ANN sat down with the stars of Death Note: The Musical to talk about their experiences with the show, the story, and Ryuk's makeup. ― On July 30, Death Note: The Musical comes to the stage at London's Barbican Centre, due to run for 50 performances until September 12. In the last days before curtains up, I could interview two of the main performers. Xander Pang plays Light Yagami, the student who's g...

game review

Blue Reflection Quartet Game Review

Jul 29, 08:00 games

Both upgraded versions of Blue Reflection and Blue Reflection: Second Light themselves are worth getting Blue Reflection Quartet for. ― The first Blue Reflection game follows a young girl named Hinako Shirai. After suffering from a leg injury, she's forced to quit dancing, but two magical girls named Yuzu and Lime give her powers, making her a “Reflector.” Hinako then travels to an otherworldly area ...

review

3 comments

Witch Hat Atelier Volumes 9-14 Manga Review

Jul 28, 12:00

3 comments

manga

From the moment the Brimmed Cap gave Coco the spellbook and wand, Witch Hat Atelier has been about who is allowed to learn and what they’re allowed to do with that knowledge. ― Any soul out there who tries to restrict the things you learn is only doing it to keep you square under their thumb. Thus, in one sentence, a character in volume twelve of Kamome Shirahama's superb Witch Hat Atelier sums up th...

column

22 comments

This Week in Anime - Playing Chess With a Dog

Jul 28, 10:00

22 comments

anime manga live-action

Sylvia and Coop resurrect a meme to delve into the most important question about Goodbye, Lara. ― Sylvia and Coop resurrect a meme to delve into the most important question about Goodbye, Lara. The views and opinions expressed by the participants in this chatlog are not the views of Anime News Network.Spoiler Warning for discussion of the series ahead. Crunchyroll streams Mobile Suit Gundam: The Wit...

feature

16 comments

Summer 2026 Manga Guide

Jul 28, 09:26

16 comments

manga

We wrap up July's releases with a new series from Paru Itagaki! ― Welcome to Anime News Network's Summer 2026 Manga Guide! You may have seen one of our seasonal Anime Preview Guides, where a team of critics writes up each new anime television premiere as it airs at the beginning of a season. Now, doing something like that for manga is tricky - there's no equivalent "seasonal" release schedule for ne...

review

12 comments

Gals Can't Be Kind to Otaku!? Anime Series Review

Jul 27, 12:00

12 comments

anime

This show might be the strongest example of a romantic comedy where I think the best ending would be for there to be a throuple. ― I know everyone is going to look at both the title and poster for this show thinking, “oh great, another wish fulfillment fantasy where a shy introverted guy ends up getting romantically involved with the gorgeous outgoing girls in his class.” I know that's exactly how th...

2 comments

Comparing the Character Designs of MewType In and Out of Virtual Reality

Jul 27, 10:00

2 comments

anime

Appearances aren't everything, but in a visual medium like anime, they're still pretty important. A design can tell audiences a lot about a character, giving them an idea or an expectation before their personality is expressed. This is why character designs for anime are often revealed quite in advance of the series itself premiering, and the girls of MewType from BanG Dream! YUME∞MITA are no exception.

news

4 comments

The Camphorwood Custodian, The Miracles of the Namiya General Store Author Keigo Higashino Dies

Jul 27, 09:59

4 comments

people

Author died on July 23 due to colon cancer ― The Asahi Shimbun news website reported on Monday that author Keigo Higashino has died on July 23 due to colon cancer. He was 68. Higashino's family held a private funeral. Higashino was born in Osaka in 1958. He debuted as a writer in 1985 with his Hōkago (After School) mystery novel, which won the Edogawa Rampo Prize. Other award-winning novels by Higash...

column

This Week in Mobile Games - Once More Unto the Bleach, My Friends

Jul 27, 09:00 games

Josh takes a look at the closed beta of Mirror High, the new Bleach mobile game! ― Hello, and welcome once again to the latest column. Amidst the many and varied anniversaries, summer showdowns, and big-time limited-time events going on right now, I've been at something of a loss as to what to put my finite focus on besides work-related stuff. Luckily, sometimes an opportunity comes up that lets me c...

convention

7 comments

True to the Source Material: An Interview with Suikoden: The Anime's Producers

Jul 27, 09:00

7 comments

anime games

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...

news

14 comments

Yuzu Soft's Senren * Banka Visual Novel Gets Anime in 2027

Jul 26, 20:56

14 comments

anime

Main cast members reprise roles with KOTOKO performing opening song ― Visual novel developer Yuzu Soft announced during its "Yuzu Soft Songfes 2026" event on Sunday that its Senren * Banka visual novel will have an anime adaptation that will premiere in 2027. The software's cast members Sora Haruka (Eri Sendai), Yūki Kotorii (Natsumi Takamori), Mikan Satō (Nozomi Yamamoto), and Sawa Sawasawa (Atsumi ...

review

8 comments

Though I Am an Inept Villainess Volumes 1-10 Light Novel Review

Jul 26, 12:00

8 comments

novels

Abused and despised, one Maiden plots to take over the life of the Prince’s favorite, only to find that “the grass is greener on the other side of the fence” can have deadly consequences for them both. ― Let's start with the content warning: If you are chronically ill and/or disabled, you may find these novels way too real, despite the magic and silliness. Depictions of chronic illness and the emotio...

news

2 comments

Nene Azuki's Mii-chan and Miss Yamada Manga Gets Anime in 2027

Jul 25, 22:03

2 comments

manga anime

Series centers on 2 women who work in host club in Shinjuku ― Flag Pictures announced on Sunday that Nene Azuki's Mii-chan and Miss Yamada (Mii-chan and Yamada-san) manga is getting an anime adaptation that will debut in 2027. Azuki drew a celebration illustration for the announcement. Seven Seas will publish the series in English starting with the first volume on December 8, and it describes the sto...

game review

1 comment

Disgaea Mayhem Game Review

Jul 25, 12:00

1 comment

games

The real Achilles' heel of this title is the lack of a true party dynamic. ― Disgaea Mayhem manages to bring the Disgaea formula into the action RPG format successfully, but by the slimmest margin and missing many of the key features that make Disgaea soar. For background's sake, I'm a long-time Disgaea enjoyer. Not to age myself too much, but I bought a physical copy of the first Disgaea on PS2 from...

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