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Tetsuro Araki and Tetsuya Nakatake Look Back on the “Miracle” of Attack on Titan
"When it ended, everyone said, 'Just because the work was successful doesn't mean we should decide that everything was fine.' They said, “This must never happen again.”
― In the past two decades, anime has skyrocketed into a global entertainment staple, cementing itself in the cultural zeitgeist. While this is the cumulative success of multiple properties and a few jolts of bottled lightning, no one ...
New Magic Knight Rayearth's Rie Takahashi and Saori Hayami Share the World of Cefiro
We caught up with voice actors Rie Takahashi and Saori Hayami to discuss their roles as the Magic Knight Fū and Princess Emeraude from CLAMP's beloved series.
― The anime industry has returned to its shōjo roots lately, tapping into fans' nostalgia and introducing a brand-new audience to classic series. In just the last year, we've seen adaptations of Red River, Hana-Kimi, and The Ribbon Hero, and up...
Interview: Miyu Tomita Becomes Cute Mascot PAGTARO in Uncle's Obsession with Cute Things Anime
From Made in Abyss to an impossibly adorable pug mascot, Miyu Tomita is putting her all into every "Paguuu!"
― Miyu Tomita is one of the most in-demand voice actors in anime production, with a wide range of characters that include the young and determined Riko from Made in Abyss, the cheerful idol Yume Nijino in the Aikatsu Stars! franchise, the unpredictable Ebisu in Dorohedoro, and the rough but re...
WIT Studio's George Wada on Attack on Titan, Trust, and Taking on The One Piece
"I consider One Piece one of Japan's most precious manga, so I'm really looking forward to bringing it to the world."
― As the current president of WIT Studio and Production I.G., George Wada has played an instrumental role in helping to bring to life some of anime fandom's most cherished properties. Serving as an animation producer on the first three seasons of Attack on Titan, Wada has since led WI...
Castlevania: Belmont's Curse Took Me on a Trip to My Early Childhood Video Gaming
Traumatic "Nintendo Hard" flashbacks included.
― Taking place 23-years following the events of Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse, Castlevania: Belmont's Curse has players take control of Rose Belmont to rid the world of Dracula once more. And as the daughter of famed vampire hunters Trevor Belmont and Sypha Belnades, Rose will take on new challenges with her trusty whip, her father's sword, and her mo...
One Piece Meets Restaurant Management in One Piece: Grand Gourmet
The only fighting you're going to see is the kitchen staff fighting the orders.
― The One Piece franchise lends itself well to action video games and even the occasional fighting game. But that's not all One Piece has to offer in the video game space. So, what bold new adventures can the Straw Hat Pirates go on? Why not restaurant management with Bandai Namco's upcoming One Piece: Grand Gourmet—which...
Relive Attack on Titan's Greatest Moments in Attack on Titan 3
Or get eaten by a Titan while trying.
― We are about three years out from the final season of Attack on Titan, and the franchise is still going strong with the upcoming Attack on Titan 3 from Koei Tecmo. And the game's demo at Tokyo Game Show 2026 is as advertised: playing through the story and hitting the greatest moments from the anime series. Granted, the Attack on Titan 3 game demo at TGS doesn't...
That Time I Got Carded Playing LOLLIPOP CHAINSAW 2: Back2Back
Of all the games I've played at TGS over the years, this is the first time I've ever had to show ID—and I'm not sure why that was.
― 14 years ago, in 2012, the world was graced with the “ultra-violent” and slightly risqué, bubbly, zombie hack-and-slash video game Lollipop Chainsaw. Now Juliet Starling and Nick Carlyle are back to kick some zombie ass in LOLLIPOP CHAINSAW 2: Back2Back. And Sega was ev...
Action-RPG Combat Meets Turn-Based Combat in FAREIDOLIA
Imagine Valkyria Chronicles without a movement limit.
― It's always interesting playing a still-in-development game at Tokyo Game Show, as you never quite know what you're going to get. But at TGS 2026, I had the distinct pleasure of trying the demo for FAREIDOLIA by Nexon Games' IO Division. And while what I played was light on story, the demo shined during combat. The game is a turn-based RPG but n...
The Resident Evil Remake Switch 2 Ports Look and Feel Great
You might be worried about how these Resident Evil games run on the Switch 2. Don't be.
― Long time Resident Evil (known as Biohazard in Japan) fans and Nintendo Switch 2 owners don't need to fret with the new Switch 2 ports of Resident Evil 2 Deluxe Edition, Resident Evil 3, and Resident Evil 4 Gold Edition. Based on my time with the The Tokyo Game Show (TGS) 2026 demos, the games looked fantastic ...
Final Fantasy VII Revelation and Beyond: An Interview with Director Naoki Hamaguchi
We spoke about lessons learned, how things will change in Revelation, and the delicate dance of putting a new twist on one of the most beloved games of all time.
― We're now seven months out from the release of the final game in the Final Fantasy VII Remake trilogy, Final Fantasy VII Revelation. This week, I was able to meet up with the game's director, Naoki Hamaguchi, at Tokyo Game Show 2026. There...
Go on a 3-in-1 Hunt in Monster Hunter Wilds: Ascendance
Apha Araketa is a whole different kind of monster than you're used to.
― It's Tokyo Game Show (TGS) time and that means Capcom is demoing its latest iteration of the massively popular Monster Hunter franchise. But, for TGS 2026 it's more of an expansion with Monster Hunter Wilds: Ascendance. And while you might think there isn't much for an expansion, one of the new hunts demoed at the event has you...
Fate/Extra Record Feels Like Persona Meets Slay the Spire
If card-based battle systems and heroes from myth and legend are your jam, have I got the game for you.
― At Tokyo Game Show 2026, we got some hands-on time with Fate/Extra Record—a ground-up remake of 2010's PSP game Fate/Extra. While the plot is largely the same (though with massively expanded voice acting, the gameplay has been updated. To explain this game to anyone who has little knowledge of th...
Dragon Ball Xenoverse 3 Feels Like a Game a Decade Out of Time
Everything in Xenoverse 3's Tokyo Game Show demo felt horribly dated.
― At the Tokyo Game Show 2026, I was able to spend some hands-on time with Dragon Ball Xenoverse 3. While I played and beat Xenoverse 2 upon its release a decade ago, I haven't really thought much about the game since—other than occasionally noticing the announcements that new characters were being added. So I was excited to see ho...
The Misfit Class Takes to the Stage: An Interview with Welcome to Demon School, Iruma-kun's Makoto Moriwaki and Setsuo Ito
The series has four seasons for a reason. Jairus Taylor talks to the anime's chief director, Makoto Moriwaki, and voice actor Setsuo Itō.
― With Welcome to Demon School Iruma-kun now in the middle of its fourth season, a room full of enthusiastic fans gathered together at Anime NYC to celebrate the series. After playing a brief trailer for the current season, the host welcomed the anime's chief dire...
I'm in Love With Ace Combat 8's Focus on Characters
Ace Combat 8 works hard to make your fellow pilots more than faceless voices on the comms channel.
― I'm not exactly what one would call a hardcore fan of arcade-style flight sim games. While I played Wing Commander III and IV to completion more than once (Mark Hamill and Tom Wilson in my interactive movie/flight sim!?) and dabbled more than a bit with X-Wing vs TIE Fighter and Star Wars Squadrons, t...
Patlabor: The Case Files is Clunky as All Hell—And That's The Point
A fun, fluid combat system would make for a much more enjoyable game to play… but it wouldn’t feel like Patlabor either.
― At Tokyo Game Show 2026, I was able to get some time with Patlabor: The Case Files, the game based on the classic 1989 Patlabor TV anime. The game follows the men and women in Tokyo Metropolitan Police Special Vehicle Section 2, Division 2—the pilots and support staff for the gia...
Blade & Bastard Voice Actors Share Their Characters' Connection
Many fantasy stories feature plucky heroes on quests to become stronger, but Blade & Bastard focuses on the arduous process of surviving dungeon exploration.
― Blade & Bastard is an upcoming fantasy anime based on a light novel series by Kumo Kagyu of the same
name. It's set in the world of the classic RPG Wizardry, first released in North America in 1981, and then in Japan in 1985. Many fantasy stor...
Sound Euphonium Chief Director Tatsuya Ishihara on Portraying Genuine Emotions
For over a decade, Sound! Euphonium has taken viewers on a musical journey of hope and growth as it followed one high school concert band's quest to become national champions. This week, that chapter finally draws to an end.
― For over a decade, Sound! Euphonium has taken viewers on a musical journey of hope and growth as it followed one high school concert band's quest to become national champions. ...
Naoko Yamada Visited Mongolia to Prepare for Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia Anime
We spoke with Yamada about the anime's unique position as a historical series set in 13th-century Mongolia, and about how she and Góngora traveled to its real-life setting to experience life there firsthand.
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In a season full of artistically striking series and highly-anticipated sequels, Science SARU's Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia stands apart. The series brings together acclaimed executive direc...
Netflix Was the Only Game in Town at Anime NYC on Thursday
For this Netflix promotional panel to be the only thing to do really on the first day of the con leaves me underwhelmed.
― What is the point of doing an extra day at a convention with only a single panel? Anime NYC 2026 might be a four-day event, but the first day's schedule is bizarrely empty. Sure, it's nice to get some extra hours in the dealers room while the crowds are merely huge and not comple...
For Luv Letter Studios, It's All About Survival and Ambition
The little indie studio discusses what it’s like to struggle and triumph over industrial hardships, obscurity, and adversity.
― Kennedy “Kenzie” Freeman sits on stage with her coworkers as they wait for people to enter her panel during Anime NYC's final hours. A young and budding animator in the midst of her late 20's, Freeman bears a look of cautious glee as she sees more and more panelists sit them...
How Aoashi Takes a Birds' Eye View of the Soccer Pitch
Aoashi uses the same talent the main character learns to harness to create its soccer action: foresight and total spatial awareness.
― Aoashi, the detail-oriented soccer anime that celebrates technique and strategy more than winning, does something amazing with its action scenes—it uses the same talent the main character learns to harness: foresight and total spatial awareness. Based on a 2015 manga ...
With Sparks of Tomorrow, the Dreams Are in the Details
From the main characters' visions of an electricity-powered world to fantasies of a future awash in technicolor brilliance, the show is constantly pushing a dream of a brighter tomorrow.
― Kyoto Animation's ambitious Sparks of Tomorrow, which is currently streaming on Netflix, has been a notable departure from the studio's previous aesthetic, with director Minoru Ota calling it a “new era” for the an...
Boys-Love Is Here To Stay
Bring on the boys!
― All things boys-love is here to stay (BL), omegaverse, and romantasy made their rounds during the final day of this year's Anime NYC. Rebecca Taylor of InkLore, Ingrid Lorenzi of Yen Press, and Lauren Hill of Seven Seas held a panel discussing the BL genre and its explosion in popularity over recent years. It wasn't enough for these three to cherish the stories they loved; they d...
Crunchyroll Offers a Sneak Peek of Upcoming Series
Crunchyroll debuted three new series and then inexplicably rehashed an old one.
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A Returner's Magic Should Be Special Season 2 It's been a few years since season one, but here comes the beginning of a new season for the anime A Returner's Magic Should Be Special. Featuring a hero named Desir who died after beating the final boss and wakes up thirteen years in the past, he is now he armed with the k...
Portrait of a RE:BEL - A Talk with Mika Pikazo
Mika Pikazo discusses her illustration process, her inspirations, and her visions for the future.
― Mika Pikazo is rapidly becoming a household name, especially for fans of VTubers who know her as the designer and illustrator of Kaguya Luna and Hakos Baelz. Pikazo also provided the character designs for Fire Emblem Engage, imbuing the heroes with her signature vibrant colors and expressive features. ...
INTERVIEW: Yoshino Aoyama Takes On a New Type of Role in Blue Box Anime Season 2
Known for playing soft-spoken introverts and chaotic gremlins, voice actor Yoshino Aoyama expands her range again as the openly hostile character Yumeka Kido in Blue Box Season 2.
― Yoshino Aoyama's iconic performance as Hitori Gotoh in Bocchi the Rock established her range at playing soft-spoken introverts like Ibuki Tonami (Botan Kamiina Fully Blossoms When Drunk) and chaotic gremlins such as Miwa...
What Does This Dub Mean For Detective Conan?
Could TMS be winning the Battle of the Dubs?
― At Anime NYC 2026, TMS premiered the English dub of The Million-dollar Pentagram, one of the higher-rated and more ambitious Detective Conan movies. The film encompasses some of the best aspects of the franchise, from mysterious puzzles, fun character interactions, surprising twists that arguably impact the franchise at large, and some of the best anima...
Go Forward Stars a Very Good Boy
Talk about a doggone good time!
― You can bet that I had a doggone good time at the Anime NYC premiere of SkySet Entertainment's new English dub of 2003's Go Forward. I'm not a pet owner myself; matter of fact, the closest I ever got to having a pet was when I worked on a horse farm as a teenager, so I'm a little bit more in the world of Uma Musume than I am Go Forward, if you catch my drift. Still, ...
Sanji and Zoro Have The Best Bromance On And Off The Set Of One Piece Live Action
There was a lot of genuineness on display here.
― There are a lot of complicated feelings when it comes to the live-action adaptation of Eiichiro Oda's One Piece produced by Netflix. However, one of the strongest consensus points I have seen about the series, even from its detractors, is the casting and chemistry between everybody on set. Whether it's in the show proper or behind-the-scenes videos, ...
Making Manga with Editor Shihei Lin
Now we know who to thank for Spy x Family's Bond.
― Manga enthusiasts packed together as the Japan Foundation invited veteran manga editor Shihei Lin to discuss his career. Lin currently serves as the CEO of his manga company, Mix Green, and was the former Editor-in-Chief at Shonen Jump Plus, helping to contribute to such titles as Dandadan, Chainsaw Man, and Spy x Family, all of which were discussed...
Drab Colors Keep Magical Buffs From Realizing Its True Potential
This could have been good if it didn't look so depressing.
― The first two episodes of Magical Buffs: The Support Caster Is Stronger Than He Realized were depressing to look at with how dark and gray it made its world look. It's like the anime decided that since its protagonist has to be a sadsack, then the visuals must be as well. Which is wild because the anime's two episodes aren't much of a bumm...
Overgeared Isn't Afraid to Have Fun With Its Concept
Not just another SAO knockoff, Overgeared is surprisingly funny.
― Crunchyroll's second round of premieres at Anime NYC continued another upcoming web comic, Overgeared. The series centers around a VR game called Satisfy, which has gained enough popularity that those who become top players or get their hands on valuable items can end up becoming wealthy influencers in real life. Our protagonist, Gear...
Here U are Brings Danmei to Life
While it could stand to be more sensual, Here U Are has potential.
― Despite the panel kicking off later than expected, anime fans gathered for a second round of upcoming premieres from Crunchyroll, highlighting some web series adaptations for the fall. One of them was Here U Are, a BL donghua following a pair of college students named Yu Yang and Li Huang, who are destined to someday fall in love de...
Reincarnated as a Sword's Second Season is Starting As Plain Old Fun
Cat girls, undead baddies, and swords that are also flying surfboards? What's not to like?
― Reincarnated as a Sword has been a pleasant surprise for me. The first season was rough around the edges, but hey. Would you expect anything less from an isekai featuring a cat girl who becomes friends with a giant sword? It is what it is. It's simple, to the point; you know exactly what you're getting within...
After 15 Years, Psyren is Here
If there are any concerns with the adaptation so far, it's with the production.
― While it's been over 15 years since the Psyren manga ended, it's still got plenty of enthusiastic fans, and the anime premiered to a full crowd excited to see its long-awaited adaptation. Before the episode began, the panel opened with a brief overview of the original manga and introduced Satoshi Adachi, a Deputy Genera...
All the News and Reviews from Anime NYC 2026
Follow this page for live updates directly from Anime NYC 2026.
― Thursday, August 20 News and Interest Fool Night Anime's Teaser Reveals More Cast, November 26 Worldwide Netflix Debut Cyberpunk Edgerunners 2 Anime's New Teaser Reveals October 20 Netflix Debut Lego One Piece Animated Special's Trailer Highlights Usopp's Tall Tales The One Piece Anime Remake's Key Art Pays Homage to 1st Manga Chapter...
All the News and Reviews from Anime NYC 2026
― Thursday, August 20 News and Interest Fool Night Anime's Teaser Reveals More Cast, November 26 Worldwide Netflix Debut Cyberpunk Edgerunners 2 Anime's New Teaser Reveals October 20 Netflix Debut Lego One Piece Animated Special's Trailer Highlights Usopp's Tall Tales The One Piece Anime Remake's Key Art Pays Homage to 1st Manga Chapter Billy Bat, The Summer Hikaru Died, More Win 3rd American Manga...
Beauty and Monsters: A Chat with Anime Producer Ena Hamabe
Ena Hamabe helped bring to life stories like This Monster Wants to Eat Me and, most recently, I Want to Love You Till Your Dying Day. We were able to dive deeper into Hamabe's process for considering projects, as well as her thoughts on the stories that move people.
― Ena Hamabe is no stranger to lasting emotional impact. As a producer with the appropriately named Infinite, Inc., she's helped bring t...
Truly Outrageous: MARRIAGETOXIN Director Motonobu Hori and Bones Film Producer Tatsuya Saitō
"Part of the manga's appeal is that there are moments where you're not entirely sure what's happening between one panel and the next."
― MARRIAGETOXIN director Motonobu Hori and BONES Film producer Tatsuya Saito took to the stage at Anime Expo for an exciting panel celebrating the action-romcom MARRIAGETOXIN. The series, adapted from the manga by Joumyaku and Mizuki Yoda, follows an assassin named G...
Loading into Cyberpunk: The Ghost in the Shell Director Mokochan, Character Designer Shūhei Handa
At Anime Expo, we talked about Ghost in the Shell's legacy and how, despite all of its technological advances, the series' creation is still powered by humans.
― Ghost in the Shell may be one of the most revisited worlds in the anime medium. Across decades, fans have followed Major Motoko Kusanagi across multiple continuities, each imbued with a vision of a startling technological future. Following ...
Otakon's Ascension of a Bookworm's Panel Shows Just How Much the Staff Love Their Anime
Producer Goshi Yoshida came running out of the back, looped around the panel room, and ran down the center aisle, high-fiving everybody in the audience.
― The energy that producer Goshi Yoshida had for this panel was absolutely perfect. This man came running out of the back, looped around the panel room, and ran down the center aisle, high-fiving everybody in the audience. It was honestly great, and ...
The Vermillion Mask's Premiere Is a Truncated But Interesting Affair
Not having a lot to show meant that there’s a lot to this show that still needs to be unmasked.
― A mask salesman. Masks with magical powers. One of them is very evil, apparently. And there's a gang of misfits who try to steal said mask. No, I'm actually not talking about Zelda: Majora's Mask here, although it sounds like it. At its Otakon premiere panel, one audience member even asked if it was ins...
The Clevatess Anime Staff Were Inspired by Heidi?!
Series director Kiyotaka Taguchi and Lay-duce animation producer Seiichiro Kuriyama describe their love of older cel animation and how that influenced their approach to adapting a modern fantasy series. Also, Kadokawa producer Kōsuke Arai explained how they got Ellie Goulding to make an ending song for the anime!
― We got to sit with the staff of Clevatess ahead of the season two premiere at Anime E...
Even After Four Seasons, Reincarnated as a Slime VAs Miho Okasaki, Megumi Toyoguchi Still Find Their Roles Challenging
Voice actors Miho Okasaki (Rimuru) and Megumi Toyoguchi (Raphael) spoke to Anime News Network about their time together (so far) as the duo, and even shared a behind-the-scenes look into their own chemistry.
― Beloved isekai series, That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime, approaches its eighth year on air. The anime adaptation of Fuse's web novel started in 2018 and still welcomed a full house of ea...
True to the Source Material: An Interview with Suikoden: The Anime's Producers
Learn more about what inspired KONAMI to return to the beloved RPG for this new anime series!
― KONAMI announced the anime adaptation of its longtime franchise, Suikoden, during the "Suikoden Live" broadcast on YouTube earlier last year. The upcoming series will debut in October 2026 and will cover the story of Suikoden II. Longtime fans were shocked but welcomed the news of KONAMI Animation's take o...
CyberConnect2 VP Discusses Self-Publishing, the .hack series, and the Status of Upcoming Games
― CyberConnect2 has mainly been known for creating licensed anime games such as Demon Slayer: The Hinokami Chronicles, the Naruto Ultimate Ninja series, and several Dragon Ball games, including Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot. However, the studio has been branching out to create new original IP, as well as dipping its toes into self-publishing. CyberConnect2 recently wrapped up the Fuga: Melodies of Steel tr...
'A New Era' for Kyoto Animation: An Interview with Sparks of Tomorrow Director and Producer
The acclaimed studio's current work takes place in gritty, steam-covered Kyoto. We talked to Minoru Ōta and Satori Senami about KyoAni's new, original work.
― Kyoto Animation's newest anime title, Sparks of Tomorrow, has been making waves after its July 5 premiere. The animation project was originally announced in 2018, but no updates followed until 2025. Now, as global viewers have caught up with th...
An Older Eri Thanks Her Heroes in My Hero Academia: I am a Hero Too Anime Short
Years after Jirou's concert at the school festival in Season 4, Eri is now all grown up.
― 10 years of My Hero Academia hasn't stopped the fans' appetite for more. Weeks before taking home Anime of the Year at the Crunchyroll Anime Awards, we got more in My Hero Academia: More. A whole reunion with the older cast and a long-awaited confession? Yes please! Toss in more seasons of Vigilantes, and you h...
Sasaki and Peeps Season 2's Slightly Deranged Formula Works to Its Benefit
What other series can boast a mix of fantasy kingdom politics, modern-day corporate espionage, assassins, psychics, angels, and demons, all centered around a middle-aged salaryman with a politically savvy talking bird?
― If you've watched any of Sasaki and Peeps, then you're already familiar with its unique blend of flavors. What other series can boast a mix of fantasy kingdom politics, modern-day co...
Sonic the Hedgehog Producer on Celebrating Game's 35th Anniversary and the Future of the Series
Lead producer Takashi Iizuka discusses the 35th-anniversary milestone, Sonic's recent collaborations, and what the future of the series could look like.
― Sonic the Hedgehog is celebrating its 35th anniversary this year. The Blue Blur has been an iconic gaming staple since the beginning. To this day, Sonic continues to draw in both old and new audiences with SEGA's ever-expanding lineup of games, as ...
Mob Psycho 100 Director Yuzuru Tachikawa Shared Cut Reigen-Focused Scene
At AX, Tachikawa showed a scene that didn't make it into Mob Psycho 100 II episode seven.
― At Crunchyroll's "Go 100%! Mob Psycho 100 10th Anniversary Celebration," voice actors Setsuo Ito (Mob) and Takahiro Sakurai (Reigen) and director Yuzuru Tachikawa reminisced about the anime and shared anecdotes from the series' original run, including an intimate peek into his storyboarding process. During a s...
How The NEEDY GIRL OVERDOSE Writer's Need for Friends Made Him Famous
Eventually, nyalra would turn his loneliness into writing and make a name for himself through his blogs and, later, his books.
― NEEDY GIRL OVERDOSE and Sister Other Paranoia writer, Nyalra, opened up his Anime Expo panel to a no-holds-barred conversation. In a discussion with curious fans, the creative mind candidly answered every question about his life, his work, and his influences. Eventually, he...
The Golden Age of Anime is Over, But Industry Veterans Are Betting on ZAN
Experienced animators and directors share how much in the industry has changed, what remains the same, and why they've gathered for one last ride.
― A day after announcing Yoshitaka Amano's newest anime project, ZAN, the "Masters of Anime: Exploring Japanese Animation Production" panel gathered the legends working on the series. Unfortunately, Moriyasu Taniguchi couldn't make it to the panel due to a...
WITCH X WITCH: Kamome Shirahama and Dana Terrace Share Their Love of Fantasy at Kodansha House
Witch Hat Atelier and The Owl House creators sit down for a one-of-a-kind discussion
― Sixty fans of The Owl House and Witch Hat Atelier joined under one roof for a special Q&A session with creators Dana Terrace and Kamome Shirahama. After many years of mutual admiration, the two fantasy writers had a public discussion about each other's work. Shirahama wore her usual Iguin cosplay while Terrace donn...
Blue Lock's Biggest Rivalry Might Be Between Its Creators
“That's my ego as an artist,” Nomura said. “We're always battling over ego. That's why we sometimes need a break.”
― Blue Lock is famous for preaching ego. Its characters constantly push themselves, channeling their inner “egoist” to surpass the people in front of them. At Anime Expo 2026, the two creative forces behind the series suggested it's just as much the philosophy behind making the manga. S...
Akane-banashi, Gachiakuta, Sonic the Hedgehog and Japan's Global Strategy
Japanese companies are looking to fandom to engage with their audience, from getting directly in the YouTube comments to attending more in-person events.
― Walking into a panel called “Why Japanese Content? Why now?” at Anime Expo 2026, you would think that by the end of it you'd have a sense of why anime and game content from Japan, especially those centered on Japanese culture, were resonating more...
Discussing Tani and Suzuki's Biggest Romantic Moment with You and I are Polar Opposites Voice Actors
All that buildup, hoping something romantic would happen, only for it to happen like that?
― The main couple in You and I are Polar Opposites finally kissed, and it was a complete accident! Just a day after Koucha Agasawa's other series, The Ramparts of Ice, finished its 1st season, Anime Expo 2026 hosted an early premiere of the 1st episode of Polar Opposites Season 2. In it, we saw the hilarious C...
Firefly Wedding Anime Premiere Draws A Crowd With Its Bloody Adaptation
The anime turns up Shinpei's yandere tendencies, which Uchiyama delivers with thrilling precision. His final scene, where he promises to make her happy—excitedly smiling while doused in blood—is sure to be as memorable as Future Diary's Yuno Gasai viral yandere face.
― The animated adaptation of Oreco Tachibana's Meiji-era historical romance, Firefly Wedding, brought together an excited group of fan...
New Director of Black Clover Season 2 Delivers on Tabata's Wish for 'Extra Cool' Battles
Director Tanemura himself commented, “I'm very happy with what I saw, and it's hard to believe I made that. That was me.”
― After five years, Black Clover Season 2 returns as a new anime series and continues from the destructive, destitute end of the first series. Originally premiering in 2017, Black Clover's first season covers up to the Spade Kingdom Raid arc. Despite the four-year run with over 17...
Kadokawa Editor-in-Chief Spills the Secrets on What it Takes to Create a Successful Manga
What does it take to break into the Japanese manga industry, and what actually makes a project successful? Noboru Segawa, director and editor-in-chief of Kadokawa's Global Comics Department, sat down to spill the secrets on just what it takes to create a successful manga.
― For many manga fans, their dream is to one day be part of the manga creation process, whether that's publishing their own comic ...
The 5 Best New Video Games We Saw at Anime Expo 2026
Big games like Echoes of Aincrad: Sword Art Online, Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls, and Granblue Fantasy: Relink - Endless Ragnarok are getting released soon, but what about the new games from smaller developers and publishers? We've got you covered here.
― Every year, Anime Expo brings some of the biggest reveals and news about upcoming anime, but video games are often overlooked. Big games like Echoe...
Kagurabachi Anime Premiere Delivers An Adaptation with Clean Cuts
Rather than just being a TV anime, Kagurabachi's top-notch production stands toe-to-toe with theatrical-level works.
― Cypic's anime adaptation of Takeru Hokazono's dark fantasy action series, Kagurabachi, brought together Anime Expo's most passionate fans. As one of the most anticipated upcoming titles, all eyes were glued to the screen as Chihiro Rokuhira transformed from still images to a slashing...
Sasaki & Peeps Season Two Premiere
Season one refused to pick just one item from the menu. Its magic was in picking everything offered. The debut episode of season two immediately demonstrates that it's doubling down
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If you've watched any of Sasaki and Peeps, then you're already familiar with its unique blend of flavors. What other series can boast a mix of fantasy kingdom politics, modern-day corporate espionage, assassins, psychi...
With Sparks of Tomorrow, KyoAni Time Travels to Kyoto to Find A Vision for the Future
Director Ota was specifically inspired by impressionistic paintings, but bringing the vision to reality had its own challenges.
― Sparks of Tomorrow, Kyoto Animation's ambitious 2018 project that was put on hold after the devastating 2019 fire, is finally premiering this summer, and it is a beacon of hope for the studio in more ways than one. Self-hailed as a “new frontier” for the studio, which has ...
All the News and Reviews from Anime Expo 2026
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Where is Anime News Network at Anime Expo 2026? Thursday, July 2 News Exclusive: Square Enix Manga & Books Reveals 8 Manga, 2 Final Fantasy Book Releases Sekai Project to Release Jewelry Hearts Academia Visual Novel in West Mashle: Magic and Muscles Season 3 Anime's Trailer Unveils January 2027 Debut Manga Mavericks Licenses Motionless, The Sword of Paros, Hero Company Manga Kodansha USA Announce...
Manga Licensing Is An Exercise In Empathy
"99.99% of the people working in the manga field are doing it because [they] love it. There’s a certain gentle madness you need to have."
― “99.99% of the people working in the manga field are doing it because [they] love it,” Leyla Aker of Square Enix Manga & Books stated emphatically to the panel crowd. “There's a certain gentle madness you need to have.” At the "Japan to the US: How Manga is Acqui...
Anime Expo 2026: The Traveling Maestro Yoko Kanno
"Whether it's anime or any other kind of work, I want to create pieces that touch the lives of the people who listen to them."
― Few composers in the anime entertainment industry achieve household-name recognition. Joe Hisaishi. Yuki Kajiura. Yuki Hayashi. And, of course, Yoko Kanno. Kanno's illustrious career began in the early '90s with head-turning tracks, with a firm foothold in fandom thirty yea...
All the News and Reviews from Anime Expo 2026
Follow this page for live updates directly from Anime Expo 2026.
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Where is Anime News Network at Anime Expo 2026? Thursday, July 2 News Exclusive: Square Enix Manga & Books Reveals 8 Manga, 2 Final Fantasy Book Releases Sekai Project to Release Jewelry Hearts Academia Visual Novel in West Mashle: Magic and Muscles Season 3 Anime's Trailer Unveils January 2027 Debut Manga Mavericks Licenses Motionle...
AX 2026: Takushi Koide Keeps the '90s Alive with Goodbye, Lara's Thick Lines, Hand-Drawn Animation
Goodbye, Lara is five years in the making. Just fleshing out the original concept took about two years, followed by a long period of shopping the proposal around to several studios.
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Art and storytelling, like many things in life, tend to follow trends, whether it's aesthetics, story concepts, or even technology. In anime, the industry has almost entirely moved towards digitally assisted animation,...
ANN at Anime Expo 2026
Come see us at our panels, events and booth. Full schedule inside.
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Where is Anime News Network at Anime Expo 2026? Thursday, July 2 News Exclusive: Square Enix Manga & Books Reveals 8 Manga, 2 Final Fantasy Book Releases Sekai Project to Release Jewelry Hearts Academia Visual Novel in West Mashle: Magic and Muscles Season 3 Anime's Trailer Unveils January 2027 Debut Manga Mavericks Licenses Motion...
Final Fantasy XIV Director Naoki Yoshida Discusses the Next Decade
What's next for FFXIV? Director Naoki Yoshida explains where things are headed and what he plans to avoid.
― During Final Fantasy XIV Fan Festival 2026 in Anaheim, California, director Naoki Yoshida (also known as Yoshi-P) hosted a press-exclusive panel to discuss all of the upcoming changes to the game, including the newly announced expansion, Evercold. He also discussed the Evangelion collaboration...
AnimeJapan 2026
― We've made our way back to Tokyo Big Sight for another year of big surprises, huge announcements, and basketball-court-sized booths. Read on for all the news served up hot and fresh from this year's AnimeJapan! Prelude to AnimeJapan AnimeJapan 2026 Announces Emerging Creator Award Finalists I Got a Cheat Skill in Another World Anime Gets 2nd Season From Overshadowed to Overpowered TV Anime Streams...
Ronin and Sith Reunite in Star Wars Visions The Duel: Payback
The Kamikaze Douga team continues their ode to Akira Kurosawa in this anime sequel short.
― Star Wars Visions is a unique property that allows various animators to create short-form features set in the Star Wars universe, each with their distinct styles. This has led to a variety of different “what if” scenarios with unique stories or reimaginings found in a galaxy far, far away. Star Wars: Visions V...
Trigun Stargaze Aims for the Stars: Episode 1-2 Review
The first episode's premiere ends up being a set-up appetizer for the rib-eye steak of its second episode, which knocks it out of the park.
― “Love and Peace,” hollered scores of Vash cosplayers at the Trigun Stargaze panel at New York Comic Con, hosted by Crunchyroll. That's a lofty dream for the much-beloved pacifist gunslinger, Vash the Stampede, in the desert Noman's Land. At the panel, the Trig...
Mercer Labs in NYC Looks to Stimulate the Senses with One Piece Collab
One Piece is a franchise known to many, but the Mercer Labs team explained that the series also opens the door to inspire people, even in a passive way.
― One Piece is everywhere, but that shouldn't be surprising considering that it has more or less become one of the largest and most popular franchises on the planet. This has led to collaborations with sports teams, food brands, clothing brands, and...
One Piece Director, Producer Reflect on Heart-Wrenching Bonney and Kuma Episodes
Yasunori Koyama drew on his own memories of his father when directing the relationship between Kuma and Bonney.
― Toei Animation pulled out all the stops when it came to its special One Piece panel at New York Comic Con 2025. Not only were there guest appearances by Ian Sinclair and Madeleine Morris, the English voices of Brook and Lilith respectively, but there were also special appearances by Ryūta...
DIGIMON BEATBREAK Panel Shows Off 'Prequel' Animated Short
Gekkomon voice actor Megumi Han and producer Hiroyuki Sakurada share insight on BEATBREAK's older protagonist at NYCC.
― It is undoubtedly an amazing time to be a Digimon fan, and the Toei animation panel at New York Comic Con 2025 certainly highlighted that sentiment. You could catch glimpses of all the fantastic things that have come out for the Digimon franchise, and this panel sought to be a high...
For Those Who Want a Deeper Monster Hunter Plot, Monster Hunter Stories 3 is Coming
Monster Hunter as a turn-based RPG? Are you saying I don't have to grind hours for armor and weapons and get to enjoy a longer and deeper narrative?
― I wouldn't call myself a Monster Hunter die-hard as I only have a few hundred hours logged between Monster Hunter 2G and Monster Hunter 4. This is certainly a level where I have soloed some of the stronger monsters in the game, but I don't know all the...
MIRESI: Invisible Future Has a Cool Time Travel Premise, Especially If Fanservice is Your Thing
This game has visual elements that want to dissuade me from playing the game. But the premise and gameplay make me want to go back for more.
― Time travel stories: they can be super fun at their best or contrived at their worst. In video games this is almost doubly ture as time travel can feel like a gimmick if not handled with the up most care. And then there's MIRESI: Invisible Future, a game with ...
Katamari is Back and Better Than Ever
It's been 14 years since the last time we were able to roll up everything with a sticky ball. Once Upon A Katamari looks to fix that.
― The King and Prince of the Cosmos are back to roll up the world in Once Upon A Katamari. Despite it being 20 years since I last laid my hands on a Katamari Damacy game, Tokyo Game Show 2025 allowed me to jump back into the world of rolling innocent citizens, buildin...
Even as a Lapsed Zelda Fan, Dynasty Warriors Virgin, Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment is a Total Blast
I've never been too interested in The Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history, but Zelda on the other hand...
― Return to the world of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom with hack and slash action in Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment. The Legend of Zelda series is well loved among gamers. From its puzzle-solving, story, action-adventure combat, and grand sense of exploration, there's a lot to...
Sci-fi Meets Eldritch Horror in Deck Builder Chaos Zero Nightmare
The monsters evoke a sense of eldritch horror with designs that are just familiar enough... but warped in such a way to give a sense of unease.
― Rogue-lite deckbuilders are an interesting bunch to me. The randomness of each playthrough of a level or dungeon doesn't quite allow for consistent runs. But that randomness and ability to gain bonuses between each run forces players to learn how to play wi...
My Hero Academia: All's Justice Environment is the Real Star of the Game
My Hero Academia: All’s Justice gives players a slew of new battle features. Too bad I was more interested in exploring the map and taking in the sights of each mission than I was in fighting.
― At Tokyo Game Show 2025, I was able to get some hands-on time with My Hero Academia: All's Justice. It follows the events of My Hero Academia's final season and leads players through the last battles of the s...
Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake Keeps the Graphical Upgrade, Loses Some Quality of Life Adjustments
One of the best things about Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake was the auto-battle option, which is absent in these two remasters.
― It's time to go back to the grandfather of Japanese RPGs with Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake. It's a shame some of the game configurations seen in Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake and the Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster series are toned down in Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake,...
Puzzle-Solving in Steampunk America with Professor Layton
At TGS 2025, we got hands-on time with Professor Layton and the New World of Steam.
― It's been eight years since a new Professor Layton game appeared on a Nintendo system. But that eight-year wait feels like it was worth it with the latest installment of the Professor Layton series, Professor Layton and the New World of Steam. Exhibited at Tokyo Game Show 2025, the demo for the game introduces playe...
The Resident Evil Requiem Demo Plays Smoothly On the Switch 2
The handheld experience was great—no frame rate drops or any kind of lag.
― At Tokyo Game Show 2025, it was announced that the newest game in the Resident Evil series, Resident Evil Requiem, would be coming to Nintendo Switch 2 in addition to the PlayStation and Xbox consoles. And if you wondered how the game plays on the much less powerful console, I have good news: I was able to get some hands-on ...
Hands-On with Ananta, The Surprise Hit of TGS 2025
If you’ve encountered Ananta online, you probably know it as the game that’s “anime GTA meets Marvel’s Spider-Man.” I’m here to report it’s exactly that.
― If there was an unquestioned dark horse winner of Tokyo Game Show 2025, it was Ananta. From the crowd that surrounded the booth in the hopes of getting in a demo line that opened only for a few seconds each hour to backpack swag-bags featuring bun...
Pragmata is a Souls-Like With Guns and Constant Mini-games
Ever wanted to pretend you’re a Big Daddy in a sci-fi version of Bioshock?
― At Tokyo Game Show 2025 Anime News Network was able to get thirty minutes with Capcom's upcoming sci-fi game Pragmata. In the demo, you play as the team of astronaut Hugh and android child Diana and work on escaping a lunar research station that has been overrun by killer machines. While ostensibly a third-person shooter, Pr...
As an FFXIV Player, Monster Hunter Wild's Upcoming Boss is a Nostalgic Trip
I am not a Monster Hunter player but I am a Final Fantasy XIV player—which made the Tokyo Game Show 2025 demo a lot of fun.
― To be clear from the start, I am not a Monster Hunter player. The last title I put any serious time into was Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate on the Wii U—and that was in 2013. However, what I most definitely am is a Final Fantasy XIV player—which gave me an interesting perspective o...
Nioh 3 Hands-On: Getting Stomped into the Ground for 10 Minutes Straight
Nioh 3's Tokyo Game Show 2025 demo is focused on the combat and nothing but the combat.
― I am no stranger to Souls-like games. Beyond the Fromsoft titles, I've played a ton, including those quite similar to Nioh 3—namely the original Nioh and The First Berserker: Khazan. Because of this, Nioh 3 was instantly familiar. In the Tokyo Game Show 2025 demo, the focus is on the combat and nothing but the c...
Tougen Anki's First Game is for Hardcore Tougen Anki Fans Alone
Hot on the heels of its anime adaptation, Tougen Anki is getting its own game—a game which was playable for the first time on smartphones and PCs at Tokyo Game Show 2025.
― Hot on the heels of its anime adaptation, Tougen Anki is getting its own game—a game which was playable for the first time on smartphones and PCs at Tokyo Game Show 2025. On it's most basic level, Tougen Anki Crimson Inferno plays...
The Anime NYC Guide to Working in the American Manga Industry
Manga publishers at Anime NYC shared their advice on breaking into the industry from lettering and logo design to creating your very own comic.
― How many of the 148,000 attendees at Anime NYC 2025 want to find work in the manga business? Probably a lot of them - at least five panels focused on career-building, and even the question and answer segments on unrelated panels would frequently have someo...
Studio Proteus: American Manga Awards Hall of Fame Spotlight
It's no exaggeration to say that the manga industry—and manga fandom itself—would not be what it is now without the historic contributions of Studio Proteus.
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It's no exaggeration to say that the manga industry—and manga fandom itself—would not be what it is now without the historic contributions of Studio Proteus, the San Francisco-based studio responsible for selecting, acquiring, translating, an...
Voice Actor Maile Flanagan Reflects on 20 Years of Naruto
Being a voice actress wasn’t originally in the cards for Flanagan. “I wanted to be a diplomat,” she admitted, “But it pays better being a superstar.”
― The very voice of Naruto had her Anime NYC Q&A panel on the convention's final day. To the anime's many avid fans, it meant that the best was saved for last. Maile Flanagan's star power had managed to fill almost the entire Sakura Stage; it got so big...
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