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The next anime film from legendary anime creator Shoji Kawamori, Meikyu no Shiori (translated to "Shiori of the Labyrinth") released a new trailer today, revealing a January 1, 2026 premiere date in Japan and a brand new cast member — timelesz boy band member Takuto Teranishi in his first-ever voice acting role. Meikyu no Shiori Trailer 2 Takuto Teranishi joins the cast as Suguru Kagami, a university student who is researching how to connect smartphones to the human brain directly, as well as being a young entrepreneur who attracts a lot of international attention. Director Kawamori has already praised Teranishi's work, saying, "I had seen his work on the stage before and was impressed...

Earlier this year, Class Earth announced that their picture book Latair and the Earth Saver: What Endangered Species Teach Us would be receiving an anime adaptation. As of this week, we have confirmation that the series — titled Latair the Earth — will premiere September 5 on Nhk Educational Television. The short anime will run for five episodes total. A trailer is also available to view on the project's official YouTube channel, featuring the Earth fairy Latair and "Earth Saver" Kanade dancing along to the show's theme song. Latair and the Earth Saver Book Cover Related: Digimon Story: Time Stranger Trailer Takes Us on a Wild DigiRide A cast list has also been released for the series: Latair voiced by Yukari Tamura (Priscilla Barielle in Re:zero ) Kanade voiced by Reo Tanie (Mamekichi Maizuka in A Terrified Teacher at Ghoul School! ) Arabian Oryx (female) voiced by Kaori Nazuka (Nunnally in Code Geass ) Arabian Oryx...

The official website for the upcoming original anime feature film Meikyu no Shiori (translated to "Shiori of the Labyrinth") announced the four main voice cast members today. Suzuka , a member of Japanese girl group Atrashii Gakko!, is cast as the protagonist, Shiori Maezawa. She also voices Shiori@Revolution, another Shiori who appeared in the real world from the smartphone world. Additionally, actor Taizo Harada voices Komori, a rabbit sticker that Shiori encounters in the alternate world of "Uninhabited Yokohama" inside her smartphone, where she finds herself trapped. Actor Aoi Ito voices Shiori's childhood friend, Nozomi Kurashina, a high school girl influencer who's super into singing and dancing videos. Actor Jun Saito voices Shiori's classmate, Kento Yamada, who is a bit of a joker. Shiori Maezawa Shiori@Revolution Komori Nozomi Kurashina Kento Yamada This is Suzuka's first time voicing characters in an anime film. "My first experience as a voice actor...

Transformersand a major mecha anime franchise are crossing over with a brand-new Optimus Prime figure that rocks hard.

In a recent post from the TFW2005 forums, fans can get a new look at the upcoming Synergenex Series Macross 7 x Transformers Basara Convoy figure via an official image reveal. The figure combines Macross 7 protagonist Basara Nekki with Optimus Prime, culminating in the character now lovingly known as Basara Prime.

Optimus Prime Transformers & Rolls Out in New Official Image Reveal

The Synergex Series Macross 7 x Transformers Basara Convoy figure comes with three interchangeable faces, as well as an additional gun and guitar. The figure is capable of transforming into three modes, including a standard robot, gerwalk and valkyrie modes. The figure is reported to also have a fourth configuration that can attach to a trailer, which itself transforms into a concert stand, including speakers, to further embrace Basara Nekki's singer-songwriter status.

Shoji Kawamori is legendary in the world of anime as one of the minds behind the Macross and Aquarion franchise, The Vision of EscaFlowne and many more classic series. Early next year, Kawamori will be premiering his first-ever original feature-length animated film: Meikyu no Shiori . Subtitled Labyrinth in English (the title literally translates to "Shiori of the Labyrinth"), the film is described as an otherworldly escape story with "pop" and "slightly" horror elements. The film's story will also integrate elements that fans of Kawamori's work will already be familiar with: sci-fi, music, and love triangles. A teaser trailer and visual are now available for the project: Meikyu no Shiori Teaser Trailer Meikyu no Shiori Teaser Visual Related: ChaO Anime Movie Shares Kumi Koda Theme Song Music Video The story of Meikyu no Shiori will follow protagonist Shiori, a high school girl who awakens in a parallel version of Yokohama after she breaks her smartphone.

It's the weekend once again, so the Bam Smack Pow team is here to bring you all the major anime news from the past week. Plus, we've got another recommendation for a cant' miss anime series for you to stream to close out June.

Since the end of June ends that 2025 is now half over, we'll also be sharing a recap of all the biggest anime from the first half of the year, so stay tuned for that.

McDonald's Japan announces '80s anime-theme ad campaign

「あしたも、笑おう。2025」#めぞん一刻 #きまぐれオレンジロード#マクロス #守屋麗奈 pic.twitter.com/0NrKnE4Dog

— マクドナルド (@McDonaldsJapan) June 27, 2025

Anime News Network is reporting on a forthcoming nostalgic ad campaign from McDonald's Japan. Set to the music of Coca-Cola Japan's '80s-era jingle, the classic anime-centric ad campaign features a montage of classic anime scenes interspersed with people enjoying McDonald's. Slated to launch in Japan on July 1, the ad...

Satelight is the anime studio behind highly popular IPs such as Macross F, Genesis of Aquarion and the hit action-fantasy seriesFairyTail (co-produced with Solo Leveling's A-1 Pictures). While Satelight CEO Michiaki Sato is grateful for his company's success, he is also working to "resist" a system that he believes does not fairly compensate its workers.

Sato became President and CEO of Satelight in 2003 -- six years prior to the release of Fairy Tail. Having originally worked as an accountant for B.U.G. -- Satelight's parent company -- Sato was dissatisfied with the infrastructure of the anime industry in relation to its workers. In a recent interview with Natalie, Sato discussed how his first major goal as president was to prioritize anime creators instead of anime sponsors. "I felt uncomfortable that even when a hit work was born in the anime industry, only those who provided the funds were benefited and the creators were not rewarded,...

Originally released in 2005, Eureka Seven was a science fiction anime series that quickly gained a global fanbase. Known for its rich world-building, compelling characters, and emotionally impactful storytelling, the show left a lasting mark on the genre. Its blend of mecha action, coming-of-age drama, and thought-provoking themes helped it stand out among other anime of its time. While Eureka Seven expanded through multiple anime seasons, feature films, and spin-offs, the franchise has been relatively quiet in recent years.

Now, in honor of Eureka Seven’s original debut two decades ago, a new 20th Anniversary Project has been launched, featuring a dedicated website, a commemorative key visual, and a nostalgic promotional video. With all this recent activity surrounding the once-dormant series, fans are wondering: Is Eureka Seven on the brink of a major comeback?

A World of Scub Coral and Trapar Waves: Revisiting Eureka Seven’s Story Behind the Scenes: The...

April 17 marks 20 years since the premiere of the first episode of Eureka Seven , a now-iconic mecha franchise from the mind of screenwriter Dai Sato, director Tomoki Kyoda, and the creatives at Bones. The series is launching a 20th-anniversary project starting today to commemorate the anniversary! First up is a commemorative video set to Flow’s song “Days,” the first opening for the series, and a brand new visual drawn by character designer Kenichi Yoshida. Eureka Seven 20th Anniversary Special Video Related: Eureka Seven: Hi-Evolution Q&a Panels with director Tomoki Kyoda The original Eureka Seven anime aired from April 2005 to April 2006 with direction from Tomoki Kyoda, series composition by Dai Sato, character designs from Kenichi Yoshida, mechanical design from Shoji Kawamori and music composed by Naoki Sato. All at studio Bones. Kyoda returned to the series with the sequel Eureka Seven Ao , which aired from October 2013 to March 18, 2014, and...

It has now been roughly 40 years since the legendary mecha anime film, Super Dimension Fortress Macross: Do You Remember Love? (1984), made its theatrical debut in Japan. To celebrate this significant milestone, the original Macross production team reunited to create a stunning 4K remaster of the movie, providing an exhilarating new viewing experience for long-time fans.

In a recent interview conducted by Mantan Web, Macross director Shoji Kawamori and several other staff members shared new details about the upcoming remaster, which utilizes new technology to emphasize the beauty of Macross's original art while also retroactively delivering Kawamori's true artistic vision. "After 40 years, I can finally deliver the visuals I had in mind back then," he explained. "With this 4K remaster, I was amazed at how precisely in focus even the scenes that I felt were a bit off were...you can see the finer details, and the sense of realism has been enhanced.

While everyone loves a good fantasy film series or franchise, there's no question that Hollywood movies have become more and more reliant on the idea of sequels in recent years. Massive franchises like Harry Potter and Pirates of the Caribbean dominate box offices to the point that out of the 10 highest-grossing fantasy films of all time, every single one is either part of a film series or a remake of an older movie.

That isn't to say that sequels are bad, but there is a certain power to a movie that doesn't need a sequel. Fantasy films that stand alone and tell complete stories can be far more satisfying to watch than ones that are clearly putting far more energy into establishing franchise potential than into crafting a compelling narrative. And, of course, there are fads like Disney's avalanche of 90s direct-to-video sequels, with their shoestring budgets and disappointingly outsourced animation.

This week, we return to the world of Genesis of Aquarion in the upcoming Aquarion Myth of Emotions . While the new anime kicks off on January 9—with Crunchyroll simulcasting—you can watch a creditless version of the opening right now! The opening is set to "Sosei no Aquarion Myth of Emotions Ver." by Akino from bless4 and Yoshiki Fukuyama—a new recording of Yoko Kanno's memorable theme from the original 2005 series. Check it out: Aquarion Myth of Emotions Creditless Op Related: Aquarion Myth of Emotions Anime Premieres on January 9, 2025 Kenjito Itoso ( Santa Company ) directs Aquarion Myth of Emotions at studio Satelight, with series composition by Sadayuki Murai ( Sabikui Bisco ), character designs by Masashi Kudo ( Bleach ) and music by Shu Kanematsu ( The Kingdoms of Ruin ) and Takashi Omama ( Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury ). Shoji Kawamori supervises the series, which follows 2015's Aquarion Logos . Source: Dmm Pictures YouTube Channel...

Ahead of a January 9, 2025 broadcast and subsequent simulcast on Crunchyroll , the official website and accounts for Aquarion Myth of Emotions today unveiled a brand-new trailer and key visual for the mecha anime, adding a new dimension to the series' cast list and previewing the ending song, "Kokuhaku" by Akino from bless4. Aquarion Myth of Emotions Trailer Aquarion Myth of Emotions Key Visual The Aquarion Myth of Emotions ' anime's confirmed cast is now as follows: Sakko Otori voiced by Yumiri Hanamori Rimiya Tsukishiro voiced by Makoto Koichi Toshi Hatano voiced by Aki Toyosaki Momohime Amaha voiced by Azumi Waki Sayo Ichiki voiced by Konomi Kohara Sun voiced by Hiroki Nanami Kyoko Munakata voiced by Kiyono Yasuno Kazuhiko Saruta voiced by Yumi Yuzu Nanook voiced by Junya Enoki Sedona voiced by Yui Ishikawa Haida voiced by Nao Toyama Sukuna voiced by Ryota Osaka Twins voiced by Shiori Kawabata Mulua Satene voiced...

Ahead of a simulcast release on Crunchyroll, a brand-new main trailer released for Aquarion Myth of Emotions today announced that the mecha anime will air on Japanese television from January 9, 2025 at 24:30 Jst (effectively January 10 at 0:30). The trailer highlights new and previously confirmed cast members, while also previewing the series' opening song, "Sosei no Aquarion Myth of Emotions Ver." by Akino from bless4 and Yoshiki Fukuyama. Akino from bless4 also performs "Kokuhaku" for the ending song, which is composed and arranged by Yoko Kanno ( Cowboy Bebop ) and features lyrics by Kanno and director Kenji Itoso. Aquarion Myth of Emotions Main Trailer The Aquarion Myth of Emotions ' anime's cast is now as follows: Sakko Otori voiced by Yumiri Hanamori Rimiya Tsukishiro voiced by Makoto Koichi Toshi Hatano voiced by Aki Toyosaki Momohime Amaha voiced by Azumi Waki Sayo Ichiki voiced by Konomi Kohara Sun voiced by Hiroki Nanami Kyoko...

A world without Cowboy Bebop is simply too bleak, and fans of the classic anime series would agree. Shinichiro Watanabe brought together certain elements of different genres like cyberpunk and sci-fi to create an experience that blends anime with Hollywood. Whether it’s emotional resonance you’re looking for, characters who leave a lasting impression, or great music to groove to, Cowboy Bebop checks all the boxes.

Spike Spiegel in Cowboy Bebop anime | Credits: Studio Sunrise

It’s the perfect display of Watanabe’s genius as an auteur. Revisiting the charm of the series and then finding out that it wouldn’t have existed, not in the same form at least, is a jarring discovery. During his initial days in the industry, the director faced some struggles that limited his potential. These experiences led to Cowboy Bebop becoming an ensemble of so many cool elements, as Watanabe shared during an interview.

The first character trailer for the upcoming Aquarion Myth of Emotions TV anime was released tonight bringing the reveal of not only the main key visual for the next installment of the  Aquarion  franchise but also the lead cast members who will bring the mecha to life and visuals for three of the machines. Aquarion Myth of Emotions - First Character Trailer The first cast members of Aquarion Myth of Emotions are: Sakko Otori  voiced by Yumiri Hanamori Momohime Amaha  voiced by Azumi Waki Rimiya Tsukishiro  voiced by Makoto Koichi Toshi Hatano  voiced by Aki Toyosaki Sayo Ichiki  voiced by Konomi Kohara Aquarion Seigel visual Aquarion Tir visual Aquarion Feoh visual Related: Aquarion: Myth of Emotions Anime Takes Flight in January 2025 Masashi Ito directs the  Aquarion: Myth of Emotions  anime at Satelight with Sadayuki Murai writing the series composition, Masashi Kudo drawing the character designs, Takashi Omama and Shu Kanematsu...

It has been a hot minute since news was announced for the next installment of the Aquarion franchise, but today the official accounts revealed that the Aquarion: Myth of Emotions anime will be premiering in January 2025. Alongside the broadcast month, a new visual was also released as well as the leading staff members of the show, including series creator Shoji Kawamori returning as the supervisor and Aquarion designer. Aquarion: Myth of Emotions Anime Key Visual Related: Genesis of Aquarion: Myth of Emotions TV Anime Announced Masashi Ito directs the Aquarion: Myth of Emotions anime at Satelight with Sadayuki Murai writing the series composition, Masashi Kudo drawing the character designs, Takashi Omama and Shu Kanematsu jointly composing the music and franchise creator Shoji Kawamori supervising the production as well as designing the Aquarion. Crunchyroll announced back in August 2023 that Aquarion: Myth of Emotions will be streaming on the platform shortly after it airs in Japan.

Macross fans, get ready, because another beloved series is now available in a stunning package with the arrival of the Macross Zero Limited Edition . Packing the complete series with a bunch of physical extras, the set is available to order now as a Crunchyroll Store exclusive . Originally released in 2002 as part of the Macross 20th anniversary celebration, Macross Zero features the legendary Shoji Kawamori as director, with Satelight on animation production. In addition to episodes 1-5 in Japanese with English, French and German subtitles, here's an overview of the bonuses you can expect with the exclusive limited edition version: On Disc: "Macross Zero Zero" bonus footage Voice Actor comments Pv Audio commentary with Hiroyuki Kashima, Atsushi Sakiyama, Tomisaburo Hashimoto, Hiroshi Yagishita Audio commentaries from Shoji Kawamori, Kenichi Suzumura, Sanae Kobayashi In the box: 128 page booklet 8 x art cards Folded poster Related: Macross Plus Ultimate Edition Blu-ray Box Coming This Fall...

The current generation of anime weebs won’t know this, but Cowboy Bebop was one of the gateway series that led to the worldwide recognition of the anime industry. The eccentric story of Cowboy Bebop follows the adventures of Cowboy Spike Spiegel and his friends, who journey through space and work as bounty hunters in the year 2071.

Cowboy Bebop | Credit: Studio Sunrise

It was directed by Shinichiro Watanabe, who is famously known in the anime industry for his works like Samurai Champloo, Space Dandy, etc. Watanabe is one of the best-known anime directors in history, and most of this fame comes from Cowboy Bebop. However, Cowboy Bebop was not his first project as a director.

Cowboy Bebop fans might not know this, but Watanabe also worked on the famous Japanese franchise Macross from the 80s. He was involved with the second production of the franchise called Macross Plus. But his...

Highly regarded for his creative vision, Shinichiro Watanabe’s journey before his directorial debut with Cowboy Bebop is quite remarkable. Before he started working on his first original project, Watanabe worked on various projects as the episode director and the co-director.

Kou Uraki | Credits: Studio Sunrise

One project that especially sticks out to him is the Gundam Ova, Stardust Memory, as fans still question him about the ending of the series. In an interview, Watanabe voiced his frustrations regarding the Ova series and his journey before the beginning of his directorial endeavors.

Shinichiro Watanabe on Gundam Ova Ending Nina and Kou | Credits: Studio Sunrise

Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory is a 13-episodes-long Ova from the Gundam series. Shinichiro Watanabe worked on it as an episode director. While speaking about his journey to becoming a renowned director, Watanabe shared (via an interview with Forbes) that fans still ask him about the ending of Gundam 0083.

Anime and Japanese pop culture aficionados were blown away by a weekend of cosplay, concerts, and unbridled fandom – with a touch of renegade robot uprisings and alien invasions thrown in for good measure – at Anime NYC 2024. Ever since its inauguration in 2017, LeftField Media’s Anime NYC has been one of the most significant anime and Japanese pop culture events on the East Coast. 2024’s celebration, which was held from August 23-25t at New York City’s Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, was the convention’s biggest year yet with estimated attendance at over 100,000 guests – an Anime NYC record that nearly doubled 2023’s 63,000 attendees.

Anime NYC 2024 was packed with more than 150 hours of panels, screenings, fan meetups, and celebratory events that cater towards the diverse tastes of anime, manga, and video game fans. This year featured an eclectic selection of guests from across America and Japan, including esteemed voice actors like Steve Blum,...

Over the weekend at McM Comic Con London, Anime Limited announced plans to release a Macross Plus Ultimate Edition Blu-ray , with a launch penciled in for fall 2024. For folks in the UK, the set will be available via AllTheAnime.com . For Sharon Apple fans in the U.S., the Crunchyroll Store will carry the set exclusively in the region. The Macross Plus Ultimate Edition packs the four-episode 1994 Ova in a large rigid slipcase. Physical bonuses include a hardcover book looking back at the history and production of the series—complete with staff interviews, character designs, background and key animation art and more—as well as a series of nine art cards and an A3 "concert promo" poster. The discs themselves include the movie and Ova versions of Macross Plus , with options for the original Japanese language with subtitles as well as both the Manga Entertainment dub for the Ova and...

In a recent interview with Comic Natalie, studio Orange founder Eiji Inomoto shared his initial doubts on the establishment of a CG specialized animation studio and the remarkable rise of CG animation within the anime industry.

Initially a freelance CG creator in the game industry, Inomoto transitioned to anime with ‘Zoids: Chaotic Century‘ in 1999. He handled all aspects of production for projects like ‘Geneshaft‘ and ‘Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex‘.

His pivotal moment came when he was offered to manage CG for Shoji Kawamori’s ‘Aquarion‘, leading him to establish Orange.

Initial Skepticism:

Reflecting on the early days, Inomoto revealed that he was unsure if such a company could sustain itself as a viable business even with the increasing use of CG in anime.

“At that time, the demand for CG in the anime industry was growing as a way to fill in the gaps that were difficult to handle with traditional animation.

Animator / director / manga artist Yoshikazu Yasuhiko ( Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin ) has provided the official illustration for the Domannaka Anime Film Festival (pictured below), a two-day event featuring movie screenings and guest speakers that focuses on classic anime films from the 70s, 80s and 90s. The Domannaka Anime Film Festival will be held on May 17 – 20, 2024, at the Midland Square Cinema venue in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, Japan. Domannaka Anime Film Festival poster Related: Crunchyroll to Bring Mobile Suit Gundam: Cucuruz Doan's Island Anime Film to Theaters in September The films screened include: the Mobile Suit Gundam trilogy (1981 – 1982), Patlabor 2: The Movie (1993), Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro (1979), The Super Dimension Fortress Macross: Do You Remember Love? (1984), Harmagedon (1983), Royal Space Force: The Wings of Honneamise (1987), Akira (1988) and Venus Wars (1989). Quest speakers include: Shinichiro Inoue, Masuo Ueda, Yutaka Izubuchi, Kazunori Ito, Ichiro Itano, Shoji Kawamori, Masao Maruyama, Kazuhide Tomonaga, Hiroki Yamaga, Shigeru Watanabe,...

With mecha being one of anime's oldest genres, it takes a lot for a series to stand out. Some series rely solely on character writing to gain a unique advantage, while others work within compelling plots. While any mecha worth its salt has cool-looking mecha, even those series often pull a bit too much inspiration from other mecha to stand out.

However, there are some mecha that are so drastically different from other designs that they're easy to remember years, even decades later. These mecha often rethink what mecha can be or how they can be used in fascinating ways. Frequently, they also just look visually distinctive enough to inspire future mecha series.

Related 30 Best Mecha Anime Ever Mecha is a staple genre of manga and anime. From Gundam to Evangelion, the best mecha series of all time finds clever ways to reinvent the genre. The Aquarion Had Near Infinite...

A talented Sonic the Hedgehog fan has created a gorgeous animated sequence that utilizes a style commonly seen in action-packed shonen anime.

On Feb. 6, an X (formerly Twitter) fan animator called @kotoriyrisuet posted a 15-second video depicting Sonic's transformation into Super Sonic. The sequence, titled "Super Sonic Transformation," showcases uniquely fluid animation coupled with intense lighting effects that invoke a distinct shonen anime vibe. According to @kotoriyrisuet's post, the animation utilizes a technique called "sakuga," which is often used in action anime to highlight particularly important or memorable scenes.

Related New Toei Movie Co-Created by Sonic the Hedgehog Designer "Most Ambitious CGI Film to Date" Toei Animation partners with Sonic the Hedgehog designer Naoto Oshima for a new family-friendly adventure film starring J.K. Simmons and Adam Devine. Super Sonic Transformation [Animation] Initially, I wanted to practice new effects and sakuga, but my friends and artists persuaded me to make a full-fledged video.

Shoji Kawamori's Super Dimension Fortress Macross has not just endured and evolved for more than four decades, but it's considered one of manga and anime's most important space opera mecha franchises alongside Mobile Suit Gundam and Space Battleship Yamato. Macross follows an alternate version of the Earth's history after they reverse-engineer complicated alien technology to form mecha and pivotal tools to aid them in a galactic war.

Macross' legacy has branched out to anime, feature films, light novels, and more than 40 video games. Each new Macross chapter adds something new to the equation, but the mecha series has also found such popularity through its ability to proudly embrace particular shonen genre stereotypes.

Related: 10 Best Anime Series That Set The Standard For Mecha

There’s A Contrived Love Triangle

Shonen series have a complicated relationship when it comes to romance. Romance can be a central component in shojo series, but...

Macross is easily one of the biggest and most popular mecha anime franchises—though that's mostly in Japan. The series found quite a bit of success in its native country due to its combining giant robots with Japanese music idol culture. Sadly, there hasn't been much widespread international presence for the property since the 1980s, but this is finally changing.

An international re-release of Macross Plus is finally on its way, bringing one of the best entries in the franchise to audiences everywhere. It's the first time in decades that this has happened, with the series and its predecessors/successors previously caught up in all manner of legal entanglements. Those walls are finally tumbling down, and it's just in time for the mecha genre's revival.

Related: What Is Gundam & How Many Gundam Anime Are There?

Macross Plus Is One of the Best Anime In the Franchise

Originally released in 1994, Macross Plus...

Giant mechs are a staple of anime, with the largest mechs in anime history often leaving a proportional impact on the medium. More so than most other mediums, mechs are an important part of anime history. With foundational series like Tetsujin 28-go (or Gigantor as it's known in the U.S.) and Gundam establishing some of the medium's most important tropes and elements, it's left a great deal of room for series like Neon Genesis Evangelion and Eureka 7 to redefine what's possible in mech anime.

Part of redefining what's possible in mech anime also comes with redefining what it truly means to be a giant robot. Once upon a time, Tetsujin 28-go's 50-foot mech was considered an absolute behemoth, but as the years went on, that stature got less and less impressive. Though the size of a mech doesn't necessarily correlate to the quality of the anime it's in,...

Titan Comics has unveiled brand-new artwork as it prepares to roll out its epic new series Robotech: Rick Hunter.

The exclusive images include a pull page from the first issue, as well as the issue's cover and a design for fan-favorite character Lynn Minmei. Power Rangers' artist Simone Ragazzoni illustrated all three works and will helm the series alongside Transformers writer Brandon Easton. While the cover and character design are not final art and remain a work in progress, they provide an exciting taste of what fans have to look forward to from Rick Hunter. The latest saga in Titan's adaptation of the beloved 80's anime will pick up where its previous series, The Macross Saga, left off and will continue the story past the events of the original animated series' continuity for the first time in the franchise's history.

Related: Why Alita: Battle Angel Is Still One of the...

How long will you stick with a new TV show before dropping it? According to acclaimed Japanese anime director Shinichirō Watanabe, the answer for most people is five episodes. He was sure to keep this in mind when heading the production team for "Cowboy Bebop" at animation studio Sunrise.

In "Cowboy Bebop," episodes are called "sessions," a reflection of Yoko Kanno's jazz-flavored score and how important music is to the show's identity. The first session, "Asteroid Blues," has some vague flashes of protagonist Spike Spiegel's past. However, for the most part, the first four sessions are standalone vehicles for introducing the show's primary characters. Session 5, "Ballad of Fallen Angels," is when things start to heat up and Spike's past comes to the forefront.

Watanabe bet a lot on session #5 by pulling back the curtain. In what might be an inside joke about these high stakes, Faye Valentine discovers...

As the Robotech film moves ahead, we look at the anime's history, knotty rights issues, cultural impact, and earlier failed film attempts.

"In the year 1999, high above Macross island in the South Pacific, a phenomenal event occurred in the skies which altered the cause of human history..."

With a blaze of animated light, a huge alien space craft bursts through Earth's atmosphere and collides with a city, reducing its buildings to atoms in an instant.

That dramatic opening heralded the arrival of Robotech - and American television had never seen anything quite like it. Here was animated show which told a sprawling saga set across multiple epochs, full of alien invaders and exotic transforming robots. Its characters seemed low-key and somehow real; there were brave pilots, nervy new-recruits, romances and love triangles. There was action, but also comedy, tragedy and pathos. It even provided a generous helping of bubblegum pop music.

From Marine Boy and Thundercats to Cities Of Gold and Akira, we look at the TV shows and movies that introduced the UK to Japanese anime

One evening in 1994, the BBC screened a documentary simply called Manga. Presented by Jonathan Ross, it showcased the rising popularity of Japanese animation, largely focusing on the output of Manga Entertainment, whose dubbed VHS releases had made a huge impact on anime fans and caused a certain amount of consternation among the mainstream press.

For British viewers, the anime boom took a long time to arrive. In America, Japanese shows like Kimba The White Lion, Gigantor and Astro Boy were a common sight on television in the 1960s, yet it took until the late 70s and 80s, and a string of European-Japanese co-productions, before anime finally began to find a hold on UK television.

As a youngster at the time, I didn't necessarily know...