Latest Anime News & Opinions - ComicBook.com https://comicbook.com/category/anime/ Comic Book Movies, News, & Digital Comic Books Sun, 17 Aug 2025 21:14:43 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.2 https://comicbook.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/10/cropped-ComicBook-icon_808e20.png?w=32 Latest Anime News & Opinions - ComicBook.com https://comicbook.com/category/anime/ 32 32 237547605 One Piece Just Revealed Its First Look at Joyboy (And Fans May Have Missed It) https://comicbook.com/anime/news/one-piece-joyboy-anime-first-look/ https://comicbook.com/anime/news/one-piece-joyboy-anime-first-look/#respond Sun, 17 Aug 2025 23:00:00 +0000 https://comicbook.com/?p=1457300 Toei Animation

After wringing every last tear from fans through Kuma and Bonney’s backstory over the last few months, One Piece’s Egghead Arc has finally kicked off the second half of its story, setting the stage for the arc’s big climax with the initiation of the dreaded Buster Call. The anime has also marked this shift in […]

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Toei Animation

After wringing every last tear from fans through Kuma and Bonney’s backstory over the last few months, One Piece’s Egghead Arc has finally kicked off the second half of its story, setting the stage for the arc’s big climax with the initiation of the dreaded Buster Call. The anime has also marked this shift in the story with a brand new opening theme full of easter eggs and spoilers of what’s to come, including the introduction of One Piece’s biggest enigma, Joyboy.

From finally seeing the Five Elders in action to all the revelations that Vegapunk’s worldwide broadcast has in store, there’s plenty to look forward to in the Egghead Arc for the next few months. Even so, easily the biggest upcoming moment in the arc is the flashback containing Joyboy’s first-ever appearance in the series. While Joyboy has been mentioned multiple times over the course of the series, fans still know frustratingly little about this mysterious figure from the Void Century. Luckily, the Egghead Arc is finally set to change this, not only revealing more about Joyboy but also giving fans their first-ever look at him, albeit in silhouette form. That said, One Piece’s new opening theme may have already revealed Joyboy, but it was so quick that fans may have completely missed it.

One Piece’s New Opening Already Revealed Joyboy

During the title card sequence in One Piece’s new opening theme for the Egghead Arc, a nondescript figure in a straw hat makes an appearance in the background for just a split second. The straw hat is then seen flying across the blue sky to the Iron Giant, who is revealed to be named Emet later in the Egghead Arc. At first glance, the obvious answer seems like this figure in the straw hat must be Luffy. However, the figure in the straw hat does not appear to possess Luffy’s distinct spiky hair. Were it to be this as the only clue, though, the glimpse being that of Joyboy in the new One Piece opening would be dismissed pretty easily.

However, when the opening theme pans across to Emet, he seems to be missing any of the rust and moss that is seen on him in the present day. More importantly, Emet is pictured with both of his horns intact, which is easily the biggest giveaway that this scene in the opening is taken from a flashback, as the Iron Giant has been missing his left horn ever since his introduction on Egghead. All of these pieces of evidence point to the figure in the straw hat in the new opening being Joyboy rather than Luffy, Shanks, or even Roger.

Lastly, the plain blue sky with fluffy white clouds in the background confirms that this scene is indeed adapting Emet’s flashback from Chapter 1122, which reveals Joyboy’s silhouette. Of course, the best part has yet to come as the big reveal in the anime will surely be much more exciting. It will also be interesting to see who ends up being cast to voice Joyboy and what he will end up sounding like in the anime, though until then, One Piece’s Egghead Arc definitely has plenty of thrilling developments in store.


One Piece can be streamed on Crunchyroll and Netflix.

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3 Reasons Why Hell’s Paradise Is Actually the Best Shonen Jump Dark Trio Series https://comicbook.com/anime/news/hells-paradise-best-shonen-jump-dark-trio-manga-op-ed/ https://comicbook.com/anime/news/hells-paradise-best-shonen-jump-dark-trio-manga-op-ed/#respond Sun, 17 Aug 2025 22:00:00 +0000 https://comicbook.com/?p=1457749 Courtesy of Mappa
Hell's Paradise

If you’re a long-time anime fan or manga reader, chances are you’ve heard of Shonen Jump’s Dark Trio. The Trio are individual manga series known for gritty, dark themes that can lean towards trope-subversion of the shonen genre. They include: Hell’s Paradise: Jigokuraku, Chainsaw Man, and Jujutsu Kaisen. Each of these manga has anime adaptations […]

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Courtesy of Mappa
Hell's Paradise

If you’re a long-time anime fan or manga reader, chances are you’ve heard of Shonen Jump’s Dark Trio. The Trio are individual manga series known for gritty, dark themes that can lean towards trope-subversion of the shonen genre. They include: Hell’s Paradise: Jigokuraku, Chainsaw Man, and Jujutsu Kaisen. Each of these manga has anime adaptations (courtesy of Mappa), and large fanbases that are willing to argue why each deserves the title of best series among the Trio.

For quite some time, Jujutsu Kaisen took the lead in popularity and recognition, especially with its anime adaptation recognized for fluid animation and attention-grabbing fight scenes. When Chainsaw Man’s anime debuted in 2022, the crowd’s attention shifted to include the series with gratuitous violence and compelling world-building. Hell’s Paradise: Jigokuraku not only came to the screen last, but is also notably the least talked about among the Dark Trio. While I would never discredit Chainsaw Man or Jujutsu Kaisen and the hype they’ve brought back to modern anime/manga of the last five years, I do want to discuss why I believe Hell’s Paradise is the better story in the Trio, and why I think its plot and themes have a stronger longevity than its counterparts.

1) Meaningful Use of Character Death

Hells Paradise Gabimaru
Courtesy of MAPPA

Anime characters carry plot armor in shonen manga, there’s no getting around this overused and common trope. This is one of the reasons the Dark Trio was praised initially by fans; instead of shying away from killing off a character, these series embraced the idea that sometimes in high-stakes situations, the realistic conclusion would be for a character to die. And while this can be devastating, sometimes it drives the plot and other character arcs forward: think Kento Nanami’s death during the “Shibuya Arc” and the full circle it achieved, as well as inspiring Yuji to continue fighting curses.

But acknowledging that characters may need to perish to keep the story realistic and interesting, and giving weight to what’s at stake, doesn’t mean killing characters for the sake of shock value or grim bleakness. The amount of characters knocked out of orbit in Chainsaw Man alone could turn readers off of the plot; after all, why do I want to invest in a new set of main supporting characters when the last were killed off so fast and with such little consequence to Denji’s development and narrative? What’s the point in caring about Choso as Yuji’s only surviving family when he dies in battle and there’s little more than a moment to mourn or acknowledge what happened and what Yuji lost (and no, it isn’t brought up once the heat of the moment passes either).

To create characters is to understand that some may die, it’s also to remember you are telling a story. Not everything needs to be hyperrealistic and dark to drive home how serious your plot is meant to be. One devastating and meaningful character death is worth ten that are barely acknowledged or given the respect they deserve.

Hell’s Paradise follows through with this in a way that shows the creator, Yuji Kaku, understands the importance of preserving a character’s meaning through both death and life. Tenza is a supporting character given his own beliefs and with a kindness and will to protect Nurugai which their bond legitimate and emotional. When he dies protecting her and Shion, we see his ambitions and dreams of what life could be. Once he’s dead, it’s his vision and words that inspire Nurugai to live on and even go back to save Shion in the manga and interrupt his quest for vengeance. This single death ripples through two important characters and their decisions, even when Tenza is not around. It carries meaning. Main characters aren’t fodder to be used for bloody panels that shock the reader, only to be forgotten like they never existed. That balance, of near-death experiences, of murders and battles, and still shining in the importance of a lost life, is what makes Hell’s Paradise stand out.

2) Concise and Focused Plot

Hell's Paradise
Courtesy of Mappa

The Dark Trio may explore similar themes, but they all have unique plots that have little in common with each other. Chainsaw Man follows Denji, a teenager who merges with a Devil (beings that feed on human energy), and must now work for a company hunting down dangerous Devils and defeating them. Jujutsu Kaisen navigates a world plagued by curses created by the negative emotions of humanity and the sorcerers who fight to destroy them. Hell’s Paradise: Jigokuraku takes place on a mystical island where a group of executioners and criminals search for the elixir of immortality.

These series all dabble in intricate themes such as good versus evil, the nature of humanity, personal choice and the consequences of it, and hope in creating a better world. Each has at least one arc that fans will rabidly defend as a modern classic in the genre (think “Shibuya Incident Arc” for Jujutsu Kaisen, the “Control Devil Arc” of Chainsaw Man, and the “Horai Arc” of Hell’s Paradise). There are intriguing characters who undergo severe changes in all three series, and moments that change the direction of the plot for better or worse.

But Hell’s Paradise knows the story it wants to tell, from start to finish. Are there slower moments and build-up? Absolutely. The plot still follows a mostly linear path directly to the manga’s conclusion and the final message. One thing many fans have noticed in Jujutsu Kaisen is the numerous arcs and storylines that seem to fall flat, get lost in translation, or are just abandoned and never fully explored.

Jujutsu Society as a whole and the nature of the head clans is never fully explained or given backstory; Kenjaku’s master plan and longevity is cut short in a meaningless beheading by Yuta and quickly forgotton; the Culling Games are extremely interesting with parallels to the “Hidden Inventory Arc” and are still quickly dealt with and barely affect the overarching plot of Sukuna’s revival. It often feels like Gege Akutami had a larger story to tell than what he was capable of getting across in the plot, and the final ending suffers for it.

While Chainsaw Man’s manga has not come to an end yet, there are still so many questions as to why the story needed to go past the final reveal of Makima’s true nature. That alone could have been the end of the series, with the manga building up to the final battle between Denji and the mentor who molded her perfect weapon using manipulation and gentle, yet cruel tactics that have made Makima an iconic villain. The deaths of main side characters like Aki and Rocket could have felt like final punches to the gut before the story’s end, rather than footnotes to a new cast introduced in Denji’s life (maybe a continuation manga following Denji raising Nayuta and finding his way in the world). If Jujutsu Kaisen had too many messages it wanted to get across, Chainsaw Man sometimes feels like Tatsuki Fujimoto hasn’t decided on a central message yet at all.

Love it or hate it, Hell’s Paradise sets out to tell a single story: Gabimaru eventually returns to his wife. Every tribulation he faces and every enemy he strikes down are backed by this wish, from the moment we are introduced to his character, that cannot die as an internalized means of staying alive for love. And that is also what sets Hell’s Paradise apart from the other two Dark Trio shonen: the focused theme of love and hope, of carrying on through the love you once had for a comrade, friend, or lover to live on. We reach each narrative checkpoint with the characters as they discover the secret of Shinsenkyo, the connection to mainland Japan, and how to defeat and overcome their adversaries. The plot doesn’t stray far from the information we need to complete a full picture and to flesh out this world and the characters living inside of it.

3) The Conclusion Feels Earned

Hell's Paradise
Courtesy of Mappa

And with the final theme of Hell’s Paradise: Jigokiraku identified, we can talk about why Hell’s Paradise tonally felt complete when it ended. Now, I can’t speak on Chainsaw Man because the manga is ongoing with no identifiable end in sight as of yet; however, I can compare Jujutsu Kaisen, a manga with extraordinary popularity and one of the most controversial endings in the last decade.

The ending of Jujutsu Kaisen felt so rushed that looking back at the beginning of the manga sometimes feels like reading a different story altogether. Key characters, such as Megumi or Nobara, end up playing very little part in the final battle besides small moments that come across as fan service for their entrances and survival. Megumi was touted by Sukuna as having great potential; he’s Gojo’s ward and protege, and has an incomplete Domain. Despite all of this build-up, in the end, he spends the rest of the manga as a carcass inhabited by Sukuna, with his character arc nearly abandoned.

It’s not just Megumi: Nobara is treated like a plot device after missing since Shibuya, Yuta somehow survives inhabiting Gojo’s corpse, and it’s never discussed again, and Yuji suddenly has a Domain strong enough to target Sukuna’s soul. Nothing much is shown to have changed in the sorcerer society, at least in a concrete way that the audience can visibly see and understand. The main trio tackle one last curse and seal the remaining finger away, and somehow, all is well despite the brutality and loss. You cannot hopscotch over character development and power scaling only to present the end as if it were always there.

Hell’s Paradise, in comparison, has the ending that fits the story best, even if it isn’t the most showy or flashy compared to other manga of its time. Yes, there’s a final battle and yes, the main characters win. But more importantly, there’s a small scene at the end where Sagiri goes to visit Yui and Gabimaru at their shared home. The emphasis on life continuing quietly but peacefully after the horror, the journey for the characters to reach that ability to accept such peace, feels earned. Not to mention, this ending didn’t come out of left field: Gabimaru’s goal was always to see Yui again.

He is no longer forced to live the life of an assassin, of a killer. Gabimaru, who struggled to rest throughout the series due to his trauma and his past haunting him, is asleep in the last panel. He sleeps in his own home with the love of his life and a friend visiting him. It’s quiet, and it’s simple, but it drives home the point of Hell’s Paradise and what the characters fought for throughout every chapter. The chance at a fresh start. Hell’s Paradise: Jigokiraku doesn’t overstay its welcome or try to entice readers with a bunch of side arcs and quests. It makes its point, and then the story ends, just as it should.


What’s your favorite series in the Dark Trio? Let us know your choice in the comments below, and what upcoming Shonen Jump series you’re keeping an eye on.

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Here’s Why Yuno Will Be Black Clover’s Ultimate Wizard King https://comicbook.com/anime/news/black-clover-yuno-ultimate-wizard-king/ https://comicbook.com/anime/news/black-clover-yuno-ultimate-wizard-king/#respond Sun, 17 Aug 2025 21:00:00 +0000 https://comicbook.com/?p=1457544 Black Clover Yuno Wizard King

Black Clover is currently reaching the climax of its final arc, with Yuno and Asta standing against the current Wizard King, Julius, who has been overtaken by his counterpart, Lucius, intent on creating his own paradise in their world. Julius embodied what it truly meant to be a Wizard King, leading the Magic Knights of […]

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Black Clover Yuno Wizard King

Black Clover is currently reaching the climax of its final arc, with Yuno and Asta standing against the current Wizard King, Julius, who has been overtaken by his counterpart, Lucius, intent on creating his own paradise in their world. Julius embodied what it truly meant to be a Wizard King, leading the Magic Knights of the Clover Kingdom with unmatched magical prowess and a kind heart that even surpassed the other captains. He set the standard for what a Wizard King should represent. Now, with Julius consumed by Lucius, the prestigious title has once again been left vacant.

It is clear that Black Clover will conclude in classic fashion, with the heroes prevailing over the villains, meaning Lucius’ defeat is inevitable, and the world will return to normal. Once peace is restored, the seat of the Wizard King must be filled. Even if Julius survives Lucius’ scheme, he will likely step down from his position, much like William Vangeance did after the Elf Reincarnation arc when he was manipulated by Patolli. This raises the question: who will take the open seat? While many fans expect that, as the series’ protagonist, Asta will finally achieve his dream of becoming the Wizard King, the role is far more complex, and a fitting ascendant could just as easily be found in Yuno Grinberryall.

Being the Ultimate Mage Gives Yuno a Specific Edge as the Prospective Wizard King

Shueisha

Yuno has always been portrayed as a prodigy in the series, possessing immense magical power that Asta could never even dream of. His achievements were evident from the very beginning, earning the recognition of all the Magic Knight captains and securing a place in the most renowned squad instantly. His growth as a Magic Knight has only continued, and in just 15 months of training with the Spade Kingdom arc, Yuno’s rank advanced to the point where he surpassed William, the captain of the Golden Dawn, who was once considered the most suitable candidate for Wizard King before the revelation of Patolli residing within him.

William even declared Yuno as his successor to lead the Golden Dawn, making him the second youngest captain in history and the youngest ever to achieve the rank of Grand Magic Knight. In contrast, during this same period, Asta only rose to the level of First Class Senior Magic Knight, a rank equivalent to vice-captain. This disparity highlights how the Magic Knights perceive both of them, positioning Yuno as the stronger candidate and the one more likely to become Wizard King once the conflict ends. What truly cements Yuno’s place as the “Ultimate Wizard,” however, is being revealed in the final arc.

While Asta was away in another nation, Yuno singlehandedly stood as the force that hindered Lucius’ plan at the beginning of the Judgment Day, to the point where even Lucius admitted that Yuno was the greatest obstacle to his world domination. Asta remained the anomaly who disrupted Lucius’ designs, but Yuno’s actions alone were worthy of being called those of a Wizard King. By creating “Neverland,” a state that empowered his fellow Magic Knights and allowed them to fight against Lucius’ monstrous army, Yuno embodied the very essence of leadership and strength expected of the role.

This was further solidified in the most recent chapter, Black Clover Chapter 381, titled Ultimate Mage. After Asta was gravely injured, Yuno once again faced Lucius head-on, wielding Asta’s sword imbued with anti-magic and proving himself as the “Ultimate Mage.” While Asta has also accomplished remarkable feats, Yuno’s achievements consistently stand just above his. Finally, there remains another crucial factor that makes Yuno’s ascension to Wizard King appear even more inevitable than Asta’s.

Politically, Yuno Seems To Be in a Better Position To Become Wizard King Than Asta

Asta from Black Clover with Yuno in the background

At the end of the day, the position of Wizard King is about more than just raw power; it is also a political role that requires more than embodying strength; it demands wit and the ability to make decisions that shape the world. While Asta excels in battle, he lacks the social awareness and political acumen needed to handle the weight of such responsibilities. His persona is that of the ultimate warrior. Yuno, on the other hand, not only possesses immense strength but also carries the wit and composure fitting for a political figure. As the prince of the Spade Kingdom, he has been molded to wield authority and is better suited to handle the political demands of the Wizard King’s position. Needless to say, however, he’d be a perfectly fitting ruler of the Spade Kingdom should Asta ascend to the title of Wizard King for the Clover Kingdom. But there’s a strong case for Yuno to lead just as much, as it’s every bit his home as well.

Another factor that may solidify Yuno’s claim lies in the recurring pattern of world threats arising from leaders who carried “devilish” entities within them, such as Julius and William. Asta too harbors a devil within him, which politically works against him when decisions are to be made, already reflected in his recent advancement, only to First Class Senior Magic Knight after the timeskip. Considering these disadvantages, and with Yuno holding clear advantages both in strength and political standing, he seems a perfect strategic choice to become Black Clover‘s Ultimate Wizard King once the final battle concludes.

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10 Best My Hero Academia Episodes to Get Excited for Season 8 https://comicbook.com/anime/news/best-my-hero-academia-episodes-before-season-8/ https://comicbook.com/anime/news/best-my-hero-academia-episodes-before-season-8/#respond Sun, 17 Aug 2025 20:00:00 +0000 https://comicbook.com/?p=1452570

Get ready, My Hero Academia fans – the final season is almost here, and October 2025 can’t come fast enough. After seven amazing seasons, we’re finally headed into the ultimate showdown that will determine the fate of Hero Society. Season 8 promises to deliver everything fans have been anticipating: the final clash between All Might […]

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Get ready, My Hero Academia fans – the final season is almost here, and October 2025 can’t come fast enough. After seven amazing seasons, we’re finally headed into the ultimate showdown that will determine the fate of Hero Society. Season 8 promises to deliver everything fans have been anticipating: the final clash between All Might and All For One, and of course, the Deku vs. Shigaraki fight that we have all been waiting for.

But let’s be real, it’s been nearly a year since Season 7 wrapped up, and even die-hard fans might be a little fuzzy on some of the key moments. With just a few months left until the premiere, there’s just not enough time to binge the entire series from scratch. So we’ve got you covered with ten of the best My Hero Academia episodes to refresh your memory and get you all excited for Season 8. Let’s dive in!

10) Shoto Todoroki: Origin (Season 2, Episode 10)

My Hero Academia often explores generational trauma, and Shoto Todoroki is the perfect example of this with how he was forced to carry his father’s dream of surpassing All Might. This episode focuses on his intense semi-final match against Deku during the Sports Festival. The match begins with Deku breaking his fingers one by one to counter Todoroki’s powerful ice attacks, but it quickly turns into an endurance test as Todoroki keeps using his ice blasts, wearing Deku down even as he tries to hide his pain.

The turning point comes when Deku stops trying to win and starts pushing Todoroki emotionally, calling him out for holding back his fire side just to spite his abusive father, and you can see it’s getting under Todoroki’s skin because he knows Deku is right. When Todoroki finally snaps and unleashes his flames, the animation goes absolutely insane. Shoto wins the fight, and his victory symbolizes Todoroki beginning to free himself from his father’s shadow and truly own who he is.

9) His Start (Season 4, Episode 25)

For most of the series, Endeavor is a self-absorbed, abusive father obsessed with surpassing All Might. But this MHA episode changes everything as he nearly dies fighting High-End and finally begins the path from irredeemable villain to a complex hero. The way he refuses to give up, even when his body is falling apart, shows there’s something heroic buried under all that anger and abuse.

The animation in this episode is on another level, with Studio Bones going all out to make every moment feel explosive, from Endeavor basically turning into a UFO mid-fight to Hawks sprinting backwards across rooftops. They clearly saved their boldest animation choices for this finale, really saving the best for last. By the end, you’re somehow rooting for the guy you’ve spent three seasons hating, and honestly, you’ll probably want to rewatch it just to feel it all again.

8) Infinite 100% (Season 4, Episode 13)

From the very beginning, My Hero Academia established that Deku’s quirk came with a heavy price: the more power he used, the more his body would tear itself apart. We watched him slowly work his way up from 5% to 8%, then 10-15%, and finally 20% in the previous episodes without completely destroying himself. So, when Deku realizes he can use 100% of One For All without breaking every bone in his body, it feels like watching a kid discover they can finally ride their bike without training wheels.

The episode also reveals that Eri’s quirk doesn’t rewind time like everyone thought, but actually rewinds people themselves. And suddenly, Deku realizes he’s got a human cheat code strapped to his back, letting him push his body way beyond what should be possible without consequences. The fight against Overhaul’s final monster form is every fan’s dream come true, and you can really feel Deku’s relief and excitement at finally being able to protect someone without holding back. 

7) One’s Justice (Season 6, Episode 3)

In this MHA episode, the heroes launch a coordinated attack on two fronts: Gunga Villa and Jaku General Hospital. At Gunga Villa, Edge Shot’s team including heroes like Ms. Midnight, Kamui Woods, Mudman and Kinoko take down the villains’ defenses step by step. But the real heartbreak comes when Hawks corners Twice and gives him one last chance to choose redemption.

Despite being a villain, Twice was never actually evil and genuinely believed Hawks to be his friend before the latter betrayed him. As such, the battle between Hawks and Twice is one of the most intense fights in the series, as Twice’s love for his League of Villains family leads him to create an army of doubles, even as Hawks threaten him. On the other hand, the winged hero struggles with having to kill someone he knows is redeemable. When Dabi arrives with his blazing flames and Twice uses his final moments to save his friends, we see a villain’s heroic sacrifice that proves that sometimes, the line between good and evil is blurry. 

6) League of Villains Vs. U.A. Students (Season 6, Episode 8)

After months of training, the U.A. students finally get their chance to prove how much they’ve grown. Led by Momo Yaoyorozu, the heroes-in-training face off against Gigantomachia, working together to deliver a sedative into the giant’s mouth. The battle scenes are absolutely stunning, especially when the students soar through the air like the Survey Corps from Attack on Titan, working together to bring down their own colossal enemy.

But this episode isn’t just about teamwork and animation; it also delivers one of the most chilling villain speeches in the entire series. Shigaraki’s words about how society shaped him make viewers question everything they thought they knew about heroes and villains. It’s a perfect example of how My Hero Academia can make you cheer for the heroes while simultaneously making you understand why the villains feel the way they do.

5) One for All (Season 3, Episode 11)

This episode covers the iconic showdown between All Might and All For One. We see him pushed to the brink, physically and emotionally shattered, as the world watches their Symbol of Peace face his greatest enemy. At his lowest point, All Might’s body reverts completely to its weakened form, revealing his true state to the public for the very first time.

During the battle, All For One tries his best to break All Might’s will, going as far as to reveal that Tomura Shigaraki is actually Nana Shimura’s grandson. But with the cheers of the citizens and fellow heroes behind him, this fight reminds us why All Might was the Symbol of Peace to begin with. It’s because he sacrifices everything to protect others even when his body is failing him.

4) Symbol of Peace (Season 3, Episode 10)

In this MHA episode, it seems like the heroes finally have everything under control. Until All For One steps onto the battlefield, reminding everyone why he’s the most feared man alive. Even Deku and his friends, who had been so brave just moments before, are frozen in fear as they watch All Might face his greatest enemy. 

This episode is absolutely worth rewatching because there’s so much layered into every scene. From All For One’s voice acting to the subtle way fear is written across each hero’s face. It’s one of those episodes that gets your heart racing every single time, no matter how many times you’ve seen it.

3) Light Fades to Rain (Season 7, Episode 11)

In Season 7, Episode 11, UA’s Big Three finally gets their moment to shine as a proper team. Mirio gets his Quirk back,  Tamaki pulls out bigger and more creative combos of food-based weapons, and Nejire gets some much-needed backstory. Fans had been waiting since Season 3 to see Mirio, Tamaki, and Nejire fight together like this, and watching them coordinate their attacks against Shigaraki feels like a long-awaited payoff. 

But just as the energy is soaring, the episode pulls the rug out from under you when Bakugo gets mortally wounded by Shigaraki. The voice acting during Bakugo’s final moments is devastating, and you can hear the pain and desperation in everyone’s voices around him. The soundtrack kicks in at just the right moment, too, especially since this is happening right when Bakugo has finally become the hero we always knew he could be.

2) Dabi’s Dance (Season 6, Episode 11)

When this manga chapter first dropped, it completely broke the internet, and its anime adaptation did not disappoint either. The episode centers around Dabi as he finally reveals he’s Toya Todoroki, the long-presumed-dead eldest son of No. 1 Hero, Endeavor. In a pre-recorded broadcast, he exposes Endeavor’s abusive past to the entire world. Revealing how his father’s obsession with surpassing All Might led him to force his mother into an illegal Quirk marriage. 

Dabi also claimed Endeavor had children solely to fulfill his dream and continued forcing his wife to have more children until Shoto was born. And considering how he witnessed Endeavor abuse Shoto too, it makes sense for Dabi to call him a selfish man unworthy of being called a hero. The villain taunts Endeavor, saying he never forgot what happened and had been watching the Todoroki family from the shadows all along. It’s an episode packed with emotion and action, the kind you’ll want to rewatch just to take it all in again.

1) A Chain of Events, Across the Ages (Season 7, Episode 3)

The moment every fan had been waiting for finally arrived as Deku rushed across the ocean, determined to face his greatest enemy. With help from Star and Stripe’s fighter pilot squad, he rocketed through the sky using his Blackwhip quirk, but nothing could prepare him for what he found at the battlefield. There, lying broken and bloodied after fighting Shigaraki, was his childhood friend and rival Bakugo, and for a second, it felt like Deku’s entire world stopped.

But the heroes don’t stay down for long, and with Mirio’s words echoing in his ears, Deku wipes away his tears and steps into the fight of his life. This time, Shigaraki was unable to use his quirks, and Deku finally let loose, unleashing everything he had learned. Using Gearshift for blinding speed, Smokescreen for stealth, and his power to drive each blow home, Deku fought like someone who’d trained for this moment his entire life, making it a must-watch episode that will get you excited for the season ahead

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Sorry Usopp, But One Piece’s Elbaf Arc Is Sanji’s Time to Shine: Here’s Why https://comicbook.com/anime/news/one-piece-elbaf-sanji-star-not-usopp-op-ed/ https://comicbook.com/anime/news/one-piece-elbaf-sanji-star-not-usopp-op-ed/#respond Sun, 17 Aug 2025 18:00:00 +0000 https://comicbook.com/?p=1454462 Image Courtesy of Toei Animation
One Piece Sanji Usopp

One Piece’s highly anticipated Elbaf Arc commences Harald’s backstory right before the big fight against the Holy Knights. The series teased this arc in the Little Garden Arc of the Alabasta Saga, which was over 25 years ago. The island is known for its brave Giant warriors, who value honor and pride over their lives. […]

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Image Courtesy of Toei Animation
One Piece Sanji Usopp

One Piece’s highly anticipated Elbaf Arc commences Harald’s backstory right before the big fight against the Holy Knights. The series teased this arc in the Little Garden Arc of the Alabasta Saga, which was over 25 years ago. The island is known for its brave Giant warriors, who value honor and pride over their lives. It was that ideal that made Luffy and Usopp respect Dorry and Brogy in the first place. The duo dreamed of visiting Elbaf ever since. Meeting Dorry and Brogy gave Usopp the motivation to become stronger and honorable like them. It’s been over two decades, and the fanbase believed that it’s finally Usopp’s chance to shine.

As one of the Straw Hat Pirates, Usopp has a massive fanbase, but he doesn’t always get the attention he deserves. One Piece thrives on intense action scenes with characters using Haki and Devil Fruits. That’s not a place for the crew’s sniper, who can’t use Armament and Conqueror’s Haki. He also doesn’t have any Devil Fruit or powerful physical strength to speak of. Unlike Luffy, Zoro, and Sanji, Usopp serves a different purpose in the crew, but this often leads him to get overshadowed. Even though the Elbaf Arc commenced a few months ago, there aren’t any signs of Usopp stealing the spotlight from others. On the other hand, it’s more likely for Sanji to get even more development.

One Piece’s Elbaf Arc Might Give Sanji the One Power He Lacks

Sanji mocking Zoro in the Egghead Island arc of the 'One Piece' anime
Image Courtesy of Toei Animation

Although Devil Fruits can significantly boost someone’s offensive or defensive abilities, it isn’t the sole criterion for someone to become powerful. Several top-tier characters, such as Shanks, Roger, Mihawk, Garp, and many others, rely only on Haki. The strongest Straw Hat members, Zoro and Sanji, are also the same, except that the former has one edge over the crew’s cook. Zoro can use Conqueror’s Haki while Sanji has shown no signs of awakening this ability yet. However, this might change in the Elbaf Arc. The introduction of Scopper Gaban, Roger’s left-hand, has been groundbreaking, not only for the story but also for Sanji’s character.

Angry Sanji from One Piece

Just as Luffy parallels Gol D. Roger, Zoro parallels Rayleigh and Sanji with Gaban. Gaban competed with Rayleigh for the spot of the second strongest in the crew. The debate probably never even settled since Gaban insists on calling himself No. 2 of the Roger Pirates. Rivalry aside, Gaban’s powers can’t be scoffed at, and a majority of the reason why he’s so overwhelmingly powerful is because of his Conqueror’s Haki and Future Sight.

There’s also the fact that the Holy Knights seem like immortals because of their regenerative powers. On the surface, it may seem like they don’t have any weakness, but Gaban knows the trick to defeating them, and the only choice is to use Advanced Conqueror’s Haki. Just before Harald’s backstory commenced in the manga, Luffy, Zoro, and Sanji were preparing to fight the Holy Knights.

Sanji can have all the power in the world, but it’s useless against the villains if he doesn’t use Conqueror’s. One Piece has always shown Zoro and Sanji neck-in-neck with one another, with Zoro always having a slight advantage. Even so, it doesn’t seem likely that Sanji would go too far without awakening one of the strongest abilities in the world of One Piece.

One Piece Creator May Be Preparing to Reshape Sanji’s Image

One Piece Shakky Roger
Image Courtesy of Shueisha

According to the latest Chapter 1157, it’s highly evident that the series’ creator, Eiichiro Oda, is also planning to salvage Sanji’s reputation, which has been in the mud because of his gag. He always simps over beautiful women, and someone goes over the top because of that. Sanji’s chivalry and his desire to flirt with every woman he sees are just aspects of his personality, which is why he has always been in the middle of the controversy. Although he has more fans than haters, it’s clear that his gag isn’t well-received by many.

Sanji’s flirtatious behavior wasn’t meant to be taken seriously, but the repetition can cause frustration among readers. To make matters worse, the anime’s slow pacing often makes him appear creepy because those scenes last for longer than necessary. However, in the latest backstory, we see almost all the legendary pirates, including Gol D. Roger, Edward Newgate, and Rocks D. Xebec. With so many legends having “heart-eyes” over Shakuyaku, Sanji’s gag doesn’t seem too out of place now.

Image Courtesy of Toei Animation

Elbaf isn’t simply an arc for showcasing intense battles, but it’s supposed to be a lore-heavy arc. The island of the Giants is directly connected to Nika and has several hidden clues about figuring out the world’s true history. With the Holy Knights’ arrival and Harald’s flashback following the story of Rocks D. Xebec, there’s just not enough time to develop Usopp’s character any further. Although he might have a few moments of fame, it just can’t be compared to the Monster Trio. That’s just how the story has been, especially after the time-skip.

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Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle Movie Hypes the Insect Hashira’s Best Fight With a New Promo https://comicbook.com/anime/news/demon-slayer-infinity-castle-insect-hashira-promo/ https://comicbook.com/anime/news/demon-slayer-infinity-castle-insect-hashira-promo/#respond Sun, 17 Aug 2025 17:00:00 +0000 https://comicbook.com/?p=1457626 Image Courtesy of Ufotable
Demon Slayer Shinobu

The first installment of Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle is less than one month away from hitting the U.S. theatres. Tickets have already been on sale for a couple of days now, and promotions won’t be stopping anytime soon. The studio is going all out to keep up the hype of the film, and it’s working […]

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Image Courtesy of Ufotable
Demon Slayer Shinobu

The first installment of Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle is less than one month away from hitting the U.S. theatres. Tickets have already been on sale for a couple of days now, and promotions won’t be stopping anytime soon. The studio is going all out to keep up the hype of the film, and it’s working impressively well. The series will wrap up the story in the trilogy film, with the first part focusing on only a few major fights. We have already seen the first glimpse of Tanjiro Kamado and Giyu Tomioka fighting against Akaza, the Upper Moon Three responsible for Kyokuro Rengoku’s death.

The fourth key visual of the film hypes the series’s best girl, Shinobu Kocho, the Insect Hashira, who is facing off against Doma, the Upper Moon Three. The match-up was already revealed in the first trailer, and now a special key visual and a promotional video have been released just to hype up the fight between these two characters. The visual’s tagline reads, “All in for this one strike.” While the manga fans perfectly understand the meaning behind those words, anime-only fans will get to experience Shinobu’s sheer dedication on September 12th, 2025.

Shinobu Kocho Has More Than One Reason to Fight Doma in Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle

Demon Slayer Shinobu Doma Key Visual
Image Courtesy of Ufotable

As the Upper Rank Two, Doma’s powers are beyond something a Hashira can handle, let alone Shinobu, who doesn’t have enough arm strength to even slice off an ordinary demon’s head. However, the Insect Hashira has a unique fighting style thanks to her extensive knowledge of poisons for demons. Adding in her exceptional speed also gives her some advantage, but the fight will be more challenging than anything she has ever faced before. The key visual highlights her tension as she’s sweating and trying to strike the demon. On the other hand, Doma simply looks like he’s having fun, ready to take on whatever she throws at him.

This will also be the first time the anime will reveal Doma’s powers, which made him climb to the rank of Upper Two. Aside from her sense of duty that comes from being a member of the Demon Slayer Corps, there’s another reason driving her desire to kill the demon. The trailer revealed that Shinobu’s sister, Kanae Kocho, the former Flower Hashira, was killed by Doma. Kanae was bright and cheerful, unlike Shinobu, who used to have a much different personality than now.

Kanae is also the one who adopted Kanao Tsuyuri as her sister, who was in Shinobu’s care after her death. Shinobu held deep resentment for demons, not just for Doma, who only cause tragedy and destruction in their wake. She also sealed away her emotions and put on a fake smile in hopes of one day getting her revenge. Tanjiro was the only one able to sense those emotions from her despite her perfect facade. Now that the anime is in its final arc, the time has finally arrived.

H/T: Demon Slayer official website

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10 Best Live-Action Anime Adaptations of All Time, Ranked https://comicbook.com/anime/news/best-live-action-anime-adaptations-all-time-ranked/ https://comicbook.com/anime/news/best-live-action-anime-adaptations-all-time-ranked/#respond Sun, 17 Aug 2025 16:00:00 +0000 https://comicbook.com/?p=1453571 Josuke, Ichigo, Luffy Live action

With anime getting evermore popular as the years go on, live-action anime adaptations have evolved into a genre that has won over both longtime fans and newcomers alike. While early attempts, such as Dragon Ball Evolutions or Netflix’s Death Note adaptation, often struggled to capture the essence of the source material, recent years have proven […]

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Josuke, Ichigo, Luffy Live action

With anime getting evermore popular as the years go on, live-action anime adaptations have evolved into a genre that has won over both longtime fans and newcomers alike. While early attempts, such as Dragon Ball Evolutions or Netflix’s Death Note adaptation, often struggled to capture the essence of the source material, recent years have proven that with the right vision, these adaptations can deliver thrilling action, emotional depth, and a unique visual style. The best adaptations combine strong performances, immersive world-building, and, of course, respect the original story, proving that anime can thrive outside the world of animation. In this list, we will highlight and rank 10 standout titles that have not only left a mark on the anime world but audiences worldwide.

Our picks range from heartfelt dramas and wild comedies to intense action stories and imaginative fantasy adventures. You’ll see everything from well-known favorites that nailed the tone of their anime counterparts to ambitious modern productions that have pushed the boundaries of what a live-action anime could be. Whether you’re a seasoned anime veteran or just dipping your toes into the anime genre, these ten adaptations showcase creativity, charm, and cinematic power that bring these incredible stories to life.

10) Oshi No Ko

Ai Hoshino Live action Oshi No Ko
Courtesy of Toei Studios

Starting the list, we have Toei’s Oshi No Ko live-action adaptation, which captures most of the immense drama and intrigue of the source material with a greater focus on its emotional core. Led by Sakurai Kaito as Aqua Hoshino, Asuka Saito as Ai Hoshino, and Nagisa Saito as Ruby Hoshino, the cast delivers incredible performances that bring the highs and lows of the Japanese entertainment industry. Strong direction and excellent visuals enhance the emotional storytelling, making it both authentic and captivating. For the most part, it is a faithful yet cinematic adaptation of the original story and respects the source material.

However, this adaptation manages to skip through the earlier parts of the twins’ life in favor of getting into further into the series, failing to leave us with the same impact as the source material. That said, it still maintains the ability to convey those same emotions despite those scenes not being prevalent. Alongside this, the careful attention to costume design, lighting, and music gives each scene a heightened sense of immersion. Whether it’s a high-profile event or a quiet, personal exchange, viewers are easily pulled into the scene. With its standout cast, Oshi No Ko easily earns its place among the best live-action anime adaptations in recent years.

9) Detective Pikachu

Detective Pikachu
Courtesy of The Pokemon Company

While this may not be an actual adaptation of the Pokemon anime, we can’t deny the cultural impact Detective Pikachu had on society, with the Pokemon designs and concepts it adapts deeply rooted in anime visuals. Based on the Detective Pikachu video game franchise, the movie strikes a balance between a playful and inventive take on the Pokémon universe, capturing its charm and creativity. Ryan Reynolds, voice of the franchise’s mascot Pikachu, with his signature wit, while Justice Smith manages to ground the story with his heartfelt performance as the lead, Tim Goodman. Their on-screen chemistry makes the story engaging from start to finish. It is only enhanced by the stunning live-action settings and CGI Pokemon, creating a breathtaking and believable world most of us could only dream of seeing.

The film’s success lies in its balance of mystery, comedy, and adventure. Each scene bursts with detail, rewarding eagle-eyed fans who notice the background details along with world-building. And the supporting cast, Kathryn Newton, Bill Nighy, and Ken Watanabe, only enhance this film with their charm. Detective Pikachu manages to stand proud as proof that anime-inspired stories can easily thrive on the big screen. Although a sequel was announced in January 2019, the last update we received on the film was in March 2023, leaving its fate up in the air.

8) JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Diamond is Unbreakable

Josuke Hagashikata Live action
Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures

Bringing JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure to life is no easy task, especially with a weird, complex power system like Stands, but director Takashi Miike and an outstanding cast managed to make it work. Instead of starting with the obvious start to the JoJo story, Part 1: Phantom Blood, the story decides to jump to the most current part at the time, Part 4: Diamond is Unbreakable. With Kento Yamazaki leading as Josuke Higashikata, alongside a supporting cast of Yusuke Iseya and Ryunosuke Kamiki as Jotaro Kujo and Koichi Hirose, the film manages to capture the eccentric energy and tone of the series while managing to stay grounded in a relatable setting. Fans of JoJo will also appreciate the attention to visual flair that defines the franchise.

Despite only adapting the first couple of episodes of the 4th Part: Diamond is Unbreakable, the film commits to blending both the original style of JoJo that we all love with the real-world setting. While the stands can look weird at times, they still don’t feel out of place, creating a seamless balance between surreal and believable. As for the costume designs, some characters, notably Jotaro and Josuke, had their designs simplified or changed when compared to their manga counterpart. Despite this, the film manages to capture the overall feel of the world of JoJo with its bold cast and confident style, and it’s certainly an adaptation that understands exactly what makes JoJo special.

7) Yu Yu Hakusho

Yusuke Urameshi Live action
Courtesy Of Netflix

Netflix’s Yu Yu Hakusho flew under most anime fans’ radar in 2023, easily being overshadowed by the One Piece live-action series from the streaming giant. Despite this, it stands among one of the better live-action anime adaptations, with a cast that clearly understands the balance of action, humor, and drama. Takumi Kitamura leads as the iconic Yusuke Urameshi, with Jun Shison, Kanata Hongo, and Shuhei Uesugi rounding out the rest of Team Urameshi. Their chemistry, along with the stunning visuals, makes the world feel alive while preserving the charm of the original.

The show’s fight scenes shine thanks to the talented Sho Tsukikawa, who previously served as the stunt director for the first three Rurouni Kenshin films. The filming locations and set designs provide a believable backdrop for the supernatural powers on display, while the special effects amplify the scale of each battle. And as a special treat for longtime fans, the original English dub voice actors reprised their roles, giving fans a sense of nostalgia. However, from the first episode, the series does veer away from the source material provided by Togashi. Attempting to condense over 50 episodes of the original series into just 5 episodes, and skipping over what made Yu Yu Hakusho special in the first place. Because of this, the series can feel rushed at times, but even with the condensed story, it still manages to capture the heart of Yu Yu Hakusho and leave a memorable impact on live-action anime.

6) Bleach

Ichigo kurosaki live action
Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures

The Bleach live-action condenses the early chapters of the series into a fast-paced, action-packed film. Sota Fukushi, a familiar face for tokusatsu fans as Kamen Rider Fourze, shines as Ichigo Kurosaki. He’s joined by Ryo Yoshizawa as Uryu Ishida and Erina Mano as Orihime Inoue, both of whom also starred in Fourze, making this a mini-reunion for fans. The high-paced battles retain the same energy and flashiness of the anime despite being grounded in live-action.

The fight choreography stands out as the film’s strongest element, with each Fourze alumni bringing their action experience to the film. The Hollows, despite being CGI, complement the cast’s physical performances, making each encounter intense and larger than life. Sadly, the film is almost a decade old and has no signs of a sequel in the future. However, it’s able to highlight strong character moments while keeping true to the manga, proving that even a single well-crafted adaptation can leave a lasting impact and earn its place among the best live-action anime films.

5) Zom 100: Bucket List of the Undead

zom-100-bucket-list-of-the-dead-live-action-movie-netflix-trailer.jpg

While Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead’s anime had plenty of issues during its run, the live-action managed to impress many fans craving more from the franchise. While the film covers the first couple of episodes of the anime, it manages to capture the same high-tension but carefree nature that the anime gave. Eiji Akaso, known to tokusatsu fans for his lead role in Kamen Rider Build, leads Zom 100 with boundless charisma, supported by Mai Shiraishi, Shuntaro Yanagi, and Kazuki Kitamura. Their energy fuels the film with a mix of outrageous comedy and genuine emotional beats. The soundtrack for the film also deserves praise, perfectly matching the shift between the tense zombie mayhem and the serious personal moments for our characters. The cast’s chemistry makes even the wildest scenarios feel grounded and relatable.

The film’s visuals complement the performances, with extremely dynamic cinematography enhancing both the action and the humor. Akaso’s performance as Akira shows just how talented an actor he truly is, switching from an emotionally depressed salaryman to a carefree optimist in an instant. The film manages to stay true to the manga, only shifting stories around to better fit the overall narrative of the movie. Sadly, like the Bleach live-action, Zom 100 has yet to get a confirmation of a sequel film from Netflix, and with how the film ends, it seems unlikely it will receive one.

4) Assassination Classroom

Kuro Sensei Live Action
Image Courtesy of VIZ

When you think of a live-action Assassination Classroom adaptation, you likely think of the nightmarish look that would be Kuro-Sensei, but the movie manages to strike a balance between realism and faithfulness to the original manga. The adaptation thrives on its ensemble cast, with Ryosuke Yamada as Nagisa Shiota and Masaki Suda as Karma Akabane, along with Kuzunari Ninomiya voicing Kuro-Sensei. Their performances keep the story’s blend of comedy and heartfelt moments intact, something that fans will appreciate. While the rest of Class-E doesn’t get as much focus as the main three, the story does make sure to give them moments to add to the overarching story.

Visually, the film mixes practical sets with CGI in a way that isn’t jarring and supports the cast’s performance. The pacing of the film ensures that every character gets a moment to shine while keeping to the overall narrative set by the manga. The humor works in this film due to the cast’s willingness to embrace the rather weird premise of the series with sincerity, even managing to earn a sequel, which would also stay true to the source material. Without a doubt, Assassination Classroom is more than deserving of being on this list with its outstanding cast that truly enhances the heartfelt moments shown in the series.

3) Gintama

Gintoki, Kagura, shinpachi live action
Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures

Much like Assassination Classroom, you’d never expect a Gintama live-action film to manage to stand out as one of the better adaptations. But with its outstanding cast featuring Shun Oguri as Gintoki, and supporting roles by Masaki Suda and Kanna Hashimoto, they manage to bring the beloved Odd Jobs group to life. Much like the anime, the film dives headfirst into the chaotic humor and action-packed fights that fans enjoy. It’s an adaptation that loves the source material.

The film adapts a favorite arc among fans, the Benizakura Arc, managing to combine the rapid-fire comedy and intense sword fights along with the serious tonal shifts seen in the arc. The fight scenes are well-choreographed and only enhanced by the film’s musical score. The cast’s commitment and energy keep the viewers engaged throughout the film, even with the most absurd moments. Few adaptations manage to fully embrace their eccentric anime counterparts, much like Gintama, even managing to spawn a sequel film.

2) Ruroni Kenshin

Kenshin Homura Live Action
Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures

The Ruroni Kenshin film series is widely regarded as one of the best anime live-action adaptations to date. Its breathtaking sword fights, authentic period settings, and strong performances make it a massive achievement in live-action storytelling. Takeru Satoh, who is best known for his lead role in the successful Kamen Rider Den-O, delivers a career-defining performance as Kenshin Homura. The pacing allows for both intense action and quiet, personal character moments that honor the spirit of the original series.

The choreography is without a doubt a highlight of this film, and that’s all in part due to the director, Keishi Otomo’s previous work on historical dramas. Every fight scene is fluid and makes sure to leave an impact with each frame. The costume and set design transport the viewers to this historical era, making the viewer feel immersed in the world. Each installment feels consistent in tone and quality, making the series a must-watch viewing experience. Ruroni Kenshin proves that with enough care and love, an anime adaptation can reach new heights and be beloved by fans and novices alike.

1) One Piece

Strawhats live action One piece
Courtesy of Tomorrow studios

It goes without saying that the One Piece live-action changed many anime fans’ perception of live-action anime. Managing to reach over 37.8 million viewers in its first two weeks on Netflix, and ranking number one in 46 countries, it then managed to triple that in the coming months. It’s hard to deny the impact of Tomorrow Studios’ adaptation on the anime-to-live-action space. Where it shines is with its perfectly chosen cast, all handpicked by mangaka Eiichiro Oda. Inaki Godoy embodies Monkey D. Luffy’s charm and optimism, while Mackenyu, Emily Rudd, Jacob Romero Gibson, and Taz Skylar bring the Straw Hat crew to life with excellent chemistry. Their performances captured the hearts of veterans of the series while grabbing new viewers as well.

The show’s success is tied to the cast’s ability to balance the humor, action, and heartfelt moments One Piece is known for. Each actor embraces their role, making their friendship feel authentic and believable. Combined with the incredible set designs and costumes, the many locations feel lively and match the series’ tone of adventure. There is no shadow of a doubt that Netflix’s One Piece has managed to set a new standard for live-action anime with its amazing cast and storytelling. With Season 2 on the way, fans are more than eager to see where the StrawHats head next.


But do you agree with our list? Do you plan to check any of these live-action films yourself? Let us know in the comments below!

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One Piece: Sanji Fans Rejoice as Creator Redeems the Straw Hat Cook’s Greatest Quirk https://comicbook.com/anime/news/one-piece-manga-sanji-best-quirk/ https://comicbook.com/anime/news/one-piece-manga-sanji-best-quirk/#respond Sun, 17 Aug 2025 15:30:00 +0000 https://comicbook.com/?p=1457542 Angry Sanji from One Piece

The One Piece manga is currently in a crucial phase as Harald’s backstory sheds light on the legendary Rocks Pirates. We learn how Rocks D. Xebec became a wanted criminal after killing an Admiral in the holy land of Mariejois during the Reverie. He set sail and gathered several allies by participating in the traditional […]

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Angry Sanji from One Piece

The One Piece manga is currently in a crucial phase as Harald’s backstory sheds light on the legendary Rocks Pirates. We learn how Rocks D. Xebec became a wanted criminal after killing an Admiral in the holy land of Mariejois during the Reverie. He set sail and gathered several allies by participating in the traditional pirate game, the Davy Back Fight. He later formed a pirate crew that ruled the seas during Roger’s prime era. Not only did Rocks engraved his name in history as one of the most notorious pirates to have ever lived, but even his crew members, including Edward Newgate, Shiki, Kaido, Big Mom, and the others, made their names known far and wide in the New World.

Before the Elbaf Arc, fans barely knew anything about the Rocks Pirates, but now we are finally getting to experience their epic journey. Rocks D. Xebec had a major goal in mind before his historic fight during the God Valley Incident against Monkey D. Garp and Gol D. Roger. However, while the backstory hasn’t mentioned the Straw Hats’ chef in any way, he again got after the top-tiers share a common a similar trait with him.

One Piece’s Heart-Eyes Quirk Doesn’t Only Belong to Sanji

one-piece-sanji.png

Aside from the Rocks Pirates, a certain pirate crew gained a lot of attention around four decades ago. Kuja Pirates, a crew of only female pirates from Amazon Lily, known for their strength and beauty, were treated as idols during the time. Even though the crew was led by Gloriossa, Shakuyaku, her right-hand girl, and the next Pirate Empress was the heartbreaker of all the New World. She had everyone swooning over her; no men and women were immune to her charms.

Roger on the ground as Shakky stands above him as seen in chapter 1156 of One Piece

Not to mention that the Roger Pirates even picked fights with the Kuja Pirates just to have her in their crew. Of course, they were easily defeated and even had their treasures stolen. In Chapter 1157, Shakuyaku settled in Hachinosu, the base of the Rocks Pirates, and started a bar there. She didn’t even have to make an effort to win their hearts, and even Rocks, Newgate, and the others were looking at the same heart-eyes. This opens up the discussion about Sanji’s gag, which has always been controversial.

It only became worse after the time-skip when the anime’s slow-pacing came at the expense of his character portrayal because of the stretched-out scenes of Sanji swooning over women. However, with the manga openly showing all these legendary characters acting the same way Sanji does, it seems like the author is trying to reshape Sanji’s image, even if the change is small.

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Black Clover Brings Back Its Coolest Villains With Surprising Save After 7 Years https://comicbook.com/anime/news/black-clover-anime-elves-return-manga/ https://comicbook.com/anime/news/black-clover-anime-elves-return-manga/#respond Sun, 17 Aug 2025 14:00:00 +0000 https://comicbook.com/?p=1456964 Image Courtesy of Pierrot
Black Clover Anime

Black Clover has returned with three new chapters in Jump GIGA’s Summer issue, pushing the story closer to its conclusion. These chapters have been particularly dynamic, shifting the focus away from the fight against Lucius to highlight other characters in the ongoing war. Since Lucius’ plan involves taking over the world and creating his version […]

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Image Courtesy of Pierrot
Black Clover Anime

Black Clover has returned with three new chapters in Jump GIGA’s Summer issue, pushing the story closer to its conclusion. These chapters have been particularly dynamic, shifting the focus away from the fight against Lucius to highlight other characters in the ongoing war. Since Lucius’ plan involves taking over the world and creating his version of paradise, it was clear that the threat would not fall solely on the Clover Kingdom. Naturally, many others would step in to join the fray against this common enemy of the world.

Warning: Spoilers Ahead for Black Clover’s Summer 2025 Return!

That is exactly what these latest chapters deliver, bringing back several characters to the battlefield. Their involvement carries even more weight because many of them were once enemies whose lives were changed by Asta’s actions, leading them to become allies who vowed to repay him one day. The newest chapter reintroduces iconic villains in chronological order, beginning with the Diamond Kingdom, where fans witness the return of Asta’s sword teacher, followed by the Elf Tribe, led by Patolli, fulfilling his promise to aid humanity and return the favor.

Black Clover Returns Its Coolest Villains With a Promise to Fulfill

Patolli returns leading the Elf Trbie
Image Courtesy of Shueisha

The Elf Tribes were last seen in Chapter 228 of the manga, released in November 2019, which concluded the Elf Reincarnation arc and resolved the centuries-long conflict between humans and elves. They parted ways with Patolli, promising Asta that they would repay the humans for helping the elves defeat Zagred, the mastermind behind their suppression and the instigator of the conflict between humans and elves. The Elves reappear in Chapter 382, titled Former Enemies, arriving just in time to confront the ever-evolving Paladins and the “angels” Lucius commands to wreak havoc. The Diamond Kingdom, which appeared before them, was overwhelmed by the angels, causing further trouble and hindering Asta’s healing process.

Thus, this chapter highlights the Elves’ long-awaited return, with Patolli and Rhya seemingly leading the charge, defeating the angels with ease, with Patolli remarking that this time, they will protect the humans. Their reappearance is especially significant, as their conflict with humans spanned centuries, tracing back to the rise of the first Wizard King in the Clover Kingdom. With the Elf Reincarnation arc revealing how Patolli had once lived inside William Vangeance, the importance of the Elves in the story is undeniable. It also mirrors Yuki Tabata’s later twist of concealing Lucius, the final villain, inside Julius. While the Elves’ return is a much-anticipated development for fans, it also underscores how Asta’s actions have reshaped the world of Black Clover, which helps him realize his dream of becoming the Wizard King by miles.

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South Park’s First Trilogy Was Arguably Its Best https://comicbook.com/tv-shows/news/south-parks-first-trilogy-was-its-best-meteor-shower-party/ https://comicbook.com/tv-shows/news/south-parks-first-trilogy-was-its-best-meteor-shower-party/#respond Sun, 17 Aug 2025 01:30:00 +0000 https://comicbook.com/?p=1441504 South Park original image. Courtesy of Comedy Central

South Park‘s Season 27 debut nabbed the series its highest numbers in over 25 years. Specifically, since the debut of Season 3, “Rainforest Shmainforest.” And Season 3 is exactly what we’ll be discussing today. Not because of its terrific viewership numbers, but because it was the first season to have a trilogy, which the show […]

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South Park original image. Courtesy of Comedy Central

South Park‘s Season 27 debut nabbed the series its highest numbers in over 25 years. Specifically, since the debut of Season 3, “Rainforest Shmainforest.” And Season 3 is exactly what we’ll be discussing today. Not because of its terrific viewership numbers, but because it was the first season to have a trilogy, which the show actually wouldn’t do again for quite some time. However, it’s almost not even an official trilogy. At least not the same way “Imaginationland” is. But it’s a ton of fun, and perhaps even better than “Imaginationland.” Fortunately, both of the trilogies are able to stream in full, unlike the two-parter “200” and “201.” Specifically, they’re available on Paramount+, as the show has now left its former home of HBO Max.

Here we’re going to go through Season 3’s “Meteor Shower Trilogy,” as it were. We’ll unpack each of the three episodes, observe how they (loosely) tie into one another, and what makes each of them so special and iconic.

The Cartman-Focused “Cat Orgy”

image courtesy of comedy central

All three episodes of the “Meteor Shower Trilogy” have distinctly different focuses, but there is a throughline. Each episode has at least one of the core four boys as well as a focus on at least one character who, at that point in time, didn’t receive much spotlight. In the case of “Cat Orgy,” it’s Cartman and Shelley Marsh, who really only previously had an integral role in Season 1’s “An Elephant Makes Love to a Pig.”

“Cat Orgy” isn’t the strongest installment of the “Meteor Shower Trilogy” (that would be “Jewbilee”), but it is the most impressive. It manages to take Cartman, a character who wore an Adolf Hitler costume with reverence and joy in the first season, and make him come across as compassionate and something of a voice of reason. In Shelley, he meets his match. As his babysitter, she’s calling the shots, and he’s forced to do what she says. When she introduces her 22-year-old boyfriend (Shelly is 12), Skyler, Cartman immediately sees he’s taking advantage of her.

At first, Cartman is just trying to bust Shelley for having a boyfriend over, and that’s a funny scenario that the episode gets plenty of mileage out of. However, when Skyler dumps Shelley because she won’t give him “any action,” she’s heartbroken. Cartman both tries to cheer her up and ascertain just what she was thinking. Skyler’s a man and she’s just a little girl. He’s a creep and she’s his victim (it seems one of several victims).

Together, they team up to exact revenge on this guitar-loving pedophile, and it’s quite possibly the only time where Cartman’s vengeful nature actually manages to line up with an ethical response. In other words, it’s an episode that gives Cartman a genuine character arc, which isn’t usually something he experiences. Typically, he does something awful and then faces the repercussions of that action.

“Cat Orgy” also works because it features, well, a cat orgy. Mr. Kitty hasn’t been seen so much in recent years, mostly because there’s only so much Trey Parker and Matt Stone can do with him. He just meows a whole bunch, then gets yelled at by Cartman until he runs off. But, let’s face it, that worked really well throughout the first few seasons (especially for anyone who has a needy cat), and it was never done better than here. Not to mention, this is the episode with a bunch of references to the then-new release Wild Wild West, and it’s hilarious hearing Cartman call Clyde Frog “Artemus Clyde Frog.”

The Stan-Focused “Two Guys Naked in a Hot Tub”

image courtesy of comedy central

Even in the early seasons, when he popped up fairly often, Pip was a forgettable character. That was part of his point; he was dismissed by the core four boys and even by the staff of South Park Elementary School (e.g. in Season 1’s “Big Gay Al’s Big Gay Boat Ride,” where Pip is the only kid to not get a helmet during football games). And thanks to episodes “200” and “201” being removed from streaming, now fans can’t even see that he was, in fact, killed off.

But “Two Guys Naked in a Hot Tub” was an important episode for him. Specifically, in hindsight, it signaled the beginning of his end. This was the first episode where Butters got more than a single little line, and even that was rare prior to this point. In other words, this was the exact point where Butters entered the fray and took over Pip’s role as the oft-dismissed boy, and did it much better.

The narrative of this episode primarily follows Stan, Gerald Broflovski, and Randy Marsh. Gerald and Randy’s B-plot is them breaking away from being boring family men for one night and experimenting. Their definition of experimentation, as it turns out, is watching one another masturbate in a hot tub. Randy spends the rest of the episode worrying that anyone will find out, which a few have, since Gerald immediately spread the word.

The more interesting part is the A-plot, with Stan trapped in the basement of Mr. Mackey’s house as the party rages on the floor above. The only other kids there are Pip, Butters, and Dougie, all of whom Stan deems the biggest “Melvins” at South Park Elementary. By episode’s end, Stan learns that these “Melvins” aren’t so bad once you get to know them, but that’s swiftly dismissed as soon as Kyle asks him how his night was in the final scene.

This is the most political episode of the three, and like Stan’s plot, it’s very well done. Specifically, the ATF and its highly controversial handling of Waco. At one point, they blast music just like the ATF did in real life. It was more like they blasted the sounds of screaming and babies crying, but here it’s the music of Cher, a pretty great dig at her then-recent hit album Believe.

The Kyle and Kenny-Focused “Jewbilee”

image courtesy of comedy central

“Jewbilee” pairs Kyle and Kenny, and between the two, it’s Kenny who runs away with the episode. Gerald and Sheila Broflovski are heading to Mr. Mackey’s meteor shower party, therefore solidifying that as the trilogy’s true connective tissue. They drop Kyle, Kenny, and Ike off at what amounts to a Jewish Boy Scout camp, which ends up being a pretty exclusionary place. An Asian boy is thrown out into the cold (where a bear is known to be lurking), and anyone who is not “Kosher,” like Kenny, faces the same fate.

And Kenny does face that fate once Moses arrives. And in Moses, we get the most bizarre South Park character up to this point. His appearance and voice are yanked straight from the Master Control Program in Tron, and it’s hard to say why they went in that direction, just as it’s hard to pinpoint why it works so, so well.

“Jewbilee” has the best sense of focus of the three episodes. The single locale works really well here, even better than Cartman’s house or Mr. Mackey’s house. It’s a fresh location, and because of that, the episode feels a bit fresher by extension. It was also a heartwarming way to round out the trilogy. Kenny saves the day and the Cartman (not to mention the heads of the camp) learn to become more accepting of outsiders. And having the episode’s villain, Garth, say he’s from the Synagogue of Antisemites is really a top-tier early-season joke.

The Argument for the “Meteor Shower Trilogy”

image courtesy of comedy central

South Park has always been a risk-taking show and arguably the best example of that came from the first time it had a two-part episode. That would be Season 1’s finale, “Cartman’s Mom Is a Dirty Sl-t” and the sophomore episode of Season 2, “Cartman’s Mom Is Still a Dirty Sl-t.” That two-parter wasn’t a risk so much because it ended a season on a cliffhanger, but because when the second season debuted, it did not answer the question that had been posed at the end of Season 1. Instead, it did a Terrance and Phillip special.

The “Meteor Shower Trilogy” was a different kind of risk. It was Parker and Stone’s effort to see how the central quartet could function when they were forced to separate, and in that, there’s the argument why this trilogy is the best.

It shows that they can, in fact, each have a compelling narrative and even (kind of) grow as characters. Cartman shows his sweet side to Shelley, Stan opens his mind to individuals he’s openly thought weren’t worth his time, Kyle learns to accept accountability for his choices, and Kenny sacrifices himself to save a group of people who just threw him out of their gathering.

The “Meteor Shower Trilogy” is also incredibly rewatchable, and it’s the one trilogy (or even multi-part narrative in general) where each episode is fun and functions as a single piece. If viewed as a trilogy, it works. If you just check out “Cat Orgy,” that works too.

What’s your favorite trilogy of South Park episodes? Let us know in the comments below!

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All 35 Easter Eggs Hidden in One Piece’s New Opening Explained https://comicbook.com/anime/news/one-piece-anime-egghead-opening-easter-eggs/ https://comicbook.com/anime/news/one-piece-anime-egghead-opening-easter-eggs/#respond Sun, 17 Aug 2025 01:00:00 +0000 https://comicbook.com/?p=1453348

Having finally wrapped up Kuma’s flashback, One Piece‘s anime has finally returned to the action on present-day Egghead, marking the shift and the upcoming climax of the Egghead Arc with brand new opening and ending themes. Of the two, however, the new opening theme, “Carmine” by Ellegarden, has captivated fans the most. One Piece’s anime […]

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Having finally wrapped up Kuma’s flashback, One Piece‘s anime has finally returned to the action on present-day Egghead, marking the shift and the upcoming climax of the Egghead Arc with brand new opening and ending themes. Of the two, however, the new opening theme, “Carmine” by Ellegarden, has captivated fans the most. One Piece’s anime has had a streak of amazing opening themes since the beginning of the Wano Arc, and the Egghead Arc’s newest opening has managed to keep that streak intact.

That said, other than its incredibly catchy tune, One Piece’s new opening is also just as beautifully animated as the series’ latest episodes have been so far. Furthermore, true to its namesake, the Egghead Arc’s new opening is full of easter eggs, throwbacks, and references, many of which fly by in the blink of an eye, and these are all of them.

Warning: Contains One Piece Manga Spoilers!

35) The East Blue Gang

The new opening starts off strong with a shot of Vegapunk’s broadcast beginning, which is the major focus of the second half of the Egghead Arc. A monitor off to the side also displays a flatline, hinting at Vegapunk’s imminent death. What follows is a huge throwback to the East Blue Saga with cameos from many old yet unforgettable faces. From left to right, these include Woop Slap, Makino and her baby, Chouchou, the mayor of Orange Town, Shimotsuki Koshiro, the Usopp Pirates, Merry, Kaya, Patty, Zeff, Carne, Chabo, Genzo, Nojiko, Johnny, Yosaku, Nako, Ipponmatsu, Miss Monday Mr 9, Nanday, Crocus, Dalton, and lastly, Dr. Kureha.

34) Koza and Alabasta

One of the many fleeting cameos in the first few seconds of the new One Piece opening is Koza and his father, Toto, who are seen watching Vegapunk’s broadcast in Yuba, Alabasta. Also featured alongside the father-son duo are Erik and Kappa, who were last seen in Volume 22 of the Decks of the World cover story of Chapter 638.

33) Sabo and the Revolutionaries

One of the more unmissable cameos in the opening is Sabo, the recently proclaimed Flame Emperor, who is featured with the various Revolutionary Army Commanders behind him, including Jiron Belo Betty, Lindbergh, Koala, Ushiano, Ahiru, Inazuma, Emporio Invankov, and even Morley, whose giant fist and skirt can just barely be seen in the top left corner.

32) Koby, SWORD, and the Marines

Much like Sabo, the new Egghead opening theme also gives Koby, the new hero of the Marines, the spotlight. Koby is fittingly featured alongside members of SWORD, such as Kujaku, Helmeppo, Prince Grus, Hibari, and, surprisingly enough, X Drake, who, up until this point, was assumed dead in the story. Akainu and Kuzan frame Koby and SWORD on either side, painting the group as the moral middle ground between the two stark ideals of justice.

31) Garling, Gunko, and Shamrock

It hasn’t been long since the younger version of St. Figarland Garling debuted in One Piece’s anime during the God Valley flashback, but the mysterious Holy Knight is back again in One Piece’s new opening theme. Garling appears alongside four cloaked members of the Holy Knights, two of whom clearly appear to be Gunko and Shamrock, judging by the glimpse of Gunko’s bandages and Shamrock’s stubble. Most likely, the tall, broad-chested, cloaked figure to the very left is St. Sommers, while the one to the right is St. Killingham.

30) One Piece’s New Four Emperors of the Sea

Another exciting cameo in the latest opening is that of Shanks, who is framed by the new Emperors Blackbeard and Buggy between the crossed blades at Roger’s execution, while Luffy walks across the shot putting on his straw hat at the end.

29) Vivi and the Poneglyphs

Given the recent revelation of the Nefertari family’s secret D. Clan heritage and their ancestor’s hand in scattering the poneglyphs, it is quite fitting that Vivi is pictured alongside the poneglyphs and the Red Line in the background.

28) Shirahoshi, Luffy, and Blackbeard’s Cut Up Posters

An interesting throwback that fans may have missed in the new One Piece opening is the shot of Shirahoshi’s picture and Luffy and Blackbeard’s cut-up wanted posters, which were first seen when Imu was first introduced in the series alongside the giant Straw Hat. While the significance of this action is yet to be seen, it hints at Imu playing a bigger role going forward.

27) Vivi’s Missing Poster and Luffy’s New Wanted Poster

Besides the throwback to the old wanted poster, the new opening also features a shot of Luffy’s new wanted poster post-Wano, featuring him in Gear Five. Vivi’s missing poster also makes a fleeting cameo in the genius transition shot.

26) The Giant Pirates Arrive at Egghead

One of the biggest spoilers in the new opening theme is the arrival of Dorry and Brogy and the Giant Pirates on Egghead. The duo was only recently revealed to be alive and well during the fight, or rather, the annihilation of Captain Kidd and his crew, and the opening completely spoils the twist of them arriving to aid the Straw Hats amidst the Buster Call.

25) Dorry and Brogy vs. the Five Elders

As if spoiling Dorry and Brogy’s reunion with the Straw Hats wasn’t enough already, the opening sequence also gives fans a glimpse of them fighting the Five Elders, particularly St. Nusjuro. The opening also reveals the series’ first look at the other Five Elders’ transformations, including St. Warcury’s Hoki form and St. Mars’ Istumad form as he flies across the top of the shot.

24) The Secret Submerged World of One Piece

The new opening also gives away one of the biggest upcoming revelations in the series, this being a glimpse at the secret, submerged world of One Piece, whose existence will be revealed during Vegapunk’s broadcast.

23) Ohara’s Research Being Saved

As revealed earlier in the Egghead Arc, Ohara’s research was saved at the cost of the researchers’ lives when they tossed the library’s books into the water with the hope of saving them from the fire ravaging the island. These findings are, of course, at the center of the revelations in Vegapunk’s broadcast, making this passing shot in the opening much more important than it may initially seem.

22) Fishman Island and the Citizens of Lulusia

Included in the long list of cameos in the new opening are also Princess Shirahoshi, King Neptune, as well as Moda the milk maiden from Lulusia, surrounded by the other surviving citizens of the island.

21) Wano and the Royal Palace of Alubarna

The new opening also includes cameos by Momonosuke, Shinobu, Kinemon, and, most adorable of all, Otama, who is seen eating mochi while dressed as a kunoichi. Side by side with the Wano cameos, the opening also includes a shot of King Cobra’s funeral at Alabasta, as evidenced by the sarcophagus at the center and Cobra’s portrait.

20) The Iron Giant of Egghead

Although it may be a while until fans finally see the Iron Giant in action, the new Egghead opening gives fans the perfect teaser of what’s to come. The Iron Giant, who is later revealed to be named Emet, can be seen with his eyes lit up, ready to dive right into the fight, though fans will have to wait to learn what’s awakened him.

19) Bonney Finally Finds Nika

It would be an understatement to say that Bonney recognizing Luffy as Nika is one of the most highly anticipated moments of the Egghead Arc. Kuma’s tragic backstory has highlighted just how crucial Nika is to Bonney as well as Kuma, and the opening theme finally sees her making the connection to Luffy and Gear Five.

18) Mock Town Mocks Vegapunk

Included in the long list of people tuning in to Vegapunk’s posthumous broadcast is also Mock Town, whose citizens can unsurprisingly be seen laughing and mocking Vegapunk’s absurd allegations and revelations. Clearly, nothing has changed since the Straw Hats first arrived at Mock Town.

17) Totto Land

Another major location seen tuning into Vegapunk’s broadcast during the opening is Totto Land, where many can be seen similarly gathered around a transponder snail, including Charlotte Katakuri, Charlotte Brownie, and even Charlotte Moscato, who was last assumed to be dead after having his soul taken by Big Mom.

16) Fullalead

While there don’t seem to be any familiar faces in sight, Pirate Island or Fullalead also makes an appearance in One Piece’s new opening, and it seems like things have somewhat settled down after the fight between Kuzan and Garp.

15) Sabaody

In a shot very reminiscent of the Marineford Arc, Sabaody also makes a fleeting appearance in the new opening theme, as evident by the distinct floating bubbles always present on the island.

14) Karakuri Island

Another unexpected location featured in One Piece’s new opening is Karakuri Island, or specifically, Baldimore, which is not only Vegapunk’s birthplace but also the location of one of the genius scientist’s laboratories where Franky spent much of the two-year time skip.

13) Mariejois

Surprisingly enough, even Mariejois can be seen paying attention to Vegapunk’s message in the new opening theme with multiple Celestial Dragons gathered around the transponder snail and the projection screen. This also includes St. Shalria, whose blonde hair can be spotted at the very left.

12) The Marines at Navy HQ

One Piece’s new opening even checks in with Navy HQ, where multiple Marines are also seen watching Vegapunk’s broadcast. There don’t appear to be any familiar faces among the Marines, especially with most of the Vice Admirals being deployed to Egghead.

11) The World Economic Journal

Besides her other prominent feature later in the opening, Vivi first makes a cameo in the new opening during the quick opening montage, where she, along with Big News Morgans and the employees at the World Economic Journal, can be seen watching Vegapunk’s broadcast as well. While it’s easy to miss him, Wapol can also be seen on the right behind Morgans. Another interesting detail about this shot that fans may have missed is the Four Emperors’ wanted poster above the projection screen.

10) Zou/The Mokomo Dukedom

Several of the Minks from Zou also make an appearance in the new opening, such as Wanda, Shishilian, and even Carrot, the recently appointed ruler of the Mokomo Dukedom.

9) Dressrosa

Kyros, Rebecca, Leo, and Kabu, who seem to have finally returned from the Reverie, also appear to be watching Vegapunk’s broadcast back at Dressrosa in the new opening. Seeing these various locations across the world of One Piece truly puts into perspective just how consequential this mysterious broadcast and Vegapunk’s revelations are going to be.

8) Dragon at Logue Town

Gone are the days when Dragon would only make an appearance in One Piece every few years or so. As One Piece heads into the Final Saga, Dragon has also stepped to the forefront of the story, finally playing a more active role and enacting his secret plans. That said, Dragon’s cameo in the new opening is actually taken from his first appearance in the series at Logue Town, with the opening further deepening the decade-long suspicion that the bolt of lightning that saved Luffy back then, perhaps, wasn’t a coincidence after all.

7) The Straw Hats Hear Luffy’s Dream

In a more recent throwback, the opening theme also calls back to the very beginning of the Egghead Arc when Luffy finally shared his real dream with the Straw Hats. Fans are still nowhere close to decoding this particular mystery but its quite fun to see all the entire crew’s reactions in a single frame.

6) Luffy First Meets Blackbeard

In addition to the Mock Town cameo, One Piece’s new opening theme also interestingly includes a callback to Luffy’s first encounter with Blackbeard and the iconic moment when Blackbeard famously said, “People’s dreams don’t ever end.”

5) Luffy Sets Sail

In another nostalgic throwback in the latest opening theme, fans also get taken back to the very beginning of Luffy’s journey, to when he first set sail, throwing his hands into the air. These throwback shots are also quite visually distinct from the rest of the opening, with a more nostalgic, watercolor-like art style.

4) The Straw Hats Declaring Their Dreams

Easily the most nostalgic shot in the new Egghead opening theme is the one of the Straw Hats declaring their dreams with their feet atop a barrel while entering the Grand Line. Excitingly enough, it may not be too long till fans see this very moment in live-action in Season 2 of Netflix’s live-action One Piece.

3) Ace and Yamato’s Flashback

Unexpectedly, the new opening also references Ace and Yamato’s flashback from the Wano Arc, juxtaposing Sabo, Ace, and Luffy against Oden, Whitebeard, and Roger yet again.

2) Roger at His Execution

One Piece’s new opening theme would have felt incomplete without a callback to the moment and the man who started it all. The transition from Luffy’s near execution at Logue Town to Roger’s arguably completes the new opening and is also what makes the opening feel like the beginning of the end as One Piece enters the final leg of its story.

1) Joyboy and Emet

While fans may have initially brushed it off as being Luffy or a shot of Luffy and the Iron Giant from the present day, the figure in the Straw Hat seen with Emet during the title card sequence is actually Joyboy. The fact that Emet has both his horns and also seems to be missing any of the rust and moss on him during this scene is the biggest giveaway. In fact, the hand reaching for the Straw Hat at the end of the opening may also belong to Joyboy, in which case, One Piece’s newest opening may have just revealed more about the mysterious Void Century figure than the series ever has in the last twenty-five years.


One Piece can be streamed on Netflix and Crunchyroll.

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A KPop Demon Hunters Sequel Sounds Great (But I Need a Prequel) https://comicbook.com/movies/news/kpop-demon-hunters-sequel-prequel-rumi-mother-father/ https://comicbook.com/movies/news/kpop-demon-hunters-sequel-prequel-rumi-mother-father/#respond Sun, 17 Aug 2025 01:00:00 +0000 https://comicbook.com/?p=1445961 Image Courtesy of Sony Animation

KPop Demon Hunters has become a global sensation on Netflix, and for good reason. I’ve watched it multiple times, and I’m sure that I’m not alone in feeling like this is the kind of movie that I can continue re-watching without getting tired of it. It has a great blend of humor mixed into the […]

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Image Courtesy of Sony Animation

KPop Demon Hunters has become a global sensation on Netflix, and for good reason. I’ve watched it multiple times, and I’m sure that I’m not alone in feeling like this is the kind of movie that I can continue re-watching without getting tired of it. It has a great blend of humor mixed into the seriousness that keeps the content from feeling too heavy, and the visuals alone are stunning. On top of that, the songs are incredible, and I can’t stop listening to the soundtrack on repeat. Yet in the middle of all the positive qualities, I have a question that only a prequel can fully answer.

While KPop Demon Hunters tells the story of Huntrix against Saja Boys and their plan to feed souls to Gwi-ma, it doesn’t tell the story of Rumi. Rather, it doesn’t explain the story that led to Rumi, namely, how her mother ended up having a half-demon child despite being a hunter. If I had to guess, it would be a situation similar to Rumi’s relationship with Jinu, albeit one that developed more and ended differently. With this in mind, I think that a prequel could reveal a lot about hunters overall by following Rumi’s mom.

We’re Left With Unanswered Questions About Rumi

Image Courtesy of Sony Animation

It doesn’t take long for KPop Demon Hunters to reveal a crucial detail about Rumi: she has the patterns of a demon on her arms. We also see that her patterns are spreading, which is also shown with the help of a few flashbacks where her patterns cover a much smaller amount of skin. This is the result of Rumi’s dad being a demon. Since we also know that Rumi’s mom was a hunter, the revelation about her dad’s nature raises quite a few questions.

While Jinu and Rumi almost have a romantic arc, romance is far from the focus of KPop Demon Hunters, and it doesn’t come to fruition. I believe that making this part of the movie into more of a side plot was the right move, since keeping the focus on the bonds between Rumi, Mira, and Zoey creates a powerful narrative. However, this almost-romance gives us an important piece of information: some demons retain emotions. It might not be the same as when they were a human, but it’s clear that Jinu has a greater measure of humanity left in him compared to other demons.

With that in mind, I think we could reasonably say that there are other demons who have more humanity left compared to the majority of demons. Their memories that keep their humanity intact could vary greatly, but I suspect that Rumi’s dad was a demon like Jinu that still retained memories from his lifetime that kept him connected to his humanity. I would also be willing to bet that the demon who is (theoretically) Rumi’s dad ended up dying to the hunters, who would’ve been the Sunlight Sisters at that time. If KPop Demon Hunters had been a full anime series instead of a movie, then we could’ve had this as a flashback arc. Since that’s not the case, we need a prequel to explain it.

Rumi Could Have Led to Her Mother’s Death

Image Courtesy of Sony Animation

KPop Demon Hunters doesn’t explain the cause of Rumi’s mother’s death. It just says that she died when Rumi was a baby, and Celine—having made a promise to protect what Rumi’s mom left behind—took in Rumi and raised her, apparently without knowing that Rumi is half-demon, as evidenced by Celine’s comment that she “didn’t know it would be a child like you.” Looking at these supernatural and fantasy elements included in the movie, it’s possible that Rumi led to her mother dying, but not in a way that was a direct fault of hers.

It’s common enough for stories that include multiple species, such as having both humans and demons, to include drawbacks unique to one species having a child with the other species. If that’s the case for KPop Demon Hunters, then a lot about the setup makes sense. Rumi’s mom would know that she wouldn’t have the chance to raise Rumi, and that other hunters would see Rumi as something wrong. So, she prepares ahead of time and makes Celine promise her that she’d protect what’s left behind, knowing that it would be Rumi.

I don’t have a way to prove if my theory is correct or not, but it feels plausible enough when I look at other fictional universes that have similar dynamics. Only a prequel or a sequel that includes flashbacks could provide the answers to what happened that led to Rumi being born with a demonic nature, and I certainly won’t be complaining when KPop Demon Hunters starts expanding its universe.

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10 Best Genjutsu in Naruto, Ranked https://comicbook.com/anime/news/best-genjutsu-in-naruto-ranked/ https://comicbook.com/anime/news/best-genjutsu-in-naruto-ranked/#respond Sat, 16 Aug 2025 22:00:00 +0000 https://comicbook.com/?p=1456561

In the world of Naruto, the strongest shinobi don’t always win with raw power or flashy moves, but by turning their opponent’s mind into a battlefield. Every shinobi has to master three main types of jutsu: ninjutsu, taijutsu, and the more mind-twisting art of genjutsu. Genjutsu manipulates the flow of your chakra to trap you […]

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In the world of Naruto, the strongest shinobi don’t always win with raw power or flashy moves, but by turning their opponent’s mind into a battlefield. Every shinobi has to master three main types of jutsu: ninjutsu, taijutsu, and the more mind-twisting art of genjutsu. Genjutsu manipulates the flow of your chakra to trap you in illusions that feel completely real. It can be used to mislead or distract enemies, but it can also be a dangerous psychological attack on its own against even the most powerful characters. Because while none of it is technically real, the pain, fear, and trauma it causes absolutely are.

Known for its relatable characters, unforgettable story arcs, and intense battles, Naruto is one of the most iconic anime series ever made, but what really sets it apart from other anime is how every character has their own completely unique ability. And in the action-packed universe of Naruto, genjutsu users bring something especially chilling to the table. Throughout the series, we get to see many powerful genjutsu techniques. These ten represent the absolute peak of illusion-based warfare, each one powerful enough to make even the strongest shinobi question what’s real.

10) Demonic Flute: Phantom Sound Chains

Best Genjutsu in Naruto Demonic Flute
Image Courtesy of Studio Pierrot

Imagine hearing a melody that starts off beautiful, only to realize that the sound is literally chaining your limbs. That’s exactly what Tayuya’s signature genjutsu technique does. Unlike most genjutsu that require eye contact or being close to your target, this one can affect anyone within hearing range, making it perfect for long-distance battles or situations where you don’t even know where your enemy is.

When Tayuya used it on Shikamaru, he found himself stuck in a barren landscape with his arms and legs tied up by ropes, watching his own flesh melt away from his skeleton. However, this technique does have one major weakness: Wind Release users can literally blow the sound away. What the victim of the genjuatsu sees also seems to vary. Kabuto got this ability later after acquiring Tayuya’s DNA, and when he used it on Sasuke and Itachi, they saw snakes coiling around their arms and torso instead.

9) Demonic Illusion: Hell Viewing Technique

Demonic Illusion Genjutsu
Image Courtesy of Studio Pierrot

This technique is particularly cruel because it forces you to watch your deepest, darkest fear play out in vivid detail right before your eyes. The Hell Viewing Technique digs deep into your subconscious to find whatever you’re most afraid of. This includes fears you didn’t even know you had.

When Kakashi used this jutsu on Sakura, she saw what looked like Sasuke’s dead body, and the image was so realistic that she instantly passed out from shock. Unlike other genjutsu that show the same thing to everyone, this one creates a unique nightmare based on each person’s individual fears. While experienced shinobi might be able to break free by recognizing it’s not real, most people can’t stay calm when they’re staring directly at their worst nightmare come to life.

8) Temple of Nirvana Technique

Best Genjutsu in Naruto Temple of Nirvana
Image Courtesy of Studio Pierrot

This technique puts everyone within an area under the same illusion: thousands of white feathers falling from the sky like snow. Once you see enough of them, your eyelids start getting heavy, and no amount of willpower can keep you awake. The genjutsu’s biggest strength is how beautiful it looks; most people are too busy admiring the falling feathers to realize they’re being put under a spell.

Kabuto used it to commence the Konoha Crush, instantly knocking out everyone during the Chunin Exams. Once you’re under this genjutsu’s spell, you can’t be woken up through conventional means like shaking or yelling. The only way out is either recognizing the illusion before you completely fall asleep, or having someone else break it.

7) Bringer-of-Darkness Technique

Bringer-of-Darkness Genjutsu
Image Courtesy of Studio Pierrot

Sometimes the simplest techniques can be the most effective, and this one is a perfect example. The Bringer-of-Darkness Technique, mastered by Senju clan members like Hashirama and Tobirama, does exactly what it sounds like: it makes you see nothing but complete darkness. It might sound basic compared to other genjutsu on this list, but imagine trying to survive a life-or-death fight when you literally can’t see anything at all.

This technique doesn’t just remove light, it makes you feel like you’re trapped in an endless void. When Hashirama used it against the Third Hokage during the Konoha Crush arc, even someone as experienced as Hiruzen had trouble defending himself properly. However, skilled ninja can still rely on their other senses to fight back as Hiruzen managed to counter it by tracking his opponents’ chakra.

6) Demonic Illusion: Toad Confrontation Chant

Toad Confrontation Chant Best Genjutsu in Naruto
Image Courtesy of Studio Pierrot

Picture ancient toads singing together in perfect harmony, and anyone who hears their song instantly gets caught in the genjutsu. Within the illusion, you’re sealed in place by four toad samurai inside a barrier of water, completely unable to move or escape. The song has been passed down through generations of Mount Myōboku, but only the Two Great Sage Toads have ever been able to perform it properly because of how complex the harmonies are.

The genjutsu can only be broken if the user decides to end it themselves, or if Mount Myoboku’s secret Stone Swords are driven into your heart in the real world. The only downside is that it takes time to prepare and get the harmony just right, which makes it tricky to use in the middle of a battle. Still, the technique was powerful enough to be used during both Naruto’s and Jiraiya’s fights against Pain, proving just how effective it really is.

5) Izanami

Izanami Genjutsu
Image Courtesy of Studio Pierrot

Created specifically to counter Izanagi, Izanami traps you in an endless loop of the same events until you finally accept reality and stop trying to fight your fate. It’s not just a time loop; it’s more like a psychological prison meant to force you into self-reflection and acceptance. The technique works by the user memorizing a specific set of physical sensations, both their own and their opponent’s, and then recreating those exact moments to trigger the loop. 

The Uchiha clan originally created Izanami to punish members who were abusing Izanagi’s power, forcing them to confront their actions and change their ways. Itachi used it against Kabuto during the Fourth Shinobi World War. Trapping him in an infinite cycle that could only be broken once he admitted the truth about himself and accepted the consequences of his actions. 

4) Izanagi

Izanagi Best Genjutsu in Naruto
Image Courtesy of Studio Pierrot

Izanagi blurs the line between illusion and reality by giving you full control over what is and isn’t real for as long as it’s active. That means you can undo injuries or even erase your own death by rewriting the outcome to whatever you want. When you do this, the injured or dead version of yourself fades away, and your healthy self immediately takes its place like nothing ever happened.

Danzo used this to fight Sasuke, dying over and over, then suddenly being alive again like nothing had happened. This wasn’t healing or resurrection; he was literally rewriting reality to make unwanted events never occur in the first place. Only Uchiha clan members and descendants of the Sage can use Izanagi, and in exchange for that power, the Sharingan they use goes permanently blind, unless they have the Rinnegan to restore it.

3) Tsukuyomi

Tsukuyomi Genjutsu
Image Courtesy of Studio Pierrot

Itachi’s signature Mangekyō Sharingan technique, Tsukuyomi, traps his opponent in an illusion world that he has complete control over. Once you make eye contact with Itachi while he’s using it, you’re transported to a dimension where he completely controls your perception of time. He uses Tsukuyomi to torture victims for what feels like days in just a few seconds. 

Kakashi learned this the hard way during his battle with Itachi, where he experienced three full days of torture even though only a few seconds had passed in the real world. The worst part is that normal methods of breaking genjutsu are completely useless against this technique; only a powerful Sharingan user has any hope of escaping once they’re trapped. Although using it takes a huge amount of chakra, and like all Mangekyō Sharingan abilities, it puts a lot of strain on Itachi’s eyes, slowly destroying his vision every time he uses it.

2) Kotoamatsukami

Kotoamatsukami Best Genjutsu in Naruto
Image Courtesy of Studio Pierrot

Shisui Uchiha had one of the most dangerous genjutsu ever, with power that could shift the entire balance of the shinobi world. Kotoamatsukami doesn’t just create illusions; it completely rewrites your thoughts and memories so perfectly that you genuinely believe you’re acting on your own free will. It’s considered a genjutsu of the highest level because you never even realize that you were manipulated in the first place.

Under normal circumstances, this technique can only be used once every ten years, but that period can be drastically reduced if you have Hashirama Senju’s chakra. Even then, Danzo noted it still couldn’t be used multiple times in a single day. That’s exactly why he was so desperate to get his hands on Shisui’s eyes; he knew the ability to control someone without them knowing could change the entire ninja world. 

1) Infinite Tsukuyomi

Infinite Tsukuyomi in Naruto Shippuden
Image Courtesy of Studio Pierrot

What if someone had the power to trap every single person on Earth inside their perfect dream? That’s exactly what the Infinite Tsukuyomi does. Unlike other genjutsu that target one or two people, this one can put the entire planet under its spell in one go, letting the user enslave everyone in a dream while slowly draining their chakra.

The victims live out their perfect dreams, totally unaware that they’re being used as fuel for the God Tree. Over time, it reduces them to shells of their former selves and ultimately converts them into White Zetsu creatures. Only Rinnegan users can block the light of the Infinite Tsukuyomi, saving themselves and those within their range from its control, and even then, they need the chakra of the nine-tailed beast to end it and free the world.

Do you agree with this ranking of the best Naruto genjutsu? Let us know in the comments!

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Despite a Terrible First Season, This Sci-Fi Anime Is Worth Watching (With an Uncertain Future) https://comicbook.com/anime/news/sci-fi-anime-worth-watching-world-trigger/ https://comicbook.com/anime/news/sci-fi-anime-worth-watching-world-trigger/#respond Sat, 16 Aug 2025 21:00:00 +0000 https://comicbook.com/?p=1456674 Courtesy of Netflix.

We here at ComicBook Anime are picky, so it should say something that, regardless of its extremely sketchy first season and uncertain future, there’s one series we really think you should check out. World Trigger is among the most unique manga of the last two decades for Shonen Jump. Although its first season doesn’t do […]

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Courtesy of Netflix.

We here at ComicBook Anime are picky, so it should say something that, regardless of its extremely sketchy first season and uncertain future, there’s one series we really think you should check out. World Trigger is among the most unique manga of the last two decades for Shonen Jump. Although its first season doesn’t do it any favors, it stands on its own as a masterful sci-fi shonen you absolutely must experience.

One of the funny things about World Trigger is that everything people love about it is also problematic for it. Nonetheless, it would be inaccurate to call World Trigger polarizing: its execution of even its most divisive ideas tends to be extremely elegant, and it’s gathered a dedicated cult following as a result. Here we’re going to dig into what World Trigger is, why you should check it out, and why (if you’ve seen it before and given up) you’ll thank yourself for sticking with it.

World Trigger Was a Hard Sell From the Start

image courtesy of toei animation

The readiest parallel to help an anime fan understand World Trigger would be Solo Leveling‘s paranormal gates; World Trigger built itself around a similar concept back in 2013, with the idea of gates from which monsters called “Neighbors” emerge. Also, like in Solo Leveling, World Trigger premises itself on human society mobilizing against these gates, with ranked squads doing the bulk of the dirty work.

In World Trigger, these squads are part of a governmental organization called Border, which has reappropriated Neighbor technology to fight fire with fire. World Trigger is built on Yuuma Kuga, a humanoid Neighbor wanting to keep his very existence a secret, and his unlikely ally in Osamu Mikumo, a Border trainee. World Trigger’s robust world is built out as Osamu tries to help Yuuma adjust to life in the story’s main setting of Mikado City.

Osamu and Yuuma are only two characters in World Trigger’s cast, of course, which is as robust as its world. Something that sets World Trigger apart is its meticulous detail at every level: its world isn’t just ambitious, it’s considered and carefully presented; its characters aren’t just important, they’re painstakingly written to never be disposable.

For that matter, World Trigger’s power system isn’t just balanced, it’s designed from the ground up so that careful strategy makes any enemy approachable. This works out to make World Trigger one of the best action anime around. Osamu and Yuuma slot into this as compelling leads with wildly different strengths, who play into a vast, deliberate machine of moving parts in the wider struggle against the existential threat of Neighbors. There are political considerations, interpersonal digressions, and team dynamics out the wazoo.

World Trigger’s First Season Failed It, Big Time

World Trigger
Image Courtesy of Shueisha

The problem is that, especially for today’s viewers, those incredible aspects meant World Trigger was a tough sell from the start. World Trigger is a methodical slow burn built around a main character who, drawing back to the Solo Leveling comparison, is the polar opposite of Jinwoo (and the shonen protagonist most viewers expect): someone overpowered who pulls out clutch moves and unexpected power-ups to win fights. World Trigger’s power system is built to reward broad strategy and cooperation, leaving any enemy approachable without becoming unrealistic.

World Trigger’s anime has been handled by Toei Animation from the start. Their first season of the title debuted in 2014, and it can probably be considered an act of accidental sabotage thanks to its abysmal presentation of World Trigger‘s early chapters, primarily focused on world-building and setting things in place for later. The already slow start was padded out with incessant recaps that break flow and make it hard to binge, not to mention a massive filler arc right in the middle of its sizable 73-episode run. On top of that, its animation was seriously lacking; at best, it was serviceable, but that’s not nearly enough to keep casual viewers invested in a story that takes a while to get going.

While there are bright parts of World Trigger’s adaptation even early on, with a killer voice cast and a top-notch OST, its first season failed to highlight many of the things fans love about the series, and it also made the story seem more tedious than it actually is. Although some fans cite a first-season inflection point around Episode 36 with the start of the “B-Rank Wars” arc, Season 2 and 3 clear up the production issues and poor direction, letting the story exist in cooperation with (rather than in spite of) its adaptation.

World Trigger Faces an Uncertain Future, but You Still Need To Try It

image courtesy of toei animation

As for its fourth season, things are up in the air. World Trigger Season 3 closes off the “B-Rank Wars” arc, giving way to the manga’s ongoing “Away Mission Test” arc. There are 57 unadapted manga chapters as of the time of writing, meaning the material is there to adapt, but it’s not clear when or how that will happen. The arc is also set up in phases, with the first phase focused on narrative and characterization just coming to an end with chapter 255, clearing the stage for the battle-oriented second phase. The end of the first sub-arc heralds a natural point for adaptation, but nothing is set in stone.

It’s possible that Toei is waiting for the current arc to progress further before committing to an animation project, and it’s not clear how long that will take. Manga progress is slow-going: the series moved from weekly releases in Weekly Shonen Jump to monthly releases in Jump Square in 2018 to accommodate creator Daisuke Ashihara’s health problems, after an infamous two-year hiatus. Releases have been consistent in 2025, but the overall volume of material is still less than with weekly publication.

On the other hand, World Trigger is still beloved in Japan, although Westerners haven’t given it the same love, and Shueisha has prominently featured it at every Jump Festa since 2020. Particularly of note, the company launched a promotional Japanese-language page for World Trigger’s ongoing arc six months ago, possibly hinting at developments to come.

Despite its uncertain future, people who let themselves be drawn into World Trigger find a series unlike any other. It’s remarkably deep and sometimes dark without ever being weighed down by the abrasive veneer of grimdark grit so many shonen manga like to don these days. It trades obvious heroes for wargaming, complex characters, and bureaucratic dynamics. World Trigger is a story where details matter and every detail has meaning; while its first season will test your patience, you’ll be rewarded with one of Shonen Jump’s smartest sci-fi series ever.


Ready to give World Trigger a try? Check out the anime on Crunchyroll and Netflix, or find the manga over on MANGA Plus and VIZ Manga. Let us know what you think about it in the comments! And if you’re looking for other underrated Shonen Jump series, click through to the link below.

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Black Clover Lets Mimosa Shine With Epic Final Arc Save https://comicbook.com/anime/news/black-clover-anime-mimosa-final-manga-arc/ https://comicbook.com/anime/news/black-clover-anime-mimosa-final-manga-arc/#respond Sat, 16 Aug 2025 20:00:00 +0000 https://comicbook.com/?p=1451607 Black Clover Mimosa final arc

Black Clover’s final battle got more intense than ever in the latest Summer 2025 Jump GIGA issue. The manga releases three chapters this season, which mostly focus on Yuno’s Anti-Magic powers while also giving Mimosa the spotlight she deserves. The battle against Lucius is nearing its end, but things take a turn for the worse […]

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Black Clover Mimosa final arc

Black Clover’s final battle got more intense than ever in the latest Summer 2025 Jump GIGA issue. The manga releases three chapters this season, which mostly focus on Yuno’s Anti-Magic powers while also giving Mimosa the spotlight she deserves. The battle against Lucius is nearing its end, but things take a turn for the worse after the villain strikes down Asta. With his biggest ally teetering on the edge of death, Yuno has no choice but to take on the devil host all by himself. However, before passing out, Asta gives him his Demon Dweller sword along with his Anti-Magic abilities. His injuries are dangerously severe, and the only one who can save him is Mimosa Vermillion.

Warning: Spoilers Ahead for Black Clover’s Summer 2025 Return!

Just like the others, Mimosa has grown a lot stronger over the years and has improved her magic enough to be considered the best healer in the Kingdom. However, that also means there’s a huge burden on her shoulders to save as many people as she can in times of crisis. The entire kingdom is suffering at the hands of Lucius and his Paladins, especially the Magic Knights, who are on the front lines. Since the kingdom doesn’t have many healers, Mimosa has exhausted her mana, trying her best to save everyone else. Despite that, she does everything she can to save the biggest hope of the Clover Kingdom.

Mimosa Uses Her Ultimate Magic to Save Asta From the Brink of Death

Black Clover Asta Mimosa
Image Courtesy of Pierrot

Knowing that Asta is struck down, Mimosa rushes to his side. Not only is she exhausted, but she’s also worried about the dozens of injured Magic Knights in the area. Mimosa fears that she may have to send him to battle again without fully healing him. However, everyone around her asks her to prioritize Asta’s safety, knowing he has the power to defeat Lucius. However, Mimosa and Asta are targeted by Moris Libardirt, who has now turned into a monstrous Paladin.

Just in the nick of time, several of Asta’s allies and former enemies show up on the battlefield. This includes some of the Magic Knights, the elves, and even mages from the Diamond Kingdom. With everyone’s help, she buys enough time to cast her Ultimate Magic and fully heal Asta. As Chapter 383 ends, Asta is back on his feet, stronger than ever. He thanks Mimosa for saving him and readies himself to fight Lucius once again. Yuno is still facing Lucius all by himself, but he is quickly draining his mana after acquiring Anti-Magic. Black Clover’s best duo will once again join hands to take down the enemy, with Asta likely getting his much-deserved spotlight in the Fall 2025 issue.

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King of the Hill Revival Brings in Big Money For Hulu https://comicbook.com/tv-shows/news/new-king-of-the-hill-money-made/ https://comicbook.com/tv-shows/news/new-king-of-the-hill-money-made/#respond Sat, 16 Aug 2025 19:16:14 +0000 https://comicbook.com/?p=1457278 Disney

King of the Hill’s revival was recently revealed to be the biggest animated series for Disney released in the past five years, which is even more impressive considering it overtook the runaway hit that is X-Men ’97. While a fifteenth season for the Hill family hasn’t been confirmed yet, signs are looking good for fans […]

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Disney

King of the Hill’s revival was recently revealed to be the biggest animated series for Disney released in the past five years, which is even more impressive considering it overtook the runaway hit that is X-Men ’97. While a fifteenth season for the Hill family hasn’t been confirmed yet, signs are looking good for fans hoping to see Arlen’s return. With the fourteenth season becoming a hit, a recent report has broken down just how much money Hank, Peggy, and Bobby’s big comeback has scored for Hulu and its parent company, Disney.

According to a new breakdown by Parrot Analytics, King of the Hill’s fourteenth season has brought in around $100 million USD in streaming revenue for Hulu. Surprisingly enough, this figure is around double what the Beavis and Butthead series has brought in, putting some perspective on Arlen’s success in a relatively short amount of time. The recent revival decided to release all ten of its episodes at once on August 4th, and while we aren’t sure if this strategy overtook potentially releasing the installments weekly, Hulu has to be happy with what we’ve seen from King of the Hill so far. If the actors’ glee at making a comeback is any indication, the cast might be willing to explore Arlen for the long haul.

The Revival Vs The Original

The King of the Hill revival has surpassed the original thirteen episodes while still retaining the spirit of what came before it. While it’s impossible to deny the success of the fourteenth season, some fans have noticed that things look a little different than the original show. In a recent interview, showrunner Saladin Patterson revealed that the reason why the comeback looks different is that the original technology no longer exists.

“The hand-drawn animation, the watercolors, those don’t exist anymore. If they exist, they certainly don’t exist at a cost where you can do a TV show.” Patterson explains, “So it has to be updated, and so we updated it with the current style and makeup of animation that animated shows do. I admit it does look different and maybe jarring to some people. I just want to put out there that even though it’s updated, we still went and tried to give it an age-old look, to make it feel more like the color palette and the landscape of the original, more so than other shows. We certainly went through a lot of back and forth with the background designers and things like that, to make our colors feel closer to what they felt in the original and the tones and things the most that we could.”

Want to stay in the loop when it comes to Hank, Peggy, and Bobby’s future? Follow along with ComicBook.com for the latest updates on King of the Hill and hit me up directly @EVComedy to talk all things comics and anime.

Via Parrot Analytics

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7 Best Fights in Gundam Wing https://comicbook.com/anime/news/best-gundam-wing-fights/ https://comicbook.com/anime/news/best-gundam-wing-fights/#respond Sat, 16 Aug 2025 19:00:00 +0000 https://comicbook.com/?p=1451213 Bandai Namco

Mobile Suit Gundam Wing has turned 30 this year, and Bandai Namco is going all out with this important milestone. The show was the Gundam anime that finally popularized the brand in the West, leading to Gunpla being sold in the United States and a generation of girls fawning over anime teen boys with self-destructive […]

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Bandai Namco

Mobile Suit Gundam Wing has turned 30 this year, and Bandai Namco is going all out with this important milestone. The show was the Gundam anime that finally popularized the brand in the West, leading to Gunpla being sold in the United States and a generation of girls fawning over anime teen boys with self-destructive issues. Bandai has been pushing Gundam Wing throughout 2025, including partnerships with video games and KFC. Bandai even had an all-out panel at San Diego Comic-Con where the company shared a new animated short that potentially hints at a follow-up to the iconic anime.

To continue this celebration, we have constructed a list of the best fights from the show. The fights were a hallmark of Gundam Wing, delivering intricate fight choreography that wasn’t common on American airwaves at the time. There’s just something about seeing a giant with a scythe mowing down tanks and smaller robots that drew in audiences. While the fights and animation are a little outdated, they are still iconic and worth remembering.

7) Gundam Deathscythe Hell vs. Mercurius & Vayeate

Image Courtesy of Sunrise

The Mercurius and Vayeate are kind of the forgotten mobile suits of Gundam Wing. Whereas most fans remember the iconic Fab Five, Mercurius and Vayeate don’t receive nearly as much attention. Nonetheless, they are fun little mechas with some cool fights. Duo’s complete annihilation of the Mercurius and Vayeate towards the end of the show was a clear one-sided fight. However, it was one of the few instances where the Gundam Deathscythe Hell fought against opponents that weren’t canon fodder. The Deathscythe Hell versus Mercurius and Vayeate fight is a brief yet enjoyable fight that leads to the climax.

6) Mercurius & Vayeate vs. Wing Gundam Zero

Image Courtesy of Sunrise

The Gundam Wing plot gets particularly confusing when the main five protagonists leave Earth and return to the space colonies. Heero and Trowa infiltrate OZ and pilot the Mercurius and Vayeate. It’s hard to grasp what Heero’s and Trowa’s long-term plans were. Nonetheless, it led to a cool battle with the rampaging Wing Gundam Zero, piloted by a mentally unstable Quatre. It was the first time Wing Gundam Zero was shown in combat, showcasing its indestructibility. The Wing Gundam Zero would become the show’s most iconic mobile suit, yet it was initially introduced as a machine of pure destruction.

5) Wing Gundam vs. Tallgeese

Image Courtesy of Sunrise

Heero and Zechs were Gundam Wing‘s version of Amuro and Char Aznable from the original Mobile Suit Gundam anime. In Gundam Wing, the five lead Gundam pilots were essentially unstoppable until Zechs got his hands on the Tallgeese. The Tallgeese put him on equal footing with the Wing Gundam. After the Wing Gundam self-destructed, Zechs had the mecha fixed so that he could have a proper duel with Heero. It’s the rematch duel between the two after the Wing Gundam is rebuilt that is the most remembered combat with the Tallgeese.

4) Chang Wufei vs. Treize Khushrenada

Image Courtesy of Sunrise

Not all the best fights in Gundam Wing were from the mobile suits. Chang Wufei’s sword duel with Treize Khushrenada is one of the early highlights of the anime, establishing a connection between the two characters that would pay off at the climax. It’s a very short sword duel, but it stands out because of how unorthodox it is. Even in other Gundam shows, non-mecha battles are uncommon. Although the rematch between the two characters in their mobile suits is more substantial, it has a much less satisfying finish. The short sword duel between Wufei and Treize earns a spot on our list for just how different it is from the rest of the franchise.

3) Wing Gundam Zero vs. Altron

Image Courtesy of Sunrise/Bandai Namco Filmworks

Gundam Wing: Endless Waltz is a far superior project than the mainline anime show, featuring stronger writing and more compelling character motivations. One of the most shocking things about Endless Waltz is that the climactic duel in the film is between two of the main five pilots, Heero and Chang. While Chang has always been an unlikable character, his motivation is surprisingly layered. He is fighting against the Earth for abandoning the soldiers who were left behind after the war with White Fang.

Chang fights in his Gundam Altron, whereas Heero fights in the iconic Wing Gundam Zero. Oddly enough, this fight is the only time the Wing Gundam Zero battles in a one-on-one duel. The Wing Gundam and Altron fight in a standstill until Heero surrenders and allows himself to fall in the middle of the ocean. The choreography in the fight is some of the strongest in the series, displaying quick motion and impeccable timing. It may not be the epic final duel fans would expect with the main Gundam, yet there is enough emotional depth to make the scene compelling.

2) Versus the Serpent Army

Image Courtesy of Sunrise

The final stand between the protagonists and the Serpent Army in Endless Waltz is one of the defining moments of the Gundam franchise. Even Zechs in the Tallgeese III and Lucrezia Noin in the Tauros joined in to fight off the Serpents. For the first time in the Gundam franchise, the protagonists were presented as actual heroes. The final battle featured breathtaking animation and stunning choreography. Each Gundam has a moment to shine, and when all hope seemed lost, the Wing Gundam Zero appears overhead to deliver a devastating twin blaster blow to the enemies. The Endless Waltz climax is one of the most exhilarating moments in the entire Gundam franchise, and makes the movie worth watching for that alone.

1) Wing Gundam Zero vs. Epyon

Bandai Namco

Zechs’ motivations at the end of the Gundam Wing are as clear as a slushie, and White Fang’s plan is so over-the-top evil it’s hard to find any nuance to the conflict. Nevertheless, the final climactic duel between Heero in the Wing Gundam Zero and Zechs in the Epyon ranks as some of the most exciting action in the entire Gundam franchise. The animation is on point, with the robots’ movements being precise and clean. It’s a good back-and-forth between the two, with neither coming out on top until Heero successfully dismembers one of Epyon’s arms. It’s a quick-paced fight scene that exemplifies Gundam Wing‘s animation at its best. There has never been a final duel as awesome in the Gundam franchise as the Wing Gundam Zero versus Epyon fight.

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KPop Demon Hunters’ Upcoming Theatrical Debut is Selling Out Fast https://comicbook.com/anime/news/kpop-demon-hunters-theaters-selling-out/ https://comicbook.com/anime/news/kpop-demon-hunters-theaters-selling-out/#respond Sat, 16 Aug 2025 18:15:20 +0000 https://comicbook.com/?p=1457244 Netflix

KPop Demon Hunters has become so big on Netflix that the streaming service has reportedly been referring to the film as their own “Frozen.” Already planning to create sequels, live-action adaptations, and even a world tour, the animated movie is planning to hit theaters later this August. In an info drop that many animation fans […]

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Netflix

KPop Demon Hunters has become so big on Netflix that the streaming service has reportedly been referring to the film as their own “Frozen.” Already planning to create sequels, live-action adaptations, and even a world tour, the animated movie is planning to hit theaters later this August. In an info drop that many animation fans might have seen coming, the original theatrical run for the movie might not be big enough for those looking to “sing along” with Huntrix and the Saja Boys. Screenings are selling out, and theater owners are rallying to create more showings for KPop Demon Hunters.

The Sony Animation-produced animated film has already, reportedly, sold out over three hundred screenings for the two-night event set to hit theaters in North America, Canada, the UK, Australia, and New Zealand. Initially billed for only one weekend, Netflix might have to think about adding more screenings to reap the benefits of Huntrix’s popularity. If this is your first time hearing this news, here’s how Netflix describes the event, “In celebration of the global hit, which is currently the most-watched Netflix animated original film of all time, KPop Demon Hunters A Sing-Along Event invites HUNTR/X and Saja Boys devotees alike to gather and belt their hearts out to a sing-along version of the wildly popular animated film.” If you want to pick up tickets at the nearest theater near you, you can click this link.

The Demon Hunters Rise

As mentioned earlier, KPop Demon Hunters has become Netflix’s biggest animated movie of all time, with even its soundtrack climbing the charts when it comes to the Billboard 100. While a sequel has yet to be confirmed, the first film leaves the door open for more adventures featuring Huntrix, as they might have accomplished their goal of forging the “Golden Honmoon,” but the demons are still waiting in the wings for their chance to strike. Even with the movie seeing the defeat of the Saja Boys, their “boss” is still in the shadows, surely plotting his revenge.

What’s all the more surprising about the animated movie is that Netflix is reaping all the benefits of KPop Demon Hunters’ popularity. Sony Animation had seemingly sold the film to the streaming service for around $20 million USD, a figure that has surely been surpassed at this point. This doesn’t necessarily mean that Sony will have no involvement in the future of the franchise as Netflix looks to expand on Huntrix’s story, but one has to wonder whether the movie might have been even bigger had it been released in theaters originally.

Want to see what the future holds for Huntrix and the Saja Boys? Follow along with Team Anime on ComicBook.com for the latest updates on KPop Demon Hunters.

Via ToonHive

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Frieren Fans Waiting for Season 2 Must Not Sleep on This Seinen Fantasy Anime https://comicbook.com/anime/news/frieren-anime-seinen-fantasy-spice-and-wolf/ https://comicbook.com/anime/news/frieren-anime-seinen-fantasy-spice-and-wolf/#respond Sat, 16 Aug 2025 18:00:00 +0000 https://comicbook.com/?p=1453179

If you enjoy the atmospheric soundtrack, leisurely journey, and comforting world of Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End but are at a loss for something similar to chew on as you bide your time awaiting the second season to release, there’s another series you should definitely check out in the meantime: Spice and Wolf: Merchant Meets the […]

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If you enjoy the atmospheric soundtrack, leisurely journey, and comforting world of Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End but are at a loss for something similar to chew on as you bide your time awaiting the second season to release, there’s another series you should definitely check out in the meantime: Spice and Wolf: Merchant Meets the Wise Wolf! Especially with Frieren bringing a lot of bright vibes and the summer season nearing a close, Spice and Wolf is sure to begin getting you into the autumnal mood with a harvest festival and apples galore!

While Frieren provided some fantastical deathmatches with demons and dragons along Frieren, Fern, and Stark’s otherwise fairly leisurely journey, Spice and Wolf winds down Lawrence and Holo’s journey with an even more easygoing, grounded excursion. The hook of Spice and Wolf includes a complicated and convincing, authentic trade economy with a deep focus on mercantilism and currency. If you enjoy a tale including a compelling romantic twist and a cozy adventure atmosphere in a lightly fantastical, antiquated world, you won’t want to sleep on Spice and Wolf.

Wolf, Economics, and Apples

spice-and-wolf-remake-anime-opening-watch.jpg
Image Courtesy of Passione

As Kraft Lawrence, a traveling merchant, makes a stop in the next town on his route, the pagan village of Pasloe, the town is in the midst of its annual harvest festival. As legend has it, one of the villagers made a promise with the wolf deity Holo centuries ago, with the wolf blessing Pasloe with bountiful harvests of wheat year after year. As time passed and the villagers became disenchanted, the legend became merely tradition as the townsfolk ceased worshipping the now considered fictitious deity.

But Lawrence, about to set out to his next destination, finds someone sleeping amongst his pelt wares — a nude woman with animal ears and tail who claims to be Holo, the wolf deity herself. Wishing to return to her home in the north, she convinces Lawrence to allow her to accompany him in his travels, vowing to earn her keep via her quick wits and experience with negotiation. On their leisurely journey, Lawrence and Holo vigilantly utilize economic opportunities that they happen upon, putting both their shrewd business skills and their relationship to the test.

Madhouse – Passione

A series centered on a wise, eccentric, underestimated female protagonist hundreds of years old, going on an atmospheric, leisurely journey? Surely any Frieren fan will enjoy this similar series! Spice and Wolf: Merchant Meets the Wise Wolf from 2024 is itself a remake of the 2008 anime based on the eponymous ongoing 24-volume light novel series, Spice and Wolf, by Isuna Hasekura and illustrated by Juu Ayakura. The anime has had one 2-cour season so far, with Season 2 confirmed to be on the way (a second series with an upcoming second season to look forward to!).

As Frieren focuses on more traditional fantasy worldbuilding, Spice and Wolf takes a different, more realistic pathway in creating its fantasy world. While other anime tend to gloss over how economics actually function and expect audiences to assume a very simplistic, straightforward system, Spice and Wolf delves into such fundamentals and practicalities. Concentrated on trade and mercantile within the world, the characters and interactions prioritize explaining the intricacies of the economic inner workings such as different currencies, exchange rates, performing negotiations, and the unique dangers that come with such monetary dealings.

spice-and-wolf-remake-new-arc-poster.jpg

Although a premise centering on economics may seem more mundane and uninteresting, this series spices things up. With Holo’s keen craftiness and whimsicality and Lawrence’s mature practicality, the two make for one shrewd, eccentric duo. While their talent for gaining the economic upper hand often benefits them, sometimes it actually becomes a detriment and lands them in some mischief along their journey, other merchants not always taking kindly to their cunningly shrewd dealings.

Holo may be a powerful wolf god, but there’s one thing her towering beastly form can’t brute force: money. In which case, Holo needs to rely on her extensive experience and wit to assist Lawrence in his dealings. But while she may often take on a smaller human form, her appetite tends to retain its monstrous appetite, earning her keep often has its perks of getting to eat some tasty foods. As much as the series can feel somewhat educational at times, it’s also just fun to watch Holo absolutely devour a bushel of apples.

Spice and Wolf: Merchant Meets the Wise Wolf can be streamed on Crunchyroll.


Let us know in the comments your thoughts on Spice and Wolf: Merchant Meets the Wise Wolf as a fan of Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End!

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Black Clover Reunites Fans With a Forgotten Asta Rival at Last https://comicbook.com/anime/news/black-clover-manga-forgotten-anime-rival-leopold/ https://comicbook.com/anime/news/black-clover-manga-forgotten-anime-rival-leopold/#respond Sat, 16 Aug 2025 17:00:00 +0000 https://comicbook.com/?p=1456125 Black Clover Asta Rival

The latest Summer 2025 release of Yuki Tabata’s Black Clover manga brings us closer to the ending than ever. While Mimosa is healing Asta’s severe injuries, which he got from Lucius Zogratis, several of his allies and former enemies join the battle to help the Clover Kingdom. Apart from mages from the Diamond Kingdom and […]

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Black Clover Asta Rival

The latest Summer 2025 release of Yuki Tabata’s Black Clover manga brings us closer to the ending than ever. While Mimosa is healing Asta’s severe injuries, which he got from Lucius Zogratis, several of his allies and former enemies join the battle to help the Clover Kingdom. Apart from mages from the Diamond Kingdom and the elves, a lot of the Magic Knights also make their appearance. All this happens while Yuno is holding his own against the villain using Asta’s Anti-Magic powers. Unfortunately, the newly appointed Captain of the Golden Dawn is facing a major setback since his mana keeps draining at an exponential rate.

Long-standing rival Yuno needs Asta to join the frontlines as soon as possible, and the Magic Knights help Mimosa save the Anti-Magic user. Leopold Vermillion, the second son of the Clover Kingdom’s royal House Vermillion and a member of the Crimson Lions, also makes his appearance in Chapter 382, as a reminder of just how far Asta has come against those who have declared him their rival. Leopold yells at Asta to wake up while claiming that he can’t stand to look at his rival in a pathetic state. Along with everyone else, Leopold is also one of the people who believes Asta is the only one capable of stopping Lucius in the ultimate clash to determine the world’s fate in Black Clover.

A Bygone Rival Returns in Black Clover After Four Years

Black Clover Asta Leopold Rivals
Image Courtesy of Pierrot

As a minor character in the series, Leopold doesn’t often show up. He was last seen in Chapter 284 during the Spade Kingdom Raid Arc, fighting Sivoir Snyle, a Dark Disciple of Vanica Zogratis, a member of the Dark Triad. Leopold and the other Magic Knights sustained severe injuries after Sivior blew himself up. Unexpectedly, the elves take the injured to Elysia, a secluded village of elves located within the neutral area, to heal their wounds. Chapter 284 was released in March 2021, so it has been over four years since we got any update on the character after his biggest fight.

Leopold hasn’t changed much after the time-skip, and he still considers himself Asta’s rival. One of the best parts about Black Clover is the rivalry between Asta and Yuno, but that doesn’t mean the protagonist can’t have other rivals. During a banquet in the Royal Capital Assault Arc, Leopold was impressed by Asta’s determination and his quirky personality. He was also looking forward to meeting the Magic Knight, his cousin sister Mimosa talked about. In order to brighten the mood during the banquet, Leopold declared Asta as his rival, shocking all the nobles in the room. However, it wasn’t empty words since he still thinks of Asta in the same way he did all those years ago.


Asta has had several Magic Knights acknowledge him as their rival in Black Clover. Who is your favorite? Let us know in the comments below!

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10 Best Shonen Jump+ Manga in 2025 You Need to Check Out https://comicbook.com/anime/news/best-shonen-jump-plus-manga-2025-dandadan-kaiju/ https://comicbook.com/anime/news/best-shonen-jump-plus-manga-2025-dandadan-kaiju/#respond Sat, 16 Aug 2025 16:00:00 +0000 https://comicbook.com/?p=1452718

There are countless great Shonen Jump manga you won’t find in the weekly magazine—here are some of the best. Built on the bones of the defunct Jump LIVE and launched in 2014, Shonen Jump+ is Jump’s avenue for digital-only manga distribution. Despite the name, those manga don’t necessarily have to be shonen; Shonen Jump+ has […]

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There are countless great Shonen Jump manga you won’t find in the weekly magazine—here are some of the best. Built on the bones of the defunct Jump LIVE and launched in 2014, Shonen Jump+ is Jump’s avenue for digital-only manga distribution. Despite the name, those manga don’t necessarily have to be shonen; Shonen Jump+ has seen a number of offerings geared toward women and older readers, too.

There are a number of reasons that manga creators might shoot for digital-only distribution via Shonen Jump+: more flexible release schedules, less restrictive content requirements, and the chance to reach a wider base of readers than the traditional Shonen Jump courts are just a handful. What that all means for you, the reader, is that Shonen Jump+ (whose titles are available in English via VIZ Media and MANGA Plus) is home to some of Jump’s most original, dynamic, and thoughtful stories. Here, we’re breaking down the cream of the crop with some choice selections for every mood.

10) Chainsaw Man

Chainsaw Man
Image Courtesy of Shueisha

Chainsaw Man began its Shueisha tenure under the Weekly Shonen Jump banner, but after returning for Part 2, creator Tatsuki Fujimoto brought the series to Shonen Jump+ to cater to its broader demographic and online presence. As a result, Chainsaw Man’s already riskier subject matter has grown bolder with its statements, and its wildest moments continue to go viral. This isn’t to say the series is without its problems, namely, it’s experiencing a decline in readership, but the manga is still certainly worth checking out in its entirety.

From showstopping Statue of Liberty transformations to the shocking ways in which Denji continues to be manipulated, there’s plenty to still witness in Chainsaw Man. The series continues to put our natural fears as the human species on full display, and no shortage of depravity along the way. Whether you’re fascinated by the Part 1 protagonist or are invested in the journey of Asa and the War Devil she hosts in Part 2, Yoru, there’s always something new to see in Chainsaw Man on Shonen Jump+ in 2025.

9) Kindergarten Wars

courtesy of Shueisha

You Chiba’s Kindergarten Wars has been running since 2022, and it’s quickly grown into a beloved series. It’s surrounded by clamor for an as-yet-unconfirmed anime adaptation, although unsubstantiated leaks have raised hopes that the situation might change soon. It’s easy to see why people want an anime so badly: Kindergarten Wars brings the best of other absurd action-comedies like Spy x Family with good storytelling, great fights, fantastic art, and warm writing. All of those will shine even more when it hits the screen.

In Kindergarten Wars, criminals are given a reduced sentence in exchange for working at Kindergarten Noir, where their job is to uphold its promise of being the “world’s safest kindergarten” by protecting the children of high-status figures from danger. At its center is the former assassin Rita, whose dynamic personality and lust for love anchor the series. After a brief hiatus in early 2025, Kindergarten Wars came back for its final arc, so now’s a better time than ever to pick it up and see where this quirky, colorful story goes.

8) ‘Tis Time for “Torture,” Princess

courtesy of pine jam

Based on the name and premise, Robinson Haruhara’s ‘Tis Time for “Torture,” Princess (which fans usually abbreviate to Himesama Goumon) might not sound like your bag at all. However, it’s one of the most fun reads in Jump+, in our opinion, provided you’re in the mood for it. The setup is simple: a princess is held prisoner and is being “tortured” in order to extract secrets to help the demon army reign victorious over humanity.

The quotation marks there are of the utmost importance because these torture tactics are really quite silly: delectable cuisine and beloved pastimes like video games. And somehow, the princess is always too weak to bear it. And somehow, she always gives the most useless secret. It’s a steady formula, but it’s tons of fun to read. It also has a bizarre heart and humanity to it—it hits all the right notes, and reading it just lifts your mood if you’re receptive to it. It’s not the deepest manga on this list, but getting lost in Himesama Goumon is a better, more fulfilling time-waster than mindless social media scrolling could ever be.

7) Empyreal Cabinet

Empyreal Cabinet Toya Tatsuomi best Shonen Jump+ manga
courtesy of SHUEISHA

Empyreal Cabinet is another relative newcomer, premiering in August 2024. Alongside Ichi the Witch and Kagurabachi, Empyreal Cabinet is considered a prime contender to be among Shonen Jump’s new generation of flag-bearers as works like Spy x Family and One Piece gear up to follow the likes of Jujutsu Kaisen and Demon Slayer out. Empyreal Cabinet is the story of the spellcaster Toya Tatsumori in his efforts to protect the public from monsters called Balebeasts and navigate the political complexities of the governing Empyreal Cabinet.

The latter fact is what primes Empyreal Cabinet to be a particular standout among Jump manga. Creator Fumiji Yuba has already shown his chops in writing politically-entrenched action with the acclaimed one-shots Ou no Utsawa and Kuniga Masumane no Junan, and the similarly dense social layers in Empyreal Cabinet are the star of the show. It’s still early in its run, but Empyreal Cabinet is a series to watch out for and well worth a read.

6) MAD

courtesy of shueisha

MAD is a brilliant work by Yusuke Otori that abounds with stylized art and a crushing atmosphere. With 31 chapters as of writing, MAD is still fairly early into its run, but what’s already there is a one-of-a-kind take on sci-fi that drips with promise for the long future to come. In an alien-ravaged world where the smatters of remaining humans traverse wrecked wastelands, John has somehow survived the initial onslaught only to lose his will to live.

MAD is dark, and it’s very cinematic in its presentation and paneling. Its heavy themes and utter destitution invite the possibility of a uniquely existentialist brand of hope, not to mention leaving room for major plot development. In its extreme take on the foundational questions of belonging, going on when everything seems gone, and what to love in a world that hates you, MAD pushes to the foreground those ideas other gritty manga like Jujutsu Kaisen and Chainsaw Man sit on, with enough clarity that they almost start to feel suffocated by the latter manga when put side-by-side. It’s perhaps a more niche read, but it’s definitely worth a try.

5) Marriagetoxin

Marriagetoxin Shonen Jump+ manga
courtesy of shueisha

Joumyaku and Mizuki Yoda’s Marriagetoxin is one of the best Shonen Jump manga out there in general, and we’re practically praying it gets an anime soon so it’s more accessible. Marriagetoxin’s nearest rhyme would be Sakamoto Days, given the two share a well-executed core of absurd assassin comedy. But Marriagetoxin has a fundamentally different narrative motor from Sakamoto Days’ family dynamics, and it appeals to the same audience of viewers on a parallel emotional level.

Centered around the terribly (and tragically) awkward Hikaru Gero’s efforts to save his clan by finding a marriage partner with the help of gender-bending Mei Kinosaki, Marriagetoxin operates in the registers of romantic comedies and character-driven adventures as much as the registers of loosely-connected episodic action comprising Sakamoto Days. Time will see it recognized as an underrated masterwork of an absurd action-comedy zeitgeist spearheaded by the likes of Sakamoto Days, Spy x Family, and Dandadan. You can be among the first to ride the Marriagetoxin wave and see why mangaka behind works like Demon Slayer and Jujutsu Kaisen feel the same.

4) Spy x Family

Spy x Family anime based on the Shonen Jump+ manga
WIT Studio – CloverWorks

Spy x Family, created by Tatsuya Endo, is practically a phenomenon at this point. Based on the story of a spy living under the alias of Loid Forger, his mind-reading adoptive daughter Anya, and his assassin wife Yor, Spy x Family’s unique blend of heartfelt moments, adorable interactions, and high-octane action has captured the hearts of readers far and wide. Its initial success was only bolstered by a top-notch anime from Wit Studio and Cloverworks.

If you’ve seen the anime, you might think you have a good feel of what Spy x Family has to offer. But the anime has only covered 60 chapters of content, leaving ambitious readers with over 40 chapters more to get into, as of the time of writing. That also just happens to be where Spy x Family’s story starts becoming more ambitious and bombastic than ever before. Spy x Family’s third season is set for October 2025, but you can get ahead of the curve now and dig into Spy x Family‘s best storylines yet.

3) Dandadan

Dandadan Season 1 OP Credits
courtesy of Science SARU

Science Saru’s expert adaptation of Yukinobu Tatsu’s Dandadan brought the beloved series to a much wider audience, in no small part due to its aggressive hype and even more aggressive marketing. Even before its hugely successful anime, Dandadan could be found in the virtual pages of Shonen Jump+. So far, between its anime and sequel movie Dandadan: Evil Eye, only five of Dandadan‘s (currently) 12 arcs have been adapted, so there’s plenty for fans to claw into.

If you’re unfamiliar with Dandadan at this point, it’s an absurd comedy-action series following Momo and Okarun, who become a psychic and a spirit-possessed powerhouse, respectively, as they make their way through a series of supernatural adventures. Compared to the other manga of its ilk, like Spy x Family and Sakamoto Days, Dandadan stands alone in its emphasis on the strange and paranormal. If that sounds like your cup of tea, its hilarious writing and expressive art make it a great manga to pick up.

2) Centuria

Centuria best Shonen Jump+ manga
Shueisha

Fans have been describing Centuria as a crossbreed of Vinland Saga and Berserk. If you’re looking for a darker shonen, then from the first chapter, Centuria will have you hooked. Centuria follows Julian, a young boy who kills the man he was sold to and stows away on a slave ship for a new life. When discovered, he’s condemned to slavery himself, but finds community among the other slaves on the ship. When the other slaves are killed by the ship’s captain, a mysterious creature grants Julian their combined strength and their lives.

Julian uses his indebtedness to the slaves as the springboard for a new life, raising the daughter of one of the murdered slaves, Mira. From there, mangaka Tohru Kuramori’s story grows into itself with well-written characters, trenchant themes of love and ambition, and delightful art. It’s a truly entertaining and inspiring ride with a lot of room, and it hits the best notes of shonen storytelling with lovable characters, an indomitable heart, and peak action.

1) Kaiju No. 8

Kaiju No. 8 anime Kafka Hibino based on the Shonen Jump+ manga
courtesy of Production I.G.

Kaiju No. 8 is a standout work by Naoya Matsumoto that shares themes and atmosphere with the likes of Attack on Titan, Chainsaw Man, and My Hero Academia. Kaiju is named after its titular monsters, drawn directly from the Japanese term for media involving “strange beasts.” The term would encompass the likes of Godzilla and Attack on Titan‘s Titans, if that gives you any insight into Kaijus adversarial humans-vs-monsters vibe. Kaiju centers Kafka Hibino, who can turn into a kaiju after ingesting a parasite, and his use of that ability in a Japan heavily militarized against kaiju.

If you’ve come across Kaiju, it’s probably thanks to its killer 2024 anime by Production I.G, which just came back for season 2 in July 2025. The same month also saw Kaiju‘s manga come to an end with Chapter 129, and its completion makes it stand out from other big names on this list. You can run through Kaiju’s remaining chapters and see where the story ends now; you’ll still have more to look forward to after the fact, since the spin-off Kaiju no. 8: RELAX is currently releasing (also on Shonen Jump+).


If there’s a manga you think we should have included, or if you just want to put a good word in for one of the entries above, drop a comment! And finally, if you’re looking to sink your teeth into some manga we desperately want to see animated, click through to the link below.

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South Park Creators Talk Series Finale in Resurfaced Interview https://comicbook.com/tv-shows/news/south-park-series-finale/ https://comicbook.com/tv-shows/news/south-park-series-finale/#respond Sat, 16 Aug 2025 15:51:38 +0000 https://comicbook.com/?p=1457148 Paramount

South Park has been a lightning rod for controversy with its twenty-seventh season, and we don’t just mean the storylines that involve Stan, Kenny, Kyle, and Cartman. With the future of the Comedy Central show originally in jeopardy thanks to a myriad of factors, Trey Parker and Matt Stone worked out their legal issues with […]

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Paramount

South Park has been a lightning rod for controversy with its twenty-seventh season, and we don’t just mean the storylines that involve Stan, Kenny, Kyle, and Cartman. With the future of the Comedy Central show originally in jeopardy thanks to a myriad of factors, Trey Parker and Matt Stone worked out their legal issues with Paramount behind the scenes. Despite the legal success, many animation fans are wondering if the series might be canceled in the face of its story controversies, causing a past interview to resurface where Stone and Parker talked about the potential series finale.

In 2015, the South Park creators sat down to talk with outlet IGN about how the story of South Park would end, injecting their traditional style of comedy into the mix. To start, Trey Parker confirmed that he believed the Comedy Central series would end quietly, “I think it’s going to end with a fizzle, for sure. I think it’s just going to end with some dud, and we’re gonna go, ‘F*** this, man,’ and walk away.  We’ve thought that for 18 years. We’re like, ‘Okay, well, they’re going to cancel us, for sure!’ We’ve been waiting to get canceled for 18 f***ing years.”

Alongside Trey Parker, Matt Stone hilariously noted, “Some sort of whimper. Either drop the mic, get sued, get thrown off television — something like that. We won’t stop until we get canceled. We’re renewing. They have to f***ing cancel us, goddammit!” Luckily, it doesn’t appear as though we have to worry about South Park ending anytime soon.

South Park’s Scheduling Controversy

paramount

Due to the licensing battle between the likes of Warner Bros, Paramount, and Park County, the original debut date for the twenty-seventh season of South Park was pushed back by several weeks. While the season would make its triumphant debut, each episode has been delayed so far, with the third episode doing the same. Luckily, the delays have only been weeks in length, with Parker and Stone needing a little more time to weave their hilarious premises for the small screen. The next episode will arrive on Wednesday, August 20th, on Comedy Central, with the installment hitting Paramount+ shortly after.

While many animation fans believed that Parker and Stone making fun of the current U.S. administration might result in a series cancellation, current Paramount CEO David Ellison showed his support for the South Park creators. Earlier this month, Ellison stated, “Matt and Trey are incredibly talented. They are equal opportunity offenders and always have been. I do not want to politicize our company in any way, shape, or form.” Even if the creative duo does see their series canceled, Paramount would still be on the line to grant them their major payday all the same.

Want to stay in the loop when it comes to the sleepy Colorado town on Comedy Central? Follow along with ComicBook.com for the latest updates on South Park and hit me up directly @EVComedy to talk all things comics and anime.

Via IGN

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Looney Tunes is Now Free to Watch (And Here’s How) https://comicbook.com/anime/news/looney-tunes-streaming-free-watch/ https://comicbook.com/anime/news/looney-tunes-streaming-free-watch/#respond Sat, 16 Aug 2025 15:04:05 +0000 https://comicbook.com/?p=1457127 Warner Bros

HBO Max has been in the news a lot lately, and it’s not just thanks to the name change. Various series including Courage The Cowardly Dog, What’s New Scooby-Doo, The Powerpuff Girls, The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy, and other Cartoon Network favorites have been removed from the streaming service. Earlier this year, the […]

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Warner Bros

HBO Max has been in the news a lot lately, and it’s not just thanks to the name change. Various series including Courage The Cowardly Dog, What’s New Scooby-Doo, The Powerpuff Girls, The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy, and other Cartoon Network favorites have been removed from the streaming service. Earlier this year, the platform removed a good deal of episodes and shorts from the Looney Tunes catalogue, leaving many left to wonder where they could catch the “homeless” installments. Luckily, you can now catch the vast majority of Looney Tunes streaming once again and totally for free.

Looney Tunes has dropped close to eight hundred of its shorts on Tubi, the free streaming service that has been bolstering its roster in recent years. This doesn’t account for all of the episodes that feature the likes of Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, and their fellow anthropomorphic companions, but it does compile the majority of the beloved franchise. While the current collection is a little difficult to navigate thanks to Tubi placing all the shorts under one “season,” this is still great news for fans who have been looking to binge the series once again or for the first time. You can check out Looney Tunes on Tubi by clicking here.

The State of Looney Tunes

Alongside the original catalogue, Tubi is also hosting more modern takes on the characters, including The Looney Tunes Show and The Sylvester And Tweety Mysteries, to name a few. This doesn’t mean that the entirety of the franchise has been removed from HBO Max, however, as the streaming service does still house the modern reboot that arrived in 2020 titled, “Looney Tunes Cartoons.” On top of these previous episodes, HBO Max also houses the recent film, “The Day The Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie,” which received wide acclaim from critics and audiences alike.

Luckily, next year will give Looney Tunes another major project in theaters as the long-awaited Coyote Vs. Acme movie is hitting the silver screen. Originally, this film, which mixes traditional 2-D animation with live-action actors, such as Will Forte and John Cena, was scrapped by Warner Bros Discovery. Following the film’s cancellation, the company Ketchup Entertainment snagged the release rights and plans on unveiling the movie on August 28th, 2026.

Earlier this year, John Cena shared his thoughts on the film finally getting a release date, saying, “Rewarding, certainly for everybody a part of the project. Anytime you put your heart and soul into something and it gets shelved, it is tough. Again, it ain’t my sandbox, so I completely understand those decisions, but the fact that companies could talk together and the movie could get shown. We do what we do to try to entertain, and I know the audiences that were able to see Coyote vs. Acme were entertained. So hopefully that audience grows larger… I just saw it for the first time very recently. It’s a bunch of fun, and man, I’m glad it’s out of the dusty box.”

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Was Naruto’s Worst Hokage Really That Bad? https://comicbook.com/anime/news/naruto-worst-hokage-hiruzen-sarutobi-bad-or-good/ https://comicbook.com/anime/news/naruto-worst-hokage-hiruzen-sarutobi-bad-or-good/#respond Sat, 16 Aug 2025 15:00:00 +0000 https://comicbook.com/?p=1452604 Image Courtesy of Studio Pierrot
Naruto Hiruzen Sarutobi Third Hokage

When fans discuss the worst Hokage in Naruto, one name typically comes up: Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage. Known as The Professor and God of Shinobi, Hiruzen seemed like the ideal leader on paper. But even though he had vast knowledge of jutsu, trained the Sannin, and led Konoha through two major wars, fans have […]

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Image Courtesy of Studio Pierrot
Naruto Hiruzen Sarutobi Third Hokage

When fans discuss the worst Hokage in Naruto, one name typically comes up: Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage. Known as The Professor and God of Shinobi, Hiruzen seemed like the ideal leader on paper. But even though he had vast knowledge of jutsu, trained the Sannin, and led Konoha through two major wars, fans have consistently labelled him as the worst Hokage ever.

The question now is this: Does Hiruzen Sarutobi actually deserve that label? And to answer this question, we need to take a closer look at the whole picture. While it’s true that Hiruzen made some terrible decisions, it’s also true that he achieved things no other Hokage accomplished. So was he really as bad as everyone says, or are we being too hard on a leader who was constantly up against the impossible?

The Uchiha Massacre Happened Under Hiruzen’s Tenure

Let’s start with the big one: the massacre of the Uchiha clan. When tensions rose between the Uchiha and the village, it became clear to Hiruzen that the Uchiha were planning a coup. While he advocated for a peaceful resolution, he ultimately let Danzo and the village council move forward with the massacre. 

As Hokage, Hiruzen had the power to stop this, but he didn’t. The decision ruined Itachi’s life as he was forced to carry a mission that haunted him for the rest of his life, and it also set Sasuke on a dark path of revenge. A stronger leader might’ve found an alternative solution that protected both the village and the Uchiha. And that wasn’t Hiruzen’s only failure when it came to the protagonists of the series.

Naruto’s Terrible Childhood Is Hard to Overlook

Realizing that sealing the Nine-Tails into an infant was impossible in its full form, Minato made the ultimate sacrifice. He split the beast’s chakra in half, sealing the Yin half within himself and the Yang half into his son. As he was dying, like any other parent, Minato had just one last wish: that Naruto be protected and cared for. 

But many fans argue that instead of honoring this wish, Hiruzen let Naruto grow up hated, isolated, and treated like a monster. Most of Konoha didn’t know the truth about the circumstances surrounding his birth, and in their ignorance, they ostracised and resented Naruto. He endured years of emotional abuse and neglect, while the village leader, who was sworn to protect him, just watched it happen. 

The Orochimaru Problem Festered Under the Third Hokage

Orochimaru in Naruto
Image Courtesy of Studio Pierrot

Another instance of Hiruzen’s inaction causing problems down the line was when the Third Hokage discovered his former student was conducting unethical experiments on his fellow citizens in his quest for immortality. Naruto’s longest-serving Hokage had the chance to eliminate a growing threat to the village. However, Hiruzen’s paternal feelings toward Orochimaru prevented him from taking any action. So Orochimaru escaped, and that moment of weakness led to decades of chaos. 

For many years, Orochimaru sought the village’s destruction in order to take revenge. And the worst part was that Orochimaru was the one to eventually kill Hiruzen. Leading viewers to speculate that if the Third Hokage had just done his job years earlier, he’d still be alive, and Konoha would have been much safer.

He Couldn’t Control Danzo

And Orochimaru wasn’t the only villainous character Hiruzen failed to neutralise due to his own feelings on the matter. Throughout his reign, Hiruzen consistently failed at managing Danzo. He let Danzo operate his unethical Root organization with no oversight. Letting him be so secretive, each member had a cursed seal imprinted on their tongue, which paralyzed them if they tried to speak anything about him or the organization.

This unchecked power enabled Danzo to commit countless atrocities, from training emotionless child soldiers to unauthorized assassinations. Despite knowing all of this, however, Hiruzen never took any action. A better leader would have either brought Danzo under control or removed him from power entirely.

Don’t Forget About What He Accomplished

Before we completely dismiss the Third Hokage, however, let’s remember what he actually achieved. Hiruzen was handpicked by Tobirama at a young age to become Hokage and later earned the title of God of Shinobi. That title is only bestowed on those who have acquired an ungodly amount of power.

His knowledge of every single jutsu earned him the title of The Professor. Symbolizing his immense knowledge and experience. And even in his old age, he was so powerful that Orochimaru himself admitted that if Hiruzen had been just ten years younger, he would have easily won their battle. There’s also the fact that Hiruzen Sarutobi, the first shinobi to lead Konoha in the post-Senju era, led the village for the typical duration on top of having to lead once more after the horrific passing of his heroic successor. With an exceedingly long time as leader, this left only more room for error, but Hiruzen’s tenure was not without its merits.

Two Wars as Hokage

Naruto Hiruzen Sarutobi Third Hokage
Image Courtesy of Studio Pierrot

Here’s another thing people often forget: Hiruzen became Hokage during the First Shinobi World War after Tobirama sacrificed himself and went on to lead Konoha through the Second and Third Shinobi World Wars. After the third war, he stepped down and signed a peace treaty to end the conflict. At this point, Minato took over as the Fourth Hokage, but his time was cut short as he died during the Nine-Tails’ attack on the village.

So when Minato’s death left the village leaderless, the people’s immediate choice was to recall Hiruzen from retirement. Not because they had no other options, but because they trusted him to lead. And when his return brought a period of relative stability and peace with no large-scale conflict between major nations in the shinobi world, it became clear this trust was not unfounded.

A Great Mentor

naruto-sannin-anime.jpg
Image Courtesy of Studio Pierrot

But perhaps Hiruzen’s most lasting contribution was his role as a teacher and mentor. He personally trained the legendary Sannin: Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Orochimaru. Through Jiraiya, his influence reached Minato, and through Minato, it reached Naruto, and while he directly taught only the Sannin, generations of shinobi benefited from his teachings.

He firmly believed in the Will of Fire. This philosophy says that the entire village is like one big family, and every shinobi should protect it with love and loyalty, like the previous generations did. These teachings shaped Konoha’s culture for generations. But Hiruzen wasn’t just a teacher; he also practiced what he preached.

The Ultimate Sacrifice

Hiruzen Sarutobi in Konoha Crush Naruto arc
Image Courtesy of Studio Pierrot

Facing Orochimaru and the summoned spirits of Hashirama and Tobirama during the invasion of Konoha, Hiruzen made the ultimate sacrifice. He used the Dead Demon Consuming Seal, knowing it would kill him, to protect the village one last time. Though he couldn’t complete the seal fully, he chose to do what little he could to stop Orochimaru’s plans.

In the end, he managed to seal away Orochimaru’s arms and died with a smile, choosing to sacrifice his life rather than let Konoha fall. When he was brought back to life later by Edo Tensei, Hiruzen acknowledged his failures. He admitted that while his time as Hokage was flawed, he had always tried to do his best for the good of Konoha.

The Verdict

There’s no denying that Hiruzen’s failures were pretty catastrophic; the Uchiha massacre, Naruto’s neglected childhood, and letting so many threats go unchecked show serious leadership failures. But you’ve also got to weigh those mistakes against everything he accomplished. The Third Hokage led Konoha through two major wars, mentored the Sannin, and brought peace and stability to the village in Naruto

At the end of the day, Hiruzen’s failures and successes come from a very human place. His worst mistakes stem from compassion, hesitation, and the hope that conflicts could be resolved peacefully. So instead of just calling Hiruzen Naruto’s worst Hokage, maybe it’s more accurate to see Him as the most human one.


The Kage of Naruto’s world often have enormous responsibilities and leave behind complicated legacies as a result. Who would you consider the worst Hokage in Naruto, or other worst Kage of the ninja world? Let us know in the comments below!

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Pokemon, Rurouni Kenshin Actress Tomo Sakurai Dead at 53 https://comicbook.com/anime/news/pokemon-rurouni-kenshin-tomo-sakurai-death/ https://comicbook.com/anime/news/pokemon-rurouni-kenshin-tomo-sakurai-death/#respond Sat, 16 Aug 2025 14:12:57 +0000 https://comicbook.com/?p=1457072 OLM

Tomo Sakurai has been a force in the anime world for years, sharing her vocal talents with some of the biggest anime franchises in the world. In recent years, Sakurai has been a part of series including Pokemon, Rurouni Kenshin, Shaman King, Yu-Gi-Oh!, and more. It’s with heavy hearts that we report that the actress […]

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OLM

Tomo Sakurai has been a force in the anime world for years, sharing her vocal talents with some of the biggest anime franchises in the world. In recent years, Sakurai has been a part of series including Pokemon, Rurouni Kenshin, Shaman King, Yu-Gi-Oh!, and more. It’s with heavy hearts that we report that the actress has passed due to a recent struggle with multi-organ cancer. Passing at the age of 53, both the anime and video game industries have lost a major talent, and the world mourns following the tragic news.

Sakurai’s talent agency, Feathered, released an official statement declaring the voice actor’s passing that reads, “Tomo Sakurai was urgently hospitalized on August 4 after her condition, which had been under treatment for multi-organ cancer, suddenly worsened. Despite receiving medical care, her symptoms did not improve, and with great regret, we announce that she passed away on August 13. We extend our heartfelt gratitude for all the kind messages and support she received during her lifetime.”

OLM

“Tomo Sakurai aimed for a full recovery from her illness and approached her treatment with unwavering positivity and dedication alongside us. However, we are deeply saddened and filled with regret that it has come to this outcome. We sincerely apologize to all those who supported her. The funeral will be held privately with only close relatives, so we kindly request that you refrain from inquiries or media coverage regarding the funeral. We are considering holding a farewell event for fans at a later date. Feathered Co., Ltd., Tomo Sakurai’s Agency.”

Sakurai was originally planned to be a part of an upcoming event, TOMO Summer 2025 Live, which will now be understandably canceled, according to the talent agency, “Regarding ticket refunds for the cancellation of the “TOMO Summer 2025 Live!” on August 17, we have sent emails with refund instructions to all ticket purchasers. However, there are still some who have not responded. Please take a moment to read the email.”

Previously, Sakurai had taken a step back from the voicing acting game, stating that she was having trouble with her voice. In 2016, she released the following statement, “I feel that my important voice as an actor has become much harder to produce. As a voice actress, I cannot endure these changes.” In 2019, she made her surprising return, playing one of the biggest Pokemon trainers for Ash Ketchum to face to become the world champion in Pokemon Journeys.

Our thoughts are with Tomoro Sakurai’s family and friends during this difficult time.

Via Oricon

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My Hero Academia’s Final Season Releases New Trailer https://comicbook.com/anime/news/my-hero-academia-final-season-trailer/ https://comicbook.com/anime/news/my-hero-academia-final-season-trailer/#respond Sat, 16 Aug 2025 14:08:26 +0000 https://comicbook.com/?p=1457028 TOHO Animation

Surreal as it may sound, My Hero Academia is gearing up towards the release of its final season, which is set to wrap up the anime’s almost decade-long superhero saga. Since its debut back in April 2016, the series has grown quite beloved with millions looking forward to the final installment this fall. Having said […]

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TOHO Animation

Surreal as it may sound, My Hero Academia is gearing up towards the release of its final season, which is set to wrap up the anime’s almost decade-long superhero saga. Since its debut back in April 2016, the series has grown quite beloved with millions looking forward to the final installment this fall. Having said that, My Hero Academia just shared a new look at its eighth and final season ahead of its release this October, and it looks like the series is ready to go off with a bang.

On the eve of the series’ upcoming special event, the Hero x Villain Fest, Toho Animation has finally shared a new trailer for the final season of My Hero Academia releasing on October 4th, 2025. The trailer finally includes a few new glimpses at the devastating battle between Shigaraki and Deku, as well as the new opening theme for the final season titled “The Revo” by Por**Graffitti, who are finally returning for one last My Hero Academia opening, and it’s perfect for the epic, climactic finale of the series.

My Hero Academia’s Final Season Unveils New Trailer Ahead of Fall Premiere

While fans have been quite content passing the time with My Hero Academia’s new spin-off Vigilantes, the long wait for the final season is coming to an end, and fans could not be more excited. Much like Season 7, the final season of My Hero Academia is just as stunningly animated, with Studio Bones seemingly pulling out all the stops as seen in the new trailer. It’s also quite fitting to see Por**Graffitti return to perform what could be the final opening of the series, given that the group also performed the very first opening theme of My Hero Academia, thus bringing the series full circle in the best way.

The new trailer also finally includes some fresh new glimpses at the final season with new, never-before-seen clips of Deku and Shigaraki’s final fight and the utter destruction caused by it. Most notably, the trailer also sees Deku resolve to save the little crying boy buried deep inside Shigaraki, despite even Nana Shimura giving up and begging Deku to put an end to him instead. Other curious teases in the trailer include a fleeting glimpse at what can only best be described as Chekov’s volcano and the core of hatred within Shigaraki. Fans also get to see many familiar faces cheering Deku on, including his mother, his fellow Class 1-A heroes, Hawks, Lady Nagant, and All Might, setting the stage for what is sure to be an incredibly emotional, epic finale.

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Black Clover Needs a New Arc For Its Most Mysterious Kingdom https://comicbook.com/anime/news/black-clover-anime-diamond-kingdom-needs-manga-arc/ https://comicbook.com/anime/news/black-clover-anime-diamond-kingdom-needs-manga-arc/#respond Sat, 16 Aug 2025 14:00:00 +0000 https://comicbook.com/?p=1452686 Image Courtesy of Pierrot
Mars Black Clover

Yuki Tabata’s Black Clover is currently in its final stretch, and the fight is closer to its ending after the latest Summer 2025 release. The Clover Kingdom is facing its biggest crisis after Lucius Zogratis, a devil host, takes over Julius Novachrono’s body. Lucius’ power is unlike anything they have ever seen, and now the […]

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Image Courtesy of Pierrot
Mars Black Clover

Yuki Tabata’s Black Clover is currently in its final stretch, and the fight is closer to its ending after the latest Summer 2025 release. The Clover Kingdom is facing its biggest crisis after Lucius Zogratis, a devil host, takes over Julius Novachrono’s body. Lucius’ power is unlike anything they have ever seen, and now the villain is even more unstoppable after linking himself to the Grimoire Towers. All the Magic Knights are injured and exhausted their mana after fighting the Paladins. The hope of victory rests on the shoulders of two young Magic Knights, Asta and Yuno Grinberryall. Unfortunately, things take a turn for the worse when Lucius delivers a fatal blow to Asta.

Warning: Spoilers Ahead for the Black Clover Summer 2025 Return!

Right before losing consciousness, Asta entrusts his Demon Dweller sword and the Anti-Magic powers to Yuno. While Mimosa tries to heal Asta, Yuno is holding his own against the villain. Unfortunately, healing him is proving to be quite difficult due to the constant dangers and her lack of mana. Just when Moris Libardirt, who has been turned into a Paladin, tried to attack Mimosa and Asta, mages from the Diamond Kingdom came to their rescue. Asta’s former enemy, who became his friend during the Witches’ Forest Arc, kept his promise and came to help his friend in his time of need.

Black Clover’s Diamond Kingdom Deserves a Lot More Attention

Black Clover Diamond Kingdom
Image Courtesy of Pierrot

The Diamond Kingdom has been through several conflicts and has some of the most powerful mages in the world, including a newly introduced character, Feremena, who is the host of the Earth Spirit. There are only four mages capable of using Spirit Magic in every era, and they gain astounding powers thanks to that. It took the series about ten years to introduce the Earth Spirit and its host.

Black Clover Feremena Earth Spirit
Image Courtesy of Shueisha

Unlike the Heart Kingdom, which was isolated from the rest of the world, or the Spade Kingdom, which was biding its time before conquering the other kingdoms, the Diamond Kingdom was always at odds with the Clover Kingdom. They would either secretly or openly attack their enemy country to get access to more resources. Thanks to Moris Libardirt, a Magic Scholar, controlling the kingdom by taking advantage of the ill king, the kingdom was slowly getting ruined.

After realizing his mistakes, Mars swore to set things right before bidding farewell to Asta at the end of the Witches’ Forest Arc. He worked towards the better of his kingdom and even kicked Moris out, who later joined hands with the Spade Kingdom. Several months after the Witches’ Forest Arc, Zenon single-handedly destroyed one of their armies. By the time the Spade Kingdom Raid Arc began, the Dark Triad had conquered the majority of the Diamond Kingdom. This must have taken quite a toll on an already declining nation. However, the story only briefly mentioned these things and still hasn’t revealed everything that happened with them.

The Diamond Kingdom Deserves Its Own Spin-Off (Or At Least a Filler Arc)

Black Clover Asta and Mars
Image Courtesy of Pierrot

Unfortunately for Black Clover fans, the manga is close to its ending, so we may not get to learn everything about the Diamond Kingdom. The most we will get is bits and pieces of information from Mars or other mages from the country. The Diamond Kingdom has a dark history of researching and experimenting on kids, forcing them to kill each other, on top of having major political struggles. The fight against Zenon wasn’t even properly shown. Although mages from the Diamond Kingdom have entered Clover Kingdom to help defeat Lucius, their current situation remains unknown, especially after the defeat of the Dark Triad.

Additionally, the king was incredibly sick and wasn’t in his right mind to rule his nation, letting Moris commit all kinds of atrocities. The high-ranking mages and citizens from the kingdom must have rebelled against such injustice, and they probably succeeded since they all appear fine in the latest episodes. Feremena is one big mystery, especially after Moris called her his “former greatest success,” meaning he ran experiments on her as well.

All of these could have created quite an interesting arc if the series had focused more on them. Not to mention that Mars is one of Asta’s friends and holds him in high regard. Asta visited every kingdom in the story, except the one from which his friend and even his teacher, Fanzell Kruger, belonged. Unfortunately, since the manga is ending soon, the only option left is to have a spin-off focused solely on their story, but that doesn’t seem highly likely at the moment.

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Gintama Announces New Movie With First Trailer https://comicbook.com/anime/news/gintama-new-movie-first-trailer-watch/ https://comicbook.com/anime/news/gintama-new-movie-first-trailer-watch/#respond Sat, 16 Aug 2025 13:34:51 +0000 https://comicbook.com/?p=1457026 Bandai Namco Filmworks

Gintama fans are about to eat good, with this year seeing the release of a new spin-off series that will show a very different side of the titular character. At a recent event in Japan celebrating the beloved franchise, the series announced that a new movie was in the works, releasing sooner than you might […]

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Bandai Namco Filmworks

Gintama fans are about to eat good, with this year seeing the release of a new spin-off series that will show a very different side of the titular character. At a recent event in Japan celebrating the beloved franchise, the series announced that a new movie was in the works, releasing sooner than you might expect. Gintama: Yoshiwara in Flames has been revealed, once again bringing us back to this anime universe, and has a new trailer to give fans an idea of what to expect for the show’s theatrical return.

Gintama: Yoshiwara in Flames will arrive in 2026, retelling the anime arc that took place from episode 139 to 146 in the television series. First hitting the screen in 2009, this storyline sees the main cast navigating an underground red-light district, battling a new threat in the villainous Housen. This isn’t the only project that will delve into this anime franchise, as mentioned earlier, with Gintama-sensei landing this October in a jam-packed fall anime season. While this story focuses on the familiar characters, the side story is far different from what you can expect to see in Yoshiwara in Flames. You can check out the new movie trailer, along with the first poster, below.

bandai namco filmworks

Gintama in Flames

For the upcoming theatrical event, Gintama is bringing back the franchise’s beloved voice actors to once again give their characters life. So far, the cast has been announced with the following roster: Tomokazu Sugita, Daisuke Sakaguchi, Rie Kugimiya, Susumu Chiba, Kazuya Nakai, Kenichi Suzumura, Tetsuharu Ota, and Mikako Takahashi. During the 20th anniversary event that shared the good news, voice actor Daisuke Sakaguchi shared the following message:

“Yes, we’re doing a brand-new Gintama movie! The final part of the 20th Anniversary Project is a film. The title is New Gintama The Movie: Yoshiwara in Flames. We’re reconstructing the Yoshiwara arc as a completely new production with entirely new animation. Let’s aim for 10 billion yen at the box office!”

To help add fuel to the “hype fire,” Gintama creator Hideaki Sorachi also shared a comment regarding the upcoming film and the franchise as a whole, “I feel that letting the series go out in a blaze, perhaps due to issues with Sugita’s lower body, would actually be a proper Gintama-style victory. With Gintama, you never know what’s going to happen. That mix of excitement and anxiety is part of what makes it unique. Please, don’t abandon us!”

If you want to catch up on Gintama before the movie arrives, you have at least a few months to do so. Currently, the entirety of the series is available to stream on Crunchyroll, along with the latest anime film, Gintama: The Final. Needless to say, the shonen franchise has earned it place as an anime heavy hitter, so it’s worth checking out if you’ve never experienced the action-packed comedy.

Want to stay in the loop when it comes to Gintama’s next movie? Follow along with Team Anime on ComicBook.com for the latest updates on the shonen franchise, and hit me up directly @EVComedy to talk all things comics and anime.

Via Oricon

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One Piece’s Elbaf Arc Is Its Best Yet, and It’s Not Just Recency Bias to Say So https://comicbook.com/anime/news/one-piece-best-arc-elbaf-bias-op-ed/ https://comicbook.com/anime/news/one-piece-best-arc-elbaf-bias-op-ed/#respond Sat, 16 Aug 2025 13:00:00 +0000 https://comicbook.com/?p=1450070 Image Courtesy of Shueisha
One Piece Elbaf Arc

One Piece teased its ongoing Elbaf Arc over two decades ago, during the Little Garden Arc, when the Straw Hat Pirates encountered Dorry and Brogy. Luffy and Usopp were the most excited about visiting the Land of the Giants, and their dream has finally come true. Elbaf is the second arc of the Final Saga […]

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Image Courtesy of Shueisha
One Piece Elbaf Arc

One Piece teased its ongoing Elbaf Arc over two decades ago, during the Little Garden Arc, when the Straw Hat Pirates encountered Dorry and Brogy. Luffy and Usopp were the most excited about visiting the Land of the Giants, and their dream has finally come true. Elbaf is the second arc of the Final Saga and brings many surprises for fans within the first few episodes. The Giants are the strongest race in the world, but they have lived in isolation for centuries. They are also one of the three races that revered Nika as the Sun God and the Warrior of Liberation.

For a long time, Elbaf was expected to be a lore-heavy arc, and Eiichiro Oda hasn’t disappointed at all so far. The corresponding villains are appropriately powerful to raise the stakes, but that’s not the only thing that makes this arc. Even though the ongoing arc is still in its initial phases, there are a lot of mysteries that are already being unraveled, and it’s pointing towards the impending war that will shake the entire world. Everything that has happened in Elbaf so far is more than enough proof that the end is closer than ever for One Piece, and it’s not pulling any punches.

One Piece’s Elbaf Arc Is Loaded With Lore Drops and Several Shocking Plot Twists

One Piece Mural
Shonen Jump

The massive mural in Chapter 1138 is a treasure trove of information about not just the current era and the Void Century, but also the era where Nika existed. The Adam Tree has been holding those cryptic messages for several centuries, which the Straw Hat Pirates won’t be able to find in the entire world. Several of those elements in the mural circle us back to the Skypiea Arc, one of the most underrated and important arcs in One Piece.

One Piece Nika
Image Courtesy of Toei Animation

The ancient city of gold, Shandora, was lifted into the sky by the knock-up stream, becoming part of the island of Skypiea. The Straw Hats visit the Sky Island before the time skip, and the series dropped several hints about the forgotten history. Additionally, Jarul, the Hero of the Giants, reveals that they have an ancient text called the Harley, which contains numerous historical facts and a treasure trove of One Piece lore for the theorists.

However, since no one is able to read the language, there have been several interpretations of Nika over the centuries, including the mythical figure being a god of destruction, a god of liberation, or a god of laughter. Regardless of what they believe, one thing is for certain: Nika only appears when the world is about to undergo a major change. Now that Luffy has awakened his Devil Fruit, the “change” that will happen in this era will be the aftermath of the Great War.

Elbaf Arc Cements Shanks’s Crucial Role in the Overall Story

Shanks Luffy One Piece
Image Courtesy of Toei Animation

The Holy Knights are one of the strongest, if not the strongest, antagonist groups in the series, and they are led by Shanks’s family. Saint Figarland Garling is the Supreme Commander as well as the newly appointed Warrior God of Science and Defense, one of the Five Elders. Additionally, Shamrock Figarland, Shanks’ older twin brother, is the Commander of the elite guard. The manga also reveals that Shanks is aware of his identity and even went to the Holy Land of Mariejois several years ago.

However, he still decided to live in the lower world and continue his life as a pirate in order to achieve a certain goal. During Harald’s backstory, Scopper Gaban, the Left Hand of the Pirate King, called Shanks the “child of fate,” which leads to his future role in the world. Shanks is the catalyst of the story, and everything he has done so far is for a greater cause. However, no other arc has put more emphasis on this character so far.

Harald’s Backstory Introduces the Most Mysterious Pirate

One Piece Rocks D Xebec
Image Courtesy of Toei Animation

The late of King of Elbaf, Harald’s backstory began right before the major fight in Elbaf to answer the question about his tragic murder in the Aurust Castle 14 years ago. Although Loki’s innocence has been proven, the identity of the killer is still unknown. However, before revealing the truth behind Elbaf’s greatest tragedy, the manga takes a detour and depicts his journey from being a reckless Giant to the greatest King of Elbaf.

However, shockingly enough, the manga finally introduced the identity of Rocks D. Xebec, who is Blackbeard’s father. We also learn about how Xebec formed his crew and his true goal that he never got to achieve. He is also one of the few characters who came face-to-face with Imu and lived to tell the tale.

One Piece Fans Are in for More Surprises in the Upcoming Chapters

One Piece Harald Loki Luffy
Image Courtesy of Toei Animation/Shueisha

One Piece has had several iconic arcs over the years, including Water 7 and Marineford. While every arc is great in its own way, not a single one has focused this heavily on lore, not even the Egghead Incident Arc. This arc is a delight for those who prioritize lore and mysteries over everything else. The fights are also intense so far, with Imu, the series’ final antagonist, joining the battle after overtaking Gunko’s body. Not to mention that this is still only the beginning. The backstory will continue for a few more chapters, unraveling the mystery behind Harald’s death and how Loki got framed.

Additionally, we may learn more about the legendary Devil Fruit that Loki possesses. Since the backstory features certain events from the past, we may get another glimpse at the God Valley Incident from a different perspective and learn more about Xebec’s defeat. As the fight continues, One Piece is sure to drop more lore during the arc. The question remains, how much deeper does the lore get as the series approaches its finale?


The Elbaf Arc is a thrilling opportunity for One Piece fans to see decades of mysteries get answers, while surprisingly generating entirely new ones in the process. What is your favorite arc in the series? Let us know in the comments below!

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“Full of Discoveries and Joy”: Disney’s Best New Anime Star Talks Unique Prep for the Role https://comicbook.com/anime/news/disney-hulu-best-anime-medalist-star-interview-quote/ https://comicbook.com/anime/news/disney-hulu-best-anime-medalist-star-interview-quote/#respond Sat, 16 Aug 2025 12:00:00 +0000 https://comicbook.com/?p=1456372 Image Courtesy of Disney and ENGI
Medalist anime Disney

The surprise sleeper hit of 2025, Medalist, continues to win the hearts and minds of anime fans all over with its sincere story about a young ice-skater. An event exhibition celebrating the series was held at Event Square in Matsuya Ginza in Tokyo, Japan. The Japanese voice actors for the two leads of the Medalist […]

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Image Courtesy of Disney and ENGI
Medalist anime Disney

The surprise sleeper hit of 2025, Medalist, continues to win the hearts and minds of anime fans all over with its sincere story about a young ice-skater. An event exhibition celebrating the series was held at Event Square in Matsuya Ginza in Tokyo, Japan. The Japanese voice actors for the two leads of the Medalist anime were in attendance at the event, where they both spoke about their roles. Natsumi Haruse plays the main protagonist, Inori Yuitsuka, an 11-year-old girl who competes in ice-skating competitions. Takeo Otsuka plays Inori’s coach, Tsukasa Akeuraji, a former competitive skater who now wants to help Inori achieve her dream.

The Medalist streamed on Hulu in the United States and Disney+ in most other territories outside Japan as part of the Disney Platform Distribution. The anime was praised for its ice-skating animation and the sincerity displayed by the protagonists. Haruse and Yuitsuka discuss how they both prepare for their roles at the Medalist Exhibition Event, with Haruse admitting she’s been a lifelong skating fan and has been taking ice-skating lessons. Through her practices, she discovered how difficult it is and used that experience to determine how much weight is placed while skating, which influenced her performance as Inori. She called the recording sessions “full of discoveries and joy.”

Natsumi Haruse and Inori Yuitsuka Discuss Medalist

Medalist anime
ENGI

Otsuka also discussed learning more about skating to understand his role. He interviewed Akiko Suzuki, an ice-skater who provided motion capture for the anime. Suzuki would even teach Otsuka how to skate, giving him a reference for his performance. Otsuka further revealed that they would often record the anime together, and he would constantly ask Haruse about anything he wouldn’t understand. The Medalist anime aired its final episode of its first season on March 30, 2025. Fortunately, a second season for the show was quickly announced and is scheduled to air in January 2026. Hulu offers an English dub version of the anime, with voice actors Madeline Dorroh and Jonathon Ha voicing Inori and Tsukasa, respectively.

Medalist stars Inori, a young girl who was persuaded against becoming a skater, and she is told that she is too old to start professionally at 11. She eventually forms a partnership with Tsukasa, who was on the verge of giving up his dreams. Their goal is for Inori to win an Olympic gold medal, but to be considered for the Olympics, Inori must compete in many ice-skating competitions and earn top marks.

Japanese singer Kenshi Yonezu performed “Bow and Arrow” for the Medalist anime adaptation, releasing a passionate musical video in March. Yonezu shared the video on his official YouTube channel, which has over 7.5 million subscribers, and within eighteen hours, the “Bow and Arrow” video had amassed over 2.3 million views, becoming one of the more popular openings of the anime winter 2025 season. The first season ran for 13 episodes, with a trailer for the second season released by Hulu on July 27th. The original Medalist manga began publication at Kodansha’s Monthly Afternoon magazine on May 25th, 2020, and is currently still running.

H/T: Oricon US

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10 Times the One Piece Anime Was Better Than the Manga https://comicbook.com/anime/news/one-piece-anime-better-than-manga-moments/ https://comicbook.com/anime/news/one-piece-anime-better-than-manga-moments/#respond Sat, 16 Aug 2025 03:00:00 +0000 https://comicbook.com/?p=1452096 One Piece anime better than manga with Luffy

One Piece manga fans have peculiar opinions about the anime adaptation. The anime adaptation is faithful to the source material, but because the anime is running nearly concurrently with the manga, One Piece has to pad out some scenes. This gave the anime the reputation of being excessively slow with its pacing. Add in its […]

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One Piece anime better than manga with Luffy

One Piece manga fans have peculiar opinions about the anime adaptation. The anime adaptation is faithful to the source material, but because the anime is running nearly concurrently with the manga, One Piece has to pad out some scenes. This gave the anime the reputation of being excessively slow with its pacing. Add in its daunting episode count, and the One Piece anime is viewed as an overlong series with poor pacing. In fairness, the anime does have awkward pacing issues, with certain scenes from the manga not translating as strongly as fans would want.

Nonetheless, there are moments from the One Piece anime that outshine even the manga itself. The anime has the benefits of a score, voice acting, and animation to convey the story, whereas the manga only has Eiichiro Oda’s drawings and dialogue. While Oda’s artwork is amazing, carries gravitas, and guides the story’s vision, the anime is capable of delivering some impactful moments. While it isn’t common, there are at least ten moments from the One Piece anime that surpass the original manga.

10) Kuma’s Flashback

One Piece Kuma's mother
Toei Animation

This is likely a divisive placement, as some fans have derided the Kuma’s flashback in the anime for making slight deviations. Most of these deviations include adding more scenes with Kuma and his loved ones, including one final heartbreaking moment with him and his mother.

There’s also a little bit more action and padding that stretches Kuma’s history. Nonetheless, the padding actually enhances Kuma’s story in One Piece’s anime, as viewers get to experience more of Kuma’s life than they do in the manga. Although some of the extra scenes aren’t necessary, they are at least used to build Kuma’s life rather than detracting from it.

9) The Walk to Arlong Park

Image Courtesy of Toei Animation

This is a situation where the inclusion of sound adds so much to the scene. Nami’s breakdown, Luffy consoling her by placing his straw hat on her head, and the group walking to Arlong are already powerful images in the manga. But the inclusion of voice acting and the iconic music in the manga enhances what was already present in the manga. The Straw Hats’ walk to Arlong’s Park wouldn’t nearly be as iconic if it weren’t for the soundtrack.

8) The Going Merry’s Funeral

One Piece Going Merry fire
Toei Animation

The Going Merry was the original ship the Straw Hat pirates sailed on, and it was almost an additional crew member. Losing the Going Merry was almost like losing a beloved character, and the anime milks the funeral fire scene for all its worth. Such a moment is worth drawing out to let the viewers grieve the loss of a friend, especially with the reveal of the ship’s Klabautermann speaking to the crew in its final days.

The softer atmosphere, sadder music, and dull coloring transform an already somber moment from the manga into a genuinely heartbreaking scene. The voice acting, including the English dub and the original Japanese subtitles, effectively conveys the funeral’s inherent sadness in a way that a manga can’t.

7) Luffy vs. Sanji During the Whole Cake Island Arc

Image Courtesy of Toei Animation

When Sanji left the Straw Hat crew to rejoin his family, the bigger shock was that he was secretly royalty, rather than the simple event of his departure. The manga never properly gave the weight of Sanji’s decision, even when he beats Luffy to a pulp. Readers never believed Sanji would abandon the crew permanently. Credit it to the anime, specifically Luffy’s Japanese voice actress, Mayumi Tanaka, for giving the fight between Luffy and Sanji some legitimate gravitas. Sanji leaving the crew now has real consequences, and Luffy’s pleas would likely go down as one of Tanaka’s finest performances.

6) Gear 5 Luffy

Toei Animation

All credit goes to Oda for giving Gear 5 Luffy so much personality and perfectly replicating the old-timey cartoon effects from 1940s Tom and Jerry cartoons. However, Gear 5 was always designed with the One Piece anime in mind. It’s one thing for Oda to create the illusion of motion in his manga; it’s another thing to see it actually animated. Luffy turning the literal floor into rubber, his eyes popping out, and stretching out a piece of the floor to deflect Kaido’s fire blast is so much cooler in animation than in drawing.

5) G-8 Filler Arc

Image Courtesy of Toei Animation

G-8 arc from the anime is one of the more respected filler arcs in any anime. Even diehard manga purists begrudingly respect the arc for not only continuing the story but also developing the characters in a way that makes the next arc feel more organic. This was also one of the few times that Luffy and the Straw Hats couldn’t punch their way out of a situation. The group needed to figure out a way to outsmart the marines and escape safely with their ship. It’s a cat-and-mouse story that also greatly humanized the Marines during a time when they were primarily villainous.

4) One Piece Episode 1015

one-piece-1015.jpg
Toei Animation

One Piece Episode 1015 adapted the manga’s incredible 1000th chapter, which includes Luffy delivering his biggest punch to Kaido during the Wano Arc. For the momentous occasion, the anime crew went all out, presenting an episode that was not like any other.

From the lightning to the animation, the episode delivered the goods, with Luffy’s iconic declaration of becoming the King of the Pirates sending shivers down fans’ spines. Episode 1015 reinvigorated viewers’ interest in the Wano arc, setting the stage for the Luffy and Kaido rematch that would carry the rest of the arc. What would follow cemented for fans just how incredibly potent One Piece’s anime has become as a visual enhancement on the manga in every sense.

3) Luffy’s Final Punch To Crocodile

Image Courtesy of Toei Animation

Crocodile is the first antagonist that truly pushed Luffy and the Strawhats to the breaking point. He remains a fan-favorite villain and is one of the few bad guys to defeat Luffy multiple times. When Luffy finally defeats Crocodile with a series of punches, sending him up through the floor of the underground ruins, Antonín Dvořák’s “Symphony No. 9,” also known as the “New World Symphony,” begins playing.

It’s a little jarring at first to hear classical music begin playing in One Piece, but the music adds a grandeur and artistry to the moment that was not presented in the manga. It could’ve come off pretentious and unnecessary, yet the moment is earned by how hard Luffy fought to overcome Crocodile. The track makes the anime sophisticated, with “New World Symphony” potentially having multiple meanings. It’s an iconic moment for the One Piece anime and is worth watching for any fan of the brand.

2) Luffy Punches A Celestial Dragon

Image Courtesy of Toei Animation

The moment when Luffy punches a Celestial Dragon, the untouchable noblemen who run the world, is satisfying in both the manga and anime. Oda includes plenty of detail in the manga, showing Luffy indenting Saint Charlos’ face. However, the anime elevates the material with a simple yet powerful decision to make the scene go black-and-white as soon as Luffy makes contact with Charlos’ face. The lack of color gives more weight to Luffy’s punch, almost as if he is punching the color out of the area.

Saint Charlos was also a highly despicable person. He was allowed to keep slaves, steal people away from their families, and be unpleasant. No one could touch him, or else the might of the Marines would arrive to aid the Celestial Dragon. Luffy knew this, but still punched him anyway. It was a cathartic moment for the audience and remains one of the most cherished scenes for fans.

1) Zoro’s Backstory

one-piece-remake-anime-zoro-kuina.jpg
Zoro and Kuina make a promise in The One Piece concept art

The early parts of the One Piece anime were allowed to take more liberties with the source material. The brand had yet to establish itself as the global powerhouse it would become, nor did anyone involved know how long the manga would run. One of these early liberties was rearranging the order of events for Luffy’s and Zoro’s backstory, pushing Zoro’s origins before the Baratie Arc. Whereas Zoro’s backstory was an efficient couple of pages in the manga, the anime chose to extend the flashback into a full episode.

While the modern One Piece anime would fill out an episode with unnecessary padding, anime creators decided to expand certain things about Zoro’s life that benefited the story. We got to see more of Zoro in his childhood village and learn more about the motivations of Zoro’s childhood friend, Kuina. Spending so much time in Zoro’s life allows audiences to be swept into the story, with the inevitable tragedy hitting that much harder. It remains not only the pinnacle of early One Piece, but also for the franchise as a whole.

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All 6 Takopi’s Original Sin Episodes, Ranked https://comicbook.com/anime/news/all-takopis-original-sin-anime-episodes-ranked/ https://comicbook.com/anime/news/all-takopis-original-sin-anime-episodes-ranked/#respond Sat, 16 Aug 2025 01:00:00 +0000 https://comicbook.com/?p=1452704 Image Courtesy of Enishiya/TBS
Takopi's Original Sin anime

Adapted into anime by TBS Television and Enishiya, Taizan 5’s Takopi’s Original Sin ran as a mini-series with a total of six episodes. Tackling dark themes such as bullying, suicide, and depression, the series began dark and only grew darker as it progressed. What makes it stand out even among other dark-themed anime is the […]

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Image Courtesy of Enishiya/TBS
Takopi's Original Sin anime

Adapted into anime by TBS Television and Enishiya, Taizan 5’s Takopi’s Original Sin ran as a mini-series with a total of six episodes. Tackling dark themes such as bullying, suicide, and depression, the series began dark and only grew darker as it progressed. What makes it stand out even among other dark-themed anime is the fact that the main cast and core elements revolved around children, showing how even young kids could be at the center of such tragic events.

With each episode growing darker, the series continued to gain audience attention, and fans praised it for reaching heights no anime had achieved before. Takopi’s Original Sin’s episodes all secured ratings of more than nine stars on the IMDb platform. This stands as a testament to how perfect the series was; however, some episodes clearly stood out more than others in this otherwise flawless anime, defining the crux of its impact.

6) Episode 3, “Takopi’s Confession”

Naoki and Shizuka as seen in episode 3 of Takopi's Original Sin
Image Courtesy of Enishiya/TBS

Episode 3 of Takopi’s Original Sin could be considered the weakest of the series, primarily because it had to follow up on the twist from the previous episode, where Takopi accidentally kills Marina with the gadget and is unable to reverse time. The episode begins on a grim note, with Naoki and Shizuka crossing a sinister line by coming up with a plan to hide Marina’s body.

The story then focuses on Naoki, exploring how his household environment influenced him and ultimately led him to help Shizuka conceal Marina’s body. It also delves into Takopi living as Marina and realizing how wrong his latest action was. Lacking a major twist, something almost every other episode delivers, this installment is not ranked as highly as the others. However, that does not mean it is in any way bad.

5) Episode 4, “Azuma-kun’s Salvation”

Naoki and Junya in Takopi's Original Sin anime darkest moments
Image Courtesy of Enishiya/TBS

It was evident that at some point, one of the three children would have to let it all out and confess the burden they were carrying. Episode 4 delivers exactly this with the male lead, as Azuma comes to the verge of breaking down, caught in the dilemma of falsely confessing to killing Marina for Shizuka. The episode centers entirely on Naoki, showing how he has dedicated his life to living up to his mother’s standards, yet is unable to do so because of the lingering truth about Marina’s death coming to light.

Amid the continuing dark tones of the series, this episode serves as a rare moment of light when Azuma finally breaks down in front of his brother, realizing that to be freed from the burden he carries, all he has to do is rely on him. With its cathartic ending, this episode is the first to hint at how the series will conclude, making it an outstanding installment.

4) Episode 6, “To All of You in 2016”

Shizuka and Marina together as seen in finale of Takopi's Original Sin
Image Courtesy of Enishiya/TBS

After the big twist in the penultimate episode, it became somewhat evident how the series would end, as it had already been shown through Naoki, who experienced psychological relief. Takopi, after regaining all his memories, reflected on the complexity of human emotions and actions. Realizing that both Shizuka and Marina were peas from the same pod, he understood that all he needed to do was help them understand each other’s pain.

Takopi’s magical presence becomes the catalyst for the bond between the two, bringing the story to a bittersweet close. This doesn’t magically heal their scars but allows them to find solace in each other’s wounds. With the ending becoming somewhat predictable, the finale doesn’t rank as highly as fans might have expected, as it was essentially the dark twists throughout the series that had captivated them.

3) Episode 2, “Takopi’s Salvation”

Takopi's Origial Sin - Marina
Image Courtesy of Enishiya/TBS

The second episode of the series initially suggests that Takopi’s attempts to bring Shizuka and Marina together will continue without much change, with Takopi now being more cautious due to Marina’s violent behavior. With the camera gadget that allows him to reverse time as often as he wants, it is never hinted that such an unbelievable twist would occur. As Marina prepares to deliver the final push that would drive Shizuka to take her life, Takopi grows anxious about how he will stop it.

However, in the moment when Marina pushes Shizuka to the edge, Takopi, fearful for her, unintentionally ends up killing Marina. While fans might have expected him to reverse time, the twist reveals that Takopi struck Marina with the happy camera, the very device used for time reversal, making it impossible to undo. This stands as the third-best dark twist in the anime, sealing the course of the narrative, which is why this episode is the third-best of the series.

2) Episode 5, “To You in 2022”

Shizuka in Takopi's Original Sin anime darkest moments
Image Courtesy of Enishiya/TBS

Before the finale, it was clear that the penultimate episode would feature a twist that would set the stage for the conclusion. However, the dark twist exceeded fans’ expectations, revealing that Takopi had originally descended to Earth in 2022 to help Marina, the antagonist the series had portrayed up to that point. This episode clearly illustrates how difficult it is to judge what is morally right and how complex human emotions can be, something Takopi has begun to understand.

This twist, coupled with Shizuka completely losing control, verbally stating she will cut open her step-siblings and later striking Takopi, solidifies the series’ central theme. For its portrayal of the complexity of human nature, this episode is truly one of the best and would have been the standout of Takopi’s Original Sin had it not been for the opening episode that stunned fans with its dark tone.

1) Episode 1, “To You in 2016”

Image Courtesy of Enishiya/TBS

The pilot episode of Takopi’s Original Sin stands out as the best of the anime. At the start, with its warm-themed animation featuring children, though tinged with a depressing tone, it suggests a coming-of-age narrative, with Takopi as the catalyst to help Shizuka thrive in her life. However, midway through the episode, after Takopi gives Shizuka a rope-structure gadget meant to help her befriend Marina, the shocking twist of Shizuka taking her own life with this gadget delivers a jaw-dropping moment for viewers.

No one would have expected a child under the age of ten to even contemplate such an act, and with Shizuka actually committing suicide, it underscores how negative emotions can overwhelm even children so young. This is where the series establishes its most compelling hook: what could have driven a mere child to such a tragic decision? For this brilliant setup, which draws viewers in while gradually revealing details, the first episode of Takopi’s Original Sin is truly the series’s best and ensures audiences will stay invested until the very end.

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Bill Flynn, Voice of One Piece’s Genzo and Detective Conan’s Dr. Agasa, Dies at 86 https://comicbook.com/anime/news/bill-flynn-anime-voice-actor-dies-86/ https://comicbook.com/anime/news/bill-flynn-anime-voice-actor-dies-86/#respond Sat, 16 Aug 2025 00:39:59 +0000 https://comicbook.com/?p=1456616 Image Courtesy of Bryan Chatlien on Facebook/Toei Animation/TMS

Reports are coming in that veteran English voice actor Bill Flynn has sadly passed away over the summer at the age of 86. While the actor passed away on July 4th, a memorial service for the actor wouldn’t be announced until August by the Restland Funeral Home. Flynn’s memorial service will be held on Saturday, […]

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Image Courtesy of Bryan Chatlien on Facebook/Toei Animation/TMS

Reports are coming in that veteran English voice actor Bill Flynn has sadly passed away over the summer at the age of 86. While the actor passed away on July 4th, a memorial service for the actor wouldn’t be announced until August by the Restland Funeral Home. Flynn’s memorial service will be held on Saturday, August 16th, at Greenville Avenue, Dallas, Texas. Bill Flynn, who also went by William Flynn, was a prolific actor who performed many English dubs for several iconic anime series. His most recognizable work is likely his role as Dr. Agasa in Funimation’s original English dub of Case Closed.

Flynn also played Genzo in One Piece, a recurring minor character of the One Piece series. He only voiced Dr. Agasa in the early seasons and the first six movies of the Case Closed anime, whereas he continued to voice Genzo up to 2019 with the Episode East Blue special for One Piece. Christopher Guerroro would replace Flynn as Dr. Agasa in the later parts of the Case Closed anime dub. Flynn also had roles in Attack on Titan, Fairy Tail, Gunslinger Girl, Barakamon, and Heaven’s Lost Property. He is survived by his sister, Betty, his brother, John, and his son, Aaron. He leaves behind a treasure trove of many dub performances that fans won’t soon forget.

Who Is William “Bill” Flynn?

Image Courtesy of Bryan Chatlien on Facebook/Toei Animation/TMS

Born on September 9th, 1938, to parents John F. Flynn and Celestine M. Sullivan, Willian J. Flynn wouldn’t join the entertainment industry until the 1980s. He instead began his career as a pilot, becoming an instructor pilot at Vance Air Force Base in Enid, Oklahoma. He would leave the Air Force in 1970, earn his M.E.D. in Rehabilitation Counselling, and become a counsellor for dsabled adults. He would eventually find a passion for acting and theater in the 80s, performing on stage and film.

He was a stable presence in the Dallas acting scene throughout the last several decades of his life. Funimation would eventually cast him for several roles in their anime series. Flynn was primarily known for playing older gentlemen, becoming Funimation’s go-to old man voice for many minor or supporting characters. Genzo and Dr. Agasa were Flynn’s most recurring work, but Genzo wasn’t the only One Piece role he played. Early in Funimation’s dubbing of One Piece, Flynn also voiced Tonjit, the wacky old man, during the Long Ring Long Land arc.


Bill Flynn was an amazing actor with many talents, and our thoughts and prayers go out to Flynn’s close family members and friends.

H/T: Restland Funeral Home

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Nearly One Year After Jujutsu Kaisen’s Ending, Fans Sign a Petition to Retranslate the Manga https://comicbook.com/anime/news/jujutsu-kaisen-fan-petition-bad-translation/ https://comicbook.com/anime/news/jujutsu-kaisen-fan-petition-bad-translation/#respond Sat, 16 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://comicbook.com/?p=1455448 Image Courtesy of MAPPA
Jujutsu Kaisen fan petition against bad translation

The Jujutsu Kaisen manga concluded last year with a bittersweet ending after the intense battle against the King of the Curses. While the series stopped serializing in Weekly Shonen Jump in September 2024, it released the final Volumes 29 and 30 simultaneously in December of the same year. However, the release was only for Japanese fans, and global fans […]

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Image Courtesy of MAPPA
Jujutsu Kaisen fan petition against bad translation

The Jujutsu Kaisen manga concluded last year with a bittersweet ending after the intense battle against the King of the Curses. While the series stopped serializing in Weekly Shonen Jump in September 2024, it released the final Volumes 29 and 30 simultaneously in December of the same year. However, the release was only for Japanese fans, and global fans have to wait a bit longer for the copies to be distributed in other Languages. The English version has only released 26 volumes so far, while Volume 27 is expected to be on sale on August 19th, 2025. Additionally, Volume 28 is expected to be available from November 4th, 2025, and Volume 29 will be released on February 17th, 2026.

The final Volume 30 still hasn’t announced the date yet, but it should come out next year. With so many volumes pending their release dates, fans are once again hopeful that Viz Media will consider correcting the translation errors. @Drip_C0 on X even shared a petition with fellow Jujutsu Kaisen fans, and so far, above 200 people have signed. The post received decent enough attention, but many aren’t willing to sign, fearing Viz won’t respond to their pleas.

Jujutsu Kaisen’s Translation Errors Always Caused Controversies in the Fandom

Jujutsu Kaisen’s former translator, Stefan Koza, was arrested in 2020 for the possession and distribution of child pornography. In May 2023, he was sentenced to ten years in jail but got seven years suspended. John Werry, a famous translator, best known for his work in Demon Slayer, Claymore, One Punch Man, etc., replaced Koza. He began translating the series from Chapter 133 and often found himself in the middle of the controversy when fans pointed out the issues with the flow of dialogue and the names of the cursed techniques changing frequently.

Jujutsu Kaisen Satoru Gojo
Image Courtesy of MAPPA

Viz Media has never formally addressed this issue, despite fans tagging them on social media platforms. Viz only quietly fixed a couple of errors, including the iconic scene in Chapter 221, where Gojo says, “Nah, I’d win.” The original translation simply said “No,” leading to widespread outrage. Unfortunately, many scenes were never redone, including the one in Chapter 256 where Gojo says he can’t use Black Flash. Everyone knows that statement is false, and what the character actually meant was to clear the misconception that is inability to use the technique at will isn’t because of Six Eyes.

By the time the Final Arc gained momentum, he translation controversy became so huge that even Yuji’s English voice actor, Adam McArthur, expressed his disappointment on X in a rather humorous way. He shared a viral Jujutsu Kaisen gif on his X account with the protagonist saying, “I see. I don’t get it.” The caption of the post reads, “John Werry,” blatantly calling out a professional translator for the confusing dialogue that only became more common in the Final Arc.


Jujutsu Kaisen’s creator, Gege Akutami, is considered a literary genius whose use of beautiful words in Japanese touched the hearts of many fans. However, JJK’s true essence was lost in the translated version, and the obvious blunders only made it worse.

H/T: @Drip_C0

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Forget Demon Slayer’s Nichirin Swords, This Is Tanjiro’s Best Weapon https://comicbook.com/anime/news/demon-slayer-nichirin-sword-tanjiro-best-weapon/ https://comicbook.com/anime/news/demon-slayer-nichirin-sword-tanjiro-best-weapon/#respond Fri, 15 Aug 2025 23:00:00 +0000 https://comicbook.com/?p=1456165 Image courtesy of Ufotable

The warriors of Demon Slayer are some of the best fighters around in anime, full stop. They put their lives on the line every day, protecting people from a threat most aren’t even aware of. Their adventures are full of high stakes, unforgettable backstories, and imaginative battles. In this world, one cannot become a full […]

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Image courtesy of Ufotable

The warriors of Demon Slayer are some of the best fighters around in anime, full stop. They put their lives on the line every day, protecting people from a threat most aren’t even aware of. Their adventures are full of high stakes, unforgettable backstories, and imaginative battles. In this world, one cannot become a full and proper Demon Slayer until they have passed on final test. Once passed, each slayer receives a shiny new uniform and a Nichirin Sword, one of the few ways to reliably kill a demon. The swords are incredibly impressive, to say the least, but they have nothing on Tanjiro Kamado’s secret weapon: his skull.

Tanjiro is the main protagonist of the series, so he was always meant to have something up his sleeve. Most fans probably assumed that his dramatic secret weapon would revolve around his Sun Breathing, but his real ultimate move was revealed pretty early in the series: Tanjiro’s infamous headbutt. This fallback weapon is easily the most underrated tool in the series, and it’s also good for a few laughs.

The First Few Appearances of Tanjiro’s Ultimate Headbutt

Image courtesy of Ufotable

While Tanjiro’s head may not be capable of permanently putting a demon down the way his blades can, there is something deeply satisfying about his go-to headbutt move. The best part about this weapon is that it can be used across both sides of the line, at least as far as Tanjiro is concerned. More on that in a moment.

As an untrained slayer, Tanjiro uses this move on the first demon he encounters, and it becomes a bit of a running theme. That poor demon took Tanrjio’s skull right to the head, not once, but twice. That should be considered cruel and unusual punishment.

As a reminder, Tanjiro also headbutted a rock during training, so clearly one does not need to be living to be subjected to such a brutal attack. Who knows, it may have even been a strengthening exercise for Tanjiro’s skull, which is a terrifying thought.

Even Demon Slayers Are Not Safe

Image courtesy of Ufotable

The ultimate headbutt move seems to come for one of two reasons. First, when Tanjiro is at the end of his rope. The second instance occurs when Tanjiro feels called upon to defend his sister. For example, the first time Tanjiro used his headbutt attack against an ally, it was when Inosuke was trying to kill Nezuko (whom Zenitsu faithfully defended). Tanjiro came out swinging, well, not literally, though he did grab his fellow slayer and headbutt him into unconsciousness.

This was arguably a bad lesson for Tanjiro to learn, as he has since held the belief that his headbutt move circumvents the rules against Demon Slayers fighting. During his trial with the Hashira, Tanjiro escapes and headbutts the Wind Hashira to the ground. While he was scolded for that move, it didn’t really stop him, as he would later beg for permission to headbutt him a few more times.

Naturally, Tanjiro pulled out his infamous move again when he saw Tengen Uzui trying to carry off Aoi Kanzaki on a mission. Sadly for Tanjiro, this proved to be the end of his headbutting streak. The Hashira dodged the ultimate move, but it was still a good shot. On the bright side, that loss clearly has not dulled Tanjiro Kamado’s desire to headbutt, as that move has come back around a few more times since then.

The Origin of Tanjiro Kamado’s Secret Weapon

Image courtesy of Ufotable

Believe it or not, the subject of Tanjiro’s incredibly dense skull does come up in conversation. Supposedly, his mother, Kie Kamado, also has a hard skull. Tanjiro recalls a moment in family history where she may or may not have headbutted a boar to protect her children. Coming from anybody else, the story would sound outlandish. From Tanjiro’s family…it’s more believable than we would like to admit.

Unfortunately, it would seem that not all of Kie Kamado’s children inherited her blissfully durable skull. During the Mugen Train arc, Nezuko desperately tries to wake her brother, falling back on his natural move. Not only does it not work, but she receives a bloody face for her troubles. This scene, while comical, proves that Tanjiro’s skull can be used both offensively and defensively.

Looking back at the sheer number of times Tanjiro’s ultimate headbutt attack worked, it’s pretty clear that his skull is, unironically, one of the best weapons in the series. That’s probably for the best, considering how often he falls back on his old reliable tactics.


What other goofy abilities or quirks won you over in Demon Slayer? Let us know in the comments below!

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Shonen Jump Is Getting a Huge Purge With Multiple Series Ending https://comicbook.com/anime/news/shonen-jump-purge-manga-ending-2025/ https://comicbook.com/anime/news/shonen-jump-purge-manga-ending-2025/#respond Fri, 15 Aug 2025 22:00:00 +0000 https://comicbook.com/?p=1456245 Shueisha
Shonen Jump manga characters lineup

Shueisha’s Shonen Jump+ is an official manga platform that serializes original series as well as broadening the horizons beyond the traditional shonen demographic. The service has established itself as one of the biggest in the industry with series such as Fire Punch, Chainsaw Man, Hell’s Paradise, Spy × Family, Kaiju No. 8, and Dandadan playing crucial roles in elevating its popularity. However, not […]

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Shueisha
Shonen Jump manga characters lineup

Shueisha’s Shonen Jump+ is an official manga platform that serializes original series as well as broadening the horizons beyond the traditional shonen demographic. The service has established itself as one of the biggest in the industry with series such as Fire PunchChainsaw ManHell’s ParadiseSpy × FamilyKaiju No. 8, and Dandadan playing crucial roles in elevating its popularity. However, not all series get the attention they deserve, and many of them even get axed before they get a chance. 2025 has seen a wave of manga endings on the Shonen Jump+ platform. Some of these series are considerably famous, including Kaiju No. 8, Ron Kamonohashi: Deranged Detective, and even Rugby Ramble, which will be ending in three chapters.

The platform is almost aggressively canceling or ending several series this year. Many of these series, such as Beast Orange and The God of Time, didn’t even manage to reach 20 chapters. So far in 2024, over 40 Shonen Jump+ series have been concluded, and no doubt, the number will keep increasing for the rest of the year. A purge of this level in one of the biggest platforms in the manga industry raises the question about Shonen Jump’s future and what it means to transition into an era with shorter Shonen series.

Shonen Jump Series Are Ending Faster Than Ever

Image Courtesy of Shueisha

The primary reason is definitely popularity, since the publishing company faces certain damage if it continues a manga with no scope of catching the reader’s eye. With the digitization of manga series on a globally-accessible scale, the competition is intense. They also need to clear serialization slots for other promising series. Not to mention that it affects the brand image. However, even famous series like Jujutsu Kaisen and Demon Slayer don’t even manage to hit the 300 chapter milestone and conclude the story with steady progress, and a lot of factors play out in this.

Unlike the era of shonen manga, where series like One Piece, Naruto, Bleach, etc. were allowed time to develop the story naturally, the modern series are pitched with a clear idea of an ending in mind. Reader preferences have changed over the years, with many new manga enthusiasts preferring to read several fast-paced and short series instead of spending months on longer and slow-burning shonen.

Image courtesy of Shueisha

We also can’t fail to mention the biggest concern in the manga industry, and that’s the creator, aka the mangaka, and their health. Creating a manga, especially one with a weekly schedule, is immensely taxing. The mangakas are often understaffed, and they overwork themselves even to the point of suffering from several ailments.

There are rarely any famous mangakas in the industry whose health hasn’t taken a serious hit because of overworking. The situation is the same for almost everyone, whether it’s the creator of old classics such as Eiichiro Oda (One Piece) or the new series like Gege Akutami (Jujutsu Kaisen). In such cases, it’s in the mangaka’s best interest to work continuously for a few years, take plenty of rest after the series’ ending, and return with something new. This is exactly what Gege Akutami is supposedly planning, and that’s certainly for the best.


While it’s sad to see smaller stories go, are there any currently running in Shonen Jump+ that you’d like to talk about? Let us know in the comments below!

H/T: @WSJ_manga on X

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Black Clover Brings Back a Missing Kingdom After 7 Years https://comicbook.com/anime/news/black-clover-anime-missing-kingdom-manga/ https://comicbook.com/anime/news/black-clover-anime-missing-kingdom-manga/#respond Fri, 15 Aug 2025 21:00:00 +0000 https://comicbook.com/?p=1456066 Image Courtesy of Pierrot
Black Clover Asta and Mars

Black Clover‘s manga is nearing its climax; however, before Yuki Tabata concludes Asta’s journey, he seems determined to give the spotlight to all the characters who have shaped the series’ narrative. With a run of almost 400 chapters, Black Clover stands among the longest-running manga of the past several decades in Shonen Jump, and over […]

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Image Courtesy of Pierrot
Black Clover Asta and Mars

Black Clover‘s manga is nearing its climax; however, before Yuki Tabata concludes Asta’s journey, he seems determined to give the spotlight to all the characters who have shaped the series’ narrative. With a run of almost 400 chapters, Black Clover stands among the longest-running manga of the past several decades in Shonen Jump, and over this time, countless characters have been introduced. Each introduction has been carefully crafted, leaving a significant impact on Asta’s journey and, in turn, being influenced by it. Most major characters have initially appeared as villains but have parted ways with Asta on good terms, often promising to return the favor. This is exactly what is now unfolding, especially after Asta was mortally wounded in Chapter 380.

Warning: Spoilers Ahead for Black Clover Chapter 381!

Following Asta’s injury, Yuno once again stepped forward in Black Clover Chapter 381, titled The Ultimate Mage, this time also wielding Asta’s anti-magic, making him the ultimate mage and likely the strongest human mage to ever exist in Black Clover. Meanwhile, Mimosa took on the task of healing Asta. However, with the Paladins growing even stronger and more monstrous, and Morris, a key villain in this final arc, intent on stopping her, the series brings back the major characters from the Diamond Kingdom. They arrive just in time to hold back Morris, who was originally a conspirator from the Diamond Kingdom, giving Mimosa the chance to heal Asta.

The First-Ever Introduced Kingdom After the Clover Kingdom Returns

Diamond Kingdom retunring in chapter 381.
Image Courtesy of Shueisha

The last time the Diamond Kingdom appeared in the manga was in Black Clover Chapter 229, released in November 2019. At that time, it was revealed that the Spade Kingdom had raided the Diamond Kingdom and taken control of most of its territory. It was never fully explained what happened to the main characters featured in the conflict between the Clover and Diamond Kingdoms, including Mars, who had been striving to reform his nation after his encounter with Asta. In the latest twist, the reintroduction of the Diamond Kingdom features Mars leading prominent figures from the kingdom, such as Lotus, Ladros, Fana, Mareilla, and even Fanzell Kruger, one of Asta’s earliest teachers, into the fray.

Although the Diamond Kingdom’s last major involvement with Asta was nearly a decade ago, their return in the final arc is far from insignificant. It highlights the lasting influence of Asta’s journey in Black Clover as well as the lives he’s touched. Alongside them, recent chapters have also brought back other former antagonists, such as the Elf Tribe, now joining forces to help Asta against a common enemy. The past three chapters have essentially served as a reflection on the series, bringing back characters once shaped by Asta, an indirect fulfillment of his dream to become the Wizard King and earn recognition from others. While these characters’ roles in the current battle may seem small, their presence is deeply meaningful, as they are helping Asta rise once more, shaping him again to face an overwhelming adversary and claim victory.

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What Are The One Piece Movies You Still Can’t Watch? https://comicbook.com/anime/news/one-piece-missing-films-streaming-watch/ https://comicbook.com/anime/news/one-piece-missing-films-streaming-watch/#respond Fri, 15 Aug 2025 20:00:00 +0000 https://comicbook.com/?p=1455220 Image Courtesy of Toei Animation

With One Piece continuing to dominate as a global brand, fans are still surprised that a portion of the One Piece animated movies aren’t available in the United States. Crunchyroll announced the inclusion of three One Piece films on its platform: One Piece – Episode of Arabasta: The Desert Princess and the Pirates, One Piece Film: […]

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Image Courtesy of Toei Animation

With One Piece continuing to dominate as a global brand, fans are still surprised that a portion of the One Piece animated movies aren’t available in the United States. Crunchyroll announced the inclusion of three One Piece films on its platform: One Piece – Episode of Arabasta: The Desert Princess and the PiratesOne Piece Film: Strong World, and One Piece Film: Z. These are some of the few One Piece movies released legally in the United States and have an English dub. While the majority of the modern One Piece theatrical films have found their way outside Japan, the early motion pictures have not become legally available in the United States.

Film licensing rights are vastly different than anime or TV show rights. This is why the One Piece anime can get licensed onto multiple streaming platforms, but the films cannot. Furthermore, the One Piece media empire has its hands on several deals, including exclusive partnerships with Crunchyroll and Netflix. It becomes complicated to decide which films to license to whom. The question then becomes which One Piece films are still unavailable to watch?

All The One Piece Films You Still Can’t Watch

Image Courtesy of Toei Animation

Altogether, eight of the fifteen One Piece films aren’t available to watch legally in the United States. These titles include the first seven and the eleventh One Piece motion picture.

  • One Piece: The Movie: The first One Piece movie that even predates Sanji. In this film, the Straw Hat crew races against a gold-obsessed pirate to find an ancient treasure.
  • Clockwork Island Adventure: The crew must traverse an odd mechanical island to rescue Nami from being the bride of the island’s maniacal ruler.
  • Chopper’s Kingdom on the Island of Strange Animals: The first film featuring Chopper, who finds himself ruling over an island of strange animals.
  • Dead End Adventure: The Straw Hats join an underground ship race where they encounter a powerful pirate who used to be a Marine.
  • The Cursed Holy Sword: A Zoro-starring film where the swordsman seemingly betrays his crew to help an old friend.
  • Baron Omatsuri and the Secret Island: The crew head to a resort island where they encounter many strange happenings, leading to a dark confrontation with the island’s baron.
  • The Giant Mechanical Soldier of Karakuri Castle: The Straw Hats arrive on an island filled with weird mechanical inventions, encountering some oddball pirates.
  • One Piece 3D: Straw Hat Chase: A 3D-animated short where Luffy and crew chase after his Straw Hat.

Funimation would begin dubbing and distributing the One Piece films with movie 7, Episode of Arabasta: The Desert Princess and the Pirates. Except for One Piece 3D, every following One Piece movie would become available in the US. Crunchyroll would inherit the film rights of the films dubbed and licensed by Funimation after the two companies merged. Interestingly, Episode of Chopper Plus: Bloom in Winter, Miracle Sakura, the eighth film in the franchise, wasn’t available for the longest time in the United States. It was recently added to Netflix, but only in its native Japanese subtitles.

Although it is confusing why no company has licensed the earlier One Piece films at this point, the cost to license these films is likely too steep to justify bringing them overseas. The reception of the early films is notably mixed, possibly explaining why no corporation has bothered owning the rights. However, there are some standout titles among the movies, specifically Baron Omatsuri and the Secret Island. At some point, these One Piece features will likely find their way to the US through legal means, but it will probably take some time.

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10 Reasons Why Naruto Shouldn’t Be Hokage Again https://comicbook.com/anime/news/naruto-10-reasons-leave-hokage/ https://comicbook.com/anime/news/naruto-10-reasons-leave-hokage/#respond Fri, 15 Aug 2025 19:49:37 +0000 https://comicbook.com/?p=1456133 Pierrot

In Boruto: Two Blue Vortex, the Seventh Hokage is having a rough time at the moment. Thanks to being trapped in an alternate reality by his adopted son Kawaki, both Naruto Uzumaki and his partner Hinata have been absent from the Hidden Leaf Village during one of the locale’s darkest hours. Of course, since he […]

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Pierrot

In Boruto: Two Blue Vortex, the Seventh Hokage is having a rough time at the moment. Thanks to being trapped in an alternate reality by his adopted son Kawaki, both Naruto Uzumaki and his partner Hinata have been absent from the Hidden Leaf Village during one of the locale’s darkest hours. Of course, since he is trapped in limbo, Naruto can’t exactly fulfill his duties as the Seventh Hokage, and maybe this is for the best. Here are ten reasons why it might be time for Naruto to give up the crown and let someone else dictate Konoha’s future.

Shikamaru Is Way Better At It

Naruto and Shikamaru underrated best friendships in Naruto
Pierrot

Let’s get one of the easiest reasons out of the way: Shikamaru is the best choice to be Hokage at the moment, and we’re already seeing this fact in Two Blue Vortex. Now that Naruto is trapped in another dimension, the shadow ninja is picking up the slack and putting in the work when it comes to making sure Konoha is still ticking. This couldn’t come at a better time as the Divine Trees are putting their terrifying plans into motion, and Shikamaru’s tactical brain might be one of the Hidden Leaf’s biggest assets. You won’t find many who disagree with the idea of Shikamaru remaining on as the eighth Hokage.

The Nine-Tailed Fox Has Jumped Ship

pierrot

Thanks to his fight against Jigen of the Kara Organization, Naruto had to make a wild sacrifice to ensure victory. The seventh Hokage had to split from the Nine-Tailed Fox to use the power of Baryon Mode, a fact that ended up killing Kurama in the process. While the beast would eventually return, surprisingly revealing itself to be now linked to Himawari, Naruto is now missing a major component of what made him such a skilled fighter. It’s a weakness that several opponents of Konoha could take advantage of.

Family Time

pierrot

Even though Naruto has the ability to create shadow clones that he often uses to be a father to his family, the future will most likely require the Seventh Hokage to give up his title to be a permanent full-time father. With Himawari struggling with the Nine-Tailed Fox’s power and Boruto dealing with losing his allies thanks to Eida’s spell, should Naruto and Hinata return from their exile, they’ll need to do some serious work on their closest loved ones.

Keep An Eye on Kawaki

pierrot

Naruto’s responsibilities clearly came with a pretty big price when it comes to Kawaki, who was more than willing to kill his own brother and change the world to eliminate the Otsutsuki entirely. If the Seventh Hokage was there to offer more sagely advice and simply stop Kawaki from putting some of his wild ideas into motion, Naruto might still be a part of the Hidden Leaf. Even if Kawaki manages to settle his differences with Boruto, the former vessel still needs a watchful eye.

Interacting With Other Villages

pierrot

Of the many things that Naruto is able to call himself, a politician is not one of them. Konoha is not an island, as there are many other villages that make up the ninja world. When it comes to negotiating and simply talking with allies and enemies alike, the Seventh Hokage has to rely far more on Shikamaru. Why not just cut out the middleman and see Uzumaki take another role within the Hidden Leaf?

Naruto is Too Forgiving

pierrot

Considering the horrific things that Orochimaru has done in the past, do you think most ninjas outside of Naruto are happy to know that he is still lurking around their village? The snake ninja might have said that he’s left his evil behind him, even giving Konoha one of their strongest ninjas in Mitsuki, but the fact that he never really paid for his crimes is almost unbelievable. The sheer number of victims the former villain has claimed is probably beyond belief, and it still doesn’t feel quite right that he was able to skate past accountability in the Boruto series.

Needs to be Training

pierrot

Now that Kurama is no longer sharing a body with Naruto, it’s time for the Seventh Hokage to hang up his hate to work on his chakra. While he still has the Toad Sage abilities and many of the moves he learned from the likes of Jiraiya and Kakashi, he’s going to need to up his game for the threats that are only getting more powerful. At this point, there’s an argument to be made that Boruto and Himawari are stronger than their dad, so keeping up with his offspring should be a priority. Time to leave the office and get back into the field, Naruto.

Naruto Doesn’t Work in an Office Setting

pierrot

While Naruto becoming Hokage feels like the ultimate acceptance by Konoha, taking a different route would feel better for the character. Working as something akin to his sensei Jiraiya, wherein he can travel and help those he comes across, would make a lot more sense. If anything, outside of Shikamaru, Sakura following in the footsteps of Tsunade to become the next Hokage would make a lot more sense than the titular character. Seeing Naruto behind a desk simply never looks right and goes back to the idea that he doesn’t quite work as the leader of Konoha.

Lacks a Killer Instinct

pierrot

While Naruto could certainly be scary when he wanted to, usually thanks to Kurama’s influence, the Seventh Hokage doesn’t seem like the type who would be willing to let people die and/or kill people to achieve a goal. Again, this is right up Shikamaru’s alley, but Uzumaki would attempt to figure out a far more peaceful solution to everything, potentially leading to disaster if he is taking on the likes of Kara and/or the Divine Trees. This doesn’t mean that Konoha ever needs another Danzo running the operation, but somewhere in the middle might be the best route to take.

Naruto’s Simply Bad At It

Pierrot

At the end of the day, Naruto simply isn’t that great of a Hokage. Sure, he can steer the ship when the seas are peaceful, but the overall response to Jiren and the current threat to the village has been dire. Boruto: Two Blue Vortex has created some interesting stories, though the ninja world is currently at a low point thanks to it. Should Naruto Uzumaki return, it is time for him to hang up his hat and move on to greener pastures, as there are more than enough reasons for him to stop being a Hokage.

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10 More Great Horror Anime That Are Worth Watching https://comicbook.com/anime/news/more-great-horror-anime-worth-watching-streaming-monster/ https://comicbook.com/anime/news/more-great-horror-anime-worth-watching-streaming-monster/#respond Fri, 15 Aug 2025 19:00:00 +0000 https://comicbook.com/?p=1454290 CygamesPictures
The Summer Hikaru Died

Within the anime community, there is a large portrayal of classic entertainment genres: fantasy, sci-fi, romance, and action. While these tend to trend in popularity due to their easy adaptive nature onscreen, one such genre that is often overlooked tends to be horror. The horror genre is already extremely subjective and divisive among audiences— what […]

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CygamesPictures
The Summer Hikaru Died

Within the anime community, there is a large portrayal of classic entertainment genres: fantasy, sci-fi, romance, and action. While these tend to trend in popularity due to their easy adaptive nature onscreen, one such genre that is often overlooked tends to be horror. The horror genre is already extremely subjective and divisive among audiences— what might be considered scary or terrifying to one person could be laughable to another. Despite this fact, there are undoubtedly a handful of horror anime that stick the landing and are recognized as a league above the rest.

Some classic horror anime you might have already watched or heard of are titles such as Perfect Blue, Mononoke, and Hellsing. While these shows inspired or paved the way for additions on this list, there are plenty of other horror anime that have been forgotten or slept on. So, we’re going to be taking a closer look at 10 great additional horror anime you might not be familiar with and why their scares are anything but cheap.

1) The Summer Hikaru Died

The Summer hikaru Died horror anime Netflix
Courtesy of Netflix

The Summer Hikaru Died is one of the newest additions to the horror anime genre. It was released in July 2025 and is currently set to have a total of 12 episodes in its first season. The plot follows Yoshiki and his best friend, Hikaru. When Hikaru takes a trip into the mountains surrounding their town, Yoshiki is disturbed to find that the person who returns is not his childhood friend. Instead, an entity has mimicked Hikaru after his friend’s untimely death and is now living his life under its stolen identity’s guise.

The plot of The Summer That Hikaru Died follows Yoshiki and “Hikaru” exploring the strange and unsettling events surrounding their hometown. Yoshiki must simultaneously cope with the loss of the original Hikaru, and his struggle in maintaining a friendship with the alien being that wears his friend’s face. Themes of grief and identity are explored while delivering on elements of body horror, uncanny settings, and body-snatchers.

2) Elfen Lied

Elfen Lied anime
Courtesy of Studio Arms

Elfen Lied is a classic anime that delves into the psychological and emotional aspects of horror. The anime aired back in 2004 and had a total of 13 episodes in a single season. In the show, a research facility houses a new race— the Diclonius, mutated humanoid beings with telekinetic arms nicknamed vectors. The Diclonius are deemed to be filled with hatred for regular humans and are set to replace them as Earth’s dominant species.

Lucy (formerly Kaede) is a Diclonius that was captured after going on a violent rampage and locked away in a lab. After escaping, Lucy forms a secondary personality named Nyu, a childish persona that protects her from the trauma and injury she sustained both in the lab and from fleeing it. The series does not shy away from serious themes like child abuse, mental health, and murder. With a generous helping of gore, Elfen Lied explores the darkness of humanity and the path towards potential redemption and change.

3) Hell Girl

Hell Girl Anime
Courtesy of Studio Deen

Hell Girl is a relatively overlooked horror anime presented in an episodic format. The show was first aired in 2005, and ended on 74 total episodes split between its four seasons. Each episode presents a new self-contained story that contributes to the overall themes and plot points of the anime’s narrative. In general, we’re introduced to a character who has gone through some extreme form of abuse, bullying, or wrongdoing and turns to The Hell Correspondence, a website that promises revenge with a price.

This revenge comes in the form of a demonic-like presence, otherwise known as Ai Enma, a young girl who appears to the website’s user and offers a contract. While the target of revenge will be sent to Hell, the catch is that the one who forges the contract will also go to Hell once they die. Hell Girl focuses on themes of hatred and the cyclical nature of seeking revenge. Much of the anime’s tone is steeped in misery and darkness, presenting psychological horror on top of its supernatural elements.

4) Monster

Monster anime
Courtesy of Madhouse

Monster is a philosophically driven horror anime that urges the watcher to reflect on the consequences of one’s choices. The series first aired in 2004, and had a total of 74 episodes before ending its run. In the show, we follow Dr. Kenzo Tenma, a neurosurgeon known for his skill in the field. Tenma saves a young boy, Johan, in critical condition. When given a choice between treating Johan and performing surgery on his local mayor, Roedecker, he prioritizes the boy despite pressure to focus on the wealthy politician and hospital donor. This results in mayor Roedecker dying under a less competent surgeon’s care, leading to the loss of Kenma’s status and credibility.

Flash forward years later, and Johan is linked to a string of gruesome murder cases that Tenma has also become a suspect in. Tenma must now follow Johan across the country to put a stop to the murderer whose existence he feels responsible for permitting. Monster is a compelling thriller that focuses on psychological horror to drive home its point, all while presenting a classic serial killer chase. The anime dissects the complexity of personal choice and being haunted by past actions that result in future chaos.

5) Another

Misaka from Another
Courtesy of P.A. Works

Another is a horror anime in a classroom setting that dabbles in the terrifying nature of curses. This show started back in 2012, and featured a total of 12 episodes in its single season. The anime follows transfer student Koichi Sakakibara, who enrolls in Class 3-3 at a brand new middle school. He quickly realizes that the class he’s a part of is strange and harboring a dark secret between the students; this secret is uncovered after Koichi meets Mei Misaki, an ignored girl in his class, who teams with him to solve the puzzle of their surroundings.

Both students learn more about Class 3-3 and its curse: due to a student dying in the past, there is now an unknown phenomenon occurring where the students will acknowledge the existence of a student that is not actually living. This ghost, or “extra”, is undetected by the others of Class 3-3, but its presence brings about the slow deaths of students and their family members until the “extra” is found out. Another deals with aspects of memory, mass hysteria, and grief through the guise of a supernatural curse that is as eerie as it is dangerous.

6) Tokyo Ghoul

Kaneki from Tokyo Ghoul
Courtesy of Studio Pierrot

Tokyo Ghoul was one of the most anticipated anime during its initial release in 2014. It has a total of 48 episodes split among three seasons (with the third season split into two parts). While the anime has been critiqued for diverging from the manga and its weak ending, it still remains one of the most modern examples of horror anime that obtained popularity in its first season.

The show follows Ken Kaneki, a college student who is attacked by a Ghoul while on a date. Ghouls are cannibalistic beings that are human in appearance; their human-like features are betrayed by kagune, enhanced senses, superior strength, and faster speed that give their secret away quickly. Kaneki’s near-death experience ends with him partially turned into a Ghoul and maneuvering the politics of existing in such a society, along with his own impulses and hunger. Tokyo Ghoul is notable among the genre for its gore, depictions of cannibalism, and fight scenes.

7) Shiki

Courtesy of Daume

Shiki is an incredibly underappreciated horror anime that came out in 2010. The show had a total of 22 complete episodes, though two bonus episodes were later released. This anime starts in the small town of Sotoba, a rural area where nothing of interest tends to happen until a family moves into the abandoned castle at the edge of the city. The Kirishiki family heralded a darker turn in the show with their secretive, nighttime arrival.

Shortly after the Kirishiki’s arrive, strange deaths begin occurring around Sotoba, including that of a young teenage girl. These deaths prompt hospital director Toshio Ozaki to start investigating what is causing the sudden tragedies plaguing their town. Hint: the Kirishiki are “shiki”, or essentially vampires feeding on and turning the town’s population. Shiki’s haunting imagery only enhances the anime’s exploration of death and damnation in relation to those turned into creatures of the night.

8) Parasyte: The Maxim

Parasyte the maxim anime
Courtesy of Madhouse

Parasyte: The Maxim was a short series based on an 80s manga series. The anime came out in 2014, and had a total of 24 episodes before concluding its run. Its story revolves around Shinichi Izumi, a young high school student who lives a quiet life until small parasitic creatures invade Earth. One such creature attempts to invade his body but fails to properly hijack Shinichi’s brain, taking root in his hand instead.

This parasite, named Migi, is a separate being from Shinichi with its own personality and goals due to the two not fully merging. Their journeys together cause both to encounter numerous parasites and their hosts; Shinichi enlists Migi’s help in fighting and destroying these parasites before they can consume the human they’re preying on. Parasyte: The Maxim relies heavily on body horror and invasive monsters, though the anime also asks provocative questions about the nature of both humanity and morality.

9) Angels of Death

Angels of Death Anime
COurtesy of J.C. Staff

Angels of Death is another modern horror anime that has a dedicated group of fans. It debuted in 2018, with a total of 16 episodes in its singular season. The anime follows Rachel, a 13-year-old girl who wakes up in a large, secluded building with no recollection of her past besides her desire to die. As she journeys on her own briefly, Rachel encounters Zack, a mysterious man who carries a scythe and is shown to be a remorseless, violent killer.

Though Zack is initially aggressive, he later decides to help Rachel search the building’s floors and understand more about her past and the reason for being there. Each floor uncovers a new “floor master” with twisted ideals and obstacles for Rachel to overcome in order to move on. Angels of Death doesn’t shy away from violence and blood: the tone is overall dark and bleak in regard to the outlook Rachel carries throughout most of the show. In spite of these themes, the anime still manages to present deeper reflections on the power of understanding oneself and how it affects your response to life.

10) Junji Ito Collection

Tomie from Junji Ito Collection
Courtesy of Studio Deen

Junji Ito is known as a big name in Japanese horror for a reason— his tales evoke senses of dread, hopelessness, and unease that very few stories can match. The Junji Ito Collection takes many classic tales and some new ones, and combines them into an anthology-style anime. First airing in 2018, the show has a total of 12 episodes and two special episodes.

Each short story is self-contained, though there are a few recurring characters and themes that the show places emphasis on. In “Tomie”, we see the classic tale about a girl who can regenerate and escape death; “Slug Girl” follows a young girl whose body parts morph into a slug; “Fashion Model” explores a group alone in the woods for a movie shoot with a model who might have eaten human flesh. The Junji Ito Collection doesn’t shy away from uncomfortable shots or taking advantage of the audience’s discomfort with the grotesque and disturbing.


Have you watched any of the anime included in this list? Tell us about your favorite horror anime in the comments.

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Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle Movie Tickets Are Now on Sale https://comicbook.com/anime/news/demon-slayer-infinity-castle-movie-tickets-sale-buy/ https://comicbook.com/anime/news/demon-slayer-infinity-castle-movie-tickets-sale-buy/#respond Fri, 15 Aug 2025 18:30:00 +0000 https://comicbook.com/?p=1455977 Image Courtesy of Ufotable
Demon Slayer Infinity Castle Tanjiro

The first installment of the Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle film trilogy hit the Japanese theaters on July 18th, 2025 to a continuously strong reception. The film’s promotions are in full swing, with its box office performance already breaking multiple records in Japan. The majority of anime films take at least a few weeks or months […]

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Image Courtesy of Ufotable
Demon Slayer Infinity Castle Tanjiro

The first installment of the Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle film trilogy hit the Japanese theaters on July 18th, 2025 to a continuously strong reception. The film’s promotions are in full swing, with its box office performance already breaking multiple records in Japan. The majority of anime films take at least a few weeks or months to reach international audiences. Demon Slayer fans won’t have to wait long. The global release is scheduled for September 12th, 2025, with tickets for both U.S. and Canadian screenings available starting August 15th. The date was confirmed during the San Diego Comic-Con 2025 weekend, which took place from July 24th-27th. The official X handle of the anime confirmed that the film is coming to IMAX and several large formats.

The tickets are available on the official Demon Slayer movie website, so grab yours now before they are sold out. The film adapts the final arc of the manga, concluding the centuries-long fight between the Demon Slayer Corps and demons. The trilogy film was under production since 2020, around the same time the manga reached its conclusion. However, Ufotable only announced their plans for the final arc after the Hashira Training Arc anime season reached its conclusion. The anime has only released the first part of the trilogy, with no updates about the second part. We may get updates after the film’s international release.

Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle Film Highlights Some of the Best Fights in the Series

Image Courtesy of Ufotable

The film picks up the story after the Demon Slayers ambushed Muzan Kibutsuji, the demon progenitor. The initial plan was to overwhelm the demon with the sudden onslaught of attacks and kill him as soon as possible. The Demon Slayers already cornered him, and Tamayo, the demon doctor, helped a great deal by injecting him with a poison to significantly weaken him. Unfortunately, the Biwa demon named Nakime summons all the Corps members into the Infinity Castle, where all the demons will have the edge against their enemies.

Image courtesy of ufotable

The Infinity Castle is an endless labyrinth, and it changes layout according to Nakime’s will. Not to mention that the Upper Moons are just waiting to slaughter any Demon Slayer that comes their way. The Corps members have a significant disadvantage, but they don’t plan on backing down in the middle of the fight, especially after the tragic sacrifice of their leader, Kagaya Ubuyashiki, his wife Amane, and their two daughters.

Fans already got a glimpse at some of the most exciting matchups in the first installment. Akaza, the Upper Moon Three, will be fighting Tanjiro Kamado and Giyu Tomioka, while Shinobu Kocho will duel with Doma, the Upper Moon Two. Additionally, Zenitsu will go against another powerful demon, whose name and rank will be revealed in the film. While only these three fights have been confirmed in the anime so far, we also get a glimpse at almost every major character in the series. Infinity Castle is an action-driven arc, with several tear-jerking backstories thrown in between. This means that almost every character of the series will get their chance to shine in the final arc.

H/T: @DemonSlayerUSA, Demon Slayer Official Website

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Jujutsu Kaisen Reportedly Confirms Exciting Surprise Before Season 3 Update https://comicbook.com/anime/news/jujutsu-kaisen-season-3-update-report/ https://comicbook.com/anime/news/jujutsu-kaisen-season-3-update-report/#respond Fri, 15 Aug 2025 18:00:00 +0000 https://comicbook.com/?p=1455269 Image Courtesy of MAPPA
Jujutsu Kaisen Satoru Gojo

Jujutsu Kaisen’s anime confirmed Season 3 in December 2023, on the heels of Season 2’s finale. Even after more than one and a half years, Season 3 didn’t share significant updates except for Yuji’s visual, which was released in Jump Festa 2025 in December last year. However, the anime’s 5th anniversary is coming up on […]

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Image Courtesy of MAPPA
Jujutsu Kaisen Satoru Gojo

Jujutsu Kaisen’s anime confirmed Season 3 in December 2023, on the heels of Season 2’s finale. Even after more than one and a half years, Season 3 didn’t share significant updates except for Yuji’s visual, which was released in Jump Festa 2025 in December last year. However, the anime’s 5th anniversary is coming up on August 31st, and the series has confirmed five major updates, some of which are expected to be about Season 3. Instead of Season 3, a lot of the effort for the majority of 2024 and the first half of 2025 went into promoting the compilation film, Jujutsu Kaisen: Hidden Inventory/Premature Death – The Movie. The film was released in Japan on May 30th, 2025, and made its U.S. premiere in theatres on July 16th, 2025.

The compilation film not only features the fan-favorite backstory, but it also includes new and original scenes. The story remains the same, but we do get extra glimpses of Saturo Gojo and Suguru Geto’s past, along with Shoko Ieri, who attended the same year in Jujutsu High as the two of them. Hidden Inventory is one of the most popular arcs, and it’s currently being adapted into its fourth stage play, which is scheduled to run in Tokyo from August 22-31, 2025, and in Osaka from September 5-7, 2025. The manga creator, Gege Akutami, confirmed drawing a special promo focusing on the arc’s main duo, Gojo and Geto. The report comes from @Go_Jover on X, which is a reliable source of information for JJK fans.

What to Expect From Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3

Jujutsu Kaisen Yuta Okkotsu
Image Courtesy of MAPPA

Jujutsu Kaisen Season 2 ended on a massive cliffhanger as Yuta Okkotsu arrived in Japan following the tragic Shibuya Incident. He swears to kill Yuji Itadori, who was responsible for Toge Inumaki getting a severe injury and losing his hand. The Shibuya Incident took countless lives, and even the Jujutsu society faced several tragedies after the death of Nanami Kento and Gojo being sealed inside the Prison Realm. With Gojo out of their way, the top brass has the perfect opportunity to get rid of Sukuna’s vessel, which has been an eyesore to them since the beginning.

Jujutsu Kaisen Kenjaku Prison Realm
Image Courtesy of MAPPA

Season 3 is titled “Culling Game,” but the anime can’t proceed without adapting Itadori’s Extermination and Perfect Preparation Arcs. Both arcs highly the brutal aftermath of the Shibuya Incident, with the shift in power after Gojo’s disappearance. Additionally, the fact that Kenjaku left Shibuya with the Prison Realm is a foreboding of something major he has been planning. The Culling Game is a battle royale where several sorcerers officially affiliated with the Jujutsu High in Tokyo, newly awakened sorcerers, and the incarnated ancient sorcerers will all be participating in the fight, with most of them being forced to dance at Kenjaku’s rhythm.

Apart from dealing with the powerful villains, Gojo’s students will also have to find a way to save their teacher. The Culling Game is the second last arc of the manga, after which the story will focus on the final showdown against Ryomen Sukuna, the King of Curses.

H/T: @Go_Jover on X

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Pokemon Horizons May Have Just Set Up a First Look at Mega Dragonite https://comicbook.com/anime/news/pokemon-horizons-mega-dragonite/ https://comicbook.com/anime/news/pokemon-horizons-mega-dragonite/#respond Fri, 15 Aug 2025 17:40:17 +0000 https://comicbook.com/?p=1455927 OLM

Even with Ash Ketchum and Pikachu no longer being the frontmen of the Pokémon anime, the series has discovered quite a few ways to make Liko and Roy’s story stand toe-to-toe with the original protagonists. While not vying to lay claim to the world championship title as of yet, the new protagonists have had plenty […]

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OLM

Even with Ash Ketchum and Pikachu no longer being the frontmen of the Pokémon anime, the series has discovered quite a few ways to make Liko and Roy’s story stand toe-to-toe with the original protagonists. While not vying to lay claim to the world championship title as of yet, the new protagonists have had plenty of unique challenges to conquer during their run. In a wild twist, the current anime series running in Japan is hinting at the arrival of a Pokémon evolution that might give us a very different take on Dragonite.

While Japan has been releasing new Pokémon Horizons episodes on a nearly weekly basis for some time, North America has been picking up the pace thanks to the anime’s place on Netflix. As the West continues to play catch-up, the East has already hinted at what is to come in the next Pokémon anime installment, episode 107. Titled “Mega Voltage,” anime fans are beginning to think we might see a Mega Evolution for Dragonite arrive. You can read the synopsis for the next episode below.

“Ult infiltrates the Explorers’ hideout. However, he is discovered and captured! In such a desperate situation, Roy appears to save Ult! He tries to escape, but Rubella and Indy stand in his way… Roy and Ult have a hard time against the Pokémon strengthened by the Strong Sphere. At that moment, Ult’s Dragonite appears!?”

olm

The Mega Evolution

This unique evolution has been a part of the Pokémon universe first Pokémon X and Y, giving a handful of pocket monsters the ability to take on wildly powerful new forms. To date, the list of Pokémon that can access this power includes the likes of Charizard, Blastoise, Mewtwo, Gengar, Scizor, and too many more to count here. This fall, Pokémon Legends: Z-A is set to hit the Nintendo Switch on October 16th and is promising more Mega evolutions. Keeping this in mind, we might see Dragonite’s makeover in the anime adaptation first, potentially weeks before we see it in the video game console entry.

As for Pokemon Horizons, there are quite a few episodes in Japan that have yet to be released in North America, as Netflix is at around fifty-six episodes in total. While the next batch of episodes has yet to be confirmed for the platform, the streaming service has seen success with the anime adaptation so far and has plenty more installments to bring to Western audiences.

For fans who are hoping to one day see Ash make a comeback following his world championship win, fear not, as creators of the series have stated in the past that the door isn’t completely closed on the champ’s comeback. Nothing has been set in stone, but it would make for a giant anime event whenever Ketchum and Pikachu return, especially considering their time away from the anime so far.

Want to see if Dragonite has an evolution coming? Follow along with Team Anime on ComicBook.com for the latest updates on Pokémon, and hit me up directly @EVComedy to talk all things comics and anime.

Via Oricon

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Spy x Family Season 3 Shares Its Best New Look at Anya & Bond Yet https://comicbook.com/anime/news/spy-x-family-anime-best-new-look-anya-bond/ https://comicbook.com/anime/news/spy-x-family-anime-best-new-look-anya-bond/#respond Fri, 15 Aug 2025 17:00:00 +0000 https://comicbook.com/?p=1455729

After two long years, Spy x Family is finally returning with a new season this fall, and with one of the most exciting arcs of the series to boot. Most notably, Season 3 of Spy x Family is expected to finally dive into Loid’s dark origins. That said, before Twilight can completely steal the show, […]

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After two long years, Spy x Family is finally returning with a new season this fall, and with one of the most exciting arcs of the series to boot. Most notably, Season 3 of Spy x Family is expected to finally dive into Loid’s dark origins. That said, before Twilight can completely steal the show, Spy x Family is making sure to give Anya ample time in the limelight for the entire summer leading up to the anime’s return, and this week’s new look even brings Bond into the picture in the cutest way possible.

As part of the series’ recently launched “Summer Vacation Project,” Spy x Family‘s official X handle has shared yet another summer-themed illustration of Anya, this time with a cameo from the Forger Family’s loyal furry friend, Bond, as a stick of cotton candy. The promo features Anya in yet another adorable yukata, looking excitedly at the fluffy white stick of cotton candy resembling Bond. The illustration also includes some fun easter eggs with Anya’s toy penguin being snuck in as a charm at the end of the cotton candy stick, and her iconic stuffed bear taking the form of a summer festival mask on the side of her head. It captures the perfect spirit of the Obon festival, taking place in Japan between August 13th and 16th.

Spy x Family Shares Adorable Anya & Bond Summer Promo Ahead of Season 3

With Spy x Family having been gone for so long, the series’ new promotional campaign could not have come at a more perfect time. As part of the project, the series’ X handle shares new art of Anya every Friday, keeping fans looking forward to new art every week while they wait for October 2025 to roll around with Season 3. Besides being incredibly heartwarming, the weekly Anya posters are also a great reminder of just how adorable she is, making fans even more eager to see her again in the upcoming season. While Loid’s mission is the focal point of the story, Anya is the true star, and this becomes clearer in October.

Moreover, Season 3 of Spy x Family is also set to adapt the Red Circus Arc, which features Anya at her most chaotic with some of the funniest moments in the entire series. Nonetheless, Spy x Family’s new summer campaign is expected to run until the end of August, and hopefully, the release of Season 3 won’t be too far off. Until then, however, fans can continue gushing over Anya and maybe even make the most of summer with her.


Spy x Family can be streamed on Crunchyroll.

Source: @spyfamily_anime on X.

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King of the Hill Creators Confirm Why The Revival Can’t Look Like The Original https://comicbook.com/tv-shows/news/king-of-the-hill-creators-why-revival-looks-different/ https://comicbook.com/tv-shows/news/king-of-the-hill-creators-why-revival-looks-different/#respond Fri, 15 Aug 2025 16:08:03 +0000 https://comicbook.com/?p=1455855 Disney

Things have changed quite a bit in King of the Hill’s fourteenth season, and not just due to the series jumping from Fox’s schedule to Hulu. It’s been years since we last left the Hill family and the revival took this into account, presenting us with much older versions of Hank, Peggy, and Bobby. With […]

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Disney

Things have changed quite a bit in King of the Hill’s fourteenth season, and not just due to the series jumping from Fox’s schedule to Hulu. It’s been years since we last left the Hill family and the revival took this into account, presenting us with much older versions of Hank, Peggy, and Bobby. With the animated series hitting some major viewership heights since its debut, the series looks a little different from its original style and the showrunner was more than happy to explain why the changes were necessary.

In a recent interview with MSN, King of the Hill’s new showrunner Saladin Patterson discussed how the new animation style might have been jarring to fans of the original series, “I do want to address the art because that’s probably been the most universal thing that has shook the new audience when they saw the previews and things like that — that the animation looks so different. I get it, and I get why people who want to revisit the show may be taken aback a little bit. The new animation style is all digital now, but the truth of the matter is, it is impossible to do the show now the way it was done then.”

King of the Hill Tech Changes

Hulu

Patterson noted that the technology used to bring the first thirteen seasons to life no longer exists, giving fans a good idea of why the changes were necessary: “The hand-drawn animation, the watercolors, those don’t exist anymore. If they exist, they certainly don’t exist at a cost where you can do a TV show. So it has to be updated, and so we updated it with the current style and makeup of animation that animated shows do. I admit it does look different and maybe jarring to some people. I just want to put out there that even though it’s updated, we still went and tried to give it an age-old look, to make it feel more like the color palette and the landscape of the original, more so than other shows. We certainly went through a lot of back and forth with the background designers and things like that, to make our colors feel closer to what they felt in the original and the tones and things the most that we could.”

Despite the success of the latest season, Hulu has yet to confirm if King of the Hill season fifteen is in the works. With the recent finale seeing Bobby and Connie vowing to attempt forging a romantic relationship, there are plenty of story avenues to be explored in Arlen’s future. Even with Hank and Peggy beginning to acclimate themselves to a very different Texas, there are sure to also be plenty of “fish out of water” stories to explore should King of the Hill return.

Want to see if Arlen, Texas will make a return to the screen? Follow along with ComicBook.com for the latest updates on King of the Hill and hit me up directly @EVComedy to talk all things comics and anime.

Via MSN

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Solo Leveling’s 10 Best Fights in the Anime So Far, Ranked https://comicbook.com/anime/news/best-solo-leveling-fights-anime/ https://comicbook.com/anime/news/best-solo-leveling-fights-anime/#respond Fri, 15 Aug 2025 16:00:00 +0000 https://comicbook.com/?p=1452550

Based on the Korean manhwa of the same name, Solo Leveling was one of the most anticipated anime of 2024. The manhwa was already famous among readers, and fans were excited to see its action come to life courtesy of A-1 Studios, famous for anime like Sword Art Online and Kaguya Sama: Love is War. […]

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Based on the Korean manhwa of the same name, Solo Leveling was one of the most anticipated anime of 2024. The manhwa was already famous among readers, and fans were excited to see its action come to life courtesy of A-1 Studios, famous for anime like Sword Art Online and Kaguya Sama: Love is War. The storyline revolves around Sung Jinwoo, an E-rank hunter dubbed “humanity’s weakest hunter” due to having a measly mana score and notably weak physical prowess, while striving to provide for his family despite lagging behind other hunters.

Unlike many other anime universes, in Solo Leveling‘s world, a hunter’s rank can neither increase nor decrease unless someone undergoes a reawakening, which is an extremely rare event. Jinwoo, however, goes through something unpredictable. After a near-death experience in a dungeon, the mysterious “System” guides and rewards him to become stronger with every battle he fights. Thanks to this, Jinwoo fights his way towards S-rank, the highest possible hunter rank, while battling super-strong enemies inside complicated dungeons. This is where things start to get interesting, and we see some of the best fights in the anime through Season 2, 10 of which are ranked below. 

10) Jinwoo vs. Hwang Dong Suk

Jinwoo vs. Hwang Dong Suk
Image Courtesy of A-1 PIctures

Before this fight, Jinwoo joined a C-rank raid with a D-rank rookie, Yoo Jinho. The strike team was led by Hwang Dong Suk, a C-rank hunter who, unbeknownst to the two, had a history of committing crimes inside dungeons. Dong Suk planned to leave Jinwoo and Jinho for dead so he and his team could gather more mana crystals. But this plan failed when Jinwoo killed the boss of the chamber and was ordered by the System to kill Dong Suk’s team as well.

While Jinwoo was initially hesitant to attack humans, he had to do it to avoid a penalty from the System. Using a dagger he got from killing Kasaka, Jinwoo effortlessly killed Dong Suk’s teammates. He then beheaded Dong Suk with the same dagger despite the latter begging for his life and even offering him money. 

This fight in Solo Leveling was the first where the enemies were humans instead of magical creatures, with signals of more to come in future episodes. It also introduced Jinwoo to Jinho, with whom he began a long-term partnership, finally giving Jinwoo someone he could trust and rely upon.

9) Jinwoo vs. Giant Arachnid Buryura

Solo Leveling Best Fights Ranked Jinwoo vs. Buryura
Image Courtesy of A-1 PIctures

Giant Arachnid Buryura was the boss of the C-rank insect dungeon Jinwoo raided with Hwang Dong Suk. After Dong Suk’s betrayal, Jinwoo had to act fast to save himself and Jinho as the two were trapped inside the boss chamber while Hwang’s men had blocked the exit with rubble. This was Jinwoo’s first time against a C-rank boss in a real-life dungeon. Buryura was faster than Jinwoo had anticipated, and as it kept pounding him with its legs, Jinwoo was quickly getting exhausted.

The only way out was to attack Buryura’s weak spot: its eyes. But as soon as Jinwoo aimed for the eyes, Buryura spat out acid that Jinwoo barely survived. Luckily, he hadn’t used his daily rewards granted by the System yet and made use of a full recovery just in time to finally take down the beast with Kasaka’s venom fang dagger, the debuff from the dagger killing Buryura almost instantly.

8) Jinwoo vs. Kang Tae Shik

Jinwoo vs. Kang Tae Shik in Solo Leveling
Image Courtesy of A-1 PIctures

Jinwoo, along with a few other surviving members of the Double Dungeon raid, was invited to a C-rank gate. They were joined by three convicts alongside Kang Taeshik, a B-rank hunter who worked for the Hunter Association. But while everything seemed fine at first, Jinwoo soon sensed that something was wrong. 

Jinwoo, Joohee, and Song Chiyul arrived at the scene to find that Kang Taeshik had killed the convicts and two of the other members of the team. Taeshik then attacked the trio, and while Mr. Song tried to fight him first, he was soon overpowered. Kang Taeshik then revealed his psychopathic tendencies, admitting he had been working as an assassin for hire simply because he enjoyed killing humans more than killing monsters.

At this point, Jinwoo joined the fight, using stealth mode for the first time. Unexpectedly, Taeshik also had the same ability, and their fighting speed matched as well, creating a dynamic fight scene worth watching in the early episodes of Solo Leveling. However, Jinwoo soon claimed the upper hand, fatally stabbing Taeshik with his poisonous dagger. 

7) Jinwoo vs. Blue Venom Fanged Kasaka

Solo Leveling Best Fights Ranked Jinwoo vs. Kasaka
Image Courtesy of A-1 PIctures

Kasaka was a dungeon boss that looked like a giant snake with hard blue scales all over. He was extremely fast and ruthless, and Jinwoo had a hard time fighting him, the sword he earned from the inventory breaking on contact with Kasaka’s scales. Backed into a corner, Jinwoo resorted to using all his physical strength and crushed Kasaka to death with his bare hands. 

This was the first time we saw Jinwoo conquering a dungeon on his own. He not only leveled up, but also killed every single creature in the dungeon and came out victorious. The sheer satisfaction of finally seeing Jinwoo defeating a boss makes this battle quite memorable.

6) Jinwoo vs. Cerberus

Jinwoo vs. Cerberus in Solo Leveling
Image Courtesy of A-1 PIctures

Based on Greek mythology, Cerberus was a three-headed giant dog who guarded the Demon Castle inside the second instant dungeon. Jinwoo entered the dungeon after learning that the Demon Castle held the ingredients for the Elixir of Life that he needed for his comatose mother. But as expected of an A-rank beast, Cerberus gave Jinwoo a really hard time and nearly killed him. Murderous Intent and Drain debuffs were instantly cancelled against Cerberus, and even Kasaka’s venom dagger had no effect. 

But even more horrifying was Cerberus’s ability to double his power for three straight minutes. Jinwoo was struggling so much that, at one point, he even tried to use the Teleportation Stone and go back. But before he could use it, Cerberus attacked again. With no other choice in sight, Jinwoo looked for options in the System shop and purchased three bottles of healing potion to restore his health. He then took a major risk, consuming a bottle of poison and letting Cerberus bite him. This gamble paid off as the poison worked, and after that, it was a matter of constant stabbing with the venomous dagger for Jinwoo to come out victorious.

5) Jinwoo vs. Ice Elf Baruka

Solo Leveling Best Fights Ranked Jinwoo vs. Baruka
Image Courtesy of A-1 PIctures

Trapped inside a Red Gate, Jinwoo faced the S-rank boss, Baruka. The egotistical elf was intelligent and, unlike previous dungeon bosses, had the ability to speak. As the two talked, Baruka made Jinwoo realize that he was not aware of his status as the “player” yet, and glitched when Jinwoo asked for more details

During their duel, Jinwoo struggled initially as his shadow soldiers fought with Baruka’s minions, the elf dodging most of his attacks. But then came a shocking moment where we witnessed Jinwoo killing a human on purpose. He killed the leader of the strike team, Kim Chul, raised him as his shadow soldier, and used him and Igris to finally take down Baruka. After winning this fight, Jinwoo got Baruka’s dagger as a reward. He then tried to raise Baruka as a shadow, but the extraction failed all three times. This could be because of Baruka’s strength and also his unwillingness to serve Jinwoo even after death. 

4) Jinwoo vs. Kargalgan

Jinwoo vs. Kargalgan in Solo Leveling Season 2
Image Courtesy of A-1 PIctures

Jinwoo was merely acting as a porter for the Hunters Guild Gate Arc, trying in vain to keep a low profile. But when the team was overpowered by high orcs, Jinwoo helped them silently using his stealth mode. However, he eventually had to show his true abilities when they faced the boss of the dungeon, Kargalgan. Kargalgan was a high orc shaman who looked down upon humans. After he saw his Orcs raised as Jinwoo’s shadow soldiers and fighting for him, he momentarily glitched and talked about the order he heard constantly. In an act of desperation, Kargalgan then used multiple abilities simultaneously using his Zodiac circles. 

But Jinwoo had his shadow soldiers fight the high orcs while Igris fought Kargalgan’s commanders, eventually killing them. Jinwoo then made use of his agility and the Hand of the Ruler to take Kargalgan down, after which he was killed by his own commanders, ruthlessly raised by Jinwoo as new Shadow soldiers. In the end, Jinwoo overtook Kargalgan’s Shadow as well and named him Tusk.

3) Jinwoo vs. Demon Monarch Baran

Solo Leveling Baran Anime
Image Courtesy of A-1 PIctures

On the 100th floor of the Demon Castle, Jinwoo encountered the Demon Monarch Baran in all his purple majesty. Accompanied by Esil, Jinwoo soon realized that his enemy was too strong for him to fight alone. He summoned his shadow soldiers to fight Baran’s minions, planning to bring Baran to the ground from his dragon-like Wyvern. 

With Tusk and Igris’s help, Jinwoo managed to kill the Wyvern, forcing Baran to his feet. Baran effortlessly saw through Jinwoo’s attacks and inflicted injuries on him, also causing Jinwoo’s mana points to drop to zero. But just when Jinwoo was about to take a point-blank hit, Esil distracted Baran with her sword, giving Jinwoo enough time to level up his strength. With his bare hands, Jinwoo then tore Baran’s arms and ended his life with a final, mighty punch. 

This Solo Leveling fight was significant because it gave Jinwoo the last ingredient for the Elixir of Life. This elixir put Jinwoo’s mother out of her Eternal Sleep and allowed her to live a normal life once again. Meaning with this fight, Jinwoo finally reached the ultimate goal he had been working towards since Season One. 

2) Jinwoo vs. Ant King Beru

Jinwoo vs. Beru
Image Courtesy of A-1 PIctures

Jinwoo initially did not participate in the Jeju Island raid near the end of Solo Leveling Season 2, but had to interfere when he sensed the powerful presence of the Ant King. With his fellow S-rank hunters heavily injured and their healer killed, Jinwoo quickly went on to attack the monster ant. In this Solo Levelling fight, Jinwoo mostly used his bare-handed strength since his dagger did not have any effect on Beru. However, Beru stung Jinwoo with poison, which did work on him.

Fortunately, Jinwoo quickly healed himself and went into full berserk mode. He had Cha Hae-in in mind, but to speed things up, he upgraded his Mutilation skill and kept pounding the Ant King with all his might in the moment Solo Leveling fans were waiting for through all of Season 2. In fact, the fight is a strong case to watch both subbed and dubbed, especially to see just how much gravitas went into Aleks Le’s performance in English here. The battle ended with the Ant King losing all his limbs and finally being killed by Jinwoo, before he promptly made him his newest, most powerful Shadow and named him Beru. 

1) Jinwoo vs. Igris the Bloodred

Solo Leveling Best Fights Ranked Jinwoo vs. Igris
Image Courtesy of A-1 PIctures

Igris was the final obstacle in Jinwoo’s job change quest at the end of Season 1, and was significantly stronger than Jinwoo at that point in Solo Leveling. Once the duel started, Jinwoo was quick to realize that his conventional weapon was of no use against Igris. Making him decide to drop his dagger and fight using his strength only. But to Jinwoo’s surprise, Igris also dropped his weapons, showing respect for his opponent.

Despite this handicap, however, Igris maintained the upper hand, injuring Jinwoo to the point of exhaustion. But just as Igris was about to end Jinwoo with his sword, Jinwoo blocked the attack, making a desperate final push as he lunged into Igris for a death blow with his dagger in a spectacular final strike, leveraging his inventory system to deftly finish the job. After the fight was over, Jinwoo earned the title of Necromancer, using his new ability to extract Igris’s shadow, making him Jinwoo’s first shadow soldier and one of his most loyal commanders for battles to come.


Solo Leveling as an action anime has thrilling fights as arguably one of its single greatest hooks. Were there any fights you felt were missing from this list? Let us know in the comments below!

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Adventure Time Might be Recasting a Classic Character https://comicbook.com/anime/news/adventure-time-recasting-classic-character/ https://comicbook.com/anime/news/adventure-time-recasting-classic-character/#respond Fri, 15 Aug 2025 15:31:01 +0000 https://comicbook.com/?p=1455738 Cartoon Network Studios

Adventure Time might not have a main series running at the moment, but this isn’t stopping the Land of Oooo from making a comeback in the future. Adventure Time: Fionna And Cake will once again follow the titular characters after their adventure in the multiverse, as season two has been confirmed. Planning to attend this […]

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Cartoon Network Studios

Adventure Time might not have a main series running at the moment, but this isn’t stopping the Land of Oooo from making a comeback in the future. Adventure Time: Fionna And Cake will once again follow the titular characters after their adventure in the multiverse, as season two has been confirmed. Planning to attend this year’s New York Comic Con, the spin-off series has some big developments to share, with one potentially meaning that a classic character might be a little different. While Cake and Fionna encountered quite a few original figures from the Cartoon Network series, there was one missing figure who will make a grand return.

Adventure Time: Fionna And Cake recently shared its first image for season two, confirming that the titular characters would be joined by the Huntress Wizard from the original series. In the first series, this unique wizard was voiced by Jenny Slate of 30 Rock, Venom, and Zootopia fame. For this year’s New York Comic Con, the spin-off series will have a special panel to hint at what is to come for the series, with Slate not in attendance. While far from a confirmation, fans are beginning to think that Slate might have handed off the reins to voice actor Ashly Burch.

Adventure Time’s New York Arrival

The upcoming New York Comic Con panel will take place on Sunday, October 12th, and here’s how the event is described: “Take your nearest subway, taxi, or multiversal portal to the Javits Center cause Adventure Time is returning to New York Comic Con! Join executive producer and showrunner Adam Muto, along with voice cast members Madeleine Martin, Roz Ryan, and Ashly Burch for an exclusive sneak peek at the multiversal adventures that await in season 2 of the HBO Max Original series from Cartoon Network Studios, Adventure Time: Fionna and Cake.”

Slate’s absence from the panel might not mean she won’t be returning or that Burch is taking over the role, especially considering the parts Ashly brought to life in the past. In the original series, Burch played the parts of Breezy, Bun Bun, Cheryl, and Sally, which could be a hint as to one or more of these figures’ return. While a release date has yet to be revealed for Adventure Time: Fionna And Cake, the series recently hinted that its second season will be arriving “soon.”

A major change that the second season will institute is that it will focus far more on Fionna’s original universe, potentially pushing the multiverse angle to the corner. Showrunner Adam Muto previously stated the following: “This time, we wanted to keep most of the adventures in Fiona’s world, and I thought that would make it more normal, but it’s still pretty strange. And that’s kind of baked into ‘Adventure Time’ DNA.”

Want to see what the future holds for Cake and Fionna? Follow along with Team Anime on ComicBook.com for the latest updates on Adventure Time, and hit me up directly @EVComedy to talk all things comics and anime.

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Black Clover Brings Back Asta’s Teacher After Nearly 10 Years https://comicbook.com/anime/news/black-clover-asta-teacher-fanzell-return/ https://comicbook.com/anime/news/black-clover-asta-teacher-fanzell-return/#respond Fri, 15 Aug 2025 15:00:00 +0000 https://comicbook.com/?p=1455610 Pierrot
Black Clover Asta

Black Clover has released its set of three chapters for the third quarter of this year in the Jump GIGA magazine, with the development of the final battle continuing to unfold. The previous set of chapters ended with Asta being mortally wounded by Lucius; however, before leaving the battlefield to recover, he bestowed his anti-magic […]

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Pierrot
Black Clover Asta

Black Clover has released its set of three chapters for the third quarter of this year in the Jump GIGA magazine, with the development of the final battle continuing to unfold. The previous set of chapters ended with Asta being mortally wounded by Lucius; however, before leaving the battlefield to recover, he bestowed his anti-magic upon Yuno, coating him in its power alongside the sword, and leaving the main antagonist in the hands of the prodigy. Even though Yuno is by far one of the strongest characters ever depicted in Black Clover, it is impossible for him to protect the citizens while fighting Lucius alone. With Asta temporarily out of the battle, tension rose over how the Magic Knights would stop Lucius and his formidable army.

Warning: Spoilers Ahead for Black Clover’s Summer 2025 Return!

In a surprising twist in Black Clover Chapter 381, titled “The Ultimate Mage,” as the Paladins turn monstrous, Morris, one of the prominent Paladins who originally hailed from the Diamond Kingdom, stands in the way of Asta’s recovery. This moment shifts the spotlight to major figures from the same kingdom, who enter the fray to aid Asta as he retreats for treatment. Among the characters featured in this latest turn, Mars leads the Diamond Kingdom, while Fanzell Kruger, a key mentor from Asta’s early days as a rising Magic Knight, makes his return nearly ten years after his last appearance during Black Clover’s Witches Forest arc in 2016.

Asta’s Sword Teacher Returns

Fanzell Kruger from Black Clover anime
Image Courtesy of Studio Pierrot

In his journey to becoming the Magic Knight he is today, Asta has been aided by many individuals who have shaped him into the strong character he has become. Among these mentors, Fanzell stands out as a key teacher figure in Black Clover, having helped Asta master swordsmanship, the primary weapon he relies on in battle. Fanzell may not be considered powerful by Black Clover’s high standards, but he is a master by profession, with other strong students under his tutelage who once served as the primary antagonists during the Witches Forest arc.

Though his role in the series has been limited, it remains significant in Asta’s growth. Fanzell not only guided Asta’s swordsmanship but also helped him properly wield his anti-magic shortly after receiving his grimoire, making him one of the most important teachers in Asta’s life. His return in the latest fray does not place him solely in the spotlight but instead frames him as part of the collective strength of the Diamond Kingdom coming to Asta’s aid, people who were once saved by Asta’s actions. This latest twist features many former enemies turned allies returning to the battlefield, and seeing Fanzell among them is a subtle yet meaningful detail. It underscores how Asta’s actions have shaped the world of Black Clover, and even if he never becomes the Wizard King, as Yuno is fitting the mold more than Asta, he has already achieved his dream of being recognized and valued far and wide.

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Adult Swim’s Most Brutal Series Plans Huge Fall Update https://comicbook.com/anime/news/adult-swim-primal-season-3-update/ https://comicbook.com/anime/news/adult-swim-primal-season-3-update/#respond Fri, 15 Aug 2025 14:11:36 +0000 https://comicbook.com/?p=1455646 Cartoon Network

In the land of Adult Swim, it appears as though comedy is king for many viewers. Series like Rick And Morty are pulling in serious viewership long after their debut, but this doesn’t mean the Cartoon Network programming block isn’t scared to get into some serious subject matter. Alongside big anime properties like Dragon Ball, […]

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Cartoon Network

In the land of Adult Swim, it appears as though comedy is king for many viewers. Series like Rick And Morty are pulling in serious viewership long after their debut, but this doesn’t mean the Cartoon Network programming block isn’t scared to get into some serious subject matter. Alongside big anime properties like Dragon Ball, Naruto, and Attack on Titan, Adult Swim has been more than willing to create original, bloody entries all its own. This October, the platform plans to once again dip its toes into the world of Primal as Adult Swim plans on unveiling some major news about season three.

The upcoming New York Comic Con panel focusing on Primal season three will take place on Thursday, October 9th. Here’s how the major convention describes the event that will see creator Genndy Tartakovsky in attendance: “After winning five Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Animated Program, the third season of Genndy Tartakovsky’s Primal is set to return to Adult Swim. Join animation legend Genndy Tartakovsky (Dexter’s LaboratorySamurai JackSym-Bionic TitanUnicorn: Warriors Eternal) for a first look at the third season of the acclaimed animated series produced by Cartoon Network Studios.” With New York Comic Con also hosting quite a few animation-focused panels, this might be an event not to miss.

What Will Primal’s Third Season Be?

For those who need a refresher on what Genndy Tartakovsky has planned, the next chapter of Primal is planning to be quite different from what came before. The first two seasons of the brutal Adult Swim property focused on its protagonists, Spear and Fang. In the season two finale, however, Speak lost his life in fighting against a supernatural threat, passing the torch to his unborn daughter as Fang lived on with children of her own. Keeping this in mind, Tartakovsky has stated that the third season won’t entirely focus on this prehistoric world.

Instead, Primal season three will take a more “anthology approach” to its story, which isn’t exactly new for the animated series. In the second season, one episode titled “Primal Theory” takes place in a Victorian setting as a handful of artistocrats struggle to survive an assault from a crazed asylum escapee. The anthology storylines will most likely keep to a more brutal setting for each of its stories, letting Tartakovsky stretch his legs in the creative world.

If you can’t wait to see Tartakovsky return to the animation world for Primal’s 2026 comeback, we have good news for you. Netflix released Genndy’s latest film, Fixed, on its streaming service, a movie that might not focus on prehistoric carnage, but certainly earned its more mature rating. With Tartakovsky hoping to make more adult animation moving forward, Primal and Fixed might just be the tip of the iceberg.

Want to see what the future holds for Spear and Fang’s world? Follow along with Team Anime on ComicBook.com for the latest updates on Primal and hit me up directly @EVComedy to talk all things comics and anime.

Via EW

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Crunchyroll’s Darkest Anime Has One Major Competitor for Best Anime in 2025 https://comicbook.com/anime/news/crunchyroll-takopis-original-sin-competitor-apothecary-diaries/ https://comicbook.com/anime/news/crunchyroll-takopis-original-sin-competitor-apothecary-diaries/#respond Fri, 15 Aug 2025 14:00:00 +0000 https://comicbook.com/?p=1455282 Image Courtesy of TOHO
Official Crunchyroll logo on a dark background

With the end of 2025 looming around the corner, fans are starting to look at how their favorite anime are ranking, and MyAnimeList makes it clear that the darkest anime of the year is going to have strong competition to hold that top title. There are only two anime from 2025 to have a score […]

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Image Courtesy of TOHO
Official Crunchyroll logo on a dark background

With the end of 2025 looming around the corner, fans are starting to look at how their favorite anime are ranking, and MyAnimeList makes it clear that the darkest anime of the year is going to have strong competition to hold that top title. There are only two anime from 2025 to have a score of 8.91 on the site, and that speaks volumes. One is a limited-run series, Takopi’s Original Sin, and that alone should be drawing more attention. The other is a surprisingly complex historical fiction series, The Apothecary Diaries. The latter just completed its second season, leaving viewers eager for any news on its future.

2025 has delivered dozens of amazing anime, but that means series such as The Apothecary Diaries are getting pushed out of the news. Solo Leveling keeps building the hype, Dandadan has a way of jumpstarting viral trends, and Demon Slayer is breaking theatrical records left and right. It’s a lot to take in, and that’s fantastic. It will be fascinating to see how the final numbers for Takopi’s Original Sin and The Apothecary Diaries turn out.

The Heavy-Hitting Nature of Takopi’s Original Sin

Shizuka from Takopi's Original Sin final episode
Image courtesy of TBS

Anyone looking for a dark and heartfelt series should give Takopi’s Original Sin a try. The limited series revolves around Takopi, a naive alien who just wants to spread happiness all over the world. It’s an admirable goal that has shockingly dire consequences. Takopi’s Original Sin uniquely blends dystopian elements with time travel and horror, creating a story that will haunt viewers for quite possibly the rest of their lives.

Given the limited nature and the heavy-hitting storytelling style, Takopi’s Original Sin has undoubtedly earned its MyAnimeList rating of 8.91. That’s down by .01 from earlier this week, so fans are clearly working to make their voices heard (for good or for ill has yet to be determined). The series iconically subverts the concept of original sin, forcing readers to question the face value of action versus intent.

The Apothecary Diaries Is a Breath of Fresh Air

OLM – TOHO

Conversely, The Apothecary Diaries feels like a breath of fresh air in a crowded room. The series is based on Natsu Hyūga’s light novels, which have since been ported over into both manga and anime. The story is set in a fictional version of Imperial China and follows Maomao, a young apothecary who gets kidnapped and sold to the Imperial Palace. While she resents how her kidnappers earn a living off her hard labor, Maomao can’t keep her curious nature at bay, a fact that eventually earns her the attention of the higher-ups around her.

The Apothecary Diaries just completed its second season and is now sitting at an 8.92 on MyAnimeList. This genre-defying series has a quiet but exceptionally dedicated fanbase, and with good reason. It offers a little bit of something for everyone, including drama, romance, mystery, and even a dash of humor, not to mention political intrigue at every turn. It does all of this while flipping many tropes on their heads, such as courtly romantic expectations and defined gender roles.

Ultimately, The Apothecary Diaries tells a story that focuses on intelligence over power. It’s Maomao’s curious nature that gets her into trouble, not dissimilar to a certain Sherlock Holmes. However, it’s safe to assume that Maomao likes poison a fair bit more than the good detective.

While The Apothecary Diaries Season 3 has been confirmed, fans are still waiting for news and details. Given the pattern thus far, it’s safe to assume that it will adapt volumes 5 and 6 of The Apothecary Diaries’ light novels.

Takopi’s Original Sin and The Apothecary Diaries are available to stream on Crunchyroll.

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