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Interview: Romance of the Three Kingdoms 8 REMAKE Producer Kazuhiro Echigoya
We spoke with producer Kazuhiro Echigoya for more insights into how the strategy video game remake promises to bring a beloved classic into the modern era.
― Koei Tecmo's Romance of the Three Kingdoms – known in Japan as Records of the Three Kingdoms - is a long-running and beloved strategy game series. It is set during the Three Kingdoms era, much like Koei Tecmo's famous Dynasty Warriors franchise....
The Complicated Process of Color Design in Anime - An Interview with Nokotan's Arisa Komatsu
Many unsung heroes have a vital part in getting your favorite anime made. Let's take a look at the art of color design with Wit Studio's Arisa Komatsu.
― When you think of anime production, you probably think of the directors, animators, and writers. But of course, there are many unsung heroes who have a vital part in getting your favorite anime made. Once such overlooked position is that of color d...
Onward to the Alvarez Empire: Hiroshi Kataoka Discusses FAIRY TAIL 2
The longtime action RPG producer acknowledges the criticism levied against the original FAIRY TAIL game and how this sequel will offer a fundamentally different experience.
― Can you name a popular anime that doesn't have a tie-in video game? Sure, there are some rare exceptions, but just about every anime series that's even moderately popular will get the video game treatment sooner or later. Some ...
What Exactly Does an Animation Director Do? - An Interview with Nokotan's Karin Omura
To shine a spotlight on this job and what it entails, Richard Eisenbeis recently sat down with My Deer Friend Nokotan's animation director Karin Ōmura at Wit Studio's main office in Tokyo.
― While most people have an idea what directors, animators, or scenario writers do, these are only a few of the jobs involved in the creation of anime. Many jobs in the industry are relatively obscure at best to ou...
How Witch Hat Atelier's Manga Creator Made Magic for Everyone
We spoke with Kamome Shirahama at Kodansha House in NYC to discuss disability representation in her work, her art studies, and, of course, Qifrey.
― A packed room of enthusiastic fans gathered in the hall at the Kodansha House pop-up in NYC for the chance to have a live Q&A session with the mangaka of Witch Hat Atelier, Kamome Shirahama. The session began by introducing the moderator and local librar...
Miki Yamamoto, Creator of A Smart and Courageous Child Manga
Her single-volume book explores a couple's first pregnancy and their emotional trajectories as they go from thrilled to fearful, examining the role of news and how the written word impacts people.
― Miki Yamamoto's work isn't what most people think of when they hear the word "manga." Eschewing a typical manga style, the creator and picture book scholar has a deft hand with telling stories that rely e...
Making The Colors Within: An Interview With Director Naoko Yamada and Composer Kensuke Ushio
Yamada and Ushio discuss their latest film, that Trainspotting music reference, and designing different character body types.
― Naoko Yamada's newest feature film The Colors Within is due to open in the U.S. on January 24 next year, but some viewers will be able to see it sooner. The film is screening in Glasgow on November 2 (including a live Q&A with Yamada and composer kensuke ushio), Edinburgh on...
New Director Kazuaki Kuribayashi is Risking it Big on KILLTUBE Anime Film
The team raised US$6.68 million for the first-ever film, described as an "experiment" that will blend 2D and 3D elements and audience participation.
― On April 8, a one-minute clip circulating on social media caught anime fans' attention worldwide. It's actually the pilot film of the newly-announced anime film titled KILLTUBE. The film is scheduled to be released sometime in 2026, but it's safe to s...
Interview: Danganronpa Creator Kazutaka Kodaka is Gambling His Studio's Future on His New Game
Previously stuck in development hell, Kodaka and Uchikoshi are betting the very existence of their studio, Too Kyo Games, on the success of The Hundred Line.
― The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy is an upcoming visual novel/TRPG from the creative minds of Danganronpa's Kazutaka Kodaka and Zero Escape's Kotaro Uchikoshi. At Tokyo Game Show 2024, Anime News Network was able to see a bit of the new ...
Interview: Bridging Dungeon Fighter Online and Dark Souls with The First Berserker: Khazan
We got hands-on with the the big upcoming Souls-like games: The First Berserker: Khazan.
― One of the big upcoming souls-like games is The First Berserker: Khazan. I got some hands-on time with the title at the Tokyo Game Show 2024. I also got to sit down with the game's creative director, Junho Lee, and art director, Kyuchul Lee, to discuss the game's connection to the nearly 20-year-running Dungeon...
Look Back: Director Oshiyama's Inherent Need to Draw
Oshiyama spent the last week of the film's production drawing “1,000 key animations.”
― Studio Durian's movie adaptation of Tatsuki Fujimoto's one-shot, Look Back, has been the talk of the town. Following critical acclaim from some of the most influential Japanese moviegoers, US fans had the chance to see the movie with Director Oshiyama. GKIDS hosted three public screenings, which included a live Q&...
Blood on the Tracks Manga Creator Shūzō Oshimi Can't Help But Get Personal
We met with Oshimi at the Kodansha House pop-up in NYC to look back at Flowers of Evil, gender themes in his work, and what might come next.
― “Have you ever read a comic that crept up on you? A story that lingers long after you put the book down? You turn off the lights and get ready to sleep, and then, from the darkness, this story reaches out and grabs your ankle? Congratulations, you've just read...
A Bright and Colorful Adventure: An Interview with BAKERU Director Tadanori Tsukawaki
We spoke with BAKERU's director—Tadanori Tsukawaki of Good-Feel about a wide range of topics—from the game's anime inspirations, its educational elements, and even giant robots for good measure.
― While playing through BAKERU, I couldn't help but reminisce about the 3D platformers that defined a large part of my childhood—Ape Escape, Sly Cooper, the list goes on. But as mentioned in my review, my fo...
Managing the Stress System: REYNATIS Creative Producer TAKUMI
With its combination of style, fashion, and high-flying action, REYNATIS was one of the bigger action RPG surprises of the summer. We sat down with creative producer TAKUMI, to speak more about the game.
― With its combination of style, fashion, and high-flying action, REYNATIS was one of the bigger action-RPG surprises of the summer. We sat down with TAKUMI, REYNATIS's creative producer, to speak mo...
Fresh and New Everytime: The Music of Creepy Nuts
Hip-hop duo Creepy Nuts delivers a high-energy show filled with multi-genre hits. We had the privilege of sitting down with them for a quick conversation about their writing process and inspirations.
― Hip-hop duo Creepy Nuts performed earlier this year at Anime NYC, delivering a high-energy show filled with multi-genre hits. Made up of DJ Matsunaga and rapper R-Shitei, the setlist included many of ...
Creating a Multi-Volume Rom-Com Manga from a One-Shot
According to series creator Yūki Kanamaru, More Than a Married Couple, But Not Lovers was originally only supposed to be three chapters long!
― More Than a Married Couple, But Not Lovers certainly caught me by surprise when it aired back in 2022. Within its unique premise is a story about love and looking past our preconceptions about each other. At Anime Expo 2024, Anime News Network sat down and s...
Performing in the 2.5 Dimension: Producer Shimpei Yamashita on Oshi no Ko Season 2
Ahead of its final episode, Shimpei Yamashita discusses the challenges of following up Oshi no Ko's first season with one equally as good.
― Oshi no Ko, based on the manga by Aka Akasaka and Mengo Yokoyari, may not have surprised readers of the series by being a hit. The story is by turns intense and humorous, balancing detailed examinations of what it means to project a perky, lighthearted image to ...
Bringing Hololive to the U.S.: An Interview With Motoaki Tanigo, CEO of COVER Corp
With major collaborations and sold-out concert halls slowly starting to crop up here in the U.S., hololive has been one of the spearheads of this rise in popularity.
― In the past couple of years, VTubing has continued to grow as an inventive and influential form of entertainment. With major collaborations and sold-out concert halls slowly starting to crop up here in the U.S., hololive has been one ...
Guilty Gear's Artistic Identity, Upcoming Anime with Ken Miyauchi, Shoichi Kitazono, and Genki Mamada
ANN sat down with GUILTY GEAR -STRIVE- staff to discuss how important art is to not just Guilty Gear’s gameplay, but also its identity.
― GUILTY GEAR -STRIVE-, which recently surpassed 3 million players and has an anime adaptation in the works, is arguably the most stylish fighting game currently on the market. Moreover, it leans very heavily into this stylishness by allowing its visuals to play a r...
The Staff of My Deer Friend Nokotan Were Shocked by Its Worldwide Popularity
With its horned protagonist, disturbingly realistic deer, and off-the-wall absurdist humor, My Deer Friend Nokotan has been one of the most popular shows—inside of Japan and out.
― With its horned protagonist, disturbingly realistic deer, and off-the-wall absurdist humor, My Deer Friend Nokotan has been one of the most popular shows of the Summer 2024 anime season—both inside of Japan and out. To fin...
Director Hiroshi Nagahama, From Wicked City to Uzumaki
We sat down with the Uzumaki anime director to see what hints he could give us about the horror series before it premieres this weekend.
― On the screen in front of a crowded Otakon panel room, Director Hiroshi Nagahama shows a slide featuring the cover art for the 1987 film Wicked City, directed by Yoshiaki Kawajiri of Studio Madhouse on the screen in front of a crowded Otakon panel room. Several a...
Shangri-La Frontier Cheat Codes: How Its Creators Built Its Video Game World
Before Sunraku returns in season two, ANN spoke with light novel author Katarina and manga creator Ryōsuke Fuji on fleshing out its VR world.
― Shangri-La Frontier is an exciting action anime showcasing the fun exploits of our main character Sunraku. With a shoebill bird mask and an assortment of daggers by his side, Sunraku seeks to overcome challenges and learn more about the god-tier game Shangri...
Reimagining A World-Famous Monster: #DRCL Manga Creator Shin'ichi Sakamoto
Shin'ichi Sakamoto gives us a deeper look at his award-winning title's LGBTQ+ themes and how hie draws "with an awareness of beauty."
― Shin'ichi Sakamoto's storied manga has at last begun coming stateside, with English releases of Innocent and #DRCL midnight children now several volumes in, and The Climber announced to be coming soon. #DRCL, a dramatic reimagining of Bram Stoker's Dracula, was nomin...
Recreating a Video Game Classic with Final Fantasy VII Rebirth's Naoki Hamaguchi, Yoshinori Kitase, & Teruki Endo
In ANN's exclusive interview, the team behind Final Fantasy VII Rebirth reveals the wildest fan theories, streamlining its technical aspects, and what they think of the mixed reactions to its conclusion.
― Taking on one of the most beloved entries in the Final Fantasy franchise was never going to be an easy task. Square Enix's Final Fantasy VII was originally released in January 1997 to high demand,...
ODDTAXI's Baku Kinoshita On His New Film, Housenka
The director sheds light on his in-progress Showa-era film starring an aging yakuza and how it differs from his critically-acclaimed ODDTAXI anime series.
― Three years after ODDTAXI, Baku Kinoshita is back with a feature film, Housenka. This movie will be focused on an old yakuza, agonizing in his cell and remembering his past life while chatting with his talking flower. The director was present at...
TOUGEN ANKI's Main Cast Talks About Their Roles in the Upcoming Anime
Recently, Anime News Network was able to sit down with voice actors Kazuki Ura, Koutaro Nishiyama, and Hiroshi Kamiya to talk about their roles in TOUGEN ANKI.
― Recently, Anime News Network was able to sit down with voice actors Kazuki Ura, Koutaro Nishiyama, and Hiroshi Kamiya to talk about their roles in the upcoming anime TOUGEN ANKI—as well as the tricks of the trade that help them get into char...
Exploring the Past, Present, and Future of UNDER NIGHT IN-BIRTH II Sys:Celes with Director Kamone Serizawa
ANN got to chat with UNDER NIGHT IN-BIRTH II Sys:Celes director about what’s in store for its future, and Serizawa’s other favorite fighting games.
― Since its release earlier this year, fighting game fans have been loving French-Bread's UNDER NIGHT IN-BIRTH II Sys:Celes—which, just as Arc System Works CEO Minoru Kidooka expressed hoping for at EVO last year, was fought on by players on EVO's mainst...
The Rise of Terminator Zero with Writer Mattson Tomlin & Director Masashi Kudo
Ahead of it's Netflix premiere, we spoke with the Terminator Zero director-writer team about the AI apocalypse and exploring James Cameron's sci-fi world.
― Leading into the Terminator Zero premiere panel at Anime NYC Saturday night, a bit of the show's soundtrack started playing with that iconic Terminator "du-dum du-du-dum" beat. Just a couple of "du-dum du-du-dum" in, one audience member started ...
A Chat with Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection Producer Shuhei Matsumoto
ANN sat down with producer Shuhei Matsumoto at EVO to talk about the highly anticipated re-release of Marvel vs. Capcom 2, Street Fighter’s new DLC, and more.
― It's hard to overstate how intensely fighting game fans have been pleading for an official re-release of Marvel vs. Capcom 2, which initially came out in 2000. So as you can likely imagine (if you didn't see it for yourself), the news that i...
From Page to Screen: DAN DA DAN Director Fūga Yamashiro and Voice Actor Shion Wakayama
Director Yamashiro shared the methods behind the series "god-tier" animation, its tokusatsu visual connection, and whether he believes in ghosts (or aliens).
― Creator Yukinobu Tatsu's DAN DA DAN manga has been a fan-favorite, deftly blending a smorgasbord of supernatural elements with comedy, romance, and intense fight scenes. Director Fūga Yamashiro and studio SCIENCE SARU had the unenviable task o...
Empathizing with Pregnancy: An Interview with My Girlfriend's Child Manga Creator Mamoru Aoi
"I thought about what I could do as a woman, as a mother, and as a shojo manga artist."
― Shojo manga artist Mamoru Aoi has been busy this summer completing her highly recognized manga, My Girlfriend's Child. Also known as Ano Ko no Kodomo, the romantic drama was nominated for an Eisner award under Best Publication for Teens. In addition, the live-action TV drama based on the manga began broadcasting...
When Old Work Reaches New Audiences: An Interview with Bubblegum Crisis' Kenichi Sonoda
Seasoned manga creator and character designer Kenichi Sonoda discusses reinvigorating retro art and Rally Vincent's updated ride.
― Kenichi Sonoda, Japanese manga artist and character designer for Bubblegum Crisis, returned to the US for his appearance at San Diego Comic-Con 2024. Udon Entertainment brought him as a guest in celebration of Bubblegum Crisis Complete Archive, which includes an extensi...
Visualizing Lovecraft: An Interview with Manga Creator Gou Tanabe
The Eisner-nominated horror manga creator shares his experience adapting Lovecraft's darkest stories.
― Japanese artist Gou Tanabe made his first appearance at San Diego Comic-Con 2024. Known for his manga adaptation of H. P. Lovecraft's novels, Tanabe first started with the publication of The Outsider in 2007 and has continued his work to now. His take on The Shadow Over Innsmouth was nominated for ...
How A Small Team Created a Huge Hit: Look Back Anime Film Director Kiyotaka Oshiyama
Having topped 1 billion yen at the Japanese box office, Oshiyama and his Flip Flappers anime alumni look to have a big, emotional hit.
― Kiyotaka Oshiyama and Studio Durian might not be immediately familiar to average anime fans, but the team's latest outing is worthy of attention. The small studio team's previous work centers mostly on designs for series like Deca-Dence and FLCL: Shoegaze, although...
VTuber Mori Calliope Shares Her Favorite Suicide Squad Isekai Characters
Hololive's Mori Calliope, long known for her rapping and a game-streaming grim reaper, was brought on board to perform "Go-Getters," the Suicide Squad ISEKAI's ending.
― Hololive's Mori Calliope, long known for her rapping as well as being a game-streaming grim reaper, was recently brought onboard by Warner Bros. to perform "Go-Getters," the new song featured in Suicide Squad Isekai's ending. We caug...
Making Monsters Delicious with Delicious in Dungeon Manga Creator Ryoko Kui
We spoke with Delicious in Dungeon manga creator Ryōko Kui to discuss the community of food, why Senshi is so sexy, seeing neurodivergence in Laios, and more.
― Hot off the heels of its season one finale, Delicious in Dungeon captivated audiences with its ensemble cast's humorous chemistry, appetizing meals, and impressive world-building. It's impressive to imagine everything from the series' magica...
From Pilot to Full-Series: Creating Mecha-Ude: Mechanical Arms
Originally a pilot supported by crowdfunding efforts, we sat down with director Okamoto and producer Tetsuya Kinoshita to discuss how the series has evolved ahead of its premiere.
― After garnering impressive support from fans in 2019, Mecha-Ude: Mechanical Arms is well on its way to its full-fledged premiere. Originally a pilot supported by crowdfunding efforts, we sat down with director Okamoto and...
What to Expect in the Loner Life in Another World Anime Series
We spoke with series director Akio Kazumi and Pony Canyon producer Takanori Matsuoka about the series' unique appeal and misconceptions about what a "loner life" is.
― Loner Life in Another World is set to premiere in October, but what sets it apart from other isekai series? We spoke with series director Akio Kazumi and Pony Canyon producer Takanori Matsuoka about the series' unique appeal, misconcep...
Interview: From Singing Naruto to Inspiring Bocchi the Rock!, 20 Years of ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION
In just twenty years, ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION has gone from singing for anime to inspiring its characters.
― In 2003, ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION exploded into the anime scene with “Haruka Kanata,” the second theme song for the popular Naruto anime. The crunchy guitar riffs and raw vocals brought an alt-rock sensibility rare for anime theme songs. The next year, fans of big action-driven shonen series ...
Creating a New World with Familiar Characters in Suicide Squad ISEKAI
How did seasoned anime creators take comic book villains and give them a unique twist? We spoke with director Eri Osada and scriptwritersTappei Nagatsuki and Eiji Umehara to find out.
― Wit Studio's original Suicide Squad ISEKAI anime kicked off summer with a high-action romp as fan-favorite DC characters found themselves trying to survive in a fantasy world unlike anything they'd ever seen in Gotha...
How Blue Lock Anime Brings the Action to Life
In which ANN learns that the anime staff has a database of highly-detailed feet.
― Blue Lock was everywhere at Anime Expo 2024. Multiple panels, a strong presence at the Kodansha booth in the Exhibit Hall, and countless cosplayers donning Blue Lock's instantly recognizable training outfits, all underpinned by a wildly popular shonen anime and manga on the rise. I was lucky enough to sit down with th...
Small-town Horror: Interview with The Summer Hikaru Died Creator Mokumokuren
Recently tapped for an anime adaptation and selling almost a quarter million copies, we spoke with Mokumokuren about their manga, body-horror, adolescence, and more.
― Manga creator Mokumokuren is having a good year. Their debut manga The Summer Hikaru Died was recently tapped for an anime adaptation, but not before making multiple entries on top manga lists, in the U.S. and Japan. Dripping with the...
MAHO FILM's President Junji Murata on Creating a Better Anime Studio
“We've been trying to improve things by providing good wages to all the staff, providing a stable working environment, and holding various [internal company] events.”
― Founded in 2018, MAHO FILM is one of the younger anime studios around. That said, they've already produced 10 anime, including I'm the Villainess, So I'm Taming the Final Boss and Doctor Elise: The Royal Lady with the Lamp. Recently, ...
HUNTER×HUNTER NEN×IMPACT's Tomoyasu Miyazaki Talks Bringing Fan-Favorite Series into Gaming Arena
Creators were given near 'total freedom' to bring anime's story to life in NEN×IMPACT.
― Hunter × Hunter is a massively popular series, with passionate – and patient – fans. The series has continued in fits and starts, as its creator Yoshihiro Togashi has been plagued with health issues. But the quality has proven to be worth the wait for millions in Japan and internationally. When Bushiroad announc...
President Kondo and the Power of In-House Staff at Nihon Falcom
How does a relatively small studio continue to create deeply satisfying story-led games? President Kondo shares Nihon Falcom's secrets to success.
― Nihon Falcom president Toshihiro Kondo kicked off a busy July 4 weekend at Anime Expo. He and the other Nihon Falcom staff spoke to fans at the various panels and at the NIS America booth as they eagerly playtested the company's signature JRPGs. Origina...
Bocchi the Rock! Staff Reflect on Growth and Change
Director Keiichirō Saitō and voice actor Yoshino Aoyama from Bocchi the Rock! sat down with Anime News Network to discuss the behind-the-scenes details of adapting the show-stopping anime.
― The anime adaptation of Aki Hamaji's four-panel manga was a sleeper hit in late 2022. Viewers related to Bocchi's awkwardness and social anxiety, while entertained by the off-the-cuff animation. In addition, Kes...
My Hero Academia's Mamoru Miyano, Daiki Yamashita Discuss Manga's Imminent Conclusion
'I'm sure Horikoshi-sensei is burning his soul, like One For All, and he's going to deplete his soul like All Might after he finishes drawing the final episode.'
― While discourse around My Hero Academia has focused on the manga's imminent ending as of late, you wouldn't have thought the franchise was running out of gas based on the MY HERO ACADEMIA SPECIAL EVENT at this year's Anime Expo. Filling t...
Interview: An Umineko Retrospective with Ryukishi07 & Sayaka Ohara
Popular sound novel creator Ryukishi07 and Beatrice voice actor Sayaka Ohara look back on Umineko's mysterious ending.
― Ryukishi07, the mind behind the When They Cry franchise, and voice actress Sayaka Ohara came together for Anime Expo 2024. Ohara voices the legendary Golden Witch, Beatrice, from Ryukishi's Umineko When They Cry series. Although the final chapter in the story was released in 2011,...
The London Cast of Your Lie in April: The Musical
The beloved anime is coming to the stage in London, so we sat down with the cast to discuss the getting into these musically-gifted characters.
― At the beginning of June, I sat down with the four central cast members of the upcoming London production of Your Lie in April: The Musical, which starts a 12-week West End run from June 28 at the Harold Pinter Theatre. This is the English-language version ...
Frank Wildhorn, Composer of Your Lie in April: The Musical
From Takarazuka to Death Note, Frank Wildhorn is carving a name for himself in manga-based theater productions.
― Frank Wildhorn's musical career spans nearly half a century. It ranges from Takarazuka all-female musicals in Japan to Broadway versions of Jekyll and Hyde and Bonnie and Clyde, and a symphony inspired by the River Danube. Then there's the small matter of a chart-topping Whitney Houston s...
Interview: Director Kumiko Habara & Scenario Writer Kenta Ihara on Bringing History to Life in Blue Miburo
Hot off its world premiere at Anime Expo, we sat down with Blue Miburo's director and screenwriter about bringing the Shinsen-gumi to life.
― Blue Miburo, a historical fiction manga centered around the legendary group of swordsmen known as the “Shinsengumi,” is getting an anime adaptation this fall. Recently, I was able to sit down with director Kumiko Habara and scenario writer Kenta Ihara to talk n...
Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves Team Discuss Updating the Series After 25 Years
The video game industry has changed quite a bit since Fatal Fury's hiatus. The team discuss updating for the modern fighting game community.
― The Fatal Fury series made its debut in 1991 with Fatal Fury: King of Fighters around the time when other fighting game franchises were starting to appear or hit their stride. The biggest ones we know and love today, including Street Fighter, Tekken, and Mort...
DRAGON BALL: Sparking! ZERO Producer Explains the Long Wait for More
Jun Furutani promises characters from Dragon Ball Super movie and the Dragon Ball Daima series.
― The Dragon Ball franchise is one of the most recognizable properties in the world, with a variety of manga, TV shows, and video games created out of it. The Dragon Ball Sparking video game series was incredibly popular in Japan. Known as Dragon Ball: Budokai Tenkaichi series internationally, it garnered ...
Cheering for Gunma: Narenare -Cheer for you!- Anime Producer Hayato Kanno
We spoke with producer Hayato Kanno about the upcoming cheerleader-focused series and why Gunma prefecture was the perfect setting for the show.
― While there aren't many anime in the cheerleading genre, a handful have been made over the years. Some of the more notable series include 2018's Hugtto! Precure or 2019's Cheer Boys!!. In 2024, we're getting another cheerleading-related anime series, Naren...
New Projects Bring New Opportunities for Kinema Citrus Anime Studio
The Made in Abyss anime studio is celebrating its 16th anniversary with two new anime projects, so we sat down with founder Muneki Ogasawara to discuss the studio's next moves.
― Founded in March 2008, Kinema Citrus is known as a pillar in the anime industry for producing high-quality, compelling series. The studio has carved a niche in the competitive anime industry with popular works like Made in A...
Heavenly Delusion Director Discusses Keeping the Story Straight
Mori also explained the creative process from inception to realization, shedding light on the collaborative efforts and artistic endeavors that brought Heavenly Delusion to life.
― In 2023, Heavenly Delusion captivated audiences with its suspenseful and intricately woven storytelling. The series was highly praised for blending psychological horror and science fiction. Director Hirotaka Mori was at t...
Medicine and Fantasy: An Interview with Doctor Elise Manhwa Artist Mini
In her first-ever interview with foreign media, Mini discusses her background in design and what makes Doctor Elise a fan-favorite series.
― It's getting more common for anime series to seek inspiration outside of its traditional seedbeds of manga and light novels. In recent years, we've seen a rise in the number of series based on Korean properties, primarily webtoons serialized on sites like Tapas,...
My Oni Girl Director Asks Viewers To Be True to Themselves
Now streaming on Netflix, Tomotaka Shibayama's first feature animation mixes the magical with reality to share a simple but important message.
―
Director Tomotaka Shibayama's latest film, My Oni Girl, is an action-adventure drama with elements of a buddy comedy and a relatable coming-of-age story. The film, produced by Studio Colorido, was released in theaters in Japan and on Netflix on May 24, foll...
Straight Shooting with Game Creator Suda51
We sat down with game creator Suda51 ahead of his MomoCon appearance to talk about his new game Hotel Barcelona, his current must-watch TV shows, and more.
― The renowned Suda51 has been responsible for countless cult-favorite video games. From the psychedelia of Killer7 to the hells of Shadows of the Damned, from the sunny streets of Santa Destroy in No More Heroes to the blood-soaked setting of the...
Bringing Anime to Southeast Asia: Interview with Medialink, Ani-One Co-Founder Lovinia Chiu
Chiu shares how she brought the SEA simulcast service to the forefront after founding it at 17 years old.
― Over the past six years, many streaming and simulcast services have catered to otaku in Asia, offering simulcasts of seasonal anime and theatrical anime screenings. One such service is Ani-One Asia, a Hong Kong-based Medialink Group brand that offers a competitive lineup of simulcasts every se...
My Happy Marriage Director Takehiro Kubota and Creating a New Fairytale
Ahead of the romance anime's second season, director Takehiro Kubota discusses the choices, the challenges, and balancing the story between the everyday and the supernatural.
― My Happy Marriage began its life as a series of novels written by Akumi Agitogi, and it has since been adapted both as manga and, as of July 2023, an anime series simulcast by Netflix. Agitogi's tale, set in a nebulous time t...
Pop Star Crystal Kay on Singing Anime Songs and Growing Up Mixed-Race in Japan
Crystal Kay previously sang themes for 2004's Fullmetal Alchemist and Nodame Cantabile
― Recently, Anime News Network was able to sit down with singer-songwriter Crystal Kay and talk about not only her involvement with anime over the years but also what it was like to grow up in Japan as the child of a Korean-Japanese mother and an African-American father. Anime fans likely know of Crystal Kay throug...
Producer Masakazu Kubo on Making an Anime for Hardcore Golf Fans
Producer Masakazu Kubo shares the animation team's dedication to realism, including bringing in a pro golfer to produce the anime's sound effects.
― 64-year-old Masakazu Kubo has been planning and producing anime for decades. He's had a major hand in everything from Pokémon and Detective Conan to Teasing Master Takagi-san and Dorohedoro. Recently, he sat down with us to talk about Tonbo!, his attemp...
The Beauty of Stop-Motion Animation with Bottle George Director Daisuke 'Dice' Tsutsumi
Daisuke 'Dice' Tsutsumi shares what it was like to leave Pixar and how his studio will never shy away from honesty in their work, even when honesty isn't pretty.
― Director Daisuke "Dice" Tsutsumi contributed to films like Toy Story 3 and Monsters University while simultaneously crafting what became his Academy Award-nominated animated short film, The Dam Keeper. His latest short film, Bottle George,...
Interview: Author Akihiro Nishino on Bottle George, His New Stop-Motion Animated Film
Following Poupelle of Chimney Town, Nishino tackles addiction in his new stop-motion anime short film.
― In advance of the U.S. premiere of the new stop-motion animated short film Bottle George, Anime News Network sat down with writer Akihiro Nishino and chatted not only about the film and its creation but also its deeper message and how it connects to Nishino's past. While now well-known as a childr...
Interview: Voice Actors Rika Hayashi and Hiroki Tōchi Talk About Their New Golf Anime, Tonbo!
Hayashi and Tōchi play mentee/mentor in heart-warming golf anime series.
― Golf anime Tonbo! is one of the new anime premiering in the Spring 2024 season. At Anime Japan 2024, we sat down with lead voice actors Rika Hayashi and Hiroki Tōchi to talk about their characters, their experiences with golf, and the positives of country life in Japan. In her first voice acting role as a main character, Hayas...
Chained Soldier Producer, Voice Actor Discuss Bringing Sexy Anime Series to Screen
We sat down with producer Yuki Watanabe and leading actor Yūya Hirose (Yuuki), to discuss bringing this unique combination of epic action and sexy comedy to the screen.
― Ever since author Takahiro and artist Yōhei Takamura first began publishing Chained Soldier on Shonen Jump+ in 2019, their manga has been a smash hit. The story tells of how humanity has been enlisting soldiers who use the magical ...
Studio Ghibli President Toshio Suzuki Sees His Anime Come to Life at Ghibli Park
Suzuki shared that famed director Hayao Miyazaki is currently making something for the theme park—in secret.
― At a press event last month, ANN, along with other members of the press, was able to talk with Studio Ghibli President Toshio Suzuki about the new "Valley of Witches" area at Ghibli Park, his recent Academy Award win, and legendary director Hayao Miyazaki. Ghibli Park, located in Aichi Prefe...
Interview: JYOCHO's Daijiro Nakagawa Talks About Composing Songs for Junji Ito and Banished From the Hero's Party
Daijirō Nakagawa talks about his band, their evolution, and what it's like to compose anime theme songs.
― If you've seen either of the Junji Ito anthology anime or either season of Banished from the Hero's Party, I Decided to Live a Quiet Life in the Countryside, you've heard the music of JYOCHO's Daijiro Nakagawa. Recently, Anime News Network sat down with him to talk about his band, their evolutio...
Chatting About Food and Adventures with Delicious in Dungeon's Director and Voice Actors
We were able to chat with Delicious in Dungeon's director, Yoshihiro Miyajima, as well as two of its main leads, Kentarō Kumagai (Laios) and Sayaka Senbongi (Marcille).
― Recently, Anime News Network was able to chat with Delicious in Dungeon's director, Yoshihiro Miyajima, as well as two of its main leads, Kentaro Kumagai (Voice of Laios) and Sayaka Senbongi (Marcille). They talked about how they b...
Veteran Animator Terumi Nishii on the Problems and Future Facing the Anime Industry
"...Full-time employees have been forced to work hard for the past 20 or 30 years—but it seems that instead of becoming 'full-time employees,' it's more like they are 'slaves.'"
― Recently, I was able to sit down and chat with Terumi Nishii, a veteran animator and character designer with credits ranging from Rurouni Kenshin and PENGUINDRUM to Jujutsu Kaisen and JoJo's Bizarre Adventure. But rather th...
The Eminence in Shadow Anime Producer Had His Own Cid Phase
ANN spoke with The Eminence in Shadow director Kazuya Nakanishi and producer Kazufumi Kikushima about the series' unique protagonist.
― Whether it's the dark comedy or its distinct main character, Cid, something about The Eminence in Shadow resonates with many anime fans. The series is one of the highest-rated shows on HIDIVE. Anime News Network was able to sit down and talk with the series' directo...
Gundam: The Witch From Mercury's Lynn and Kana Ichinose Discuss Difficult Parents and Friendships
"It got me thinking that as long as there are humans, conflict will never disappear and there is no correct answer."
― At Anime NYC 2023, the official Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch From Mercury panel hosted voice actors Kana Ichinose (Suletta Mercury) and Lynn (Miorine Rembran) to discuss their work on the hit mecha series. Members of the press had further questions answered via a joint email interv...
How the Shield Hero Director and Producer Pushed to Do the Series Justice
"One of the things that's important to me is to capture the world as it is with the wave of calamity; the trouble, the hunger, the sadness of the world that exists so that the heroes can shine. It's because the people are suffering that a hero is needed."
― In season three of The Rising of The Shield Hero, Naofumi and the gang must learn to put aside some of their differences with the other Cardinal...
Bringing His Ego to the Role: BLUE LOCK Voice Actor Kazuki Ura
Ura explains, “As a voice actor, I have the ego that I don't want to lose to anybody. I want to be the best at everything, especially when it comes to the character of Isagi.”
― At Anime NYC 2023, Anime News Network had the opportunity to sit down with the voice actor Kazuki Ura, the voice of BLUELOCK's main protagonist Isagi, and Ryoya Arisawa, the producer of the hit sports anime BLUELOCK. One of ...
Bringing Imagination to the Sengoku Youko Supernatural Action Anime
The director and producer discussed the challenges working on the Sengoku Youko anime, from finding just the right voice for a 200-year-old yōkai to tapping into their imaginations to bring Jinka's attacks to life.
― Manga creator Satoshi Mizukami is already preparing his next manga series, but it's his supernatural action story Sengoku Youko that brought director Kagetsu Aizawa and producer Allian ...
The Moment That Undead Unluck's Yoshifumi Tozuka Decided to Create Manga
Yoshifumi Tozuka met someone early in his life who believed in his artistic ability. The rest is manga history.
― Undead Unluck fans at Anime NYC were treated to a panel featuring the creator Yoshifumi Tozuka, his editor Takumi Hashimoto, and Fuuko's Japanese voice actor, Moe Kahara. During the panel, Moe Kahara spoke about how she chose to pursue a career as a voice actor because she wanted to impr...
Living as a Real Life “Hannah Montana” – An Interview with Virtual Singer KAF
KAF is one of the most popular virtual singers in Japan. Ahead of her upcoming concerts next month, we talked about what it's like to live with a secret identity.
― KAF is one of the most popular virtual singers in Japan. Several of her songs have become Top 40 downloaded hits (along with two of her albums breaking the Oricon Digital Top 10) and she's even sold out the Nippon Budokan (the Japanese eq...
Anime Director Masaaki Yuasa Reflects on His 20 Year Career
With time to reflect on his past work and an upcoming five-film box set from GKIDS, we talked with Yuasa about staying true to his artistic outlook and how the industry has changed.
― 2023 was an eventful year for Science Saru studio founder and film director Masaaki Yuasa. Since stepping down as president of his animation studio, Yuasa's part rock opera, part supportive treatise to artistic outcast...
New Shiren the Wanderer Game Director and Project Manager Talk About Going Back to Basics
Fans enthusiastically told Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island game director Keisuke Sakurai that the first Shiren game was their favorite, and he listened.
― Recently, at a hands-on event in Tokyo, I was able to meet with Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island's director and project manager, Keisuke Sakurai and Hideyuki Shinozaki. We talked a bit ab...
Making Things That Others Wouldn't: An Interview with Studio TRIGGER President Masahiko Otsuka
Coop Bicknell talks shop with TRIGGER president Masahiko Otsuka about returning to the world of Panty & Stocking over a decade later.
― At this year's Anime Expo, Studio TRIGGER gave the world a taste of their projects coming down the pipeline. Whether it was the premiere of Delicious in Dungeon ahead of the series' January release on Netflix or details on the 15th-anniversary screenings of GURREN L...
Final Fantasy XVI Producer Naoki Yoshida on the Game's Anime Influences and Design Philosophy
Find out how various anime served as inspirations for the final game.
― Final Fantasy XVI is a major departure from the Final Fantasy games of old. We had the chance to talk with Final Fantasy XVI producer Naoki Yoshida about why this is and how various anime served as inspirations to the final game. The Final Fantasy XVI universe seems dark and very adult, perhaps more than usual for this license. ...
Developing a Diverse Cast in Kia Asamiya's Silent Möbius
Kia Asamiya has been writing manga for nearly 40 years. His most famous work, Silent Möbius, is an explosive mashup of genres: taking place in a cyberpunk Blade Runner-esque dystopia, it depicts the plight of AMP, an all-woman team of sorcerers, psychics, and even cyborgs.
― Kia Asamiya has been writing manga for nearly 40 years. His most famous work, Silent Möbius, is an explosive mashup of genres:...
Bringing Jazz to the Big Screen with Blue Giant Director Yuzuru Tachikawa
We spoke with director Yuzuru Tachikawa (Mob Psycho 100, Deca-Dence) about crafting the film's music, working with virtuoso Hiromi Uehara on the film's soundtrack, and the importance of talent and hard work.
― Readers may be surprised to learn that jazz music has a long, storied history in Japan. The music broke into the mainstream in the 1920s, in part due to visits from American and Filipino perfo...
Getting Into Character with Ragna Crimson's Chiaki Kobayashi
Kobayashi discussed the evolution of Ragna and the vocal challenges of bringing those subtle shifts to life.
― At Anime Expo 2023, Anime News Network was able to sit down and talk with voice actor Chiaki Kobayashi about his role as the titular Ragna in upcoming anime Ragna Crimson. They're keeping you busy at Anime Expo this year! Have you been able to have fun in Los Angeles in your
spare time? Chi...
Crafting a Hell in Heaven with Heavenly Delusion Creator Masakazu Ishiguro
We spoke with Ishiguro about the hazy edges of his sci-fi series' themes and the message he hopes readers takes away from the series.
― Manga creator Masakazu Ishiguro's work spans multiple genres, from the unexpected maid café workers in the comedy manga And Yet the Town Moves to the labyrinthian detective story Skygrazer. Of these works, Heavenly Delusion stands apart as a concoctive blend of body...
Two Sides of the Same Coin: Voicing Cid in The Eminence in Shadow
Cid's voice actor Seiichirō Yamashita discusses voicing a character with two different sides and what makes The Eminence in Shadow anime so unique.
― The Eminence in Shadow follows a young man named Cid who would much rather train to be the ultimate background character and use his strong powers to change the scene from the shadows instead of being in the spotlight himself. After dying and being rei...
J-Rock Star Yoshiki Talks About His Past and Future in London
The X Japan and The Last Rockstars singer made his directorial debut with the YOSHIKI: UNDER THE SKY music documentary.
― On September 11, rock star Yoshiki appeared in London to accompany a screening of his directorial debut and feature film Yoshiki: Under The Sky. The movie collects his recent musical collaborations with artists around the world, with the seasoned performer mainly at the seat of hi...
Talking Fate/Samurai Remnant with the Game's Director, Ryota Matsushita
We spoke to Matsushita about the game's Keian period setting, new servants, and more.
― Last month, I was able to spend eight hours with upcoming Fate series game Fate/Samurai Remnant. After doing so, I was granted a chance to talk with the game's director, Ryota Matsushita of Koei Tecmo Games, about the title. Here is what he had to say about making the game, the involvement of the various franchise...
Crafting Psychological BL Manga with Kyoko Aiba
Manga creator Kyoko Aiba discusses Derail, a compelling portrait of two men attempting to hide their vulnerabilities while simultaneously pulling the other one into closer and closer intimacy.
― Kyoko Aiba has been making moves lately. Her first work in English, I Love You Enough To Tie You Up (from Juné Manga), is a series of steamy and erotic BL short stories about dysfunctional couples pushing ea...
Bringing Under Night 2 to the Arena: A Chat with Arc System Works CEO Minoru Kidooka
Kennedy speaks to Arc System Works CEO Minooru Kidooka about Under Night In-Birth II [Sys:Celes], Guilty Gear -Strive-, Arc System Works' 35th anniversary, and more.
― Founded in 1988, Arc System Works (or ArcSys for short) is the game developer/publisher behind many iconic anime fighting games such as BlazBlue, Dragonball FighterZ, and Guilty Gear—whose most recent entry recently surpassed 2.5 milli...
A Glimpse Into Under Night In-Birth II [Sys:Celes]
Kennedy speaks to French Bread's Kamone Serizawa and Seiichi Yoshihara about the upcoming Under Night sequel: Under Night In-Birth II [Sys:Celes].
― Founded in 1995, French Bread is the game development studio behind anime fighting games such as Dengeki Bunko: Fighting Climax, Melty Blood, and Under Night In-Birth. They were present at EVO 2023 with Arc System Works, where they announced that they're...
What Happens Next? Four Knights of the Apocalypse Anime Interview at Otakon 2023
Can The Seven Deadly Sins newbies watch Four Knights of the Apocalypse? We asked manga editor Yuya Matsuda, anime producer Takuma Kishida, and lead voice actors Shou Komura and Kanna Nakamura.
― Nakaba Suzuki's Four Knights of the Apocalypse is a sequel to his popular manga, The Seven Deadly Sins. The series focuses on the young boy Percival, who discovers he is destined to be part of a group of four...
A New Decade of Anime: A History with Author Jonathan Clements
Historian Jonathan Clements discusses the advent of artificial intelligence, what fractured the Chinese-Japanese anime investment pipeline, and the buying power of otaku.
― Jonathan Clements' name is familiar to many Anime News Network readers. He translated anime back in the 1990s, when he was already one of Britain's most prominent pundits on the medium. Today, he hosts the annual Scotland Loves An...
Bringing One Piece to the Screen with Yasunori Koyama, Kenji Yokoyama, and Tetsushi Akahori
We spoke to One Piece's series director, production manager, and animation director about building on Eiichiro Oda's hit manga for TV.
― One Piece has become one of the largest multimedia franchises in the world, with a top-selling manga, long-running anime, various video games, and a live-action Netflix series on the horizon. The anime, in particular, has gained worldwide acclaim, currently in the ...
'We Are Limitless': Talking to Arc System Works about Guilty Gear -Strive- Season 3
Kennedy speaks to Arc System Works’ Ken Miyauchi, Akira Katano, and Kenta Asano about Guilty Gear -Strive- season 3.
― The latest entry in the heavy metal-inspired Guilty Gear series, Guilty Gear -Strive- is without question the largest Guilty Gear game yet—and one of the largest fighting games of the current generation overall, amassing more than 2.5 million players. At EVO 2023, Arc System Works an...
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