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Death in anime is never a guarantee. In fact, some anime like to double-down on the lack of meaningful consequences and stakes by repeatedly bringing characters back from the afterlife. Worse, characters escape certain death and make death feel like a fad rather than a meaningful story beat. Not all anime have this problem, but those that do will often cheapen character sacrifice and ruin the stakes.

Anime that rely on cheap death only to subvert expectations by bringing characters back risk ruining the story's believability. What's the point of narrative stakes and audience investment if a character's death is meaningless in a literal sense? If a character can just spring back to life, that will ultimately harm the overall cohesion of the narrative and cheapen the experience. Surprisingly, many popular anime share this problem in droves.

Sword Art Online: Alicization Constantly Escapes True Death Through Artificial Means Streaming...

During the stage event at AnimeJapan 2025 today, the upcoming TV anime adaptation of Yuji Iwahara’s manga Clevatess revealed a second trailer. The clip introduces the anime's opening theme song "Ruler" performed by Mayu Maeshima for the first time. The TV anime Clevatess is set to premiere in July 2025 . Clevatess Anime 2nd Trailer Maeshima was the first vocalist of the contemporary creative unit Myth & Roid . She left the unit in November 2017 to pursue a solo career, and has performed theme songs for anime series such such as Re:zero -Starting Life in Another World- and Overlord . She shared the following comment about "Ruler": " Clevatess, a lonely creature so feared by humans that he was targeted for defeat, is gradually changed by his encounter with Luna. I wanted to create a theme song for the anime by overlapping his way of life as such with Mayu Maeshima, who has evolved...

Ask any stunt person, and they'll tell you: the ability to sell taking a punch is just as important, and perhaps more so, than credibly throwing one. Ask any editor or sound designer, and they'll corroborate this and then some. If you've ever watched raw dailies from an action movie, you'll note how oddly weightless a lot of fight sequences become when they're robbed of their rhythm and the satisfying Thwam sound of their body blows. All this is to say that action in cinema is so incredibly dependent on selling the total effect of the violence, even more than show-stopping stunts and feats of strength and dexterity. Since it's all in the timing, it's no wonder that so many great action directors either come from or are adept at comedy -- from Buster Keaton to Jackie Chan.

However, there are just as many great action filmmakers who come from the world of horror,...

A few months ago news broke that Nolan’s mysterious upcoming project is an adaptation of ‘The Odyssey.’ Universal Pictures announced that Christopher Nolan’s next movie is a global action epic based on Homer’s ‘The Odyssey.’ It will use new IMAX technology and hit theaters on July 17, 2026.

The movie already has a star-studded cast, including Matt Damon, Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Zendaya, Lupita Nyong’o, Robert Pattinson, Charlize Theron and Elliot Page. Production on the movie has already begun, with Nolan writing and producing alongside Emma Thomas under their Syncopy banner.

Homer’s ‘The Odyssey’ is one of the oldest stories still read today. It tells the tale of the Greek hero Odysseus and his challenging journey home after the Trojan War.

Related: Universal Repotedly Hires 5,000 Extras for Epic ‘The Odyssey’ Opening Scene in Morocco

Now the movie has added yet another start to its lineup as Jovan Adepo...

The mention of Eric Kripke’s Supernatural and the term ‘cult classic’ in the same sentence wouldn’t surprise anyone, as that’s simply how one can describe the show’s massive popularity and dedicated fanbase. Fans know every detail of the 15-seasons-long show, from the characters’ special moments to their craziest adventures against the supernatural.

However, even such fans might not have heard of Supernatural: The Animation. Released for the first time in 2011, Supernatural: The Animation is an anime series based on the beloved 2006 show.

Sam Winchester in Supernatural: The Animation | Credits: Studio Madhouse

The anime was animated and produced by the highly regarded Studio Madhouse, which makes its obscurity all the more bizarre. Supernatural anime has too many great things to offer, which makes it deserving of more attention from fans.

An introduction to Supernatural: The Animation and its greatness

Supernatural: The Animation is the story of Sam and Dean Winchester,...

The end of March will also mark the end of the Winter 2025 anime season. With the new season approaching, a new Japanese survey has revealed which upcoming shows are stirring up the most excitement among its domestic fan base.

Japan-based anime site Animate Times asked its readers to submit their "top recommended anime" picks for Spring 2025. The survey's interim results were unveiled on March 7, with separate top 10 lists released for both male and female viewers. The site also released a third chart ranking the top picks overall. This list includes many anime franchises with already-large international followings, including Fire Force and My Hero Academia. However, there are also several works that have never before been adapted for TV. Animate Times' top 10 overall picks, listed from most to least popular, are included below.

The Top 10 Anime of Spring 2025 According to Animate Times Image via Passione, Hayabusa FilmFrom Old Country Bumpkin to...

With just under a month to go until its grand debut, Shinichiro Watanabe's new anime Lazarus is adding more voice actors to its cast— fourteen more, to be precise. Who will they be playing? That's a surprise for later! Joining the cast of the action series are: Yuichi Nakamura (Satoru Gojo in Jujutsu Kaisen ) Tomokazu Sugita (Taro Sakamoto in Sakamoto Days ) Shoya Chiba (Akihiko Nirei in Wind Breaker ) Neeko (Reborn in Reborn! ) Daisuke Ono (Sebastian Michaelis in Black Butler ) Kazuhiko Inoue (Kakashi Hatake in Naruto ) Satoshi Hino (Momonga in Overlord ) Sumire Uesaka (Lum in Urusei Yatsura 2022) Hidenori Takahashi (Konohamaru Sarutobi in Boruto: Naruto Next Generations ) Koki Uchiyama (Gen Narumi in Kaiju No. 8 ) Kensho Ono (Tetsuya Kuroko in Kuroko's Basketball ) Aoi Tada (Radical Ed in Cowboy Bebop ) Ayane Sakura (Ochaco Uraraka in My Hero Academia ) Yoshiko Sakakibara (Queen Nehelenia in Sailor Moon Sailor Stars ) Each voice actor's role...

The main cast of the acclaimed high fantasy anime series Frieren: Beyond Journey's End has reunited to reveal some exciting new updates about the show's upcoming Season 2.

Via the Toho Animation YouTube channel, Frieren voice actor Atsumi Tanezaki revealed that Frieren: Beyond Journey's End Season 2 will premiere in Jan. 2026. Season 2's teaser visual was also presented, featuring protagonists Frieren, Fern and Stark; readers can check out the new Frieren visual confirming a Jan. 2026 release window below.

Related'We'll Do Our Best Not to Disappoint': One-Punch Man Fans Get Long-Awaited Season 3 Production Update

J.C. Staff anime producer Atsushi Fujishiro has positive news for fans awaiting the return of the studio's One-Punch Man anime series.

Fan-Favorite Frieren: Beyond Journey's End Anime Gets Season 2 Release Window & Key Visual Image via Madhouse

The update was announced during the Frieren: Beyond Journey's End: Talk Show Magic live stream. Voice actors Atsumi Tanezaki (Frieren), Nobuhiko Okamoto...

War films have long been a staple of cinema, exploring the heroism, sacrifice, and horrors that must arise in conflict. While some war movies have secured iconic status in the canon—such as Saving Private Ryan and Full Metal Jacket—others, despite their strong storytelling and craftsmanship, have faded, or been born into, relative obscurity from the mainstream consciousness. These films offer unique perspectives, diverse settings, and nuanced portrayals of the human experience during wartime. Whether set on the front lines, in the trenches, or behind enemy lines, they often present gripping narratives that blend historical events with deeply personal stories.

While their impact may not have been as lasting as the more widely recognized classics, these underappreciated films provide valuable insights into the complexity of war and the toll it takes on those involved. The best war movies transcend their genre, tackling themes of loyalty, survival, and morality, while...

Solo Leveling is one of the most popular video game-influenced anime today. Yet, many isekai anime also heavily incorporate the gaming element. Several video game-based isekai anime are perfect for Solo Leveling fans looking for a new series, like Infinite Dendrogram. Although Infinite Dendrogram isn't as intense as Solo Leveling, it has much of the action the audience loves.

While many believe the gaming isekai anime market has become over-saturated, a few series stand out because of their uniqueness. Beloved anime like Overlord have become more than just simple isekai. The protagonist, Ainz Ooal Gown, has to role-play his way to success and eventually become the fearless ruler he's been pretending to be.

I've Been Killing Slimes for 300 Years' Azusa is as Over-Powered as Solo Leveling's Jinwoo Streaming on Crunchyroll

After years of hard and dedicated work, Azusa Aizawa suddenly passes away at her desk. When she opens her eyes again,...

The director of popular zombie film Train to Busan has a new movie coming soon to Netflix. Yeon Sang-ho'sRevelations will be hitting the streamer on Mar. 21, 2025 and a new trailer has dropped ahead of the release. The crime thriller is written by Sang-ho and Choi Gyu-seok (Hellbound) and is based on a comic book they created. It will star Ryu Jun-yeol as Pastor Sung Min-chan, Shin Hyun-been as Detective Lee Yeon-hui, and Shin Min-jae as Kwon Yang-rae.

The official plot reads:

A pastor who believes in divine revelation and a detective haunted by visions pursue a missing person case — exposing their own demons in the process.

RelatedTrain to Busan: Why it May Be the Best Zombie Movie of All Time

There is no doubt that Train to Busan is a near perfect zombie film. Here is why it may be the best in the sub-genre.

Sang-ho explained that his...

Daenerys Targaryen shocked fans across the world with her descent into complete and utter madness during the final season of Game of Thrones, burning King’s Landing to ashes. Although there is much debate about the direction that such a beloved character went, her insanity was iconic as much as it was infamous.

There are many anime queens who could rival the madness of the last Targaryen monarch, as female characters who have gone completely off the rails are a dime a dozen in anime. However, few can exceed the cruelty and craziness it takes to reap destruction on a city full of innocent civilians after they’ve already surrendered.

Related10 Reasons Why Code Geass and Game of Thrones are the Same Show

Code Geass and its cast shares far too many uncanny similarities with the hit tv-show Game of Thrones. Lelouch & Daenerys are practically the same.

Daenerys Loved Dragons...

Warning: This article contains Massive light novel spoilers for many of the isekai anime mentioned.

For over a decade now, isekai anime has been one of the most popular genres in the medium. It's easy to see why, given most series serve as power fantasies where the protagonists wield near-limitless power to smite wildly outclassed enemies. Yet what happens when the protagonists are struggling against the gods themselves?

Not every isekai anime is satisfied with merely having the main character build their own country or go against a mighty Demon King. Sometimes the challenge comes from the gods of that new world, who have their own problems with the protagonist. Whether they want the protagonist to obey them or just see the protagonist as just another toy to play with, some gods simply hate the main character.

Related10 Isekai Anime With Fantastic Female Characters, Ranked

Isekai anime are usually shonen series,...

Solo Leveling: Arise recently revealed its latest webtoon release as part of the franchise's Hunter: Origin series, showcasing the aftermath of a major betrayal in the manhwa.

Solo Leveling: Arise's official forum revealed its latest Hunter addition, Tawata Kanae, and her exclusive weapon "The Path a Hero Must Take" in a new game trailer and webtoon release. In the webtoon, Kanae clashes with the original character Amamiya Mirei, who debuted in a previous release. It then delves into her relationship with S-Rank Hunter Goto Ryuji, yet to be explored even in the anime series. Readers can check out the new Solo Leveling: Arise webtoon release below.

RelatedSolo Leveling's Sung Jinwoo Ascends to Shadow Monarch in Stunning New Arise Trailer

Netmarble's popular Solo Leveling: Arise commemorates Sung Jinwoo's growth and ascension to Shadow Monarch in a stunning new 2D/3D animated trailer.

Solo Leveling: Arise Introduces Tawata Kanae in New...

I genuinely love movies about elite soldiers facing off against horrors beyond human comprehension. The sight of watching a warrior’s arrogance and bravery, which comes from their ability to wield the latest cutting-edge weapon, evaporates as they come to the realization that their primitive ways of warfare are of no use is oddly satisfying. I suppose Aliens is responsible for this obsession, immediately followed by the evergreen classic that is Predator. Dog Soldiers is really underrated and should get a lot more mainstream attention. I didn’t initially like Annihilation, but upon a rewatch, I admired what it was going for. I fell in love with Overlord almost instantly. I’m not sure if it counts, but I’ll give a shoutout to Underwater. Also, Love, Death & Robots’ shorts set in this subgenre, The Secret War, Sucker of Souls, Kill Team Kill, and In Vaulted Halls Entombed, are incredibly rewatchable.

Dark Horse just confirmed that Gantz:g, the spinoff of Hiroya Oku’s Gantz, is getting an omnibus edition. It’s set to drop on September 30 and will bundle the full series into one collection.

This action-packed story throws a group of high school students into a nightmare. After their school bus crashes off a bridge, they wake up in a mysterious room with a strange black sphere. Death isn’t the end for them—at least not yet.

They’re forced into a deadly hunt against terrifying aliens, given weapons and suits, and told they must earn enough points to come back to life. If they fail, they’re gone for good.

The manga was created by Keita Iizuka and Tomohito Ohsaki, with artwork by Iizuka. It originally ran in Miracle Jump in 2015 and wrapped up after three volumes in 2017. Dark Horse had previously published the series in paperback between...

Isekai is one of the many genres that anime can fall into. Usually, these series follow some sort of wish-fulfillment as characters are transported to another world they have to adapt to. While this has brought forth beloved anime like Sword Art Online and Log Horizon, not every isekai release is a success.

Unfortunately, some isekai anime have high hopes but simply couldn't stick the landing. Perhaps their characters were unlikable, or perhaps the plot was flawed from conception. These anime may have interesting concepts, but they fail in execution. At least there will always be more isekai anime to look forward to.

Mother Complex Doesn't Even Cover Do You Love Your Mom and Her Two-Hit Multi-Target Attacks Streaming on Crunchyroll

In Do You Love Your Mother and Her Two-Hit Multi-Target Attacks, mother and son duo, Mamako and Masato Oosuki, are transported to another world. While this would normally be...

The official staff X (formerly Twitter) for singer-songwriter Masayoshi Oishi has announced that his digital rock unit OxT (pronounced O-Ku-To ) will collaborate with Tom-h@ck's contemporary creative unit Myth & Roid (pronounced as Miss Android ) to produce the 10th anniversary song for the Overlord anime franchise. At this time it is unclear how and when the song will be released. The two units have provided theme songs for the anime franchise since its first season in 2015, but this is the first time they have worked together on a song. Additionally, the song will also be produced to celebrate both unit's debut 10th anniversary. OxT, which consists of vocalist Masayoshi Oishi and guitarist/composer Tom-h@ck, released their first single "Kimero!!" in May 2015. For the Overlord TV anime series, the unit has provided the first season opening song "Clattanoia," second season opening song "Go Cry Go," third season ending song "Silent Solitude,...

The isekai genre is an ever-growing category of anime that has new series added to its already overwhelming list of fantasy heroes and wayward villainesses with every season. The core concept of isekai—escaping into a magical realm—is a popular and highly appealing basis for a story, but with so many series following the same formula and tropes, the charm of the genre itself can lose its luster.

There does occasionally come an isekai anime with a premise or protagonist that strays from what is typically seen and even subverts the common isekai anime tropes in new and interesting ways, offering a fresh take on an overused theme. Among the hundreds of titles that follow the same isekai recipe, there are a handful of series that have spiced up their stories with something unique to create a compelling tale well worth the pickiest anime fan's time.

RelatedThe 40 Best Isekai Of All Time,...

Sung Jin-Woo is the main protagonist of Solo Leveling, and he is well on his way to becoming the strongest Hunter in the series. Jin-Woo gained the Shadow Monarch's Shadow Extraction ability at the end of the first season, and it allows Jin-Woo to resurrect defeated creatures and humans as Shadows. Jin-Woo's Shadow Army is quite strong, and it becomes more formidable each time he adds a powerful warrior. His Shadow army would become virtually unbeatable if he could add characters from other anime series to it.

Most of these anime characters are exceptional melee fighters and swordsmen, but one character in particular can destroy most of Jin-Woo's opponents with powerful magic. Most of these characters can take out A-Rank and S-Rank-level threats, and several of these anime characters can wipe out the Monarchs, an ancient race of monsters who serve as Solo Leveling's main antagonists.

Esdeath from Akame Ga Kill!...

Recently landing on Netflix, American Primeval has quickly gathered a vocal fanbase for its compelling and raw vision of American westward expansion, featuring a fascinating cast of characters. Show creator Mark L. Smith became a notable name in a short period due to the series' success. It's a stunning TV debut, but it should've been expected from the writer of The Revenant, Twisters, The Midnight Sky, and more films.

One of the most underappreciated projects that Mark L. Smith worked on was the wartime horror flick, Overlord. Let's take a look at where the 2018 movie excels and how, if at all, it draws a connection to American Primeval.

Gunfire, Gore, Zombies & More in 'Overlord'

Overlord RHorrorWarScience Fiction Where to Watchstreamrentbuy

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*Availability in US Release Date  November 1, 2018Director  Julius AveryCast  Wyatt Russell, Jovan Adepo, Pilou Asbæk, Mathilde Ollivier, John Magaro, Iain De Caestecker, Bokeem Woodbine,...

Director Maggie Gyllenhaal revives the iconic Bride of Frankenstein this fall in upcoming feature film The Bride! In an interview with THR, actor John Magaro (Overlord) reveals new details on the film, teasing that audiences are in for a “wild, fun ride.”

Originally set for release on October 3, The Bride! will now release on September 26, 2025.

The upcoming film “sees a lonely Frankenstein travel to 1930s Chicago to seek the aide of a Dr. Euphronius in creating a companion for himself. The two reinvigorate a murdered young woman and the Bride is born. She is beyond what either of them intended, igniting a combustible romance, the attention of the police and a wild and radical social movement.”

Christian Bale is Frankenstein’s Monster, with Jessie Buckley as the titular Bride. The Bride! will also star Penelope Cruz, Peter Sarsgaard, Annette Bening, and Magaro, who might have September 5 costar Peter Sarsgaard to...

Netflix is riding into the new year with one of the most brutal depictions of expansion in the American West thanks to a relentlessly intense mini-series called American Primeval. Created and written by Mark L. Smith, with direction by Peter Berg, American Primeval revolves around Sara (Betty Gilpin) and her son, Devin (Preston Mota) traveling through harsh and unforgiving territory with a survivalist, Isaac (Taylor Kitsch), to escape a grim fate and find a new home. While making the journey, they experience violent collisions with cults, religious zealots, cutthroats, and lawmakers willing to kill to create a new world.

To mark the arrival of American Primeval, we spoke with the show’s director, Peter Berg, the Indigenous Consultant Julie O’Keefe, and lead actors Betty Gilpin (Sara), Taylor Kitsch (Isaac), Dane DeHaan (Jacob Pratt), Kim Coates (Bringham Young), Derek Hinkey (Red Feather), and Saura Lightfoot-Leon (Abish Pratt) about their respective roles,...

Danger is brewing in the upcoming limited series American Primeval — and some big names are embarking on the grueling journey west.

From director and executive producer Pete Berg (Friday Night Lights, Lone Survivor), executive producer Eric Newman, and writer and executive producer Mark L. Smith, American Primeval explores the birth of the American frontier as men and women fight for control over this new world. Set in the brutal wilderness, these voyagers endure violent collisions of cultures, religions, and communities as they seek to fulfill their destinies.

“We are very appreciative that Netflix is trusting us to take a big swing with American Primeval,” Berg previously told Netflix. “I’m looking forward to taking viewers into the most dynamic, intense, and heart-pounding survival tale humanly possible. We are going into the belly of the beast.”

Before the expedition begins, meet some...

Netflix's new Western drama miniseries American Primeval is now streaming with the premiere of all six of its episodes on Thursday, Jan. 9. The series comes from creator Mark L. Smith and executive producer Peter Berg with a cast that includes Taylor Kitsch, Betty Gilpin, Saura Lightfoot-Leon, Jai Courtney, Shea Whigham, Dane DeHaan, and more.

When you're scrolling through Netflix looking for something new to watch, you will probably come across American Primeval during its release weekend. You might even see the series pop up on the top 10 most popular TV shows ranking. It's the kind of miniseries that's all but primed to take the peak of the ranking and become the most popular show of the week.

If you're unfamiliar with the background of the show or want to know a bit more about what to expect, here's the official synopsis via Netflix:

"This is America…1857. Up is down,...

Yusuke Kobayashi, the Japanese voice actor behind Subaru Natsuki from Re:Zero – Starting Life in Another World, and Yumi Uchiyama, known for voicing Puck in the anime, have announced their marriage.

The couple shared the news on their respective X accounts on Dec 31, 2024.

Kobayashi expressed his gratitude, stating, “I would like to share that I, Yusuke Kobayashi, have married fellow voice actor Yumi Uchiyama. I deeply appreciate everyone who has supported me thus far and will continue to strive forward with gratitude. Thank you for your continued support and encouragement.“

Uchiyama shared a similar heartfelt message: “I would like to announce that I, Yumi Uchiyama, have married fellow voice actor Yusuke Kobayashi. I will continue to pursue my career with gratitude while supporting each other. Thank you for your ongoing support.“

Beyond Re:Zero, Kobayashi has portrayed other iconic characters like Senku Ishigami in Dr. Stone, Arthur Boyle in Fire Force,...

Japan has scored another major win in its ongoing and collaborative efforts to curb anime piracy, with Coda recently claiming victory over one of the biggest anime pirate websites in Brazil.

Earlier this month, the Japanese anti-piracy association Coda (Content Overseas Distribution Association) announced it was responsible for shutting down the anime piracy website "rine.cloud." After confirming how Toei Animation, Toho and Bandai Namco Filmworks wanted to proceed, Coda successfully negotiated with rine.cloud to end all operations; the site now redirects to Coda's shutdown page, which can be seen below.

Related GogoAnime Goes Dark as AnimeFenix Announces Shock Shutdown: "Be Aware of the Monopolies"

As license holders continue their war on illegal anime streaming, piracy sites AnimeFenix and GogoAnime/Anitaku are the latest to be affected.

Major Anime Piracy Site Rine.Cloud Shuts Down Following Coda "Knock-and-Talk" Action

At its time of closing, rine.cloud was Brazil's seventh-largest anime piracy site,...

Isekai anime series come in all shapes and sizes, but they're all based on a similar premise. A normal person, usually from Japan, gets transported to a fantasy world where they gain massive powers, amazing followers, and everything else they can ask for. The best isekai series feature incredible fights and astounding worlds that only make viewers wish there were more episodes. Series like That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime are more light-hearted than they are serious, while series like Overlord excel at doing the opposite.

Some of the best isekai series already have more than 50 episodes available to watch right now. That makes them a perfect choice for an anime viewer looking to fuel their isekai addition, traveling to a new world with all new rules and fun characters to guide them through it.

I Was Reincarnated as the 7th Prince Animated By Tsumugi Akita Animation Lab,...

Exclusive: Thunderbolts star Wyatt Russell is in talks we hear to join Steven Spielberg’s next event movie for Amblin and Universal. A deal for the actor is very close. The storyline is being kept under lock and key.

Russell joins a booming glitzy bench of thespians including Emily Blunt, Josh O’Connor, Colman Domingo, Colin Firth and Eve Hewson. Universal Pictures has set a wide theatrical release for May 15, 2026.

Based on a story by Spielberg, the screenplay is by David Koepp, whose previous work with Spielberg includes the screenplays for Jurassic Park, The Lost World: Jurassic Park, War of the Worlds and Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. Combined, those films earned more than $3 billion worldwide.

Five-time Oscar nominee Kristi Macosko Krieger is producing for the 3x Oscar winning Spielberg. The director’s last film, based on his life, The Fabelmans, was released by Universal in 2022 and received seven Academy Awards nominations,...

In the upcoming limited series American Primeval, authenticity is key across all storylines and world-building elements — especially when it comes to the on-screen portrayal of Native storylines.

Written by Mark L. Smith, with Eric Newman serving as showrunner and executive producer, American Primeval is a fictionalized dramatization set in 1857. The limited series is also an examination of the violent collision of culture, religion, and community as men and women fight and die to either keep or claim the lands that make up the brutal American frontier. Among those men and women are multiple Native Tribes who have long occupied the lands — the Shoshone, Paiute, and Ute.

Julie O’Keefe, the Indigenous cultural consultant and project adviser on American Primeval, lent her expertise to the production to ensure authenticity across the Native storylines spanning the vast, epic...

Long streaming for free on Crunchyroll, the majority of Toei Animation's popular One Piece anime series will now head behind Crunchyroll's Premium membership to provide paying fans with a better experience.

Via IGN and X (formerly Twitter), Crunchyroll announced that it will begin to move the majority of the One Piece anime behind its Premium membership tier starting Dec. 23, 2024. From that date, the Water 7, Thriller Bark, Summit War and Fishman Island arcs (Episodes 207 to 574) will become paywalled, followed by the Punk Hazard, Dressrosa, Zou and Whole Cake Island arcs, plus an additional six specials (Episodes 575 to 878), on Jan. 20, 2025. Finally, the Reverie, Wano and Egghead arcs (Episodes 878 to present) will also be paywalled beginning Feb. 17.

Related "A Huge Apology": One Piece Creator Breaks 3-Week Silence With First Major Elbaf Reveal

After a sudden three-week hiatus, Eiichiro Oda and the One Piece series returns with a major story reveal that...

Kugane Maruyama’s Overlord shows an interesting take on a typical isekai series. With the isekai genre expanding each season with countless releases, Overlord shines as a standout anime in the genre.

There’s a plethora of anime and manga where the protagonist is trapped in an RPG world, but what makes Overlord stand out is its rich narrative and characters, especially the protagonist. The story follows Ainz on his journey as he decides to rule over the new world he’s been teleported to and turn it into a utopia for himself and his allies.

Ainz Ooal Gown in Overlord | Credits: Madhouse

Not to forget, Overlord: The Sacred Kingdom is the first theatrical film from the franchise, which brought the popular anime series to the big screen. Amid rumors of Season 5 being green-lit, Overlord’s author challenged the most acclaimed tropes of the isekai genre, which he intentionally reshaped in his series.

Kugane Maruyama’s Overlord shows an interesting take on a typical isekai series. There are plenty of anime/manga in which the protagonist is stuck in an RPG world, and their goal is to escape from it. But not in Overlord, because when the protagonist becomes the most powerful demon sorcerer, the last thing he wants to do is give it up.

Ainz Ooal Gown in Overlord | Credits: Madhouse

Ainz’s instant decision to stay in the game world is refreshing, to say the least. Another refreshing take is that instead of creating a beautiful game avatar, the protagonist takes the form of a skeletal undead. But why did Mayuyama abandon visuals so easily?

Why Overlord‘s Ainz Ooal Gown is an Undead Monster and Not Eye-Candy Ainz Ooal Gown in Overlord | Credits: Madhouse

Kugane Maruyama is the writer of the Overlord novel series. The novel has received a manga...

This week on The Anime Effect: Director Naoyuki Itō and producer Kentarô Hashimoto join for an interview, plus LeAlec and Leah recommend their favorite OVAs and their dream slice of life crossovers. Episode 42 of The Anime Effect is now available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and anywhere else you listen to your podcasts! If you're waiting to watch the video episode, it'll be live on Crunchyroll and YouTube at 7 p.m. Et. Listen or Watch on: Episode 42 Summary In this week's episode, two creators of the Overlord: The Sacred Kingdom movie join the podcast to discuss the unusual technique used to create the film, their favorite Overlord characters and what anime titles they grew up with. Lena Lemon joined us at New York Comic Con as a guest host! Plus, we recommend our favorite OVAs, discuss Black Friday horror stories, plot holiday shopping lists and 8answer a mailbag question about what...

Whether someone loves or hates the isekai genre, Kugane Maruyama’s Overlord has something to cater to everyone. The series provides a fresh perspective on common isekai tropes, which can be refreshing for isekai lovers. As for those on the fence, they probably won’t find any of the aspects that give the genre a bad reputation among fans. In a lot of ways, Overlord sets itself apart from most isekai anime-manga series.

Ainz Ooal Gown in Overlord anime | Credits: Studio Madhouse

However, Maruyama spelled out the exact thing during an interview that made Overlord stand out. And it’s the protagonist, Ainz Ooal Gown, who is the life and soul of the series. His characterization gives the much-needed depth to his story usually lacking in most isekai shows. Maruyama spoke at length about different aspects of Overlord and the thought process behind Ainz, so let’s delve into it!

Despite being one of the best fantasy anime stories in recent years, Overlord has persistently failed to attract a larger fan base compared to other series. This made many in the anime community scratch their heads, wondering why a series as well-constructed as this one could not connect with everyone on a deeper level.

Ainz Ooal Gown from Overlord | Credits: Studio Madhouse

Interestingly, the author of the series, Kugane Maruyama, had foreseen this. In an interview, he admitted that he had never thought Overlord would even gain the number of fans it has now. This raises a very important question about what contributes to a series’ popularity and why, despite its many strengths, Overlord has not been able to gain a larger and more devoted fan base. The answer to that was already conveyed by the creator.

Author Maruyama Himself States The Reason Behind Overlord’s Under Popularity Albedo from...

Parasyte is one of the most popular and influential horror manga of the '90s, with multiple anime and live-action adaptations having been produced in more recent years, including Parasyte: The Grey, which premiered on Netflix earlier this year. Now, the series is on its way to globally popular brand Uniqlo for a new winter release comprised of bold graphic t-shirts.

Created by Hitoshi Iwaaki, Parasyte follows high school student Shinichi Izumi and the body-snatching parasite 'Migi,' who lives inside his right hand. Together, they decide to work together to survive against forces that seek to eradicate all of humanity. The manga currently has over 25 million copies in circulation, with the anime, created by Madhouse, receiving widely positive reviews when it debuted in 2014. It has since become a fan favorite among body horror genre enthusiasts.

Related Uniqlo & Hello Kitty's Sanrio Takes Over Your Wardrobe in Upcoming Women's and Girl's...

A new anime series by Jujutsu Kaisen Season 1 director Sunghoo Park, also widely known for directing Ninja Kamui and The God of High School, is set to take the stage in 2025.

The release window for the upcoming Bullet/Bullet was recently announced as part of the Disney Content Showcase 2024, held on Nov. 21 (Sgt) at the Marina Bay Sands in Singapore. Set to premiere in the summer of 2025, Bullet/Bullet will stream exclusively on Disney+, with a key visual, action-packed trailer and staff listing -- described by Japanese news outlet Oricon as a "gathering of masters" -- all now revealed for the first time.

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Jujutsu Kaisen anime fans have much to look forward to in 2025, as the critically acclaimed "Gojo's Past" arc will be released on Blu-ray in February.

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A year and a half ago, it was announced that Neill Blomkamp, the director of District 9, Elysium, Chappie, Demonic, and Gran Turismo, was preparing to go into production on an alien abduction thriller called They Found Us, which had Joel Kinnaman of The Suicide Squad and the RoboCop remake attached to star. At first, the plan was to film in Australia, but then the decision was made to film in Saudia Arabia instead. About seven months after the first announcement, pre-production shut down so the project could rework its financial structure while hostility in the region where filming was going to take place increased due to the Israel-Gaza conflict. Now, Deadline reports that They Found Us is moving forward again, with the filming location shifting back over to Australia and Julius Avery of Overlord and The Pope’s Exorcist replacing Blomkamp as director.

When Blomkamp was at the helm,...

Julius Avery, the director of “Samaritan,” “Overlord” and “The Pope’s Exorcist,” has come on board to direct the new alien abduction thriller “They Found Us.” The film hails from “Smile” producers Temple Hill Entertainment and Stuart Ford’s AGC Studios, which is financing the project.

AGC Intl. will handle international sales and co-rep U.S. rights with UTA Independent Film Group. Casting is underway on the movie, which will shoot in Australia in the first half of 2025.

“They Found Us” follows a father and daughter who undertake a camping trip in the Utah wilderness to heal their broken relationship. Attacked by a hostile extraterrestrial life form, their lives, not just their relationship, are at stake as they fight with a humanoid beast to stop their abduction to an unknown and terrifying alien world.

The film is based on an original screenplay by Jeremy Slater, and will be produced by Godfrey...

Julius Avery (Samaritan, Overlord, The Pope’s Exorcist) has come on board to direct They Found Us, an alien abduction thriller from Stuart Ford’s AGC Studios being co-produced with Temple Hill (Smile, Twilight franchises)

Avery will direct They Found Us from an original screenplay by Jeremy Slater (Moon Knight, The Exorcist) with Godfrey and Marty Bowen producing for Temple Hill. Ford and Temple Hill’s John Fischer will act as executive producers. AGC International will handle international sales and co-rep US rights with UTA Independent Film Group.

District 9 helmer Neill Blomkamp was originally attached to the project, with Joel Kinnaman to star as a father who tries to mend his broken relationship with his daughter during a camping trip in the Utah wilderness, only to be attacked by a hostile extraterrestrial, determined to kidnap them and take them to an unknown and terrifying alien world. The film is currently re-casting...

Directed by Naoyuki Itō and animated by Madhouse, Overlord: The Sacred Kingdom is a continuation of season four of Overlord, the anime. The actual plot of the film has almost nothing to do with the series. You can watch it thinking it's a high fantasy film about invasion and war, and only be confused a couple of times. The plot: the Sacred Kingdom has been attacked by the Demon Emperor Jaldabaoth and his army of half humans. The kingdom's best paladin, Remedios Custodio, leads a small team to the neighbouring Sorcerer Kingdom to ask for aid. His Sorcerous Majesty is a huge skeleton, an undead, and the focus of the film. He is not the main character, however....

[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...

Back in the day, I was one of those anime fans who'd collect anime magazines and cut out the artwork so I could tape it to my closet door. This was back before streaming services and me having access to anime conventions full of vibrant wallscrolls and artist alleys. Basically, anime magazines were the only way I could get a hold of anime art... unless I used my high school's computer lab to print out grainy images. That said, one magazine I did Not cut apart was Newtype. With it's thicker covers, plastic wrap and free anime DVD to give us a taste of a new series that, gasp, wasn't airing on Toonami, reading Newtype felt like a must-have anime experience in the early 2000s. Full of exclusive features, interviews and other anime goodies, the magazine felt like a physical version of what we get from anime websites today. Before,...

Cannes Palm d’Or winner Anora went wide and A Real Pain added theaters in limited release, both nicely, with Crunchyroll’s Japanese epic fantasy Overlord: The Sacred Kingdom and Small Things Like These at the specialty box office.

Sean Baker’s breakout Anora is looking at $2.55 million on 1,104 screens in week four of Neon’s slow rollout for a tidy cume of $7.2 million.

A Real Pain from Searchlight Pictures with Jesse Eisenberg (who also directed and wrote) and Kieran Culkin will gross an estimated $282k at an additional eight locations for 12 theaters in week 2. That’s a cume through Sunday of $600k heading into a major expansion on 900+ screens next week.

Overlord by Naoyuki Ito is projecting $1.165 million on under 650 screens for the latest in the anime series based on the manga by Kugane Maruyama, produced by Kadokawa and animated by Madhouse. The first season debuted in 2017. Currently, all...

Overlord: The Sacred Kingdom is hitting select theaters across the globe and, for fans of the dark fantasy isekai anime, it's a major event as it's the first film in the series to adapt an entire arc rather than the prior omnibus movies. As Ains Ooal Gown settles further into his role as the Sorcerer King, straying further from his humanity while retaining his impulses, the film explores the adaptation of Overlord's light novels from volume #12 and #13. Overlord: The Sacred Kingdom is somewhat inaccessible to those unfamiliar with the franchise, but a fairly rewarding outing from Studio Madhouse.

Overlord began its anime adaptation on July 7, 2015, as an isekai adventure starring Satoru Suzuki, a salaryman trapped in the popular full-dive Vrmmorpg Yggdrasil after its scheduled shutdown. As he's stuck in his undead avatar, Momonga, the protagonist, soon adopts the name of his guild, Ains Ooal Gown, to track down any remaining friends in the game.

It’s a beautiful day, the local lizardmen seem to be rallying together for something and there seems to be some sort of giant hill in the middle of a grassy plain that wasn’t there before. Welcome, friends, to the Overlord watch order guide! Based on the light novel series by Kugane Maruyama, there's quite a bit to talk about regarding the Overlord anime. For starters, a new Overlord movie, Overlord: The Sacred Kingdom , is currently out in theaters . Before that, though, there are four anime seasons and a couple of movies to get through. You may be wondering where to start watching our favorite undead leader, Ains Ooal Gown, take over the world as we know it. Well, look no further! This guide will help you catch up with everything Overlord before barrelling right into the next chapter of the hit isekai anime series. Overlord Watch Order Overlord...

Sony Pictures’ new animated feature “Overlord: The Sacred Kingdom”, directed by Naoyuki Ito, is the first Crunchyroll-produced film to adapt “Overlord” novels by Kugane Maruyama, releasing November 8, 2024 in theaters:

“…’Momonga’, finds himself transported into his favorite video game. Now after twelve years of playing his favorite ‘Mmorpg’ game, Momonga logs in for the last time only to find himself transported into its world, playing it indefinitely.

“Throughout his adventures, his avatar ascends to the title of ‘Sorcerer King’. Once prosperous but now on the brink of ruin, the ‘Sacred Kingdom’ enjoyed years of peace after an enormous wall was constructed to protect it from neighboring invasions.

“But one day, this peace comes to an end when the ‘Demon Emperor Jaldabaoth’ arrives with an army of villainous ‘demi-humans’.

“Fearing an invasion of their lands, the neighboring territory of the ‘Slane Theocracy’ is forced to beg their enemies at the ‘Sorcerer Kingdom’ for help.

Anime fans have been waiting for what feels like an eternity for the next installment in the darkest isekai anime of them all: Overlord. Though Season 5 has only been announced and has no official release date, Madhouse studios brings Lord Ainz Ooal Gown to the big screen on November 8, 2024, in select theaters. Overlord: The Sacred Kingdom will also be available to stream on Crunchyroll, for those who won't get to make it to the theaters.

Celebrating the momentous occasion, and yet another of Lord Ainz's spectacularly sinister plots, Cbr sat down with English dub voice actors Christopher Guerrero (Momonga/Lord Ainz Ooal Gown) and Sarah Wiedenheft (Neia). Without spoiling the plot, they share thoughts on their characters, the story, their process, and, of course, what the future might hold for everyone's favorite awkward Overlord.

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On October 26th, Studio Gonzo announced in a post on X that Shigemi Ikeda, the visionary art director known for his work on Afro Samurai, One-Punch Man, and My Hero Academia, passed away on October 13 at the age of 69. Ikedas family shared that his funeral would be held privately, reserved for close family. His passing leaves a significant void in the anime industry, where his artistic contributions to background design and world-building became a foundational influence. Over his prolific career, Ikedas distinct style and unparalleled skill in visual storytelling left an indelible mark on the anime landscape.

Shigemi Ikeda began his career in the 1970s, eventually establishing Atelier Musa, his own background art studio, in 1986. From there, he developed a signature approach that combined detailed realism with a deep respect for each storys tone, creating worlds that felt tangible and alive. In 2009, Ikedas work was recognized with an Outstanding Individual...

Set within the dark fantasy world initially created through its acclaimed anime series and novels, Overlord: The Sacred Kingdom brings the epic narrative to theaters for the first time. Picking up directly after the climactic events of Season 4, this film immerses viewers in its sophisticated political intrigue and emotional character drama.

For those unfamiliar with Overlord, it takes place primarily in the magical realm of the New World. Though initially appearing like a typical fantasy land, the New World harbors complex moral ambiguities much like our own. Its human inhabitants wrestle with issues ranging from prejudice to philosophical debates on justice and power.

Meanwhile, the non-human races also face discrimination even as they strive for acceptance. These deeper themes of society are cleverly woven into the anime’s pulse-pounding battlefield scenes and conspiracies between kingdoms. Yet through it all towers the enigmatic and opportunistic figure of Ains Ooal Gown, ruler of the undead Sorcerer Kingdom.