Sakura-Con 2023- Ayaka: A Story of Bonds and Wounds Screening
Caitlin Moore finds little to write home about after watching AYAKA, an anime about a boy who returns to his native island where superpowers are commonplace. ― At Sakura-Con 2023, Crunchyroll screened several premieres. Although most of them were of current premieres or movies set to be released shortly, one was the first episode of Ayaka: A Story of Bonds and Wounds, a TV anime scheduled to air in …
Don’t Toy with Me, Miss Nagatoro 2nd Attack
Even if Miss Nagatoro has lost a lot of its hard-top edge, it can still hit a bullseye of a punchline and temper it with an understanding of hormonal teenage mating rituals. ― The first season of Don’t Toy With Me Miss Nagatoro was a surprise in several ways. The depiction of fetish bullying was impressive in its craftsmanship, if not emotionally repelling. Beyond portraying particular pornographic m…
The Spring 2023 Anime Preview Guide
Tanjiro will face new foes and forge new allies in DEMON SLAYER: THE SWORDSMITH VILLAGE ARC!
Also: Dead Mount Death Play, Why Raeliana Ended Up at the Duke’s Mansion, Gundam: The Witch From Mercury Season 2, A Galaxy Next Door, Summoned to Another World for a Second Time, Birdie Wing Season 2, Mashle, Magical Destroyers, Otaku Elf, The Café Terrace and Its Goddesses, The Ancient Magus’ Bride Season 2, Dr. Stone, Yuri Is My Job!, Konosuba, and more!
Inside the Job of Veteran Toei Animation Animator Hisashi Kagawa
Hisashi Kagawa has had a decades-spanning career; at Sakura-Con he reminisced on his role as Chief Animation Director for Dragon Quest: The Adventure of Dai. ― This year, Sakura-Con welcomed Hisashi Kagawa among its Guests of Honor. Kagawa has had a decades-spanning career, including as a key animator, animation director, and character designer for several Toei Animation franchises, such as Pretty C…
Why International Anime Co-Productions Are So Rare
International interest in anime has never been higher, but the production committee system and small government funding windows are a roadblock. ― With anime growing ever more popular with a global audience, more and more international companies have become interested in working with Japanese companies on their latest projects. This isn’t a new phenomenon; Ghost in the Shell was an international co-p…
Orange Reveals the Making of Triangle Stampede
Did you know that it took two years alone to develop the facial animation technology in Triangle Stampede? Plus other fascinating details from Orange’s panel at Sakura-Con! ― Without a doubt, the Trigun Stampede panel was one of the most-attended at Sakura-Con. The line stretched around the walls of the top floor of the convention center, with dozens of props of Wolfwood’s Punisher leaned up against t…
Sakura-Con 2023 – Cosplay Gallery
That’s a wrap on Sakura-Con! Here are some of the best cosplay we saw at the convention!
ANN’s Sakura-Con coverage is sponsored by Yen Press!
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BanG Dream! Project Gets New TV Anime for MyGo!!!!! Band This Summer
Koudai Kakimoto returns to helm BanG Dream! It’s MyGo!!!!! anime at SANZIGEN ― The “MyGo!!!!! 4th Live” concert announced on Sunday that the BanG Dream! project will have a new anime series, BanG Dream! It’s MyGo!!!!!, that will air this summer. The anime will star the MyGo!!!!! band members: Hina Yomiya as Tomori Takamatsu Rin Tateishi as Anon Chihaya Hina Aoki as Rāna Kaname Mika Kohinata as Soyo N…
Manga Creator Rumiko Takahashi Knighted by France
Ranma 1/2, Urusei Yatsura creator receives Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters decoration ― The French government conferred the Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters) decoration on manga creator Rumiko Takahashi on Thursday. Takahashi received the decoration at the France ambassador’s residence in Tokyo. Since making her debut in 1978, Takahash…
HIDIVE to Stream Feast of Amrita Anime Film, The Eminence in Shadow Anime’s 2nd Season
HIDIVE to stream English dubs for Oshi no Ko, Farming Life in Another World anime ― HIDIVE announced at its Anime Boston panel on Friday that it will stream the The Feast of Amrita (Amrita no Kyōen) anime film and the second season of The Eminence in Shadow television anime. HIDIVE revealed that it will stream English dubs for the Oshi no Ko and Farming Life in Another World anime. The service will …
Anime Boston Cosplay Gallery
It’s a cosplay-palooza at Anime Boston. Everyone showed up, from Tumblr’s Sexiest Man (runner-up) to OG Jet Black from Cowboy Bebop! ― It’s a cosplay-palooza at Anime Boston. Everyone showed up, from Tumblr’s Sexiest Man (runner-up) to OG Jet Black from Cowboy Bebop! IMG img_3567.pngIMG img_3568.pngIMG img_3571.pngIMG img_3572.pngIMG img_3574.pngIMG img_3575.pngIMG img_3576.pngIMG img_3577.pn…
The First Slam Dunk
The First Slam Dunk is everything a megafan of the franchise could dream of. Those who can’t name the Shōhoku High School starting lineup by heart may leave the theater quietly satisfied while wondering what all the fuss was about. ― If I were to summarize my thoughts on The First Slam Dunk in a single word, it would be ‘bizarre.’ The choices made when adapting this film to the big screen turn a film…
Marry, F—, or Kill with Alternative Manga Artist Shiu Yoshijima
Shiu Yoshijima, an illustrator and manga artist who specializes in drawing cute yet edgy “poisonous” women, so we had to ask her the age-old question: marry, f—, or kill? ― Anime Boston’s one Japanese guest this year was Shiu Yoshijima, an illustrator and manga artist who specializes in drawing cute yet edgy “poisonous” women, typically incorporating fantasy elements into her work. Yoshijima parti…
Oshi no Ko is a Dark Look at the Entertainment Industry
Oshi no Ko’s premiere at Anime Boston was 90-minutes of shocking twists. ― In an introduction video before the American premiere of the first 90-minute episode of Oshi no Ko at Anime Boston, members of the creative team discussed their reactions to first reading the manga. They describe the series as “shocking” and “controversial,” something they wanted to look away from but couldn’t. Based on the m…
Melon Journey: Bittersweet Memories
Melon Journey: Bittersweet Memories is a bit deceptive in its title. What we actually get is, for lack of a better phrase, weirder than that. Melon Journey is far more irreverent and yet bizarrely touching, all at once. ― Melon Journey: Bittersweet Memories is a bit deceptive in its title. With a title like that, players expect a much more emotional journey about reminiscing on their past and maybe e…
Sakura-Con 2023
All the news and panel write-ups from the convention, sponsored by Yen Press! ― Friday, April 7 • Yen Press Reveals 28 New Licenses Including Bocchi the Rock!, Tokyo Babylon Manga; The Deer King Novels Saturday, April 8 • Crunchyroll to Stream My Unique Skill Makes Me OP even at Level 1, Firefighter Daigo: Rescuer in Orange Anime• Orange Reveals the Making of Trigun Stampede• Inside the Job of Vet…
This Week in Games – I Didn’t Plan For This Much Capcom, It Just Happened
From Breath of Fire’s 30th anniversary to Resident 4 fandom shenanigans and Legendary acquiring Street Fighter adaptation rights, this week has coincidentally featured a lot of Capcom news. Jean-Karlo delves into it. ― Welcome back, everyone! I don’t actually have much to ease folks into this week. I was working on a review for Melon Journey: Bittersweet Memoriesso no Xenoblade this time. We’re wor…
Hands on With April Fools’ Game Fate/Grail League
A testament to the existence of the annual Fate/Grand Order April Fools’ game, which was only playable for one day. Play baseball with your favorite Servants! ― Type-Moon has been famous for its April Fools’ jokes since all the way back in 2005. In the past, these have been anything from fake movie posters to in-character Fate series live streams. However, in more recent years, Type-Moon has released…
