The first of the three movies in the Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle trilogy is set to hit Japanese theaters soon, and ahead of its release, a trailer has been unveiled, highlighting the major events that will be featured in the upcoming film. As anticipated, the movie will follow the Demon Slayer Corps as they face off against hordes of demons while navigating their way toward the ultimate villain, Muzan Kibutsuji. The key obstacles standing in their way are Muzan’s most powerful subordinates, the Upper Moons. With three of the six Upper Moon demons already eliminated, the remaining top three will serve as the final and most formidable threats.

Given that the final battle is spread across three installments, it was expected that the major confrontations would be divided accordingly, reserving the ultimate showdown with Muzan for the final movie. Thus, the first two films will each spotlight a major battle with the Upper Moon demons, and the trailer makes it clear that while Upper Moon Two, Doma, will appear confronting Shinobu Koucho, it is Upper Moon Three, Akaza, confronting Tanjiro Kamado, will be the main event in the first movie. This direction makes perfect sense, as his confrontation serves as a fitting opening to the climactic arc.

Read Next

Demon Slayer Movie Hypes Akaza With New Infinity Castle Look Ahead of Premiere

The First Movie’s Main Event Will Feature Tanjiro Confronting the Demon Who Killed Rengoku

Akaza was the first Upper Rank Demon ever to appear during the events of the Mugen Train, emphasizing just how formidable the Upper Moons truly are. His arrival made a lasting impact, as he killed one of the strongest Hashira, Rengoku. Akaza exuded a level of terror unlike anything the Demon Slayers had faced before, and his martial arts-based fighting techniques set him apart from the other demons. However, what truly elevates his appearance and upcoming confrontation with Tanjiro is their shared history rooted in Rengoku’s death. Ever since that moment, fans have anticipated their clash, and with the trailer placing significant focus on Akaza, it’s clear that this will be the first major event of the story.

This confrontation makes perfect sense, as the protagonist, Tanjiro, is destined to face the main villain later in a classic shonen style; he will need a power boost to prepare for that final battle, and defeating Akaza will give him the power upgrade. With Giyu Tomioka, another fan favorite character, also joining him in this fight, few other battles can match the scale or intensity of this one. Moreover, Akaza stands as one of the most popular demons in the Demon Slayer franchise, surpassing even the final villain in terms of fan appeal. This upcoming showdown, fueled by Tanjiro’s vengeance and set to explore Akaza’s tragic backstory in typical Demon Slayer fashion, is by far going to be the first major event in the Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle movie trilogy.

The post Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle Movie Trilogy Confirms Its First Big Event appeared first on ComicBook.com.

If you’re looking for a new donghua to add to your watchlist this summer, you won’t want to miss Lord of Mysteries. With a supernatural steampunk Victorian twist, this fantastical and suspenseful action-packed dark mystery isekai is sure to keep you guessing. Mysticism, divine supernatural powers, secret societies, warring churches, Lovecraftian occult horror, puzzling mysteries to be solved, and, of course, an underlying isekai plot — this donghua hits all the steampunk bells and whistles for the makings of an absolute hit right off the bat. The trouble mostly just lies in getting the word out for giving it the proper recognition it deserves in the sea of already hyped anime.

As the web novel by author Cuttlefish That Loves Diving, Yuan Ye, began its serialized debut in 2018 on Qidian, its eighth and final volume finished in April of 2020. Thanks to CKTalon, it was officially translated and published on Webnovel. And now with the donghua adaptation being created by studio B.C May Pictures, we can’t wait to see more of what this blend of Victorian steampunk, Lovecraftian horror, and supernatural mysticism has to offer as the protagonist navigates occult horrors in this dark fantastical mystery. Especially after the highly underrated debut of To Be Hero X in April, these Chinese anime should definitely have their time to shine for the major hits they truly deserve to be.

Read Next

This Underrated Chinese Anime Is a Refreshing Spin on Stale Time Travel Tropes

A Dark Steampunk Mystery with a Supernatural Twist

June 28th, 1349 of the Epoch Calendar. Tingen City, Loen Kingdom. Time ticks as Tingen City’s Doomsday on September 9th gets ever closer. And this is the time and place Chinese youth Zhou Mingrui awakens to when his “Luck Enhancement Ritual” goes awry, transmigrating him into the body of university graduate Klein Moretti, a man who’d just committed suicide. In a world where those with supernatural abilities, called Beyonders, strive to achieve god-like powers on the Path of the Divine, the newly awakened Klein must uncover the truth behind secret mysticism societies and his own mysterious suicide and transmigration. Using his wits to survive and masquerading as a god-like entity is only the beginning as he forms an organization known as the “Tarot Club” and increases his own powers to return home.

But the rabbit hole of secrets and mysteries go even further with underlying societies and supernatural powers, even divine, as Lord of Mysteries includes Xuanhuan elements (fantasy genre inspired by traditional Chinese culture, mythology, philosophies, etc.), religious inspiration, and a whole systematic magic structure. The Beyonder’s use of magic isn’t just arbitrary, but includes a whole system, the Path of the Divine, utilizing potions and ascending to Divinity via 22 Pathways (inspired by the Kabbalistic Tree of Life and 22 cards of the Major Arcana in the Tarot) with different levels, or Sequences, wherein the lower the Sequence, the closer one is to having god-like powers.

Two Gorgeous Donghua That Deserve Wider Exposure

With a storyline that transcends time and space, the visuals definitely don’t disappoint when it comes to portraying such. Despite the backlash of issues with mistranslations and complaints about pacing (which is currently being ironed out for episodes to come), Studio B.C May Pictures instantly shows its artistic prowess by utilizing both 2D and 3D assets to showcase a beautiful, seamless blend of styles within the animation, creating an absolutely stunning world immersed in both dark, muted industrial grit and brightly saturated mysticism and intrigue. If you’re a fan of supernatural Victorian era plots and aesthetics like that of Black Butler, you should definitely not sleep on this donghua.

With To Be Hero X (Pb Animation Co. Ltd., LAN Studio, Paper Plane Animation Studio) already having been far underrated with its ongoing airing since April, it wouldn’t be too far-fetched if Lord of Mysteries were to also be lost under the radar of anime releases fans are hyped about this summer. As many fans may be initially put off with both donghua including the use of 3D graphics, they each absolutely deserve recognition for both their actually stunning animation and refreshing, innovative takes on their respective genres. The Lord of Mysteries ONA is to have a total of 13 episodes with each episode released Fridays on Crunchyroll, but you can catch the 2-episode special premiere now!

Are you hyped for Lord of Mysteries? Let us know in the comments your thoughts on this fantastic new donghua!

The post After To Be Hero X, Chinese Anime May Have Its Breakout Hit for Summer 2025 appeared first on ComicBook.com.

The director, scriptwriter, and lead actress for Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX appeared together for a special stage appearance in Japan on June 28th. The trio answered several questions during the presentation, unveiling new interesting tidbits about the series. One of the main reveals at the stage appearance was that the series was going to feature a surprise cameo of two major characters from the original Mobile Suit Gundam anime. Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX takes place in an alternate timeline of the original Gundam anime. The Principality of Zeon won the One Year War in Gundam GQuuuuuuX rather than the Earth Federation, leading to the Zabi family taking over the space colonies.

Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX features many of the same characters from the classic anime, most notably Char Aznable, Challia Bull, Lalah Sune, and Kycilia Zabi. However, most of the main heroes from the original series, including lead protagonist Amuro Ray, were primarily absent in Gundam GQuuuuuuX. Sayla Mass would make a surprise cameo in the series finale, yet most of the other characters from the Earth Federations didn’t make substantial appearances. It turns out, Kai Shiden and Miharu were going to be in Gundam GQuuuuuux before they were cut. They were going to be portrayed in a much happier situation than they were in the original show.

Read Next

Underrated ’90s Gundam Movie Gets a Gorgeous New Musical Release

Who Are Kai and Miharu from Mobile Suit Gundam?

Kai Shiden was one of the main supporting characters in Mobile Suit Gundam. He was a normal citizen who was forced into joining combat because nearly every other military official perished during a sneak attack on Side 7. He was primarily comedic relief in the original series, usually complaining about having to fight and making insensitive remarks against everyone. He eventually meets a teen girl named Miharu Ratokie, whom he thought was a normal citizen. She convinces him to let her sneak onboard the White Base. It’s quickly revealed she was a spy for Zeon, intending to pass information about the White Base back to Zeon. She soon changes sides and helps the crew in protecting a transport plane. Tragically, she falls to her death in the open waters, leaving Kai devastated.

Gundam GQuuuuuuX scriptwriter, Yoji Enokido, revealed that the team initially had a plan to reintroduce Miharu as a high-ranking official for the Zeon intelligence division. Miharu would have been secretly working for Challia Bull to undermine the Zabi family, highlighting the character’s altruistic personality she would eventually display in the classic series. Miharu would have been married to Kai, giving them the happy ending they couldn’t have in the original timeline. Enokido claims the subplot was dropped because the director wasn’t really feeling it, and Gundam GQuuuuuuX ended up becoming more focused on Lalah Sune than the creators’ initially intended.

While it’s sad we don’t get to see the happy ending between Kai and Miharu, it’s nice to know the creators behind Gundam GQuuuuuuX didn’t fully forget the characters. Given that the two characters met during the war in the classic show, it’s unknown how Kai and Miharu would’ve met in the first place in the Gundam GQuuuuuuX universe. Kai, in the original timeline, would survive Mobile Suit Gundam and would make sporadic appearances throughout the sequels. He would become a journalist and investigative reporter, outliving many of his contemporaries who stayed in the military.

H/T: Oricon US

The post Gundam GQuuuuuuX Cut a Story Featuring Classic Characters Returning appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Weekly Shonen Jump and Shonen Jump+ are among the highest-selling magazines from Shueisha, Japan’s largest publication company. Each year, the magazines go through several changes with many series being canceled or finishing, and just as many get introduced to fill the gaps. This has especially been the case this year, as we just bid farewell to Ken Wakui’s Astro Royale after an unsuccessful year. On the other hand, Shonen Jump+’s beloved manga, Kaiju No. 8, will reach its conclusion in July 2025. As such, both magazines introduce new series this week in two consecutive days, and while they may be completely opposite of one another, both have a ton of potential.

WSJ debuts Ekiden Bros, a sports manga by Daiki Nono, a new name in the manga industry. The author even shared a special message after the manga’s debut in the author’s comments. While Shonen enthusiasts welcome a new mangaka in the industry, Shonen Jump+ adds another sequel of Welzard’s famous horror series, Karada Sagashi. Horror manga fans might be familiar with the franchise that has released several manga series, anime series, and live-action films based on the manga. The latest sequel, Re/Member: The Last Night, is also a weekly installment, set in an amusement park after midnight. The first chapter of both series is available on Manga Plus, which you can access for free. Ekiden Bros will add new chapters every Sunday, while Re/Member: The Last Night will be released every Monday.

What Is the Plot of Ekiden Bros?

The story centers around Nobunaga, who has been watching the Tokyo-Hakune Round-Trip College Ekiden Race since he was a child. The race takes place every winter, and Nobunaga is thrilled to witness the incredible moments, the prizes, and the new records being set each year. Since his father is the coach for the Ekiden marathon and his mother runs the dorm, Nobunaga lives among the long-distance runners, which fuels his passion for the race. Now in high school, he dedicates all his time and energy to learning everything about the marathon.

Despite all that, Nobunaga only wants to keep watching from the sidelines since he believes he doesn’t have the talent for it and wants to avoid people mocking his father for having a “mediocre” son. Although he planned to work in the dorm and support the runners as much as possible, Nobunaga rediscovers his love for running after getting in a brief argument with his childhood rival and entering a ten-kilometer run. Thanks to Kenzaki’s help, the ace of Seitoku University’s track and field team, Nobunaga, wins the race and decides to pursue his dream of running in the Ekiden marathon.

Read Next

Two Shonen Jump Series Confirm Disappointing Hiatus News

What Is the Plot of Re/Member: The Last Night?

The series is a continuation of Welzard’s web novel, Karada Sagashi, which was published in 8 volumes from 2013 to 2015. Katsutoshi Murase returns as an artist in the latest installment and showcases his unusual gore and intricately detailed art style. The story kicks off from where the original Karada Sagashi web novel and the 2022 Netflix live-action film, Re/Member, left off. The latest manga series is an adaptation of the upcoming sequel film set to release in September 2025.

The screenplay is done by Harumi Doki and Yuki Hara. Doki is best known for her works in Ultraman and Pokémon Concierge, while Hara is a renowned animator known for Bakemonogatari, Nisekoi, Evangelion, and more. The story follows a group of students trapped in a time loop who hold a haunted house during a school festival. They believe the other students are avoiding the haunted house because of the sign that says, “Re/Member,” an urban legend that those chosen for the re/membering will be torn limb from limb by a blood-soaked girl.

After the culture day, the students visit an amusement park where they discover a strange girl, believing she is lost. After they chase after her, she asks them to find her body before they find themselves in a strange place. The ghost of the girl begins targeting the students one by one. After the tragic incident has passed, the students find themselves stuck in a time loop as they realize that “Re/Membering” wasn’t merely an urban legend after all.

The post Shonen Jump Just Launched Two New Series (And They Couldn’t Be More Different) appeared first on ComicBook.com.

The Summer anime season is officially less than 24 hours away, although some of this season’s anime have already been released. This Summer is one of the most anticipated anime seasons in years, as multiple major shonen series are returning, with a brand new one debuting (that is said to be the next Jujutsu Kaisen!), not to mention the return of a seinen romance masterpiece, a new horror offering from Netflix, several new romances, and much, much more. It’s going to be one hell of a season and, most urgently, it’s going to be one hell of a week for anime fans.

Of the anime teased above, many of them are debuting this week. Prepare to lock yourself away and say goodbye to your loved ones this Summer season (that means no going outside) because there are so many potentially amazing stories to get lost in. For the first (and hopefully not the last) time this Summer season, here is every new anime premiering this week (June 30th)!

Read Next

Summer 2025 Might Be the Best Anime Season in Years

This Week’s Biggest Anime Releases

For many, this approaching season is the season of shonen and action, and much of that kicks off this week. The big release over the next seven days is Season 2 of Dandadan. Science SARU’s acclaimed anime premiered last October, and fans have been incredibly lucky, only having to wait less than 12 months for the second season. One of the strangest isekais is also returning this season. You’d better have a spare dollar (or Yen, in this case) because everyone’s favorite vending machine is back to wander around a dungeon, for the second season of the very aptly titled Reborn as a Vending Machine, I Now Wander the Dungeon.

But, much of the hype of this Summer season comes from the new debuts. Sticking with the action theme, Clevatess blends medieval action with fantasy and magic, creating a series that looks like a slightly lighter take on Claymore. But, the biggest new action anime premiering this week is undoubtedly Gachiakuta. The post-apocalyptic action series has been described as the successor to Jujutsu Kaisen, and fans of the relatively new manga cannot wait to see it on screen.

Moving away from action, one of the most popular romance series is finally back. My Dress-Up Darling‘s eagerly anticipated second season premieres this week, as do two new romance anime: The Fragrant Flower Blooms With Dignity and April Showers Bring May Flowers. There’s also something spooky brewing, as the anime adaptation of The Summer Hikaru Died drops its first eerie episode this weekend.

This Week’s Anime Line-Up

Below is a day-by-day slate of each new anime releasing this week. We’ve highlighted the biggest releases in bold.

• TUESDAY – 7/01
  • Detectives These Days Are Crazy! (Crunchyroll)
  • Necronomico and the Cosmic Horror Show (Crunchyroll)
  • Rent-A-Girlfriend Season 4 (Crunchyroll)
• WEDNESDAY – 7/02
  • Reborn as a Vending Machine, Now I Wander the Dungeon Season 2 (Crunchyroll)
  • Clevatess (Crunchyroll)
  • New Saga (Crunchyroll)
  • Onmyo Kaiten Re:Birth Verse (Crunchyroll)
  • Hell Teacher: Jigoku Sensei Nube (YouTube)
• THURSDAY – 7/03
  • Kamitsubaki City Under Protection (Crunchyroll)
  • Welcome to the Outcast’s Restaurant (Crunchyroll)
  • Dandadan Season 2 (Crunchyroll, Netflix, Hulu)
  • The Water Magician (Crunchyroll)
• FRIDAY – 7/04
  • Betrothed to My Sister’s Ex (Crunchyroll)
  • Watari-kun’s ****** is About to Collapse (Crunchyroll)
  • Secrets of the Silent Witch (Crunchyroll)
  • Call of the Night Season 2 (HIDIVE)
  • April Showers Bring May Flowers
  • Arknights: Rise From Ember (Crunchyroll)
• SATURDAY – 7/05
  • Scooped Up by an S-Rank Adventurer! (Crunchyroll)
  • 9-nine- Ruler’s Crown
  • The Flagrant Flower Blooms With Dignity (Netflix)
  • The Shy Hero and the Assassin Princesses (Crunchyroll)
  • Rascal Does Not Dream of Santa Claus (Crunchyroll)
  • With You and the Rain (Crunchyroll)
  • Bad Girl (HIDIVE)
  • My Dress-Up Darling Season 2 (Crunchyroll)
  • Fermat no Ryori
  • The Summer Hikaru Died (Netflix)
• SUNDAY – 7/06
  • Gachiakuta (Crunchyroll)
  • City The Animation (Prime Video)
  • Apocalypse Bringer Mynoghra (Crunchyroll)
  • Toilet-Bound Hanako-kun Season 2 (Crunchyroll)
  • Hotel Inhumans (Crunchyroll)
  • Cultural Exchange With a Game Centre Girl (Crunchyroll)
  • Nyaight of the Living Cat (Crunchyroll)
  • Ruri Rocks (Crunchyroll)
  • Uglymug, Epicfighter

Which new anime are you most excited for this week? Let us know in the comments below!

The post Every New Anime Premiering This Week (June 30th) appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Demon Slayer’s manga concluded the story in 2020, and after more than five years, the anime is also in its final phase. The finale of the Hashira Training Arc sets up the premise of the Infinity Castle Arc, the final battle against the Upper Moon demons. The thousand-year-long feud between Muzan and the Demon Slayer Corps will finally come to an end, but the battle will be more difficult than anything the Demon Slayers have ever faced. After Kagaya blows up his mansion, Muzan gets temporarily injured and is baffled by the former’s insanity. However, the sacrifice of Kagaya and his family gave the Demon Slayers a small window to attack the demon progenitor. He is considerably weakened thanks to the combined intellect of Shinobu and Tamayo, but it will take a lot more than that to put down the monster.

Unfortunately, the Demon Slayers didn’t get a chance to fight Muzan properly before getting sucked into the Infinity Castle. Before the real fight against the final antagonist begins, they must take down the Upper Moons, Muzan’s strongest demons. A trailer was released last weekend, hyping up some of the best fights in the arc, such as Shinobu vs. Doma and Zenitsu vs. Kaigaku. However, the biggest highlight of the trailer was the confrontation between Tanjiro and Akaza, who stand against each other again after the Infinity Train Arc. The film will hit the Japanese theaters on July 18th, 2025, but the U.S. fans will have to wait till September 12th. As fans await the upcoming film, Crunchyroll’s CCO shares via a branc.jp interview how the unique decision of a canon trilogy film will become a milestone for theatrical anime.

Crunchyroll’s CCO Shares Insights on the Upcoming Demon Slayer Movie

In an interview with Blanc, Asa Suehira, the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of Crunchyroll, talks about the wide range of topics, including the growth of the anime industry, the massive success of Solo Leveling, as well as the upcoming Demon Slayer film.

When asking about the development of theatrical anime, the interviewer mentions Demon Slayer, which will be a big topic this year. Sueihara replies, “That’s right. Since the huge success of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba the Movie: Infinity Train, the attention of theater owners around the world to anime has changed.”

Sueihara continues, “Infinity Castle Arc will also be released on an unprecedented scale. I think it will be a milestone movie for theatrical anime, so I think it is Crunchyroll’s responsibility to deliver solid results.”

After the record-breaking success of the Mugen Train film, Ufotable decided to adapt the entire final arc into a trilogy film. Mugen Train was the highest-grossing anime movie of all time, breaking records across the globe. Thanks to that, Ufotable was able to make this bold move of adapting the final arc in a trilogy film, which is quite rare in the anime industry. Infinity Castle includes the most intense battles in the series as well as highly emotional moments, which can be adapted quite beautifully thanks to Ufotable’s stellar animation and direction. Sueihara promises the unprecedented scale of being released in over 80 countries.

H/T: Branc

The post “It Will Be a Milestone Movie”: Crunchyroll Exec Confirms Huge Scale of Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Shinichiro Watanabe is one of the most acclaimed anime directors of all time. His most lauded work, Cowboy Bebop, throws audiences head-first into a jazz-infused sci-fi world, filled with grungy aesthetics and moody characters all trying to survive. The director did it again with Space Dandy, another sci-fi series that acts as a love letter to jazz and funk music. His most recent hit, Lazarus (which recently dropped its final episode), also gave fans another soft dose of sci-fi. As a result, you’d be forgiven for thinking that his favorite movie, and the one that influenced his work the most, would be a sci-fi classic… but that couldn’t be further from the truth.

Shinichiro Watanabe just released a new book, titled Watanabe Shinichiro no Sekai Cowboy Bebop Kara Lazarus Made (Shinichirō Watanabe’s World: From Cowboy Bebop to Lazarus). As well as diving into his creative process and giving some behind-the-scenes snippets from his most popular series, Watanabe also revealed his Top 100 movies, and the top spot might surprise you.

Read Next

Cowboy Bebop Fans Need to Watch This 2000s Sci-Fi Anime

Shinichiro Watanabe’s Favorite Movie is a Martial Arts Classic

Shinichiro Watanabe’s list top 10 movies is filled with certified classics. Clint Eastwood’s Dirty Harry is 4th, while Jean-Pierre Melville’s Le Samouraï is 5th. The film that you’d assume to be his biggest influence, Ridley Scott’s Blade Runner, was in 8th. But it wasn’t a sci-fi film that held the top spot. As well as transporting audiences to outer space (and ancient Japan in Samurai Champloo) and acting as a crash course in the jazz and hip hop genres, Watanabe’s biggest works all have on thing in common: phenomenal fight scenes.

We shouldn’t be too surprised, then, that his favorite movie of all time is the Bruce Lee 1973 classic, Enter the Dragon. This is far from the first time Watanabe has declared his love for Enter the Dragon. Unfortunately, though, the director still hasn’t explained exactly why the film has inspired him so much.

Enter the Dragon is an absolute classic of the martial arts genre. The film cemented Bruce Lee as a pop culture icon. Enter the Dragon blended Bruce Lee’s iconic martial arts with the spy and espionage genres. Lee played, well… Lee, a Shaolin martial artist who works with the American government to infiltrate an opium lord’s island fortress through the guise of a fighting tournament.

Enter the Dragon‘s Influence on Watanabe

As previously mentioned, Shinichiro Watanabe didn’t directly reveal why Enter the Dragon is one of his biggest influences. But, looking at his filmography, it doesn’t take much detective work to see the influence. Spike Spiegel’s fighting style in Cowboy Bebop feels highly emulative of Bruce Lee’s in Enter the Dragon. The character of Spike also appears to be heavily influenced by Lee’s persona as a philosopher and martial artist.

Shinichiro Watanabe has yet to do an Enter the Dragon-esque fighting tournament series. But, with Enter the Dragon being such a big influence on his work, we’re now desperate to see it in the future. Shinichirō Watanabe’s World: From Cowboy Bebop to Lazarus is currently available in Japan. There is currently no word on an English release.

H/T: Kadokawa

The post Cowboy Bebop Director Reveals the Biggest Inspiration On His Work (& It’s Not What You Think) appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Directed and co-written by Mamoru Hosoda, Wolf Children, released in 2012, is one of the best portrayals of single motherhood beyond simply the anime medium. The film had its world premiere in Paris on June 25th, 2012, and was released theatrically on July 21st, 2012, in Japan. Wolf Children won the 2013 Japan Academy Prize for Animation of the Year, the 2012 Mainichi Film Award for Best Animation Film, and the 2013 Animation of the Year award at the Tokyo International Anime Fair. It also received worldwide recognition and won two awards at the Oslo Films from the South festival in Norway, an Audience Award at the 2013 New York International Children’s Film Festival, and the 2014 Best Anime Disc award from Home Media Magazine.

Even 13 years after the film’s release, it’s celebrated as one of the most beautiful and emotional stories of all time for the medium. At its core, the film highlighted the unwavering resolve of a mother’s love and sacrifice, which touched the hearts of many. Hosoda, previously known for Summer Wars and The Girl Who Leapt Through Time, told the simple, emotional story of a young woman who raised her two children alone after the death of her husband. Despite having supernatural elements, the film is profoundly human about the uncertainty of life and the challenges faced ahead.

What Is the Plot of Wolf Children?

The story centers around Hana, a college student who falls in love with a mysterious, yet kind man. She discovers his secret of being a werewolf one day, the last of his kind, and learns why he keeps himself away from the others. However, despite their differences, Hana and the werewolf eventually get married and live quiet and peaceful lives with their children, the oldest daughter Yuki and the youngest son Ame. However, the sudden death of the werewolf shatters Hana’s entire world, but she forces herself to remain strong for her children.

It’s already difficult enough for her to live in the city and earn enough income to support her kids. However, the most challenging part is to hide the fact that her children are half-werewolves. When she realizes their identities could be exposed under the watchful eyes, she countryside in hopes of living a life where Yuki and Ame can be free to grow on their own terms. Life in the countryside brings its own set of challenges as the woman struggles with financial instability, isolation, and the constant fear of not doing enough. As her children grow, Hana realizes both of them have to decide how to live going forward, whether as humans or wolves.

Wolf Children Is a Rare, Honest, and Heroic Portrayal of Motherhood

Wolf Children doesn’t blindly romanticize or simplify motherhood, but it paints the experience with raw authenticity. She makes sacrifices, struggles silently, faces breakdowns, but still keeps going forward without ever thinking for herself. She’s not your typical obstinate battle shonen hero, but her perseverance reflects the often unseen labor of mothers, making her one of anime’s most quietly heroic characters. Every scene of the film feels infused with respect and admiration for mothers, particularly those who do the work alone and without recognition.

The film also sends a message that a parent can do everything for children, but it’s up to the young ones to find their own paths, even when they diverge from their own dreams for them. We see the children grow from toddlers to teens, and the challenges Hana faced through each phase of their lives. There are certain scenes in the film with no dialogue as we see Hana fixing a roof, gardening, cooking, and smiling through exhaustion. Her tiredness feels almost too real, and it hits us that she never once lived a day simply for herself.

However, it’s also not difficult to see that nothing made her happier than watching Yuki and Ame grow healthy and happy. While Yuki decided to live among humans, Hana was heartbroken to learn Ame wanted to become the new protector of the forest and fully embrace the wolf side of himself. At first, she was devastated, but realizing he had found his own path, she emotionally accepted his goodbye. More than a decade has passed since its release, but the film hits us all the same, a timeless classic whose story may forever be unmatched.

The post 13 Years Ago, This Heartbreaking Anime Film About a Single Mother Broke Our Hearts appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Deciphering which of Studio Ghibli‘s movies is the best is one of the most contentious and hotly debated subjects within the anime community. Ghibli is undoubtedly the most popular anime studio across the world, with even the most casual of anime fans being aware of movies like Spirited Away, Howl’s Moving Castle, Princess Mononoke, and Grave of the Fireflies. But, a recent poll that gathered the opinions of over 500 filmmakers, actors, and Hollywood executives has tried to make the subjective objective by revealing what is “officially” the best Studio Ghibli movie.

The New York Times conducted the poll to determine what the best movie of the 21st Century is. The top 30 included beloved classics like Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, City of God, and Lost in Translation, along with modern hits like Moonlight, Mad Max: Fury Road, and Wolf of Wall Street, with Parasite claiming the top spot. But, alongside the live-action masterpieces, a Studio Ghibli classic snuck its way into the top 10, inadvertently making it the best Ghibli film.

Read Next

If You Love Studio Ghibli, Here Are the 10 Best Anime Movies You Must Watch Next

What is Studio Ghibli’s Best Movie?

Sitting high and mighty at the number nine spot is one of Studio Ghibli’s most lauded movies of all time. Released in 2001, the movie was written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki and won an Oscar in 2003. The film is renowned for its phenomenal worldbuilding, blending the world of humans with supernatural creatures, transfigured pigs, and terrifying old ladies.

If you haven’t guessed by now (firstly, shame on you!), the film in question is none other than Spirited Away. Per the results of the poll, the movie is officially the 9th best film of the 21st century. It was the only Studio Ghibli movie to make it onto the list, unofficially making it the studio’s best, at least, according to some of Hollywood’s most beloved filmmakers.

Spirited Away‘s Cinematic Legacy

It might not be your favorite Studio Ghibli movie, after all, that is an incredibly subjective matter, but it’s hard to argue with the film’s legacy. The movie helped to drastically change the perception of animated movies within mainstream culture. Before Spirited Away, animation and anime were largely seen as being made for children. But, Spirited Away did what the industry has been attempting for decades by shutting down that notion.

Spirited Away is often cited as one of the most influential movies of all time, not just within the anime industry. There are likely hundreds (if not thousands) of animators working today because they were inspired by Spirited Away. But the movie has also inspired countless Western filmmakers. As well as influencing the visual style of contemporary filmmakers and anime directors, Spirited Away also helped to popularize some of the most popular themes and motifs in modern anime. The most apparent is the idea of children facing dark and mature situations.

Do you agree with the poll? Is Spirited Away your favorite Studio Ghibli movie? Do you prefer one of Miyazaki’s other lauded films? Or, perhaps one of the studio’s more underappreciated movies? Let us know in the comments below.

H/T: NY Times

The post A Studio Ghibli Classic Is Officially One of the Greatest Movies of the 21st Century appeared first on ComicBook.com.

My Hero Academia came to an end last Summer, and ever since the creator behind it all has been steadily revealing more of his process behind how he brought it all to an end. With the My Hero Academia TV anime coming to its own end later this Fall, the franchise has been going all out to celebrate how far the franchise has come since it launched in the pages of Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump magazine ten long years ago. This has given the creator lots of new opportunities to open up about his process in bringing it all to life.

One of the ways My Hero Academia has been celebrating the franchise is with a new art exhibition now running in Japan showing fans a much closer look at all of the art from the series’ history. And a cool element of this showcase is the fact thatr series creator Kohei Horikoshi also shared some notes about elements of his experience. This includes what he felt was the hardest part of the final arc (as translated by @shibuyasmash on X), and surprisingly it was the final fight between Dabi and Shoto Todoroki as the Todoroki Family reunited.

My Hero Academia Creator Had Trouble With the Todoroki Family

It turns out that My Hero Academia series creator Kohei Horikoshi had trouble with the final fight between Dabi and Shoto because of the balance with the Todoroki Family reunion within it. As Horikoshi explained, he wanted to balance it enough to showcase both the family in this moment while being sure that Shoto would still be able to stand on his own. “Each and every line took a lot of time, I had to be really careful with it and it had a physical effect on my body.” The creator began.

“I had decided to have the whole Todoroki family stop Toya head on, all together, but I wanted to avoid having Todoroki-kun being ‘just one of the family’ there.” Horikoshi explained. “I was careful about the balance of ‘the story of the Todoroki family’ and ‘the story of how Todoroki-kun became the person he wanted to be,’ these stories overlap but are not mixed. I don’t know if I was able to do a good job of protecting that balance. But I had come this far so I wanted to finish drawing it all.”

What’s Next for My Hero Academia?

My Hero Academia will be fully coming to an end sometime this October as part of the Fall 2025 anime schedule. While a concrete release date has yet to be announced as of the time of this publication, the anime will be taking on the final fights against All For One and Tomura Shigaraki as it all comes to an end. If you wanted to catch up with everything that has happened so far, you can now find the first seven seasons, OVA specials, and a couple of the movies now streaming with Crunchyroll.

There will be a returning staff and voice cast for the anime’s grand finale as well. My Hero Academia FINAL SEASON will be directed by a returning Naomi Nakayama for studio Bones with Yosuke Kuroda returning to handle the series’ scripts, Kenji Nagasaki serving as chief director, Yoshihiko Umakoshi and Hitomi Odashima providing the character designs, and Yuki Hayashi composing the music. It’s yet to be revealed if the anime will be adapting all of the extra materials released after the manga’s ending, so that’s yet another reason to tune in and see how the anime approaches such a grand finale.

HT – @shibuyasmash on X

The post My Hero Academia Creator Reveals the Most Difficult Part of the Final Arc appeared first on ComicBook.com.

All the major characters in the Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle film will have their moments to shine as the final showdown against the demons will be more brutal than ever. Ufotable is adapting the final arc in a trilogy film, and the first film has already shared its match-ups. The trailer, which was released last weekend, features most of the major characters in the final arc. While everyone will be fighting some of the most powerful demons in history, the trailer specifically highlights Shinobu vs. Doma, Zenitsu vs. Kaigaku, and Tanjiro vs. Akaza. Shinobu’s opponent is the Upper Moon Two, who is way stronger than the Upper Moons Tanjiro and the others defeated before the Hashira Training Arc.

The Infinity Castle has an unpredictable layout that’s almost impossible to navigate. The Demon Slayers were scattered all across the castle after forcefully getting sucked in, and Shinobu faced Doma all by herself. Doma has already been introduced in the anime, but his true powers will only be revealed in the Infinity Castle Arc. He is also the only demon who has the habit of specifically targeting women, since eating their flesh gives demons a lot more strength. Even so, the Hashira won’t be easy to take down. The first part of the trilogy film will hit the Japanese theaters on July 18th, 2025. However, U.S. fans will have to wait until September 12th before watching the film.

Read Next

10 Best Fights in Demon Slayer

Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle Film Will Reveal the Real Reason Shinobu Fought Doma

Although Shinobu’s a Hashira, she lacks brute strength, unlike the other Demon Slayers. Because the Insect Hashira is smaller and has no arm strength, she relies on poison to defeat the demons. Shinobu is the only one who created an unconventional way of fighting demons. She also makes up for her lack of strength with exceptional speed, and she can kill a demon in the blink of an eye. However, even someone like her will be at a significant disadvantage against Upper Moon Two, one of Muzan’s most powerful subordinates.

However, Shinobu vs Doma isn’t a random matchup; there’s a lot of story behind it. Out of all the Hashira, Shinobu and Giyu were the only ones who didn’t participate in the training. While Giyu’s reason was already revealed in the anime, Shinobu’s goal still remains a mystery. From her conversation with Kanao, it’s evident she’s planning something major before the series bows out. Shinobu’s hatred for demons, the conversation with Kanao, and the truth behind her sister’s death will all be revealed in this arc.

The post Demon Slayer Readies Shinobu for Final Fight appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Hajime no Ippo is one of the most popular and influential sports anime of all time. Written by Joji Morikawa (who is a real-life boxing coach), the series follows Ippo Makonouchi as he goes from a bullied high school student to one of Japan’s top boxing prospects. Madhouse’s anime adaptation is considered to be one of (if not THE) best sports anime of all time, having influenced a generation of real boxers across the globe. Now it’s time for those boxers to showcase their passion for the sport, and for Hajime no Ippo, in the franchise’s first real event.

Many boxers have expressed their love for Hajime no Ippo during matches. But, never before has it happened at an official Hajime no Ippo boxing event. Joji Morikawa’s inspiring and adrenaline-pumping sports manga/anime is hosting its first-ever live-boxing event, and it’s two decades overdue.

Read Next

Before the Best Dracula Manga Ever, Its Creator Released an Underrated Sports Adventure

Hajime no Ippo is Being Brought to Life

This November, Hajime no Ippo becomes a reality at the first-ever “Dynamite Gloves 2025.” The live sporting event will take place at Tokyo’s Korakuen Hall on November 18th, and Hajime no Ippo fans do not want to miss it.

Seven professional bouts will take place on the night. Like Ippo’s early fights as an amateur boxer, the matches will be four-round bouts. As well as actual boxing matches, the event will also include an art exhibition showing off Morikawa’s work on the long-running, and still ongoing, manga, as well as anime-inspired visuals and banners. To top it all off, Joji Morikawa will be making a rare public appearance, giving a talk to those in attendance.

If that wasn’t cool enough, the venue (Tokyo’s Korakuen Hall) is where many of the fights in Hajime no Ippo take place, so it’ll be like spectators are watching matches from the anime. The event is open to international fans, and fans can now join a pre-registration waiting list on the event’s official website.

Hajime no Ippo’s Legacy on the Sports Genre

How can you not love Hajime no Ippo? It blends the classic underdog story with real boxing techniques, meaning it simultaneously entertains and educates viewers about the world of boxing. The anime first began airing in 2000 and came to an end in 2014. Morikawa’s manga is one of the longest-running series of all time (and longer than One Piece), so fans are hoping for more from the anime in the coming years, although this hasn’t been confirmed.

The series is on par with Takehiko Inoue’s Slam Dunk in terms of its influence on the sports genre of anime. Not only has its story and character work inspired modern classics like Haikyuu, but its success has also helped usher in the current age of sports anime. Before Slam Dunk and Hajime no Ippo, sports manga and anime weren’t popular. But both series broke that barrier down, and it’s them that we have to thank for the tidal wave of great sports anime we’re now being treated to.

H/T: Anime News Network

The post The Best Sports Anime of All Time Is Being Turned Into a Real Event appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Kinema Citrus, the same studio that brought us Made in Abyss and The Rising of the Shield Hero, has finally released new teaser footage and poster for the company’s upcoming The Little Mermaid adaptation, Goodbye, Lara. The studio initially announced the project in 2024, sharing the first teaser at Anime Central. The company also announced the light-hearted school anime, Ninja Skooler, alongside Goodbye, Lara. The two teasers for Goodbye, Lara evoke the classical Studio Ghibli feel, with bright colors, soft character designs, fluid animation, and mundane life within the fantastical. The original footage focused heavily on the storybook atmosphere of the tale, showing Lara slumbering within the pages of the classic Little Mermaid novel.

The first teaser features a mixture of Lara’s extraordinary life underwater and her normal life above ground with human legs. The underwater stuff features many classic Little Mermaid traits, including the evil sea witch and the undersea castle. The normal life parts are more contemporary, with Lara befriending a Japanese schoolgirl and meeting a charming blond boy. The new teaser is shorter, highlighting a few scenes in the series, including the iconic scene of the titular mermaid saving a drowned prince, the underwater castle, and Lara learning how to run. Goodbye, Lara is expected to release in 2026.

Read Next

10 Villains in Anime Scarier Than Any Monster

Why Is The Little Mermaid Important in Anime?

The Little Mermaid is one of those Western media that is fairly popular in Japan. Several prolific European and American stories have discovered great success in the country, including Alice in Wonderland and Anne of Green Gables. Classic fairytales like The Little Mermaid were always popular in Japan, with the iconic Hans Christian Andersen’s The Little Mermaid anime film predating the more infamous Disney animated film by 14 years. However, Disney’s The Little Mermaid has become so ubiquitous with the fairy tale that the animated movie continues to influence more modern renditions of the story. The protagonist in Goodbye, Lara even has bright red hair just like Ariel in Disney’s film, a trait that wasn’t specified in the original Andersen story. The classic 1975 Little Mermaid anime film had the titular character as a blonde.

While the two teaser footage emphasizes the slice-of-life aspect of Lara, the poster and title hint at a darker undertone. The original Andersen story was a more somber story featuring a more tragic ending for the character, whereas the more iconic Disney film had a happier ending. The 1975 Little Mermaid anime film kept the more bittersweet ending. The Goodbye, Lara’s name suggests the main character will have to leave, and people have to say their farewells, which is similar to how the original story ended. The new official poster is a close-up on Lara’s eye as she sheds tears that shine like stars. It’s a much more dire image than what the anime is advertising as. Goodbye, Lara is being sold a fun, slice-of-life anime starring a mermaid who is learning how to live in the human world.

The title and poster hint at a sadder story, probably one closer to the original tale. This wouldn’t be the first time that Kinema Citrus tricked audiences with its marketing. The company notoriously advertised Made in Abyss as a much more lighthearted show than it became, making it one of the most somber yet still hopeful shows in the last ten years.

The post The Little Mermaid’s Anime Drops Ghibli-Like Trailer and New Look appeared first on ComicBook.com.

For its whole history, one of the most troubling parts of anime has been its relationship to its source material. For any given adaptation, there are inevitable arguments about whether the source or the anime is better. With the industry looking toward using anime to save failed manga, these discussions might just intensify. For others, though, the situation is pretty cut-and-dry.

At this point, we’ll be earnest and say that not all of these manga are horrible; in fact, some of them are pretty great. The industry has a built-in filter—if a manga gets an anime, it’s probably already pretty decent. After all, animation studios don’t have infinite resources to work with. Nonetheless, there are countless incredible anime that outshine their manga renditions. Whether by making sense of a dense forestry of illegible paneling, expanding paper-thin narratives, or bringing out elements that simply don’t do well in the manga format, these anime are top-notch examples of how thoughtful adaptation can improve any story.

1) Dororo

Dororo is one of the best anime ever. It’s a gripping shonen story about a samurai without a master named Hyakkimaru, and a young boy named Dororo who accompanies him. The series has two different anime adaptations—a 1969 effort from Mushi Production, and a 2019 effort from MAPPA. Each has its own strengths and weaknesses, but generally, the latter is recommended to those trying to get into the series today.

Fans of Dororo‘s anime might be surprised to learn that its manga really isn’t that great. Or rather, it shows its age tremendously: Osamu Tezuka’s original manga debuted in 1967, back when shonen storylines were significantly simpler than today’s. MAPPA’s gorgeous adaptation follows the same basic premise as Tezuka’s Dororo, but it also deviates significantly. Beyond the usual elevations, MAPPA’s Dororo implements a great deal of narrative depth that was otherwise absent. On its own, Dororo is unimpressive to readers today; meanwhile, aesthetically and narratively, 2019’s Dororo is one of the most beautiful anime ever made.

2) K-On!

K-On! started out as 4-koma, or a comic with four cells and a traditionally rigid narrative structure. As a story about five girls making music together in the Light Music Club, it’s obvious that the music that an animated adaptation can provide would lift up K-On!’s story, but the problems run deeper into its narrative structure. K-On!‘s original comic was lacking in a lot of dimensions that the show would become known for.

This, in turn, became a job for Kyoto Animation, a legendary studio with a reputation for massively building on their source materials. One fan ran the numbers in a publicly available Google Doc, finding that K-On!’s anime is over 80% original material. Needless to say, Kyoto Animation’s expert work with K-On! brought depth, dimension, and heart to a comic that was limited in its storytelling and lacking in impact.

3) Sailor Moon

Sailor Moon is an iconic magical girl anime, and its best-kept secret is that the source material isn’t all that great. Granted, some people find it very charming, but there’s a serious lack of certain basic elements. Take the fact that it’s offensively rushed. The manga is far more serious and way darker, which appeals to many. But the side effect is that Sailor Moon‘s manga cuts straight to action without taking time for characterization. Not to mention, Naoko Takeuchi isn’t the best at rendering her ideas on the page.

By comparison, although Sailor Moon‘s anime is far more lighthearted, it ensures characters outside of Usagi and Mamoru are developed. A big part of this is also its liberal use of filler. Filler does a tremendous job of expanding Sailor Moon‘s world and building out concepts its manga iteration left underdeveloped; it also creates room for much-appreciated comic relief and depth. Add in the additional clarity that animation brought to the manga’s sometimes-confusing battles, and the anime emerges a clear winner.

4) Usagi Drop

Usagi Drop, also known by its English title Bunny Drop, is a heartwarming story that plays with slice-of-life, comedy, and drama elements. In Usagi Drop, the single 30-yegreatar-old Daikichi finds himself suddenly saddled with a six-year-old daughter, Rin. Although he’s eternally uncertain about his abilities, she has a hugely positive impact on his own life. The manga is great until it isn’t: a ten-year time skip leads down some iffy roads as Rin, now a high-schooler, develops feelings for Daikichi.

The anime decides to say no to the time skip, and fans couldn’t be happier with the decision. In fact, many of them choose to consider the anime’s ending the real one, some even playfully denying that Usagi Drop‘s manga ever existed to begin with. Add that to the fact that it’s an all-around lovely watch with beguiling art and pacing, and the anime comes out a clear victor over its source material.

5) JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure

Admittedly, this one is kind of cheating. JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure is an incredible manga, and its creator Hirohiko Araki is a landmark talent on the level of Urasawa (Monster, 20th Century Boys) and Miura (Berserk). But, with that said, David Production’s incredible adaptation of JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure elevates the source material to such a nuts degree that it would be sacrilegious not to mention it. The list isn’t “great manga to incredible anime”, but bear with us. There are numerous examples of this expert handling.

In a general sense, JoJo‘s fast-paced and often convoluted action is better represented on the screen than in manga format. The immeasurable difference between the manga and anime depictions of Golden Wind‘s Diavolo’s Stand, King Crimson, is enough to demonstrate the difference that motion, sound, and color can make. However, the benefit of hindsight also adds a lot: for example, David Production cleaned up manga’s presentation of simultaneous events on July 15th in Diamond is Unbreakable. For purposes of clarity, JoJo‘s anime wins every day—even if Araki’s manga is already fantastic. There’s a reason fans think an anime will take Steel Ball Run to the next level.

Read Next

10 Best Bucket List Anime We Can’t Recommend Enough (STAFF PICKS)

6) Houseki no Kuni

Houseki no Kuni, also known by its English title Land of the Lustrous, is a brilliant effort by mangaka Haruko Ichikawa. However, it’s a seinen action manga based around immortal humanoid gemstones called Gems. It goes without saying that gemstones are, well, colored, which should already tell you where the problems emerge. As a work of art, Houseki no Kuni‘s manga is a gorgeous effort with high visual appeal. As a story, it’s hard to follow; the manga’s many characters blend together, and it takes a lot of cognitive effort to understand what’s happening.

The 2017 anime by Studio Orange wasn’t just a stunning adaptation. It was so good that it convinced countless people that CG anime had potential. As for the core narrative of Houseki no Kuni, it brought attention to scenes that were insignificant in the manga, in turn shedding light on some underappreciated moments. The presentation is also miles better. Believe it or not, color is as important for telling Gems apart as they are for telling, well, gems apart. The anime format turns the abstract, hard-to-parse manga on its head, for the better.

7) Ghost in the Shell

Ghost in the Shell is another example that by no means is a bad manga. However, for most fans, Masamune Shirow’s The Ghost in the Shell would be pretty much unrecognizable in comparison to the 1995 Ghost in the Shell from Production I.G, directed by Mamoru Oshii (who also directed its 2004 follow-up, Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence). It’s also the film, rather than the manga, that would set the tone for the entire franchise built around the manga.

But the manga is nothing like the film, nor is it like any of the acclaimed offshoot media like 2002’s anime serial Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex. Shirow emphasized very different things, putting humor and characterization at the forefront. Anybody familiar with Oshii’s style will know that those things aren’t exactly his bag: Oshii emphasized atmosphere, philosophical weight, and the visual/narrative dimensions, only adapting a few sequences from the original manga. As far as Ghost in the Shell goes, it was 100% Oshii who put it on the map.

8) Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba

It’s probably controversial to throw Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba in here, but among fans, it’s practically a universal opinion that the anime is leagues better than the manga. Bear in mind, it’s not fair to call Demon Slayer a horrible manga. It’s not. Gotouge’s Demon Slayer debuted in 2016, and it’s been called a “good enough” manga by some: it definitely does the trick, but it doesn’t do anything special for its time and place. Its story and mechanics feel very generic in manga format.

Then along came Ufotable’s 2019 adaptation and the game changed entirely. Again, while Demon Slayer‘s manga was fine on its own, its fan base exploded after the anime―and for good reason. Ufotable’s meticulous, beautiful animation and expert storyboarding, casting, and pacing filled out the lackluster manga, allowing certain elements to shine and the rest to breathe. Against all odds, Demon Slayer became a franchise that could age like a fine wine, showing that even a middling premise can enrapture potential fans with the right execution.

9) Ga-Rei: Zero

Ga-Rei is a bit of a different case. The story, art, and characters don’t shine at all. As a whole, the manga is incredibly mediocre. The premise is incredibly run-of-the-mill, predicated on Kensuke Nimura’s ability to see spirits and his recruitment to a government agency tasked with fighting them off. There’s also a teased romance between Kensuke and his spirit-devouring partner, Kagura, but nothing ever comes of it.

By every metric, the story is unimpressive, and it was received by fans as such; nonetheless, a following in Japan led to the series getting an anime. It wasn’t, however, an adaptation of the manga itself. Instead, Ga-Rei received a prequel: Ga-Rei: Zero, handled by AIC Spirits (Date a Live, Maken-Ki!) and asread. (Arifureta, Shuffle!). To the practically unanimous surprise of the Western anime community, Ga-Rei: Zero was way better than its source material. Anime fans loved its music, characters, and thoughtful animation. They were also hooked by its first episode, enjoying its meticulous writing and execution all the way to the equally beloved ending.

10) Mob Psycho 100

Maybe this is a cheap shot, but it’s worth mentioning anyway: everybody knows that art isn’t ONE’s strong suit. That even comes across in adaptations of his two best-known works, One-Punch Man and Mob Psycho 100 with his quirky character designs. On one hand, they are indeed a personal style for the artist (who emphasizes comedy over glamor), but on the other, they’re also just a reflection of his background: a webcomic artist who caught some fame, rather than a professional mangaka. ONE’s strength has always been his storytelling, and that’s what carries Mob Psycho 100‘s manga.

Where One-Punch Man was remade with art by Murata for Weekly Shonen Jump, Studio Bones was working with the bare-bones publication of Mob Psycho 100 illustrated by ONE. Bones’ adaptation breathes an unbelievable amount of life into ONE’s panels which are, whether by necessity or habit, often stiff and lacking in depth―especially when it comes to depicting action or environments. Combine that with brilliant sound design and great voice acting, and ONE’s charming writing is finally given room to shine.

At the end of the day, there are a lot of reasons an anime might outshine its source, although anime failing their manga counterparts is way more common. Like the entries on this list show, even well-regarded manga have some essential shortcomings that can be ironed out in their anime format. We think it’s pretty hard to disagree with our picks if you see where we’re coming from—which is why we’d love to hear your thoughts below!

In the meantime, if you’re looking for some stellar manga we can’t wait to see adapted, click through to the list below!

The post 10 Most Amazing Anime That Outclassed Their Manga appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Rick and Morty Season 8 has crossed the halfway mark of its run with Adult Swim, and the newest episode of the series has given Rick and Beth the moment they’ve desperately needed through the years thus far. Rick and Morty has been spending the first half of its newest season working through a new status quo that has been set up following everything that happened in the past few seasons. But at the same time, there have been some major moves for all of the characters so far as we’ve gotten to see new sides to each of them after all these years.

Beth has been a particular point of focus this season as an earlier episode brought back Space Beth for a full focus episode as we got to see more of how she relates to Rick after everything they’ve been through. This gets taken to the next level in the newest episode, however, as Beth and Space Beth not only show a new side of themselves, but they have a big emotional resolution with Rick that fans have been hoping to see for quite a while.

Rick and His Daughter(s) Emotionally Breakdown With One Another

Rick and Morty Season 8 Episode 6, “The CurRicksous Case of Bethjamin Button” sees both Beth and Space Beth growing tired with the current state of their lives. The two of them are growing bored and depressed over everything they have going on, and wonder where it all went wrong. The two of them then decide to go back to when they were the happiest, and de-age themselves back to children. It’s here that we get to truly see how much of a menace the young Beth was (as previously teased in episodes like “The ABCs of Beth), and the reason behind her aggressiveness.

Read Next

Rick and Morty Season 8 Review: Back in Action for 100 More Years

When Rick comes to settle down the de-aged Beths, the two of them end up outsmarting him and aging him up to 360 years old. While beating on him, the two Beths start to cry over the fact that he abandoned them in order to do whatever he wanted. Rick tries to explain that his own Beth died and he didn’t abandon them, but they were so angry that someone had left them in the first place. Ultimately, this beatdown makes Rick proud of his daughters in the way only he could be.

What Does This Mean for Rick and Beth?

As the three of them cry over everything and hug one another, it’s the bit of emotional resolution that fans have been waiting to see for a long time. Rick and Beth’s relationship has been one of the core factors of Rick and Morty‘s later seasons, and it’s been even more important following the reveal that this Beth isn’t even his original daughter. Rick and his daughters are now at a more healthy place than they ever have been, and that’s a huge step forward for each of these formally walled off characters.

It showcases that while Rick and Morty is more interested in maintaining the episodic nature of its adventures, there’s still going to be serialization where it matters most. While wacky things continue to happen around them each season, it’s becoming increasingly clear that the characters are changing thanks to everything that’s happened to them. It makes even the episodic stuff more important than ever before as while they might be brushed off in the immediate aftermath, it’s clear how much each of these moments have had an impact on them. Which is ultimately a good sign for Rick and Morty’s long future too.

The post Rick and Morty Gives Rick & Beth the Moment Fans Have Been Waiting For appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Demon Slayer is set to take over theaters this Summer with the long-awaited Infinity Castle movie. The series, based on the hit manga by Koyoharu Gotouge, is one of the most successful anime of all time. The first feature film, Mugen Train (released in 2020), is the highest-grossing anime movie of all time, and the series is one of the most popular on streaming platforms like Crunchyroll and Netflix. But, like Tanjiro constantly pushing through injury, the series isn’t taking a break, as yet another adaptation is on the way.

Fans are getting Demon Slayer overload this Summer. Mugen Train was rereleased in theaters in 4K, the entire series streamed for free on YouTube, and the show’s official X account has been overwhelming fans with content for the last 54 days. To top it all off, Demon Slayer fans will get to enjoy a new novelization of the manga this Summer, alongside the Infinity Castle movie.

Read Next

Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle Movie Debuts First Trailer: Watch

Demon Slayer Is Getting a New Novel

To celebrate the release of Infinity Castle in Japanese theaters on July 18th, a new novelization of the arc will be released the same month. Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Infinity Castle Movie 1 – Akaza’s Return is the new novel written by Aya Yajima, which will be released in Japan on July 22nd.

The novel will take the first part of the Infinity Castle arc and transform it into beautiful prose. The novel is over 240 pages, and also includes four color illustrations. Infinity Castle Movie 1 – Akaza’s Return isn’t the first novelization of Demon Slayer. Yajima has previously written three novel adaptations of the franchise. The Flower of Happiness was the first novel, published in 2019, and it explored Tanjiro and Zenitsu’s lives before joining the Demon Slayer Corps.

The official synopsis for the new novel reads, “Muzan Kibutsuji appears at the Ubuyashiki estate, headquarters of the Demon Slayer Corps. Tanjiro and the Hashira rush to protect their master, but they are suddenly cast into a mysterious space by Muzan’s power. Where they land is none other than the demons’ stronghold, Infinity Castle. Thus, the final battle between the Demon Slayer Corps and the demons begins.”

Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle Is Aiming to Break Box Office Records

To say that the release of Infinity Castle is the most anticipated anime of 2025 is a massive understatement. Mugen Train arc’s box office achievement (above) is already impressive, but fans are expecting Infinity Castle to blow that record out of the water. Not only is Infinity Castle the second Demon Slayer movie (which is hype enough to fill theaters), it is also the first movie in a new trilogy that will bring Demon Slayer‘s anime to a close. Infinity Castle releases in US theaters on September 12th.

H/T: Demon Slayer X

The post Demon Slayer Is Getting Yet Another Adaptation appeared first on ComicBook.com.

The Apothecary Diaries Season 2 is all set for its finale as the Shi Clan’s head and his wife have finally been killed. The season primarily focused on the Shi Clan’s plot since the Hunting Tournament in Cour 1 and then the all-out war in Cour 2. While the feud is between the Imperial family and one of the highest-ranking Clans in the Empire, Maomao somehow gets involved in both situations. Even with all the political tension going on in the kingdom, Maomao still finds a way to solve mysteries in the Rear Palace and connect the dots about Shenlu’s involvement in the abortion perfumes being circulated in the Rear Palace.

Just like the first season, almost every mystery in Season 2 was in one way or another interconnected. Each mystery brings a new set of challenges for Maomao, who gets to the bottom of this and unravels the plot behind strange occurrences. Her intensive knowledge of medicine and her knack for cracking mysteries have always come in handy. Unlike the first season, the second season didn’t have as many deaths, but they still contributed significantly to the story. While the story focused on Concubine Jin and the previous Emperor’s deaths, they only died before the events of the second season. So, how many characters died in The Apothecary Diaries Season 2?

Warning: This article contains spoilers from The Apothecary Diaries Season 2 and the light novels!

1) Shishou Died a Meaningless Death, Not Different From the Life He Led

Unlike Shenmei, Shishou wasn’t inherently evil or corrupted. He was ordered to marry the previous Emperor’s discarded daughter and used that as an opportunity to bring Shenmei back to the Shi Clan. However, he didn’t know what he signed up for, since the woman he loved was greedy and vicious. Feeling sorry for her past, he let her do anything she wanted, even if it meant destroying the Clan.

He turned a blind eye to her atrocities, including his daughters’ sufferings. For over two decades, Shishou didn’t sleep peacefully for one night. In Season 2 Episode 23, he stood against Jinshi even though he would lose his life. Shishou died laughing maniacally with several swords stabbing him.

2) Shenmei Has No One to Blame For Her Fate Except Her

Season 2 Episode 23 reveals that Shenmei voluntarily went to the Rear Palace to satisfy her greed for power. However, she felt humiliated when the previous Emperor didn’t even look at her once. After failing to fulfill her goal of becoming the Empress Dowager, she returns to the Shi Clan and marries Shishou as her father originally intended. Even so, she craved nothing but the destruction of the Imperial family and the nation that dared to laugh at her. For over two decades, she plotted a futile rebellion, which could’ve easily failed.

Unaware of her incompetence, Shenmei continued walking the path of evil, believing she was above everyone else. In the end, she couldn’t tolerate her daughter’s betrayal and decided to shoot her. What Shenmei didn’t know was that the gun she snatched from Loulan to kill her would backfire on her and end up taking her own life.

3) Loulan’s Dance Was Beautiful, But Her Story Doesn’t End There

Under the dim moonlight, Loulan danced ever so gracefully, as if freeing herself from her shackles. Her parents are dead, and the Shi Clan’s rebellion failed, but she managed to save the life of her sister Suirei. Everything went according to her plan, so she felt relieved. However, while she made a deal with Jinshi to spare Suirei’s life, she couldn’t ask that for herself because she knew how serious her crimes were. Suirei was banished from the clan, but Loulan was still the legitimate daughter of the Clan Head and his official wife.

Not to mention just the crime of her fooling the emperor, having servant girls disguise themselves as her, and escaping the Rear Palace was enough to condemn her to death. After everything was over, she went to the rooftop of the fortress and danced to her heart’s content before one of Jinshi’s guards shot her, and she fell from the terrace in the cold snow. That was the end of Loulan, the daughter of the Shi Clan. However, no one knew that she faked her death, and she has assumed another identity. She will reappear in the story again, but it will be years before that happens.

The post The Apothecary Diaries: Who Dies in Season 2? appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Rent-a-Girlfriend is one of the many franchises returning with new episodes this Summer, and the anime has dropped a final update ahead of Season 4’s big premiere. The Summer 2025 anime schedule is officially kicking off this week, and that means a whole new wave of anime are going to finally make their premiere. This not only includes a ton of new series getting their due, but also even more franchises are returning for new seasons to continue their respective stories. And Rent-a-Girlfriend is squarely sitting right in the center of it all when it hits this Summer as well.

Although creator Reiji Miyajima already took over anime screens with The Shiunji Family Children’s anime debut this Spring, Rent-a-Girlfriend is about to heat things up in a whole new way with Season 4. The anime will not only bringing back its cast for a new wave of episodes, but these episodes are also going to be tackling one of the most infamous arcs of the original manga among fans as well. To celebrate its return this Summer, Rent-a-Girlfriend has dropped a new poster for Season 4 that you can check out below.

When Is Rent-a-Girlfriend Season 4 Coming Out?

Rent-a-Girlfriend Season 4 will be officially debuting in Japan on July 4th, and Crunchyroll has announced they will be streaming the new episodes alongside their initial premiere for fans in other territories. This new season will be split into two cours of episodes, with a break taking place in between so the anime will be airing this Summer before returning some time in Winter 2026 with its second half. Kazuomi Kogi will also be returning from the first two seasons of the anime to direct Rent-a-Girlfriend Season 4 for TMS Entertainment (replacing the third season director, Shin’ya Une).

Read Next

Top 10 New Anime You Need to Watch This Summer 2025

The new opening theme for Rent-a-Girlfriend Season 4 is titled “Umitsuki” as performed by ClariS, and the new ending theme is titled “Boku no Vega” as performed by Regallily. The new season will also feature a returning main voice cast of Shun Horie as Kazuya Kinoshita, Sora Amamiya as Chizuru Mizuhara, Aoi Yuki as Mami Nanami, Nao Toyama as Ruka Sarashina, Rie Takahashi as Sumi Sakurasawa, and Yu Serizawa as Mini Yaemori. As for potential new additions to the cast, not many have been revealed as of the time of this publication. But we’ll see it all in action soon enough.

What’s Going on in Rent-a-Girlfriend Season 4?

If you wanted to take the time to catch up with everything that’s happened in the anime so far, you can find the first three seasons of Rent-a-Girlfriend now streaming with Crunchyroll. They tease what’s coming in the new season as such, “Kazuya’s ready to confess with the lush paradise of Hawaii as a backdrop. But renting Chizuru for the dream trip turns into a war zone of love due to Ruka’s aggressive advances and Mami’s scheming. Despite the chaos, this is Kazuya’s moment to bare his heart. Will his words reach Chizuru? And if they do, what will she even say?”

Rent-a-Girlfriend is one of the most divisive romantic comedy anime series now airing today, and that’s likely going to be even more so when Season 4 gets to some of the big events that fans of the manga have been talking about for quite a while. It’s a series that’s not exactly interested in moving forward its central potential relationships, and that’s going to be a big sticking point with this next season especially. But either way, anime fans are likely going to be locked in considering how wild this show has been through the seasons thus far.

The post Rent-a-Girlfriend Season 4 Shares Final Update Ahead of Summer Premiere appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Squid Game has now come to an end with Netflix four years and three seasons after it made its debut, but it already makes no sense with how it’s approaching its American version so far. Squid Game as a franchise has been such a massive hit with Netflix that the only one who was really surprised to see it picked up for more seasons after the debut was its original creator. Although Hwang Dong-hyuk on multiple occasions revealed how tough it was just to make the original story happen, there’s been so much demand for Squid Game to continue with or without him.

Squid Game has gone far beyond its original first season to release two more seasons with Netflix, a reality game show competition, multiple video game cameos, and much more in the years since its debut. It also seems like an English language version of Squid Game is now in the works as following reports of a new series from David Fincher, a massive cameo in Squid Game‘s final season has sparked an new wave of American games. But it already got off to a very weird start with how it’s doing things.

Squid Game Might Not Work in America

In the final episode of Squid Game Season 3, it’s revealed that a recruiter (complete with a wild Hollywood star cameo) is playing the same Ddakji game with a person in Los Angeles that Seong Hi-Hun and the others played all those years ago. This has not been fully confirmed to be a tie in to the eventual English language version of the series now in the works, but it’s the best start to the American spinoff yet. But at the same time, this is a weird place to come from as it’s not a game that’s really played in the United States. So it’d be weird for the recruiter to use the same game to draw people in.

Read Next

Squid Game’s Finale Highlights One of TV’s Biggest Problems Right Now

Part of the appeal of Squid Game itself is the fact it takes Korean children’s games and turns them into deadly fights for your life. It’s the juxtaposition of young innocence clashing with the harsh realities of adult life, and in that way the Korean drama series has been able to reach a worldwide audience. But although its themes draw upon the humanity of any kind of viewer, there’s still a very wide cultural divide in the games seen in Squid Game itself. Even its title is a game that not many American kids have ever played. So an English language version will need to adapt it to more Western sensibilities in order to stand out further from the original.

Will There Be An American Squid Game?

Reports of an English language version of Squid Game have been sprouting for the last couple of years, but seemed to reach a new level of potentially happening last Fall when it was reported that David Fincher (Gone Girl, Fight Club) was slated to begin working on the American version of the series as soon as this year. It’s yet to be fully confirmed to be in the works, but even original franchise creator Hwang Dong-hyuk has noted how the franchise is likely going to continue following the end of Gi-Hun’s story. This is likely one of those ways.

But much of the appeal of Squid Game will be lost when it’s adapted for an English language audience. The culture of the show is going to change, and much of its symbolism and visual presentations will need to change in order to account for the shift in players. Characters will need to be familiar with the games present in the new series, which means that the central “Squid Game” motif itself can’t even really be a factor in the new one. While some kids might have played these games, it’s just not a universally shared thing in America.

Much like how Squid Game: The Challenge (which is still in the works on Season 2) had to adapt many of the games to be less deadly, it also made changes to the games present to better fit an American audience. The reality show used board games like Battleship and chance games like Rock, Paper, Scissors, and that’s likely going to be the case for this new version as well. Which goes back around to highlighting that Ddakji is an odd game for the recruiter to play with an American player. It’s just not something that American would be familiar with enough to agree to play for any kind of money.

Unfortunately while this means that an American remake of Squid Game would lose what makes the original so special in all of these changes for a new culture, that’s kind of the risk they’re taking with that endeavor in the first place.

The post Squid Game’s American Spinoff Already Makes No Sense appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Being born into a clan comes with definite advantages if you want to become a shinobi in the world of Naruto, but it can also bring expectations and pressure, which might not be great for clan members who don’t want to pursue the path of a shinobi or those who aren’t as talented possibly ending up in positions where they feel like disappointments. However, your experience would also vary greatly depending on the clan you ended up being born into, as some are clearly stronger than others, and that can come with the frightening side effect of being massacred out of the fear that the shinobi world holds towards multiple clans.

From kekkei genkai to techniques only taught to members, there’s a variety of perks that come with being born into a clan. Of course, the clan experience isn’t uniform, and what benefits and drawbacks you would face depends on the clan itself. Even the strongest clans in Naruto are filled with both advantages and problems.

10. Kaguya

Descended from Kaguya Otsutsuki, the Kaguya clan had a kekkei genkai that was similar to Kaguya’s bone manipulation ability. This ability is seen through Kimimaro, who was the last surviving member of the clan. Unlike Kimimaro, the Kaguya clan was known for their savage nature and bloodlust, which led to their extermination when they refused to back down from a fight they couldn’t win against Kirigakure, choosing to fight to the end instead of surrendering.

9. Kurama

The Kurama clan is unique to the anime, so you won’t find them mentioned in the manga. This clan specializes in genjutsu, but every few generations, a member is born with a kekkei genkai that takes that specialization to the next level. The kekkei genkai, seen in Yakumo, was the ability to use genjutsu that’s so strong, the victims’ brains believe that the events are really happening, causing the damage they take in the illusion to occur in real life. Unfortunately, this kekkei genkai often led to its user being controlled by a second personality that developed from the ability.

8. Nara

The strength of the Nara clan isn’t necessarily due to their techniques, although their shadow manipulation techniques can be a powerful tool and makes them a core piece of the Ino-Shika-Cho formation. However, the real strength of the Nara comes from their intelligence and incredible ability to strategize, making them perfect advisors as they can predict an enemy’s moves and counter them quickly, preventing too much damage from being done.

7. Sarutobi

The Sarutobi clan proves that strength can come in different forms, and that influences the type of power you wield. This clan not only produces strong ninja, but they tend to hold positions with a high level of authority, such as hokage, with the third hokage being from the Sarutobi clan. Of course, it helps that every member you see in Naruto from this clan has a fierce love for Konoha, which drives them to be their best in order to protect the village they love.

6. Kazekage

This refers to the clan that Gaara, Temari, and Kankuro come from, which is generally called the Kazekage clan because the actual name is unknown. Not only has this clan produced two consecutive kazekage—earning them the name Kazekage clan—they are skilled in a variety of techniques, which can be seen through Temari’s mastery of Wind Release, Kankuro’s puppetry, and Gaara’s ability to control sand with his will even without a tailed beast.

As if that’s not enough, members of this clan have the potential to unlock the Magnet Release kekkei genkai. Of course, this makes a lot of sense, since Magnet Release combines Wind Release and Earth Release, and the clan is particularly skilled with Wind Release.

Read Next

10 Best Naruto Shippuden Episodes of All Time

5. Uzumaki

The Uzumaki clan has played a significant role in Konoha’s history, despite not originating from the village. Now, however, most of the remaining members of this clan belong to Konoha now that Uzushiogakure has been destroyed. What makes the Uzumaki clan so fearsome is their strong life forces, unique chakra, and sealing abilities. These qualities make them ideal jinchuuriki, as Mito, Kushina, and Naruto all acted as the jinchuuriki of the Nine-Tails, and they’re all direct members of the Uzumaki clan.

4. Hyuga

The Hyuga are one of the most well-known clans, but they’re also among the strongest, helping by their Byakugan. The Byakugan extends the user’s field of vision, allowing them to see through objects and view the chakra system of other ninja. This resulted in the creation of the Gentle Fist style, which is often considered Konoha’s strongest taijutsu because it focuses on efficiently taking down enemies by blocking their chakra flow using precise strikes with the help of the Byakugan.

3. Senju

The Senju are no longer a large clan, but they’re among the founding members of Konoha and rivals of the Uchiha clan. Similar to the Uzumaki clan—who are distant relatives of the Senju—the Senju also have strong life forces and chakra, which is displayed multiple times by Tsunade’s incredible chakra control.

Unlike a lot of other clans, the Senju don’t have a single area of specialization. Tsunade is again able to show this feature by being one of the best medic-nin and a terrifying taijutsu opponent. Additionally, the Senju are able to use Wood Release through Hashirama, although few members have unlocked that ability, especially without assistance from Orochimaru’s experiments.

2. Uchiha

The Uchiha are so fearsome that they had to be exterminated—even if that was part of a larger plot from Danzo—because the threat of them rebelling against Konoha would prove devastating. Between their natural skill for battle and the Sharingan, the Uchiha clan is often seen as the strongest in Konoha. The various forms of the Sharingan and the ways that it can manifest in terms of abilities also meant that the clan had a lot of diversity. On top of that, the Sharingan allowed users to copy the abilities of others, meaning that clan members grew increasingly powerful the more they fought or observed fights.

1. Otsutsuki

It’s rather difficult to argue against the Otsutsuki clan being the most powerful when you consider they’re the origin of chakra and basically every kekkei genkai that’s seen in Naruto. This clan doesn’t even originate on Earth, but they travel from planet to planet and plant trees that later allow them to harvest the life of that planet to continue evolving themselves into gods. Every member has at least one skill they’re born with, usually the Byakugan, however, that skill can be essentially any kekkei genkai that you see in the series. It’s no wonder why they’re so difficult to deal with.

Clans can be a complicated part of the shinobi life, and they often end up being beneficial to the villages they inhabited. However, their presence can become frightening if the clan’s power and ambition grows too much, which has resulted in several major events in Naruto.

The post 10 Most Powerful Clans in Naruto, Ranked appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Despite its unassuming initial impression, My Hero Academia’s new spinoff anime was an instant hit among fans of the franchise, becoming a strong favorite of the Spring 2025 season. Despite having an all-original main cast and new antagonists, the series quite simply excels as a spinoff and even as a prequel, revealing the origins of iconic characters like Stain while also expanding on Kohei Horikoshi’s vibrant world in an organic way. That said, My Hero Academia: Vigilantes just delivered its final episode, concluding its spectacular first season with a bang, and immediately followed it up with confirmation of Season 2.

Crunchyroll has confirmed the popular sequel will be returning for Season 2, which fans can expect to release sometime in 2026 and stream with the service when it hits. The series has yet to provide a more concrete release window; however, the announcement was accompanied by a short teaser video compiling some of the best moments from Season 1. The series has also released a new poster for Season 2 featuring the main trio of Koichi, Knuckleduster, and Pop Step, as well as the mysterious Scarred Man voiced by Taku Yashiro, hinting at his central role in the upcoming installment. Check it out below.

My Hero Academia: Vigilantes Confirms Season 2 Release in 2026

With the eighth and final season of My Hero Academia set to air in October 2025, anime fans will surely be left wanting more of the franchise when it ends, making Vigilantes‘ 2026 Season 2 release perfectly timed to fill that void immediately after, as well as in the years to come. With 15 volumes and over 120 chapters worth of manga content, My Hero Academia: Vigilantes has more than enough source material to work with for at least five or six seasons, as Season 1 adapted about 28 chapters of the manga.

Read Next

My Hero Academia: Vigilantes Crossover Sees Deku And Crawler Team-Up

Nonetheless, between the final season of My Hero Academia and Season 2 of My Hero Academia: Vigilantes, it’s shaping up to be quite an interesting year for fans of the franchise. Fans have especially felt the absence of the series since My Hero Academia’s manga concluded in August of last year, and Vigilantes has been the perfect remedy, making it no surprise that it was instantly renewed for Season 2

My Hero Academia: Vigilantes can be streamed on Crunchyroll.

The post My Hero Academia’s Hit Spinoff Confirms Season 2 appeared first on ComicBook.com.

My Dress-Up Darling officially came to an end earlier this Spring, and the manga is celebrating its happy ending with its final volume cover art revealed ahead of the anime’s big comeback for Season 2. Shinichi Fukuda’s My Dress-Up Darling really exploded a few years ago following the debut of the anime adaptation’s first season, and it drew more fans to the manga than ever. The manga itself had been telling its central romance story about how Wakana Gojo’s life was changed by Marin Kitagawa, and all of the fun and chaos that came as a result of that budding relationship.

Warning! Major spoilers for My Dress-Up Darling to follow! My Dress-Up Darling had its fair share of major developments over the course of its run, but fans were taken by surprise earlier this Spring when the creator behind it all revealed that the manga would be reaching its end after eight years of running with Square Enix’s Young Gangan magazine. Now that the series has officially ended with Marin and Gojo becoming an official couple, and even getting married, the final volume cover art for the series celebrates with Marin’s wedding day look. Check it out:

How Does My Dress-Up Darling End?

My Dress-Up Darling has just as happy of an ending that fans have hoped for when Marin and Gojo first met each other all those years ago. With the release of Chapter 115 earlier this Spring, it’s revealed through a flash forward in the future that the two of them have stayed together for many years after officially becoming a couple. It’s even revealed that the two of them have since gotten married, and are getting some major recognition for their respective talents. Marin is a successful model with her first major advertisement going up, and Gojo’s being recognized for his work with Hina Dolls.

Read Next

Top 10 New Anime You Need to Watch This Summer 2025

The only real complaint My Dress-Up Darling fans had about the finale was that it seemed to come so abruptly, but that’s sort of the nature of the manga itself. It wasn’t going to be a very long story, but it had the kind of central romance that fans wanted to follow for as long as possible. Any kind of ending would have felt sudden, but at least it’s a happy one at the end of the day as Marin and Gojo are moving into a very bright future as a married couple.

What’s Next for My Dress-Up Darling?

My Dress-Up Darling Season 2 will be making its debut in Japan on July 5th, and Crunchyroll will be streaming the new episodes upon their debut for fans in other territories. So while the manga has since ended, fans are going to be able to enjoy new adventures from Marin and Gojo through the Summer with a whole new batch of episodes. The central duo of Hina Suguta as Marin Kitagawa and Shoya Ishige as Wakana Gojo return to voice their respective characters, so it’s all going to hit just as hard as it did before.

Keisuke Shinohara returns from directing the first season of My Dress-Up Darling for Studio CloverWorks in the new season. Yoriko Tomita oversaw the scripts for the series, Takeshi Nakatsuka composed the music, and Kazumasa Ishida handled the character designs. The new opening theme is titled “Ao to Kirameki” as performed by Spira Spica, and the new ending theme for the season is titled “Kawaii Kaiwai” as performed by PiKi. New additions to the voice cast for Season 2 currently include Ayumu Murase as Amane Himeno and Shohei Komatsu as Shiki Kawashigi. You can catch up with the first season now streaming with Crunchyroll.

The post My Dress-Up Darling Celebrates Happy Ending With Final Cover Art appeared first on ComicBook.com.

The moment that fans have been waiting for is here at last as Black Clover is indeed coming back with a much-needed update on the anime four whole years later, and fans could not be more excited. Only a few days prior, there was word going around that Black Clover’s anime was returning, and it seems these rumors were true after all, as Shonen Jump’s latest issue has just confirmed the series will indeed be revealing exciting information in the next issue. With Anime Expo 2025 already hosting plenty of exciting announcements during the same window of time, fans have plenty to look forward to over the coming week.

With the release of Issue 31, Shonen Jump’s official website has also shared a preview of the upcoming issue, releasing on July 7th, 2025, which notably mentions news about Black Clover’s anime in a text box at the bottom right of the page. The teaser specifically states that the news will be related to the anime series and not the manga, and that fans are sure to be thrilled by this news. The teaser roughly translates to, “We will deliver information related to the TV anime Black Clover!! Fans are sure to be excited!!” As such, Black Clover fans better keep their eyes peeled for Issue 32 of Shonen Jump next week as well as the series’ official social media handles and website.

Read Next

Black Clover’s Anime Needs to Fix A Major Problem When It Returns

Black Clover is Coming Back For Real With A Confirmed Update Soon

While there was still some lingering doubt when the news about Black Clover’s upcoming update was initially leaked, the latest issue of Shonen Jump has confirmed the news is as real as can be. Given that Black Clover’s manga is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, there could be no better time for the anime to announce a return, especially as the manga breezes through what appears to be the final arc of the series.

This announcement is also perfectly poised to catch everyone’s attention towards the tail end of Anime Expo 2025, though it is completely possible that the news could be leaked earlier in the week before Issue 32 officially hits the shelves. More importantly, there is a slim chance that this announcement could be related to anime merchandise or even an art exhibition, so it’s best that fans temper their expectations and at least a little. Nonetheless, fans can only hope that this update does have to do with Season 5, as it’s long overdue at this point.

Source: Shonen Jump Official Website.

The post It’s Real: Black Clover’s Anime Is Getting an Update Soon appeared first on ComicBook.com.

The Amazing World of Gumball is coming back with a brand new series to pick up from where the original left off seven years ago, and now fans have gotten the first look at the new opening for The Wonderfully Weird World of Gumball ahead of its premiere. Seven years after the original series ended its run with Cartoon Network, the Watterson Family is going to be making their return to screens with a brand new series continuing the story. But it’s going to have a big facelift for this new era with the debut of a brand new series title.

The Wonderfully Weird World of Gumball will be making its debut in the United States later this Summer with Hulu, but fans in international territories will be watching the new episodes through Cartoon Network. Now an international release date has been set as Cartoon Network fans will be able to watch the new series beginning on October 6th. To celebrate the confirmation of its international release date, you can check out the new opening for The Wonderfully Weird World of Gumball and new poster for the series below.

What to Know for Gumball’s Comeback

The Wonderfully Weird World of Gumball will be making its debut with Hulu and Hulu on Disney+ on July 28th for fans in the United States, and October 6th with Cartoon Network and HBO Max across EMEA, Latin America and APAC. Original series creator Ben Bocquelet returns for this new series as creator and executive producer for Hanna-Barbera Studios Europe. Matt Layzell and Erik Fountain will serve as executive producers and series directors, Xav Clarke will be the composer, and Joe Sparrow serves as art director. It’s being treated as a full continuation of the original series too, so fans can hope to see that big cliffhanger resolved soon enough.

Read Next

Cartoon Network’s Biggest Creators Are Uniting for New Adult Swim Show

The voice cast for The Wonderfully Weird World of Gumball includes both returning stars and new additions for the new era. Teresa Gallagher and Dan Russell will be returning from the previous series as the voices of Nicole and Richard Watterson, respectively, with new additions including Alkaio Thiele as Gumball, Hero Hunter as Darwin, and Kinza Syed Khan as younger sister Anais. The extended voice cast has yet to be revealed as of the time of this publication, however, so it’s currently unclear who else has returned or been recast.

What Is The Wonderfully Weird World of Gumball About?

As for what to expect from the new series, Hulu and Cartoon Network tease The Wonderfully Weird World of Gumball ahead of its debut, “Welcome back to Elmore, where the laws of reality are a joke, and family life is anything but ordinary. Whether he’s battling an evil fast-food empire, facing off against a sentient AI in love with his mom, or trying to stop Banana Joe from wearing pants — Gumball Watterson drags his brother Darwin, sister Anais, and the rest of the town of Elmore along for the ride. With even wilder stories, bigger twists, and surreal humor, the show is so amazing that they had to rename it!”

Previous teases about the new episodes revealed that The Wonderfully Weird World of Gumball would be addressing the massive cliffhanger left over from the final episode of the original series, and that fans would be learning more about the mysterious void. So if the new series can bring back the energy fans loved about the original while continuing its overarching story, this revival is going to be a very successful one. It’s just a matter of seeing whether or not it can stick the landing.

The post New The Amazing World of Gumball Series Debuts Opening Ahead of Premiere appeared first on ComicBook.com.

One Piece Chapter 1153, titled “The Birth of Loki,” delves into Harold’s backstory, exploring how he came to be the pacifist he is known as in the current timeline and why he is revered as the greatest King of Elbaf. The flashback connects several dots about his character, including the birth of his sons, Hajrudin and Loki. This chapter also highlights the traditions of Elbaf, showing that despite Harold’s progressive views, he still adhered to certain customs, such as marrying a woman of prominent lineage to preserve royal blood, through which Loki was born.

However, immediately after Loki’s birth, he was discarded by his mother due to his unusual eyes, branded a monster from the moment he arrived. In her rejection, Estrid, his mother, even went so far as to cast the newborn into the realm of death, yet he survived and returned. She then revealed a grim prophecy: that Loki would one day kill his father. This was enough for him to be labeled the accursed prince. The revelation is striking, as it emphasizes how Loki’s descent into villainy was shaped not by his choices but by the people around him. Comparing Loki’s situation with Ryomen Sukuna from Jujutsu Kaisen forms a compelling parallel to him, whose own origins, hinted at through context, reflect a similarly tragic and troubled birth.

Read Next

Here is How Jujutsu Kaisen’s Sukuna Became A Villain (And It’s Tragic)

Sukuna and Loki Have Similar Tragic Births

While One Piece depicts Loki’s birth through a flashback, Sukuna’s birth in Jujutsu Kaisen is only mentioned twice, and only by the villain himself. Yet, upon deeper analysis, it becomes clear that Sukuna, like Loki, wasn’t born to be a villain but was tragically forced into becoming one after being rejected by his mother. The first mention of Sukuna’s birth appears in Chapter 237 of Jujutsu Kaisen, in response to a question from Hajime Kashimo, who asks if Sukuna was born the strongest. Sukuna answers by saying he was an “unwanted child.” While the response might seem vague at first, a closer look at the Japanese kanji reveals a deeper cultural implication.

The original kanji can roughly translate to “creepy child,” which, when placed within the context of Japanese culture, often refers to someone born disfigured. While this detail might have initially been brushed off as fan interpretation, further context from Sukuna himself, shared twenty chapters later, confirms its weight. In Chapter 257, while discussing Yuji’s uniqueness with Uraume, Sukuna reveals he was almost born as a twin but ended up eating his sibling in the womb. His mother, he explains, was starving and likely didn’t want children. This shocking revelation not only supports his earlier statement about being a “creepy child” but also implies he may have been born conjoined or physically abnormal.

The fact that Sukuna later becomes a cannibal reinforces the notion that he became what people feared from his birth, the child who devoured his own twin. This perfectly encapsulates Jujutsu Kaisen’s core theme: that curses are born from what people fear most. Similarly, Loki’s birth, marked by rejection from his mother and fear from those around him, mirrors this tragic setup. Yet, where Sukuna’s path never allows for redemption, Loki’s flashback and the current narrative appear to be setting the stage for him to rise as a hero that will offer a stark contrast in how two cursed births can lead to entirely different destinies if given the chance.

One Piece‘s Loki Will Get the Chance For Redemption That Sukuna Never Got

In the finale of Jujutsu Kaisen, Sukuna reveals to Mahito that he had two choices, both rooted in love, whether parental or romantic, neither of which he ever embraced. This confession underscores how deeply his rejection, especially from his mother, shaped his hatred for humanity. Rather than choosing love, Sukuna consistently chose the path of darkness, consumed by the pain of being unloved and unwanted. In contrast, One Piece is currently setting Loki up as a character poised for redemption. Alongside Luffy and Zoro, Loki is one of the few individuals in Elbaf shown to possess Conqueror’s Haki, an ability that places him among those capable of standing against the Holy Knights. This positions him not only as a powerful warrior but also as a potential savior of his people.

The flashback further reveals that Harold, Loki’s father, was possessed by Imu, just as Dorry and Brogy are in the present timeline. This revelation could help the people of Elbaf understand that if Loki did, in fact, kill his father, it wasn’t out of malice or destiny, but necessity. Loki’s arc in One Piece appears to be one of redemption and heroism, positioning him to become the true King of Elbaf. His journey is reinforcing the idea that destiny is not set at birth, but it is shaped by the choices one makes. Sadly, that is a chance Jujutsu Kaisen’s Sukuna never received.

The post One Piece’s Loki Strikes a Tragic Parallel With Sukuna From Jujutsu Kaisen appeared first on ComicBook.com.

One of One Piece’s greatest advantage is the character depth provided in the backstories. Each arc focuses not only on the fights but also on the lore and the backstories. The previous Egghead Incident Arc unveils Kuma’s backstory, one of the most heartbreaking flashback in the series so far. As soon as the fight in the Elbaf Arc begins, the story shifts its focus to King Harald’s past, detailing the early years of the beloved King of Elbaf. His tragic death 14 years ago is shrouded in mystery, and the blame is put on his son, Loki, the Cursed Prince. He was already hated among his people, so when the king died and he was considered the killer, the Giants did everything they could to capture him.

Loki fled the island and was captured by Shank six years ago. He’s been chained down in the Underworld ever since, and no one on the island is capable of stopping him if he breaks free, not even Gaban. Despite portraying Loki as an antagonist, One Piece kept dropping hints about his innocence until it was finally confirmed in Chapter 1152. Loki and Jarul, the only survivors of the incident from 14 years ago, witnessed the soldiers impaling Harald. The truth behind the incident still remains unknown, but the story instead focuses on another flashback, centering around Harald’s younger days and the birth of his sons. As such, we learn more about Loki and his unfortunate fate.

Read Next

10 Best One Piece Characters Who Deserve to Be on the Straw Hat Crew

Loki’s Covered Eyes Have a Heartbreaking Reason Behind Them

During his travels, Harald fell in love with Ida, a commoner Giant, and had a son with her. He wasn’t able to marry her because of the difference in their status. He was persuaded to marry Estrid, someone from a noble bloodline, who gave birth to Loki. However, her world was shattered after looking at the snake-like eyes of her newborn son. Estrid refused to hold him and ordered the servants to throw him into the underworld. Loki was cruelly discarded from the moment he was born.

Estrid studied Geomancy, the art of divination, and believed in things like fate and prophecies. After looking at Loki, she refused to believe a cursed monster came out of her womb and eventually became severely ill. In her weakened state, she continued to fear her son since it had been foretold even before his birth that he would be the one to strike down his father, King Harald. Word of the Queen’s poor health spread in the kingdom, and all the misfortunes were blamed on the Cursed Prince. All this time, Harald was busy with the diplomatic issues and had no time for his family when his son was abandoned.

Although Chapter 1153 didn’t explicitly confirm the reason behind Loki covering his eyes, it’s evident that he faced a lot of discrimination because of them. It could be his way of avoiding unnecessary bias or making people uncomfortable. The reason why Loki’s eyes look like this could be associated with the Ancient Giants, considering how their appearances are somehow demonic, especially with their massive size and horns.

One Piece Proved Loki Innocent, But Who Is the Real Killer?

Harald had already sustained fatal injuries by the time Loki and Jarul went inside the Throne Room. They were both summoned by the King and entered the castle together, unaware of the tragedy that would befall Elbaf. The perpetrators behind the incident 14 years ago still remain unknown, but they could be connected to the World Government. A mysterious man found the legendary Devil Fruit, which Loki consumed after the incident. It’s unclear if he took the fall himself or if he was framed by someone else, but the entire kingdom believes Loki killed his father for the devil fruit and even murdered 113 soldiers in the Aurust Castle.

It’s the biggest tragedy Elbaf has seen in centuries, and no one doubts that the real perpetrator can be someone other than the Cursed Prince. Not only that, but even Elbaf’s hero, Jarul, sustained severe injuries and knows the truth about the incident. He is the only one in the kingdom who knows Loki is innocent, but something is keeping him from clearing the Prince’s name. Even Loki doesn’t want to relieve the horrible day, and we will soon find out why.

The post One Piece Reveals a Heartbreaking Reason Behind Loki’s Covered Eyes appeared first on ComicBook.com.

It isn’t hard to write a good anime villain—there are countless examples of brilliantly bone-chilling anime villains—but it’s hard to write one of the best. The simple truth is that there are a lot of amazing anime villains, and trimming down the selection to just a handful of highlights is a task much easier said than done. A wonderful villain transcends a simple judgment of their actions, power, or ideology.

Nonetheless, we’ve tried! These villains are the best anime has to offer. They aren’t necessarily the strongest, scariest, or most hated; these are the icons of anime villainy who stand out within the industry. Whether it’s because of their impact, cultural relevance, or just being incredibly well-written, every single villain on this list earned their place.

1) Johan Liebert (Monster)

Monster is required viewing for pretty much everybody who takes anime seriously. Monster‘s entire cast is profoundly strong, but there are two obvious faces who stand out from the rest. On one side, there’s protagonist Kenzo Tenma, the surgeon falsely accused of murder who finds himself on the run needing to clear his name; on the other, there’s Johan Liebert, the mysterious and enigmatic serial killer whose crimes fall on Tenma’s head.

As a villain, Johan is simply chilling: manipulative, charming, and chameleon-like. His backstory itself is horrifying, and it really brings a brand new depth to his character—but it’s also not totally necessary for him to be as overpowering as he is. As one watches Monster, one realizes that Johan independently isn’t nearly as responsible for the series’ events as those swept up in the cult of personality that surrounds him. His smart writing, horrifying disposition, and uncanny ability to make others act out terror is the factor that has made Monster one of the most acclaimed and unforgettable anime ever.

2) Meruem (Hunter x Hunter)

When you start watching Hunter x Hunter, it’s a little slow. As you investigate online during the series’ early slog—the hype around it must exist for a reason, after all—you’ll see some confirmation that it hits its stride especially with the “Yorknew City” arc. The other thing you’ll inevitably see during your research is Hunter x Hunter being worth it because of the “Chimera Ant” arc especially, cited endlessly by fans as one of anime’s best ever. Meruem is the reason for that.

Overpowered, ruthless, and commanding an army of evolved humanoid ants, Meruem leaves no room for doubt that he’s the best—and that humans fall well below his own species. As his arc develops, he gains even more depth, and his eventual death comes with a soul-crushing set of revelations. It’s hard to say what the best anime villains possess, but one quality is critical: being able to get into their head and understand them, even if empathy is hard. Meruem exemplifies that as he elevates Hunter x Hunter‘s stakes to a feverish new high.

3) Yoshikage Kira (JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure)

On the other side of things would be JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure‘s Kira, the central antagonist of Part 4, Diamond is Unbreakable. When you think of JoJo, there are definitely more identifiable villains: DIO, Kars, and Steel Ball Run‘s main antagonist who we’re opting not to spoil. Beyond that, though, are its most bone-chilling villains: people like Santana and Diavolo, say. Kira stands apart from all of those villains.

Kira is incredible because unlike essentially every other JoJo villain, he lacks any big aim; he wants to have a quiet life and commit his murders in the background, for his own sake. For that reason, he becomes so deeply terrifying and overpowering. On one hand, because his bloodlust is so intense and in your face; on the other, because he’ll go to such lengths to see it through. The final battle against Kira is the most unbeatable any animated JoJo villain has ever felt (at the time of writing)—and all for the sake of one man’s quietly twisted desires.

4) Sousuke Aizen (Bleach)

The Soul Society arc is renowned as one of Bleach‘s best. The beauty and impact of the arc both come down to one key plot twist: Aizen’s betrayal of Soul Society. The twist’s ripples were seismic, and while the story arguably lost steam not long after, the build-up and reveal were sufficient to catapult Bleach into anime’s Big Three. The reason for that is simple: Aizen is an amazing, iconic villain, with straightforward ambitions that arguably put him well in the territory of moral ambiguity.

He’s not just ridiculously strong, though he certainly is (his ability to manipulate senses with Kanzen Saimin is formidable and terrifying). His ideals aren’t necessarily the problem: the problem is how he goes about them, utterly stuck within a god complex and unable to interact regularly with people. He’s manipulative and endlessly charismatic, taking viewers captive as readily as his victims on-screen. Today, Bleach is regaining prestige among anime fans with the beloved Thousand-Year Blood War arc, where Aizen still makes a handful of pivotal contributions to Bleach‘s narrative.

5) Madara (Naruto Shippuden)

In Naruto Shippuden, there are plenty of amazing villains: honorable mentions here would be the likes of Pain and Orochimaru. But Madara is just unbelievable. His resurrection scene is one of Naruto‘s most iconic ever, when he comes out the gate to slaughter uncountable shinobi without breaking a sweat, taunting the whole time. After more or less establishing him as the final villain for the entire series, Madara’s big reveal (and consequent wartime rampage) is one of anime’s greatest payoffs ever.

The most brilliant thing about Madara is that he changed how anime villains work on a fundamental level. While he certainly wasn’t the first villain to have an empathetic backstory, Kishimoto’s special focus on empathetic villainy made it pretty much mandatory for any anime worth its salt to give its villain a Joker-style origin story. He makes all of the peripheral conflicts fall into place by showing how, fundamentally, Akatsuki has a point about Naruto‘s world. Madara is a masterful foil few other anime villains can match.

Read Next

10 Best 2000s Anime That Have Shaped the Fandom

6) Suguru Geto (Jujutsu Kaisen)

Jujutsu Kaisen is loaded with fantastic villains and, inevitably, some people will think Sukuna, Mahito, or whoever else deserved a mention instead. However, this list isn’t about the strongest villains (a list where Sukuna would definitely earn a place) or the most terrifying villains (a list where Mahito might stand a chance), it’s about the best, most identifiable, and most iconic villains. For Jujutsu Kaisen‘s part, nobody fits that description better than Suguru Geto.

Suguru Geto illuminates the role of chance and willpower in the series through his backstory with Gojo, and he’s so deeply embedded into the underlying themes of the series that it’s hard to call him a villain, properly speaking. Nonetheless, in Jujutsu Kaisen, he represents a eugenicist idea of order that sorcerers stand in defiance of: he is, regardless of circumstances, a villain—and a very good one. He’s impressive powerful, of course, but let’s be honest: Geto isn’t an iconic Jujutsu Kaisen character because of his strength, his ideology, nor the havoc he wreaks. He’s iconic because, like the best villains, he’s unforgettably compelling.

7) Light Yagami (Death Note)

In terms of their explanation through backstory, Geto finds a polar opposite in Death Note‘s iconic Light Yagami. Light Yagami’s story takes place essentially entirely in the here and now; the show makes few excursions into the past. For Light, what matters isn’t how he developed his ideals, but that he has them at all—and that he’ll do anything to see them through. Feeling chosen by the Death Note, he takes the opportunity to enact his own model of justice.

The interplay of his meticulousness and his seeming inability to err make him an attention-arresting, unstoppable protagonist. Death Note is ingeniously paced so as to saturate all of Light’s movements with meaning, even if that meaning is only apparent after the fact. Once you realize it, you realize that you’d rather do anything than hold ideals opposite of the twisted, charming young man on the screen. Light rarely ever lays a hand on anybody directly, and all his power is invested in two things: his little notebook and his evasive, intelligent, and charismatic personality. That’s all he needs, too.

8) Char Aznable (Mobile Suit Gundam)

Brilliant, manipulative, and marked by his stunning evolution—starting with absolute revenge against the Zabis for the death of his father, but growing well beyond it—Char Aznable is one of the most identifiable villains in anime history. Before there was Lelouch Lamperouge, there was Char, who represented a new depth for villains in both the mecha genre and anime writ large.

Beyond providing some of the best lines in Gundam history, his journey is deeply engaging to watch. His relationships are thorough and considered, adding extra layers to his sporadically shifting allegiances. Regardless of which of his many personas he’s donning, Char is definitively one of anime’s earliest and greatest examples of psychologically deep antagonists, playing a pivotal role in the UC timeline.

9) Shogo Makishima (Psycho-Pass)

Psycho-Pass is a ridiculously good series, and it’s one of the best thriller anime of all time. One of the greatest arcs in the series is centered around Shogo Makishima, a Joker-esque enemy om Psycho-Pass‘s dystopian world where people are examined and suppressed for their stress and potential for rebellion. Well-read and articulate, Shogo Makishima elegantly lays out his philosophy to Psycho-Pass star detective-in-the-dumps Shinya Kogami, also disillusioned with the Sybil System. And the truth is: he makes a lot of sense.

He yearns for past societies where there was a greater degree of free will, and he’ll do anything to get there. Not only are his crimes masterfully executed and the chase around him a true nail-biter, but the fact that the societies he yearns for draw closer to our own means that he’s built from the ground up to draw out viewers’ identification with him. Makishima is a brilliant villain because, while many villains allow their ideals to supersede morality, those ideals rarely match our own.

10) Frieza (Dragon Ball Z)

Within the anime milieu, Frieza is the perfect foil to Madara and his deep, emotional backstory: a villain whose intentions are, frankly, pretty straightforward. Frieza, the Emperor of Universe 7, simply wants to maintain his power. He pushed for the Saiyan genocide on Planet Vegeta for no other reason than snubbing out any potential threat the Saiyans might have posed.

On a list chock-full of options that make you think, he’s also a perfect foil to Char Aznable: Frieza is a welcome throwback to an era in shonen where things were simpler. An icon of one of the most popular anime of all time, Frieza’s villainy remains formidable throughout Dragon Ball. Notably, his lengthy battle with Goku is arguably the best fight in all of Dragon Ball Z, but he remains a primary antagonist across Dragon Ball Z and Super.

In the end, it’s hard to say exactly what makes a top-notch anime villain, and inevitably, there might be some huge picks we missed or couldn’t fit in. We can practically already feel the inbound “what about Griffith?” comments! Good thing is, we encourage that kind of engagement: drop a comment below with your thoughts.

Can’t get enough of a good villain? There’s overlap between this list and our selections for the best anime thrillers out there! Click the link below to give it a look.

The post 10 Best Anime Villains of All Time appeared first on ComicBook.com.

The first of the final three movies in the Demon Slayer franchise, Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle, has released its trailer ahead of its Japanese theatrical debut on July 18th. As expected, the trailer showcases stellar visuals and emphasizes the vital roles of the Demon Slayer Corps’ elite warriors, the Hashira, each of whom is poised to play a significant part in the climactic war. The 90-second preview focuses particularly on two major battles that will be featured in the upcoming film, highlighting the Hashira Shinobu Kocho and Giyu Tomioka, along with the series protagonist, Kamado Tanjiro, engaged in separate confrontations. The Insect Hashira, Shinobu, is set to face Upper Rank 2, Doma, while the Water Hashira, Giyu, joins Tanjiro in a battle against Upper Rank 3, Akaza.

That said, the other Hashira are far from sidelined. The trailer offers glimpses of their involvement, with the role of Obanai Iguro, the Snake Hashira, standing out from the very beginning. The film is set to depict a massive assault by thousands of demons, ambushing the trapped Demon Slayers within the ever-shifting structure of the Infinity Castle. Navigating this chaotic stronghold while fending off relentless attacks demands not only strength but sharp intellect, qualities the Hashiras have surely got, and from the trailer, it seems this is exactly what Iguro’s first key contribution in this final stand against the demon onslaught is going to be.

Iguro’s Role as a Hashira Will Be Pivotal in the Final Battle Against the Demons

The 90-second trailer opens with the Snake Hashira, Obanai Iguro, launching an attack against the hordes of demons charging toward the Love Hashira, Mitsuri Kanroji. Since the trailer doesn’t show any further scenes of Iguro, it appears that, for now, his role will focus on thinning the demon numbers, clearing the path for the other Demon Slayers to advance toward the ultimate target, Kibutsuji Muzan. However, confronting the demon hordes won’t be Iguro’s only task. One of the central challenges lies in the Infinity Castle itself, with its endless, shifting structure. The key to overcoming this threat is defeating Nakime, the castle’s manipulator.

Read Next

Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle Movie Debuts First Trailer: Watch

With Mitsuri Kanroji, the Love Hashira, also not yet shown fighting an Upper Rank demon and instead taking on the demon hordes, it’s highly plausible that she will join Iguro in the battle against Nakime. This pairing makes sense, especially given the long-hinted romantic connection between the two Hashira. Their final stand against Nakime could serve as a turning point in their bond, potentially culminating in a deeper romantic relationship. As Demon Slayer often explores the backstories of both demons and Demon Slayers, this movie may also offer the first glimpse into Iguro’s past, adding emotional depth to the climax, which could help understand his affection for the Love Hashira.

The post Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle Drops First Look at Iguro’s Final Fight appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Just when fans thought things were beginning to look up for Kuma and Bonney, One Piece‘s latest episode has delivered yet another heart-wrenching twist, revealing that Kuma gave up his memories and turned into a mindless cyborg for Bonney’s sake. That said, besides stomping on fans’ hearts even further, One Piece’s newest episode also includes a fair bit of interesting exposition, particularly the introduction of a whole new secret member of the Seven Warlords that fans have never seen or heard of before.

Episode 1134 of One Piece finally reveals how Kuma went from being part of the Revolutionary Army to one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, with the episode explaining that this was yet another condition from St. Saturn to justify the cloning and weaponization of Kuma, who was, at that point, essentially still a pirate. The latest episode also reveals that Kuma took the place of a Warlord who’d been defeated by Ace, according to St. Saturn.

One Piece’s Anime Introduces A New Warlord Defeated by Ace

In one particular scene during the episode, Ace, Jimbei, Marco, Whitebeard, and Teech are all seen reacting to the news of Kuma being made into a Warlord when Jinbe reveals the name of this Warlord is Hanafuda. Interestingly enough, Hanafuda was never originally named during this scene in the manga. Oda only gradually revealed Hanafuda’s identity in the SBS sections that followed, making this scene in the anime completely original yet a genius addition.

While fans have been indirectly told about Ace’s accomplishments before in the series, the latest episode marks the first time fans learn about Ace taking down one of the Warlords. Given that Luffy was defeating Warlords one after the other during the first few months of his journey alone, it isn’t all too surprising for Ace to also have one such takedown under his name.

Read Next

Why Does Ginny Cry in One Piece’s Kuma Flashback?

While the events of Episode 1134 take place approximately four years before the present and Ace already seems to be a part of Whitebeard’s crew, it is difficult to pin down when exactly Ace would have defeated Hanafuda. This fight would have most likely taken place around the time of Ace’s visit to Wano, given that St. Saturn states Hanafuda was defeated quite recently and still refers to Ace as a rookie. All that said, seeing as One Piece’s anime isn’t afraid to incorporate aspects of the SBS into the series, hopefully, Hanafuda may just get a chance to make a canon debut through another flashback of sorts as fans are sure to love everything about his character design and it’s a crime to confine him to a singular sketch in the SBS section.

Who is Hanafuda in One Piece?

First formally named in the SBS of Volume 109, all that Oda initially revealed about Hanafuda was his name, his epithet as the “King of Lizards,” and the fact that he collected Ancient Zoan devil fruits as a hobby. This led fans to immediately suspect a connection to Kaido, which was subsequently proven correct in the SBS of Volume 111, wherein Oda confirmed that Kaido and Hanafuda used to be rivals until the latter was impressed by Kaido’s strength and formed an alliance with him. Hanafuda would then supply Kaido with the Ancient Zoan devil fruits he collected, much like Doflamingo, who provided Kaido with artificial ones.

That said, easily the most interesting part about Hanafuda is that he is actually Ulti and Page One’s father, and had left them in Kaido’s care, thus explaining how the brother-sister duo ended up in the crew together. As for Hanafuda’s fate, after being defeated by Ace, the World Government stripped him of his title, and while on his way to reunite with his children, Hanafuda was eventually killed by other pirates.

Overall, it was quite a smart move to mention Hanafuda through a simple added dialogue, as anime-only fans might have never learned about this mysterious Warlord Ace had defeated otherwise. While One Piece’s filler episodes have left much to be desired as of late, credit where it’s due, the series has gotten much more strategic with adding original scenes, not to mention ambitious when it comes to taking artistic liberties, and the anime’s certainly better for it.

One Piece can be streamed on Crunchyroll and Netflix.

The post One Piece Reveals A Secret Warlord in the Most Genius Way appeared first on ComicBook.com.

The Apothecary Diaries Season 2 finale is on the horizon, but we already have all the answers about the Shi Clan we needed. Almost all the mysteries in the first season were connected to Suirei’s plan to assassinate the Imperial brother, who happened to be Jinshi. However, the second season unveiled that she was acting on behalf of the Shi Clan to help Shenmei’s revenge against the Imperial family. Season 2 primarily focused on the Shi Clan and their devious ploys to plunge the empire into chaos, and the root of all this was Shenmei, the wife of the Clan Head and Loulan’s mother. Shenmei was the Clan Head’s daughter, while Shishou was from the branch family and was later adopted into the main family.

The story only revealed that despite being engaged to Shishou, she had to enter the previous Emperor’s harem. During that time, the previous emperor requested Shishou to marry his discarded daughter, and the latter couldn’t refuse. He asked to have Shenmei return to the Shi Clan as a form of compensation, and the previous Emperor had no reason to refuse. Shenmei spent over two decades planning for this futile rebellion, which would’ve failed too easily even if Loulan didn’t interfere. However, her daughter was way smarter than her since she looked at the bigger picture and achieved her goals even though she was in a disadvantaged position.

The Apothecary Diaries Season 2 Reveals Shenmei’s Petty Motives Behind the Rebellion

Shenmei is a typical example of a privileged and arrogant yet ignorant woman. She didn’t know that the previous Emperor’s mother wanted her as a hostage. Instead, she believed that the Imperial family begged her to be a high concubine. Shishou was already engaged to her at the time, but Shenmei couldn’t be happier to be away from him, and didn’t care about the countless times he tried to save her. Because of his mother, the previous Emperor was traumatized and afraid to be around women.

It didn’t take long for him to reveal his pedophilic tendencies, and he only found comfort while being with little girls. When Shenmei entered the Rear Palace, she was already a grown woman, so the previous Emperor never once looked at her. Unaware of what was happening around her, Shenmei was over the moon to become a high concubine and believed she could climb up the ranks to become an Empress Dowager.

Read Next

Top 10 New Anime You Need to Watch This Summer 2025

She felt humiliated when the other women mocked her for not impressing the previous Emperor. After failing to stand at the top of the empire, she had no choice but to return to the Shi Clan and marry Shishou as her father originally intended. However, Shenmei wasn’t content with that, and she craved destruction. She didn’t spend over two decades planning for a rebellion to take over the Empire. Instead, she wanted to destroy the empire as a final act of her petty revenge.

Shenmei’s End Was Brutally Satisfying, But Loulan Still Paid the Price

Shenmei never understood Shishou’s love for her, even when he tried multiple times to escape with her. When she was in the Rear Palace, he was ready to abandon everything and live an ordinary life with her. On the other hand, Shenmei only thought he was interested in her because she was the Clan Head’s daughter. After returning from the Rear Palace, she seized all power from him, and Shishou remained a Clan Head only in name. Of course, she never would’ve managed this if Shishou hadn’t remained passive and let her do anything she wanted.

Bit by bit, she led her clan to destruction, ruling over everyone like a tyrant. In the end, it was her own daughter, whom she thought of as a puppet, who told her the truth. Loulan knew the Shi Clan’s rebellion would fail miserably, so she planned to save Suirei and the children from the beginning, even if it meant she would die. Angered by her daughter’s betrayal and mockery, Shenmei snatched her gun and tried to shoot her. She didn’t that it was tampered with, and it backfired on her.

That’s how she met her miserable end, not once regretting the things she did or the lives she destroyed. Even the news about Shishou’s death didn’t bother her in the slightest. Unfortunately, despite Loulan’s actions against the Shi Clan, she knew she couldn’t escape execution and fell from the rooftop after being shot in the middle of her dance.

The post The Apothecary Diaries Answers Its Biggest Question Before Season 2 Finale appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba is gearing up for its big return with a new film hitting theaters in Japan later this Summer, and the first trailer for Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle has given fans the first look at Zenitsu Agatsuma’s final fight. Demon Slayer ended the Hashira Training Arc with the announcement that the anime would continue not with another season of the series, but instead with a new trilogy of feature films adapting the Infinity Castle arc from Koyoharu Gotoge’s original manga series. Which means that the anime is about to go all out for its final battles.

Tanjiro Kamado and the others are going to be facing off against Muzan Kibutsuji’s final demonic forces, and each of the key characters is poised to take on a notable opponent of their own. Zenitsu’s case is a particularly interesting one, however, as he’s going to be facing an opponent that has yet to be fully debut in the anime franchise. That’s what’s being teased with the trailer showcasing a very intense looking Zenitsu facing down this new foe. Check out the trailer for Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle below.

What’s Going On With Zenitsu?

This much more serious take on Zenitsu is clearly much different than anything fans have seen from him in franchise past, and it really took a turn during the Hashira Training arc. Demon Slayer’s fourth season saw Zenitsu training together with everyone else, and acting as goofy as he did before. But suddenly after receiving a mysterious secret message, Zenitsu started to train on his own and became much more resolute about the final battles. This even continued through the TV anime’s finale as his demeanor seemed steeled despite the fact he was plunging into the Infinity Castle itself.

Read Next

Demon Slayer’s Most Annoying Problem Has Always Been a Part of the Series

Without giving too much away about what the content of the letter was, Zenitsu himself got such bad news that he needs to make sure he deals with it personally. That ties into the brand new member of the Upper Ranks that we’ll meet in the coming film, and the demon that has yet to be fully revealed in motion. It’s one of the biggest fights coming within the Infinity Castle arc, and Zenitsu has some big things he needs to handle in order to resolve something for his Breathing Style overall.

When Does Demon Slayer’s New Movie Actually Come Out?

It won’t be too much longer until we get to see all of this in action, however, as the new movie is coming very soon. Distributed by Crunchyroll and Sony Pictures Entertainment (outside of Japan), Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle will first be hitting theaters across Japan on July 18th, and will be coming to theaters in the United States and Canada beginning on September 12th (and will also be available in IMAX and premium movie formats). The international release schedule for the film breaks down as such:

• August 14: Malaysia, Singapore, Pakistan
• August 15: Cambodia, Indonesia, Vietnam
• August 20: Philippines
• September 11: Mexico, Chile, Peru, Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Caribbean (Jamaica, Aruba, Suriname, Trinidad & Tobago, Curacao), Central America, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Paraguay, Uruguay, Venezuela, Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Ethiopia, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Iraq, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Lithuania, Macedonia, Netherlands, Oman, Portugal, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Switzerland (Italian-speaking), Syria, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates
• September 12: India, Mongolia, Spain, Bulgaria, Estonia, Finland, Kenya, Latvia, Nigeria, Norway, Poland, Romania, Southern Africa, Sweden, Turkey, United Kingdom
• September 17: Belgium, France, French-speaking Africa, Luxembourg, Switzerland (French-speaking)
• September 18: Moldova
• September 25: Austria, Germany, Switzerland (German-speaking)

The post Demon Slayer Movie Drops First Look at Zenitsu’s Final Fight appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Squid Game has come to an end with Netflix after three seasons and four years, and the final season of the series can’t help but highlight one of the biggest problems now facing television shows today. Television is still considering one of the biggest entertainment mediums around, but the shape of what television has become is much different than has been seen in the past. Thanks to streaming platforms changing television from its traditional definition, the way fans have come to watch television shows has changed dramatically in the past decade plus. Which has also come to impact how shows are released.

Squid Game Season 3 for all of its pros and cons, unfortunately falls into the same pit that many streaming juggernauts have over the last few years. It’s a problem that’s not exclusive to television shows either, but reflects a major shift in storytelling and how it’s delivered. Because for as much as Squid Game Season 3 wants to be treated like an entire new season of television, it can’t help but escape the fact that it really is a story that had been split in half unnaturally. Because of that split, Squid Game‘s finale just doesn’t hit as hard as it should.

Television Doesn’t Hit the Same Way Anymore

When streaming platforms like Netflix started producing their own content for viewing, it immediately changed how these stories were watched. Shifting over from the old broadcast format of offering 22 episode seasons airing weekly over several months, instead the new model trained fans to expect a new season of a series to be released all at once. There would be eight to ten episodes offered for a season, and fans would get to watch it all over the course of a weekend (sometimes even over a single evening). But this model soon revealed its own issues.

Successful shows needed to catch on with fans basically the day they released lest they be cancelled, and even if a show found success it would take many years to follow it up with more. Squid Game, for example, premiered back in 2021 but didn’t come back for Season 2 until late 2024. The cracks in this format really started to show with Squid Game as well as not only was series creator Hwang Dong-hyuk open about how long the series took to get made, but even more so about the fact that he made the new seasons for money. Stating “Money…Even though the first series was such a huge global success, honestly I didn’t make much…” was the reason he returned in an interview with the BBC.

Read Next

Squid Game Season 3’s Rotten Tomatoes Score Is Already Better Than Season 2

The long in the works new season coupled with Hwang’s openness about not really having an idea for future episodes in mind before their production was a cloud hanging over Squid Game Season 2, and even more so in the third season. When Squid Game‘s second season came to an end with a cliffhanger right in the middle of the story, it seemed like an egregious and unnatural extension of the series put there by someone other than the creator himself. Which also meant there would be a bigger burden put on the finale to somehow stick the landing despite it all. Which, once again, is a unique problem that streaming has forced onto television shows.

Squid Game’s Final Season Never Stood a Chance

Increased budgets, longer production periods, and higher demands have put streaming shows into a unique kind of situation. Each new season needs to be bigger than the last in order to compensate for the long wait in between new episodes, and that wait seems even longer when you’re able to watch it in a single evening. This demand gets even bigger with huge franchises like Squid Game, and it’s why some shows even go as far as releasing in multiple parts.

Rather than have a complete season airing on a weekly basis, some shows instead vouch to release a couple of episodes at once before then releasing the next half later. When you add all of these elements at once, it’s a longer wait in between new seasons that run for much less time. Then sometimes you only get half the story. That’s what it felt like at the end of Squid Game Season 2, and that completely deflated the potential hype for Squid Game’s finale. Instead of opting to end it all with one very compelling season, it’s instead broken into two solid but not as thrilling halves.

The third season is six episodes, and doesn’t really feel like a full season of television. “Season” used to mean a serialized story would bring fans from its beginning to its end while laying the groundwork for the overall series, but now it’s changed to mean telling half of a story. That’s just something that has been an issue with television shows now, and unfortunately doesn’t look like it’s going to stop anytime soon.

The post Squid Game’s Finale Highlights One of TV’s Biggest Problems Right Now appeared first on ComicBook.com.

The ongoing fight against the Holy Knights takes a side step in One Piece’s Elbaf Arc as the story commences Harald’s flashback. The arc begins with Loki’s introduction, a cursed prince whose hands are stained with the blood of his father, the beloved King of Elbaf. Harald’s assassination happened 14 years ago in the Aurust Castle, and only Loki and Jarul know the truth. Loki fled Elbaf after the incident and was caught by Shanks six years ago. He has been serving his sentence in the Underworld ever since, while Jarul is staying silent on the matter. However, there are many things about the tragic incident that don’t make sense. The series has hinted several times that Loki isn’t the embodiment of evil as the Giants paint him to be.

Not to mention that he and Luffy clicked almost instantly despite the initial argument. After the Holy Knights attacked Elbaf, Loki was too desperate to break free from his chains to save those in the Sun World. He ignored his injuries and collapsed almost immediately after Luffy unlocked his chains. Chapter 1152 confirmed that Harald was impaled by his soldiers when Loki and Jarul stepped inside the throne room. While the series proved the prince is not guilty of the horrible crime, many questions are still left unanswered. Hence, before the truth behind Harald’s death is revealed, One Piece focuses on his flashback from his younger days, including the birth of his sons.

One Piece’s Loki Was Abandoned Right After His Birth

Loki had an unfortunate past, and it doesn’t seem like things got any better for him even now, since he has been chained to the Underworld for six years now. His mother, Estrid, was from a noble bloodline and the Queen of Elbaf. Even though Hajurdin is Harald’s firstborn, only Loki is recognized as the prince of Elbaf. However, just after giving birth, Loki’s mother was horrified after witnessing his snake-like eyes. She ordered her servants to throw him in the Underworld and send word that her child was stillborn. All this happened when Harald was busy with diplomatic issues, so no one could defy the Queen.

Loki’s mother called her newborn son a cursed monster before cold-heartedly throwing him away. She completely broke down after that and insisted on returning to her home. Estrid was hysterical and eventually fell ill. Even in her weakened state, when she learned that Loki was trying to climb his way to the Sun World, she wanted to dispose of him. She declared that it was foretold long before Loki’s birth that he would be the one to slay his father, King Harald. From then on, Elbaf blamed every misfortune on the “Cursed Prince.” As the chapter ends, we see a silhouette of Kid Loki, who stands alone with a weapon in his hand.

One Piece Will Continue to Answer Every Question About Loki

The latest chapter suggests that the Giants didn’t simply hate Loki because of his actions, but it was deeply rooted in them since the time of his birth. Whether it was the prophecy or his appearance, nothing about him was acceptable to the others. Despite having the blood of the Ancient Giants, he was discarded by everyone around him. The Elbaf Arc previously revealed that Loki caused all kinds of mischief in his younger days, including committing arson and letting his Underworld beast loose on the villages.

Perhaps it was his way of demanding attention after living alone for as long as he could remember. It could also be a mean prank against those who didn’t care for his existence. Now that the tragic truth behind his birth is revealed, we will learn more about his past in Elbaf and his relationship with Harald. 14 years ago, Loki was disappointed with Harald’s actions simply because he was building diplomatic relationships with the World Government. However, he was visibly upset after witnessing his death.

Not only that, but at the time, Loki hadn’t consumed the legendary devil fruit either. Since Elbaf had a habit of blaming all their misfortunes on him, it seems they immediately assumed Loki was the murderer. However, Jarul’s silence on the matter suggests there’s a bigger conspiracy at play, and he must be hiding the truth to protect something or someone.

The post One Piece Reveals a New Prophecy & It’s About Elbaf’s Best Character appeared first on ComicBook.com.

My Hero Academia’s manga might have come to an end last year, but the original creator behind it all revealed that he originally had a much different idea in mind for Izuku Midoriya’s final moments. My Hero Academia is currently gearing up for the TV anime’s return later this Fall for its final season of episodes, and that means even more fans are going to see how the decade long run of the story came to an end within the pages of Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump magazine. Deku’s ending in particular sparked a lot of debate back then too as fans came to terms with the finale.

Warning! Massive spoilers for My Hero Academia’s ending to follow! My Hero Academia ended its original run in Shonen Jump with a flash forward jumping ten years into the future following the end of the war against All For One and Tomura Shigaraki, and Deku had since become a teacher without the use of One For All. But as the final pages of the story came to an end, Bakugo and the rest of the former Class 1-A students revealed they pooled their money together to give Deku a power suit that would let him be a hero once more. But according to series creator Kohei Horikoshi, this ending wasn’t the original plan.

My Hero Academia Creator’s Original Plan for Deku’s Ending

According to comments made by series creator Kohei Horikoshi for My Hero Academia’s new exhibition running in Japan (as translated by @shibuyasmash on X), when asked about the changes from the opening chapter’s future tease of Deku saying it was a story about how he became the greatest hero only for the final chapter to then be changed to include everyone else who became great heroes, Horikoshi revealed that the original plan was for Deku to remain a teacher. He’d still be powerless after losing One For All, but ultimately satisfied.

Read Next

My Hero Academia’s Final Volume Sets U.S. Release Date at Last

“I originally planned for it to end with Deku becoming a teacher and saying ‘You can be a hero!'” Horikoshi began. “Having used up his powers but looking fully confident…like that. The reason it was changed is because the series was no longer a story just about Deku and One For All.” As Horikoshi continued to explore the ending to the series, he also realized that the scope of the series had changed from how he had originally planned it to go.

What Does This Mean for Deku?

As Horikoshi elaborated further, the overall theme for the series was reflected better in this new version of the ending, “In this series I was exploring ‘What does it mean to be the greatest hero?’ and the answer this manga came to is that it means ‘reaching a hand out to others,’ so I thought I would put the answer in writing and that’s how the final monologue of Chapter 430 became what it is now.” So while it originally had Deku passing on hope to the future, it instead became much more collaborative.

This expansion to the rest of the heroes is something fans started to notice after All Might was originally retired after his fight with All For One. Rather than focus squarely on how Deku was going to make up for the lack of All Might’s power, it instead fell on hero society on a whole to support one another in the face of such a loss. This continued even years after the war, and eventually led to the new version of the future that saw Deku be both a teacher and the future pro hero he always saw himself as.

HT – @shibuyasmash on X

The post My Hero Academia Originally Had a Much Different Deku Ending Planned appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba is finally hitting theaters in Japan later this Summer with the first in a brand new movie trilogy, and Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle is getting Akaza ready for his comeback with a new look ahead of its premiere. Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle will be picking up right where the TV anime left off after the end of its fourth season, and that means Tanjiro Kamado and the others are going to be fighting for their lives against Muzan Kibutsuji’s final demonic forces. It’s going to be a tough one considering who’s left.

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle will be hitting theaters next month in Japan after much waiting, and Tanjiro is about to face off against someone he’s brushed past before. Akaza is one of the strongest demons under Muzan, and although he’s not the top of the Upper Ranks, he’s been hailed as one of the strongest after killing Kyojuro Rengoku during the Mugen Train arc. Now as he prepares to return with the Infinity Castle arc, Demon Slayer has dropped a cool new poster for Akaza that you can check out below.

What Is Akaza’s Role in Infinity Castle?

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle will be adapting the massive Infinity Castle arc from Koyoharu Gotoge’s original manga series, and this means it will be taking on the final battles between the Demon Slayers and the demons. Tanjiro has been fearing Akaza ever since he saw the demon in motion during the Mugen Train arc, but it’s now going to be a fierce face off between the two of them. Tanjiro only looked at him from afar the first time around, but now he’s going to be squaring off completely against Akaza on the demon’s home turf. It’s a totally different situation now.

Read Next

Assassin’s Creed Shadows Has a Major Demon Slayer Reference

Since Mugen Train, Demon Slayer has been offering new looks at Akaza within Muzan’s ranks. Considering his overwhelming strength it was already a surprise to find out that he was only the third strongest of the final demons, and has some demons that even he’ll back off from. This has offered some nuance as to what to expect from Akaza moving forward, but that’s all going to come to a head once he starts making his move in the Infinity Castle. It really is going to be the beginning of the end from here on out.

When Does Demon Slayer’s New Movie Come Out?

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle Arc will first be hitting theaters across Japan on July 18th, and will then be coming to theaters in the United States and Canada beginning on September 12th as distributed by Sony Pictures Entertainment and Crunchyroll. It’s also going to be screening in IMAX and other premium formats depending on territory as well, and various international territories have their own release dates spread across the Summer and Fall. Haruo Sotozaki directs Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle for studio ufotable. Akira Matsushima will be overseeing the character designs, and Go Shiina and Yuki Kajiura will be handling the music.

It’s yet to be revealed when the final two films of the Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle trilogy will release, but in the meantime you can catch up with the Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba TV anime’s first four seasons now streaming with Netflix, Hulu, Crunchyroll and more to see how everything has been building towards this grand finale. There’s likely not going to be a bigger film that fans will see in action this year.

The post Demon Slayer Movie Hypes Akaza With New Infinity Castle Look Ahead of Premiere appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Squid Game has officially come to an end after four years and three seasons with Netflix, but the final season found a creative way to bring Season 2’s biggest standout back from the dead before it was all over. Squid Game returned for Season 2 of the highly anticipated series last year, and quickly took over Netflix just as much as the first season did. This new season introduced Seong Gi-Hun to a new series of games, and a new cast of players who needed to survive. But the biggest standout was the wild drug using rapper named after a Marvel character, Thanos.

Squid Game Season 2 really took over the world with Thanos as fans got to love the character despite the fact he didn’t make it out of the season unscathed. This had seemed like it meant that the character would not be making a comeback in the third season despite his popularity, but Squid Game Season 3 found a way to bring Thanos back to the action without breaking the grounded rules of its world. Whether or not it was a successful return will be up to the fans, however. Warning! Major Squid Game Season 3 spoilers to follow!

How Thanos Comes Back in Squid Game Season 3

Thanos was decidedly killed off during the second season‘s final stretch after losing a fight to Lee Myung-gi, so it seemed like he would be off the table for a potential cameo in the final episodes given that his story was completed. But Thanos was such a personality that he continued to live on through others. At first it seemed small, however, as his surviving compatriot Nam-gyu was bringing Thanos back to the screen with a hilarious impression of his former friend, but it all becomes real much later through an entirely different character.

Read Next

Squid Game Finale Teases American Spinoff With Major Marvel Star Cameo (& What That Means)

Nam-gyu and Thanos had been bullying Park Min-su through the games thus far, so Squid Game Season 3 sees Min-su instead taking more of the reins over his life. During the chaos of the fourth game he gets a hand on Thanos’ drug necklace and starts to take them through the final games. In the final game, Sky Squid Game, Min-su hallucinates and nearly falls off the side of a platform. It’s here he briefly sees Thanos and Nam-gyu as the two try and “grab him” and drag him to his death. So Thanos was able to come back even after he died.

Is Thanos’ Return a Success?

Thanos’ comeback is going to be a point of debate among Squid Game fans. Because it might seem like a decision that was made following how much popularity Thanos had in the second season, but Season 2 and 3 of the series were produced pretty much at the same time. It’s not likely that Squid Game creator Hwang Dong-hyuk inserted Thanos into this moment just as a bit of fan service, and that’s apparent in the scene itself as Min-su is haunted by the literal ghosts of his past through the game thus far.

It’s not the kind of return that would break the reality set by the first two seasons of the series, and is also not the only dead character we see returning through these kinds of visions either. Thanos just stands out because of all the noise he made during the second season, so it ends up being just another fun nod to the fact that this character continues to cause chaos in others’ lives long after he was killed off. No other Squid Game character really has that level of impact.

The post Squid Game Finale Brings Season 2’s Best Character Back From the Dead appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Demon Slayer’s anime is finally in its endgame since the Infinity Castle trilogy will adapt the final arc. The film will kick off from the Hashira Training Arc’s finale. While the arc in the manga ends before Muzan’s appearance in the Ubuyashiki manor, the anime decided to have a special premiere to set up the series’ most highly anticipated arc. Despite functioning for over a thousand years, the Demon Slayer Corps hasn’t been able to defeat Muzan Kibutsuji and put an end to his terror. While the existence of demons isn’t public knowledge, there have been considerable casualties over the centuries. Muzan is confident about his strength, and he believes he will become untouchable once he absorbs Nezuko.

However, just as Muzan has been a nuisance to the Demon Slayer Corps, the opposite is also true. He already has three of the Upper Six demons and knows it’s time for the final showdown against the Corps. After Kagaya blows up his mansion and kills his wife and two daughters in the process, he gives the Demon Slayers a small window to ambush the demon progenitor. Thanks to the combined efforts of Shinobu and Tamayo, Muzan has been considerably weakened, but it’s not nearly enough to kill him. If things were bad enough, the Demon Slayers are sucked into the Infinity Castle, Muzan’s secret hideout where the Upper Rank demons await their enemies. Tanjiro is one of the Demon Slayers forced into the castle, and the trailer confirms his opponent will be none other than Akaza.

Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle Film Will Have Tanjiro Face-Off Against Akaza

Tanjiro and Akaza first met each other in the Infinity Train Arc after the mission was already over. Rengoku and the others successfully defeated the demon controlling the Infinity Train and saved the passengers. Just when they sighed a relief, Akaza showed up out of nowhere and challenged Rengoku. At the time, Tanjiro had sustained severe injuries, and Rengoku warned him not to move.

The Hashira stood against the Upper Rank Three demon and put up an incredible fight. Even so, defeating someone like Akaza on his own was almost impossible, so despite receiving fatal injuries, Rengoku tried to keep Akaza out in the open till the sun rose. Akaza barely managed to run away, but Tanjiro threw his sword and pierced the demon’s chest. The young Demon Slayer even declared Akaza the loser since he ran away, unlike Rengoku, who stood his ground till the end.

The two will clash again in the Infinity Castle Arc, and it will be Tanjiro’s biggest fight yet. The 90-second trailer dedicates the 2/3rd part of it to the two, especially Akaza, whose story will finally be revealed in this arc. Tanjiro definitely has a score to settle with Akaza, but it’s not going to be easy even with his Demon Slayer Mark.

Tanjiro Has Come a Long Way Over the Years, But Is He Strong Enough to Defeat Akaza?

The three Upper Rank demons are on an entirely another level than the lower three of the Upper Moons. When he first saw Tanjiro, Akaza deemed him “weak” and was ready to strike him down first before fighting Rengoku. Seeing Tanjiro in his wounded state, Akaza was sure that he didn’t have what it takes. His attitude towards Rengoku was completely different since the demon acknowledged his strength. After the Infinity Train Arc, Tanjiro fought against several powerful opponents and grew stronger with each battle. Not to mention, he became exponentially stronger during the Hashira Training Arc after going through the hellish training.

Tanjiro not only has better control over his Sun Breathing Technique, but he can also switch between Water and Sun elements whenever he wishes. His Demon Slayer Mark has also changed its shape, resembling the one Yoriichi Tsugikuni had. This is a sign of his strength, but even after all that, Akaza will prove to be the biggest challenge he has ever faced. Tanjiro surely can’t fight against someone like that on his own, so Giyu joins him, and their teamwork is exceptional. The battle isn’t merely thrilling but also has high emotional stakes for all three of them.

The post Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle Sets Up Tanjiro’s Biggest Rematch appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Bandai Namco is one of the world’s biggest video game publishers. The company has a lot of notable games in the works right now, many of which will be released in 2025. On Wednesday, July 2nd, fans will get a closer look at several of these games thanks to the Bandai Namco Summer Showcase. The event will be streamed on the company’s official YouTube channel at 12 p.m. PT. Viewers can expect to learn new information for many titles that have already been announced, and they’ll also see a brand-new game based on My Hero Academia revealed.

As of this writing, a name has not been announced for the My Hero Academia game, but a trademark for the title All’s Justice was filed back in March. That was our first hint about a new game in the works based on the series, and we even saw a leaked logo and key art for the game earlier in the month of June. Now it looks like we’ll finally be getting a full reveal at the Bandai Namco Summer Showcase. A trailer for the event can be found below.

As laid out in the trailer, Bandai Namco will be using this event to showcase several other games, as well. Little Nightmares 3 will show up, following the recent release date announcement. We can also expect to learn more about Shadow Labyrinth, Code Vein II, The Blood of Dawnwalker, and Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree. The showcase will also include a “gameplay deep dive” for Digimon Story: Time Stranger, and there will be something related to Tekken 8. Since the latter game is supposed to get the DLC fighter Fahkumram soon, it’s possible we could see a closer look at how he plays.

The Bandai Namco Summer Showcase will offer a look at two games based on PlayStation properties. Earlier this year, it was announced that Bandai Namco will be publishing Everybody’s Golf Hot Shots and Patapon 1+2 Replay. Unlike previous games in those respective series, both games will be released on non-PlayStation platforms, notably PC and Nintendo Switch. This is a new thing for Sony, and it already has some people speculating about whether we could see a similar treatment for other dormant PlayStation franchises.

Read Next

Shadow Labyrinth Reveals Wild New Take on Pac-Man

All in all, it looks like the Bandai Namco Summer Showcase should have a lot to look forward to. Unfortunately, the publisher has not revealed how long the livestream will last, so it’s impossible to say just how much information we can expect to see. Since many of these games are set to be released within the next few months though, this could offer a great opportunity for Bandai Namco to highlight what it has on the way. The company might be able to win over some viewers that might be on the fence about these games right now.

Are you planning to check out the Bandai Namco Summer Showcase? Which of these games are you most eager to see during the event? Share your thoughts with me directly on Bluesky at @Marcdachamp, or on Instagram at @Dachampgaming!

The post New My Hero Academia Game and More to Appear at Bandai Namco Summer Showcase appeared first on ComicBook.com.

One of the biggest hidden gems of the anime year overall is coming back for Season 2, so it’s time for fans to give I Left My A-Rank Party to Help My Former Students Reach the Dungeon Depths! a chance. The anime year has been off to a very strong start through the first half thus far with tons of major anime that fans have been keeping an eye on so far. With the Summer 2025 anime schedule also fast approaching, it means that many of the other hits are reaching their respective grand finales. But one anime has gone mostly unappreciated.

The anime adaptation for Kosuke Unagi’s I Left My A-Rank Party to Help My Former Students Reach the Dungeon Depths! original light novel series kicked off its run earlier this year, and ran for two cours of episodes with its finale airing this Spring. With the release of the final episode, the anime has confirmed it will be returning for a second season. To celebrate the announcement, character designer Masakazu Yamazaki has shared a special new visual that you can check out below.

What Is I Left My A-Rank Party?

I Left My A-Rank Party to Help My Former Students Reach the Dungeon Depths! Season 2 has been announced to be in the works following the first season’s finale, but has yet to confirm a release date or window as of the time of this publication. Kasumi Ono directed the anime’s first season for BN Pictures with Kazuyuki Fuedyasu writing the scripts. Masakazu Yamazaki oversaw the character designs and served as a chief animation director alongside Akira Takahashi, Yumiko Hara, and Ippei Ichii. Go Sakabe composed the music behind the first season. It’s currently unconfirmed if the anime’s staff will return for its second season as of this publication either.

Read Next

Top 10 New Anime You Need to Watch This Summer 2025

I Left My A-Rank Party to Help My Former Students Reach the Dungeon Depths! might have seemed like it was going to be like some of the other hits, but it’s got a lot of different elements that help give it a variety that allow it to stand out from the rest of the pack. Now that the first season has come to an end, it’s the perfect time for fans to catch up with everything that’s happened thus far as it has been telling a huge story with its first wave of episodes.

Why You Should Watch I Left My A-Rank Party

If you wanted to take this opportunity to catch up with the anime now that a second season has been officially announced, you can now find it streaming with Crunchyroll. They tease what to expect from I Left My A-Rank Party to Help My Former Students Reach the Dungeon Depths! as such, “Not every party treats you like a hero—especially when you’re a lowly red mage like Yuke. So, after years of constant ridicule by his A-rank party members, he ditches them. Searching for a new party, he reunites with former students Marina, Silk, and Rain, and joins their group. But on a quest to conquer the world’s greatest dungeon, they become entangled in chaos that threatens the world.”

Although you lot at the outside and think it’s going to follow a lot of the same patterns as others, this anime isn’t an isekai, doesn’t have a boring central protagonist, and its various romances do feel earned considering how much its main hero actually gets done. It’s just a refreshing series in an interesting fantasy world, and soon it’s going to be expanding with a whole new season in the future.

The post One of 2025’s Best Hidden Anime Gems Is Getting a Season 2 appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Over the years, One Piece has introduced many a tragic character. In fact, the series has become almost infamous for sneaking in the most heartbreaking origin stories when fans expect it the least. The most recent example of this was Kuma, whose tragic past is currently being brought to life in One Piece’s anime. All that said, the Elbaf Arc now has its own tragic star, and it’s unexpectedly the so-called “Accursed Prince” Loki, who could finally be on the path to redemption.

Chapter 1153 of One Piece finally dives into Loki’s origins, revealing that Harald was forced to marry Loki’s mother, Estrid, after pressure from the Giants to marry someone of pure Ancient Giant blood. The chapter then goes on to reveal that Loki was born with serpentine eyes, horrifying Estrid, who proceeded to throw Loki into the Underworld, calling him cursed and a monster. As Estrid prepares to return to her village in Elbaf, Loki can be seen crying while trying to crawl up Jewel Tree Adam, painting a strikingly tragic picture of the antagonizing character Loki has been set up as so far.

Read Next

One Piece Confirms Loki’s Powers Are a Throwback to Two Classic Villains

One Piece Is Setting Loki up for a Classic Redemption

While One Piece has had its fair share of horrible parents, such as Vinsmoke Judge, Loki’s mother, Estrid, might just take the cake as the most despicable. The latest chapter sees Estrid immediately reject Loki, initially demanding that those who witnessed the birth tell Harald it was a stillbirth before settling on completely keeping his birth a secret from everyone. As if the sight of little Loki reaching out for his mother but having no one take his hands wasn’t heartbreaking enough already, the chapter ends with the striking image of Loki trying to claw his way out of the Underworld, simultaneously clawing his way into fans’ hearts.

Of course, considering fans have previously seen King Harald address Loki and Hajrudin together in a brief flashback, Loki’s birth wasn’t a secret for much longer, especially since Estrid passed away not too soon after. That said, easily the most interesting part of the chapter is the revelation of a prophecy that Harald would be slain by his own son, with the chapter implying that this prophecy is why any future misfortune that came Elbaf’s way would be attributed to Loki being cursed.

Despite the prophecy, however, as fans already saw in Chapter 1152, King Harald had been impaled by his guards when Loki and Jarul arrived at Aurust Castle, implying Loki was innocent of his biggest crime and had simply taken the blame. If so, it is possible that every other rumor fans have heard about Loki and his misdeeds so far has been false as well, wrongfully painting him as the “Accursed Prince” of Elbaf.

While his origins would completely justify him becoming a villain, it’s becoming increasingly clear that Loki isn’t as evil as he initially seemed. Luffy also instinctively seems to know this, trusting Loki enough to ask him to join the Straw Hats. Nonetheless, it seems like One Piece is pulling off yet another classic redemption, and by the end of the Elbaf Arc, Loki might just end up being another fan-favorite character.

One Piece is available to read on Manga Plus and Viz Media.

The post One Piece Reveals Loki’s Dark Origins (And How He Will Be Redeemed) appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Warning! Massive Squid Game Season 3 spoilers to follow! Squid Game has officially come to an end after four years with Netflix, and the final episode of its final season set up the path towards the long reported American Squid Game spinoff series with a major Hollywood cameo. Although Squid Game seemed to be a fairly contained story from series creator Hwang Dong-hyuk when it first premiered during the pandemic, it has since become such a massive hit for Netflix that it returned to complete its run with two new seasons. But that’s not been all as Netflix has been looking for ways to expand the massively popular franchise even further.

One issue with expanding the franchise is where to go after the original story ends, but Squid Game’s answer to this has instead been to start development on a new spinoff series set in the United States of America. This English language take on the franchise has reportedly been in the works for the last couple of years, and now it seems like it has taken a huge step forward with the final episode of Squid Game Season 3. Bringing in massive star Cate Blanchett (Thor: Ragnarok, Borderlands, Black Bag), Squid Game is now teasing a whole new setting for the future.

Why Is Cate Blanchett in Squid Game Season 3?

The final episode of Squid Game Season 3 sees the Front Man making his way to Los Angeles, California to deliver Seong Gi-Hun’s belongings to his daughter following the end of the games. But a slapping sound in a nearby alleyway catches his attention, and he spots a woman playing the same Ddakji game that Gong Yoo’s recruiter had been seen playing in the series before. It’s soon revealed to be Blanchett as she’s clearly the recruiter for an American version of the game. It’s the final nod to the series in the future, and sets up what’s to come.

Read Next

Netflix Stealth Launches Secret Squid Game Spinoff

Part of Squid Game‘s message throughout its run is that regardless of what Seong Gi-Hun tried to accomplish throughout both of the games he participated in, he would be helpless to stop the system at hand. Regardless of how much he was going to fight, it would not be enough to stop others from playing or hosting the games. Now it’s more clear that ever that even if Gi-Hun were successful in stopping them in Korea, the games are still very much active in the rest of the world. It’s why the creator was so open about the show not having a happy ending ahead of its premiere.

What Does This Mean for Squid Game?

Reports have revealed that a new English language adaptation of Squid Game was now in the works with David Fincher expected to helm this new take on the franchise. It’s unclear as to whether or not this ending will directly tie into Fincher’s version of the franchise, but it does set up an important point either way. It’s now revealed that these deadly games are taking place throughout different regions of the world, and that opens up the franchise to a much wider scope than ever before.

Creator Hwang Dong-hyuk might have ended his Squid Game story, and might have expanded on the central idea of how its capitalistic core ruins everyone involved, but the franchise is really only getting started. It’s likely we’re going to see much more of Squid Game from this point on, and that’s not even including the also in the works second season of the reality game show version, Squid Game: The Challenge. It’s far from over.

The post Squid Game Finale Teases American Spinoff With Major Marvel Star Cameo (& What That Means) appeared first on ComicBook.com.

My Dress-Up Darling is one of the many franchises making its return with new episodes as part of the new wave of anime hitting for the Summer 2025 anime schedule, and now fans have gotten a final look at Season 2 ahead of its big premiere. My Dress-Up Darling first made its anime debut a few years ago, and Shinichi Fukuda’s original manga has since come to an end in that time. This means fans have been waiting a long time to get their newest fix of its central budding romance, and finally the wait will soon be over this Summer.

My Dress-Up Darling Season 2 is going to be making its debut this July as part of the upcoming Summer 2025 anime schedule, and has dropped one final update ahead of its big comeback to screens. The newest trailer for the upcoming season drops the best look at the new episodes yet along with confirming its theme songs and a new addition to the voice cast. You can check out the newest trailer for My Dress-Up Darling Season 2 along with its newest poster below.

What to Know My Dress-Up Darling Season 2

My Dress-Up Darling Season 2 will be making its debut in Japan on July 5th, and Crunchyroll will be streaming the new episodes upon their debut for fans in other territories. This newest trailer also reveals the new opening theme titled “Ao to Kirameki” as performed by Spira Spica, and the new ending theme for the season is titled “Kawaii Kaiwai” as performed by PiKi. Keisuke Shinohara returns from directing the first season of My Dress-Up Darling for Studio CloverWorks in the new season. Yoriko Tomita oversaw the scripts for the series, Takeshi Nakatsuka composed the music, and Kazumasa Ishida handled the character designs.

Read Next

Top 10 New Anime You Need to Watch This Summer 2025

Joining the returning central duo of Hina Suguta as Marin Kitagawa and Shoya Ishige as Wakana Gojo are fellow returning cast members Atsumi Tanezaki as Sajuna Inui, Hina Yomiya as Shinju Inu, and Atsushi Ono as Kaoru Gojo. New additions to the voice cast for Season 2 currently include Ayumu Murase as Amane Himeno and Shohei Komatsu as Shiki Kawashigi. But some of the biggest moments from the manga are coming in this new season, so fans are going to want to keep their eyes peeled.

What to Expect for My Dress-Up Darling Season 2

My Dress-Up Darling Season 2 will be picking up with Marin and Gojo’s quiet lives following everything that happened the first season, and you can catch up with all of the episodes so far as the first season is now streaming with Crunchyroll. As for what’s coming in the new season, Crunchyroll teases it as such:

“When Marin Kitagawa and Wakana Gojo met, they grew close over their love for cosplay. Through interacting with classmates and making new cosplay friends, Marin and Wakana’s world keeps growing. New developments arise as Marin’s love for Wakana continues to be filled with endless excitement. In their ever-expanding world, Marin and Wakana’s story of cosplay and thrills continues!”

Now that My Dress-Up Darling’s manga is coming to an end, fans are going to be keeping a very close eye on the new anime as it continues to develop. This is also only one of CloverWorks’ new anime airing this Summer too with other major projects such as Rascal Does Not Dream of Santa Claus and The Fragrant Flower Blooms With Dignity also coming this July. It’s going to be a big season for fans who love romance anime, so it’s just a matter of finding out how they’re all going to work out.

The post My Dress-Up Darling Season 2 Releases Final Trailer Ahead of Premiere appeared first on ComicBook.com.

The first installment in the Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle movie trilogy, set to release on July 18, 2025, in Japanese theaters, has finally unveiled its highly anticipated first trailer. The trailer highlights the climactic final battle between the demon slayers and the demons, confirming an all-out war. Nearly every major villain makes an appearance, including the fearsome Upper Moon demons. Among them, two stand out the most, Upper Rank 2, Doma, and the fan-favorite, Upper Rank 3, Akaza.

The trailer confirms that much of the first movie will focus on these two powerful demons and their respective battles. This focus also gives early-introduced Hashira, Giyu Tomioka and Shinobu Kocho, their much-deserved spotlight, while the protagonist, Kamado Tanjiro, shines even brighter. That said, the trailer ensures that other Hashira won’t be sidelined. It offers a first glimpse at another fan favorite, the prodigy Hashira, who is even younger than Tanjiro, Muichiro Tokito. Tokito’s role in the third season of Demon Slayer revealed his importance, and his interaction with Tanjiro led to significant emotional character development. It is evident that Tokito’s involvement will be crucial in the upcoming final war, and the trailer may have also hinted at who his opponent will be.

Read Next

Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle Movie Highlights English Dub With First Trailer

Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle First Trailer Hints at Muichiro’s Final Battle

With Muichiro being one of the strongest Hashira, possibly ranking within the top five, his involvement in the final war will be invaluable. However, the fact that the first trailer doesn’t show him encountering any demons, particularly the Upper Moons, suggests that his battle is being reserved for later, likely against an Upper Moon whose rank may even surpass that of Doma and Akaza. It’s clear not every fight will be featured in the first installment of the trilogy, and if Muichiro is indeed set to face Upper Moon Rank One, Kokushibo, that confrontation may only occur after the defeats of Akaza and Doma, possibly near the end of the second movie.

It’s also evident that Muichiro won’t face Kokushibo alone. Despite his strength, defeating Upper Moon Rank Four required the assistance of others. Given that Rank One is significantly more powerful than the other demons, Muichiro taking him on solo would be impossible. He will likely be joined by other powerful Hashira, particularly the strongest ones, who, like Muichiro, only appeared briefly in the trailer without being shown fighting specific demons. This includes Gyomei Himejima, the strongest Hashira. With the Wind, Snake, and even the Love Hashira not yet matched against any opponent in the trailer, they may also join the battle. So, although fans are given a first look at Muichiro in the Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle trailer, it may be some time before he receives his full spotlight, possibly not until the second installment.

The post Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle Unveils First Look at Muichiro’s Movie Comeback appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Hiro Mashima, the creative powerhouse behind beloved shonen hits like Fairy Tail, Rave Master, and Edens Zero, is venturing into new territory with his latest project — a one-shot titled 1993. Mashima’s most famous work still remains Fairy Tail, a series set in the world of magic. Despite the unique worldbuilding and power system, the series was always in the middle of controversy for its excessive fan service. The original Fairy Tail manga concluded in 2017, and just a year later, Mashima released a sequel, Fairy Tail: 100 Years Quest, which is still ongoing. The anime adaptation of the original Fairy Tail series by A-1 Pictures, CloverWorks, and Bridge studios concluded in 2019, and J.C. Staff picked up the sequel in 2024, which aired 25 episodes till January 2025.

This time, the celebrated mangaka is stepping out of his comfort zone to debut a new one-shot titled 1993, a story set in the gritty world of delinquent youth, which is quite different from the fantasy worlds he usually focuses on. 1993 will be released in Weekly Young Magazine, the most famous seinen publication, as part of its 45th-anniversary celebration. The one-shot will appear in issue #32, scheduled for release on July 7, 2025.

1993 Will Be Hiro Mashima’s First Seinen Project

In a career spanning over two decades, Hiro Mashima has primarily focused on Shonen series, so this is his first time creating something out of his comfort zone, even if it’s a one-shot. Weekly Young Magazine was released in 1980 and is home to several classics, such as Ghost in the Shell, Prison School, etc. The details about Mashima’s 1993 are currently unknown except for the theme and the fact that it won’t be a serialized manga. The news doesn’t come from an official source, but it’s reliable, so there are negligible chances of misinformation. The title evokes a wave of curiosity and nostalgia, especially because we have never seen Mashima write a delinquent story.

Whether they are Shonen or Seinen, delinquent series have always been well-loved in Japan, such as Crows, Good-For-Nothing Blues, Bad Boys, and many more. However, this specific type of genre didn’t start bringing a wide global audience until recently. Several delinquent series have become globally famous over the years, such as Tokyo Revengers and Wind Breaker. Hence, the project may turn out to be a delight, especially considering Mashima’s inclusion in this special occasion.

H/T: @MangaMoguraRE on X

The post Fairy Tail Creator Returns With a Brand New Seinen Series appeared first on ComicBook.com.

The first film of the Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle trilogy is all set for its Japanese release on July 18th, 2025. International release dates will vary by region, with the U.S. premiere set for September 12, 2025. The animation studio behind the anime, Ufotable, just released the trailer in both subbed and dubbed versions. The film will pick up the story from the finale of the Hashira Training Arc, adapting the final showdown between the Demon Slayers and the demons. Muzan showed up at the Ubuyashiki manor, unaware that the head of the Demon Slayer Corps had an insane plan in his mind. Kagaya blows up his manor and dies along with his wife and two of his five children. Muzan was taken aback by the sudden explosion when the Demon Slayers ambushed him.

However, despite being weakened to some degree, he is practically untouchable. Amid the chaos, all the Demon Slayers are forced inside Muzan’s hideout, the Infinity Castle, where the Upper Ranks are waiting for their enemies. The Demon Slayers are at a serious disadvantage since they are separated, and the castle is almost impossible to navigate. As the fight continues, we will watch some of the most intense and heartbreaking scenes in the series. The trailer, running for 90 seconds, features several characters, but Akaza steals the show as always.

The Ending Scene of the Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle Trailer Highlights Akaza’s Return

While the first 60 seconds of the trailer show all the major characters, the rest of the 30 seconds creates a deep impression about Akaza and his face-off with Tanjiro. Even the stunning key visual of the film features him with Tanjiro’s reflection shown in his eye. The trailer plays the iconic soundtrack dedicated to the Upper Rank Three demon as he gets ready for the fight, referring to it as “party,” implying he will enjoy the face-off. We also see his Blood Demon Art, Destructive Death. Akaza has been a fan-favorite villain since the Infinity Train film, where he fought against Rengoku, the Flame Hashira.

Rengoku, Tanjiro, and the others defeated the demon controlling the train and saved all the passengers. However, Akaza’s unexpected appearance results in Rengoku’s tragic death, which leaves Tanjiro completely heartbroken. He chased after the demon, who ran away as soon as the sun was up. Tanjiro declares Akaza’s defeat since the demon had to flee the battle after inflicting fatal wounds on Rengoku. Akaza’s pride was hurt, but he knew there was some truth to that. This will be their first encounter since that moment, and as the trailer suggests, it will be Tanjiro’s biggest fight in the final arc.

Read Next

10 Best Fights in Demon Slayer

Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle Will Reveal Everything About Akaza

One thing we can be sure about Demon Slayer is that a majority of the demons will always have some kind of backstory, especially the Upper Ranks. The demon’s actions, appearance, and even their powers are often related to their human selves. In Akaza’s case, his Destructive Death resembles a form of martial arts, which he uses to fight. Among all the Upper Moons, Akaza is the only demon who fights others using his fists, and nothing else. The sheer force behind each blow is devastating, living up to the name of his Blood Demon Art.

Akaza is one of the most fascinating villains of Demon Slayer. Considering how he doesn’t mindlessly kill people, unlike most demons, and how he refuses to eat women despite Doma’s persistence, there’s more to him than meets the eye. He only lives for the thrill of the battle and respects those who are genuinely strong. His fight with Rengoku was much more than a clash against two enemies. Akaza had the upper hand all along, yet he couldn’t help but crave more thrill.

He offered Rengoku a chance to become a demon since he believed he would be a waste for such a talented man to simply die. During his clash with Tanjiro, the series will explore Akaza’s backstory and explain everything about him, the strange marks on his body, the reason he loves fighting so much, as well as why he refuses to eat women. On the other hand, Tanjiro will push through his limits to ensure the demon is finally defeated.

The post Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle Highlights One Demon’s Big Comeback appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle finally gave anime fans a new look at the first of the shonen franchise’s final film trilogy, giving viewers brief glimpses of the Demon Slayer Corps and Muzan’s forces butting heads. Set to release next month in Japan, North American fans will have to wait a tad longer to see Tanjiro’s return to the silver screen. Luckily, we here at ComicBook.com are up to speed on Demon Slayer’s manga and are more than happy to dive deep into the recent trailer. The Love Hashira, Mitsuri Kanroji, is featured briefly in the trailer and her final fight is right around the corner.

Without diving too deeply into spoiler territory for those who haven’t read the manga, the Love Hashira will be taking on an opponent that some might not see coming. Luckily, she’ll have back-up for the first film of the Infinity Castle trilogy as the Demon Slayer Corps works their way to Muzan. When last we saw Mitsuri, she had Tanjiro and company undergo some hilarious training methods to prepare them for the road ahead. Placing the young would-be Hashira into a ballet session that pushed the swordsmen to their limit, the Love Hashira would go on to join her comrades in taking on Muzan as she too was dragged into the Infinity Castle. You can check out the new trailer below and get a brief glimpse at Mitsuri as she stares down a wave of demons that are making their way toward her.

Read Next

Demon Slayer’s Nezuko Hypes Infinity Castle Movie Release

The Infinity Castle Expands

Western anime fans can expect Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle to arrive in North American theaters on September 12th, but the release windows for the next two films to round out the trilogy remain anyone’s guess. As of the writing of this article, studio Ufotable has not hinted at the films releasing year after year, meaning that the final film could still be some time away. With the first Infinity Castle film widely hyped in the anime world, the movie will have its biggest competition from the Demon Slayer series itself.

To this day, Demon Slayer: Mugen Train remains the biggest, most profitable anime film of all time, bringing in hundreds of millions of dollars and helping to put the shonen franchise on the map. While the shonen story saw two following movies in Demon Slayer: To The Swordsmith Village and Demon Slayer: To The Hashira Training, both were compilation films that gathered the television series’ episodes together for their theatrical runs. With Infininty Castle being made strictly for the silver screen, it will be interesting to see if this will be enough for Tanjiro’s next movie to be the biggest of the franchise and in the anime world.

Want to see if Infinity Castle walks away as the biggest anime film of all time? Follow along with Team Anime on ComicBook.com for all the latest on the Demon Slayer Corps and hit me up directly @EVComedy to talk all things comics and anime or hit us up in the comments.

The post Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle Shares First Look at Mitsuri’s Final Fight appeared first on ComicBook.com.

The latest installment in the Dragon Ball franchise, Daima, is certainly one of the most special, primarily because it stands as the final project the late Akira Toriyama ever worked on. This series captures the essence of the franchise, presenting a lighthearted adventure in which the Z Fighters embark on a new journey with a renewed purpose. As Goku and the others face new enemies and are transformed into younger versions of themselves, the story creates space for character development and the introduction of new transformations. However, the series is far from flawless. As the narrative progresses, several elements fail to make sense.

While Daima, like most Dragon Ball installments, embraces supernatural themes, it often struggles to bridge the gap between fiction and internal logic. The real shortcoming lies in how the series builds promising foundations that could have been logically expanded within the bounds of its fantasy framework, but instead introduces elements that feel misplaced or unearned. At times, developments feel forced or entirely incoherent. We’ve selected seven such moments from Daima in which a few should have followed a more consistent, logical approach, but ultimately fall apart, while others don’t make sense at all.

Read Next

Dragon Ball & How Gohan Could Have Ever Replaced Goku as the Main Hero

7) Gomah Being the Final Villain

The journey in Daima begins with Gomah’s scheme to turn the Z Fighters into children. From the start, Gomah is portrayed as a relatively weak and comedic character, leading many to believe that the series was building toward a different, more formidable final villain. Throughout the story, several new elements were introduced that could have served this role, but one stood out in particular: a new creation reminiscent of Majin Buu, yet more obedient and potentially more dangerous. This plotline was tied to Dr. Arinsu, the elder sister of Supreme Kai Shin, who had been secretly working behind the scenes since Buu’s arrival on Earth. By retconning parts of Majin Buu’s lore, the new Majin Buu seemed to lay the groundwork for a final antagonist with deep narrative roots.

However, as Daima approaches its conclusion, the series shifts direction and reinstates Gomah as the ultimate threat through the hasty implementation of the Evil Third Eye initially alluded to near the start of the series. This artifact grants Gomah limitless power and regeneration, turning him into a villain who, despite his newfound strength, lacks any real depth, echoing a common criticism of many past Dragon Ball villains. Considering the groundwork already laid, Daima would have benefited from keeping Gomah as a lighthearted, comedic antagonist and focusing instead on expanding the Buu mythology. Doing so could have delivered a truly menacing final villain and given the franchise a chance to rebuild its reputation for compelling antagonists.

6) Goku and Vegeta’s Strength Doesn’t Seem To Find Balance

Daima struggles with how it wants to portray Goku and Vegeta, whether as significantly weakened or still among the strongest fighters. After they are turned back into children, the series initially implies that their power has been greatly diminished and that adapting to their younger forms would be a major challenge. However, as the story unfolds, Daima quickly reintroduces the Super Saiyan transformation, presenting it as an overwhelming force, even within the Demon Realm.

Yet in Episode 10, Goku and Vegeta are suddenly shown struggling against a sea monster named “Kraken,” with Goku even admitting out loud that they aren’t strong enough to handle it. This moment feels completely inconsistent. Given that both can still access Super Saiyan, a form synonymous with immense power, even a reduced version of that strength should be more than enough to defeat a mere monster. The scene creates a jarring disconnect, highlighting how Daima lacks clarity in its power scaling. With no real foundation or backstory provided for the Kraken, this inconsistency reinforces the sense that the series was unsure of how to balance its heroes’ power levels, weakening the internal logic of the narrative.

5) Piccolo’s Abandoned Character Development

With the Demon Realm serving as the central setting of Daima, and Neva as one of its most prominent figures, fans naturally expected significant revelations about both the realm and its inhabitants. Neva delivers on this front, unveiling major lore about the Namekian race that even retcons long-standing beliefs. In Episode 11, he reveals that the Namekians are actually demons, sharing their tragic origins and detailing how they eventually migrated to the planet Namek.

Among these revelations, the Nameless Namekian is confirmed to have originated from the Demon Realm, opening up major opportunities for character development, especially for Piccolo, who is directly connected to this mysterious figure. However, in typical Daima fashion, the series builds up this foundation only to abandon it soon after. Despite being in a setting that could have significantly deepened his character arc, Piccolo is sidelined and given no meaningful moment to shine. This missed opportunity not only undercuts the potential of the lore but also squanders a chance to elevate one of the franchise’s most beloved characters.

4) Dragon Ball Daima Uses Vehicle Malfunctions to Take Pauses

As Dragon Ball Daima progresses, the series begins to introduce new elements from the outskirts of its world; however, the method it uses often relies on a recurring and somewhat lazy narrative device: repeated malfunctions of the spaceship used for travel. Given that Daima establishes early on that the Demon Realm’s dense atmosphere and harsh environment make spaceship travel essential, the series repeatedly uses breakdowns as a way to force pauses in the journey and introduce new plot points.

Right from the beginning, limitations are placed on who can travel due to the ship’s restricted capacity. One example also includes a scene where Goku steals Vegeta’s spaceship simply to stay ahead of their allies, without any real justification. Over time, this became a running trope in Daima, with fans beginning to predict that every two or three episodes would be interrupted by another mechanical failure. Considering the Z Fighters’ journey in previous installments, it feels out of place and makes absolutely no sense for Daima to resort to such a cheap strategy to create pauses.

Read Next

Dragon Ball Has Laid the Perfect Foundation for Its Next Strongest Hero

3) The Lack of Fusion

Among the many iconic references featured in Daima, the introduction of medicinal bugs stood out, particularly the “Join Bug.” Introduced in Episode 4 of Daima, this mysterious element caught the attention of fans due to its unique ability: as its name suggests, it facilitates the fusion of warriors into a single, more powerful being. Given the franchise’s long-standing familiarity with the concept of fusion, it was clear that Daima was setting the stage for the return of a Goku and Vegeta fusion to confront the final antagonist. However, in the series’ climax, this setup is completely abandoned. Instead of delivering a much-anticipated fusion, Daima reintroduces Goku’s Super Saiyan 4 transformation, effectively discarding a golden opportunity.

This decision feels illogical, especially considering the continuity issues that come with bringing back Super Saiyan 4. Rather than relying on that controversial form, Daima could have brought back Vegito or Gogeta for the final battle, both fan-favorite fusions that wouldn’t disrupt the canon timeline. With Vegeta also shown to be capable of achieving Super Saiyan 3 in this series, there was a chance to introduce an entirely new transformation, such as Super Saiyan 3 Vegito or Gogeta, which might have generated even more excitement without compromising narrative consistency. Additionally, Daima revealed that the Join Bug could fuse more than two warriors, opening the door for a groundbreaking fusion of Goku, Vegeta, and Piccolo. Such a combination could have marked a historic moment in the franchise and made Daima unforgettable for all the right reasons.

2) Goku’s Super Saiyan 4 Transformation

There’s no doubt that Goku’s Super Saiyan 4 transformation is the standout highlight of Daima, delivering a form fans never expected to see again, especially not in a canonical storyline, given that Daima is considered part of the official continuity. However, unlike its original debut in GT, the Super Saiyan 4 transformation in Daima lacks a solid foundation and feels clearly out of place. In this series, Goku attains the form with the help of Neva, a legendary Namekian residing in the Demon Realm. Neva uses his magical abilities to awaken Goku’s dormant power, pushing him to transform into Super Saiyan 4, a form meant to represent the primal essence of a Saiyan’s power.

The problem lies in the fact that, unlike GT, which firmly established Super Saiyan 4 through the Golden Great Ape transformation and Goku’s ability to control it, Daima introduces the form without sufficient groundwork. It feels more like a last-minute decision aimed at generating hype rather than serving the story. The biggest issue, however, is the continuity error it creates with Dragon Ball Super, the next installment in the timeline, which is still ongoing and accepted as canon. The appearance of Super Saiyan 4 raises the glaring question of why Goku never used this powerful transformation against Beerus. Instead of reintroducing an old form, Daima would have benefited from showcasing a new, one-time transformation, one that could be attributed to the Demon Realm’s magic and thus easily written off. This would have allowed Super to acknowledge it later, or at least not contradict it. By presenting Super Saiyan 4 as a fully embraced and repeated transformation, Daima ultimately undermines its own coherence for the sake of short-term excitement.

Read Next

Dragon Ball Daima Could Have Fixed Its SSJ4 Continuity Error by Using This Form Instead

1) The Evil Third Eye Artifact

The Evil Third Eye artifact, as the series came to an end, suddenly emerged as the strongest element ever introduced, leading up to Daima‘s timeline. While it is an intriguing concept, like many elements in the series, its placement feels out of place. It was revealed that Dabura’s father, Abura, once ruled the Demon World using its power, and that Dabura hid the artifact to overthrow him. Given Dabura’s portrayal in the Z saga as a power-hungry demon, it feels inconsistent that he wouldn’t use this artifact himself.

This portrayal casts him in a different light, almost as a kind or noble figure, which doesn’t align with his established character in Dragon Ball Z. Furthermore, the fact that two more of these artifacts were casually being sold in a shop makes it implausible that other Demon Kings wouldn’t be aware of their existence, especially when the artifact is presented as the most significant source of power in the universe so far. Ironically, it’s these elements that don’t make sense that end up being the highlights of Dragon Ball Daima, suggesting that this installment was more focused on fun, adventure, and spectacle rather than its impact on other series. In doing so, Daima stands out as a classic entry in the franchise, one that embraces laughter, fun, and action above all.

Dragon Ball Daima can be streamed on Crunchyroll and Netflix.

The post 7 Times Dragon Ball Daima Made Absolutely No Sense appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Adult Swim has brought its cool block of Cartoon Network classics to an end after nearly two years of running, so it’s time to say goodbye to Checkered Past. Adult Swim has been going through a lot of changes together with Cartoon Network as the cable channel has been shifting around its schedule and priorities. The Adult Swim brand had become a major success within the network during the pandemic especially, and this resulted in an extension of Adult Swim within Cartoon Network and meant it started two hours earlier each day. Which meant there was also some room for some cool experimentation.

One of these fun experiments was a weekly block of shows dubbed Checkered Past. This block used the two extra hours Adult Swim had with Cartoon Network programming to showcase some of their older programs that had not been airing with the network for many years. Shows like Courage the Cowardly Dog, The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy and more got to relive their glory days, but sadly Checkered Past has now come to an end according to Adult Swim’s future listings.

What Happened to Checkered Past?

According to Adult Swim’s programming listings beginning Monday, June 30th, Checkered Past has officially come to an end as of June 27th. The block had been previously shrunken down from its former two hours every weekday until one, and now it seems like that has disappeared completely in favor of more King of the Hill reruns. It makes sense for a channel given that King of the Hill is one of the top syndicated programs overall, but it’s a shame for all of the fans who loved seeing these nostalgic Cartoon Network shows on the air for the first time in many, many years.

Read Next

Canceled Adult Swim Creator Shares Wild Look at Would-Be Series

It’s one of the many changes that Adult Swim and Cartoon Network are going to go through for the next year, and likely even more so given everything happening within Warner Bros. Discovery. If they separate their TV channels and their streaming platforms and other industries into different areas, then each cable channel is going to need to then focus on programming that’s going to survive the shift. As cable watching habits change, unfortunately even a success with older demographics like Adult Swim will need to rely on the things that will perform the best rather than experiment with its programming in this way further.

What Was Checkered Past?

Checkered Past first began with Adult Swim back in August 2023, and nearly ran for two years with Adult Swim. The then two hour block first began with Dexter’s Laboratory, Courage the Cowardly Dog, Ed, Edd n Eddy, and The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy. These shows would end doing so well on their return that other classic Cartoon Network shows would be shuffled into the block as well with later additions being Cow and Chicken, I Am Weasel, Evil Con Carne, Samurai Jack and more. There was even a brief time where we got classic Toonami shows as part of Toonami Rewind during this block as well before it was canceled too.

Checkered Past even then aired some experimental shows that are nearly impossible to watch these days too with Cartoon Planet, The Cartoon Cartoon Show, Johnny Bravo and even What a Cartoon! being offered as part of the block. While it seems like this nostalgic block is still going to be active in Latin America, for now its run has come to an end in the United States as Adult Swim continues to shuffle its schedule around for the foreseeable future.

The post Adult Swim Ends Cartoon Network Classics Block After Two Years appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Helluva Boss might be in-between full seasons at the moment but this isn’t stopping the Immediate Murder Professionals from taking on missions. I.M.P.’s animated series has released a brand new short, “Mission: Orphan Time”, that once again sees Blitzo and his adopted daughter Loona as they take on a hit that is far different from many that they’ve accomplished in the past. While the surreal series might be making its way to Amazon Prime Video, you can check out the latest entry from Vivienne Medrano’s twisted Hellaverse for free right this second.

As it stands, Helluva Boss has released two seasons, focusing on Blitzo and his fellow underworld assassins making their way top side. With Medrano confirming in the past that she is aiming to release four seasons in total, it should be interesting to see if I.M.P. will transition over to the Hazbin Hotel once its main series ends. As for the recently released short, Loona and Blitzo come across an exceptionally nice target who has seemingly dedicated his entire life to the benefit of others. Granting the man’s final request of saying goodbye to his loved ones, the over five-minute-long short ends in a fashion that is perfect for the Hellaverse’s style of humor, briefly highlighting how Loona’s rough exterior hides a much more open personality.

Read Next

Hazbin Hotel Actor Teases “Unexpected” Helluva Boss Crossover

Helluva Boss On Amazon

As mentioned earlier, Helluva Boss is coming to Amazon Prime Video though YouTube fans shouldn’t fret. The series will also release new episodes entirely for free on the video platform as it has with its shorts and previous two seasons. Luckily, creator Vivienne Medrano shared her excitement for the merger online and hinted that there are far more surprises in store for I.M.P.

“I am so grateful to Prime Video for their continued support of our work on Hazbin Hotel and for allowing our team at Spindlehorse to expand the Hellaverse by embracing Helluva Boss. I’m so excited for what this means for the continued rise of Indie animation! It’s a dream come true to be able to tell these stories and I truly can’t wait for you to see what we have planned!”

Hazbin Hotel Developments

With Hazbin Hotel confirmed for three upcoming seasons on Amazon, fans are anxiously awaiting the arrival of Charlie Morningstar’s second season. No release date has been confirmed as of the writing of this article but Medrano has teased that some big news is coming to San Diego Comic-Con, which might shine a light on the surreal series return date. Now that Charlie and Blitzo are on Amazon, it appears that a crossover is coming but it might not be what many expect according to Brandon Rogers who plays a part in both series.

Want to stay in the loop when it comes to I.M.P. and Charlie Morningstar’s locale of redemption? Follow along with Team Anime on ComicBook.com for the latest updates on Hazbin Hotel and Helluva Boss and hit me up directly @EVComedy to talk all things comics and anime.

The post Helluva Boss Returns With Its Most Hilariously Gruesome Episode appeared first on ComicBook.com.

The classic RX-78-2 Gundam from the original Mobile Suit Gundam anime is one of the most recognizable mechas ever, both in real life and in the fictional Gundam multiverse. The Gundam achieved the nickname The White Devil in the original anime, becoming a boogeyman for the Principality of Zeon during the One Year War. Even though the robot was destroyed at the end of the original series, its presence continues to influence the franchise’s future. Every succeeding main protagonist Gundam is designed to be based on the classic RX-78-2. A life-size statue of the RX-78-2 was constructed in Japan, eventually replaced by a real-life, moving Gundam. It’s one of the most recognizable robots in the world.

When the original RX-78-2 appeared at the end of the penultimate episode of Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX, the machine’s mere presence held plenty of gravitas. While the RX-78-2 technically existed already in Gundam GQuuuuuuX, it had a completely new redesign. The one that appeared in the penultimate episode was the old-school version, piloted by Shuji Ito. Although viewers realize what it is, the rest of the characters have never seen it, but know to take it seriously. Shuji soon changed the size of the RX-78-2, transforming it into a giant white Gundam, making it a real-life Kaiju! The transformation made the RX a real white devil!

Read Next

Underrated ’90s Gundam Movie Gets a Gorgeous New Musical Release

Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX‘s Final Fight Was Against A Titan-Sized RX-78-2

Right away, Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX makes the RX-78-2 overpowered. The RX quickly defeated several ships and seemed unstoppable. The GQuuuuuuX and Gfred teamed up to fight against the RX-78-2, but the latter was destroyed when the RX turned into a Kaiju. It’s a fun final battle for Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX, twisting the classic formula of the RX-78-2 being the default hero Gundam of the franchise. Gundam GQuuuuuuX gives the iconic mobile suit plenty of respect, showing the Gundam’s capabilities transcend time and reality. There were many vague powers featured in Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX that were never properly explained, specifically how Shuji can make the RX grow in mass. It’s all connected to Newtype abilities and the Zeknova, strange lights that hold unspeakable powers and connect humans.

There is a surrealism with the powers in Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX, highlighting the complex nature of Newtypes and the powers that connect humanity across the multiverse. It’s a similar abstractness used in Neon Genesis Evangelion, forcing watchers to make up their own ideas of what it all means. In the final clash of Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX, Machu linked up with Shuji within the Zeknova, bonding with him, transcending traditional human capabilities. Eventually, Machu struck the finishing blow on the Kaiju-sized RX-78-2 with the Gundam GQuuuuuuX, decapitating it and making it disappear. It doesn’t really matter if the final battle made logical sense, as it delivered a more emotional finale with actual stakes. Machu and Gundam GQuuuuuuX needed to fight a big bad at the end, and there’s no bigger and badder Gundam than the one that started it all. The final battle also works on a symbolic level, with Machu creating a new future untied to the past, while at the same time still respecting it.

The post Gundam GQuuuuuuX Makes a Classic Gundam Into a Kaiju appeared first on ComicBook.com.