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One Piece Wins 'Most IcoNYC Anime of All Time' at Anime & Manga International Awards
Runner-ups were Dragon Ball Z, Attack on Titan, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, Naruto
― The Anime & Manga International Awards (The AMI Awards) honored the long-running One Piece anime with the fan-voted "Most IcoNYC Anime of All Time" award last Saturday at Anime NYC. Runner-ups for the award included: Dragon Ball Z, Attack on Titan, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, and Naruto. IMG j7403416.jpg
...
Naruto's Masashi Kishimoto Draws How to Train Your Dragon Crossover Art
Hiccup tames Toothless while Naruto tames Gamakichi
― The Naruto franchise and Universal Pictures Japan announced on Friday that Naruto creator Masashi Kishimoto drew an original crossover illustration of Naruto and the live-action How to Train Your Dragon film. Kishimoto also commented on the new film saying, “The animated How to Train Your Dragon was so entertaining, that among my fellow manga crea...
Minami Hamabe, Haruka Fukuhara Star in Anime Ads Based on Their Experiences
Godzilla Minus One, Kaguya-sama actresses star in National Mutual Insurance Federation of Agricultural Cooperatives campaign
― The National Mutual Insurance Federation of Agricultural Cooperatives announced Tasukeai Story (Stories of Helping Each Other), a new anime commercial project starring actresses Minami Hamabe and Haruka Fukuhara, on Friday. The first episode is already available. The anime te...
VTuber Ironmouse Makes Rolling Stone's Top 25 Most Influential Creators of 2025
Announcement comes weeks after VTuber publicly announced departure from VShojo
― VTuber Ironmouse revealed on Wednesday on X (formerly Twitter) that she has made Rolling Stone magazine's Top 25 Most Influential Creators of 2025. Ironmouse said, "Thank you so much @RollingStone for including me on the 25 most influential creators of 2025 list. I still can't believe [I'm] on the list!" Ironmous's inclu...
Cat's Eye Creator Tsukasa Hōjō Releases Statement Before New Anime's Release
Tsukasa Hojo: "Since it was my first serialized work and I was feeling my way through it, it feels a bit embarrassing now."
― Cat's Eye creator Tsukasa Hojo released a statement on Tuesday prior to the new anime adaptation's release. Hojo stated he was grateful to the fans of his series, and it was thanks to them that Cat's Eye was receiving a new anime series. Hojo's full statement reads:
"We are on...
KPop Demon Hunters Is 1st Netflix Film to Top U.S. Weekend Box Office
And it's now Netflix's most watched movie ever
― American entertainment news outlet Deadline reported on Monday that KPop Demon Hunters reached #1 on the U.S. weekend box office with US$19.2 million. The film made US$10.1 million on Saturday and US$9.1 million on Sunday. Deadline added that the KPop Demon Hunters Sing-Along Event played in 1,700 theaters and beat out Warner's summer mystery horror fi...
VTuber Suisei Hoshimachi Makes Cover of Forbes Japan 30 Under 30
3D animator Nashi and animator Kerorira also made Forbes Japan's 30 Under 30 list
― VTuber Suisei Hoshimachi revealed on Monday that she has made the cover of this year's October issue of Forbes Japan for the magazine's "30 Under 30" edition. ANN Japan based staff confirmed the magazine cover. The magazine also features an interview with the VTuber highlighting her career and what led her to become a...
Unlikeliest Gundam Turned into Gunpla Model
The Mandor Gundam makes its Gunpla debut
― Gundam.info revealed last Thursday that the Mandor Gundam from Mobile Fighter G Gundam is getting the Gunpla model treatment. The model features the Gundam's iconic bell body. Pre-orders for the Mandor Gundam began at noon on August 21. According to the Gundam.info portal website, the Mandor Gundam is slated for release in the HG 1/144 scale for 2,915 yen (a...
Catalyst Game Labs Plans Kickstarter for My Hero Academia Miniature Game
Plus Ultra goes plus miniature
― Tabletop game producer Catalyst Game Labs announced on Wednesday that it will be running a Kickstarter campaign for a My Hero Academia miniature game. The announcement previews two miniature figures of My Hero Academia characters Izuku “Deku” Midoriya and Tomura Shigaraki charging at each other. Players can “select your heroes (or villains) and take the fight to the ...
Rumiko Takahashi Marks Doraemon's 55th Anniversary With Crossover Art
Lum brought Doraemon a giant dorayaki birthday cake
― Renowned manga creator Rumiko Takahashi posted a congratulatory birthday message to the massively popular anime and manga character Doraemon on Thursday. Her illustration features Urusei Yatsura heroine Lum celebrating the 55th anniversary of Doraemon with a giant dorayaki birthday cake. The posts caption notes the Doraemon franchise is releasing ...
Yoshiki, Dan Da Dan Staff Apologize Over Concerns on X Japan Parody
Yoshiki was concerned in-story band HAYASii's likeness and musical stylings were similar to X Japan
― It took two weeks, but the public flap over the X Japan parody in episode 18 of the Dan Da Dan anime series is now over. Here's how it went down: Japanese musician and X Japan band member Yoshiki initially raised concerns about Dan Da Dan using the likeness of and musical stylings of X Japan followi...
The Guy She Was Interested In Wasn't a Guy At All, The Apothecary Diaries Win 2nd American Manga Awards
Tamaki & Amane, Ashita no Joe, minami, Evan Hayden, Riley VanDyke, Carl Gustav Horn also honored
― Japan Society and Anime NYC announced the winners for the second American Manga Awards at a ceremony at Japan Society, New York City on Thursday (the night before this year's Anime NYC event begins). The American Manga Awards celebrate manga creators and publishers who have made significant contribution...
McDonald's Japan Cancels One Piece Game Card Giveaway
Announcement comes days after Pokémon Happy Meal debacle
― The staff for the One Piece Card Game announced on Thursday that its planned campaign at McDonald's in Japan has been canceled. McDonald's website noted the decision came following a review of the initiatives tied to the fast food chain's Happy Meals (known as Happy Sets in Japan). Instead, restaurants will start distributing toys from previo...
Babymetal Is 1st Japanese Act to Rank on Billboard's U.S. Weekly Top 10 Albums
The metal idol group did what Sukiyaki, Hikaru Utada couldn't
― Japanese metal idol group Babymetal confirmed on Tuesday that their latest album, Metal Fourth. had reached the top 10 in several charts globally after its August 8 debut. Metal Fourth reached #3 in Japan (Oricon), #5 in Germany (Offizielle Charts), #9 in the United States (Billboard), and #17 in the United Kingdom (Official Charts). Bi...
Anime & Manga International Awards Launch Next July With Countdown Event at Anime NYC on Saturday
Attendees at Anime NYC can vote for "Most IcoNYC Anime of All Time"
― Digital Cinema Collective announced on Wednesday The Anime & Manga International Awards (The AMI Awards), a new ceremony coming to Los Angeles during the same week as Anime Expo from July 2-6. While that may seem like a long time from now, The AMI Awards will actually officially kick off with a countdown event at this year's Anime ...
Uniqlo Confirms Pokémon T-Shirts' New Hidden Bonus for Card Collectors
Uniqlo added a little something extra to this year's lineup
― Japanese casual wear designer and retailer Uniqlo confirmed on Sunday that the tags on their latest Pokémon UT collaboration T-shirts have a hidden bonus feature. Uniqlo responded to photos of one such tag and a card deck box, which were posted online with the caption, “The Uniqlo collaboration tag is a divider! It has a stub on top, so i...
Demon Slayer Returns to Kura Revolving Sushi Restaurants
Campaign begins on August 22 with merch launching in August-October, just in time for Infinity Castle film
― Another Demon Slayer film is upon us! To commemorate Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle - Akaza Sairai, the first film in the Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle trilogy, the Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba franchise is teaming up with the Kura Sushi revolving sushi bar r...
Nike Offers New Yu-Gi-Oh! Shoes
Walk in style like Joey Wheeler (or Katsuya Jōnouchi)
― American athletic footwear and apparel corporation Nike announced on August 12 that its new Yu-Gi-Oh! collaboration Nike Air Max 95 QS YGO shoes with launch on September 12. The announcement features a short video with voiceover by Yu-Gi-Oh! character Katsuya Jōnouchi (Joey Wheeler in the English dub). The voiceover appears to have new dialogue...
Anime World Offers Condolences After Voice Actor Tomo Sakurai's Death
Creators, artists, fans came together for their farewells
― The anime world lost a renowned voice actor and singer with the announcement of Tomo Sakurai's death on August 13. She was known for her roles as Mylene Flare Jenius from the Macross franchise, Misao Makimachi from Rurouni Kenshin, Shayla-Shayla from El Hazard The Magnificent World, Meimi Haneoka from Saint Tail, and Hinowa from Gintama. She...
Solo Leveling Joins Global Charity Marathon Event
Those who finish 6K run will receive exclusive Solo Leveling–themed rewards
― Kakao Entertainment announced on August 11 that the webtoon Solo Leveling will partner with NGO World Vision's upcoming charity project, the Global 6K Virtual Run, taking place from September 5 to 30. Unlike traditional marathons held in one location at a set time, the Global 6K Virtual Run allows participants to choose th...
Saiki K. Creator Overhears Women Talking About His Manga at Bookstore
Shuichi Aso was happy folks still recall his work — till he realized why they were talking about it
― The Disastrous Life of Saiki K. creator Shuichi Aso recounted on August 3 a chance encounter (sort of) he had at a bookstore. Aso said he overheard two women exclaim, “Oh! The Disastrous Life of Saiki K.” while he was at the undisclosed store. Aso noted he felt happy people were still reading his se...
One Piece's Jolly Roger Flag Flies in Protest in Indonesia
Citizens protest against legislative changes, inequality ahead of country's 80th Independence Day
― Indonesia celebrates its 80th Independence Day this Sunday, August 17. The country's president Prabowo Subianto has called on Indonesians to display the country's flag ahead of the day itself, but many Indonesians have instead chosen to raise a flag familiar to any otaku: the Jolly Roger flag of the St...
Spy x Family Takes Over Yokohama's Waterfront Minatomirai District
Take part in Spy x Family events at Yokohama's Landmark Plaza & Mark Is mall
― The SPY×FAMILY franchise revealed the key art for its upcoming collaboration event at the waterfront Minatomirai district in central Yokohama City. The collaboration will feature several activities between August 23 and October 13. The key visual feature SPY×FAMILY characters Anya Forger, Becky Blackbell, Damian Desmond, E...
Cutie Honey x Cyborg 009 April Fool's Joke Is Now a Real Figure
Cutie Honey + Cyborg 009 = Cyborg 0082
― Japanese soft vinyl toy manufacturer Artisan Toy announced on Wednesday that the April Fool's joke Cyborg 0082, based on Go Nagai's Cutie Honey manga and Shotaro Ishinomori's Cyborg 009 manga, has been turned into a real soft vinyl figure. According to the Artisan Toy, “Ishimori Productions and Dynamic Production simultaneously posted this fictional April Fool...
Koupen-chan Collaborates With Super Sentai's 1st-Ever Team
By far the cutest version of Himitsu Sentai Gorenger
― Rurutea, the creator of the baby emperor penguin character Koupen-chan, announced on August 8 that Koupen-chan is collaborating with the Super Sentai franchise's first-ever team, Himitsu Sentai Gorenger. Rurutea stated the special collaboration had started with a pop-up store between August 8 to 24 at the Ikebukuro Parco, featuring a poster of t...
Fairy Tail Manga Creator Hiro Mashima Lists His Top 5 Games of 2025
Surprisingly, the latest Monster Hunter game is not on the list
― Manga creator Hiro Mashima (Rave Master, Fairy Tail, Edens Zero, Dead Rock) posted his top five games of 2025 (so far) on August 9. Taking the top spot is Death Stranding 2 followed by Clair Obscure: Expedition 33 in second and Donkey Kong Bananza in third. The fourth and fifth place spots were taken by The Hundred Line: Last Defense A...
Tokyo's Rinkai Line Collaborates with Kozame-chan
Kozame-chan befriends Rinkai Line Mascot Rinkaru before his big screen debut.
― The Odekake Kozame series announced on Tuesday that it is collaborating with Tokyo's third-sector railway company Tokyo Waterfront Area Rapid Transit's (TWR) Rinkai Line. The official X (formerly Twitter) account for the Odekake Kozame series shared the collaboration's key visual with titular character Kozame-chan and Rin...
Manga Creator Ken Akamatsu Will Not Appear at Comiket While He Is Vice Minister
His booth application was accepted, but he cites regulations for not going
― Manga creator-turned-politician Ken Akamatsu confirmed on Tuesday that he will not be appearing at the second day of the Comic Market (Comiket) 106 convention this Sunday. He noted that the world's largest event for self-published dōjin works accepted his circle's application for a booth, but due to his positions as Parliame...
McDonald's Japan Apologizes After Pokémon Card Offer Runs Into Trouble
McDonald's asks people not to buy Happy Meals just to resell cards
― Fast-food restaurant chain McDonald's Japan announced on Saturday that several of its locations have ended distribution of limited-edition Pokémon Trading Card Game cards with its Happy Meals (known as Happy Sets in Japan) early. McDonald's Japan apologized for "not being able to meet the expectations of our customers who were looki...
Eiichiro Oda Plays With One Piece Lego Sets for the 1st Time
And “breaks” the Battle at Arlong Park set
― On August 8, the One Piece franchise posted a video of One Piece creator Eiichiro Oda encountering the newly released One Piece Lego sets with the following captions: “A surprise for Odacchi!” “What was Odacchi's reaction when he got the real thing in his hands?” “Join us as Oda-sensei takes a look at the One Piece Lego sets that bring our East Blue adven...
Gundam W Voice Quintet Reunite for Dinner Show With Newly Written Script
Gundam franchise's 1st-ever dinner show will also have live dubbing of well-known scenes
― The cast members of the Mobile Suit Gundam Wing series confirmed during the anime's August 9 "Operation Fukuoka" stage event that they will be holding the 30th Anniversary Dinner Show -Operation Reunion- on December 27. The dinner show — the first-ever in the entire Gundam franchise — will feature voice actors...
Nyaight of the Living Cat Anime Cross-Promotes With 28 Years Later Film
Can you resist the allure of cats & zombies?
― The Nyaight of the Living Cat anime staff announced on Friday that it is collaborating with the 2025 post-apocalyptic zombie film 28 Years Later. The anime's staff noted the series is entering the “Nyanpocalypse Arc” and posted an image of the Nyaight of the Living Cat and 28 Years Later collaboration movie poster: Sony Pictures Japan then posted a colla...
CLAMP Confirms 1st Ever Tie-In with Luxury Chocolate Brand Godiva
Godiva: "This collaboration will bring you a new chocolate experience, complete with special illustrations"
― Manga creative team CLAMP confirmed on Thursday its first-ever collaboration with luxury chocolate brand Godiva Chocolatier after teasing it on Tuesday. A Godiva chocolate collection with new illustrations will go on sale on October 1. CLAMP shared a collaboration illustration featuring sever...
My-Otome Anime Celebrates 20th Anniversary
Relive the adventures at Garderobe Academy with anniversary key art
― The My-Otome anime series announced its 20th anniversary celebration on August 2. The celebration begins with an anniversary key visual created by character designer Hirokazu Hisayuki. The Sunrise World website also posted a message from My-Otome director Masakazu Obara. Obara was a bit wry with his comments, joking about other ser...
Japanese Gamers List Top 100 Addictive Video Games
Taking the top spot is Minecraft
― The July 27 episode of Japanese TV program Ariyoshieeeee! polled 3,000 gamers for the top 100 addictive video games (among other categories). The top three games are 2011's Minecraft in the #1 spot, 1985's Super Mario Bros. in second, and 2020's Animal Crossing: New Horizons in third. The top 10 video games according to Ariyoshieeeee! are: 1. Minecraft (2011)
2. Su...
Complete Teekyū Blu-ray Set Comes With Underpants-Shaped Caps
Encase your Blu-ray Disc with underpants seen in the series
― Japanese media company Frontier Works announced the complete Blu-ray Disc release for the Teekyu anime on August 2. Frontier Works notes the disc will ship on October 29 with all nine seasons of the anime series — complete with underpants-shaped cap covers. The set will feature all 108 episodes of the Teekyu anime series and 14 unaired epi...
Hatsune Miku Zaku II Appears in Gashapon Form
As seen in the Gundam x Miku Collaboration Music Video
― Bandai Namco capsule toy brand Gashapon announced a set of Gundam x Hatsune Miku collaboration gashapon figures that are part of Mobile Suit Gundam's 45th anniversary celebration. The figures feature the virtual idol dressed as mobile suits that appeared in the collaboration music video of “Idol Senshi (feat. Hatsune Miku)” (Idol Warrior) by Mi...
Chocolate Brand Godiva Teases CLAMP Collaboration
Those silhouettes sure look like Mokona or Mokona Modoki
― Luxury chocolate brand Godiva teased an apparent collaboration with manga creative team CLAMP on Tuesday. Godiva Japan shared an image of a Godiva heart chocolate box with a silhouette of what appears to be CLAMP mascot characters Mokona and/or Mokona Modoki. The posts caption reads “Godiva x ??? Coming soon” with the shush emoji. As of press...
Honda Unveils the Pokémon Koraidon Motorcycle
Koraidon took to the circuit at Suzuka 8 Hours motorcycle endurance race
― Japanese automobile manufacturer Honda debuted its Koraidon motorcycle from the Pokémon Scarlet game at the Suzuka 8 Hours motorcycle endurance race on Sunday. The Koraidon motorcycle is built with the Honda Riding Assist system, allowing it to operate independently. Japanese sports satellite TV broadcaster J Sports was on sit...
The Idolm@ster SideM & King of Prism Cross Over With Voice Drama, Screenings, & More
2 current animated male idol groups come together
― The Idolm@ster SideM and King of Prism franchises announced on July 12 that they are collaborating. The announcement featured a 30-second promotional video and the tagline, “'Passion' and ‘sparkle’ come together!”: For two weeks, that was all fans knew about the collaboration. However, the franchises revealed their joint key visual and more on July...
Entertainer Shoko Nakagawa Is Expecting Twins
Multi-talent had announced her pregnancy on her birthday May 5
― Japanese multi-talent Shoko Nakagawa (popularly known as "Shokotan") announced on Saturday that she is expecting twin boys. Nakagawa made the announcement in an X (formerly Twitter) post fetauring an exclusive interview she had with Japanese fashion magazine Numéro Tokyo. In her interview, she spoke about her expected twins, fertility t...
This Is How Nukitashi The Animation Airs in Tokyo With Only the Audio
The credits sequence were spared the audio-only treatment
― ANN's Japan-based staff confirmed how the Tokyo MX1 channel premiered the audio-only broadcast of Nukitashi the Animation on July 22. The premiere ran the episode's entire audio track over the series logo with a beach backdrop. The ending animation sequence of the premiere episode was actually what would become the opening animation sequenc...
Voice Actor Satomi Akesaka Asks Where's the Beef
She has not received her Wagyū beef prize from her appearance on Say You to Yoasobi program
―
Voice actor Satomi Akesaka posted a set of messages on her X (formerly Twitter) account on July 30, joking about the Wagyū beef she has yet to receive from the Japanese net television program Say You to Yoasobi (A Night Out With Voice Actors). In her first post, Akesaka spelled “Beef” using a series of cow ...
Kadokawa Issues Guidelines for Sampling Clips From 4 Summer Anime
How to sample The Rising of the Shield Hero, New Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt, Detectives These Days Are Crazy!, See You Tomorrow at the Food Court
― Kadokawa announced guidelines for derivative use of video clips (such as in review and analysis videos) for four summer 2025 anime properties on Monday. The properties are The Rising of the Shield Hero season 4, New Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt...
Play With Brick Power With Lego Game Boy
Comes with Lego The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening and Lego Super Mario Land. Batteries not included.
― Nintendo of America announced on July 24 on X (formerly Twitter) that pre-orders for the upcoming Lego Game Boy have begun. The company's post parodies the Game Boy's original tagline, "Now you're playing with power. Portable power," with the caption "Now you're playing with power. Brick power."...
One Piece Café Expands to Los Angeles' Little Tokyo
1st 100 guests in line at grand opening receive special One Piece gifts
― The One Piece franchise announced on Tuesday that the One Piece café is opening a second location in Los Angeles' Little Tokyo on August 2. According to the café's post on Facebook, the location will feature "some exclusive LA-only menu and merch items you won't find anywhere else." The post also includes a teaser video of the ...
Pokémon Collaborates With Shonen Jump on August 4
Collaboration covers include One Piece's Luffy with Pikachu
― Shueisha's Weekly Shonen Jump magazine announced on Monday that it will collaborate with the massively popular multimedia franchise Pokémon for the combined 36th and 37th issue, which ships on August 4. The Shonen Jump Editorial Team previewed the three Weekly Shonen Jump and Pokémon collaboration illustrations, which include One Piece's L...
LA Dodgers to Host Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle Night on August 15
Will Shohei Ohtani take up the mantle of Baseball Hashira?
― The Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba franchise announced last Wednesday that it will partner with the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team during the team's home game on August 15. The event will begin at 7:10 p.m. According to a press release by the Los Angeles Dodgers, the partnership will see "a stadium-wide giveaway of co-branded hats celebr...
VShojo Releases Statement Following Talent Exodus
VShojo CEO Justin Ignacio: I am sharing the difficult news that VShojo is shutting down, and I take full responsibility for the decisions that led us to this point.
― VTuber agency VShojo's CEO Justin Ignacio released a statement on Friday following the mass exodus of VShojo talent. Ignacio stated that VShojo is shutting down and he takes full responsibility for “the decisions that led us to this poi...
Odekake Kozame to Take a Trip to Saitama Seibu Lions Baseball Team's Home Stadium
Titular character Kozame-chan, voice actor Kana Hanazawa appear for ceremonial 1st pitch
― The Odekake Kozame series announced on Tuesday that it will collaborate with Japan's Saitama Seibu Lions baseball team on August 14. Series protagonist Kozame-chan and voice actor Kana Hanazawa will appear at the collaboration event. The Seibu Lions' website noted that Kozame-chan and voice actor Kana Hanazawa ...
Nohara Family Finally Reunites in Latest Live-Action Crayon Shin-chan Ad
Only member missing onscreen is family dog Shiro
― Coca-Cola Japan's Yakan no Mugicha (Kettle Barley Tea) brand released the seventh installment in the live-action Crayon Shin-chan short series on Tuesday. The new short stars Fumiya Takahashi as a 25-year-old Shinosuke “Shin-chan” Nohara, Taizo Harada as Shin-chan's father Hiroshi Nohara, Kumiko Aso as Shin-chan's mother Misae Nohara, and Mei Hata as...
VTuber Ironmouse Leaves VShojo, Triggering Exodus of Most of Agency's Talent (Updated)
Exodus follows allegations VShojo owes over US$500,000 to Immune Deficiency Foundation charity
― American virtual VTuber entertainer Ironmouse announced she left her agency VShojo on her YouTube channel on Monday, and most of VShojo's talent lineup have since announced their departures by the following day. Ironmouse's 11-minute announcement video opens with Ironmouse alleging VShojo owes the Immune ...
Cosplay as Gundam's Zaku II With New Hoodie
As Ramba Ral would say, “This is no Zaku, boy. No Zaku.”
― Gundam.info revealed a new hoodie inspired by the Mobile Suit Gundam anime's iconic mobile suit Zaku II on July 11. Japanese clothing and cosplay maker Cospa will release it in early November. In addition to the hood based on the Zaku II head, the hoodie's chest design draws inspiration from the upper body of the mobile suit. The Zaku II hood...
Voice Actor Hina Kino Announces Birth of Son
Voice of Apocalypse Hotel's Tamako shared photo of her family holding each other's hands
― Voice actor Hina Kino announced the birth of her son on July 18. Kino included a photo of her family holding each other's hands and a short message to her colleagues and fans. I recently gave birth to a baby boy.
Both my son and I are in good health.
I would like to thank all my colleagues for adjusting my sche...
Oshi no Ko Franchise Joins Campaign to Prevent Underage Smoking
Characters Ruby Hoshino, Kana Arima, & Memcho say, “Don't smoke in your dream teen years!”
― The Oshi no Ko franchise announced on July 4 that it partnered with the Tobacco Institute of Japan for a campaign to prevent underage smoking. The franchise released the key visual for the campaign and notes the institute runs such a campaign every July. The visual has the franchise's characters Ruby Hoshino,...
80 Years After WWII, Hiroshima Screens Grave of the Fireflies for Free to Anyone Under 25
The Ghibli film will also air on Japanese TV on the anniversary of the war's end
― The Hiroshima City Cinematographic and Audio-Visual Library announced on July 8 that it will screen Isao Takahata and Studio Ghibli's 1988 historical film Grave of the Fireflies. Tickets for the shows are 510 yen for adults and 250 yen for seniors (65 years old and older) (about US$3.50 and US$1.70, respectively), but ...
This Month's Unexpected Collaboration: Naruto x Hard Rock Cafe
Has Naruto betrayed ramen for burgers & fries?
― Hard Rock Café Japan announced a Naruto Shippuden collaboration on its website on June 23. The collaboration this month includes merchandise such as shirts, pin badges, keychains, magnets and tote bags. The merchandise went on sale on July 4 and is available at the restaurant chain's Tokyo, Ueno Station, Yokohama, Kyoto, and Universal Citywalk Osaka lo...
Creators Criticize Japanese Political Party's Plans for Manga, Anime, Games
Sanseitō: Authorize government to ensure manga, anime, games' "healthy development as culture"
― With the Japanese Upper House elections set for Sunday, a new policy platform involving manga, anime, and games from the ultra-conservative Sanseitō party came to light earlier this week. X (formerly Twitter) user @masanews3 posted a screenshot of a Sanseitō's policy measures for these fields and asked, ...
Wear Cardcaptor Sakura's Uniform — as a Tracksuit Jacket
Get Sakura Kinomoto's lace stocking as well
― Japanese anime apparel and merchandise brand Aniga-ter announced on July 4 that it is releasing a series of Cardcaptor Sakura: Clear Card merchandise. The apparel and merchandise include a tracksuit jacket, tights, t-shirt, acrylic frame stands, acrylic trading card cases, acrylic key chains, acrylic clips, and smartphone stickers. Pre-orders began that s...
Sponsors Return for Fuji TV's Summer Anime Season
Chibi Maruko-chan ends 3-month sponsorship drought
― ANN's Japan-based staff confirmed the return of sponsors with the full-fledged start of Fuji TV's summer season for anime, as of Thursday. Specifically, three long-running Fuji TV anime series are airing with full sponsorship: GeGeGe no Kitarō: Watashi no Ai Shita Rekidai GeGeGe (a rerun of selected GeGeGe no Kitarō episodes from the franchise's 6...
How Would Audio-Only Anime Work? Nukitashi Episode 1's Preview Teases How
With dialogue appearing onscreen with the audio
―
The upcoming series Nukitashi The Animation released a new (almost) audio-only preview for its first episode on Wednesday, days before its premiere. The preview features audio from the anime, with the lines appearing on screen: The staff had announced on Monday that the series would have an audio-only broadcast on the Tokyo MX1 channel, althought its...
Megazone 23 Anime Gets Murder Mystery Card Game
Just in time for the pioneering original video anime's 40th anniversary
― Japanese board game and murder mystery game maker Adice announced a murder mystery game based on the 1985 original video anime (OVA) series Megazone 23 (pronounced "two-three") on Monday. Pre-orders have already begun for the Megazone 23 Bahamut no Zanei Murder Mystery (Megazone 23: The Shadow of Bahamut Murder Mystery) game be...
The Summer Hikaru Died Animators Prepped Real Chicken For That Scene
Then they fried & ate it
― Shōji Tsuchiya, the animation production staff runner (watch Animation Runner Kuromi or Shirobako to see what that means) for The Summer Hikaru Died anime episode 2, reported on Sunday about a job requirement that neither Kuromi nor Shirobako's Aoi ever had: the staff prepared marinated chicken for that scene in that episode — and then fried and ate it together. Tsuchiya fu...
Tokyo MX1 Station Will Air the Nukitashi Anime — But Only the Audio
Sister station Tokyo MX2 will air the anime's video & audio, but censored
― The upcoming series Nukitashi the Animation announced on Monday more details on the television channels which will run the series. They include the premium subscription channels AT-X and BS11, plus the local over-the-air stations Gifu Broadcasting, KBS Kyoto, and Mie TV. Tokyo MX1, which serves Japan's most populous area of T...
Giant Demon Slayer Ads at Japan's Busiest Station Tell Folks They're Going to Hell
Thankfully Shinjuku Station patrons won't have to abandon all hope when they enter
― The Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle film debuted new advertisements on the various entrances and corridors of Tokyo's Shinjuku Station — the most crowded train station in the entire world — on Monday. The ads feature the franchise's demon characters Muzan Kibutsuji, Kokushibo, Doma, Akaza, and Kaigaku ...
New Yu-Gi-Oh! Time Wizard Clock Wakes You Up (Only Half of the Time)
Will it work when you need it? It's a figurative coin toss
― Japanese plastic model, figure, and toy maker Kotobukiya unveiled a new, functional Yu-Gi-Oh! Time Wizard plush alarm clock on July 12. However, true to the original Time Wizard card, its internal alarm clock mechanism only works half of the time, by design — when you set the voice and vibration alarm, there is a 50% chance it doesn't sound...
Demon Slayer Offers Rengoku's Real-Life (Presumably Umai!) Bentō Box
Enjoy the box lunch in time for the Infinity Castle finale!
― Beef hot pot brand Kakiyasu Honten announced on June 19 that it is partnering with the Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba franchise for an original bentō box lunch. The “Unlimited Japanese Black Beef Hot Pot Bentō Box” will be available between July 18-August 17. The box features a meal like the ones enjoyed by Kyōjurō Rengoku during the Demon...
KFC Hong Kong Offers Light-Up Wing Gundam Zero Buckets
It's a Gundam…Chicken Wing!
― The Gundam.info website announced on July 3 that the Mobile Suit Gundam Wing anime is collaborating with KFC restaurants in Hong Kong. The collaboration began that same day and will run until August 13. Those who purchase the collaboration set will also be able to purchase limited-edition collaboration merchandise, such as lanyards, coffee mugs, acrylic character art st...
Spalding Turns One Piece's Devil Fruits Into Basketballs
Suit up with some One Piece basketball gear, too
― Spalding Japan announced between June 28 to July 6 that it is collaborating with popular anime series One Piece for a line of basketball merchandise. The company kicked off the announcements by showcasing these “designs that encapsulate the world of One Piece, such as basketballs and basketball shorts decorated with iconic scenes,” starting with ser...
Samurai Champloo's Shinichiro Watanabe Directs Ghost of Yotei Game's 'Watanabe Mode'
Kurosawa & Miike Modes are also available
― Sony revealed more details on the upcoming PlayStation 5 game Ghost of Yōtei during Thursday's State of Play presentation. Clocking in at over 20 minutes long, the presentation showcased elements of gameplay, story, audio, and subtitle options, plus three newly announced game modes: the Watanabe Mode, Kurosawa Mode, and Miike Mode. The Watanabe Mode includ...
Godzilla vs. Kaiju No. 8 Crossover Poster Revealed at Anime Expo
Shin Godzilla & Kaiju No. 8 monster designer Mahiro Maeda created art piece
― The Kaiju No. 8 franchise posted a Godzilla vs. Kaiju No. 8 crossover poster on July 7. The post noted that the two franchise's influential designer Mahiro Maeda created the art, which has a “dynamic illustration of Godzilla, the symbol of monster movies, facing off against the new-age monster tale, Kaiju No. 8.” Studio Kha...
Kill la Kill Animator Apologizes After Supporting Nationalist Japanese Politician
Sushio endorsed politician Uryū Hirano in a now-deleted X/Twitter post
― Kill la Kill character designer and animator Toshio “Sushio” Ishizaki endorsed nationalist Japanese politician Uryū Hirano for her bid for Japan's upper legislative house in a now deleted X (formerly Twitter) post on July 5. “My current favorite is Uryū Hirano. Her name and way of life are just so cool,” Sushio posted. “I can't...
Anime Expo Panel Sets Guinness Record for Most People Performing One Punch Man's Serious Punch
Record set during July 5 One-Punch Man panel
― The One-Punch Man franchise announced on July 7 it had achieved the Guinness World Records for "the most people performing One-Punch Man's Maji Naguri/Serious Punch." The record was set with 1,107 people during the July 5 One-Punch Man panel at Anime-Expo: ANN was onsite for the Guinness World Records challenge. Makoto Furukawa, the voice of Saitama, fir...
Happy Tanabata 2025 From Around the Anime World, Part V
Featuring Haruhi Suzumiya, Macross, My Dress-Up Darling, City the Animation, Mononoke, Isekai Quartet, Marry Me, Let's Have a Baby!, Toei Animation, & more!
― Tanabata on July 7 marks the final Japanese holiday of the year when the day and month are the same numerically (after Hinamatsuri on March 3 and Children's Day on May 5). Both children and adults write wishes on paper slips to decorate bamboo ...
Happy Tanabata 2025 From Around the Anime World, Part IV
Featuring My Hero Academia, Final Fantasy VII Remake, Kowloon Generic Romance, Kodansha, Okami, My Happy Marriage, Toilet-Bound Hanako-Kun, & more!
― While many people in Japan make wishes to the stars Vega and Altair on Tanabata, it's said those wishes will only come true if it's a starry night. But with Japan in the middle of its rainy season, it has been many years since it's truly been a starry n...
Happy Tanabata 2025 From Around the Anime World, Part III
Featuring Dragon Ball, Dragon Quest, Misia, Re:Zero Starting life in Another World, The Angel Next Door Spoils Me Rotten, Doraemon, & more!
― The days leading up to July 7 in Japan are a sight to behold — similar to, but slightly different from, Christmas decorations. Communities will often set up bamboo shoots and decorate them with children's wishes. It's a colorful display and gives us a look into...
Happy Tanabata 2025 From Around the Anime World, Part II
Featuring Naruto, Tales of, Laid-Back Camp, NisiOisin, ChaO, Oishinbo, Natsumi Eguchi, Sega, & more!
― Japan celebrates Tanabata, also known as the Star Festival, on July 7. One of the common ways to celebrate the Festival is by making a wish to the stars Vega and Altair. (And with a major election in the Tokyo Metropolitan area, that includes the wishes of politicians.) But, what about the wishes fr...
Happy Tanabata 2025 From Around the Anime World, Part I
Featuring Ghost in the Shell, Shangri-La Frontier, Chibi Maruko-chan, Food for the Soul, Miffy, See You Tomorrow at the Food Court, Ami Shibata, & more!
― July 7 marks Tanabata in Japan. where people celebrate the once-a-year meeting of the weaver Orihime and farmer Hikoboshi by making wishes to these star-crossed lovers. As usual, the anime and manga world is full of Tanabata wishes: Ami Shibata (Pa...
Voice Actor Yurika Kubo Announces Marriage
Voice of Classroom of the Elite's Kikyo marries someone outside entertainment life
― Voice actor Yurika Kubo (Classroom of the Elite's Kikyo Kushida) announced on Tuesday she had gotten married. She thanked her supporters and noted her husband is a non-celebrity. To everyone who supports me and everyone who cares about me,
At a time when the summer sky is shining brightly, I apologize for raising a ...
Voice Actors Shizuka Ishigami, Kohei Yanagi Reveal Marriage, Pregnancy
Voices of Nukitashi's Nanase, Junnosuke post joint messages
― Voice actors Shizuka Ishigami and Kohei Yanagi (who happen to co-star in Nukitashi the Animation as Nanase Katagiri and Junnosuke Tachibana, respectively) announced they had married and are expecting their first child on their respective X (formerly Twitter) accounts on Monday. Ishigami stated, “[Kohei] is a very caring person who always ...
Experience Live Boxing Action at Hajime no Ippo's 1st 'Dynamite Glove' Event on November 18
7 live boxing matches to take place at manga's real-life boxing venue Korakuen Hall in Tokyo with appearance by Joji Morikawa
― You have read the manga, watched the anime, and this year, fans can get a chance to experience the world of Joji Morikawa's Hajime no Ippo manga through a live boxing event titled "Dynamite Glove 2025," on November 18 at Tokyo's Korakuen Hall — the real-life venue where many...
Naver Webtoon's AI-Based Character Chat Surpasses 100 Million Messages
Paid messages made up 41% of all interactions in May
― NAVER Webtoon's AI-powered service ‘Character Chat’ has exceeded 100 million messages exchanged as of one year after its launch. The feature allows users to engage in real-time conversations with popular webtoon characters and has proven especially popular among teens and young adults. Launched in June 2024 as an experimental feature within the ...
Cowboy Bebop Director Shinichiro Watanabe Names 100 All Time Best Movies
The #1 spot goes to a martial arts classic
― Anime director Shinichiro Watanabe released a new book, Watanabe Shinichiro no Sekai Cowboy Bebop Kara Lazarus Made (Shinichiro Watanabe's World: From Cowboy Bebop to Lazarus), to chronicle his work on several anime titles on Thursday. Included in the final pages is a list of Watanabe's top 100 movies. Bruce Lee's 1973 classic Enter the Dragon takes the to...
McDonald's Commercials Go Nostalgic With Maison Ikkoku, Macross, Orange Road
Relive iconic romance & dining scenes from 1980s anime
― McDonald's Japan previewed a new set of commercials for its Big Mac “Let's smile tomorrow, then and now” campaign on Friday. The commercials feature iconic scenes from 1980s anime Maison Ikkoku, The Super Dimension Fortress Macross: Do You Remember Love?, and Kimagure Orange Road. The commercials also revive Japan's 1980s Coca-Cola jingle “I f...
Western Japan's Biggest Manga/Anime Event Holds Crowdfunding Campaign
Kyoto International Manga Anime Fair supporters get gifts from Nobuhiko Okamoto, Manaka Iwami
― The Kyoto International Manga Anime Fair (KYOMAF) announced on Thursday that it will be running a crowdfunding campaign from July 10 to September 30. The organizers aim to raise 4 million yen (about US$28,000) for the continued growth of the KYOMAF and to support young creators. The theme for the crowdfund...
Crayon Shin-chan's Live-Action Universe Expands with New Set of Shorts
The latest short features Shin-chan's younger sister Himawari, now 20 years old
― Coca-Cola Japan's Yakan no Mugicha (Kettle Barley Tea) brand released the sixth and latest installment in the live-action Crayon Shin-chan short series on Wednesday. The new short stars Fumiya Takahashi as a 25-year-old Shinosuke “Shin-chan” Nohara and Mei Hata as Shin-chan's younger sister, the 20-year-old Himawari. S...
Konami Makes Yu-Gi-Oh! Card of Shohei Ohtani's Dog
Will his dog Decoy be the key to Ohtani's Yu-Gi-Oh! deck?
― Los Angeles Dodgers star hitter and pitcher Shohei Ohtani revealed on Tuesday that he received a one-of-a-kind Yu-Gi-Oh! game card from Konami. In a video on Instagram, Ohtani opened a box from Konami. Inside was a portrait of his pet dog Decoy, a Yu-Gi-Oh! card of Decoy, and the caption, "First pitch delivered August 28, 2024." Ohtani inclu...
50 Years of Super Sentai Emerges in New Form – As Underwear
Wear your favorite team today!
― Japanese underwear brand Hipshop announced official Super Sentai print underwear on June 18. The lineup celebrates the franchise's 50th anniversary with underwear for all 49 Super Sentai series to date. The underwear comes in both adult and children's sizes. The adult sizes will have 49 sets and feature the respective teams, their main robot, and logo on the front and...
Casetify Turns AirPod Max Headphones Into Dragon Ball's Scouter
Check if your music is over 9,000
― The Dragon Ball franchise announced on June 19 that it has partnered with Hong Kong-based phone case and electronics accessories company CASETiFY for a new series of Dragon Ball smartphone cases and AirPods Max Scouter covers. The collaboration marks Dragon Ball's 40th anniversary with four phone case styles and a AirPods Max Scouter cover as an online exclusive. T...
Oscars' Academy Museum to Hold Ponyo Exhibition Next February
Studio Ghibi hand-picked over 100 pieces to display
― The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures (from the folks who hand out the Oscars) announced more materials that Studio Ghibli donated to the Museum will go on display from February 2026 to January 2027. The “Studio Ghibli's Ponyo” exhibition will feature over 100 hand-picked materials by Studio Ghibli, including art boards, posters, a Studio Ghibli a...
Lionsgate Vice-Chairman: We Can Remake a Film as 'Anime' in 3 Hours in AI
Vulture article details how the industry is using generative AI both openly & behind the curtains
― Reporter Lila Shapiro highlighted how generative AI is being used in the film industry, both openly and behind the curtains, in a June 4 article on New York magazine's entertainment news website Vulture. Shapiro spoke with industry insiders, particularly those in Hollywood, for the "Everyone Is Alread...
Gundam's Yoshiyuki Tomino Wants Next Work to Reflect Current Wars Such as Ukraine, Israel
Tomino: “My younger colleagues are making Gundam series today, & I don't feel a sense of experience with war”
― NHK's June 17 edition of News Watch 9, a weeknight news broadcast, featured an interview with Mobile Suit Gundam creator Yoshiyuki Tomino to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. The “Yoshiyuki Tomino Speaks on the Reality of War” segment focuses on Tomino's experienc...
Kiwoom Heroes Baseball Team Launches Merchandise Collaboration with Chunbae and Friends Webtoon Characters
The collaborative products will be unveiled on June 28 during the "Hero Chunbae Day" pop-up store event
― Korean baseball team Kiwoom Heroes has announced a merchandise collaboration with Chunbae and Friends, the character group from the Naver Webtoon series Meow Man, created by Olso and serialized between 2019 and 2021. Chunbae and Friends features cats that transform into humans. The collaboration...
MAPPA Animates New Citizen Watch Commercial With New B'z Song
Japanese rock duo B'z contributes to Citizen's "Unite with Blue" campaign
― Japanese animation studio Mappa announced on June 6 that it animated a new Citizen Watch commercial. The ad is for Citizen's new "Unite with Blue" collection and is now viewable on YouTube: Yasumoto Okamoto directed the commercial with Yoshiko Matsumura as the main animator. Other staff members includes art director Yuji Kan...
Japan's Media Watchdog Fields Complaint About Teen Gambling in Gundam GQuuuuuuX
Complaints follows episode 4 of latest Gundam series
― In early June, the Japanese non-profit organization Broadcasting Ethics & Programming Improvement Organization (BPO) released its May 2025 Voice from the Audience summary newsletter. Near the bottom of the letter, the organization fielded a comment regarding the latest Gundam series, Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuux. The comment's summary states, “In...
Voice Actor Mamoru Miyano Sells MSG in Online Commercial
Miyano: “I was particularly surprised by the combination of Aji-No-Moto & whiskey”
― Japanese food and biotechnology corporation Ajinomoto released a new online commercial starring voice actor Mamoru Miyano for its popular monosodium glutamate (MSG) brand Aji-No-Moto on Tuesday: The 15-second video features Miyano, with highly exaggerated expressions, trying Aji-No-Moto MSG on several dishes and dri...
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