Anime https://comicbook.com/anime/feed/rss/ Sat, 18 May 2024 06:14:27 +0000 en-US hourly 1 Anime RSS Generator Bleach Creator Joins The Cast of Live Action Musical https://comicbook.com/anime/news/bleach-creator-tite-kubo-live-action-musical/ Fri, 17 May 2024 22:02:00 +0000 Evan Valentine 4579a72d-4bc0-40d6-8123-f06573f1d931

Anime spawning live-action adaptations is becoming more common in recent years, with animated series such as One Piece, Yu Yu Hakusho, and Avatar: The Last Airbender seeing serious success. While movies and television might be the biggest places for these live-action anime stories, the stage has its fair share of anime adaptations. Bleach has recently started a new live-action stage play that not only gives anime fans a new take on the Soul Society but also adds a musical element to the supernatural shonen series which creator Tite Kubo approves of.

Rather than starting from the beginning of the Bleach franchise, the new live-action musical instead takes the opportunity to focus on the Arrancar. Appearing as the big antagonists of the franchise following Ichigo and his allies rescuing Rukia from the Shinigami, the new villains had an amazing twist. The Arrancar were originally Hollows that were able to gain sentience, giving them a power that would often put them on the same level as the Soul Society, if not stronger. While Ichigo Kurosaki and his friends would win the fight against the Arrancar, the two sides would form a shaky truce thanks to the arrival of the Wandenrech in the Thousand-Year Blood War.

Tite Kubo Joins The Live-Action Soul Society

Kubo might not be working on new chapters of Bleach's manga, but he has had a big hand in creating the latest anime season of Bleach in the Thousand-Year Blood War. Working with Studio Pierrot on Ichigo's latest anime adventures, Tite has helped to create new scenes that didn't originally premiere in the manga. Luckily, Pierrot and Kubo are bringing back the Soul Society this year as the third cours of the recent anime season is set to make landfall.

Kubo might not have new chapters of Bleach coming out regularly but the mangaka did create a new chapter that potentially set the stage for the shonen series' future. Bleach: No Breaths From Hell took place after the Blood War, seeing Ichigo and many of his friends as adults. Dealing with a familiar threat that came straight from the underworld, the manga has the potential to create a wild storyline should Tite Kubo want to jump back into the Soul Society.

Do you want to see the latest Bleach musical make its way to North America? Follow along with Team Anime on ComicBook for all the latest updates on the Soul Society.

]]>
Dragon Ball Super Cosplay Unleashes The Beast With Gohan https://comicbook.com/anime/news/dragon-ball-super-cosplay-gohan-beast/ Fri, 17 May 2024 20:40:00 +0000 Evan Valentine 1e7dfc39-08f4-42b5-9975-c242155545b8

In fighting against Cell Max in Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero, the world of the Z-Fighters once again was hanging on by a thread. Piccolo might have gained a major upgrade thanks to Shenron granting him a wish that would give him two new forms, but this wasn't enough to push the Namekian over the top and claim victory against the Red Ribbon Army's ultimate weapon. In unlocking his full anger, Gohan was able to achieve his "Beast" form and one cosplayer has perfectly brought it to life.

Before Dragon Ball Super's manga went on hiatus, readers got a brief glimpse of the world following the death of Cell Max. In hearing about Gohan's major victory, his father wanted to see just how strong his son had become. Wasting little time in picking up Gohan from Earth, the father and son would have a sparring match that made for a major event in the shonen series. Ultimately, we didn't receive a definitive answer as to if Gohan Beast was more powerful than Ultra Instinct Goku, but we did get a Saiyan battle royale that acted as an amazing scene to hold readers over as the indefinite hiatus went into effect.

Gohan Unleashes The Beast

While many Dragon Ball fans have wondered if the previous chapter will be the manga's last, especially following the tragic passing of creator Akira Toriyama, there is one major plot thread that has yet to be addressed. Frieza's return in the final chapter of Granolah The Survivor Arc saw the alien despot easily dispatching the villain Gas, as well as taking the Heeters off the table. Now that the shonen villain has a new transformation under his belt in "Black Frieza", the question arises if Gohan's new form puts him on an even playing field with the antagonist.

@xeplay_cosplay

Gohan Bestia cosplay ??? #dragonball #dragonballsuper #dragonballsuperheroes #dragonballcosplay #cosplaygoku #dragonballlatino #dragonballsupersuperhero #gokublue #wig #cosplaywig #goku #gokucosplay #gokussjblue #vegeta #dragonballlegends #dragonballgt #dragonballz #gohan #gohanbestia #gohanssj2 #gohandelfuturo #gohancosplay #gohanbeast

? Legends Never Die - Youth Never Dies & Fatin Majidi

Dragon Ball Super's anime has yet to confirm when it will make a comeback, but the shonen franchise has something special for fans later this year. Dragon Ball Daima is hitting the small screen later this year and will feature a story that was heavily influenced by creator Akira Toriyama, making anime fans that much more interested in this new anime adaptation.

Want to stay up to date on Gohan and his ultimate form? Follow along with Team Anime on ComicBook for all the latest updates on the Z-Fighters.

]]>
Adult Swim to Revive Classic Toonami With New Anime Block https://comicbook.com/anime/news/toonami-rewind-cartoon-network-announcement/ Fri, 17 May 2024 18:51:00 +0000 Evan Valentine f05aa5e2-b869-4be2-b124-d519de5278c9

Toonami has long been a major programming block on Cartoon Network for some time, first hitting the cable channel in 1997. While there was a brief period where Toonami was no longer on the air, it would return to once again air anime adaptations on the platform thanks to Adult Swim. Now, Cartoon Network has announced "Toonami Rewind", a programming block airing later this month which will assemble some of its biggest anime classics on a timeslot that airs far earlier than the normal Adult Swim schedule.

Toonami has long been a programming block that has introduced some of the biggest anime franchises to the Western world. While the Cartoon Network project was responsible for introducing major series like Dragon Ball Z, Naruto, Tenchi Muyo, and Inuyasha, Toonami continues to this day by airing the likes of Attack on Titan, My Hero Academia, Dragon Ball Super, and more. In recent days, Toonami has been trying its hand out in creating original anime series, seeing major success with the likes of Ninja Kamui, Shenmue The Animation, FLCL Shoegaze, and more. In the future, the Adult Swim programming block will air the likes of Lazarus and Junji Ito's Uzumaki.

Toonami Rewind's Schedule

Toonami Rewind will begin airing on May 31st on Cartoon Network this month, presenting three classic anime series over a two hour timeframe. To start, the programming block will air Sailor Moon at 5PM Eastern, Dragon Ball Z Kai at 5:30PM Eastern and 6:00PM Eastern, and Naruto at 6:30PM Eastern. At present, it has yet to be seen if Toonami Rewind will include other classic anime from Cartoon Network's past. You can check out a new trailer for the programming block below.

Toonami Rewind Promo | Dated

We are happy to announce that every Friday starting May 31st Toonami is going back in time. Say hello to Toonami Rewind, Fridays 5-7p on adult swim. Line up below - 05:00PM - Sailor Moon (VIZ English Dub version) 05:30PM - Dragon Ball Z Kai 06:00PM - Dragon Ball Z Kai 06:30PM - Naruto

Posted by Toonami on Friday, May 17, 2024

In a recently revisited interview, Toonami co-creator Jason DeMarco described why the programming block was initially axed in 2008, before returning to glory on Adult Swim, "Looking back it was probably when we went from being on five days a week to just being on Saturday. There was this five year explosion of home video and 'Dragon Ball' and 'Pokemon' and 'Spirited Away' winning the Oscar. There was a wave. And then it receded because the bottom fell out of the home video market; a bunch of fake 'Toonamis' popped up and died; and I think it was a cross between the wider cultural consciousness moving away from anime and our network having different priorities."

]]>
One Piece Teases an Atomic Threat With Egghead Cliffhanger https://comicbook.com/anime/news/one-piece-manga-spoilers-egghead-atomic-threat/ Fri, 17 May 2024 18:14:00 +0000 Evan Valentine 1ac62363-cf65-46b4-8f9c-813938548286

Dr. Vegapunk has been one of the biggest key players in One Piece's final saga so far. With the Straw Hat Pirates arriving on Future Island, the mad scientist was able to reveal some key secrets regarding the Grand Line. While the former World Government employee was able to reveal the "Great Flood" theory to the world that harkens the Grand Line's doom, there is another theory that has Straw Hat fans thinking that Luffy and company are going to have an atomic problem on their hands.

If you have yet to read the latest chapter of One Piece's manga, Chapter 1114, be forewarned that we'll be diving into serious spoiler territory. The "Great Flood" refers to the idea that the Grand Line is sinking under the sea, a fact that was confirmed by Vegapunk before his demise at the hands of the Five Elders. While the scientist did extensive experiments on Devil Fruit, he was also responsible for more than a few aspects of the World Government's reign. First introduced in One Piece's 1060th manga chapter, the "Mother Flame" is one of Vegapunk's greatest creations, as the former military employee created an energy source. Unfortunately, this very same energy might prove to be a problem for Luffy and his crew.

The Mother Flame is Atomic

As this new theory documents, Vegapunk's Mother Flame might just be atomic in nature. On the power plant that powers Future Island, the symbol "A&Mu" is displayed, which can be another way of saying "atom" in Japan. If atomic weapons and items are introduced to One Piece's final saga, the challenges facing the Straw Hats will be like nothing they've seen before.

While this might be the final saga for the Straw Hats, that doesn't mean that One Piece is ending any time soon. As Straw Hat Pirate fans have seen in the past, storylines can often continue for quite a few years, meaning that we could still have years of stories before Luffy is able to become the King of the Pirates.

Do you want to see the Mother Flame will be another big threat that Luffy has to tackle in One Piece's final saga? Follow along with Team Anime on ComicBook for all the latest updates on the Grand Line and hit me up directly @EVComedy to talk all things comics, anime, and the world of the Straw Hat Pirates.

]]>
My Hero Academia: You're Next Movie Shares New Images https://comicbook.com/anime/news/my-hero-academia-youre-next-movie-new-images/ Fri, 17 May 2024 17:33:00 +0000 Evan Valentine 8738b440-5b76-43df-98ff-3d03c2888cff

My Hero Academia's anime and manga might be in the throes of the franchise's final arc, but the shonen series is planning to hit the silver screen once again. Arriving this August, My Hero Academia: You're Next will see the students of Class 1-A taking on a new threat that has an eerily similar appearance. The fourth film of the franchise is touting its big villain, Dark Might, as a sinister doppelganger to the former Symbol of Peace and the new movie has a handful of images to share.

In 2020, rumors were circulating that My Hero Academia could have as many as ten films to its name. Of course, during that year, the end of the franchise seemed so far away that this number of movies seemed possible. As Kohei Horikoshi is neck deep in the final battle in the pages of My Hero Academia's manga, the anime is playing catch-up at a rapid pace with the arrival of its seventh season. Thanks to the events of the source material, the eighth anime season is most likely the show's last, which places a giant question mark on how many more movies the shonen franchise will have in the tank.

My Hero Academia: You're Next Preview Images

The next film in the shonen series will hit Japan on August 2nd this summer, though a North American release date has yet to be revealed. In the past, the previous three My Hero Academia films, My Hero Academia: Two Heroes, My Hero Academia: Heroes Rising, and My Hero Academia: World Heroes' Mission, arrived in the West, which gives the upcoming film a good chance of doing the same.

As of the writing of this article, little is known about the mysterious "Dark Might" outside of looking like the spitting image of All Might. What is also not known is when this movie will take place in My Hero Academia's timeline, as it might just come out when the fight against Shigaraki and All For One has ended. As the end approaches for the franchise, many UA Academy enthusiasts are wondering if the movies might act as a way for the story of the young superheroes to continue past the manga's grand finale.

Want to see if My Hero Academia ends up netting ten movies when all is said and done? Follow along with Team Anime on ComicBook for all the latest updates and hit me up directly @EVComedy to talk all things comics, anime, and the world of UA Academy.

]]>
Sakamoto Days Anime Confirmed, According to New Report https://comicbook.com/anime/news/sakamoto-days-netflix-anime/ Fri, 17 May 2024 16:57:00 +0000 Evan Valentine 0d530e82-6b42-4af2-82a2-1547ec2c7c92

One of the most highly anticipated anime adaptations has been Sakamoto Days, the story of a humble store owner who was the equivalent of John Wick in his young years. Looking to leave his assassin days behind him, the past starts rearing its head in his current day-to-day life as the Shonen Jump manga continues to gain popularity to this day. In a new shocking report, it would seem that an anime adaptation of the series might not just be in development, but may be releasing far sooner than many expected.

The new report, released by the outlet License Global, lists a number of projects that are set to be released by Netflix in both 2024 and 2025. Of the many projects that include the likes of Stranger Things Season 5, Squid Game Season 2, One Piece Season 2, and Bridgerton Season 3, License Global slipped in quite the surprise for anime fans. Sakamoto Days is listed as a new release in 2024 though a release date has yet to be revealed.

sakomoto-days.png
(Photo: Shonen Jump)

Sakamoto Days x Netflix

Netflix has been creating quite the roster when it comes to all things anime. Acting as the exclusive streaming service for major series such as Baki The Grappler, Beastars, JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Stone Ocean, and Terminator Zero, the platform snatching up Sakamoto Days isn't too much of a surprise. As the streaming service recently started airing new episode of One Piece on a weekly basis, it will be interesting to see if Netflix does the same with Taro Sakamoto's tale or if the platform decides to release all the episodes in one go.

If you want to learn more about the story of Taro Sakamoto, here's how Viz Media describes the story of Sakamoto Days, "Taro Sakamoto was the ultimate assassin, feared by villains and admired by hitmen. But one day...he fell in love! Retirement, marriage, fatherhood and then... Sakamoto gained weight! The chubby guy who runs the neighborhood store is actually a former legendary hitman! Can he protect his family from danger? Get ready to experience a new kind of action comedy series!"

Want to get all the updates on Taro Sakamoto's potential anime arrival? Follow along with Team Anime on ComicBook for all the latest updates on Sakamoto Days and hit me up directly @EVComedy to talk all things comics, anime, and the world of Shonen Jump.

Via License Global

]]>
Godzilla 70th Anniversary Releases New Baseball Collab https://comicbook.com/anime/news/godzilla-70th-anniversary-new-baseball-collab/ Fri, 17 May 2024 16:27:00 +0000 Evan Valentine dbadd7a0-6315-4dc4-a39f-6f1c52d23319

Godzilla's recent days have been some of the biggest in the lizard king's history. Godzilla Minus One won an Academy Award for "Best Visual Effects", Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire has become one of the biggest films in Legendary's MonsterVerse, and Apple TV+ has renewed Monarch: Legacy of Monsters for a second season. Hot on the heels of these big projects focusing on the king of the monsters, a new Godzilla Baseball Collection has arrived which merges the kaiju with baseball-themed merchandise.

While an official confirmation for the third movie focusing on Godzilla meeting Kong has yet to be released by Legendary and Warner Bros, a writer has been confirmed for the film. Dave Callaham, who fans might know for his work on Shang Chi And The Legend of The Ten Rings, Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse, and Mortal Kombat, is set to write the upcoming kaiju crossover. While director Adam Wingard has yet to be confirmed to make a comeback, recent interviews have hinted at the idea that the creator has some thoughts for where the MonsterVerse goes in the future.

Godzilla x Baseball

The new Godzilla Baseball Collection is available on the official Godzilla online store that you can check out by clicking here. You can also see below an image of the merch along with a breakdown of what is being offered:

godzilla-baseball.png
(Photo: Toho)
  • Godzilla Baseball Collection - 70th Anniversary Jersey: Celebrate seven decades of Godzilla in sporty style with the Godzilla Baseball Collection: 70th Anniversary Jersey. Styled in cinematic black and white, this jersey sports screenprint, sewn path, and twill applique patches on a cut ready for game day. With a Godzilla-filled "G" logo on the back and a 70th Anniversary patch sewn on the front, there's no mistaking any fan in this jersey's love of the King of the Monsters.
  • Godzilla Baseball Collection - 70th Anniversary San Francisco Jersey: Knock it out of the park with the Godzilla Baseball Collection: 70th Anniversary San Francisco Jersey. This jersey sports screenprint, sewn path, and twill applique patches on a cut ready for game day. With the number 70 on the back and a Godzilla 70th Anniversary patch sewn on the front, there's no mistaking any fan in this jersey's love of the King of the Monsters.
  • Godzilla Baseball Collection - Battle for the Bridge T-Shirt: The perfect black Godzilla t-shirt to sport during baseball season and beyond has arrived with the Godzilla Baseball Collection: Battle for the Bridge T-shirt. Featuring a special Godzilla 70th Anniversary patch sewn on the front and a screen-printed image of Godzilla, Mothra, Minilla, Rodan, King Ghidorah, and Mechagodzilla on the back, this tee will be a hit everywhere you wear it.
  • Godzilla Baseball Collection - Baseball Cap: At the ballpark or out on the town, the Godzilla Baseball Collection: Baseball Cap always fits the bill. With a 3D embroidery "G" on the front, plus embroidered "SF" logos, this baseball-inspired hat is brimming with King of the Monsters style.

Note: This collection is not affiliated with the San Francisco Giants team.

Via Press Release

]]>
Dragon Ball Daima Drops New Preview Image https://comicbook.com/anime/news/dragon-ball-daima-new-image/ Fri, 17 May 2024 16:05:00 +0000 Evan Valentine 3524c0f8-f30a-47f9-8af0-42b4e80002e6

Dragon Ball Super has yet to announce when anime fans will see the television series return, but luckily, Toei Animation is bringing back Son Goku and friends this fall. Dragon Ball Daima is an entirely original story that was created with a major assist from the franchise's creator Akira Toriyama, who helped build this new tale before his tragic passing this year. Now, the spin-off series has released a new look at Son Goku and Shenron to get fans hyped for the anime's release this fall.

For those who want a refresher on just what Dragon Ball Daima will be, the original anime adaptation will take place in the time period after the death of Kid Buu but before the start of Dragon Ball Super. This means that the Z-Fighters most likely won't be accessing transformations like Ultra Instinct, Super Saiyan Blue, and Super Saiyan God to name a few. The big challenge that Goku and company will be facing is that they have been transformed into children, with Son apparently striking out with the Kaioshins to discover why this turn of events has happened. It has yet to be revealed if this new status will throw a monkey wrench into the Z-Fighters' respective power levels.

Dragon Ball Daima Preview

While the villains responsible for transforming the Z-Fighters into children have yet to have their identities revealed, it has been revealed that the Dragon Balls are responsible for this transformation. Of course, when Daima was first revealed, many shonen fans immediately thought of Dragon Ball GT. The outside-of-continuity series saw Goku transformed into a child thanks to a sinister iteration of the Dragon Balls while also introducing some wild transformations and characters into the lore.

Dragon Ball Daima will definitely have plenty of anime fans' attention not just thanks to the return of the Z-Fighters to the small screen, but thanks to this being one of the final projects that Akira Toriyama had a hand in. Following the mangaka's tragic passing, the Dragon Ball Super manga has gone on indefinite hiatus, leaving many to wonder what the future holds for the Z-Fighters in both the anime and the manga.

Want to learn more about the next animated chapter of Dragon Ball? Follow along with Team Anime on ComicBook for all the latest updates on the Z-Fighters and hit me up directly @EVComedy to talk all things comics, anime, and the world of Son Goku.

]]>
My Hero Academia Prepares For War With New Preview Images https://comicbook.com/anime/news/my-hero-academia-season-7-episode-3-preview-images/ Fri, 17 May 2024 15:40:00 +0000 Evan Valentine bfa1e87e-ab6b-411a-8655-a0d958d04336

The final battle is nigh in My Hero Academia's anime, as the manga continues to inch closer to bidding a fond farewell to Class 1-A and the heroes of UA Academy. Thanks to the sacrifice from Star And Stripe, Deku and his fellow crime fighters have been granted an amazing gift in that they get an extra week to train their Quirks and prepare to bring the fight to All For One and Shigaraki. Now, the superhero shonen series has shared new images to highlight the training of the anime stars.

In My Hero Academia's sixth season, anime fans saw Deku and his friends pull off a major victory during the Paranormal Liberation War, but based on current events, you might not believe it. Thanks to Dabi revealing his true identity and the damage done by the League of Villains, the general public has never been less confident in its heroes. On top of the lack of confidence, Hero Society is now plagued by a score of villains that have been broken out of jail as Shigaraki wasted little time in making sure that All For One and his allies were free to cause havoc in the world. Needless to say, the final battle will be one to remember.

My Hero Academia is Prepping For War

Based on the current events of My Hero Academia's manga, it's a safe bet to say that the eighth season of the anime adaptation will be the franchise's last. While many fans will be sad to say goodbye to the likes of Deku, Bakugo, Shoto Todoroki, and the other students of Class 1-A, creator Kohei Horikoshi was leaving the best for last. For those who have managed to avoid manga spoilers, get ready to say goodbye to some big character in the final battle.

My Hero Academia will have a big summer not just thanks to season seven, but also thanks to the fourth film of the franchise. My Hero Academia: You're Next will be hitting Japan on August 2nd, but a North American release date has yet to be revealed. Considering the first three films made their way to the West, it's a safe bet to assume that the battle against Dark Might will do the same.

Want to follow along with UA Academy's grand finale? Follow Team Anime on ComicBook for all the latest updates on Class 1-A and hit me up directly @EVComedy to talk all things comics, anime, and the world of Deku.

]]>
Suicide Squad Isekai Releases New Joker Trailer https://comicbook.com/anime/news/suicide-squad-isekai-new-joker-trailer-watch/ Fri, 17 May 2024 14:59:00 +0000 Evan Valentine 8e856680-f6ff-42a8-9b4d-4e14bca0f155

While The Suicide Squad Isekai might focus on Harley Quinn traveling with her gang of villains assembled by Amanda Waller, wild card decks can sometimes have a Joker in the pack. The Clown Prince of Crime is set to arrive in the upcoming anime series sporting a very different look from what we've seen in the past. As the anime series prepares to arrive this summer, Warner Bros. Japan has released a new trailer that is focused on the Dark Knight's greatest foe.

As of the writing of this article, Wit Studio and DC have yet to release the English Dub cast for The Suicide Isekai. Luckily, the upcoming Isekai has released its Japanese dub cast, meaning anime fans know who is taking on the role of the Joker this time around. The Harlequin of Hate will be voiced by Yuichiro Umehara, who fans might know for his past performances as a part of My Hero Academia, JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, Goblin Slayer, Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans, and Bleach to name a few.

The Joker's Anime Arrival: Watch

While the Joker has been shown by Harley Quinn's side throughout various promotional material for the Warner Bros' anime series, it has yet to be seen if he appears in the Isekai world. The upcoming anime might throw in some major changes to the DC Universe but this new trailer shows that the origins of Joker and Harley remains consistent.

If you want to learn more about the Suicide Squad's first foray into an Isekai world, here's how Warner Bros. Japan describes the anime arriving this July, "In the crime-ridden Gotham city, Amanda Waller, the head of A.R.G.U.S., has assembled a group of notorious criminals for a mission: Harley Quinn, Deadshot, Peacemaker, Clayface and King Shark. These DC Super-Villains are sent into an otherworldly realm that's connected to this world through a gate. It's a world of swords and magic where orcs rampage and dragons rule the skies--an "ISEKAI"!"

The description continues, "Harley and others go on a rampage after arriving in ISEKAI but are captured by the Kingdom's soldiers and sent to prison. They only have 72 hours before the bomb on their neck explodes. The deadline is fast approaching. After negotiations with Queen Aldora, the condition for liberation was the conquest of the hostile Imperial army. They have no choice but to throw themselves head-first into the front line of battle."

]]>
America's One Piece Cafe Shares New Opening Weekend Video https://comicbook.com/anime/news/one-piece-cafe-america-opening-weekend-video-watch/ Thu, 16 May 2024 21:33:00 +0000 Evan Valentine ac59510a-d563-491f-ab9a-a434d6733090

The One Piece Cafe is open and this makes for one of the first official anime restaurants to open up in North America. While a few anime eateries have gone into operation in the West, this new Las Vegas establishment will be the first official one to focus on the Straw Hat Pirates. Recently, to help celebrate its formal opening, Toei Animation released a new video that highlights the menu of the cafe as well as the anime fans that helped make the opening a success.

We here at ComicBook were lucky enough to have the chance to chat with Andy Nguyen, the creator of the One Piece Cafe, regarding his work with Toei Animation on bringing the Straw Hat eatery to life. Here's what Andy had to say when it came to the collaborative process, "We would take everything we did, whether it's the restaurant design, foods, or drinks and send it to Toei for approval. Sometimes we'd have to go back to the drawing board, but we're confident we tweaked it to perfection. Opening up a One Piece Cafe is intimidating considering how popular the series is."

The One Piece Cafe is Open For Business

If you're in the Las Vegas area, you can check out the One Piece Cafe seven days a week. The restaurant itself is located at 5600 Spring Mountain Rd, Las Vegas, Nevada, and it's clear that a sizable amount of Straw Hat fans were more than willing to give the establishment a shot. Not only does the aesthetic have numerous images from the anime series, but the food and drinks were created to both honor the Straw Hats and even recreate some of their favorite edibles from the "Meat Bone" to "Devil Fruit".

Anime restaurants are a common occurrence in Japan, as countless franchises have opened up cafes that honor some of the biggest series. While America has opened a Naruto ramen cafe in the past and McDonald's even opened their own anime establishment in its "WcDonalds" campaign, the West is far behind Japan when it comes to anime eateries. Hopefully, as anime continues to grow in popularity, more restaurants will open in the future.

Want to see if more anime restaurants pop up in the West? Follow along with Team Anime on ComicBook for all the latest updates on the One Piece Cafe and other anime establishments.

]]>
One Piece Proves Vegapunk's Flood Theory With a Simple Prophecy https://comicbook.com/anime/news/one-piece-spoilers-vegapunk-flood-theory-confirmed/ Thu, 16 May 2024 20:23:00 +0000 Evan Valentine 7b82f8a7-1356-44c4-a229-71916cb23e70

One Piece's final saga hasn't been shy about dropping some information bombs on readers as the Straw Hat Pirates deal with the consequences. Dr. Vegapunk has been a giant fixture in the saga as the mad scientist has revealed major secrets that have been surrounding the Grand Line for years. Thanks to the events taking place in the fight against the World Government, Vegapunk was forced to release a new message to the world that has some serious receipts backing it up.

Warning. If you have yet to read the latest chapter of One Piece's manga, Chapter 1114, be forewarned that we'll be diving into spoiler territory. The Grand Line is sinking and this is a fact that the world is now aware of thanks in part to the message of Vegapunk. The good doctor made sure that should his heart stop, which it has thanks to the Five Elders, then a pre-recorded message would be sent across the globe to let everyone know what the deal was. Aside from simply saying that the world was slowly sinking, Vegapunk also took the opportunity to unearth the history of the Void Century, as the deceased scientist has begun to tell the true story of Joy Boy.

one-piece-vegapunk.jpg
(Photo: Toei Animation)

Vegapunk Brought The Receipts

You may be wondering why the world was so willing to believe was Vegapunk was "selling" here. Well, the mad scientist was able to predict an earthquake that had taken place that very day, giving serious credence to his prediction for the future. As the Five Elders work desperately to stop the message, Vegapunk explains his predictions to the world.

"Now, speaking of the near future for me, assuming that the sensors I built are functioning correctly in the days after I record this message, there should be a most remarkable earthquake that strikes the entire planet. As a result of that, the sea should rise about one meter around the world rendering some islands uninhabitable. Beaches around the world will be lost for good. This particular earthquake is not exactly what I would call a natural phenomenon."

It might be some time before we see the anime adaptation take on these events transpiring in the manga, but One Piece's television series is catching up quick. Already introducing Vegapunk and bringing the Straw Hats to Future Island, shonen fans might see the arrival of the Five Elders faster than they might expect.

]]>
Ultraman: Rising Director Talks Rebooting Ultraman, Manga Inspirations, and Trailer Easter Eggs https://comicbook.com/anime/news/ultraman-rising-netflix-director-interview-shannon-tindle/ Thu, 16 May 2024 20:23:00 +0000 Nick Valdez 14a5480b-42bb-4f5b-b8c4-a015f37e2213

Ultraman: Rising will be making its debut with Netflix next month, and we got to talk with the director behind it all to celebrate the release of the newest trailer! Netflix has teamed up with Tsuburaya Productions and Industrial Light & Magic for a brand new take on the classic Tokusatsu hero, Ultraman. While fans might have seen the franchise reinvented in the last few years with the likes of Shin Ultraman, Netflix's Ultraman anime series, comics and more, Ultraman: Rising is undoubtedly the biggest undertaking yet. It's a reimagining of the Ultraman franchise that doesn't throw out the baby with the bathwater, but instead takes very special care of that baby.

In anticipation of such a major undertaking, we got the chance to speak with Ultraman: Rising director Shannon Tindle all about the new movie! For this first part of our conversation (with more spoilery details being revealed following the film's release next month), Tindle opened up about how his initial idea was in development for years before becoming an Ultraman movie, working with Tsuburaya Productions on introducing a new version of the Tokusatsu hero, the manga inspirations behind the film's design, fun Easter Eggs hidden in the new trailer and more!

Read on below for our chat with Ultraman: Rising director Shannon Tindle, and check out the new movie with Netflix when it premieres on June 14th around the world!

Reactions to Ultraman: Rising So Far

NICK VALDEZ, COMICBOOK: Ultraman: Rising has a ton to celebrate! We're talking right now to celebrate the release of the first full trailer, but it was also announced that it's going to premiere at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival. And so I wanted to know from your perspective, after working on this for so long, how do you feel about the response to it so far?

SHANNON TINDLE: It's been pretty incredible. I'm at that point now where I've seen it with lots of test audiences. A broad audience of people who, some know Ultraman, many don't. The film is meant for a broad audience, for people who don't. I want people to be able to come to it and not need any kind of education. They can just enjoy the film on a personal level. And so far, that's been the case. We've gotten a really amazing response from people who've said, "I wouldn't normally watch an Ultraman film," so to watch this film and to be able to engage with it, because of the subject matter that we explore, the conflict between parents and children, has really been incredible.

Then to be invited to Annecy, of course, this is my first time, I've never been, so that I'm going there to premiere the film, it is absolutely incredible, and I can't say what just yet, but there's going to be a surprise at Annecy that is related to ComicBook. So...I'm really excited to share a treat that we've put together.

On Becoming Ultraman

ultraman-rising-netflix-movie.jpg
(Photo: Netflix)

It's so wild seeing Ultraman: Rising also, because everything fits so well, to remember that when it was announced, you had mentioned that this was a completely different kind of idea before even being adapted into an Ultraman story. So how did you end up connecting with Tsuburaya and turning it into what we see today?

TINDLE: So if I pitched you exactly what I pitched to all the people I pitched it to since 2001, you'd basically see the same story. It was always Ken Sato, there was always this conflict with his Dad. There was always this unwillingness to become this superhero, because he had a life that he was happy with. So those things never changed. But what happened is, I had the film in development at Sony. Mike Moon and Kristine Belson had brought me over to develop it. They really responded to the idea and were incredibly supportive throughout. We just got to a point where we wanted to go one direction, and the feeling at the larger studio was they wanted to go in a different direction, but I will always be grateful to Kristine for being gracious and saying, "You can take it elsewhere. I want to see this movie made. You can take it elsewhere."

So then I brought it over to Netflix, and at that time I pitched it first to Greg Taylor and Jill Sanford. Then they loved it and they wanted me to come back, and I gave the script as it existed at that time to Melissa Cobb, who was running the division at that time. I thought I was coming into a smaller room, and I came in and there was this larger room of folks. I was introduced to another executive, who'd just gotten back from Tokyo, and chatting with the folks at Tsuburaya. He said, "Look, I know this is inspired by Ultraman. Would you consider making it an Ultraman story?" And my honest reaction was, nerd me is like, "Amazing." Producer, writer, director me was like, "I know how fraught the character has been with rights and things," and I said, "I want to make the movie that I wrote. I want to make a movie about this family, whether it's Ultraman, whether it's the character as he existed at that time, Gamma Man, that's what I want to make. So if you guys support that, I'm more than happy to talk with Tsuburaya."

Melissa said, "Well, would you be willing to fly to Japan for us?" I'm like, "Free trip to Japan? Absolutely, let's go." So I met with the chairman and CEO [Takayuki] Tsukagoshi-san, and with [Kei] Minamitani-san and [Masahiro] Onda-san, the group there that runs Tsuburaya. They have been incredible from day one. Absolutely incredible. Of course, there, there's all this history that comes with Ultraman, since 1966, but they've been so open to the interpretations of the Science Team, of the main character.

I think part of that is just because it's innate to the character. Every couple of years it's a new story. So that's why if there are any fans who get frustrated like, "Well, this doesn't do this and it doesn't do this," I'm like, "Well, Ultraman is very different from Ultraseven." Even the way that the powers manifest. Ultraman and Shin Hayata are merged. A human and an alien are merged. But in Ultraseven, the second series, it's Dan Moroboshi who's an alien in the form of a human. So I felt that there was that license there. And then once we spent time with them, and they fully supported the story that I wanted to tell, I said, "Well, let's do this." And so it's not always the case, especially with a character big as Ultraman.

I don't think people understand quite how huge Ultraman is, even just all over Asia. I was in Anhui in southern China years ago, and at the base, before we were going to hike to the top of Huangshan, which is this beautiful mountain, there were hundreds of wooden Ultraman dolls...Ultraman Taro and Ultraman Ace. I was like, "Oh my gosh, I'm in southern China and I'm seeing all of these Ultraman dolls." So that's how it came about, and it's been an absolutely incredible relationship, and I hope it continues.

On Rebooting Ultraman

ultraman-rising-netflix-animated-movie.jpg
(Photo: Netflix)

Yeah, Ultraman is no stranger to reboots! Tsuburaya, I think a few years ago had mentioned they wanted to expand the worldwide reach of their projects, like Ultraman. 'Cause Gridman came back with two seasons of an anime in a full universe, Ultraman has a Netflix anime series, and now we're at a full animated film. In this reboot and your undertaking of Ultraman, how hands-on was Tsuburaya in terms of allowing you to change the character and take bits and pieces of the lore?

TINDLE: So they didn't. We always kept them in the loop. We would spend a week or two at a time just going through things and understanding their perspective, and sharing with them my story. But in terms of Ken's journey, there weren't any flags raised or objections raised. There were questions asked about the Kaiju Defense Force because typically, the SSSP, the Science Team, or whether it's the task force in Ultraseven, they're the good guys. And I wanted to say, well, what happens if you take an organization like that that was meant to study and understand kaiju, because of somebody's trauma that they've experienced, Dr. Onda's trauma, and Dr. Onda by the way, is named after Onda-san, who is keeper of...He's a lovely guy. He's not a bad guy at all. He's lovely. So I told him, I was like, "Is it okay if I named the bad guy after you?" But those were the things where they wanted us to be thoughtful in the approach.

Actually, one of the scenes I'm proudest of in the film...Tsubaraya had said, "Well, can there be somebody on the KDF that questions the motivations and questions the extremities?" So I won't reveal too much because I don't want to spoil the movie, but there's the conversation between Dr. Onda and a subordinate, who questions him, and he gives him his answer. I think that gives a peek into, and it happens after we reveal what happened to Dr. Onda, and why he is the way that he is. That scene wouldn't have existed if Tsuburaya hadn't challenged me and said, "Could you find at least somebody in there who still holds true? Or at least questions, like, 'This is a different motivation than we've had in the past. Is this right?'"

So that was the kind of positive engagement we had. And even if we didn't agree in the beginning, we found a way to compromise and to understand one another, but for the most part, it was absolutely, I would say entirely, it was an incredible experience, because it's okay to be challenged if everybody is in support of making a great movie. There were no egos involved. It was really just like, we're challenging because the history. We know that this works. We know the fans are going to react a certain way. And I said, "My goal is just to make a great movie. That's what I want to do. So as long as we keep that in mind and we're all pushing toward that goal, then we're going to be okay."

Hidden Ultraman Easter Eggs

ultraman-rising-netflix-anime-movie.jpg
(Photo: Netflix)

Yeah, 'cause, even as you mention that, I'm remembering that the KDF has the Science Patrol color scheme and stuff like that. There's all these little things that are in there that I really appreciated.

TINDLE: There are tons of Easter eggs in there.

Yes! Like there is one shot. I'm trying not to go full into it, but there are some kaiju designs in here that I was like, "Oh, that one." And even Gigantron-

TINDLE: Well, I think because this is going to come out with the trailer, so I think we can, and the trailer has Neronga and Bemular in it. And at Comic Book Day, they released those trading cards with Neronga on it. So those are two of my favorites. I think Bemular is the first kaiju that Ultraman battles in the first series. So it's why I wanted Bemular to be the first kaiju that you see in the movie. And Neronga's just always been a favorite for me. And Gigantron was always an original, so she just was transported from my original script, for what at that time was called "Made In Japan," to Ultraman. I didn't feel any reason to change her, because every Ultra series introduces new kaiju. They'll update and revise existing kaiju, but they also bring in new kaiju. So I thought, well, let's carry that tradition on.

On Designing Ultraman: Rising's Look

ultraman-rising-netflix-movie.jpg
(Photo: Netflix)

Well, that kind of ties into my next question here. How'd you come about finding the aesthetic for Ultraman: Rising? Because it's a very distinct design. It brings in the Tokusatsu live action element to it, but then also you have the fluidity of the animation. And especially when it gets into the fights, you get impact frames and little flourishes there. Working with Industrial Light & Magic, this is their first animated superhero feature too, what was the process like in figuring out what Ultraman: Rising was going to look like?

TINDLE: So, because I had done some development work on it at Sony, and actually some of the folks who worked on it at Sony, Marcos Mateu, Sunmin Inn, those folks came over to work when it got set up at Netflix. But the aesthetic changed, and I felt empowered, and I give Chris and Phil and Peter and Bob Persichetti, and those guys, all the credit for pushing the boundaries of the Spider-Verse, because it gave us permission to be able to do something bold as well.

We wanted to explore manga. You speak of impact frames. We have that moment with the grand slam where we go all in with the look, and we just wanted to have little flares and flashes of those moments. But the overall aesthetic was working with our incredible art director, Sunmin Inn, and our production designer, Marcos Mateu. And Sunmin early on found this look where she was trying to replicate the covers of manga, even though the contents are usually black and white, inside the covers, it will be like these beautifully rendered Copic marker covers.

So how can we get that into the look? How can we get line work in there? How can we get the cross-hatching that you have in manga incorporated in there? So having already worked with Hayden Jones on Lost Ollie, and just have he and Steph Drury over there to become really close friends, and we thought, "Well, hey, what if my producer, Tom Knott was seeing the work come in from Ollie?" And he was like, "Man, it's so incredible, I wonder if they would consider doing an animated film." I said, "We can ask them." And we lured them in and seduced them with the early artwork. And they were like, "Yeah, let's figure this out."

So then after that, it just becomes a process of evolution. I've worked in story, character design, art departments, and I want something to evolve, but I don't like to dwell. I'm not a...I'll call it the "I'll-know-it-when-I-see-it director." I kind of have an idea of what I want, or Sunmin would turn in these beautiful paintings, Marcos would turn in these beautiful backgrounds, and I'd be like, "That's right. That's not quite right. Let's look at that." And then they would work closely with Hayden and figure it out.

Then in regard to character design, working with our amazing character art director, Keiko, I said, "Let's look at Leiji Matsumoto's work. I love his elongated, elegant forms and let's see if we can look at that." And Ultraman, in the history of Ultraman, is an alien anyway. The original Ultraman was inspired by gray aliens, but it's always a guy in a suit. So what can we do in animation to make him more slender and elegant and reflect a more alien physique? And then we had that overall aesthetic for the characters as well. For most of the characters. Not Ken's Dad, Professor Sato. He's a little different, but Ken's hair is inspired by, I think, might be my favorite actor of all time, Toshiro Mifune. When you see that wet tasseled hair, dude is the sexiest man who's ever existed. Then you have the primary samurai in Seven Samurai [Takashi] Shimura-san, Ken's inspired by him.

So Keiko and I worked back and forth on him because he's got such, when you see him...he's got that just, such a sympathetic face, and I wanted that in the design. Those designs, every frame tells a story, and how can you get the most impact? So working with Keiko to find those designs, it was just incredible. It's been said before. Hire a great team and let them do their jobs. And that's really what we had on this film is like, "I'm nothing without this team. I'm nothing..." The idea was elevated by each and every member who worked countless hours to make this look great. So all the credit to them.

Ultraman: Rising releases with Netflix on June 14th. Check back with ComicBook after the movie hits for the spoiler-filled Part 2 of our chat!

]]>
Shōgun Season 2 & Season 3 Reportedly In Development at FX-Hulu https://comicbook.com/tv-shows/news/shogun-season-2-season-3-in-development-fx-hulu/ Thu, 16 May 2024 19:54:00 +0000 Kofi Outlaw 9eeea8e0-b2fe-4bf8-a081-893e1af19d18

Sh?gun is officially getting Season 2 - and Season 3 - according to the latest reports. This news comes right on the heels of Sh?gun star Hiroyuki Sanada signing a deal to return as Lord Yoshii Toranaga in Season 2, which was an early indicator that Hulu and FX were indeed going to continue the series beyond the end of author James Clavell's source novel.

Before Sh?gun book fans get to concerned; Seasons 2 and 3 of the TV series are reportedly being developed with the estate of James Clavell fully involved. A writers' room for Sh?gun Season 2 is set to begin this summer. Showrunners Justin Marks and Rachel Kondo are still onboard, as is Season 1 executive producer Michaela Clavell for the Clavell estate, with Hiroyuki Sanada still serving as producer alongside his starring role as Toranaga.

There is one small asterisk still hanging over this Sh?gun renewal news: Variety's report notes that "this is not a formal renewal" for the series, and that "no production has been scheduled for more episodes."

The conspiracy theory that's being whispered is that FX-Hulu could be indicating that Sh?gun is getting additional seasons in order to get the series in the dramatic series categories at this year's Emmys. As a "limited series," Sh?gun's potential for awards wins was strictly limited, compared to all the categories it could compete in win in as a dramatic ongoing series. So far, all of the moves being made are ones that the studio can make to secure Emmy Awards victory without any significant investment in actual production or salaries. If Sh?gun wins big (as expected), additional seasons can quickly go into production; if Emmys visibility and wins don't increase Sh?gun's profile sufficiently, these new seasons could be abandoned, which would still leave the achievement of one of the best limited series of recent years.

What Would Sh?gun Season 2 Be About?

will-shogun-get-season-2-canceled-renwed-ending.jpg
(Photo: FX / Hulu)

Sh?gun wasn't a fictional work by James Clavell: it was a dramatization of actual historical events. Clavell spent years researching 17th-century Japanese history to create his novel's story and characters - many of whom (Blackthorne, Toranaga, Mariko, Ishido) are fictionalized versions of real historical figures. Clavell's novel was focused on its collection of principal characters (Blackthorne, Toranaga, Mariko) and how their fates converged to change the fate of Japan - it did not cover what happened after that character connection was severed.

History and its subsequent events are all on the table for Sh?gun Season 2 to explore. It would be different in terms of characters and tone from the original novel, but the next season could continue focusing on Toranaga and his quest to gain (or hold onto) power over Japan.

For Disney (owner of FX and Hulu) it's an opportunity to keep its biggest prestige content win going, and possibly expand it into a whole franchise of spinoff series. The same has worked for Game of Thrones (which led to the prequel series House of the Dragon becoming a major hit). In Sh?gun's case, history has already written the source material needed to mine more to fill Seasons 2 and 3

Sh?gun is now streaming on Hulu and Disney+ (with the Hulu bundle).

]]>
My Hero Academia Cosplay Goes Under The Sea With Gang Orca https://comicbook.com/anime/news/my-hero-academia-cosplay-gang-orca/ Thu, 16 May 2024 18:36:00 +0000 Evan Valentine 2219c8e0-7236-4cbc-b7b1-f2d1fc0249c7

While students like Deku, Bakugo, and Shoto Todoroki have been front and center in My Hero Academia's story, the members of Class 1-A would have a much harder time were it not for their devoted teachers. All Might has taken a decidedly closer role in molding the next generation since his forced retirement at the hands of All For One, but he isn't the only mentor to UA Academy's student body. Gang Orca isn't just a valued member of UA Academy's educators, but is one of the most striking characters in the shonen series.

Kugo Sakamata, aka Gang Orca, has a Quirk that makes him a force to be reckoned with in Hero Society. Much like Froppy of Class 1-A, the UA Academy teacher is the equivalent of a character that is bitten by a radioactive orca whale. On top of his experience in the crime-fighting world, Gang Orca has a serious level of strength at his disposal, though his strength is increased substantially once he is under the water. With all hands on deck for the anime's further exploration of the final arc, it will be interesting to see what role Kugo plays in the final fight against the likes of All For One and Shigaraki.

Gang Orca Cosplay Swims The "Seas"

The cosplayer honors the UA Academy teacher by not just recreating his striking look, but also by giving anime fans an idea of what Gang Orca might look like swimming above sea level. Should the final arc see the heroes successful, it will be interesting to see what the future holds specifically for the teachers of UA Academy, especially in the face of many of Class 1-A's students surpassing those that taught them.

Kohei Horikoshi hasn't been shy about the fact that the end is nigh for UA Academy, and the manga artist has earned his retirement with the superhero shonen series. The mangaka hasn't confirmed if there will be a sequel series and/or spin-off, but there is another big manga primed to take the anime world by storm. My Hero Academia: Vigilantes explores some darker elements of the world and has plenty of chapters to keep an anime series running for a handful of seasons.

Want to see what happens to your favorite UA Academy teachers in the Final Arc? Follow along with Team Anime on ComicBook for all the latest updates on Class 1-A.

]]>
Fist of The North Star Creator Shares Official Furiosa Art https://comicbook.com/anime/news/fist-of-the-north-star-creator-official-furiosa-art/ Thu, 16 May 2024 17:36:00 +0000 Evan Valentine 66477f73-9810-4db8-9d18-da3418de2a74

Fist of The North Star and the Mad Max saga have a lot in common. The two universes focus on post-apocalyptic worlds where the desert seems endless and surviving every day is a radical struggle. In a surprising twist, the creator of the anime franchise, Tetsuo Hara has taken a crack at the character of Furiosa before the prequel movie focusing on the beloved character hits theaters via Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga.

Fist of The North Star is planning to return to the anime world via a television series to celebrate the franchise's fortieth anniversary. Fist of The North Star: Hokuto No Ken has yet to receive a release date, but here's how Warner Bros. Japan describes the next chapter in Kenshiro's life, "In 199x, world was engulfed in the blaze of nuclear war. With the Ocean drying up and Earth torn asunder, all life seems to be lost but humans survived stubbornly. However, what dominated the post-apocalyptic world was a seer violence. The remaining humanity was split in two groups: those who kill and take whatever they can and those who are exploited. When all hope seemed lost for the weak, a man in ragged cloth appears. He is Kenshiro, the rightful successor of the Hokuto Shinken martial arts with seven studs-like scars in a shape of the Big Dipper. His journey to becoming a legendary savior begins!"

Furiosa of The North Star

The Official Warner Bros Social Media Account shared the new art from Tetsuo Hara which imagines what Furiosa might have looked like had she been a part of Kenshiro's universe.

Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga is set to take North American theaters by storm on May 24th. Here's how Warner Bros describes the prequel story focusing on Furiosa's life before she came into contact with the Road Warrior, "As the world fell, young Furiosa is snatched from the Green Place of Many Mothers and falls into the hands of a great Biker Horde led by the Warlord Dementus. Sweeping through the Wasteland, they come across the Citadel presided over by The Immortan Joe. While the two Tyrants war for dominance, Furiosa must survive many trials as she puts together the means to find her way home."

What do you think of this desert wasteland crossover? Follow along with Team Anime on ComicBook for all the latest updates on Furiosa and Fist of The North Star.

]]>
Naruto Announces Official Crocs Line https://comicbook.com/anime/news/naruto-official-crocs-line/ Thu, 16 May 2024 17:11:00 +0000 Evan Valentine ded4cbc1-70d9-4087-99c9-7bf5d38ae0bb

The Naruto universe might be on hiatus when it comes to its anime adaptation, but that isn't stopping the Hidden Leaf Village from finding new inventive ways to stay in the spotlight. As the manga continues thanks to Boruto: Two Blue Vortex, a new unexpected fashion line is set to hit retailers this summer. The shonen ninja franchise is teaming up with Crocs and Foot Locker to create a line honoring the likes of Jiraiya, Minato, Itachi, and Sasuke.

The last time we saw Naruto on the small screen, it was thanks to Boruto: Naruto Next Generations. Boruto and Kawaki found themselves fighting against Code, the new head of the Kara Organization that was trying to get revenge for the death of his master Jigen. Studio Pierrot, the production house responsible for the anime adaptation, has stated that they would return to the franchise with four episodes from the original Naruto series. The original installments have been indefinitely postponed, as Pierrot mentioned that they were struggling with animation issues initially. While the Naruto franchise has yet to confirm when its anime will return, the manga is giving the anime adaptation plenty to work with as the Two Blue Vortex marches forward.

Naruto Crocs Are Coming Sooner Than You Might Think

The upcoming line of Crocs will be sold exclusively at Foot Locker, with each pair retailing for around $70 USD. Arriving on June 6th, the four pairs might not have a pai focusing specifically on Naruto Uzumaki himself, but they run the gamut of the shonen world that arrived from the mind of creator Masashi Kishimoto.

jiraiya.jpg
(Photo: Crocs & Foot Locker)
minato.jpg
(Photo: Crocs & Foot Locker)
itachi-crocs.jpg
(Photo: Crocs & Foot Locker)
sasuke-crocs.jpg
(Photo: Crocs & Foot Locker)

Studio Pierrot turned a lot of heads recently when it announced that it was moving closer to a seasonal schedule rather than sticking to a weekly release for some of its biggest anime. Seeing major success with Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War, Pierrot taking a similar approach to the Naruto world makes sense. Whenever the ninja franchise does return, it will be interesting to see how much time the anime spends in Boruto: Naruto Next Generations before it jumps into the sequel series, Boruto: Two Blue Vortex.

Which Naruto character do you think is most deserving of their own Croc? Follow along with Team Anime on ComicBook to see what other footwear is spawned from the Hidden Leaf Village and hit me up directly @EVComedy to talk all things comics, anime, and the world of Konoha.

Via Press Release

]]>
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Stars Announce Marriage https://comicbook.com/anime/news/jojos-bizarre-adventure-stars-marriage-announcement/ Thu, 16 May 2024 16:30:00 +0000 Evan Valentine 3f09a0be-fedc-46bb-86fe-ce74af7c35b7

JoJo's Bizarre Adventure's Thus Spoke Kishibe Rohan is easily the biggest spin-off of the anime franchise, warranting not only its own anime adaptation, but a live-action television series as well. In a surprising announcement, the two stars who help bring the Stand-wielding manga artist's adventures to life have revealed a shocking announcement. While Rohan and his editor, Kyoka Izumi, might not be romantically linked in the original manga, stars Issey Takahashi and Marie Iitoyo have announced that they got hitched.

Thus Spoke Kishibe Rohan, for those who might not be familiar, follows the story of the titular character Kishibe Rohan as he continues his never-ending search of discovering inspiration for his manga. Clearly, the character is a favorite of JoJo creator Hirohiko Araki, as not only does his side story continue to this day, but Rohan recently made a surprising return in the latest storyline of The JOJOLands. Last year, Rohan even received his own live-action movie, proving how the manga artist has gained serious traction in the anime world.

JoJo's Bizarre Wedding

Here is the official announcement from the happy couple, "To All Whom It May Concern,

I hope this message finds you well. We, Issey Takahashi and Marie Iitoyo, have registered our marriage. The opportunity to work on a project together brought us closer, and through working together on set, we felt a deepening connection. After about a year of dating, with the blessings of everyone involved in the project, we are pleased to announce that we have reached this milestone.

She remains unwavering in her bright outlook on life and speaks without tarnishing her words. Her pure, positive energy, coupled with her grace, has been a source of support for me on many occasions. I am drawn to his character, which approaches life with balance, wisdom, and a playful spirit. His smile and deep compassion have always been a comfort to me. We will continue to devote ourselves to our acting and each job we undertake, but we also wish to enrich our lives as individuals, beyond our roles as actors.

We look forward to your continued support."

Want to see if other anime stars decide to get hitched in the future? Follow along with Team Anime on ComicBook for all the latest updates on anime couples and hit me up directly @EVComedy to talk all things comics, anime, and the world of the Joestars.

]]>
Terminator Zero Showrunner Reveals New Anime Won't Involve Guns https://comicbook.com/anime/news/terminator-zero-showrunner-new-anime-no-guns/ Thu, 16 May 2024 15:56:00 +0000 Evan Valentine 3d3e3d64-03c8-4f8e-9561-047e853eaab2

Terminator Zero is planning to present fans with the first anime focusing on the fight against Skynet. Ever since the T-100 was sent into the past in 1984 with the first Terminator film, the story of humanity's fight for survival has continued in movies and television series. While this will be the first time that the Terminator franchise has tried its hand at an anime series, the upcoming Netflix show will be adding some big changes to the universe as guns won't be as present as other stories focusing on the T-100s.

Terminator Zero will hit Netflix on August 29th, releasing eight episodes to follow the story of Malcolm Lee, a scientist struggling with the rise of artificial intelligence. The series is produced by Production I.G., a studio that many anime fans have become quite familiar with especially this year. In 2024, the production house released the box office hit, Haikyu: The Dumpster Battle, along with unleashing one of the most highly anticipated anime series of the year, Kaiju No. 8.

terminator-zero-4.jpg
(Photo: Production IG)

Terminator Versus Guns

There will be guns in Terminator Zero, but thanks to much of the story taking place in Japan, a country that outlaws firearms, they won't be featured nearly as much as projects that were tailored for North America. In a new interview, showrunner Mattson Tomlin described how this decision came about for the upcoming anime series, "I was aware that there aren't really guns in Japan, and I don't think I quite appreciated how real that was. "My partners at Production I.G came back and said, 'Hey, so...there are no guns [in Japan]. If we needed a gun, we don't know where we would get it.' It was just such a stunning moment for me, like, 'Oh, wow, I am an American.'"

If you want a closer look at the story of Terminator Zero, here's how Netflix describes the story of the anime from Production I.G., "2022: A future war has raged for decades between the few human survivors and an endless army of machines. 1997: The AI known as Skynet gained self-awareness and began its war against humanity. Caught between the future and this past is a soldier sent back in time to change the fate of humanity. She arrives in 1997 to protect a scientist named Malcolm Lee who works to launch a new AI system designed to compete with Skynet's impending attack on humanity. As Malcolm navigates the moral complexities of his creation, he is hunted by an unrelenting assassin from the future which forever alters the fate of his three children."

Do you think Terminator Zero will do the franchise justice? Follow along with Team Anime on ComicBook for all the latest updates on Skynet's arrival in the anime world.

Via Entertainment Weekly

]]>
Studio Orange Talks CG Animation's Place in The Anime World https://comicbook.com/anime/news/studio-orange-founder-interview-cg-animation-anime/ Thu, 16 May 2024 15:05:00 +0000 Evan Valentine a196e887-b028-41ff-a2a2-053ba8a1d33a

CG animation in the anime medium has been a controversial subject, as there are many fans that feel the artistic style might not be able to live up to the traditional 2-D style. The newer method of animation isn't going away any time soon however, as big franchises such as Dragon Ball, Attack on Titan, and Lupin The Third have implemented CG animation in their series. In a new interview, one of the biggest studios that employ CG in their projects, Studio Orange, has shared its creator's thoughts on the past and the future of the style in the anime world.

Studio Orange first opened its doors in 2004, spending decades creating some major additions to the anime world. In recent years, Orange has worked on projects including Trigun Stampede, Land of The Lustrous, Beastars, and Godzilla Singular Point to name a few. In talking about the history of CG in the anime medium, Orange's founder Eiji Onomoto revealed that he wasn't always confident in creating a production house that focused only on computer-generated animation.

beastars-1194648.jpg
(Photo: Studio Orange)

Studio Orange's Founder Talks CG

In chatting with Comic Natalie, Onomoto discussed his initial anxiety about opening Studio Orange, "At that time, the demand for CG in the anime industry was growing as a way to fill in the gaps that were difficult to handle with traditional animation. The situation was so unstable that I honestly wasn't sure if a CG-only production company could continue to generate profits."

Eiji then talked about how Land of The Lustrous became a changing point for Stuido Orange, "As the main contractor, more people became aware of Orange. This project is still considered one of our flagship works". From a creator's perspective, it was a significant milestone in making CG more accepted by anime fans. Previously, we had positive feedback with robots, but 'Land of the Lustrous' showed that CG characters could be embraced. Since then, we've continually improved our quality and varied our expressions, all based on the foundation laid by 'Land of the Lustrous.'"

Studio Orange's future at the moment looks bright. With the final season of Beastars set to begin this year on Netflix, Trigun Stampede is prepping to release its final episodes, though the latter's release window remains a mystery.

Want to keep up to date on CG animation's future in the anime world? Follow along with Team Anime on ComicBook for all the latest updates on Studio Orange and the style of the medium.

Via Comic Natalie

]]>
Pokemon Legends: Z-A Report Sheds Light on Release Date https://comicbook.com/gaming/news/pokemon-legends-z-a-release-date-report/ Thu, 16 May 2024 14:34:00 +0000 Tyler Fischer 3ab6d512-a07f-4313-beee-3032f05c6e9b

Pokemon Legends: Z-A was announced back in February by The Pokemon Company, Game Freak, and Nintendo. Since then, there's been no updates on it, at least from official sources. This hasn't changed, but we do have some new intel from an unofficial source. The source in question has proven reliable in the past though. More specifically, the intel comes from Riddler Khu, a very prominent Pokemon leaker with a long track record of leaks.

Unfortunately, the leaker doesn't have much to say about the upcoming Pokemon game. What they do have is bad news for any hoping to play it soon. According to the leaker, not only is a 2024 release not on the table, but Nintendo fans shouldn't count on playing it in early 2025 either. The leaker doesn't rule out a release sometime later in 2025, but if it does release in 2025, it will be during a different window than its predecessor, which came out in January.

If the game isn't going to release until much deeper into 2025, or possibly even later, then it is quite possible this will turn into a Nintendo Switch 2 game, or at least a cross-gen release. There is no official word when the next Nintendo console will release, but the expectation is it will be out in 2025.

All of that said, right now all we have are rumors and speculation. In other words, remember to take everything here with a grain of salt. Further, even if everything here is accurate, it doesn't mean it will remain accurate over time. Everything is always subject to change, and plans in game development change all the time.

At the moment of publishing, none of the implicated parties have commented on any of this. If this changes, we will be sure to update the story accordingly.

For more Pokemon coverage -- including all of the latest Pokemon news, all of the latest Pokemon rumors and leaks, and all of the latest Pokemon deals -- click here. Meanwhile, and as always, feel free to leave a comment letting us know what you think.

]]>
My Hero Academia Season 7 Episode 3 Preview Released: Watch https://comicbook.com/anime/news/my-hero-academia-season-7-episode-3-preview-watch/ Thu, 16 May 2024 14:33:00 +0000 Evan Valentine 4ff868ce-8070-4aa9-b4b1-cd57c7415e32

The final battle is nigh as My Hero Academia is focusing on the calm before the storm in its next episode. Thanks to Star And Stripe buying Class 1-A the time they need to work on their Quirks, season seven has released a new preview showing off Deku and his fellow students in training mode. On the flip side, Shigaraki and All For One are doing some prepping of their own as the former is attempting to rebuild his body for the challenges ahead.

My Hero Academia's seventh season started with a bang, as America's number one hero found herself trying to take down Shigaraki. Despite having an all-powerful Quirk in "New Order", Kathleen Bate found herself unable to survive her encounter with the latest wielder of All For One as the young villain was able to deliver a touch that would decay Star And Stripe. Luckily, Kathleen had one final gambit before her Quirk was absorbed by Shigaraki and used for evil, placing a rule on the power that would destroy all other Quirks it shared a body with. Unfortunately for the heroes, the young villain was able to survive thanks to passing off New Order to an unsuspecting criminal, but it has bought the young heroes some much-needed time.

My Hero Academia Season Seven Episode 3 Preview

One week isn't a lot of time, but Deku and the rest of Class 1-A are adamant about being as prepared as possible for the last battle against All For One and his forces. As manga fans have witnessed in the printed story, each of the heroes will get their own moment to shine in the final arc's battle. With the likes of Dabi, Toga, Spinner, and more still trying to create a world that favors the strong, defeating the League of VIllains isn't going to be easy.

My Hero Academia's manga, without going too deep into spoiler territory, is about to end its final battle against the villains. While creator Kohei Horikoshi hasn't stated how many chapters the series has left, it's clear that the mangaka is looking to end things with a bang.

Want to keep up to date with My Hero Academia's final act? Follow along with Team Anime on ComicBook for all the latest updates on UA Academy and hit me up directly @EVComedy to talk all things comics, anime, and Class 1-A.

]]>
Netflix's Ultraman: Rising Trailer Released https://comicbook.com/anime/news/ultraman-rising-netflix-trailer/ Thu, 16 May 2024 14:33:00 +0000 Nick Valdez ea51ccb0-6dc7-44dd-9c42-1b7c4a9da945

Ultraman: Rising will be introducing fans to a whole new take on Ultraman when it debuts with Netflix later this Summer, and now the first full trailer for the new animated movie has been released! Tsuburaya Productions has been increasing Ultraman's notoriety around the world in the last few years with several new projects that have brought the classic Tokusatsu hero to the forefront in many new ways. Ultraman: Rising is likely going to be the biggest of these efforts, however, as Tsuburaya Productions has teamed up with Netflix and Industrial Light & Magic for a new and fully animated take on the Tokusatsu icon.

Reimagining the Ultraman franchise with a brand new story, characters, and more, Ultraman: Rising will be finally releasing with Netflix next month. The first full trailer for the animated film finally also gives fans the first real look at not only the hero in motion, but also the main core of the story that seems to be a much different take than fans of the classic series might be used to seeing. To celebrate the upcoming release of the new animated film (and its upcoming screening during the Annecy International Animation Festival), you can check out the newest trailer for Ultraman: Rising in the video above.

ultraman-rising-netflix-animated-movie.jpg
(Photo: Netflix)

What Is Ultraman: Rising?

Directed by Shannon Tindle, co-directed by John Aoshima, written by Tindle and Marc Haimes for Tsuburaya Productions and Industrial Light and Magic, Ultraman: Rising will be releasing on Netflix around the world on June 14th. The voice cast for the film includes the likes of Christopher Sean (You, Hawaii Five-O), Gedde Watanabe (Sixteen Candles, Parental Guidance), Tamlyn Tomita (The Good Doctor, Cobra Kai, Avatar: The Last Airbender) Keone Young (Crank, Men in Black 3, Star Wars Rebels), Julia Harriman, and more.

As for what to expect from this new take on the long running Tokusatsu franchise, Netflix teases what to expect from Ultraman: Rising as such, "Baseball superstar Ken Sato returns to his home country of Japan to pick up the mantle of Earth-defending superhero Ultraman, but quickly finds more than he bargained for when he's forced to raise the offspring of his greatest foe, a newborn Kaiju. Struggling to balance the roles of teammate and new father, Ken must confront his own ego, his estranged father, and the conniving Kaiju Defense Force to rise up and discover what it truly means to be Ultraman."

]]>
Delicious in Dungeon Cosplay Gets Wacky With Marcille https://comicbook.com/anime/news/delicious-in-dungeon-marcille-anime-cosplay/ Thu, 16 May 2024 00:42:00 +0000 Nick Valdez 57fb4c4f-f783-40ec-9e58-9933ed252bf2

Delicious in Dungeon has been one of the biggest anime releases of the year, and now one awesome cosplay has gone viral with fans for showcasing just how wacky Marcille can be! The anime adaptation taking on Ryoko Kui's original manga series has been a hit with fans ever since it debuted earlier this year, and Delicious in Dungeon fans have been loving watching Laios and the rest of his party taking on monsters and eating different kinds of foods with them all along the way. But it's been a rather tough journey for the mage of the party, Marcille.

Marcille wasn't very open to the idea of eating monsters within the dungeon, but ultimately accepted the idea as Laios and the others needed to quickly head through the dungeon in order to rescue Falin. Delicious in Dungeon has really put Marcille through the wringer with all of the episodes seen thus far, and that was long before the more intense side of it all kicked in with the second half. Artist kitaro_cos on Instagram has tapped into Marcille's wacky shenanigans with a fun Delicious in Dungeon cosplay that's gone viral with fans for a reason! Check it out:

How to Watch Delicious in Dungeon

If you wanted to catch up with Delicious in Dungeon as it nears the end of the first season, you can find it now streaming with Netflix. They tease the anime as such, "Delicious in Dungeon. That is, 'to eat', or 'to be eaten' --- Within the depths of the dungeon, his younger sister was eaten by a Red Dragon - and adventurer Laios barely made it back to the surface with his life. He attempts the dungeon again, but money and food are deep within its bowels... Faced with the critical situation where his sister may be digested at any moment, Laios decides: 'Food shall be self-providing from within the dungeon!' Slimes, basilisks, mimics and even dragons! While eating those that attack you, aim to traverse the dungeons, adventurer!"

Delicious in Dungeon has been such a massive hit with Netflix since it kicked off its run earlier this year, but it has yet to be announced if there are any plans in place to continue the anime with a second season. But with the first season coming to an end in the next few weeks, it won't be too much longer before Delicious in Dungeon ends and we see what kind of potential future there is on deck for the anime.

]]>
My Hero Academia: All Might Honors His 'Greatest Hero' With an Emotional Cliffhanger https://comicbook.com/anime/news/my-hero-academia-all-might-deku-hero-manga-cliffhanger/ Thu, 16 May 2024 00:01:00 +0000 Nick Valdez f89e4496-4cb2-4abe-af3a-68575fca6e35

My Hero Academia is inching closer than ever to the grand finale of the manga overall, and the final moments of the newest chapter of the series sees All Might honor Izuku Midoriya as his greatest hero with an emotional revelation! My Hero Academia has pushed Deku to the brink in the final fight of the series as after taking some massive damage from Tomura Shigaraki's decay, it was revealed that Deku's plan to reach out to Shigaraki's mind only led to All For One taking advantage of the situation to claim full control over Shigaraki's body.

My Hero Academia has then since seen Deku without any quirks continuing the fight regardless. Deku jumped right back into the fray as each of the members of Class 1-A got to the battlefield to support him, and the newest chapter of the series sees them actually clear the way with All For One's attacks so that Deku could deliver that final blow. With everyone supporting him and Deku being able to unleash one final attack on All For One, it's here that All Might emotionally reveals how much of an impact Deku really has had on him through their time together.

my-hero-academia-all-might-deku-hero-manga-cliffhanger.jpg
(Photo: Shueisha)

My Hero Academia: All Might's True Connection to Deku

My Hero Academia Chapter 422 sees the heroes rallying around Deku to clear the path to All For One, and the villain notices that what makes Deku stand out from All Might is in fact that weakness. It was something All Might was missing as the other heroes have thus rose in support of Deku. All Might himself notices that after seeing Deku charge in completely powerless when they first met, it's spurred himself into action as well. And to All Might, ever since that day he's heard everyone calling out to Deku in support.

All Might even says that ever since that first day, Deku has been his greatest hero. It's not Deku that was inspired by All Might, it was actually All Might that was inspired by Deku. Watching Deku fight is inspiring the rest of the world, and they all call out to Deku as he delivers a major blow to All For One. It's yet to be revealed if this attack will be successful as Deku uses the final embers of One For All to do so, but this is clearly the beginning of the end either way as so many of these journeys come full circle.

You can find the newest chapters of My Hero Academia manga for free with Viz Media's digital Shonen Jump library or Shueisha's MangaPlus service.

]]>
The Simpsons Won't End Anytime Soon, Says Showrunner https://comicbook.com/anime/news/the-simpsons-episodes-future/ Wed, 15 May 2024 23:34:00 +0000 Nick Valdez ba52d66d-39e6-4ac3-beb7-8dced996b1ff

The Simpsons is fast approaching the end of its milestone Season 35 of the long running animated sitcom, and the current co-showrunner behind it all thinks the future is so bright behind it all that the end of it wont be coming anytime soon. The Simpsons will be wrapping Season 35 within a few days with its final episode airing this Spring, but has already been renewed for Season 36 of the animated series coming next year. With the next season of the series eventually crossing the 800 episode milestone, it seems there's no potential end of sight for those behind it all.

The Simpsons co-showrunner Al Jean recently spoke to ScreenRant about the future of the series to help celebrate the release of The Simpsons' May the 12th Be With You special on Disney+, and revealed that with The Simpsons Season 36 bringing the series to its 800 episode milestone, there's still a bright future ahead of the long running sitcom. In fact, Jean revealed that he hopes to see The Simpsons actually reach 1,000 episodes someday. At its current rate, that's totally possible within the next few years.

the-simpsons-season-35-fox.jpg
(Photo: 20th Television Animation)

Will The Simpsons Ever End?

"With the help of our animators, we had a full slate of shows this year, which looked terrific," Jean stated. "We did have to just take a break for four months because of the strike, which I'm glad we did, that was what we should have done. But I think the show is in fantastic shape. I'm biased, but I think that the current episodes are, whether I work on one, a lot or not, are great. And I think that the future is bright, it's gonna go to 800, and I hope 1000."

It's yet to be revealed if FOX plans to continue The Simpsons beyond its currently renewed Season 36 in 2025, but Fox CEO Rob Wade recently spoke with Deadline to note that the franchise continues to have an important place in their broadcast schedule. " think we have enough schedule, enough time to fit them all in," Wade stated. "The schedule has obviously been disrupted slightly in the last year because of the strikes, so that made things a little bit patchier but we love those shows, we have a great relationship with the creatives from those shows and we have a great relationship with Hulu and Disney."

If you wanted to check out The Simpsons Season 35, you can watch the episodes now on Hulu and the previous 34 seasons with Disney+.

via ScreenRant

]]>
Terminator Zero Anime Won't Feature the Connors https://comicbook.com/anime/news/terminator-zero-netflix-anime-john-connor/ Wed, 15 May 2024 23:02:00 +0000 Nick Valdez 91b986d0-b4d8-4852-a849-2de9e6e2303a

Terminator Zero is a brand new anime series now in the works for Netflix, and the showrunner and executive producer behind it all has revealed that this new The Terminator story won't feature franchise mainstays John or Sarah Connor! The Terminator first announced that new anime series was in the works some time ago, but thankfully the wait for this new take on the franchise will soon be over. Officially titled as Terminator Zero, this new anime will feature a story with a brand new setting following a brand new set of characters. Which means it will largely be avoiding the Connor saga.

Speaking with Entertainment Weekly about the new anime series, Terminator Zero showrunner and executive producer Mattson Tomlin explained that while there will be ties to the original Terminator films and those films still exist within the same canon as the anime, Terminator Zero itself will be focusing its new characters. Going as far as to note that John Connor will not appear in the new anime, Tomlin explained that it was due to wanting to explore new characters and not "burden" himself with another entry in the Connor story.

terminator-zero-netflix-anime-john-connor.jpg
(Photo: Netflix)

Netflix's Terminator Anime Won't Feature the Connors

"I think that it's time to go into new characters and not burden myself with another John and Sarah Connor saga. There's been a run at that a couple of different times," Tomlin began. "There are a lot of callbacks to the other films," adding before explaining further, "Fans who really know the movies are going to be doing the Leo meme from Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, but it's not going to be as direct as John Connor walks in, because John Connor does not walk in."

And as Tomlin explained, new characters allowed for more freedom for discovery. "These are all original characters. We don't know who anybody is. All of those answers are going to absolutely be revealed -- and they'll be revealed pretty quickly." Thankfully, it won't be too long until we see more as Terminator Zero will be releasing with Netflix on August 29th. As for what to expect from the series, Netflix teases Terminator Zero as such:

"2022: A future war has raged for decades between the few human survivors and an endless army of machines. 1997: The AI known as Skynet gained self-awareness and began its war against humanity. Caught between the future and this past is a soldier sent back in time to change the fate of humanity. She arrives in 1997 to protect a scientist named Malcolm Lee who works to launch a new AI system designed to compete with Skynet's impending attack on humanity. As Malcolm navigates the moral complexities of his creation, he is hunted by an unrelenting assassin from the future which forever alters the fate of his three children."

via EW

]]>
Netflix's One Piece: Mackenyu Reveals Which Arc Stands as His Favorite https://comicbook.com/anime/news/one-piece-netflix-mackenyu-favorite-arc/ Wed, 15 May 2024 22:31:00 +0000 Nick Valdez 9c65c13f-8838-4eb1-8dc1-4ebc36fc3977

One Piece is now in the works on Season 2 of the live-action series for Netflix in the future, and the star behind Roronoa Zoro has opened up about his favorite arc in the series overall! One Piece broke a live-action adaptation trend with Netflix as fans of the anime and manga positively received the new take on Eiichiro Oda's long running manga series so well that there was a massive demand for more episodes. Luckily it was quickly announced that the live-action series would be continuing with a second season that will be releasing with the streaming service in the near future.

A major reason why fans took to Netflix's One Piece live-action series so well was the cast at the center of it all as each of the Straw Hats. Mackenyu made his debut as the live-action take on Zoro, and fans can't wait to see what he'll get into with future seasons. With so much from the original One Piece to draw from, it's no surprise to find out that Mackenyu has favorite moments of his own as well. Speaking during Comic Con Brussels (as spotted by @Harulixie on X), Mackenyu revealed his favorite arc of the series is actually Dressrosa and he hopes the live-action series will get to that point.

one-piece-netflix-season-2-roronoa-zoro-mackenyu.jpg
(Photo: Netflix)

What Is Netflix's One Piece?

One Piece has yet to reveal a release date or window for Season 2 with Netflix as of the time of this writing, but it's the perfect time to go back and check out the eight episode first season of the live-action adaptation. Taking on the East Blue saga of Eiichiro Oda's original manga, Netflix teases what to expect from One Piece as such:

"Based on Japan's highest-selling manga series in history by Eiichiro Oda, ONE PIECE is a legendary high-seas adventure unlike any other. Monkey D. Luffy is a young adventurer who has longed for a life of freedom since he can remember. Luffy sets off from his small village on a perilous journey to find the legendary fabled treasure, ONE PIECE, to become King of the Pirates! But in order to find the ultimate prize, Luffy will need to assemble the crew he's always wanted before finding a ship to sail, searching every inch of the vast blue seas, outpacing the Marines, and outwitting dangerous rivals at every turn."

]]>
Rick and Morty: The Anime Shares First Story Details https://comicbook.com/anime/news/rick-and-morty-anime-story-synopsis-adult-swim/ Wed, 15 May 2024 22:05:00 +0000 Nick Valdez 50741807-4639-48db-8e9b-ca9c6f0fb6cd

Rick and Morty is coming our way with a new spin-off anime later this year, and Warner Bros. Discovery has revealed the first concrete story details about what to expect! Rick and Morty Season 8 might not be hitting Adult Swim until some time in 2025, but thankfully we'll still be getting a new entry of the franchise with a new anime focused side of the multiverse. Rick and Morty: The Anime is now in the works for a release with Adult Swim and Max later this year, and fans have been especially curious to see what could be coming our way in this new take on the animated favorite.

During Warner Bros. Discovery's upfront presentation revealing their new slate of projects, they shared a press release offering a new update on the Rick and Morty anime. It's here that we got the first story synopsis that reads as such, "In Rick and Morty: The Anime, a new series from the world of "Rick and Morty," Rick relaxes in a pseudo-world between multiverses, Summer helps Space Beth fight the evil Galactic Federation, and Morty falls in love with a mysterious girl who happens to be an atemporal being."

rick-and-morty-anime-adult-swim.jpg
(Photo: Adult Swim)

What to Know for Rick and Morty's New Anime

Rick and Morty: The Anime will be written and directed by Takashi Sano (who previously directed the "Rick and Morty vs. Genocider" and "Summer Meets God (Rick Meets Evil)" anime shorts) for Telecom Animation Film. Releasing some time later this year (with its actual release date yet to be announced as of the time of this publication) with Adult Swim and Max, it will be a ten episode long series produced by Sola Entertainment with Maki Nagano, Max Nishi, and Takenari Maeda serving as producers. Yu Kiyozono will serve as the animation producer, Yuuki Kakizoe as the assistant producer, Jason DeMarco and Joseph Chou as executive producers, Arisa Matsuzawa as art director, and Makiko Kojima as color designer.

Rick and Morty: The Anime will also feature Sou Ki as CGI director, Kaori Kobayashi as special effects supervisor, Tatsuo Noguchi as composite director, Yoshihiro Kasahara as editor, Koichi Iizuka as sound director, and Tetsuya Takahashi is composing the music at Terra-Musica. Rick and Morty: The Anime will feature Japanese language audio and English subtitles during its broadcast, but the voice cast has yet to be confirmed as of the time of this publication.

]]>
South Park: The End of Obesity Release Date Announced With Trailer, Poster https://comicbook.com/anime/news/south-park-the-end-of-obesity-release-date-trailer-poster/ Wed, 15 May 2024 21:28:00 +0000 Nick Valdez f95aa5be-047a-4b21-809c-34c421449b5a

South Park is coming back with its seventh major special with Paramount+, and South Park: The End of Obesity has set its release date with a first trailer and poster! South Park recently wrapped up Season 26 of the long running adult animated series last year, but the franchise has been continuing with new special episodes in development with Paramount+. With the first six specials already a hit for Paramount+ already, the next major special is already on the way later this month. Much like the last one that went a little raunchy with OnlyFans and PRIME drinks, this next special will be taking on a very topical subject dominating the headlines.

South Park: The End of Obesity will be premiering on May 24th with Paramount+ in the United States and Canada, and May 25th in Australia, Latin America, Brazil, France, Italy, Germany, Switzerland and Austria. With Ozempic and other weight loss drugs have been becoming such a hot topic in the last few months, it was no surprise to find that South Park would be taking on this topic in a way only they can. You can check out the first trailer for South Park: The End of Obesity in the video above, and first poster for the new special below.

south-park-the-end-of-obesity-paramount-plus-poster.jpg
(Photo: Paramount+)

What Is South Park: The End of Obesity?

As for what to expect from South Park: The End of Obesity, Paramount+ teases what to expect from the new special as such, "The advent of new weight loss drugs has a huge impact on everyone in South Park. When Cartman is denied access to the life-changing medicine, the kids jump into action."

If you wanted to see more of these exclusive South Park specials released in between each of the newest seasons, you can find South Park Post COVID, Post COVID: The Return of COVID, South Park: The Streaming Wars Parts 1 and 2, South Park: Joining the Panderverse, and South Park (Not Suitable for Children) now streaming with Paramount+.

You can also check out the special concert for the series' 25th Anniversary there as well if you still want to check out more of it in action. If you wanted to catch up with the original South Park series up to this point to get ready for what to expect from the new season next, you can now find the 26 season series now streaming with Max.

]]>
Squid Game Star Shares Season 2 Release Date Update https://comicbook.com/anime/news/squid-game-season-2-netflix-release-date-update/ Wed, 15 May 2024 20:58:00 +0000 Nick Valdez 8e3af418-f90d-4a24-89c9-0e9f1e0bacec

Squid Game Season 2 is now in the works for some time later this year, and according to the leading star behind the new episodes we'll be seeing Season 2 later this year! Hwang Dong-hyuk's Squid Game released around the world on the streaming service some time ago and quickly took over the world due to its dark new perspective, so it was no surprise to find out that Netflix wanted to keep the franchise with a second season. In the works ever since, Squid Game Season 2 has been slated to release some time later this year.

But while a proper release date has yet to be announced as of the time of this publication, it seems like Squid Game Season 2 will be releasing with Netflix this December. Speaking to Business Insider about his role in the upcoming season, Seong Gi-Hun actor Lee Jung-jae did not reveal any concrete details about what to expect from the upcoming story seen in the new episodes. But through an interpreter did reveal that the new episodes are indeed hitting at the end of the year, "It will be released in December."

squid-game-season-2-netflix.jpg
(Photo: Netflix)

What to Know for Squid Game Season 2

Netflix has yet to confirm a release date or window for Squid Game Season 2, so it's yet to be revealed if it will be released in December for sure. Original creator Hwang Dong-hyuk is confirmed to be returning as director and executive producer. Confirmed stars returning for the new season include Lee Jung-jae (as Seong Gi-Hun), Lee Byung-Hun (as Front Man), Wi Ha-jun (as Hwang Jun-Ho), and Gong Yoo (as the currently unnamed recruiter for the games). New additions to the cast for the upcoming season are Yim Si-Wan, Kang Ha-Neul, Park Sung-Hoon, Yang Dong-Geun, Park Gyu-young, Jo Yu-ri, Kang Ae-sim, Lee David, Lee Jin-uk, Choi Seung-hyun, Roh Jae-won, and Won Ji-an in currently unconfirmed roles.

It's yet to be revealed what kind of stories we could expect to see from Squid Game Season 2, but now is the perfect time to catch up with the nine episode first season now streaming with Netflix. They tease the series as such, "Hundreds of cash-strapped players accept a strange invitation to compete in children's games. Inside, a tempting prize awaits - with deadly high stakes." Squid Game: The Challenge is also now streaming with Netflix as well with Season 2 in the works.

via Business Insider

]]>
Terminator Zero's Showrunner Teases Horror Angle to Anime https://comicbook.com/anime/news/terminator-zero-showrunner-horror-anime/ Wed, 15 May 2024 20:46:00 +0000 Evan Valentine caa89365-8b58-433e-9504-6e7934f16140

Terminator Zero will be the first anime adaptation that focuses on the world of Skynet and humanity's desperate, time-traveling war to stay alive in the face of a machine rebellion. While the Terminator franchise has become synonymous with action, as Terminator 2: Judgement Day remains a safe pick for "greatest action movie of all time", the initial theatrical offering could be downright scary at times. In a new interview, the showrunner for Netflix's upcoming Terminator anime series broke down how they are hoping to play on the scarier side of Skynet.

The first Terminator film, released in 1984, introduced viewers to the world of Sarah Connor and her struggle to survive against the unstoppable T-100. Aside from transforming the series into more of an action series than a horror one, Judgement Day also flipped the script when it came to Arnold Schwarzenegger leaping from villain to hero. There's an argument to be made that the first movie still can be categorized as an action film, though there are more than a few scary elements that push it well into the horror genre.

imageedit-5-3478680988.jpg
(Photo: Netflix & Blumhouse)

Terminator Zero Will Be Scary

In speaking with showrunner Matson Tomlin, Entertainment Weekly got an answer as to how Terminator Zero is looking to play up to the original feel of the franchise, "There's a completely valid version of the Terminator franchise where the Terminator is synonymous with Jason [Voorhees] and Freddy [Krueger], where he is this unrelenting serial killer. There's a little bit of Friday the 13th in here. There's a little bit of Michael Myers [from Halloween] in here."

If this is your first time hearing about the first anime of the Terminator franchise, here's how Netflix describes the upcoming series, "2022: A future war has raged for decades between the few human survivors and an endless army of machines. 1997: The AI known as Skynet gained self-awareness and began its war against humanity. Caught between the future and this past is a soldier sent back in time to change the fate of humanity. She arrives in 1997 to protect a scientist named Malcolm Lee who works to launch a new AI system designed to compete with Skynet's impending attack on humanity. As Malcolm navigates the moral complexities of his creation, he is hunted by an unrelenting assassin from the future which forever alters the fate of his three children."

Via Entertainment Weekly

]]>
Jujutsu Kaisen Cosplay Creates The Ultimate Couple With Toji And Worm https://comicbook.com/anime/news/jujutsu-kaisen-cosplay-creates-the-ultimate-couple-with-toji-and-worm/ Wed, 15 May 2024 20:25:00 +0000 Evan Valentine 53bccce5-8939-4245-b9f7-9359e006416f

Jujutsu Kaisen's second season was one of the biggest storylines in the medium in 2023. Examining the past and present of Jujutsu Tech, both the Hidden Inventory Arc and the Shibuya Incident Arc had one big villain in common in Toji Fushiguro. While not having major supernatural powers at his beck and call, Megumi's father assembled quite a few supernatural weapons to make up for his supernatural deficit. Now, a cosplaying couple has created cosplay that hilariously resurrects Toji and one of his most well-known weapons.

During the Hidden Inventory Arc, Toji was a force to be reckoned with. Looking to eliminate the Star Plasma Vessel, Megumi's father was successful in his task, managing to do the impossible in nearly killing Satoru Gojo. Thanks to Riko's death, Jujutsu Tech nearly lost both Gojo and Geto as the two found themselves almost leaving the university to start a war, but the seed was sown for one of the two students. Geto would go on to be the "big bad" of the Shibuya Incident Arc but Toji would find a way to return, even after Gojo had killed him earlier in the second season.

Toji x Worm: Anime Couple of The 2023

Toji's "worm" was one of the most useful tools in the villain's arsenal, allowing Megumi's father to draw a plethora of artillery whenever the need arose. So popular did the supernatural worm become, that companies would create life-like recreations of Toji's "beloved" reciprocal. Now that Toji is deceased once again, it seems unlikely that his trusty pal will be making a return to the supernatural shonen series.

My boyfriend and I as Toji and the worm (from JJK)
by u/slutty-chicken in cosplay

Without diving into spoiler territory, the final battle of Jujutsu Kaisen's manga is seemingly underway, as creator Gege Akutami has stated that the end is on the horizon more than once in the past. At the center of the earth-shattering confrontation is Megumi, but not in a way that many had seen coming as Yuji and his remaining allies try to figure out the best way to save the world and their friend.

Want to see what happens in the final battle of Jujutsu Tech's sorcerers? Follow along with Team Anime on ComicBook for all the latest updates on the supernatural shonen and hit me up directly @EVComedy to talk all things comics, anime, and the world of Yuji Itadori.

]]>
Viral One Piece Theory Suggests Its Fabled Treasure Is Very Meta https://comicbook.com/anime/news/one-piece-viral-theory-the-one-piece-treasure-meta/ Wed, 15 May 2024 18:51:00 +0000 Evan Valentine 2b8465d4-2c45-4a06-8a36-2857b300cff4

One of the biggest mysteries of One Piece remains just that, a mystery. The One Piece treasure that was promoted by Gol D. Roger before his demise has yet to be discovered by Luffy and the Straw Hat Pirates, though the final saga has seen quite a few pirates making it their number one goal to find it. Now, a new theory is making the rounds online that hints at the idea of just what the One Piece treasure, and how it might be far more "meta" than many would think.

One of the biggest hints as to what the One Piece treasure could be was during the Wano Arc, in which a flashback scene saw Kozuki Oden joining Roger's crew. While the treasure itself wasn't revealed, anime fans had the opportunity to see Gol D. Roger's reaction to finding the highly sought-after item/s. Doing nothing but laugh in the face of the One Piece, the secret island that houses the treasure was dubbed the "Laugh Tale" as a result. Unfortunately, Roger did not reveal just what the treasure was before dying while in the World Government's captivity, meaning that it's up to Luffy and company to figure out what the bounty is.

Is The One Piece Treasure a Comic Book?

One Piece's latest manga chapter saw Dr. Vegapunk breaking down the "Void Century" from beyond the grave, as the Five Elders tried their hardest to make sure that his message didn't hit the ears of the Grand Line's denizens. As one fan theory claims, it might be possible that the One Piece is simply a story, which would explain why Gol D. Roger could do nothing but laugh once he saw it. It will be interesting to see whether the treasure is able to make Luffy the king of the pirates or if he will need to take another route to win the crown.

Both the anime adaptation and manga are in the throes of the shonen franchise's final saga, though this doesn't mean the story is set to end any time soon. As One Piece fans know, arcs could often last for years before reaching their conclusion, which is sure to be the case for the storyline that will end the Straw Hat Pirates' long journey.

Want to learn what the One Piece treasure is? Follow along with Team Anime on ComicBook for all the latest updates on the Straw Hat Pirates.

]]>
Dragon Ball: Goku Takes on Gohan in 'Beyond Super Saiyan' Short https://comicbook.com/anime/news/dragon-ball-goku-vs-gohan-fan-film-watch/ Wed, 15 May 2024 18:04:00 +0000 Evan Valentine 022cf23c-bc9e-462a-8fa9-25ce98b5c811

One of the final big moments of Dragon Ball Super's manga saw Goku and Gohan having a "friendly" spar before the shonen series was placed on an indefinite hiatus. As the future of the manga is unclear following the demise of creator Akira Toriyama, fan animators are taking the opportunity to create new battles that never took place in the main continuity. Revisiting the days of the Majin Buu Saga in Dragon Ball Z, a new video imagines what might have happened had the father and son fought far earlier than in Dragon Ball Super.

Ultimately, while we did witness Goku and Gohan spar in their ultimate forms, we didn't receive a concrete answer as to which transformation was the strongest between Ultra Instinct and Gohan Beast. We might not have received a definitive answer, but the sparring match did show that Gohan has come a long way in bridging the gap between himself and his father, as it seems that his ultimate form might just be more powerful than Ultra Instinct. Not only did Gohan take on his dear old dad, but the latest manga chapter also saw the star of Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero take on both Ultra Ego Vegeta and Broly.

What if Gohan and Goku Fought During Dragon Ball Z?

Titled "Goku Vs. Gohan!! Beyond The Super Saiyan", the fan animation imagines what might have happened had the members of the Son clan fought against one another during the World Tournament of the Buu Saga. At this point in the shonen franchise, neither Goku nor Gohan had access to their Ultra Instinct and Beast forms, but rather both had access to Super Saiyan 2. While Goku could transform into a Super Saiyan 3, that transformation doesn't get a chance to shine in this fan animation.

The latest Dragon Ball Super manga chapter felt like a good ending point for the series, though there remains one major loose thread that needs to be addressed. Frieza returned to the series after some time away during the Granolah The Survivor Arc, discovering a Hyperbolic Time Chamber that warranted the alien despot a new transformation in "Black Frieza". Should the manga return, Frieza is sure to be a problem that will need to be dealt with by the Z-Fighters.

Want to stay updates on the Z-Fighters and their battles? Follow along with Team Anime on ComicBook for all the latest on the world of Dragon Ball and hit me up directly @EVComedy to talk all things comics and anime.

]]>
Smiling Friends Season 2 Episode 3 Releases New Preview https://comicbook.com/anime/news/smiling-friends-season-2-episode-3-adult-swim/ Wed, 15 May 2024 17:24:00 +0000 Evan Valentine 52985a06-76bd-497a-8ff6-78db270b01d6

The Smiling Friends' second season has only gotten stranger as Charlie and Pim continue to try to make people smile in the world. In the third episode of the series, it appears that one of the lesser-seen members of the Boss' crew will be getting the spotlight. Allan doesn't normally set out with Pim and Charlie, but this time around, it looks like the animated character will be heading out on his own to make sure that their office is fit to bursting with paper clips.

The Smiling Friends had quite the way of promoting the second season earlier this year as a part of Adult Swim's April Fool's Day extravaganza. While the Adult Swim block shared the premiere of season two that saw a washed-up video game character seeking redemption via Pim and Charlie's help, Cartoon Network took things up a notch. Recreating several first season episodes using puppets and some ingenious direction, The Smiling Friends retains its place as one of the most surreal and hilarious entries for Adult Swim.

The Smiling Friends: Allan's Search For Paper Clips

Smiling Friends is currently streaming on MAX, if you are looking to play catch up on the first two seasons of the Adult Swim animated series. The series continues to air on Sundays at midnight on Adult Swim if you want to watch the surreal series as it airs. While a third season has yet to be confirmed, the series remains a fan-favorite so it would be a safe bet that the series will continue for quite some time on Cartoon Network.

If you haven't had the chance to check out the first two episodes of The Smiling Friends and want a hint at what's in store for the surreal animated cast, Adult Swim has released the following description for the second season, "In season two of 'SMILING FRIENDS,' Pim, Charlie, Zongo, Allan and Glep continue their mission to bring happiness to the world, whether it's a washed-up retro video game character, a troubled marriage, or even the president of the United States."

Want to stay up to date on the latest updates on the world of the Smiling Friends? Follow along with Team Anime on ComicBook for all the latest on updates on Adult Swim and hit me up directly @EVComedy to talk all things comics, anime, and the world of Cartoon Network.

]]>
Demon Slayer Season 4 Premiere Upturns the Infinity Castle https://comicbook.com/anime/news/demon-slayer-season-4-premiere-infinity-castle-tease/ Wed, 15 May 2024 16:57:00 +0000 Evan Valentine 4b0f61e1-fe02-4fbd-808c-9974385ba112

Demon Slayer's fourth season premiered with a packed episode, mostly focusing on Tanjiro and company licking their wounds following the devastating events in the Swordsmith Village. As the young swordsmen prepare to train with the strongest members of the Demon Slayer Corps, the Hashira, the premiere gave anime fans a brief look at what is to come. In an original scene for the anime, the Wind and Snake Hashiras were attempting to strike down some demons, only to get an introduction to a highly anticipated locale in the "Infinity Castle".

If you are wondering what the Infinity Castle is, we'll do our best to explain without diving too deep into spoiler territory. The Infinity Castle is where the Demon Lord Muzan resides, surrounded by countless demons that want nothing more than to make their master's dreams come true. The ever-changing locale is an amazing one for Muzan as it prevents prospective attackers from processing their environment as they tangle with untold scores of demons. While we've seen hints of the interior of the Infinity Castle, the fourth season premiere gives anime viewers a closer look at just how disorienting the future battlefield will be for Tanjiro and his allies.

The Infinity Castle Awaits

As mentioned earlier, the scene of Obanai Iguro and Sanemi Shinazugawa, aka the Snake Hashira and the Wind Hashira, running after demons is an anime original. Unfortunately for the Hashira, they are unable to strike down some of the demons that they were looking to eliminate, but they did save an innocent girl from being eaten. Thanks to Ufotable's killer animation, viewers were able to get a better look at the ever-changing abode of the Demon Lord Muzan.

If you have yet to watch the first episode of the Hashira Training Arc, here's how Demon Slayer describes its season four premiere, "In the village of the swordsmith, the two Upper Rank demons were defeated thanks to the efforts of Tanjiro and the two Hashira. And the existence of Nezuko, who has conquered the sun, foreshadows a big battle with Muzan Kibutsuji. Meanwhile, the Hashira gathered at the Ubuyashiki residence and a Hashira meeting was held."

Do you want more updates on the Demon Slayer Corps? Follow along with Team Anime on ComicBook for all the latest updates on the world of Tanjiro, Inosuke, Zenitus, Nezuko, and their demon hunting allies.

]]>
Inside Out 2 Writer Addresses Rumors of Bing Bong's Return https://comicbook.com/movies/news/inside-out-2-writer-addresses-rumors-of-bing-bongs-return/ Wed, 15 May 2024 16:37:00 +0000 Russ Burlingame d09da9a8-a7b0-4da4-8a04-9ec1747a1f3a

In the latest issue of Empire magazine, Inside Out 2 co-screenwriter Dave Holstein steered clear of a question about Bing Bong (Richard Kind), Riley's imaginary friend from the first movie. The character had one of Pixar's most memorable "death" scenes when he sacrificed himself in the first Inside Out, but fans have been wondering if the sequel might somehow bring him back. After all, he's a figment of Riley's imagination, so unless she somehow forgot about him completely, it seems like he could somehow come back.

Fans have been examining the trailers and scenes from the movie to look for clues as to whether Bing Bong might come back, and some think they've found some things. Holstein didn't want to commit either way, and when he was asked about the idea of bringing back Bing Bong, he declined.

"I'll leave that open ended," Holstein said (per Hollywood Handle).

Obviously, that's a nothingburger of a comment -- but at the same time, it wouldn't be hard to openly deny that a character already known to be dead was showing up in the movie. That's bound to keep audiences talking for at least another week or two. Tickets are now on sale for the movie, which is set to hit theaters next month.

Here's the official synopsis for Inside Out 2: Disney and Pixar's Inside Out 2 returns to the mind of newly minted teenager Riley just as headquarters is undergoing a sudden demolition to make room for something entirely unexpected: new Emotions! Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear and Disgust, who've long been running a successful operation by all accounts, aren't sure how to feel when Anxiety shows up. And it looks like she's not alone.

Maya Hawke lends her voice to Anxiety, alongside Amy Poehler as the voice of Joy. The voice cast also includes Lewis Black, Phyllis Smith, Tony Hale, Liza Lapira, Ayo Edebiri, Ad?le Exarchopoulos, Paul Walter Hauser, Kensington Tallman, Lilimar, Diane Lane, Kyle MacLachlan, Sumayyah Nuriddin-Green, Grace Lu and Yvette Nicole Brown. Directed by Kelsey Mann and produced by Mark Nielsen with a screenplay by Meg LeFauve and Dave Holstein, Inside Out 2 features a score by Andrea Datzman.

Inside Out 2 is set to debut in theaters on June 14.

]]>
Terminator Zero Showrunner Reveals if The Anime is Tied to The Movies https://comicbook.com/anime/news/terminator-zero-anime-ties-to-the-movies-explained/ Wed, 15 May 2024 16:33:00 +0000 Evan Valentine 18ae7444-b50a-4f25-b9c3-eaf145f2660a

Terminator Zero recently released its release date along with a first look for the Netflix anime that will be the first of its kind for the Skynet-focused universe. Set to hit the streaming service this summer, T-100 fans might immediately wonder if the new anime series ties into the events that have taken place in the handful of movies that document the fight against the future. In a new interview, the showrunner of the series breaks down how the Production I.G. series will tie into the original universe, if at all.

If this is your first time hearing about the first anime of the Terminator franchise, here's how Netflix describes the upcoming series, "2022: A future war has raged for decades between the few human survivors and an endless army of machines. 1997: The AI known as Skynet gained self-awareness and began its war against humanity. Caught between the future and this past is a soldier sent back in time to change the fate of humanity. She arrives in 1997 to protect a scientist named Malcolm Lee who works to launch a new AI system designed to compete with Skynet's impending attack on humanity. As Malcolm navigates the moral complexities of his creation, he is hunted by an unrelenting assassin from the future which forever alters the fate of his three children."

imageedit-2-8619330153.jpg
(Photo: Production IG & Tri-Star)

Terminator Anime Vs. Terminator Films

Showrunner Mattson Tomlin broke down how the anime is looking to leave behind the Connor family and explore a new aspect of the universe that is still tied to the film series, "I think that it's time to go into new characters and not burden myself with another John and Sarah Connor saga. There's been a run at that a couple of different times. There are a lot of callbacks to the other films. Fans who really know the movies are going to be doing the Leo meme from Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, but it's not going to be as direct as John Connor walks in, because John Connor does not walk in."

In extrapolating on this point, Tomlin confirmed that they aren't planning on "ignoring" any of the films that arrived prior to the anime series, "We're not going to pretend that the third movie didn't happen. We're not going to pretend that the sixth movie didn't happen." Fans won't have to wait long to see how the anime plays homage to its movie universe, as Netflix plans to release all eight series episodes on August 29th.

Via Entertainment Weekly

]]>
Hideaki Anno Hints That More Evangelion is in The Works https://comicbook.com/anime/news/neon-genesis-evangelion-hideaki-anno-future-anime-tease/ Wed, 15 May 2024 16:14:00 +0000 Evan Valentine 0db6f851-d5c9-49eb-b917-fa2735efe6c5

Neon Genesis Evangelion recently ended its latest film series, Rebuild of Evangelion, by recreating the series and injecting some new story bits into the world of Shinji Ikari and NERV. As of the writing of this article, creator Hideaki Anno has yet to confirm if he will be returning to what is considered to be his anime masterpiece. In a new interview, Anno hints that the world of NERV isn't gone, though the legendary director might not be the one at the helm.

Hideaki Anno has earned some time off, having worked on both animated and live-action projects for decades. Most recently, Anno had helped continue the Shin Universe in Shin Kamen Rider, but doesn't have any solidified projects in his future. In a new interview with the outlet Asahi, Anno comments on how tired he is, "I've been releasing movies for three years in a row, and I'm completely exhausted. I think I'll be happy with directing for a while. I guess this is the end of my career in movies. For a while, I'll be working on 'Yamato' (a special project for the 50th anniversary of 'Space Battleship Yamato', which produces publications and events). I think it's a good idea to direct myself now. My schedule has been compressed due to the coronavirus pandemic. Because of that, I was physically and mentally exhausted from having to release new works. I'm not a very strong-willed person, so every time I release a work, I get cut down on it. There's hardly any left."

neon-genesis-evangelion.jpg
(Photo: Khara)

Is a New Evangelion Series Being Worked Now?

In the same interview, Anno hints at the idea that "there may be plans" for a new Evangelion anime project but didn't share the details of what this story would entail. Hideaki also stated that "someone other than [himself]" might be helming the project, and said the creator might have a high degree of freedom in revisiting the world of NERV.

Evangelion as a franchise has worked in terms of creating cerebral stories that can bend reality and take the original versions of NERV's story, reimagining them in brand new ways. Should a new anime adaptation be in the works, there is no telling what it could be.

Want to see if NERV makes an anime comeback in the future? Follow along with Team Anime on ComicBook for all the latest updates on the EVA pilots.

Via ANN

]]>
Dragon Ball GT Gets a Massive Wave of Funko Pops https://comicbook.com/anime/news/dragon-ball-gt-gets-a-massive-wave-of-funko-pops/ Wed, 15 May 2024 16:03:00 +0000 Sean Fallon 374a51bc-ff8e-4bd9-8042-9e7ec5155e00 513m64a7b7l-ac-cr0000-sx615-sy462-collage.jpg

Funko is launching a crazy amount of Funko Pops today, May 15th, and one of the biggest is this collection inspired by Dragon Ball GT that includes no less than 9 Pop figures and 4 Pop keychains. A full breakdown can be found below complete with pre-order links. Note that US shipping is free at Entertainment Earth on orders $79+.

Dragon Ball GT Funko Pop Exclusives:

Dragon Ball GT Funko Pop Commons: Pre-order at Entertainment Earth / Amazon

  • Dragon Ball GT Funko Pops - Bulla
  • Dragon Ball GT Funko Pops - Goku
  • Dragon Ball GT Funko Pops - Pan
  • Dragon Ball GT Funko Pops - Trunks & Gill
  • Dragon Ball GT Funko Pops - Vegeta

Dragon Ball GT Funko Pop Keychains: Pre-order at Entertainment Earth / Amazon

  • Dragon Ball GT Funko Pop Keychain - Bulla
  • Dragon Ball GT Funko Pop Keychain - Goku
  • Dragon Ball GT Funko Pop Keychain - Pan
  • Dragon Ball GT Funko Pop Keychain - Trunks

What's Next for Dragon Ball?

There will still be new Dragon Ball materials to enjoy later this year even with Dragon Ball Super's manga future left uncertain. Dragon Ball Daima will be a brand new anime series set to release some time later this Fall for the franchise's 40th anniversary. It has yet to confirm a concrete release date as of the time of this publication, but the late Dragon Ball creator Akira Toriyama helped to craft the original main story and character designs for Dragon Ball Daima. Yoshitaka Yashima and Aya Komaki are directing the series for Toei Animation, Katsuyoshi Nakatsuru is adapting Toriyama's designs for animation, and Yuuko Kakihara is supervising and writing the scripts.

Masako Nozawa will once again be providing the voice for Kid Goku, and she is currently the only confirmed member of Dragon Ball Daima's voice cast announced so far. Akira Toriyama previously teased the original story for Dragon Ball Daima as such when it was first announced, "Due to a conspiracy, Goku and his friends are turned small. In order to fix things, they'll head off to a new world! It's a grand adventure with intense action in an unknown and mysterious world. Since Goku has to make up for his petite size, he uses his Power Pole to fight, something not seen in a long time."

]]>
Netflix's Terminator Anime Reveals New Images https://comicbook.com/anime/news/terminator-zero-anime-new-images/ Wed, 15 May 2024 14:34:00 +0000 Evan Valentine cee28b03-a1ac-42ed-84d2-37023130050f

The Terminator franchise might not have a new movie in the works, but that isn't stopping Skynet from finding new avenues to wage war against humanity. Netflix is releasing the first anime of the franchise this year in Terminator Zero and has a first look at the series from Production I.G. Taking place in the same universe but without focusing on the Connor family this time around, the first anime of the dystopian franchise doesn't look like its holding anything back.

It has been five years since the last live-action Terminator movie hit the silver screen with Terminator Dark Fate. Bringing back both Arnold Schwarzenneger and Linda Hamilton to reprise their roles, all has been quiet on the Western Front when it comes to a new movie that further explores the cybernetic reality. Luckily, the anime world is exploring a new world wherein Terminator 2's Malcolm Lee will be the focal point as he is dragged into the fight against Skynet.

Terminator Zero's First Images

The new anime focusing on the world of the Terminators is produced by Production I.G. who has had a big year so far in the anime medium. On top of Terminator Zero, the production studio has also released Haikyu: The Dumpster Battle and Kaiju No. 8, as both the anime film and the series have hit the ground floor running. Considering how beloved the Terminator franchise is, it should be interesting to see how its first anime adaptation does on Netflix.

terminator-zero-2.jpg
(Photo: Production IG)
terminator-zero.jpg
(Photo: Netflix & Production I.G.)
terminator-zero-3.jpg
(Photo: Production IG)
terminator-zero-4.jpg
(Photo: Production IG)

Here's Netflix's first official description for the story of Terminator Zero, showing the war against Skynet in a brand new way, "2022: A future war has raged for decades between the few human survivors and an endless army of machines. 1997: The AI known as Skynet gained self-awareness and began its war against humanity. Caught between the future and this past is a soldier sent back in time to change the fate of humanity. She arrives in 1997 to protect a scientist named Malcolm Lee who works to launch a new AI system designed to compete with Skynet's impending attack on humanity. As Malcolm navigates the moral complexities of his creation, he is hunted by an unrelenting assassin from the future which forever alters the fate of his three children."

Terminator Zero will arrive on Netflix with eight episodes on August 29th this summer.

Via Press Release

]]>
New Funko Pops For May 2024: Dragon Ball GT, Transformers, Daredevil, Stranger Things and More https://comicbook.com/gear/news/funko-pop-wednesdays-heres-where-to-get-the-drops-for-the-week-of-may-13/ Wed, 15 May 2024 14:09:00 +0000 Sean Fallon 8d947866-6a1f-4773-a689-7fa84f393bfe Despite pulling back on their offerings in recent months, Funko is still releasing tons of product on a weekly basis. Because of this strategy, many of the new releases can fall through the cracks. The good news is that we're keeping track of it all so you don't have to.

Below you'll find a breakdown of the latest Funko Pop drops complete with direct pre-order links. Look for pre-orders to begin around 12pm ET (generally on Wednesdays) and wrap up shortly thereafter. The list will update as new Funko Pops are added and exclusives will be highlighted. You can also keep tabs on the following retailer links as some will be slower to launch than others:

513m64a7b7l-ac-cr0000-sx615-sy462-collage.jpg

Funko Pop Pre-Orders For May 13th - May 17th:

psx-20240508-093839.jpg

Funko Pop Pre-Orders For May 6th - May 10th:

psx-20240501-123243.jpg

Funko Pop Pre-Orders For April 29th - May 3rd:

c2e2-sharedretailer-images-usa-1.png

Funko Pop Pre-Orders For April 22nd - 26th:

437053706-727867332889408-4351656935784930094-n.jpg

Funko Pop Pre-Orders For April 15th - 19th:

'

psx-20240403-111012.jpg

Funko Pop Pre-Orders For April 1st - 5th:

psx-20240327-104406.jpg

Funko Pop Pre-Orders For March 25th - 29th:

psx-20240320-120528.jpg

Funko Pop Pre-Orders For March 18th - 22nd:

psx-20240313-114142.jpg

Funko Pop Pre-Orders For March 13th - 15th:

psx-20240221-122955.jpg

Funko Pop Pre-Orders For February 21st:

psx-20240214-120033.jpg

Funko Pop Pre-Orders For February 14th:

psx-20240207-113853.jpg

Funko Pop Pre-Orders For February 7th:

psx-20240131-113409.jpg

Funko Pop Pre-Orders For January 31st:

psx-20240124-111226.jpg

Funko Pop Pre-Orders For January 24th:

psx-20240116-115458.jpg

Funko Pop Pre-Orders For January 17th:

psx-20240110-105634.jpg

Funko Pop Pre-Orders For January 10th:

psx-20240105-113817.jpg

Funko Pop Pre-Orders For January 5th:

]]>
Netflix's Terminator Zero Anime Release Date Announced https://comicbook.com/anime/news/terminator-zero-netflix-anime-release-date/ Wed, 15 May 2024 14:00:00 +0000 Nick Valdez 05b41534-0484-4b76-9236-ad2d7c742738

The Terminator franchise is coming to Netflix with a new anime series, and Terminator Zero will be streaming around the world later this August! Terminator Zero is a brand new take on The Terminator lore that was first announced to be in the works a few years ago. First going by the codename of "Terminator: The Anime," the newest update from Netflix has announced that this new project is officially titled Terminator Zero. This Production I.G. and Skydance Animation team up will be providing an updated take on the classic franchise that's seen multiple films, TV shows and more released over the years.

Netflix has announced that Terminator Zero will be streaming worldwide beginning on August 29th. Following the reveal of the first look at the new anime series, Netflix is promising quite the different take on the Terminator franchise with this anime adaptation. Promising a brand new story not tied into the events of any of the previous movies (with a new main character trying to launch an AI that could potentially stop Skynet's attack), Terminator Zero is teasing quite a lot to look forward to when it premieres later this Summer.

terminator-zero-netflix-anime-release-date.jpg
(Photo: Netflix)

What Is Terminator Zero?

Created and executive produced by Mattson Tomlin (Project Power, The Batman II) for Skydance Animation and Production I.G, Terminator Zero is directed by Masashi Kudo and will be running for eight episodes with its debut season when it releases on August 29th with Netflix. As for what to expect from the series, Netflix begins to tease Terminator Zero as such, "2022: A future war has raged for decades between the few human survivors and an endless army of machines. 1997: The AI known as Skynet gained self-awareness and began its war against humanity."

The synopsis for the anime's story continues with, "Caught between the future and this past is a soldier sent back in time to change the fate of humanity. She arrives in 1997 to protect a scientist named Malcolm Lee who works to launch a new AI system designed to compete with Skynet's impending attack on humanity. As Malcolm navigates the moral complexities of his creation, he is hunted by an unrelenting assassin from the future which forever alters the fate of his three children."

With Netflix introducing new anime series for many major franchises in the last few years, there's a lot that can potentially succeed with this one! Keep up with ComicBook for future updates!

]]>
That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime Cosplay Readies for Season 3 Rimuru https://comicbook.com/anime/news/that-time-i-got-reincarnated-as-a-slime-season-3-rimuru-cosplay-anime/ Wed, 15 May 2024 00:37:00 +0000 Nick Valdez cf2d38b9-62e4-4f14-99a5-245ce18207e4

That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime is now back in action this Spring 2024 season with Season 3 of the anime, and an awesome cosplay is helping to show off Demon Lord Rimuru ahead of his big fight in the coming episodes. That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime is one of the big returning Isekai franchises that fans are now enjoying this Spring, and the first few episodes of Season 3 have been patiently setting up for the massive fights to come in the later episodes. This includes when we'll get to see Rimuru once again fully unleashing the full power that he has at his disposal.

Officially being recognized as one of the Demon Lords as of the end of the previous season, That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime has since revealed that this was welcomed all sorts of new issues for Rimuru to figure out. As he readies to make his debut to the world, Rimuru has to navigate how the church and neighboring kingdoms will see him moving forward. But until we get to see a full Rimuru, thankfully artist seracoss on Instagram has brought the Demon Lord to life with a perfect cosplay. Check it out:

Where to Watch That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime Season 3

That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime Season 3 is now available for streaming with its episodes released for fans with Crunchyroll in North America, Central America, South America, Europe, Africa, Oceania, the Middle East, CIS, Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. New additions to the cast for Season 3 include the likes of the Inori Minase as Mariabel Rosso, Kenji Nojima as Leonard, Eiji Takemoto as Arnaud Bauman, Hajime Iijima as Bacchus, Haruka Aikawa as Litus, Wataru Komada as Garde, Taishi Murata as Fritz, Shoya Chiba as Saare, Mari Hino as Glenda Attley, and Masashi Yamane as Grigori.

As for what to expect from the new season, That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime Season 3 is teased as such, "Rimuru has officially become a Demon Lord after defeating Clayman. Following Walpurgis, the Demon Lords' banquet, Rimuru's domain is expanded to include the entire Great Forest of Jura. Anticipating a flood of representatives from all races showing up to pay their respects, Rimuru decides to throw a festival to commemorate the opening of Tempest, using it as an opportunity to gain new citizens and present Demon Lord Rimuru to the world."

You can now catch up with the first two seasons of That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime, OVA specials, spin-offs, and movie streaming with Crunchyroll as well.

]]>
Blood of Zeus Season 2 Debuts With Perfect Rotten Tomatoes Score https://comicbook.com/anime/news/blood-of-zeus-season-2-fresh-rotten-tomatoes-score/ Wed, 15 May 2024 00:01:00 +0000 Nick Valdez f69918f4-addd-4cb9-9674-b62d0458f6b9

Blood of Zeus is now streaming its new episodes, and Season 2 has been officially labeled as Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes with a rare perfect score! Blood of Zeus really shook things up when the anime series first debuted with Netflix a few years ago, and fans have been anxiously waiting for new episodes ever since. With Blood of Zeus Season 2 finally debuting its episodes this month, the long wait is over and fans have responded to the new season very well. According to Rotten Tomatoes, the new season has quickly dominated with both its critics and audience scores as revealed by a new update.

Rotten Tomatoes has announced that Blood of Zeus is now officially Fresh with a perfect 100% with ten reviews currently catalogued and an audience score of 99% with over 55+ reviews as of the time of this publication. While it's not a complete "Certified Fresh" as there could still be many more reviews flowing in, but as of now this is a great debut for the anime series following an extensive wait from the end of the first season released back in 2020. Check out Rotten Tomatoes' announcement for Blood of Zeus' Season 2 score below.

What Is Blood of Zeus?

Written and created by Charley and Vlas Parlapanides with Powerhouse Animation providing the animation production, you can now find the first two seasons of Blood of Zeus now streaming with Netflix. As for what to expect from the latest season, Netflix teases Blood of Zeus Season 2 as such, "Following Zeus' demise, a power vacuum emerges amongst the gods, leaving Heron, Zeus' demigod son, struggling to find his place. He is racked with loss and hears a mysterious refrain in his dreams, prodding him to save his brother, Seraphim, who is suffering the terrors of the Underworld. Unbeknownst to Heron, Hades is trying to enlist Seraphim to help him secure Zeus' vacant throne and save his family from their long standing suffering."

It has yet to be announced as to whether or not Blood of Zeus will be continuing with a third season of the anime series with Netflix as of the time of this publication, but this reception among fans and critics is a good sign for the potential future. Series creators Charley and Vlas Parlapanides have expressed their interest in following up with a Season 3 of the series to expand on many of the stories in Blood of Zeus, so it seems like there could be much more ground to cover.

]]>
Rick and Morty: The Anime Teases English Dub Release https://comicbook.com/anime/news/rick-and-morty-anime-english-dub/ Tue, 14 May 2024 23:34:00 +0000 Nick Valdez d6c1384c-54a0-4461-888d-7ffbfa9fc0c2

Rick and Morty: The Anime will soon be introducing a full anime spin-off of the massively popular Adult Swim animated franchise, and the anime has teased that it will be getting an English dubbed release as well! Rick and Morty started taking fans by surprise with the debut of special anime shorts that imagined a different Rick and Morty out in the multiverse challenged with various anime ideas and settings. These shorts continued to major success, and are now being fleshed out into a full anime series now in the works for a release with Adult Swim and Max later this year.

When Rick and Morty: The Anime was first announced, it was also surprisingly revealed that like the shorts, the full anime series would be releasing with Japanese audio and English subtitles. But it seems like there might still be an English dubbed release for the new series as when asked by a fan on social media, Jason DeMarco, Senior Vice President, Anime and Action Series/Longform at Warner Bros. Animation, Cartoon Network Studios, revealed that there would be a dubbed release for the anime as well. But as of now there are no concrete details for that potential release, naturally.

rick-and-morty-anime-story-synopsis-adult-swim.jpg
(Photo: Adult Swim)

What Is Rick and Morty: The Anime?

Rick and Morty: The Anime will be written and directed by Takashi Sano (who previously directed the "Rick and Morty vs. Genocider" and "Summer Meets God (Rick Meets Evil)" anime shorts) for Telecom Animation Film. Releasing some time later this year (with its actual release date yet to be announced as of the time of this publication) with Adult Swim and Max, it will be a ten episode long series produced by Sola Entertainment with Maki Nagano, Max Nishi, and Takenari Maeda serving as producers. Yu Kiyozono will serve as the animation producer, Yuuki Kakizoe as the assistant producer, Jason DeMarco and Joseph Chou as executive producers, Arisa Matsuzawa as art director, and Makiko Kojima as color designer.

Rick and Morty: The Anime will also feature Sou Ki as CGI director, Kaori Kobayashi as special effects supervisor, Tatsuo Noguchi as composite director, Yoshihiro Kasahara as editor, Koichi Iizuka as sound director, and Tetsuya Takahashi is composing the music at Terra-Musica. Rick and Morty: The Anime will feature Japanese language audio and English subtitles during its broadcast, but now is also planning an English dubbed release for the new spin-off series as well. But cast for either launch has yet to be revealed.

]]>
Craig of the Creek Teases Final Episodes With New Promo: Watch https://comicbook.com/anime/news/craig-of-the-creek-season-5-final-episodes-cartoon-network/ Tue, 14 May 2024 23:00:00 +0000 Nick Valdez 1ac7f3c8-fbca-4fe1-9e7d-f921d0d316c1

Craig of the Creek will soon be returning to TV for the final episodes of the animated series, and Cartoon Network has shared the first look at Season 5's second half with a new promo! Craig of the Creek is unfortunately coming to an end with Season 5 of the popular Cartoon Network series, and has been on hiatus for the last few months after the first half of the season premiered last year. Taking on the "Heart of the Forest" saga as part of a week long event, fans have been anxious to see what could be coming with the final episodes.

Craig of the Creek has released the Jessica's Big Little World spin-off series and even the Craig Before the Creek feature film in the time since the first half of Season 5, and thus fans are finally going to see what's next with the second and final half of the season. Scheduled to begin airing on Saturday, June 1st with Cartoon Network, Craig of the Creek Season 5B teases a final sleepover saga of episodes that will be showing off the Creek Kids one final time before it all comes to an end. Check out the promo for Craig of the Creek's final episodes below as spotted by CNArchives on X.

How to Watch Craig of the Creek's Final Episodes

With the final episodes of Craig of the Creek Season 5 coming to Cartoon Network soon, it's the best time to catch up with the first four and a half seasons of the animated series. You can find Craig of the Creek, Jessica's Big Little World, and Craig Before the Creek now all streaming with Max in the meantime. Craig Before The Creek is a movie that tells Craig's story set before the events of the main series, so it's definitely a must-watch before jumping in whatever plans are in place for the final episodes.

As for what to expect from Craig Before The Creek, it's teased as such, "Before he was Craig of the Creek, he was just Craig - a new kid in a new town. All Craig wants is to go back to his old friends at his old home. But when he learns that the nearby creek is hiding a lost treasure that could make his wish come true, Craig sets off on a journey to find it - navigating the perilous suburban wilderness, forging new friendships, all while being pursued by a fearsome band of pirates who are bent on destroying the Creek itself."

]]>
Soul Eater Announces 20th Anniversary Art Exhibition https://comicbook.com/anime/news/soul-eater-20th-anniversary-anime-exhibition/ Tue, 14 May 2024 22:30:00 +0000 Nick Valdez 127a82b6-71ef-4b33-872e-e6268d308b26

Soul Eater is now celebrating the 20th anniversary of the manga's original release, and the franchise is going all out for the occasion with a special new art exhibition opening in Japan! Atsushi Ohkubo's Soul Eater first hit the pages of Square Enix's Monthly Shonen Gangan magazine in 2004, and was such a success that the series spawned a 51 episode anime adaptation along with a spin-off series that showcased a new side of the franchise's kooky world. But as the decades have gone on, this remains one of the franchises fans want to see return with some kind of revival.

Soul Eater will be kicking off the 20th anniversary with a special celebration in Japan that includes a newly announced exhibition featuring art from the manga at Tokyo's Space Galleria from August 23rd to September 23rd later this year, and then will move to Osaka's Space Gratus from October 25th to November 25th. It's yet to be revealed exactly what kind of art will be on display for the event, or what kind of exclusive merchandise will be offered as of the time of this publication, but you can check out the announcement poster for Soul Eater's 20th anniversary exhibition below along with Ohkubo's own sketch to celebrate the announcement.

What Is Soul Eater?

While it's not really easy to check out the Soul Eater manga online, it's easier than ever to go back and check out the original anime adaptation that brought it all to life. You can find Soul Eater now streaming with Crunchyroll and Hulu with both English subtitled and dubbed options available, and as for what to expect from the now classic series, the anime is teased as such:

"Maka's a Meister and Soul is her Weapon, and they're a freakin' lethal team in battle against the monsters and ghouls that feed on innocent souls. That's when Soul transforms--literally--into a razor-sharp scythe and Maka wields her partner and unleashes her inner-slayer. Fighting alongside their Meister/Weapon classmates, Maka and Soul are the world's last line of defense against evil."

Soul Eater is one of the classic franchises that fans have been hoping to see return with a new anime reboot or sequel in the future, and the 20th anniversary is just another reminder of why there are still so many requests to see it return. Unfortunately, a reboot or revival doesn't seem to be in the cards just yet but ComicBook will keep you update if one ever does get announced.

]]>
Jujutsu Kaisen Fans May Never Recover From "SPOILERS" Death https://comicbook.com/anime/news/jujutsu-kaisen-choso-death-fan-reactions/ Tue, 14 May 2024 21:59:00 +0000 Evan Valentine 21831437-f7c4-40a3-93e4-1ee1f73c596b
]]>