: Two Blue Vortex previously teased that the Karma mark power was a lot more dangerous than it was during the first series. Kawaki noticed how Boruto was seemingly unable to control his Karma power when Kawaki started resonating with his own, and he asked about this in Chapter 15 of the series. Kawaki asks why Boruto can’t seem to control his Karma, and Boruto reveals that he actually tried to use that power in a fight that happened outside of the Hidden Leaf Village during the three years skipped over. And he felt himself being fully possessed by Momoshiki at the time.

Boruto explains it as a feeling where he stopped being who he was, and even started dying while still being conscious and aware of his surroundings. Since this fight, Boruto has not used Karma. He’s afraid of totally losing control of his body to Momoshiki, but for some reason the Otsutsuki has been remaining dormant during the past three years. Boruto doesn’t really know why, but he’s still worried that activating Karma would make Momoshiki emerge despite the Otsutsuki being seemingly quiet. Meaning that Boruto will be lacking his truly greatest power in the fights to come against the Divine Trees.

Boruto Makes a New Deal With Kawaki

With Momoshiki presenting a greater threat than ever following the time skip, Boruto once again asks Kawaki for his help. Though Kawaki is dead set on killing Boruto to wipe out the threat, Boruto asserts that the Divine Trees are the most immediate foe. They need to work together in order to stand any chance against the two of them, and Boruto even once again promises that he’ll let Kawaki kill him if he ever loses complete control of his body again. Just like the deal the two of them made before in the main series.

This fear of Karma also reveals why Boruto has been training to the extent he had been during the course of the time skip. He has revealed a greater strength and control over his jutsu that he had been learning this entire time, but now there’s a large shadow looming over it all. Boruto has been scared to lose control over himself, and his training has been his way to try and make up for that inherent weakness. But as Boruto heads into an uncertain future, Momoshiki can truly pop up and interrupt things at any time.

The post Naruto Reveals How Deadly Boruto’s Karma Has Become After Time Skip appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Dragon Ball is blowing fans’ minds right now, as a piece of promo art for the series is making fans look back at Dragon Ball GT in a whole new light. The piece of artwork in question is a picture separated into eight panels, each highlighting a Dragon Ball Z character – Goku, Piccolo, Vegeta, Krillin, Gohan, Android 18, Videl, and her dad Mr. Satan. The detail that has fans buzzing is the picture of Gohan: he’s wearing his famous “Mr. Saiyaman” superhero costume, and we can clearly see that the bandana wrapped around his head is the same orange color as his dad Goku’s gi – and the same orange bandana that Gohan’s daughter Pan would go on to wear during her adventures in Dragon Ball GT!

The reason that this small detail is being treated like a big deal is that it bucks the common assumption that Dragon Ball GT and its non-canon events were a flagrant departure from the level of deep mythos that Dragon Ball creator Akira Toriyama had created. It’s also a big revelation as the Dragon Ball Z anime series cemented the iconography of The Great Saiyaman wearing a white bandana when he wasn’t wearing his crazy helmet with its visor and bug-like antenna. To see artwork from Akira Toriyama’s manga designs and realize that there’s a deeper story being told through one small object… it hits different now that Toriyama is dead, and the theme of “legacy” takes on a whole new meaning in Dragon Ball.

What Is Dragon Ball GT?

In Dragon Ball GT, “Emperor Pilaf finally has his hands on the Black Star Dragon Balls after years of searching, which are said to be twice as powerful as Earth’s normal ones. Pilaf is about to make his wish for world domination when he is interrupted by Goku. As a result, Pilaf flubs his wish and accidentally turns Goku back into a child.

After the wish is granted, the Black Star Dragon Balls scatter across the galaxy. However, Gokuu discovers that they will cause the Earth to explode unless they are all brought back within a year. Uniting with his granddaughter Pan and a young adult Trunks, Goku sets off on an adventure through the universe to find the Black Star Dragon Balls and save his planet from destruction.“

Dragon Ball GT is set as a sequel series to Dragon Ball Z and takes place after that series ends (whereas Dragon Ball Super takes place before the time-jump epilogue of DBZ). The non-canon status of the series has been debated for years. However, details like seeing Gohan’s daughter Pan carry the legacy of her father’s heroism by donning his bandana makes that non-canon status seem even more odd. That’s especially true now that Dragon Ball has launched its latest anime, Dragon Ball Daima, which has similar DNA to GT, with Goku and co. being transformed into children while on the hunt for a new type of Dragon Balls.

You can watch Dragon Ball Daima on Crunchyroll and other streaming services, weekly.

The post Dragon Ball Drops a Special GT Easter Egg With New Promo appeared first on ComicBook.com.

When the Eva pilots of Neon Genesis Evangelion first came into contact with Godzilla, the King of the Monsters and the anime mech enthusiasts met in a wild way. At Universal Studios Japan, an attraction was created that saw Shin Godzilla fighting against NERV’s finest in a way that many didn’t see coming. Once again, it appears as though these two universes are colliding in a brand new way. While this upcoming project isn’t exactly the “Shin Universe crossover” that many kaiju fans have been waiting to see, it’s one that is definitely worth giving a look if you are a fan of either franchise.

As mentioned earlier, the lizard king that took on the EVA units was of the “Shin” variety. If you’re unfamiliar with this take on the king of the monsters, Shin Godzilla was a new take on the kaiju from Evangelion creator Hideaki Anno. The live-action film was released in 2016 and brought Godzilla back to his villainous roots before he rampaged across a war-torn Japan in Godzilla Minus One. Sporting the most terrifying look to date for the kaiju king, Shin Godzilla is still considered to be one of the best movies in the lizard’s history, opening the doors for Shin Ultraman and Shin Kamen Rider respectively.

Godzilla x Eva: The Game

Ironically enough, many franchises get some wild resurgence thanks to Japan’s love of Pachinko. The steel ball-packed arcade machines will typically be accompanied by videos and themes in some cases, which has apparently given Shin Godzilla and Neon Genesis Evangelion the chance to meet once again. On top of coming face-to-face, the universes will meet to take on the threat of Shin King Ghidorah, the twisted take on the classic kaiju who was a Universal Studios Japan exclusive for quite some time.

The Future of Shin

For promotional materials and merchandising, the heroes of the Shin Universe have been featured fighting side-by-side. These characters include Shin Godzilla, Shin Kamen Rider, Shin Ultraman, and the pilots of NERV, all of whom were created by director Hideaki Anno. Unfortunately, Anno hasn’t stated whether he’ll be working on creating new projects in the Shin Universe, leaving many to believe that we might never see the epic crossover that brings together all of these properties on the silver screen. This doesn’t mean that Anno is done with creating new projects, however.

Anno is returning to the anime world thanks to a new Space Battleship Yamato film that he is working on, sharing his love of the franchise in the past more times than we can count. This follows a previous statement that he would be taking a break from the entertainment world, proving that his work ethic is one that can’t keep him away from storytelling.

When it comes to Evangelion, no new projects have been confirmed at this point though Anno has hinted at the idea that a new anime story is in the works. On the kaiju front, Godzilla is set to return with a third Godzilla x Kong movie that is arriving from Legendary’s MonsterVerse. Ultraman recently had an original animated film on Netflix and Kamen Rider continues to release new series and movies in its fast-paced universe. Even if we don’t see the Shin Universe continue, we haven’t seen the last of these characters by any stretch of the imagination.

Want to stay updated on the Shin Universe and its potential future? Follow along with Team Anime on ComicBook.com for the latest updates on all things Godzilla and hit me up directly @EVComedy to talk all things comics and anime.

The post Evangelion Works with Godzilla to Fight Ghidorah in Epic Crossover: Watch appeared first on ComicBook.com.

When it comes to television, it takes more than miracles to succeed. Technology has made the entertainment world more competitive than ever as everything from streaming to globalization ups the ante. Still, we have been given some homegrown successes like Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug and Cat Noir. The show made its debut in 2015, and its anime-inspired adventure has a cult fandom of its own. So really, it is no surprise to hear that Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug and Cat Noir is gunning for 10 whole seasons.

If a new report is right, then the creator of Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug and Cat Noir is very ready to expand the series. Popular fan-sites say Zag shared his vision for the show’s future during a recent appearance in France. Should those reports ring true, then Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug and Cat Noir is looking to release 10 seasons at the time, and that is quite the loaded number.

Miraculous Is Reportedly Eyeing a 10 Season Run

After all, the TV series has just five seasons to its name. Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug and Cat Noir brought season five to a close in November 2023, and Zagtoon is hard at work on season six. In the past year, we have been shown teasers for season six, but Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug and Cat Noir has kept details about the comeback quiet. According to current rumors, the show’s sixth season is not expected to drop until early 2025, but that is far from official.

With just five seasons to its name, Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug and Cat Noir is banking on the future. Zag envisions the show to double in size in the coming years, after all. The confession has also left fans wondering where the show’s characters are heading. Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug and Cat Noir spent its first seasons with Hawk Moth, and the villain has grown tremendously. By season four, Hawk Moth traded in his moniker for Monarch, and it was only recent that his reign ended.

Of course, the Butterfly Miraculous is far from done. Lila Rossi has taken hold of the gem, and that cannot spell anything good for our heroine Marinette. The two girls have bad blood between them, so Ladybug and Cat Noir better not get too comfy with their current peace. If we have five more seasons on the horizon, some serious drama is coming with it.

When Will Miraculous Bring Season 6 to Television?

There is no telling whether Zag’s vision for Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug and Cat Noir will play out in the long term. What fans can do right now is keep tabs on the series. We are still awaiting word on the release of season six. Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug and Cat Noir began production on the season while season five was closing shop. As noted earlier, rumors suggest Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug and Cat Noir will return with season six in early 2025, but no release date has been formally shared.

If you are not familiar with the long-running series, Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug and Cat Noir is staying busy. You can find the series streaming on Disney+ as well as Netflix in the United States. The latter service even has access to Ladybug & Cat Noir: The Movie which explores the franchise’s origins. With a stage musical and video games in tow, Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug and Cat Noir has solidified itself a top contender in the animation sphere. And if we are lucky, we will not have to wait long for its sixth season to drop.

What do you think about this latest Miraculous update? Give me a shout at @meganwpeters with your take! You can also let us know what you think over on X (Twitter) and Instagram.

The post Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir Is Gunning for 10 Seasons appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Dandadan is gearing up for the anime’s next major arc, and the first look at Episode 5 is setting up for a rather controversial character’s debut with Aira Shiratori. Dandadan made a lot of waves with fans ahead of its debut this Fall, and the first four episodes of the new series really cemented why it’s been such a standout hit of the Fall. With the TV anime wrapping up the first major arc from Yukinobu Tatsu’s original manga, it’s time to introduce new characters and new threats that will play a big role in the episodes coming next in this debut season.

Dandadan Episode 4 ended the fight against Turbo Granny as Momo and Okarun reached a new level in their now budding friendship, but it’s far from the end of their adventures. Even more ghostly threats are about to make their debut, and Episode 5 teases one of the major new main players joining the chaos, Aira. But it might not be long before fans of the anime turn against Aira considering how fast fans of the Dandadan manga turned against the character early on in her debut as well. But she’s not the only new addition being teased for Dandadan Episode 5, and you can check out the preview images below.

Who Is Aira Shiratori?

Without giving too much away, Aira will be making her debut in Dandadan Episode 5. She’s a controversial figure among manga fans because of how poorly she treats Momo and Okarun upon their first meeting. She’s the typical kind of stuck up character who thinks she can get by with just her cuteness alone, and can be pretty prickly early on during her introductory arc. It’s not until much later that these outward layers start stripping away the more she becomes a core member of the group.

She’s been one of the characters showcased in the Dandadan opening and promotional materials, so fans have likely been waiting for this character to actually make it to screen. She offers a different dynamic than fans might expect, and it will likely cause a friction when she’s actually introduced. It’s led to Aira being outright hated by many fans, but that’s all just part of the journey as she opens up more as she’s drawn further into Momo and Okarun’s wild adventures. But it’s a journey that has to start somewhere, and it’s unfortunately a rather rough beginning.

How to Watch Dandadan Episode 5

Dandadan Episode 5 is titled “Like, Where Are Your Balls?!” and will be making its premiere on Thursday, October 31st at 9:00 PT / Nov. 1, 1:00 JT. The new episode will be streaming with both Netflix and Crunchyroll when it hits, and it’s not just teasing Aira’s debut either. The preview images for the episode also tease the mysterious cat figure that’s been seen in the opening and ending theme sequences, so fans will finally get to find out who this character is going to be and what role they’ll be playing moving forward.

As for the episode itself, the synopsis teases it as such, “Momo and Okarun have defeated Turbo Granny and restored peace. The two have grown closer after their brutal experience, but there is still some awkwardness between them. Meanwhile, Okarun tells Momo something important. Even though they defeated Turbo Granny, for some reason Okarun’s “thing” hasn’t returned…”

So as the title and synopsis suggests, things are far over for Okarun as he suddenly realizes that he hasn’t gotten back the thing he had been fighting to reclaim this entire time. And that’s only the start of his problems, really.

The post New Dandadan Preview Teases a Controversial Character’s Debut appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Venom is at it again. Not long ago, Venom: The Last Dance made its debut, and it was there fans watched the unexpected come to life. Eddie Brock’s made sure his return to the big screen wouldn’t fly under the radar. It is hard to ignore the insanity that is Venom’s new movie, and for good measure, the blockbuster locked in an anime collab that no one saw coming.

The whole thing came to light this week as Venom: The Last Dance went live in the United States. The movie, which is the third Venom has welcomed with Sony Pictures, has been a trip. Over in Japan, Eddie and his symbiote partner were eager to plug their comeback, so the pair negotiated not one but two different anime deals.

Venom Collides With the World of Anime

As for the first deal? Venom comes face to face with Brave Bang Bravern. The anime went live this year as part of the Brave franchise, and Venom is now linking up with the show. As you can see below, a promo was released in Japan for Brave Bang Bravern that shows its stars watching Venom: The Last Dance. In return, the Marvel movie posted a promo of its own, and it shows the character Isami being interrogated about the movie after watching it in theaters.

For the second anime deal, we have GeGeGe no Kitaro to thank. The classic anime posted a key visual that combines Venom: The Last Dance with The Birth of Kitaro: The Mystery of GeGeGe. Toko Yatabe, the current designer behind GeGeGe no Kitaro, posted a note about the wild crossover after being asked to tackle Venom. It turns out the artist never saw the collab coming, but he is grateful to work with an IP as diverse as Marvel.

“I never thought Venom and The Birth of Kitaro: The Mystery of GeGeGe would collaborate! I was surprised when I first heard about it, but when I heard the catchphrase, ‘Our Partners Are Not Human,’ I thought, ‘I see!’ Both movies are exciting stories about different species of buddies who rely on each other to save the world, so please enjoy Venom: The Last Dance and The Birth of Kitaro: The Mystery of GeGeGe this fall,” the artist shared.

What Happens When Anime Becomes Marketing Tool?

Clearly, Venom: The Last Dance looked around when making its anime deals, and the promotions are now live overseas. No one would have expected the Marvel series to team with Brave Bang Bravern, but that is the beauty of Venom. The symbiote rarely does what we expect, and that is true whether we’re talking canon or not.

The blockbuster is also just one of many to lean into anime when promoting itself in Japan. Countless films have launched cross-promotions when facing the Japanese market. Not long ago, Dandadan stirred buzz when creator Tatsu Yukinobu collaborated with Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire. From the Star Wars franchise to Frozen and more, the trend is only growing. For years, these collaborations were sequestered overseas, but the rise of anime globally has raised their public profile. The Internet is more than happy to route these PR deals, and Venom: The Last Dance is the latest movie to take center stage.

As anime continues to grow, you can expect these cross promotions to grow in kind. Hollywood knows the power of anime, after all. The industry makes billions each year, and most importantly, it appeals to a key demographic. With Gen Z and Gen Alpha eating up anime, the industry has given Hollywood a new tool to reach younger audiences. Venom: The Last Dance is not the first blockbuster to take advantage of that optic, and it is not going to be the last.

What do you make of this latest Hollywood collaboration? Did you see this Venom promo coming? Give me a shout at @meganwpeters with your take! You can also let us know what you think over on X (Twitter) and Instagram.

The post Venom: The Last Dance Unveils an Unexpected Anime Crossover appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Ever since Dragon Ball Daima released its premise to the anime world, many fans couldn’t help but think of another series in the shonen franchise’s history. Dragon Ball GT was never considered canon but it did have a story that saw Son Goku transformed into a mini-version of himself. While Daima is a story that was made by series creator Akira Toriyama, fans are spotting their fair share of elements that they believe might be paying tribute to the Grand Tour. One specific example has been from episode three, wherein Goku, Glorio, and Makaioshin make their way to the Demon Realm for the first time.

Warning. If you have yet to watch the latest episode of Dragon Ball Daima, be forewarned that we’ll be diving into serious spoiler territory for the shonen sequel series. In the third episode of Dragon Ball Daima, the Z-Fighters are still working on coming to grips with their new bodies. As anime fans witnessed in the first two episodes, the new king of the Demon Realm, Gomah, wished on Earth’s Dragon Balls to transform the anime heroes, and their friends, into “first graders.” As Goku and company attempt to figure out what is going on, they receive a massive hand thanks to new character Glorio, a member of the Demon Realm who offers them a ride. Glorio’s “ride” might look a little familiar to those who have been following the franchise throughout the Capsule Corps’ history.

Dragon Ball Daima’s Grand Tour

Not only do Goku and company in Dragon Ball GT hop into a spaceship to find the Black Star Dragon Balls, they do so in the third episode of the Grand Tour. Also, as one fan spots, Glorio’s ship looks somewhat similar to that of the Capsule Corps vehicle that the Z-Fighters used in the series that introduced the world to Super Saiyan 4. As the Z-Fighters explore the Demon Realm, it will be interesting to see if any other GT references are made.

Dragon Ball Daima Transformations

One of the biggest elements that anime fans are wondering whether they’ll see new transformations introduced in Dragon Ball Daima, outside of the mini-forms being introduced that is. One of the biggest things that Grand Tour is known for is the introduction of Super Saiyan 4, the form that was given to Goku and Vegeta in the spin-off series that saw both Saiyans taking on far more primal appearances. While Dragon Ball GT did end, Super Saiyan 4 has far outlived the sequel series, appearing in Super Dragon Ball Heroes and most recently, in the popular video game Dragon Ball Sparking Zero.

Dragon Ball Daima takes place following the death of Kid Buu but before the start of Dragon Ball Super, meaning that things like Super Saiyan Blue and Ultra Instinct might not make it into the series. If there is a new transformation that will be introduced that is similar to Super Saiyan 4, it might lead credence to the idea that Toriyama had one final ace up his sleeve in creating his own take on the Grand Tour. Considering how beloved the primal transformation has become over the years, it would be interesting to see if Toriyama would have any changes made to the form to put his own spin on Super Saiyan 4.

Want to see what the future holds for Dragon Ball Daima and whether it will pay tribute to the Grand Tour in its remaining episodes? Follow along with Team Anime on ComicBook.com for the latest updates on the Z-Fighters and hit me up directly @EVComedy to talk all things comics and anime.

The post Dragon Ball Daima Drops a GT Easter Egg in Latest Episode appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Dragon Ball is back at it again with a new tribute. With a new video game and anime under thumb, the IP is living larger. Son Goku is where he belongs at the top, but the Saiyan is not untouchable. When it comes to controversy, Dragon Ball has had its fair share, and now the series is under fire over a recent tribute by the creator of Rurouni Kenshin.

Confused? Don’t be. We have the Dragon Ball Super Gallery project to thank for this ordeal. This month, the event returned with a new tribute, and it was there Nobuhiro Watsuki shared their latest work. The creator of Rurouni Kenshin redid the cover of Dragon Ball volume 30 in honor of Akira Toriyama’s hit series. But given Watsuki’s reputation, well – Dragon Ball fans would rather this tribute be buried.

The Controversy Behind Rurouni Kenshin, Explained

If you are not familiar with the controversy surrounding Watsuki, we hate to be the bearer of bad news. In 2017, authorities in Japan found DVDs in Watsuki’s Tokyo office that contained footage of naked girls. These girls were in their early teens according to reports, and the discovery gave police reason to search the artist’s home.

After raiding Watsuki’s home, police found more illicit material as they investigated whether the creator of Rurouni Kenshin had purchased child pornography. In his home, Watsuki had hundreds of DVDs containing such content. The artist was referred to prosecutors for possessing child pornography that year, and in February 2018, Watsuki was handed a sentence. The artist was told to pay a fine of less than $2,000 USD. And after a brief hiatus, Watsuki returned to work in June 2018 by resuming Rurouni Kenshin: The Hokkaido Arc.

As you can imagine, the uproar surrounding Watsuki was intense. Rurouni Kenshin is considered one of the best manga in the game, but its reputation plummeted once Watsuki was charged. The artist’s confession about possessing child pornography enraged fans across the globe. While the artist is back at work in Japan, many global fans continue to question why Watsuki was not cancelled for his crimes. This debate has raged for years, and now Dragon Ball fans are feeling conflicted over Watsuki’s tribute.

Dragon Ball Super Gallery Expands With Its Final Installments

Of course, the creator of Rurouni Kenshin is not the only person who has taken part in this project. Dragon Ball Super Gallery began in August 2021, after all. The event was launched in honor of Dragon Ball‘s 40th anniversary, and it recruits different manga artists to make tributes to Toriyama. From Masashi Kishimoto (Naruto) to Tite Kubo (Bleach) and Hirohiko Araki (JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure), a slew of top-tier creators have joined the project. Watsuki is one of the last creators to join the Dragon Ball Super Gallery, and he is the most controversial by far.

With dozens of tributes in tow, the Dragon Ball Super Gallery has put Toriyama’s skill center stage. The artist is second to none when it comes to composition, and Toriyama’s legacy lives on Dragon Ball. The creator died suddenly this year at the age of 68, leaving many to fret about the franchise’s future. With a new anime on hand, Goku is doing his best to meet Toriyama’s expectations even after their death. So while Watsuki may have the fandom ruffled, Dragon Ball is strong enough to withstand this controversial ordeal.

What do you think about Watsuki’s contribution to Dragon Ball? Give me a shout at @meganwpeters with your take! You can also let us know what you think over on X (Twitter) and Instagram.

The post Dragon Ball Launches Controversial Collab With Rurouni Kenshin’s Creator appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Netflix hasn’t been shy about going all-in when it comes to anime. On top of creating original anime series of their own, such as Terminator Zero, Sakamoto Days, and Arcane to name a few. On top of making their own properties, the streaming service has also brought together some classic anime series and movies to its platform. In a recent release, it has been confirmed that Netflix is bringing two major anime movies to its platform that might have shonen fans turning their heads. Those who are big “hunter” fans might want to see what the streaming service has up its sleeves.

Hunter x Hunter has remained one of the biggest shonen series in recent memory, thanks in part to creator Yoshihiro Togashi returning to the world of Gon and his fellow hunters. After spending years away from the manga due to health issues, the manga artist has been working slowly but surely on releasing new chapters of his beloved series. The current arc, the Succession Contest Arc, is one that doesn’t focus on the likes of Gon and Killua but it has had big implications on the shonen universe. Kurapika has been front and center in this arc as Togashi weaves a wild arc in a royal civil war.

Hunter x Hunter’s Movie Arrivals

On November 1st, Netflix will be bringing Hunter x Hunter: Phantom Rouge and Hunter x Hunter: The Last Mission to its streaming service. This is far from the only project that the streaming service has housed when it comes to Gon and his friends. The latest anime television series from Studio Madhouse remains available to stream on Netflix if you want to follow Gon’s adventure from the start. Considering the popularity that Hunter x Hunter continues to receive, it’s a good move for Netflix to up their hunting game.

What are Phantom Rouge and The Last Mission?

To start, Hunter x Hunter: Phantom Rouge was first released in 2013. While it’s debatable whether this story is canon to the main franchise, Phantom Rouge’s plot is one that was based on a tale written by creator Yoshihiro Togashi. The movie itself focuses on Kurapika and his quest for revenge against those who had murdered his clan. Much like the recent television series, the movie was created by Studio Madhouse.

On the flip side, Hunter x Hunter: The Last Mission was also released in 2013, painting a very different story than Phantom Rouge. Instead of focusing on an aspect of Kurapika’s quest for vengeance, the film instead introduced a dark faction of the Hunters’ guild. Attacking Killua and Kurapika, the movie takes place following the Greed Island Arc and at the start of the Chimera Ant Arc. This movie is also one that many don’t consider “canon” to the main franchise and was also made by Studio Madhouse.

Future Hunter x Hunter Films

Unfortunately, while the manga might be forging new chapters for its future, nothing has been revealed regarding a Hunter x Hunter anime. Should the series return to the screen, many are left wondering whether a new project would continue where Madhouse had left off or if a series would start from the beginning of Gon’s journey once again. Madhouse’s recent television series focusing on Hunter x Hunter ended with the Election Arc, the small storyline that followed the fight against the Chimera Ants, so while there are a few stories to cover to get the anime up to speed, there might not be enough to continue where the previous anime left off.

Want to see what the future holds for everyone’s favorite anime hunters? Follow along with Team Anime on ComicBook.com for the latest updates on Gon and company and hit me up directly @EVComedy to talk all things comics and anime.

The post Two of Anime’s Top Shonen Movies Will Hit Netflix Soon appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Jujutsu Kaisen has ended but that doesn’t mean the story of Yuji Itadori and his fellow students at Jujutsu Tech don’t have some surprises left for fans. With the anime confirming that a third season was in the works from Studio MAPPA, the supernatural shonen series is teasing a major reveal this year. With fans still saying goodbye to the anime heroes, a countdown has begun that will reveal another major element of the manga that has yet to be revealed. While a sequel series is far from confirmed as of the writing of this article, this fact could always change.

Without diving too deep into spoiler territory, Jujutsu Kaisen’s manga is one that gave the heroes the happiest possible ending they could hope for. Creator Gege Akutami has earned a reputation for killing off major characters, hero and villain alike. In the anime, Jujutsu Kaisen’s second season shared this fact thanks to the Shibuya Incident Arc, a storyline that killed off some major figures and left many anime viewers reeling as a result. Surprisingly, the grand finale of the manga did actually bring characters back who were long thought deceased, making for quite a change for the shonen’s author kill streak.

A Jujutsu Kaisen Countdown

The official Jujutsu Kaisen social media account started a countdown for November 18th, hinting at the release of the manga covers for volumes 29 and 30. These two volumes will be the grand finale of the series that has become one of the biggest shonen series in almost record time. While anime fans might be waiting years to see these events hit the screen, the manga release is sure to come as quite a shock for those who didn’t read the individual chapters that were released by Weekly Shonen Jump.

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The State of Shonen

Jujutsu Kaisen is far from the only shonen series that brought its story to an end in recent years. Earlier this year, My Hero Academia did the same by releasing its final chapter, with the eighth and final season slated to arrive next year in 2025. While an end date has yet to be revealed for One Piece, the Straw Hat Pirates’ creator has stated in recent years that the final saga is underway and Luffy’s quest is will see him sailing off into the sunset.

Luckily, there have been new series that are looking to fill the gap for some of the series that are coming to an end. Dragon Ball Super has been confirmed to return by artist Toyotaro following the tragic passing of Akira Toriyama. Meanwhile, major series like Dandadan, Sakamoto Days, Kagurabachi, and more are looking to bring in new readers. While Dandadan has recently started its anime adaptation, the latter shonen series have yet to receive their own animes but might just become far more popular once they do.

A Jujutsu Kaisen Sequel

As of the writing of this article, Gege Akutami hasn’t revealed if they plan on continuing Yuji Itadori’s story in any shape or form. The final chapter gives us quite the definitive ending for many of Jujutsu Kaisen’s characters so should Gege decide to move forward with the series, we imagine it would be quite different from what came before. Whether Jujutsu Kaisen ever returns, the impact that the supernatural shonen series has had on the anime world can never be denied.

Want to stay in the loop for all things related to Jujutsu Tech? Follow along with Team Anime on ComicBook.com for the latest updates on Jujutsu Kaisen and hit me up directly @EVComedy to talk all things comics and anime.

The post Jujutsu Kaisen Kickstarts Countdown Ahead of Final Volume Drop appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Hiro Mashima is impossibly talented. From Rave Master to Edens Zero, the artist has pushed forward a number of hit manga. The industry is a tough one, and for most people, it is enough to put out one hit let alone three. There are still people that look to Fairy Tail as one of shonen’s best series. And in a new interview, Mashima admitted the uplifting manga was born from a surprising place: loneliness.

Recently, Mashima shared this revelation with fans as he appeared at New York Comic Con. It was there the Fairy Tail creator spoke with fans at a panel, and when asked about the manga’s origins, Mashima said Fairy Tail came from a pervasive loneliness.

“To tell you the truth, I wrote the story cause I had no friends. My loneliness is what you’re seeing,” the artist shared. According to ANN, fans were quick to offer their friendship to Mashima after this reveal. Luckily, the artist has since surrounded himself by a supportive friend group, but Fairy Tail might not have happened if Mashima had not navigated that dark time.

Fairy Tail Was Born From a Lonely Place

Later in the panel, Mashima admitted he also dealt with loneliness in high school as he struggled to fit in. It was art and manga that helped him find a home. “It’s helped me get through a lot of my struggles in high school and helped me connect with my friends on a deeper level,” he explained.

Of course, Mashima would go on and turn his love of art into a career. The creator made waves in 1999 with Rave Master as the series ran through 2005. From there, Fairy Tail made its debut in 2006, and it would change Mashima’s life. While Rave Master was a definite hit, Fairy Tail become a global success. The manga’s anime converted fans across the world, and Fairy Tail is still ongoing. After its main series ended, Mashima helped bring its sequel Fairy Tail: 100 Years Quest to life. And since we met Natsu, Mashima has also expanded his reach with IPs like Edens Zero and Dead Rock.

Starting with Rave Master, Mashima’s works have all focused on friendship, so we know now why Fairy Tail really leaned into the idea. Mashima was facing a lonely time in his life when the manga was birthed. Lucy not only finds friends through her journey but family as well. Time and again, the power of friendship pushes the celestial mage to new heights, and Natsu will do whatever it takes to protect those closest to him.

Fairy Tail Brings a New Meaning to the Power of Friendship

In fact, Fairy Tail and its friendships have become a meme with fans. Natsu relies on his allies in a big way, and much like we saw in Naruto, the Fairy Tail star thrives when he leans into his bonds. The power of friendship may sound cheesy, but Mashima’s hit series does embody it. Readers have joked about that phenomenon for ages, but Mashima’s latest confession is reframing the true power of friendship.

Yes, it is an easy way to explain a power boost, but it is also a means of salvation. Natsu saved Mashima when he was at his loneliest, and we see this trend echoed in the manga itself. Fairy Tail is so focused on friends and family because that is what Mashima craved when he inked it years ago. As Mashima’s own circle expanded, Fairy Tail was able to grow just the same, so there is no denying how personal the manga is to its creator.

These days, Mashima seems to be in a better place. Fairy Tail lives on with its sequel, and he is rolling out new hits. Edens Zero stood as one of Kodansha’s top sci-fi series upon its 2018 debut. Now, all eyes are on Dead Rock. The supernatural tale debuted in 2023, and with two volumes under foot, Dead Rock is shaping up to be another Mashima hit.

What do you think about this Fairy Tail confession? Give me a shout at @meganwpeters with your take! You can also let us know what you think over on X (Twitter) and Instagram.

The post Fairy Tail Creator Admits the Hit Series Was Born From Loneliness appeared first on ComicBook.com.

In recent days, voice actor David Wald accused Crunchyroll of mail tampering, telling his followers on social media that he discovered that fan mail sent his way had been rifled through and opened before we had the chance to receive it. On top of this, Wald also claimed that Crunchyroll not only had opened his private mail but that the company had also passed out items to staff while also disposing of fan mail sent to him. In response, the streaming service has released a new statement ensuring anime fans that they are taking the necessary steps to get to the bottom of the incident.

For Wald’s full statement, here’s what the voice actor had to say, ““Dear friends: if you sent me anything care of Funimation or Crunchyroll in the last 5 years, I apologize, I didn’t get it. I learned yesterday that Crunchyroll opened my private mail, threw away your letters, and passed out any included items to their staff.” Wald then took the opportunity to ask that whatever items were taken be returned to him, “Dear fellow workers at Crunchyroll, below is a photo of the complete contents of one of the packages addressed to me that was opened and distributed to employees. If you ended up in possession of any of it, I would very much like it returned to me.”

Crunchyroll Responds

Taking quick action, Crunchyroll released an official statement regarding Wald’s statements, saying that they are working diligently to get to the bottom of the incident, “Anime fans have a special connection with dub voice talent and that emotional expression is important in fueling more love of anime content. We are currently investigating the matter regarding the allegation of undelivered fan mail to a voice actor. We respect the privacy of all of our voice actors and do not intentionally open mail or packages not intended for Crunchyroll. Any fan mail should be sent directly to talent and their management.”

As a follow-up, Wald has stated that several items were returned to him. Shockingly enough, said items were apparently discovered on a “company giveaway table”, adding to the questions of just what had taken place concerning the fan mail. As events progress, we’ll be sure to keep you posted on future developments here at ComicBook.com.

Wald’s Anime Career

In relation to Fairy Tail, David Wald plays the part of Gajeel Redfox, who played a major role in both the original anime adaptation and its current sequel, Fairy Tail: 100 Years Quest. On top of the shonen anime adaptation, Wald has also played major roles in Vinland Saga (Askeladd), My Hero Academia (Real Steel), Ranking of Kings (Zokku), and Baki (Spec). Wald has quite the resume in the anime industry and he is sure to have some big roles in his future.

Fairy Tail’s original anime series garnered over three-hundred episodes thanks to the shonen’s popularity, so many were disheartened when the manga ended its long-running journey. Luckily, creator Hiro Mashima wasn’t finished with Natsu’s story and production house J.C. Staff has been working on the sequel anime this year. As the sequel continues, expect voice actor David Wald to have a major role in the 100 Years Quest’s future.

Want to see how this story progresses in terms of Wald, Crunchyroll, and the items that were taken from the aforementioned fan mail? Want to stay updated on all things Fairy Tail and its current sequel series? Follow along with Team Anime on ComicBook.com for the latest updates on the shonen series and hit me up directly @EVComedy to talk all things comics and anime.

Via iO9

The post Crunchyroll Responds to Mail Tampering Allegations by Fairy Tail Star appeared first on ComicBook.com.

When it comes to anime, fans expect their fave series to meet certain expectations. Sports titles are expected to invest heavily in animation as they feature high-octane action. From Slam Dunk to Haikyu, we have seen this investment pay off, and Blue Lock season one followed that method. However, that plot was lost somewhere during the production of Blue Lock season two, and an animator is now speaking out about the horrific misstep.

Taking to social media, Martin Reyes wants to set the record straight about Blue Lock. The animator worked on the anime’s second season, and his behind-the-scenes breakdown of the series is damning. According to Reyes, he was originally set to work on five episodes of Blue Lock season two, but he dipped after animating parts of episode two because of the show’s impossible schedule.

What Happened to Blue Lock Season 2?

“I worked on the second episode of Blue Lock, and I can tell you why it’s animation is so bad. Months ago, I started working on Blue Lock season two where I worked not only on one episode… not even two or three but rather five episodes. I began working on episode two and had to do 20 cuts from start to finish,” Reyes explains.

“Strangely, problems [with Blue Lock] hadn’t arose yet. I’m sure I am not alone in this, but the work I did ended up not being released. Despite the low pay and short turn around, we did the best we could. Many of my animations were [cut] in the final edit; Basically, all their movement was eliminated. I don’t blame the person who worked on my cuts after me; They probably did all they could with the time they were given.”

Continuing, the animator went on to place blame on the production committee that oversees Blue Lock for how bad season two looks. “These problems…are a result of certain production committees. They take on projects with profit in mind but don’t care about the condition their workers face. It’s because of this that I did not work on more Blue Lock episodes. Once I finished working on episode two, I decided to leave, and the final result ended up a disaster as I expected. I am not able to feel proud of the work that was uploaded.”

As you can see above, Reyes went so far as to post one of his original cuts from Blue Lock season two. The clip is unfinished as the animator was tasked with layout work, but there is a world of difference already. In Reyes’ cut, there is actual running animation, and we are shown lots of dynamic action. When Blue Lock season two brought episode two to life, well – the animation was stiff to put lightly. Its characters were lucky if their feet moved at all while running, so clearly, something got lost in translation as BBlue Lock continued production.

Can Blue Lock Season 3 Redeem the Anime?

According to Reyes, the crux of the issue behind Blue Lock season two falls on executives. The animation team was not given enough time to make season two look as good as season one. While Reyes managed to turn around a well-animated layout, the show’s other animation teams could not see the vision through. Corners were cut by designers and colorists and animators in latter stages. This did not happen out of laziness but rather intense time crunch. Reyes says the downfall of Blue Lock could have been avoided with better production scheduling, but the show’s committee did not care to intervene.

As you can imagine, fans of Blue Lock are incredibly disappointed with season two. The show’s first season was a hit, and its popularity gave the Kodansha manga a massive sales boost. Creators Muneyuki Kaneshiro and Yusuke Nomura are still piecing out the manga, but their work now has a shadow to contend with. Blue Lock season two is being hailed as one of the worst unseatings in anime. And if the anime gets a season three order, the production committee better reevaluate its deadlines or face further humiliation.

What do you think about this Blue Lock confession? Give me a shout at @meganwpeters with your take! You can also let us know what you think over on X (Twitter) and Instagram.

The post Blue Lock Animator Reveals Why Season 2 Looks So, So Bad appeared first on ComicBook.com.

JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure has hit the silver screen before and you might be surprised how the anime franchise has done so. In 2017, JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Diamond Is Unbreakable received a live-action film in Japan that followed Josuke Higashikata and the sleepy town of Morioh. Long before this release, Phantom Blood had an original anime movie that was lost to time, receiving a brief theatrical run but eventually being lost to time. In a new report, it has been confirmed that JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure has a new movie on the way and it might not be what you expect if you’re a fan of all things Joestar.

JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure as a franchise has found longevity thanks to the dedication of its creator Hirohiko Araki. First starting the series in the 1980s, Araki has been sticking with the Joestar bloodline for decades, using each new arc of the Stand series to follow descendants of the first protagonist, Jonathan Joestar. Most recently, Araki released a new story following siblings Jodio and Dragona as they use their Stands in an effort to pull off wild heists to make sure their mother is financially secure. With twenty chapters into the latest storyline, Araki might be setting the stage for years of The JOJOLands.

JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure’s Next Movie

In a recent social media post, the sound director of every JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure anime season had a big reveal for Stand fans. Yoshikazu Iwanami shared that the franchise is bringing three episodes of the Golden Wind to theaters, choosing some of the biggest installments of Giono Giovanna’s story for movie theaters. While fans might be a tad disheartened that this won’t include new footage or be the introduction of a new season, seeing some of Giorno’s biggest battles on the silver screen is worth checking out.

Here’s the official translation of Iwanami’s post, “We decided to screen episodes 27, 28, and 38. Please wait a little longer to find out when and where they will be screened.” While this post didn’t confirm that the silver screen adventure is making its way to North America, there’s always the possibility that the Joestars will make their way to the West.

Anime Compilation Movies Are Big Business

It should come as no surprise that the Joestars are receiving their own compilation movie based on the success that anime projects of this nature have seen in recent days. Perhaps the biggest example has been Demon Slayer, routinely creating compilation films that will fuse season finales and season openers. Following the success of Demon Slayer: Mugen Train, the original movie that remains the biggest anime film of all time, Tanjiro and the Demon Slayer Corps are planning to return to the silver screen with new films that will cap off the series by exploring the Infinity Castle Arc.

As for JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure’s future, the Golden Wind compilation film is the only anime project that has been confirmed. Joestar fans have been crossing their fingers since the conclusion of Stone Ocean that David Production will release a new season that would most likely be Steel Ball Run. The seventh storyline of the franchise is often thought of as one of the greatest arcs of the Joestars and while nothing has been confirmed, it would make sense that JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure would dive into this storyline. The story of Johnny Joestar focuses on a horse race across North America and will be quite the sight on the small screen.

Want to stay up to date on the Joestars and their respective Stands? Follow along with Team Anime on ComicBook.com for all the latest updates on JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure and hit me up directly @EVComedy to talk all things comics and anime.

Via X

The post JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure Has a New Movie On the Way (and It’s Not What You Think) appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Hunter x Hunter is back in action, and we have the manga to thank. Yoshihiro Togashi mounted a comeback for the series earlier this month, and its return has been a long time coming. After more than a year of waiting, Hunter x Hunter returned with new content this fall that has pushed forward the Succession Contest. And thanks to its latest chapter, Hunter x Hunter was given the chance to revisit Leorio Paradinight after nearly a decade.

No, you read that right. It has been nearly a decade since Hunter x Hunter checked in on Leorio. The manga made sure to visit the character this week, and Leorio’s appearance marks his first in over eight years.

Leorio Is Back After an 8+ Wait

If you missed the quick cameo, don’t sweat it. Hunter x Hunter chapter 404 brings Leorio center stage with help from Halkenberg. We see the character on a stretcher with five medical personnel around them. One of those assistants is Leorio, and from there, Halkenburg is taken in for testing. The blink-and-miss-it moment made readers do a double take as they wondered if the appearance was some kind of joke. But as it turns out, Leorio is on the Black Whale with the rest of this doctors, and he is doing his best to care for patients.

Hunter x Hunter fans were happy to see Leorio return, and his comeback comes after more than eight years. We saw the character briefly during a flashback in chapter 361, but that is not quite the same as an actual appearance. Hunter x Hunter chapter 359 marks Leorio’s latest actual appearance in the manga, and that chapter was released in June 2016.

Seriously, it has been that long. Leorio last showed his face in 2016. The character was seen in chapter 359 doing some medical duties, and he has been sticking to those guns ever since. When we first met Leorio, the hunter made it clear that his dream was to become a doctor. His journeys with Gon gave Leorio plenty of experience tending wounds, and now his work is being put to the test.

Hunter x Hunter Is Thriving With Its Latest Comeback

It is always a treat to see characters return in Hunter x Hunter, and that truth goes double for its leads. Kurapika has been enmeshed in the manga as of late, but Leorio has not been given the same focus. Even characters like Gon have been out of the frame for a while. Togashi knew what kind of reaction the fandom would have over Leorio’s quick comeback, and we have to give kudos where they are due.

Hunter x Hunter has been hyping its comeback for some months now on social media, and its return has not disappointed. The Succession Contest feels like it never left, and while the arc’s heavy narration may not be for everyone, you cannot deny its tension. Few things are more enthralling than a power struggle, and the Kakin Empire is fielding its own. The nation’s fourteen princes have been bit against one another to succeed the throne, and it is up to Zodiacs like Kurapika to keep their charges safe from conspirators. But with guys like Hisoka on board the Black Whale, well – things are getting complicated.

After more than a year away, Hunter x Hunter is on a high, and it is always nice to see Togashi return to drawing. The artist has dealt with chronic health issues for more than a decade, and his condition has sparked a number of hiatuses. Years of drawing have left Togashi with crippling back pain, but after long periods of rest, the artist finds himself eager to return to work. His recent move to social media has only invigorated Togashi further as fans are able to cheer him on directly. So now that Hunter x Hunter is back, readers better enjoy the manga before it starts a new hiatus.

Did you clock Leorio’s appearance in the latest chapter of Hunter x Hunter? Give me a shout at @meganwpeters with your take! You can also let us know what you think over on X (Twitter) and Instagram.

The post Hunter x Hunter Finally Revisits a Major Character After 8+ Years appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Bob’s Burgers is definitely a major animated mainstay as it’s now in the midst of Season 15 of its run, and its Halloween episodes are some of the best specials you’ll ever get to see. The spooky Halloween season is the time where animation fans like to revisit their favorite specials, but Bob’s Burgers really is a step above its counterparts in that regard. Rather than offering separate stories every year like The Simpsons, or only doing a few Halloween related episodes through its tenure like Family Guy, Bob’s Burgers has been steadily offering Halloween flavored episodes with each season for the last few years.

Including the latest season of the series, there have been 13 Halloween episodes released for Bob’s Burgers thus far and each of them is a banger. No matter which episode you decide to go back and check out for the Halloween holiday, you’re pretty much guaranteed a great time. Each of Bob’s Burgers‘ Halloween episodes offers a different experience as they focus on different aspects of the Belcher family, but here are a few suggestions of the ones to watch first if you’re seeking out some family friendly but spooky fun.

Fraud of the Dead: Zombie-docu-pocalypse

Season 14’s “Fraud of the Dead: Zombie-doc-pocalypse” is one of the latest examples of how Bob’s Burgers creative team is perfect at finding the balance between its horror elements, comedy, and the emotional ties that make the Belcher family so appealing after all these years. This episode is within the “documentary” lens of Louise Belcher, a nine year old skilled archer during a zombie invasion. It’s clear that the entire family and their friends are involved with making this movie, but it’s played mostly straight to make the movie happen.

There are a few breaks in character here and there, but its focus on Louise really shines when she’s challenged to be that pro archer she’s been saying she is. She’d been saying she was able to pull off a super cool move, but only had edited video footage that made it look like she did. With Louise being challenged to actually pull off her archery trick, it’s yet another great look into the heart of what makes Bob’s Burgers work. It’s an emotional story of Louise overcoming her faults, a fun episode showing how the entire Belcher family supports one another, and a spooky episode full of zombies.

Fort Night

Season 4’s “Fort Night” wasn’t the first Bob’s Burgers Halloween focused episode, but it was certainly the one that made the biggest mark early on and teased what the series would focus on later. “Fort Night” is another perfect example of blending horror and comedy, with the actual tension really being palpable as Millie traps Louise and the rest of the gang within their fort on Halloween night. Their lives are then put in some very real danger as they’re nearly crushed by a truck, and it makes for a memorable outing for the Belcher kids.

During all of this, Bob and Linda also have a great side story. Busy making the kids’ costume, they end up wearing it themselves when the kids don’t come home in time for trick or treating. It leads to a hilarious moment between the two of them as they end up getting quite a bit of candy while out and about, and got more than their kids did that night. Bob and Linda love their kids, but this is also a hilarious showcase of their own personal limits with them too. It’s just a well rounded experience.

Nightmare on Ocean Avenue Street

Some of the best Bob’s Burgers Halloween episodes feature the Belcher kids going out trick or treating, and there’s no better example than Season 9’s “Nightmare on Ocean Avenue Street.” This episode features some of the best trademarks we’d see in later specials such as the kids’ fun ideas for costumes, and Bob having a great restaurant focused story. This time around the rest of the friend group gets involved as well, and thus the kids’ dynamic with one another is super fun to watch.

This special is lighter on the overall Horror vibe that the others on this list, and thus it makes it an even more intriguing watch if you want the spooky fun without any of the actual danger. This one has the kids dealing with some stealing all of their candy, and ends up just being a fun self-contained adventure. All the while, Bob and Teddy are having a friendly rivalry with a handyman next door. Just a fun watch all around.

The Wolf of Wharf Street

Season 8’s “The Wolf of Wharf Street” is another great combination of the Belcher family sticking together for an adventure, trick or treating, and something fun with Bob on the side. With reports of a dangerous wolf on the loose, Halloween just isn’t the same and mostly everyone decides to stay inside. Wanting to make the day still special for her kids, Linda decides to take them on a hunt for the wolf itself. The foggy setting and overall chills make this a great outing perfect for the spooky season, and then there’s Bob’s story to make it even funnier.

While all of this is happening to Linda and the kids, Bob’s dealing with an injury. Teddy is hanging out with him to take care of him, and Bob starts to suspect Teddy’s a werewolf. Constantly taking paid meds to make himself loopy, he starts to worry that Teddy is actually a monster and it all soon crosses over together into a satisfying finale. It’s just a fun episode for the series overall, with or without the Halloween holiday.

The Hauntening

But if you want a little more horror and heart with your Bob’s Burgers, there’s no better episode to watch than with Season 6’s “The Hauntening.” This episode actually has quite a bit of terror as after Bob and Linda try to scare the kids with a haunted house, it turns out that there’s something much more sinister going on as creepy things start happening. A hooded figure pops up out of the woodwork to threaten them, and the Belcher family try their best to live.

It’s one of the few specials in the show’s history to really hone in on the horror of the holiday, but it also never quite crosses a line as the Belcher family are even more hilarious when scared. But it also ends in such a cute way that reminds fans that the Belcher family is always thinking about one another, and will go the extra mile just to make a member of their family happy. It’s sweet, and a perfect way to cap off the spooky season.

The post 5 Bob’s Burgers Halloween Episodes Perfect to Watch for Spooky Season appeared first on ComicBook.com.

King of the Hill is in the works on coming back with a brand new revival series, and quite a lot has been revealed ahead of its release. It was first announced back in 2022 that series creators Mike Judge and Greg Daniels were in the works on bringing back King of the Hill, and in 2023 it was confirmed to be in production for a release with Hulu. Following the streaming service reviving animated classics such as The Animaniacs and Futurama, King of the Hill is the next major animated series that’s coming back with a new crop of episodes for its new era.

King of the Hill is currently working on a new series that will be bringing back as much of the original voice cast as possible, but is going to be making some dramatic changes from what was seen in the original. There will be new characters, characters who will likely either be recast or removed, and other changes teased through interviews with the staff over the last couple of years of development. As we’re closer than ever to seeing the new King of the Hill in action, it’s time to collect everything that’s been revealed about the new series thus far.

King of the Hill’s Revival Is Bringing Back the Original Cast

Confirmed with the initial announcement of the revival series, the new King of the Hill series will bring back original series creators Mike Judge and Greg Daniels. Saladin Patterson will be serving as the showrunner, and Kathy Najimy, Stephen Root, Pamela Adlon, and Lauren Tom have been confirmed to return. It’s yet to be revealed what other characters each of these actors might be returning to, but the core cast is set. Johnny Hardwick, who voiced Dale Gribble in the original series, unfortunately passed away mid-production.

It was previously reported by TVLine that Hardwick was able to record at least “a couple” of the planned episodes before his passing, but it has yet to be confirmed as of the time of this publication. As a result of this shift, it has also yet to be revealed how King of the Hill will be moving forward in this situation as Dale plays a significant role in the original series. They might retire the character, or more likely recast given that the character itself is such a big part of the core fiber of King of the Hill’s original run. It’s the same case for two other significant members of the core cast as well.

Brittany Murphy and Tom Petty, who performed for Luanne and Lucky respectively, have since passed away in the years since the original King of the Hill’s airing. These two characters were also built into the core dynamic of the original series, and their absence will likely be felt. It’s yet to be revealed if either of their characters are going to be recast, but they will likely be some of the characters ripe for shuffling around due to the big time skip coming in the new series.

King of the Hill’s Revival Takes Place Nearly a Decade Later

In an interview with Movieweb, Pamela Adlon had revealed Bobby Hill in the revival is now 21 years old and working as a chef in Dallas. This was further confirmed with the first look at the design for the now-adult Bobby Hill spotted online, and thus confirms that it’s been nearly a decade since the events of the original series. Bobby was still 12 when that first run came to an end, and if he’s now an adult and moving on with his career, every other character has also been aged up that time to help compensate.

This will be the best way the new King of the Hill series can address some of the character involvement issues. It’s a good way to write out Luanne and Lucky, and perhaps introduce several new characters to help fill in the gaps. Bobby working outside of the home also opens it up to new people in his environment as well, and the slate is opened with this time jump. It’s going to lead to a big shuffle of the main characters at the center of the series, and open it up to a new generation of stories outside of the Arlen setting.

As for Bobby’s future career, this is the first bit of concrete information as to how the characters are going to be updated. Bobby is working as a robata chef in a restaurant, and thus has pursued cooking (over comedy) as his full career. This stems from the final episode of the series that saw Bobby truly falling in love with barbecue, but his robata cooking style will likely lead to a rift with Hank himself as it’s a style that primarily uses charcoal. Which, of course, is something Hank really hates with a passion.

When Does King of the Hill Revival Premiere?

As for when King of the Hill will be premiering its new episodes on Hulu, it should be fairly soon. Stephen Root (who voices Bill Dauterive and others in the series) teased that table readings were beginning for the series last April, and Adlon (in that same interview where she mentioned Bobby’s age) had noted that the team was already in the works on the second season of episodes. Production for the new revival has been fully underway ever since, so it’s likely that we’re getting a King of the Hill return some time in 2025.

King of the Hill series co-creator Greg Daniels noted that the team had been working on the new series ahead WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes last year, and they “had table-read two episodes, and it was a lot of fun and everybody was very excited, and then we all went on strike.” Explaining last Fall that following the strike the team was then “rewriting the third episode or the fourth episode and getting notes on the first episode. Yeah, it’s chugging along” at the time when asked about the production’s progress.

Daniels had estimated that the new series would be released in “early 2025,” and a Spring 2025 release window would make a lot of sense. It’s yet to be revealed when Futurama Season 13 premieres, and if production continues at its current pace, Hulu could be treating fans to King of the Hill in the Spring and Futurama in the Summer. Or maybe even a reverse with Futurama, then King of the Hill shortly after. Either way, it’s likely not going to be too much longer before we get to see how King of the Hill comes back.

The post Everything We Know About King of the Hill’s New Revival appeared first on ComicBook.com.

It turns out that TikTok has done so much to change viewing habits for many anime fans that the industry itself has begun to explore delivering shorter, more bite sized projects as a result. Media has seen quite a lot of change over the decades as radio eventually gave way to TV, TV eventually gave way to streaming services, and now those streaming services are making way for social media and more isolated video experiences. Through platforms like TikTok and other social media, viewers have been able to more precisely curate the kinds of media they want to watch and how they want to watch it.

Those behind the scenes at Crunchyroll have made note of this changing media landscape as well. Because while it’s clear that interest in anime has been at an all time high (with one study even claiming that there will soon be one billion anime fans worldwide), anime needs to change in order to keep up with the shifting landscape. Speaking with Nikkei Xtrend, Crunchyroll COO Gita Rebbapragada and President Rahul Purini explained that changing habits on TikTok is also making them explore offering anime options that are much shorter and more appealing to the audiences of those platforms.

TikTok’s Going to Change How Anime Is Watched

When asked about trending changes the two have noticed about anime and how they think will evolve in the future, they noted that they will need to find a way to connect with the upcoming generation that’s into creating their own content for social media. Explaining that the “younger generation is spending a lot of time creating their own content, and the platforms are providing the tools to do so” And that while it’s not immediate, they will “need to think about how to engage with the generation that creates their own content.”

More specifically, the two explained that the length of anime episodes themselves might need to change in order to appeal to the shorter watch times of social media videos, “Most anime are 21-24 minutes long. Meanwhile, younger generations are used to watching short 2-4 minute videos one after the other (on TikTok etc.). We need to think about how to tell anime stories differently than we traditionally have done. The anime ecosystem itself needs to continue to evolve.” Naturally, this idea has sparked a bit of debate among anime fans as the thought of making these episodes shorter doesn’t appeal to everyone.

Crunchyroll Has Already Been Making Changes

Anime fans might have already noticed how Crunchyroll is appealing to those shorter attention spans with the likes of music videos and shorter anime offerings like Bananya or other gag series. But for those worried about the potential source of these newer offerings, Purini spoke to Nikkei Xtrend earlier this Summer and asserted that, “I believe that anime must be inherently ‘Japanese’ and told from the perspective of Japanese creators. We want more anime, more diverse stories, and it’s important that Japanese creators continue to be involved in them.” 

But in stating this, Purini also made sure to note that worthy anime adaptations could also still come from anywhere, “Stories worthy of being adapted into animation can come from anywhere, including Korean webtoons and games. Crunchyroll is always on the lookout for new trends and signs of hits. For example, we may introduce Indian IP to Japanese creators and suggest that if they turn this IP into an anime and tell a story, it might resonate with audiences in the region.”

It’s clear that Crunchyroll is looking into TikTok and how it’s shifting the environment, but it’s also clear that they are unlikely to throw out what works in favor of completely shifting to a new, shorter format.

via Nikkei Xtrend

The post TikTok’s Rise Is Forcing Anime to Explore a Controversial Change appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Dragon Ball Daima has been shaking up the franchise with all sorts of new reveals about the Demon Realm, and it turns out that as a result of these new reveals, Gohan just might be tapping into demonic power with his greatest form, Gohan Beast. Dragon Ball Daima has kicked off the anime’s run as part of the celebration for the Dragon Ball manga’s 40th anniversary, and with it has set Goku on a new journey through the Demon Realm. And with the full exploration of this realm for the first real time in the franchise, it’s been revealed that the demons are more connected to the outside world than fans might have expected.

One of the huger reveals in Dragon Ball Daima thus far is the fact that the Supreme Kai is actually a member of the demon race known as the Glind. Not only does he have a brother and sister living in the Demon Realm, but it’s been implied that the Glind are the ones eventually going through a selection process to become a god of a particular universe. And if that’s the case, this all comes back to Gohan himself as his latent power has been drawn out by demons through his life thus far. This demonic power then explodes with Gohan Beast form.

Gohan’s Latent Power is Drawn Out By Demons

Dragon Ball Daima not only revealed that the Supreme Kai comes from the Demon Realm, but also further confirmed that the Namekians once lived in the Demon Realm as well. Although Demon King Piccolo’s ties to the realm had been seemingly dismissed with the reveal of Planet Namek, Dragon Ball Daima confirmed that the Namekians indeed are demons and basically every character with pointy ears in the franchise is a demon as well. While this has been ramifications for the demons’ role in the franchise, it’s even bigger for Gohan.

Gohan has been keenly close to demons through his life. Trained by Piccolo, Gohan was able to find a way to use his inherent Saiyan power to fight. When he needed an extra boost to keep up with the Frieza Force, the Namekian Guru used his magic to draw out Gohan’s latent potential. This is where the curious shift starts as while Gohan and Krillin grow much stronger through this boost, Gohan’s the one that continues to grow in strength thanks to his unique power as both a Saiyan and human.

This demonic technique drew out Gohan’s abilities, and it happened twice as the Old Kai was able to draw out his latent power once more. That’s two significant points in Gohan’s life where demon magic allowed him to grow to a new level of strength, and it resulted in Gohan being unique compared to Goku and Vegeta. Unlike the other Saiyans, Gohan’s power ups didn’t come with a significantly different visual flare either. That was until Gohan Beast in Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero gave him the most dramatically different transformation that he had in the series to date.

What Exactly Is Gohan Beast?

Gohan’s rage has been at the core of his massive power since he was first introduced to the series, and it has been at the core of all of his transformations ever since. Gohan’s “Ultimate Gohan” form then bucked that trend by revealing that his truest power self was really just a more in control of his rage version of himself. Thus Gohan Beast being so dramatically different from everything else really stands out. It’s not exactly a Super Saiyan form, and it’s not exactly Gohan being a perfect version of Gohan either.

It’s like a version of Gohan that allows his rage to truly explode and thus is allowed to flourish in that power. In Dragon Ball Super’s manga version of the Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero arc, Gohan explains that the Gohan Beast form comes from his willingness to fully tap into his rage and powers up to the point where he’s about to snap and lose control. He’s constantly on the border of completely losing himself in this form, and with it is able to stand on the level of the god forms that Goku and Vegeta unlock during Dragon Ball Super.

There was a question of whether or not Gohan was using god power in this form because it was detectable by Goku and Vegeta, but now thanks to Dragon Ball Daima, it’s more like a form with demonic power at its core. Demons aren’t exactly bad or good like the other species within the Dragon Ball franchise, and thus demon magic being at the center of Gohan’s power is not exactly a bad thing either. Demons have used their power to help Gohan unlock his real self over the years, and Beast is most likely just a culmination of everything.

Gohan is a unique figure in that he’s been powering through Saiyan and human means through the years, and now it seems like he’s got just a little bit of demonic magic within him as well. This would explain why the form makes him one of the strongest fighters in the franchise and on par with Goku and Vegeta when Beast is active, and really raises questions about the other kinds of magic and abilities that are at the demons’ disposal.

The post Is Dragon Ball’s Gohan Really Tapping Into Demon Power? Breaking Down Beast Form appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Netflix’s Squid Game is getting an English-language remake and has landed one of the most acclaimed directors around. Multi-Oscar-nominee David Fincher (Se7en, Gone Girl, Mindhunter, House of Cards) has finally ended months of speculation about what he was developing next with Netflix, with an Americanized version of Squid Game often being mentioned as a possibility. It was once rumored that Fincher could be developing the US version of Squid Game as a movie – but according to the early reporting, the project is now confirmed to be a TV series.

It’s mentioned in the report that Fincher could direct another feature film first, but is still expected to make the Squid Game remake a project on his schedule for 2025. Fincher’s Squid Game remake would further expand the scope of the IP, which currently includes the worldwide breakout hit first season of the Korean-language show form Hwang Dong-hyuk; the reality show spinoff (Squid Game: The Challenge), which also became a hit and inspired real-life Squid Game: The Experience gaming events; Season 2 of the Korean series and a video game adaptation (Squid Game: Unleashed) that’s also in development. So far, the scripted and reality show versions of Squid Game have proven the concept is malleable enough to git be fitted into different formats, and this English-language show will no doubt appeal to all the viewers who were held back by the language and cultural barriers of the original show.

Squid Game created a dark and shadowy world of high-stakes gaming, in which a secret cabal of powerful and wealthy elites recruit human players with the promise of a massive cash prize. What the players didn’t know is that they’d signed up to play in lethal versions of favorite childhood games like marbles, tug-of-war, and “red light, green light.” The deadly games were just the beginning: in between challenges, the players found themselves caught in socio/political dramas, as factions formed, and some players tried to improve their odds by killing off competition during rest periods. The mix of horror-thrills and human drama made Squid Game THE talk of the pandemic era Streaming Wars, and created a massively successful content block and IP for Netflix.

Hopefully, (and expectedly) Fincher plans on making enough changes to really make the US version of Squid Game resonate with the current American culture – which could touch upon some hot-button themes. That’s especially true of the interactions between characters from different walks of life that go on between the games. The twisted versions of American childhood games, edge-of-your-seat thrills, and brutal violence? We already know David Fincher can deliver on those.

The original Squid Game is already slated to end with Season 3,

Source: Deadline

The post English Squid Game Remake Happening and an Amazing Director Is in Talks appeared first on ComicBook.com.

The canon behind Dragon Ball is wild. Truly, we have seen the series go the distance for Son Goku, and it happens in ways we never see coming. As of late, the franchise has been left reeling over Gohan Black as the Saiyan made their debut in Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero. And thanks to an epic mod, we can now see how Gohan Black and Goku Black would work together.

Spoiler alert! The father-son duo work together pretty perfectly. This modded tag-team proves Goku can fight with anybody but he’s got a special spot in his heart for Gohan. Kids, you know?

Goku Black and Gohan Black Are Teaming Up

As you can see below, a new Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero mod has surfaced, and it brings Gohan Black together with Goku Black. The duo are seen fighting PVP in a viral clip, and Gohan Black is given an assist by his son. Rather than crafting a combo Kamehameha, the Dragon Ball duo make a joint ki blast, and the Black tag-team does serious damage with the blow.

The new mod has gained serious traction with fans online, and can you blame the buzz? Gohan Black left the Dragon Ball fandom in arms when they appeared in a What-If section of Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero. Fans have already found ways to mod the fighter into the game, and of course, they are eager to test his power level. After all, Gohan is one of the most powerful characters in the series, so imagine what he could do with a backstory similar to Goku Black?

Honestly, the damage is hard to imagine. Gohan and his potential are only held back by his gentle demeanor. If the academic was challenged for real, Gohan would throw some intense punches, and that is all true without Zamasu’s influence.

Will Gohan Black Ever Become Canon?

Given the popularity of Gohan Black, it is no surprise to see fans begging for more of the character. The fighter looks just as cool as Goku Black, but there is more to the fighter than that. Goku can act dim at times, but when it comes to battle, the Saiyan can be rather savage. This kind of aggression has never suited Gohan, but that is not the case with Gohan Black. The alternate-universe villain is as cold as they get, so you can see why the fandom is in a frenzy.

Netizens are desperate for Gohan Black to take on the canon and honestly? It could happen. Dragon Ball is not afraid to mess with its timelines, after all. From the Android saga to Cell and Future Trunks, we have seen timelines get erased entirely in Dragon Ball. Capsule Corporation has the technology to explore time, and in Goku Black’s case, we visited mirror universes. If there is a universe where Goku’s body was taken over by Zamasu, then there is one where Gohan Black was created. Now that we have had a taste of the fighter, fans want more, so it is up to Dragon Ball to make Gohan Black a canon contender.

Sadly, this canon shift does not seem likely. Gohan Black could very easily be made canon, but Dragon Ball has its own priorities these days. While Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero gears up for its first DLC drop, the anime has its own mission. Dragon Ball Daima has made its premiere, and the new show is already a hit. Filled with lore drops and impressive animation, Dragon Ball Daima is the show Dragon Ball GT wishes it was. But once this anime run is done, maybe we can revisit Gohan Black?

What do you make of Gohan Black? Do you think the fighter has potential? Give me a shout at @meganwpeters with your take! You can also let us know what you think over on X (Twitter) and Instagram.

The post Dragon Ball Teams Up Gohan Black with Goku Black in Epic New Mod: Watch appeared first on ComicBook.com.

The Lord of the Rings will be reviving Christopher Lee’s performance as Saruman in the upcoming anime feature film, The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim in a cool new way. The Lord of the Rings will be making its anime debut later this December with a full feature film telling a story that’s never really been explored in the franchise before. Teasing that it will feature the franchise’s very first female lead, The War of the Rohirrim is going to have a lot to offer for The Lord of the Rings fans. Including a return from the late Christopher Lee to the film universe.

The Lord of The Rings: The War of The Rohirrim producer Philippa Boyens spoke with TheOneRing (as transcribed by ScreenRant) about the upcoming anime feature film and revealed that Christopher Lee would be providing the voice for the animated version of Saruman. While the actor himself sadly passed away years ago, the producer explained that with the permission of Lee’s late wife, they were able to use older, previously unheard voice recordings from The Hobbit for Lee’s return as Saruman in the new film.

Christopher Lee Returns as Saruman in The Lord of the Rings

“When we reached out to Gitte, Lady Lee, who’s sadly no longer with us… she said the thing that I think Peter [Jackson] felt in his heart, which was that Sir Christopher would have wanted this,” Boyens explained. “And so we went into his records, I got to go back and hear his voice, not just doing the lines, but talking to us as we were recording them. And we based it on a line from The Hobbit, which is ‘Are you in need of assistance, my lady?’ A version of that line.” From there, Boyens explained how they searched through multiple takes to find a way to use in the actual film.

“And we thought, okay that’s a line, we can see how many takes he did of that. Can we use it? Can we find a new read on it and change it up a little bit. And our brilliant guys did that. But it is an authentic bit of Christopher Lee performance that it’s based on.” Boyens had explained that they likely would have cast a soundalike if they weren’t able to dig into these audio recordings, but was glad to ultimately make it work. “To be honest, we didn’t [know] if we could find that, and so just as sort of, like, due diligence, let’s see if there is a cast-alike as someone who can do the voice out there. Now, I know the internet is going to say, of course, ‘There’s a million people who could have done Chris Lee’s voice,’ but, do you know what? I don’t think so. I’m so glad we used his own voice, and it’s fantastic.”

What Is The War of the Rohirrim?

We’ll be seeing Saruman again soon enough as The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim will be hitting theaters beginning on December 13th. Currently clocking in at two hours and 30 minutes, the new film is directed by Kenji Kamiyama for New Line Cinema and Warner Bros. Animation with animation production from Sola Entertainment. Based on characters originally crafted by J.R.R. Tolkien, Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh, Sam Register, Sam Register, Carolyn Blackwood and Toby Emmerich serve as executive producers.

The script comes from Jeffrey Addiss, Will Matthews, Phoebe Gittins, and Arty Papageorgiou. The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim will also star the likes of Gaia Wise stars as Hèra, Luke Pasqualino as Wulf, Brian Cox as Helm Hammerhand, Shaun Dooley as Freca and more.

via TheOneRing, HT – ScreenRant

The post Lord of the Rings to Revive Christopher Lee’s Saruman With Unheard Recordings appeared first on ComicBook.com.

This year, the world watched as Uzumaki made its debut with bated breath. The anime fandom has seen a number of Junji Ito adaptations fail straight out of the gate, but the Warner Bros. Discovery project promised to be different. Uzumaki made good on that promise with episode one, but sadly, the good times did not last. By its finale, Uzumaki found itself better known for its stiff animation, and now fans are asking a big question…. Did David Zaslav have anything to do with the downfall?

Over the past week, the CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery has found himself in hot water on a number of fronts. From shareholder pressure to online mockery, Zaslav is facing a mountain of work. The controversial executive has been scrutinized heavily for dozens of decisions made in the past several years. His track record with animation is particularly bad, so really, can you blame netizens for asking after Uzumaki?

Uzumaki’s Downfall Was Not Expected at All

In order to unpack the travesty that is Uzumaki, we need to talk about its backstory. The hit story was released decades ago as a manga penned by Ito. The artist, who is considered a horror master, earned high praise for Uzumaki‘s eerie atmosphere and body horror. The unsettling tale has become one of Ito’s most popular stories, and many fans were hopeful when Adult Swim (Warner Bros. Discovery) announced it was adapting the manga for the screen. Production I.G. was set to co-produce the anime, and after the 2019 reveal, fans waited.

And waited. And waited. And again, they waited. Fans stood guard over Uzumaki throughout the pandemic as COVID-19 nearly derailed the project. Finally, director Hiroshi Nagahama shared an update that Uzumaki would be released in 2024, and the anime came to life with a stunning premiere. The first episode of Uzumaki is a true masterclass with its fluid animation and upsetting visuals. It marks the first time Ito’s work was done justice on screen. However, that would change in episode two.

Across its four-episode run, only the first episode of Uzumaki managed to wow fans. The rest of the show was ladened with cardboard animation that belonged in a PowerPoint slide. From its rushed writing to its static visuals, Uzumaki saw its lofty reputation crumble in record time. Its unexpected downfall has left many asking for answers, and a recent report suggested Zaslav was to blame.

Did David Zaslav Orchestrate Uzumaki’s Downfall?

As you can see here, netizens were roped into a viral report once Uzumaki ended that blamed Zaslav for the show’s ruin. The note was treated as fact, but let’s be transparent here. The report came from TV Tropes, a fan-site that does series breakdowns and reviews. The report in question was nothing more than a rumor, but it isn’t baseless. The team behind Uzumaki has spoken about the pressure higher-ups put on the anime, and Zaslav’s history with animation is nothing short of damning.

Jason DeMarco, a top exec at Adult Swim, addressed the Uzumaki shift in a post to X (Twitter). He wrote, “It’s fine, we knew this would happen. I can’t talk about what went down but we were screwed over and the options were A) not finish and air nothing and call it a loss, B) just finish and air episode one and leave it incomplete, or C) run all four [episodes], warts and all. Out of respect for the hard work, we chose C.”

“A lot of [people] worked very hard on this show and I didn’t think the actions of just one or two people should be the reason it never saw the light of day. Maybe that’s the wrong choice, I truly don’t know. But those [people] have a right to be annoyed and disappointed.”

As you can see above, DeMarco’s statement suggests it was “one or two” people who really derailed the series. This is the comment that directed fans to Zaslav, and to be frank, there is no way to prove his tie to Uzumaki‘s downfall. Fans can only speculate based on Zaslav’s troubled decisions. From shelving finished films for tax breaks to cutting animated shows from Max, Zaslav has earned the ire of the animation fandom. And now, it seems anime lovers have their own score to settle.

How Do We Avoid Another Uzumaki?

There is no way to prevent a bad anime from being made, but Uzumaki‘s promise makes its ruin sting. Creators like DeMarco went into the show with high hopes, but forces outside of their control left the anime hurting. In a post on social media, animator Henry Thurlow broke down his take on the Uzumaki disaster, and he suggested two main forces are to blame for the ordeal.

“I have so much I want to say about the Uzumaki adaptation… but it’ll never fit into a set of tweets. (It’s times like these I miss the vlog series we use to do where I could rant for 20 minutes) all I’ll say then, in short, is this. While I don’t have any actual bts knowledge of the Uzumaki production, it was advertised as a Production IG series for years, only to be marketed as “IG &__ (not even an IG subsidiary) at the last moment. I knew there would be a huge gap between the 2 companies work… Of course artists need time & resources to do great things. If that was taken from IG it’s terrible. It does seem though that IG recently (unlike its glory days) endlessly delays their projects. They go year after year completing very little,” he shared.

“As for the Uzumaki production, at the end of the day it’s almost certainly some western producer’s fault. “This is taking too long so force some other studio to finish it I don’t care what it looks like.” I’d bet everything I have that’s how it went down. Again & again these western-produced anime have problems because the western producers are fucking trash. Kawajiri’s last few anime, the unreleased AvP anime, now Uzumaki. Again & again I see western producers screw over the artists & anime studios here & it’s infuriating.”

As anime grows bigger and globalization creeps in, the industry is going to have some rough periods. Thurlow suggests Hollywood needs a better education on how anime is run, and just about any anime fan would second that pitch. The medium is so special because of its production period and the stories it tackles. If you strip that away, an anime is left crippled, and that sad situation is what Uzumaki was forced to embrace.

What do you think about Uzumaki and its fall from grace? Give me a shout at @meganwpeters with your take! You can also let us know what you think over on X (Twitter) and Instagram.

The post Was the Downfall of Uzumaki David Zaslav’s Fault? Let’s Discuss. appeared first on ComicBook.com.

When it comes to anime, the sky is the limit. The industry churns out billions of dollars each year in profit, and its reach is expanding by the day. From television to film and gaming, anime is everywhere. As it turns out, anime is also in the Catholic Church as The Vatican just learned on the medium to create a new mascot.

Yes, you read that right. The Vatican has its own anime alter ego. The religious body unveiled a new mascot today named Luce, and the anime character will make their debut at an event in Osaka next year.

The Vatican Is Going Full Anime for Its New Mascot

As you can see below, Luce is now a mascot for The Vatican, and their creation shows how big anime has become. It is one thing to be a part of popular culture but the Catholic Church? When you start getting recognition from religious groups, you know you are mainstream. The Vatican designed Luce in hopes of reaching a young demographic, and even the Church knows pop culture is key to enticing that audience.

In revealing Luce, The Vatican brought out Rino Fisichella, a high-ranking Archbishop in the Church. It was there the leader said Luce was inspired by the Church’s want “to live even within the pop culture so beloved by our youth.”

As for Luce’s job, the mascot will represent The Vatican and the church throughout 2025. They will appear as the Holy See’s mascot at Expo 2025 in Osaka, Japan. The celebrate the mascot’s debut, The Vatican also posted a short on YouTube introducing Luce, and the anime short proves the lil’ girl is adorable. From her big eyes to his rosary, Luce is definitely adorable, so we give kudos to the team who created the character’s design. After all, the lead designer behind Tokidoki brought the character to life, and The Vatican has also introduced several other anime mascots who are friends with Luce.

What Happens When Anime and Religion Meet?

You may assume this anime crossover marks a first for The Vatican, but that is not the case. The industry has looked to catholicism over the years for different script ideas and characters. From Trinity Blood to Hellsing Ultimate, the Catholic Church has made its mark on anime. There are even series that involve the Church’s order such as Vatican Miracle Examiner. So while Luce has caught many off guard, the collaboration is not all too shocking.

Plus, anime has a rich history with religion well beyond the Catholic faith. There are obvious examples of this connection, and you only have to watch In the Beginning: The Bible Stories to see as much. The 1997 anime did not get major traction, but the anime brought Christianity to life in a new way. It is one of several to do so alongside the Superbook series and The Flying House, a 1980s anime that aired on Pat Robertson’s Christian Broadcasting Network.

Other religious anime like Saint Young Men have become popular with netizens, but these titles aren’t immune from controversy. In Japan, the cult Happy Science promoted its so-called religion decades ago with anime features. The group has released 10 films in total, and all of these anime titles promote the cult’s beliefs. The movies have been banned in some regions due to its cult ties, but even so, Happy Science released a movie as recently as 2021.

There is no denying the tie between anime and religion. As we see in other forms of entertainment, faith makes for great content. It is certainly strange to see The Vatican create its own anime mascot, but let’s face it – stranger things have happened. So maybe, we will see Luce team up with Hello Kitty after the new year.

What do you make of this latest anime revelation? Give me a shout at @meganwpeters with your take! You can also let us know what you think over on X (Twitter) and Instagram.

The post The Vatican Goes Full Anime With New Catholic Mascot: Watch Now appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Naruto is one of the biggest series to ever come from Japan. Its heroes rank high with guys like Goku and Luffy, after all. With 20+ years under its belt, Naruto has done a lot in that time, and its reputation is backed by millions of fans. That is why Naruto has locked in a big theme park deal as it will allow fans to visit the Hidden Leaf firsthand in a few years.

The update comes from France as Manga News reported live from the Naruto Shippuden: Symphonic Experience. It was there Masashi Kishimoto’s hit series came before fans in concert, and the event ended with a big announcement. The theme park Parc Spirou Provence is creating its own Naruto section, and the area will open in 2026.

Naruto Is Getting Its Very Own Theme Park

According to the update, Parc Spirou Provence has dedicated nearly four acres to the Naruto area. This new space will be added to the theme park in 2026 and include a variety of attractions. From rides to eateries and shops, Naruto is getting the full treatment by Parc Spirou Provence, and the park’s general director says the land’s layout is being planned with Shueisha.

“It is an immense joy and an honor for us to bring the universe of Naruto to life at Spirou Park. We have been working on this incredible expansion for 4 years now. Conducted hand in hand between the Park, Mediatoon Licensing and our Japanese partners Shueisha, Studio Pierrot, and TV Tokyo, this project will allow us to offer visitors the most immersive experience possible for a theme park,” Herve Lux explained.

Now if you are not familiar with Parc Spirou Provence, the destination is located in Monteux, and it opened its doors in 2018. The park is tied to Dupuis, a popular comic publisher, so it features characters like the Smurfs. With nearly two million visitors to date, Parc Spirou Provence is an up-and-coming destination for tourists, and this Naruto park will mark it all the more enviable. So if you have ever wanted to visit the Hidden Leaf Village, well – a trip to France may be in order in 2026.

The Recent Rise of Anime Theme Parks Is Overdue

This theme park deal has the fandom buzzing, but it is worth noting that Naruto is no stranger to such thrills. A Naruto theme park already exists in Japan if you care to visit Awaji Island. The theme park, which is named Naruto & Boruto Shinobi-zato, has a scale replica of the Hokage Mountain and even recreates park of the Hidden Leaf. From Ichiraku Ramen to the Ninja Academy, the park has it all along with AR attractions and mazes. The park opened some years ago, but this new theme park deal promises to dedicate more land to Naruto. And if we can get an actual shinobi roller coaster, we will call that a win.

Beyond Naruto, anime as a whole has become very enticing to theme park operators. From Pokemon to One Piece, a number of theme park deals have targeted anime in the past decade. Universal Studios Japan has spearheaded many of those crossovers with its Cool Japan initiative. From Neon Genesis Evangelion to Detective Conan and Demon Slayer, Universal Studios has a rotating schedule for anime titles. Jujutsu Kaisen took over the park not too long ago, and Universal Studios Hollywood confirmed it will borrow that anime attraction for stateside fans in 2025.

Of course, none of these deals compare to what Studio Ghibli did for its body of work. The anime studio has opened its very own theme park that highlights nature and the importance of art. With Goro Miyazaki at the helm, Ghibli Park opened a few years back and features a number of lands based on Studio Ghibli’s top films. From Spirited Away to My Neighbor Totoro, all of your fave films are represented at the park. It even houses a replica of Howl’s actual moving castle, so when it comes to anime theme parks, Studio Ghibli is a step ahead.

What do you think about this latest Naruto report? Give me a shout at @meganwpeters with your take! You can also let us know what you think over on X (Twitter) and Instagram.

The post Naruto Lands Major Theme Park Deal for 2026 appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Just when you think Megan Thee Stallion could not get any cooler, she proves you wrong. The A-list rapper has been dominating the game for years at this point, and her reputation is at an all-time high. Thanks to a recent documentary, Megan Thee Stallion is center stage these days, but there is always more work to be done. In fact, the rapper just revealed she is working on her own anime, but the project was put to the side to focus on music.

Speaking with fans on Stationhead, Megan Thee Stallion updated fans about her schedule, and it was there the rapper brought up anime. However, she did not do so to plug her favorite series. Megan Thee Stallion shared details about her own anime, and it would put things lightly to say fans are ready to watch.

“I’m still working on it, but I got caught up on my music. The anime is definitely on the way,” Megan Thee Stallion confirmed.

Megan Thee Stallion Wants to Make Her Own Anime

Clearly, Megan Thee Stallion likes to stay busy, and her anime confession is hardly a surprise. The rapper has never shied away from her love of all things otaku. From anime to manga, Megan Thee Stallion has represented her fandoms well, and she has become a sort of mascot for the anime fandom.

After all, Megan Thee Stallion has done a lot to plug her favorite series. A few years back, Paper Magazine broke the fandom when the rapper posed on its cover in cosplay as Shoto Todoroki. In the years since, Megan Thee Stallion has not only become a global superstar, but she has upped her cosplay game. From Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure to Sailor Moon, she has leaned into her top series very publicly, and that isn’t even to mention Jujutsu Kaisen.

After all, Megan Thee Stallion is a big fan of the Shonen Jump series. Not only has the rapper cosplayed Gojo Satoru, but she name drops the sorcerer in one of her newest tracks. “Otaku Hot Girl” names Gojo in its chorus and drops nods to Sukuna and Yuji for good measure. From Naruto to Hunter x Hunter, Megan Thee Stallion has found ways to plug anime into her music, and now she is looking to make a series of her own.

As Anime Grows Bigger, Celebrities Are Starting to Fall in Line

Megan Thee Stallion may be one of the most vocal celebrities out there where anime is concerned, but she is not the only fan. Hollywood has broken the seal on anime, and as the Japanese industry grows globally, celebs are starting to talk about their fandom. We have seen a number of stars from Cole Sprouse to Michael B. Jordan and Keanu Reeves share their otaku interests.

Many of these stars have also leaned into the business-side of anime; For instance, Jordan helped co-create the anime Gen:Lock with Rooster Teeth a few years back. Others are now getting onboard such as Donald Glover, AKA Childish Gambino. The rapper-actor is working with comedian Zack Fox to make their own anime, after all. All of this love doesn’t even touch upon anime’s close ties with the hip-hop industry as well as pro sports. After years of being seen as niche, anime’s famous fans are making the medium bigger than ever, and Megan Thee Stallion is helping lead that charge.

And when it comes to her anime, well – we have a few requests. We need to see the rapper star in her own magical girl anime. Somebody better call Studio Trigger and get its team contracted ASAP!

What do you think about this latest update from Megan Thee Stallion? Give me a shout at @meganwpeters with your take! You can also let us know what you think over on X (Twitter) and Instagram.

The post Megan Thee Stallion Is Working on Her Very Own Anime appeared first on ComicBook.com.

It is still hard to believe that My Hero Academia is done. Earlier this year, the world gathered to bid Deku farewell as the superhero’s manga came to a close. Kohei Horikoshi, the creator of My Hero Academia, set forward an emotional epilogue that kept fans riveted. From start to finish, My Hero Academia more than earned its reputation as a top-tier series. Now, the manga is gearing up for its final volume, and it may expand on the ending thanks to some bonus content.

The update comes from Japan as the first details about My Hero Academia volume 42 came to light. It was there fans learned the book would hit shelves in Japan this December, and it will come complete with at least 50 pages of bonus content.

My Hero Academia Volume 42 With Contain Tons of Extras

According to the breakdown, the final volume of My Hero Academia will have 184 pages. This is a staggering number for any trade as most volumes taper at 120 pages. My Hero Academia wants to go PLUS ULTRA for its last volume, so there will be between 50-60 extra pages included. As you can imagine, this revelation has readers geeking out, but not all of those pages are available for storytelling.

After all, manga volumes like to include tons of goodies from early sketches to character profiles as well as Q&A sections. With author letters and editor notes included, the final volume of My Hero Academia will have a lot of side content to share. Still, its overall page count is abnormally high. As such, some netizens believe My Hero Academia volume 42 will house new story material, and that kind of expansion is very much wanted.

After all, My Hero Academia is one of the biggest titles in manga, and its 10-year run was nothing short of impressive. Horikoshi hardly slipped during his tenure, and the artist rolled out a superhero story for the ages. After wrapping its Final War arc, My Hero Academia was given a few weeks to parse through an epilogue which is rare for the industry. The manga was popular enough to warrant a slow farewell, but fans wanted more. The final chapter’s timeskip left many fans begging for a peek at the years that got glossed over. So if we are lucky, Horikoshi might fill in those gaps with My Hero Academia volume 42.

The Finale of My Hero Academia Did Everything It Needed To

While more epilogue content would be appreciated by fans, My Hero Academia‘s finale can stand on its own without it. The manga pushed forward an emotional epilogue, after all, and it touched upon all of our favorite heroes. From Bakugo to the Todoroki clan and even La Brava, the manga did not leave anyone out.

Well, that is mostly true. My Hero Academia never did get around to introducing Deku’s dad. That is a problem for another time, it seems.

The epilogue of My Hero Academia was a rare treat for readers, but its final chapter did leave some fans unsatisfied. Its timeskip schedule condensed A LOT of information into just a few pages, leaving fans unsure how Deku’s final years at U.A. High School went. Given the manga’s title, readers wanted to see more of those moments, but the ending of My Hero Academia had to move forward. In its final moments, the manga allowed Deku to revisit his dream as his closest friends waited in the wings. The ending was worth the wait, so My Hero Academia can be proud of what it did. But if it wants to expand its finale, well – fans are not going to complain about such an addition.

Do you think My Hero Academia volume 42 will drop new lore on fans? Give me a shout at @meganwpeters with your take! You can also let us know what you think over on X (Twitter) and Instagram.

The post My Hero Academia to Expand Ending With Extended Final Volume appeared first on ComicBook.com.