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news

Live-Action Tokyo Tarareba Girls Streams on Netflix on October 22

Series based on Akiko Higashimura's manga streams in U.S., Europe, Asia ― Manga creator Akiko Higashimura revealed on her X/Twitter account last week that the live-action series of her Tokyo Tarareba Girls manga will stream on Netflix in the United States, Europe, and Asia beginning on October 22. Netflix is currently listing the series. Kodansha USA Publishing released the original manga digitally ...
news

Chainsaw Man Anime Film Stays at #1, 5 Centimeters Per Second Film Opens at #2

Aikatsu! x PriPara THE MOVIE -Deai no Kiseki!- opens at #6,1st Golden Kamuy: Sapporo Beer Kōjō-hen prologue film opens at #9 Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc, the film based on the Reze Arc of Tatsuki Fujimoto's Chainsaw Man manga, stayed at #1 in its third weekend at the Japanese box office. The film sold 406,000 tickets and earned 642,994,500 yen (about US$4.25 million) from Friday to Sunday. ...
news

Live-Action Therapy Game BL Series Unveils Trailer Video, Theme Songs

Ryūgūjō performs "SUGAR" opening song, MAZZEL performs "Only You" ending ― The staff for the live-action series of Meguru Hinohara's Therapy Game boys-love manga revealed its theme songs and trailer video on Wednesday. Alternative vocal and dance group Ryūgūjō will perform the opening theme song "SUGAR," and idol group MAZZEL will perform the ending theme song "Only You."◤ 💛❤️📷#ドラマセラピーゲーム📷💛❤️◢/オープニング...
news

Ultraman 4K Discovery Project Reveals English Dub Cast for Blu-ray Disc Release

Jason Douglas, Aaron Dismuke, Sonny Strait, Charles Martinet, more star in dub ― Tsuburaya Productions announced on Wednesday the English dub cast for Ultraman 4K Discovery, the 4K restoration of the original 1966 Ultraman series that selectively curates episodes into four thematic movies. The dub stars: Jason Douglas as Toshio Muramatsu, captain of the SSSP (Science Special Search Party) Japan Branc...
news

'Her Kiss, My Libido Twinkles' Manga Gets Live-Action Film on November 7

Film gets 1-week limited screening on November 7-13, will also stream with English subtitles ― Manga creator Miyuki Yorita began streaming a trailer for the live-action film of her Her Kiss, My Libido Twinkles (Kanojo no Kuchizuke Kansen Suru Libido) yuri manga last Friday. The film will have a limited one-week screening at Cine Libre Ikebukuro in Tokyo from November 7-13, with one screening on each ...
news

Live-Action Sakamoto Days Film Casts Fumiya Takahashi as Shin

Video, visual unveiled for Shin ― The official website for the live-action film of Yuuto Suzuki's Sakamoto Days manga revealed on Tuesday that it has cast Fumiya Takahashi as Shin Asakura. The website unveiled a video and visual: The live-action film will open in Japan during the Golden Week holidays (late-April to early-May) in 2026. Snow Man member Ren Meguro stars as Tarō Sakamoto. Meguro read the...
news

'If My Favorite Pop Idol Made it to the Budokan, I Would Die' Stage Play Casts SKE48 Idols

Singer/voice actress Aika Kobayashi stars as Eripyo ― The staff for the stage play of Auri Hirao's If My Favorite Pop Idol Made it to the Budokan, I Would Die (Oshi ga Budōkan Ittekuretara Shinu) manga announced the cast in a new video on Sunday, along with a visual and cast images.   The cast includes (top row, from left to right in picture above): Aika Kobayashi as Eripiyo Kaho Satō (SKE48) as Leo ...

Media Blasters Announces Plans to Release Garo Live-Action Franchise

Releases to begin with Kiba, Taiga, Red Requiem, Wailing Dragon, Under the Moon ― Media Blasters announced on X (formerly Twitter) on Friday plans to release the Garo live-action franchise in the future, beginning with the Kiba Gaiden, Garo: Taiga, Garo: Red Requiem, Garo and the Wailing Dragon, and Garo: Under the Moon films.The Garo live-action series franchise has a dark story that revolves around...
review

Alice in Borderland (Live-Action) Season 3 Series Review

This continuation of Netflix's live-action version of Haro Aso's death game manga stretches the patience more than the previous seasons, but it's still ultimately worthwhile. ― The third live-action season of Alice in Borderland, based on the death game manga by Haro Aso, drops onto Netflix with big disadvantages. One is that it's released almost three years after the second season, which seemed to e...
news

Japanese Animation TV Ranking, September 29-October 5

Final season of My Hero Academia debuts with 3.9% rating ― The SPY×FAMILY Code: White film aired on TV Tokyo on Sunday, October 5 at 8:50 p.m., and earned a 3.2% rating. Various reruns of the first season of the live-action A Solitary Gourmet series aired on Tokyo TV on Friday, September 30; on Wednesday, October 1; and on Thursday, October 2 at 5:55 p.m. each day, and earned 3.8%, 3.9%, and 3.7%, r...
news

Chainsaw Man Anime Film Stays at #1, Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle at #2

Live-action Silent Service sequel drops to #4, live-action The Exit 8 to #5 Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc, the film based on the Reze Arc of Tatsuki Fujimoto's Chainsaw Man manga, stayed at #1 in its third weekend at the Japanese box office. The film sold 577,000 tickets and earned 896,690,290 yen (about US$5.88 million) from Friday to Sunday. The film has sold a total of 2.88 million tickets ...
news

Live-Action Drops of God Series Season 2 Premieres on January 21

Season gets 8 episodes on Apple TV+ ― Apple TV+ announced on Wednesday that the second season of Drops of God, an internationally co-produced, multilingual live-action television series of Tadashi Agi and Shū Okimoto's The Drops of God (Kami no Shizuku) manga, will premiere on January 21, 2026. A new episode will stream every week until March 11 for a total of eight episodes. The company also posted ...
news

Live-Action Kamen no Ninja Akakage Series Unveils More Cast, Ending Song

Hideyuki Kasahara joins cast of October 26 series ― The official website for the live-action series of Mitsuteru Yokoyama's Kamen no Ninja Akakage manga announced on Wednesday that Hideyuki Kasahara (live-action The Disastrous Life of Saiki K.) has joined the cast as the mysterious merchant Oribe Tamon and that Wolf Howl Harmony from Exile Tribe is performing the ending theme song "Marmalade." It als...
news

Live-Action Meets the World Film Reveals 'Meat is Mine' In-Story Anime Segment

Film featuring in-story anime segment opens in Japan on October 24 ― The live-action film adaptation of Hitomi Kanehara's Meets the World novel revealed on Tuesday that the film's in-story anthropomorphized meat otaku media franchise "Meat is Mine" will have an anime segment within the film. The film's official website unveiled a separate website for the "Meat is Mine" in-story franchise on Tuesday, ...
news

Live-Action 5 Centimeters Per Second Film Posts Video for Masayoshi Yamazaki's Iconic Song

Lyric video features "One more time, one more chance" song, originally from anime ― The official website for the live-action film of Makoto Shinkai's 5 Centimeters per Second anime film began streaming a special lyric video for the film's insert song "One more time, one more chance" by Masayoshi Yamazaki, alongside footage of the film. The iconic song was also an insert song for Shinkai's original 5 ...
news

Live-Action Anpan Series Breaks Online Viewership Ratings Record

Approximately 604,000 unique browser views for watching all 130 episodes ― NHK announced on Monday that Anpan, the newest entry in NHK's six-decade-long Renzoku Terebi Shōsetsu (Serialized TV Novel, also known as "Asadora" or Morning Drama) franchise, broke the record for online viewership ratings, both live and on-demand, for any live-action drama. There were approximately 604,000 unique browser vie...
news

'If My Favorite Pop Idol Made it to the Budokan, I Would Die' Manga Gets Stage Play

Play starts next February with active idols in cast ― Auri Hirao's If My Favorite Pop Idol Made it to the Budokan, I Would Die (Oshi ga Budōkan Ittekuretara Shinu) manga will get a stage play in Aichi Prefecture and Tokyo starting in February.The official X (formerly Twitter) account for the stage play also announced the series is casting active idols as members of the fictional idol group ChamJam. T...
news

Strobe Edge Live-Action Series Reveals More Cast, Main Trailer

Kei Inoo, Yudai Chiba, Kyōko Hasegawa, more join cast ― WOWOW started streaming the main trailer video and revealed new cast members for the live-action series of Io Sakisaka's Strobe Edge manga on Sunday.The newly announced cast are (character romanizations are not confirmed for all characters):Kei Inoo as Kyōichi Miyoshi (image above, top left)Yudai Chiba as Chiaki Hoshina (top right)Cast on image ...
news

Live-Action Futari Escape Series Announces Additional Cast

Mayu Tamura provides voice of radio DJ ― The staff for live-action series adaptation of Shōichi Taguchi's Futari Escape (Our Escape) manga revealed on Sunday Nogizaka46 idol group member Mayu Tamura provided her voice for the role of the radio DJ in the first episode of the show. /#ふたりエスケープラジオDJ・あかりんの声 発表✨\第1話はチェックしていただけましたか?ラジオDJ・あかりんの声は、なんと… #田村真佑 さん( #乃木坂46 )✨今後も登場予定ですので、お楽しみに!TVerのお気に入り登録もお願いします💜...
news

Japanese Animation TV Ranking, September 22-28

Yaiba: Samurai Legend finale earns 2.3% rating, Hell Teacher: Jigoku Sensei Nube earns 2.0% ― An episode of Anpan, the newest entry in NHK's six-decade-long Renzoku Terebi Shōsetsu (Serialized TV Novel, also known as "Asadora" or Morning Drama) franchise, aired on Friday, September 26 at 8:00 a.m. and earned an 18.1% rating. Another showing on Tuesday, September 23 at 12:45 p.m. earned a 6.5% rating...
news

Chiruran: Shinsengumi Requiem Manga Gets Live-Action Series

Godzilla Minus One's Yuki Yamada stars as historical figure Hijikata Toshizō ― Eiji Hashimoto and Shinya Umemura's Chiruran: Shinsengumi Requiem (Chiruran: Shinsengumi Chinkon-ka) manga is inspiring its first live-action television adaptation next spring. The adaptation will air on the TBS channel as a special, and also stream on the U-NEXT service as a series. Yuki Yamada (Godzilla Minus One, live-a...
news

Live-Action Romantic Killer Film's Trailer Reveals More Cast, Theme Songs

Naniwa Danshi, INI, FANTASTICS perform 3 different theme songs for film ― The official website for the live-action film of Wataru Momose's Romantic Killer manga unveiled a trailer and a new poster visual on Friday. The trailer reveals more cast members, as well as three different theme songs for the film. Naniwa Danshi perform a "miracle theme song" titled "Never Romantic," while INI performs an "aoh...
news

Live-Action Therapy Game BL Series Casts NAOYA, Yūki Tomita

MAZZEL's NAOYA plays Minato, Ryugujo's Tomita plays Shizuma ― The official website for the live-action series of Meguru Hinohara's Therapy Game boys-love manga revealed on Friday that MAZZEL idol group member NAOYA (right in image below) will play Minato Mito in the series, while Ryugujo alternative vocal and dance group member Yūki Tomita (left) will play Shizuma Ikushima. The series will premiere o...
news

Red Velvet's Joy Returns to Acting With Webtoon-Based Live-Action Series One-of-a-Kind Romance

Story follows romance between ordinary girl, top actor ― SM Entertainment confirmed on September 30 that K-pop girl group Red Velvet member Joy is set to make her acting comeback after four years, and will star in the upcoming live-action series One-of-a-Kind Romance, which is based on the webtoon of the same name. The new series will mark her first live-action series role since 2022. Actor Hyun-jin...
news

Live-Action Silent Service Sequel Film Opens at #3

Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc stays at #1 Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc, the film based on the Reze Arc of Tatsuki Fujimoto's Chainsaw Man manga, stayed at #1 in its second weekend at the Japanese box office. The film sold 523,000 tickets and earned 799,728,500 yen (about US$5.40 million) from Friday to Sunday. The film has sold a total of 1.96 million tickets and earned a cumulative tota...
interview

Live-Action Film Director Yoshiyuki Okuyama on Adapting Makoto Shinkai's Classic 5 Centimeters Per Second Anime

One of Shinkai's beloved works is now a live-action film. We spoke with young director Yoshiyuki Okuyama about what probing the past can do for the audience and the filmmaker. ― Makoto Shinkai's anime classic 5 Centimeters Per Second (2007) received a live-action adaptation this year, which premiered this week at the Busan International Film Festival. Directed by photographer and filmmaker Yoshiyuki ...
daily briefs

Live-Action One Piece Series Unveils Reverse Mountain Visual

The official X (formerly Twitter) account for the second live-action season based on Eiichiro Oda's One Piece manga revealed a visual and screenshot for the second season, including a glimpse of Reverse Mountain: The new season will premiere on Netflix in 2026. The second season began production in July 2024, and has wrapped up production. Series creator Eiichiro Oda stated that the second season ...
news

Live-Action Wind Breaker Film's Trailer Reveals Theme Song by BE:FIRST

Film premieres in Japan on December 5 ― The staff for the live-action film adaptation of Satoru Nii's Wind Breaker manga began streaming on Wednesday a trailer, and it reveals and previews the theme song "Stay Strong" by boy band BE:FIRST. The staff also unveiled a visual: The film will premiere in Japan on December 5. The cast includes: Kōshi Mizukami as Haruka Sakura Taisei Kido as Akihiko Nirei Ke...
news

Japanese Animation TV Ranking, September 15-21

Gachiakuta, finale of rerun of selected GeGeGe no Kitarō episodes both earn 2.3% rating ― An episode of Anpan, the newest entry in NHK's six-decade-long Renzoku Terebi Shōsetsu (Serialized TV Novel, also known as "Asadora" or Morning Drama) franchise, aired on Thursday, September 18 at 8:00 a.m. and earned a 17.7% rating. Another showing on Saturday, September 20 at 12:45 p.m. earned an 11.6% rating...
news

Live-Action Wind Breaker Film's Video Shows Concept Art Turn Into 3D Sets

Film opens in Japan on December 5 ― The staff for the live-action film adaptation of Satoru Nii's Wind Breaker manga released on Monday a special "Concept Art to Movie" video, showing the concept art illustrations for the film's shopping avenue transformed into a three-dimensional set. The staff shot the film on location from this past February to April in the town of Kin in Okinawa. The production r...
news

2nd Live-Action Mr. Osomatsu Film Reveals More Cast

Naenano, Miho Watanabe, Yūsuke Ōnuki, Iori Noguchi, Hiroki Miyake, Tae Kimura join cast ― The official website for the second live-action film in the Mr. Osomatsu (Osomatsu-san) franchise announced more cast members for the film on Monday.The newly announced cast members are:(Top row, left to right in image above)Naenano as ChibitaMiho Watanabe as TotokoYūsuke Ōnuki as Iyami=LOVE idol group member Io...
news

Ye-eun Shin Confirmed to Co-Star in Live-Action Adaptation of Webtoon Endurance Doctor

Series follows plastic surgeon-turned-public health doctor assigned to remote island ― Actress Ye-eun Shin has been confirmed to co-star in the upcoming live-action adaptation of Tae-pung Kim's Endurance Doctor (Jonbuh Doctor) webtoon. The series is set to premiere in 2026. Endurance Doctor tells the story of Ji-ui Do (played by Jae-wook Lee), a plastic surgeon-turned-public health doctor assigned t...
news

Netflix Considers Multi-Season Order for Trauma Code: Heroes on Call Live-Action Series

Platform considers greenlighting 2 new seasons to be produced simultaneously ― According to report from Korean entertainment media OSEN on September 23, Netflix is reviewing the possibility of producing both Season 2 and Season 3 of its live-action medical series Trauma Code: Heroes on Call simultaneously. A source from Netflix Korea told the outlet, “We're grateful for the interest in Trauma Code: ...
news

Man and Woman on Aside Webtoon Gets Short-Form Live-Action Adaptation

Show targets release in 2nd half of 2025 ― Korean media production company K Wave Media announced on Thursday it has begun production on a short-form live-action series based on the popular Naver Webtoon Man and Woman on Aside, created by Tae-ho Go. Co-produced with MetaUniverse, the series is directed by Yoo-yeon Lee, known for youth romance projects including Best Mistake. The adaptation will comp...
news

BLUELOCK Manga Gets 3rd Anime Season, Live-Action Film

Live-action film slated for summer 2026 ― The "Blue Lock Egoist Fest 2025" event on Sunday revealed that the anime based on Muneyuki Kaneshiro and Yūsuke Nomura's BLUELOCK soccer manga will get a third season, adapting the "Shin Eiyū Taisen" (New Hero Wars) story. The event also revealed the manga's live-action film adaptation slated for release in summer 2026. CREDEUS (live-action Golden Kamuy film)...
news

Live-Action Adaptation of Spirit Fingers Webtoon to Premiere on October 29

Series also unveils main poster featuring lead actors Ji-hu Park, Jun-young Cho ― The live-action series adaptation of the webtoon Spirit Fingers will premiere in Korea on October 29 exclusively on TVING, a Korean streaming platform. Ahead of the release, the production unveiled the main poster featuring lead actors Ji-hu Park and Jun-young Cho. Han Kyoung Chal's webtoon series, which has garnered o...
news

Webtoon-Based Live-Action Netflix Series Chicken Nugget Nominated for International Emmy Award

Winners will be announced on November 24 in New York ― The International Academy of Television Arts and Sciences announced the nominees for the 53rd International Emmy Awards on Saturday, and the Netflix original series Chicken Nugget, based on the webtoon Fried Chicken by Ji-dok Park, has been nominated in the Comedy category. Starring Seung-ryong Ryu and Jae-hong Ahn, Chicken Nugget follows a fath...
news

Live-Action Alice in Borderland Season 3 Reveals Ken Watanabe

Watanabe plays mysterious gentleman in new season that premiered on Thursday ― Netflix revealed on Friday that actor Ken Watanabe is in the cast of the third live-action season based on Haro Aso's Alice in Borderland (Imawa no Kuni no Alice) manga as a mysterious old gentleman whose nature is related to the setting's mystery. Netflix debuted the new season on Thursday<!--September 25-->. Netflixシリーズ ...
news

Live-Action Romantic Killer Film Casts Taiki Satō

Satō plays "mysterious swordsman" in December 12 film ― The official website for the live-action film of Wataru Momose's Romantic Killer manga began streaming a promotional video for the film on Friday. The video reveals that EXILE/FANTASTICS idol group member Taiki Satō (Rusted Armors' Magoichi, live-action Marmalade Boy's Ginta Suō) is joining the film's cast as a "mysterious swordsman" who becomes...
news

Evangelion Franchise Plans Eva Kabuki Project for 30th Anniversary

Also: Previously announced festival to take place at Yokohama Arena on February 21-23 ― Studio Khara noted on Friday that it will hold the previously announced "first festival" for the Evangelion franchise at the Yokohama Arena in Kanagawa on February 21 to 23 next year. The festival, named "EVANGELION:30+; 30th ANNIVERSARY OF EVANGELION," will feature the unveiling of the tentatively titled Eva Kab...
news

Like a Dragon/Yakuza Series Gets Live-Action Video Crossover With Nihon Tōitsu Series

Video is based on 1st Yakuza game leading up to Yakuza Kiwami 3 ― Sega unveiled during its "RGG Summit" live stream on Wednesday that its Like a Dragon/Yakuza game series is is getting a crossover live-action video with the Nihon Tōitsu original video series.   The cast for the video includes: Yasukaze Motomiya as Kazuma KiryuYoshiyuki Yamaguchi as Goro MajimaKazuhiro Nakaya as Akira NishikiyamaKenji...
news

Skip & Loafer Manga Gets Musical

Miisha Shimizu, Sion Yoshitaka star in musical opening in Tokyo, Osaka in March 2026 ― A new official website opened on Thursday to announce that Misaki Takamatsu's Skip and Loafer (Skip to Loafer) manga is getting a musical adaptation in March 2026 in Tokyo and Osaka. The musical stars Miisha Shimizu and Sion Yoshitaka. Ako Takahashi is writing the script and lyrics. TETSUHARU is directing the music...
news

Live-Action Sakamoto Days Film's Teaser Reveals Lead Actor, Director

Snow Man singer Ren Meguro stars in film by Gintama's Yūichi Fukuda ― The staff for the live-action film of Yuuto Suzuki's Sakamoto Days manga announced the lead actor and director with an early teaser trailer and a key visual on Tuesday. Snow Man member Ren Meguro stars as Tarō Sakamoto. Meguro read the original manga several years ago, and said that he took on many previous roles to convey somethin...
news

Japanese Animation TV Ranking, September 8-14

Gachiakuta ranks at #4 ― An episode of Anpan, the newest entry in NHK's six-decade-long Renzoku Terebi Shōsetsu (Serialized TV Novel, also known as "Asadora" or Morning Drama) franchise, aired on Friday, September 12 at 8:00 a.m. and earned a 17.3% rating. Another showing on Monday, September 8 at 12:45 p.m. earned a 6.0% rating. The new live-action weekday morning series is inspired by the life sto...
news

Sakamoto Days Manga Gets Live-Action Film in 2026

More details to be revealed on Tuesday ― This year's 43rd issue of Shueisha's Weekly Shonen Jump magazine revealed on Monday that Yuuto Suzuki's Sakamoto Days manga is getting a live-action film adaptation that will open in Japan during the Golden Week holidays (late-April to early-May) in 2026. Shueisha will reveal more details on Tuesday. The magazine also revealed a "super teaser visual." Suzuki p...
news

Live-Action Silent Service Sequel Film Streams Theme Song Trailer

Ado performs theme song for September 26 film ― The staff for Chinmoku no kantai Hokkyoku-kai dai kaisen (The Silent Service: The Battle of the Arctic Ocean), the sequel film for the live-action project of Kaiji Kawaguchi's The Silent Service manga, revealed a new collaborative trailer with Ado on Friday previewing the theme song. Ado performs the theme song "Kaze to Watashi no Monogatari" (The Tale ...
news

Sperman, The Worst Villainess, More Webtoons Get Short-Form Live-Action Adaptations

Series will use vertical-format, short-form style; The Worst Villainess debuts on September 30 ― Naver announced on September 16 that several of its top-rated webtoons will be adapted into short live-action series in collaboration with content studio STUDIO X+U. The two companies produced eight short-from series in total, four of which are based on popular Naver Webtoon titles, such as The Worst Vil...
news

King of Prism Franchise Gets 1st New Stage Play in 6 Years

New play runs in Tokyo from February 21-March 1 ― The official X/Twitter account for the King of Prism franchise announced on Friday that the series is getitng its first new stage play in six years titled King of Prism -Your Endless Call- Mi~nna Kirameke! Prism☆Tours at Nippon Seinen-kan Hall in Tokyo from February 21-March 1. The play is based on the latest theatrical anime film of the same name. Th...
news

The Summer Hikaru Died Manga Gets Stage Play

Stage play runs from January 9-18 in Tokyo ― A new official website opened on Friday to confirm that Mokumokuren's The Summer Hikaru Died (Hikaru ga Shinda Natsu) manga is getting a stage play adaptation from January 9-18 at Kinokuniya Hall in Tokyo. The play stars: Junsei Motojima as Yoshiki Tsujinaka Hikaru Imamaki as Hikaru May Tachibana as Asako Yamagishi Miki Matsuo as Yūta Maki Rio Sawada as Yū...
news

Live-Action Romantic Killer Film Casts Naniwa Danshi Idol Jōichirō Fujiwara

Fujiwara does "mysterious SAT member's" lines entirely in English ― The official website for the live-action film of Wataru Momose's Romantic Killer manga began streaming a promotional video for the film on Friday. The video reveals that Naniwa Danshi idol group member Jōichirō Fujiwara (live-action Seiho Boys' High School!, LIP×LIP FILM×LIVE: Kono Sekai no Tanoshimikata) is joining the film's cast a...
column

This Week in Anime - International Rider Kick

Kamen Rider Zeztz has hit the international streaming airwaves, and our resident Kamen Writers are here to join the fray! Kamen Rider Zeztz has hit the international streaming airwaves, and our resident Kamen Writers are here to join the fray! Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by the participants in this chatlog are not the views of Anime News Network.Spoiler Warning for discussion of t...
news

Amazon's Prime Video Adds Live-Action Baban Baban Ban Vampire Film

Film opened in Japan on July 4 after delay ― Amazon's Prime Video has added the live-action film of Hiromasa Okujima's Baban Baban Ban Vampire manga. The film was originally scheduled for a February 14 release, but was postponed due to "various circumstances." The preview screening scheduled on January 21 was also canceled. The film opened on July 4. The film sold 100,000 tickets and earned 134,597,0...
news

New Resident Evil Reboot Film Casts Paul Hauser

Hauser joins Austin Abrams in Zach Cregger-directed September 2026 film ― Deadline reported on Wednesday that Sony's new live-action reboot of CAPCOM's Resident Evil survival horror game franchise will add actor Paul Walter Hauser (Richard Jewell, Black Bird, The Fantastic Four: First Steps) to the cast. Hauser joins Austin Abrams (Weapons, Euphoria, Wolfs), who Deadline reported on March 21 as join...
news

1st Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle Film Stays at #1 for 9th Week, You and Idol Precure Film Opens at #4

The Exit 8 horror game's live-action film dropped to #3 in 3rd weekend Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle - Akaza Sairai, the first film in the Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle trilogy, ranked at #1 in its ninth weekend. The film sold 523,000 tickets and earned 829,888,500 yen (about US$5.65 million) from Friday to Sunday. The film has sold a total of 23,042,671 tickets fo...
news

Live-Action One Piece Series' Sneak Peek Video Features 2nd Season Preview, Tashigi Tease, Cast Comments

2nd season premieres in 2026 ― Netflix began streaming on Wednesday a Sneak Peek video for the second live-action season based on Eiichiro Oda's One Piece manga. The video features comments from the main cast, scenes from the next season, and a tease of the character Tashigi: The new season will premiere on Netflix in 2026. The second season began production in July 2024, and has wrapped up productio...
news

Live-Action PUNKS TRIANGLE BL Series Posts Trailer, More Cast

Akiko Hinagata, Rui Kurihara, Kiyotake Nakamura, more join cast ― The official website for the live-action series of Yuho Okita's PUNKS TRIANGLE manga unveiled a new 15-second trailer, visual, and more cast members for the series on Wednesday. The newly announced cast members include: Akiko Hinagata as Yoshie Nakano, a lecturer at Chiaki and Ai's fashion school Rui Kurihara as Naoki Murase, the manag...
news

Live-Action Power Pro Drama Series Reveals Cast

Fuku Suzuki, Leo Matsumoto, Nichika Akutsu, Ayaka Shinya, Sana Ogino, more join cast ― ABC TV announced the cast on Tuesday for Power Pro Drama 2025 -Heibon na Shin Shakaijin no Ore ga Success Shita Hanashi- (Power Pro Drama 2025 -The Story of How I, an Ordinary New Working Adult, Found Success-), the live-action series based on Konami's Jikkyō Powerful Pro Yakyū (Powerful Pro Baseball) baseball game...
news

Live-Action Silent Service Sequel Film Streams 'Final Trailer'

Film opens in Japan on September 26 ― The staff for Chinmoku no kantai Hokkyoku-kai dai kaisen (The Silent Service: The Battle of the Arctic Ocean), the sequel film for the live-action project of Kaiji Kawaguchi's The Silent Service manga, started streaming a "final trailer" on Tuesday. The video features ocean battle scenes, including a fierce attack by the U.S. military. The film will open on Septe...
news

Live-Action Futari Escape Series Unveils Opening Song Artist, Key Visual

Kentarō Seino performs opening theme song for October 4 comedy ― The staff for the live-action series adaptation of Shōichi Taguchi's Futari Escape (Our Escape) manga announced on Tuesday that singer-songwriter Kentarō Seino is performing the opening theme song "Futari de Hitotsu" (The Two of Us Are One), along with a new key visual. Seino created the song specifically for the series. Seven Seas publ...
news

Live-Action Fujōri Zakkaten Unreal Series Reveals More Cast

Series premieres on October 13 ― The staff for Unreal -Fujōri Zakkaten-, the live-action television series of Kei Yodaka and Shuu Katayama's Fujōri Zakkaten Unreal (Absurd Variety Shop Unreal) manga, announced more cast members and its theme song in a new trailer on Friday. The trailer previews the theme song "EVIL" by rap artist Hilcrhyme. The cast includes (in first row, left to right): Reina Kuros...
news

2nd Live-Action 'At 25:00, in Akasaka' Season Unveils New Trailer, Opening Song Artist

SIRUP performs opening "KIRA KIRA" ― TV Tokyo streamed a special trailer for the second live-action season based on' Hiroko Natsuno's At 25:00, in Akasaka (25-Ji, Akasaka de) boys-love manga on Sunday. The staff also announced that singer-songwriter SIRUP is performing the opening theme song "KIRA KIRA." The second season will debut on October 1 on TV Tokyo at 25:00 JST (effectively, October 2 at 1:0...
news

Japanese Animation TV Ranking, September 1-7

Yaiba: Samurai Legend earns 2.7% ― An episode of Anpan, the newest entry in NHK's six-decade-long Renzoku Terebi Shōsetsu (Serialized TV Novel, also known as "Asadora" or Morning Drama) franchise, aired on Friday, September 5 at 8:00 a.m. and earned a 17.4% rating. Another showing on Friday, September 5 at 12:45 p.m. earned a 7.3% rating. The new live-action weekday morning series is inspired by the...
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'Bon Appétit, Your Majesty' Live-Action Series Ranks #2 on Netflix's Global Non-English Shows List

Time-traveling gourmet romance series based on web novel, webtoon debuted on August 23 ― The historical fantasy-romance series Bon Appétit, Your Majesty has quickly risen to the top of Netflix's official Tudum rankings, claiming the No. 2 spot in the Global Non-English Shows category with 7.5 million views for the week of September 1-7. The show also ranked at #2 for the week of August 25-31, and at...
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Live-Action Hirayasumi Series Announces November 3 Premiere

Series based on Keigo Shinzō's slice-of-life manga that is also inspiring anime ― NHK announced on Friday that the live-action series of Keigo Shinzō's Hirayasumi manga will premiere on November 3. The company also released a still from the upcoming show: Amane Okayama plays protagonist Hiroto Ikuta in the series. Nana Mori (Weathering With You, live-action Insomniacs After School) plays the role of ...
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Netflix Confirms Production of Korean-Japanese Crime Series Road, Based on 2002 Manhwa

Road follows investigation of gruesome cross-border serial murder case ― Netflix announced on September 11 that production has been confirmed for its new crime thriller series tentatively titled Road, with actor Seok-gu Son (A Killer Paradox) set to star. The streaming giant also revealed the main cast and production team behind the project. The upcoming show is based on the 2002 Korean-Japanese col...
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Live-Action Kamen no Ninja Akakage Series Reveals 4 Cast Members

Keito Kimura, Ryō Katō, Shūgo Oshinari, Tokio Emoto join cast ― The official X/Twitter account for the live-action series of Mitsuteru Yokoyama's Kamen no Ninja Akakage manga revealed more cast members for the series on Friday. The cast members, including the previously announced Taiki Satō, are: Taiki Satō as Akakage (upper left in image above) Keito Kimura as Aokage (upper right) Ryō Katō as Shirok...
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Live-Action Romantic Killer Film Casts Shō Yonashiro as Mysterious Soldier

Yonashiro does lines in foreign language, with no Japanese lines ― The official website for the live-action film of Wataru Momose's Romantic Killer manga began streaming a promotional video for the film on Friday. The video reveals that JO1 boy band member Shō Yonashiro is joining the film's cast as a "mysterious soldier" who becomes one of the men with a romantic destiny related to Anzu. Yonashiro's...
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The Convenience Store Horror Game Gets Live-Action Film in 2026

Live-action Tomodachi Game director Jirō Nagae directs film ― Japanese indie game developer Chilla's Art announced on Friday that its The Convenience Store (Yakin Jiken) game is inspiring a live-action film that will open in Japan in 2026. Jirō Nagae (live-action Tomodachi Game, Liar! Uncover the Truth) is directing the film, and Canter is distributing. The original game puts the player in the shoes ...
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2nd Live-Action Mr. Osomatsu Film's Teaser Reveals January 9 Opening

Kansai-region performers play Matsuno brothers in new film ― The official website for the second live-action film in the Mr. Osomatsu (Osomatsu-san) franchise unveiled a teaser trailer and a new visual for the film on Friday. The teaser announces the film's January 9 opening date. Yūichi Nakamura, who plays the brother Karamatsu in the anime, narrates the teaser. The new cast for the second film's se...
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Exit 8 Live-Action Movie Review

Playing at the Toronto International Film Festival, Exit 8 turns the indie game into a stylish-but-not-very-substantial movie. ― If that plot summary looks minimal, that's because there's minimal plot to summarize here. In the 95 minutes it takes to watch the Exit 8 movie, you could complete two average-length play-throughs of its video game source material. If you're really good at the “spot-the-dif...
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Tokyo Gap Financing Market Reveals Selected Film Projects Including Animated Film by Ayumu Watanabe, Live-Action Adaptation of Staring at your back Manga

Watanabe to direct Freedom in the Sky at GENCO Inc.; KILLTUBE anime film also selected ― The official website of the Tokyo International Film Festival Content Market (TIFFCOM) announced the 23 selected film projects for its Tokyo Gap-Financing Market event, which helps complete financing for feature-length film projects, on Thursday. The selection includes a feature animated film titled Freedom in th...
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Netflix Reveals Last Samurai Standing Live-Action Series' November 13 Premiere

Adaptation of Shōgo Imamura's novels star Junichi Okada, Kazunari Ninomiya, Masahiro Higashide, Taichi Saotome, more ― Netflix started streaming on Monday the teaser video for Last Samurai Standing, the live-action series adaptation of Shōgo Imamura's Ikusagami novels, which revealed the series' November 13 premiere. Netflix describes the series: In the late 19th century during the Meiji period, 292 ...
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1st Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle Film Is Fastest Film to Reach 30 Billion Yen in Japan

1st Infinity Castle film stays at #1, new live-action Karada Sagashi film opens at #4 Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle - Akaza Sairai, the first film in the Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle trilogy, ranked at #1 in its eighth weekend. The film sold 501,000 tickets and earned 804,473,800 yen (about US$5.45 million) from Friday to Sunday. The film has so far sold 22,007,40...
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New Resident Evil Reboot Film Reveals Director of Photography Dariusz Wolski

Zach Cregger directs September 2026 film ― Iconic Talent Agency is listing Dariusz Wolski (Prometheus, The Last Duel) as the director of photography for Sony's new live-action reboot of CAPCOM's Resident Evil survival horror game franchise. The film will open in theaters on September 18, 2026. Zach Cregger (Barbarian, Weapons) directs the new film. Constantin Film and PlayStation Productions will pro...
interest

Current Berserk Writer Complains About New Kamen Rider's Similarities to D.Diver Manga

Kouji Mori: “D.Diver was the last manga I created with [Kentaro] Miura. It's like a keepsake to me, so it made me even more emotional.” ― Manga creator and current Berserk supervisor Kouji Mori released a statement outlining his frustration with the latest Kamen Rider television series, Kamen Rider Zeztz, on September 5. Mori said he provided help to a producer for a Kamen Rider film project and not...

Wonder Woman's Jason Fuchs Scripts Planned Hollywood Live-Action My Hero Academia Film

Live-action Bleach, Kingdom director Shinsuke Satō to helm project ― Entertainment news source The Hollywood Reporter posted on Tuesday that Jason Fuchs (Wonder Woman, Argylle, Ice Age: Continental Drift) will write a script for Legendary Entertainment's planned live-action film adaptation of Kōhei Horikoshi My Hero Academia manga. Joby Harold was previously slated to write the adaptation. Shinsuke S...
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Live-Action Papa and Daddy's Home Cooking Series Casts Misako Renbutsu, Shūto Inomata

Renbutsu plays cooking teacher, Inomata plays orthopedic clinic part-timer in October 4 series ― The official X/Twitter account for the live-action series of Yū Toyota's Papa and Daddy's Home Cooking (Papa to Oyaji no Uchi Gohan) manga revealed more cast members for the series on Wednesday. Misako Renbutsu (lower left in image below) plays Yukari Mayumi, the teacher at a cooking class that Sengoku an...
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Arata Kawabata Launches Manga Spinoff of Nihon Tōitsu Live-Action Video Series

Gourmet spinoff manga Nomi Kui Dōraku ~Nihon Tōitsu~ launches on October 6 ― The October issue of Akita Shoten's Monthly Princess magazine revealed last Friday that manga creator Arata Kawabata is launching a gourmet manga spinoff of the live-action Nihon Tōitsu original video series titled Nomi Kui Dōraku ~Nihon Tōitsu~ (The Vice of Eating and Drinking ~Japan Unification~) in the magazine's next iss...
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Japanese Animation TV Ranking, August 25-31

Princess Mononoke earns 11.0% rating, Tougen Anki earns 3.1%, Gachiakuta earns 2.1% ― Studio Ghibli and Hayao Miyazaki's Princess Mononoke film aired on NTV on Friday, August 29 at 9:00 p.m. and it earned an 11.0% rating. The Eiga Oshiri Tantei Saraba Itoshiki Aibō (Oshiri) yo anime film aired on NHK-E on Sunday, August 31 at 3:45 p.m. and it earned a 0.3% rating. The Sing a Bit of Harmony anime fil...
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Mitsuteru Yokoyama's Kamen no Ninja Akakage Manga Gets Live-Action Series by Takashi Miike

EXILE/FANTASTICS' Taiki Satō stars in series premiering on October 26 ― TV Asahi opened a website on Saturday to announce a live-action series of the Kamen no Ninja Akakage manga by Mitsuteru Yokoyama (Tetsujin 28-gō, Giant Robo). Acclaimed genre director Takashi Miike (Ichi the Killer, Crows Zero, Lesson of the Evil) is serving as the chief director, and EXILE/FANTASTICS member Taiki Satō (live-acti...

New Live-Action Street Fighter Film Reveals Cast, October 2026 Opening

Rayna Vallandingham, Mel Jarnson, Eric André, Cody Rhodes, more join cast ― Legendary Entertainment revealed the cast and October 16, 2026 opening for its new live-action film of CAPCOM's Street Fighter fighting game series on Thursday. The announcement confirms some previous cast announcements, but also includes new announcements. The cast includes: Andrew Koji as Ryu Noah Centineo as Ken Rayna Vall...
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Papa and Daddy's Home Cooking Manga Gets Live-Action Series in October

Sō Matsushima, Jin Shirasu, Nono Tanahashi, Sakura star in series ― TV Asahi announced on Friday that it is producing a live-action series of Yū Toyota's Papa and Daddy's Home Cooking (Papa to Oyaji no Uchi Gohan) manga that will premiere on its "Oshi Dora Saturday" programming block on October 4. Idol group timelesz member Sō Matsushima (adult right in image above) stars in the series as Akira Sengo...
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Live-Action Wakako-zake Season 9 Unveils More Cast, Opening Song Artist

Kanji Tsuda, Sports Makita, Takeo Gozu, Sujitarō Tamabukuro join cast ― The official website for the live-action series based on Chie Shinkyū's Wakako-zake manga unveiled a new visual, more cast members, and the opening theme song for the series' ninth season on Thursday. The additional cast members include Kanji Tsuda, Sports Makita, Takeo Gozu, and Sujitarō Tamabukuro. Riria. performs the ninth sea...
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Exit 8 Has Highest 3-Day Opening for Live-Action Films This Year in Japan

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle stays at #1 Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle - Akaza Sairai, the first film in the Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle trilogy, ranked at #1 in its seventh weekend. The film sold 706,000 tickets and earned 1,094,840,600 yen (about US$7.35 million) from Friday to Sunday. The film has so far sold 21.10 million tickets for a cumul...
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Live-Action Kanagawa Elves Series Casts Ray Fujita as Narrator

Series based on Yoroida's fantasy comedy manga debuts on September 30 ― The staff for the live-action series of Yoroida's #Kanagawa ni Sunderu Elf (Kanagawa Elves or literally, The Elves Living in Kanagawa) manga revealed on Tuesday the show's key visual and its narrator, actor and musician Ray Fujita. The live-action series will star (from top left to bottom right in image above): Sion Yoshitaka as ...
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2nd Live-Action Golden Kamuy Film's Teaser Reveals Title, March 13 Debut

Kento Yamazaki, Anna Yamada reprise roles ― The official staff for the live-action Golden Kamuy films announced in a teaser trailer on Monday that the second film is titled Golden Kamuy: Abashiri Kangoku Shūgeki-hen (Golden Kamuy: Attack on Abashiri Prison Arc) and will open on March 13. The staff also revealed the cast, the staff list, and a key visual. Kento Yamazaki reprises his role as Saichi Sug...
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Live-Action 5 Centimeters Per Second Film Screens at Busan Film Fest, Gets Asian Release

Film to screen at Busan Film Fest's Open Cinema section ― The official website for the live-action film of Makoto Shinkai's 5 Centimeters per Second anime film announced on August 26 that the film has been selected for the Open Cinema section of the 30th Busan International Film Festival, which will be held on September 17-26. Additionally, the film is confirmed to get screenings throughout Asia, wit...
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Futari Escape Comedy Manga Gets Live-Action Series on October 4

Nogizaka46 idols Renka Iwamoto, Nao Tomisato star as women escaping everyday life ― An official website opened on Monday to announce a live-action television series of Shōichi Taguchi's Futari Escape (Our Escape) manga. The late-night weekly series will premiere on the TV Osaka and TV Aichi channels on October 4. The series stars Nogizaka46 idol group members Renka Iwamoto (Ameku M.D.: Doctor Detecti...
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Japanese Animation TV Ranking, August 18-24

Ponyo film earns 8.3% rating, Tougen Anki earns 2.6% ― Studio Ghibli and Hayao Miyazaki's Ponyo film aired on NTV on Friday, August 22 at 9:00 p.m. and it earned an 8.3% rating. An episode of Anpan, the newest entry in NHK's six-decade-long Renzoku Terebi Shōsetsu (Serialized TV Novel, also known as "Asadora" or Morning Drama) franchise, aired on Tuesday, August 19 at 8:00 a.m. and earned a 17.1% ra...
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Strobe Edge Live-Action Series Reveals More Cast, October 31 Debut for 1st Season in Video

Series to adapt full manga in 2 seasons ― WOWOW began streaming a new trailer on Saturday for the live-action series of Io Sakisaka's Strobe Edge manga. WOWOW also revealed more cast members (character romanizations are not confirmed for all characters): Koki Yamashita as Takumi Andō Nao Kosaka as Sayuri Uehara Motoki Nakazawa as Daiki Korenaga Tsubasa Nakagawa as Manabu Miyoshi Sora Inoue as Yuutaro...
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Live-Action Kowloon Generic Romance Film's Clip Shows Reiko, Kudō's Conversation

Film opened in Japan on Friday ― The staff for the live-action film of Jun Mayuzuki's Kowloon Generic Romance manga streamed a clip from the film on Friday. The clip shows Reiko and Kudō in a workplace conversation, becoming more meaningful when Reiko asks Kudō if he feels "nostalgia" from Reiko, and Kudō looks at her as if she were a completely different person. The film screened at the the JAPAN CU...
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Therapy Game BL Manga Gets Live-Action Series

Series premieres on October 29 ― Shinshokan announced on Friday that Meguru Hinohara's Therapy Game boys-love manga is inspiring a live-action series that will premiere on NTV on October 29. Misato Katō and Miyako Yasoshima are directing the series at Video Planning, with scripts by Yō Saitō and Shinju Funabiki. Viz Media's SuBLime imprint for boys-love manga publishes both Therapy Game and the Thera...
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Webtoon, Web Novel Series A Man's Man Gets Live-Action Adaptation

Original webtoon garnered more than 470 million global views ― The webtoon and web novel A Man's Man is officially set for a live-action adaptation, with director Hee-won Kim attached to helm the project. Originally created as a web novel by Lucas, A Man's Man was adapted into a webtoon in 2020 and was serialized on Naver Webtoon. The story follows Yoo-hyun Han, an ordinary office worker who rises t...
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Live-Action Gazing at the Star Next Door Film Opens at #9, Odekake Kozame Anime Film Opens at #10

2025 Crayon Shin-chan film stays at #5 Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle - Akaza Sairai, the first film in the Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle trilogy, ranked at #1 in its sixth weekend. The film sold 764,000 tickets and earned 1,154,462,300 yen (about US$7.84 million) from Friday to Sunday. The film has sold 19,825,555 tickets for 28,087,694,600 yen (about US$190.8 mill...
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Live-Action PUNKS TRIANGLE BL Series Reveals Cast, Staff, October 9 Debut

Genin wa Jibun ni Aru's Ryota Nagano, Yasunari Fujibayashi star in series ― The official website for the live-action series of Yuho Okita's PUNKS TRIANGLE manga revealed on Wednesday the show's key visual, main cast, staff, and October 9 premiere. The series stars: Genin wa Jibun ni Aru. member Ryōta Nagano as Chiaki Sumiura Yasunari Fujibayashi (Kamen Rider Gotchard, live-action Tokyo Revengers 2: C...
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Live-Action Return to Silent Hill Film's Teaser Previews Familiar Monsters

Pyramid Head shown in teaser for January 23 film ― The live-action Return to Silent Hill film's official X (formerly Twitter) account opened on Tuesday and began streaming a teaser trailer for the film. The teaser shows glimpses of some of the monsters, including the iconic Pyramid Head. Welcome back to Silent Hill.You live here now.Return to Silent Hill is only in theaters January 2026. pic.twitter....

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