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Hayao Miyazaki’s movies have always been in a league of their own. Ghibli movies are seldom compared to any other creations purely due to how unique and visually immersive they are. However, Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle might be the competition that Ghibli movies never expected to receive.

Timeless pieces like Spirited Away and The Boy and the Heron have upheld the golden standard of anime movies. However, the anime movie industry has been seeing a phenomenal shift ever since Demon Slayer: Mugen Train debuted, and the wave is only expanding with the recent Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle movie.

Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle Brings a New Standard to Anime Movies

Demon Slayer: Mugen Train shocked the anime world by grossing over $500 million worldwide. It broke plenty of box office records and even became the highest-grossing movie in Japan, surpassing Hayao Miyazaki’s Spirited Away. This was the first time that...

Among all the anime screened at Japan Expo Paris, Dr. Stone Science Future also brought its own guest with Ryota Suzuki, the voice of Nanami Ryusui. Along with a panel, Crunchyroll News was able to sit down with Suzuki to discuss his role in the entire Dr. Stone series, his time in France and more! How is your stay in France, and what kind of food did you try? Suzuki : First, it's much cooler than in Japan and much more sustainable. It's very humid in Japan in the summer, whereas here it's very dry and very pleasant. I ate an excellent boeuf bourguignon, then I had onion soup au gratin, which was also superb, and I had snails. The butter was very good. But I was impressed by the amount of food. With only one plate, I was never hungry after, so I've always had a full belly in...

The debut feature of Akihiro Suzuki, who previously worked as a producer on the works of visual artist Hiroyuki Oki, “Looking for An Angel” drew attention after being screened at over ten general and LGBTQ film festivals around the world, including Rotterdam.

Looking for An Angel is screening at Fantasia International Film Festival

Shinpei, a 20-year-old struggling with his sexuality, has left his hometown and now lives alone in Tokyo. One day, his female friend Reiko invites him to a party. Held at Yamazaki’s house, the gathering turns out to be a memorial for Takachi, a gay man who had appeared in straight pornographic videos. He was apparently murdered by a casual pick-up. Over the course of the night, Shinpei pieces together fragments of Takachi’s story his friendship with a beautiful rent-boy, his move to Kochi where “the boys are like angels,” his eventual return to Tokyo, and...

Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle trilogy’s first movie is out, and early reviews suggest that Studio Ufotable has gone above and beyond anything they have ever attempted before. Even their work on the Demon Slayer anime and the Mugen Train movie has been overtaken by the latest production.

By the looks of it, the studio has even brought in outside staff to make sure that the movie is one of the remarkable ones that fans have come across. It was recently revealed that Shinya Ohira, a famous animator and director, worked on one of the fight sequences in Infinity Castle.

Demon Slayer Film’s Animator Partook in Ghibli Oscar Winners

Shinya Ohira has been a part of several iconic anime movies over his decades-long career. He worked on the iconic movie, Akira, in which he drew parts of the elevator scene as well as the famous explosion scene. His style...

Crunchyroll announced plans to simulcast the You and I Are Polar Opposites anime as it airs in January 2026, and a new preview arrived along with the news. In addition to a brand-new trailer, the adaptation announced the two main cast members and additional staff. Here’s the second trailer that debuted at Anime Expo 2025. It reveals the main cast of Sayumi Suzushiro (Nijika Ijichi in Bocchi The Rock! ) as Suzuki and Shogo Sakata (Karin Sasaki in Fire Force ) as Tani . It was also revealed that tofubeats will provide the music. You and I Are Polar Opposites Trailer Related: Classroom of the Elite 2nd Year, You and I Are Polar Opposites and More Anime to Stream on Crunchyroll The cast additions came with character visuals and comments from the actors. Suzuki voiced by Sayumi Suzushiro (Nijika Ijichi in Bocchi The Rock! ) Tani voiced by Shogo Sakata (Karin Sasaki in Fire Force...

Following the Crunchyroll industry panel that just concluded at Anime Expo 2025, read all about the latest announced anime coming to the service, including Classroom of the Elite 2nd Year , You and I Are Polar Opposites and more! Announcements are in alphabetical order. Classroom of the Elite 2nd Year Release Date : To be announced Synopsis (via Seven Seas ): As Ayanokouji and his classmates begin their second year at the Advanced Nurturing High School, they’re greeted by a fresh gauntlet of exams and a fresh batch of rather unique first-year students. They’ll have to get to know each other quickly, because the first special exam pairs the first-years with the second-years on a written test—with only the second-years facing expulsion if their team performs poorly! Worse yet? It seems one of the new first-years is also from the White Room. Can Ayanokouji avoid expulsion while sussing out...

Hayao Miyazaki Nearly Made an R-Rated Horror Film That Could’ve Redefined Studio Ghibli (Photo Credit – Netflix)

Studio Ghibli has built its reputation on thoughtful narratives involving wonder, nature, and quiet reflection. Films including Spirited Away, Totoro, and Princess Mononoke beautifully combine fantasy aspects with real emotion to capture the curiosity of audiences from children to adults. Yet at one point, the studio almost took a far more darker approach.

Apparently hidden behind Ghibli’s gentle image was a surprising idea and that was an adaptation of Parasyte, the horror manga by Hitoshi Iwaaki. Although it sounds far removed from Ghibli’s world, the project was seriously discussed and Hayao Miyazaki himself was interested. However, the idea faded before it began, not because it didn’t fit, but because someone else already owned the rights.

Parasyte (2014) pic.twitter.com/xRWhqTynMS

— Anime Vibes (@finalformlab) May 16, 2025

Hayao Miyazaki and Toshio Suzuki Considered...

Based on Wahei Tatematsu’s novel “Enrai”, the production of “Distant Thunder” has quite a background behind it. Initially, several directors competed for the adaptation rights, while Nikkatsu considered adapting another of Tatematsu’s novels, “Buriki no Hokukaikisen”. However, those plans were stalled, and focus shifted to “Enrai”. Atg’s Shiro Sasaki intended it to be Kichitaro Negishi’s directorial debut, but by the time the project materialized, it had become his eighth work. It was still, however, his mainstream debut, since his previous productions had been pinku eiga. Negishi, who had no personal connection to rural areas, agreed to direct because the characters he wanted to portray happened to live in the countryside. He had also long hoped to collaborate with screenwriter Haruhiko Arai.

One controversial scene involves a long take of Johnny Okura delivering a monologue inside the greenhouse. Though edited from three cuts, it appears as a...

In Japanese cinema, which has never shied away from the extreme but rather embraced the grotesque, both in terms of violence and sexuality, it is inevitable that a multitude of shocking scenes would emerge, or at least did exist before the era of political correctness. Add to that a sense of peculiar humor, extreme techniques used to depict horrific moments with stark realism, broken taboos, and a total disregard for political correctness, and you have the foundation of this list.

Naturally, narrowing the countless shocking scenes in Japanese cinema down to just 15 is no easy task. However, with a focus on diversity, here are some of the most unforgettable and jarring examples. Some of the scenes described were difficult to find so I opted for something similar instead, from the same movie.

15. The first sex scene in Caterpillar

Lieutenant Kurokawa returns home from the war a celebrated hero but also...

Studio Ghibli’s prestigious reputation consists of truths and exaggerations. The company has spent 40 years as a world leader in quality animation while independently funding projects based on prior successes — until their sale to Nippon TV in 2023.

Behind every great library of art is a machine that needs to sell it, and Ghibli, which turns 40 this June, is no different. As much as we laud the altruistic, ethical enterprise established by Toshio Suzuki, Isao Takahata, and Hayao Miyazaki, Ghibli can be just as cynical as its Western counterparts.

Ghibli’s branding as an ethical animation studio isn’t unfounded. Rayna Denison, author of “Studio Ghibli: An Industrial History,” has admired the thoughtful way Suzuki, Takahata, and Miyazaki constructed the studio.

“They put deep thought into what they wanted to do with their studio before they founded it,” Denison told IndieWire. “You get early interviews with Miyazaki saying things like, ‘If...

In the opening sequence, young Fuki stands before a chalkboard crowded with her own words, recounting her imagined funeral as classmates squint through the dusty shafts of classroom light. The year is 1987, and suburban Tokyo hums beyond those windows—a world in the throes of economic ecstasy yet quietly unraveling in living rooms and hospital wards. Eleven-year-old Fuki, tethered to her father’s hospital bed and her mother’s absences, drifts between hospital corridors and silent streets, each step measured in equal parts wonder and apprehension.

Chie Hayakawa’s camera moves with a deliberate calm, tracing Fuki’s gaze as she tests her nascent belief in telepathy or listens to strangers’ lonely phone-dating messages echoing through midnight. Reality bleeds into her fantasies so seamlessly that the mournful daydream of her own death feels as tangible as the sterile scent of antiseptic in her father’s room.

Rather than constructing a linear tale,...

In the midst of a society that, as we are told by one of the characters in Chie Hayakawa’s Renoir, is characterized by diligence and modesty, young Fuki Okita (Yui Suzuki) is living on instinct and imagination. Her father is in hospital, slowly dying of cancer. She thinks her mother wishes he would die a little faster or, at the very least, maintain sufficiently critical symptoms not to be sent home. She’s probably right: Utako (Hikari Ishida) is not a home body.

The year is 1987, before the internet came to swallow girls like Fuki. Instead, she retreats into a cacophony of cable TV’s dimestore gurus handing out advice on telepathy and hypnosis. She practices transmitting the suits on cards to anyone prepared to play; she tries to divine where the TV remote has gone. Perhaps she has the gift.

Sakamoto Days is actually one of the coolest manga in Shonen Jump right now. You’ve got this ex-hitman turned chubby convenience store owner, taking down enemies with a shopping basket and dodging bullets while holding grocery bags. What’s not to love? But here’s the thing: it’s not only the idea that works. It’s the way it looks. Yuto Suzuki’s artwork is fire.

The action scenes? Absolute chef’s kiss. Those are the pages that make you stop scrolling and go, “Whoa. Let me see that again.” But when the anime dropped, something just didn’t feel right. The visuals were decent, but the fight scenes? Straight away disappointing. So, if Cour 2 doesn’t solve these action scenes, then we might head straight into One Punch Man Season 2 territory, and trust us, nobody wants that.

The problem with Sakamoto Days Cour 1: Underwhelming action that lacked impact

First off,...

Exclusive: Japan’s Gaga Corporation has secured worldwide sales rights to upcoming animated feature Jinsei and will launch the title at the Cannes market.

Jinsei (meaning “life” in Japanese) marks the feature directorial debut of Ryuya Suzuki, who animated the entire film himself over 18 months. It is set to open theatrically in Japan on May 16 before playing at Annecy in its competitive Contrechamp section.

Animated without a script, the film centres on a young man – voiced by rapper Ace Cool – who is raised by his father-in-law in rural Japan after his mother is killed by an elderly driver. Told in 10 chapters,...

After being blacklisted by Japan’s movie studios in 1967 for—as he himself put it later—making “films that make no sense and make no money,” nonconformist director Suzuki Seijun spent a decade confined to making television and video projects before being allowed to helm another feature. His comeback movie, 1977’s A Tale of Sorrow and Sadness, proved every bit as strange and singular as the films that got him shut out of studios in the first place.

Opening as a spoof on the magazine industry, the film initially focuses on a golf publication cooking up a PR stunt to train a young fashion model, Reiko (Shiraki Yoko), to play the sport just well enough to enter a tournament. To the shock of everyone, she proves to be a natural. She’s such a savant that she suggests a classical oracle, fainting in a kind of ecstasy with each perfect swing.

Hayao Miyazaki is retiring? No kidding. We’ve heard that before. If you’re a longtime fan of Studio Ghibli, you know the drill by now: Miyazaki ‘retires,’ and then makes another timeless classic a couple of years later like nothing even happened. From Princess Mononoke to The Wind Rises, every film was supposedly his final bow, until the next one showed up.

But The Boy and the Heron? This one hits differently. It doesn’t read as another chapter. It reads as the epilogue, the final, bittersweet goodbye. And now, in a new interview from Gkids, the U.S. distributor of the film, Studio Ghibli co-founder Toshio Suzuki may have just confirmed what fans have long feared but secretly kinda accepted: Miyazaki has retired. For real this time. No take-backs!

The Boy and the Heron: A farewell that actually feels real this time

Suzuki discusses in the interview how...

Before his commercial breakthrough with 1963’s Youth of the Beast, Suzuki Seijun made a slew of more conventional B movies for Nikkatsu. Along with films like Eight Hours of Terror and Take Aim at the Police Van, Underworld Beauty is one that showed some distinct traces of the iconoclast that he would become. And the film’s underlying nihilistic worldview and atypically rowdy and abrasive female lead—a young nude model named Akiko (Shiraki Mari)—make it evident that, even in 1958, Suzuki was already on the same wavelength as other future Japanese New Wave directors from the get-go.

As is often the case with Suzuki, the plot of Underworld Beauty is decidedly beside the point, involving several diamonds that various members of the yakuza end up fighting over. There’s an impishness and morbid absurdity ingrained in the grotesque journey that these diamonds take throughout the film. The stolen gems...

Taro Sakamoto is no run-of-the-mill hitman, especially with his skills as he overturns the idea of an ideal shonen protagonist. From chopsticks to pens, our rotund hero is crafty yet subtle in most aspects.

Be it a family man or an ideal citizen, Yuto Suzuki went the extra mile with his conception of the hero. But what strikes him differently from others is his transformation, which is nothing short of theatrical.

Taro Sakamoto in a still from the anime | Credit: Tms Entertainment

Interestingly, his intense fights bring out his iconic transformation in the series. His power-up is truly reminiscent of Hugh Jackson’s Wolverine in every single way. And while this is a recurring pattern in the series, there’s one chapter that started it all.

To add to that, Suzuki’s conception of the hero is far-fetched from the stereotypical fat guy. Rather, he gives him edginess and badassery in every possible way,...

When we think about battle choreography, John Wick stands out in most aspects. The film series is lauded for its power-packed showdowns and fights, and that’s precisely why it became an inspiration for movies, shows, and even anime.

Sakamoto Days is no exception to this considering its unique plot and setting. And while the series is making waves on the internet and elsewhere, it isn’t exempt from heavy backlash and criticism.

Lu, Sakamoto, and Shin in a still from the anime | Credit: Tms Entertainment

Of late, fans expressed their criticism and contentions regarding the manga. From pacing to characters, their reasons were tied to a lack of conclusions. And while criticisms are necessary, fans may have overlooked the mangaka’s approach entirely.

The characters, plot, and landscape are essential, though they all tie perfectly with a writer’s motive. In their criticism of the series, the fans may...

2024 is in the books and we’re on to 2025, but before we fully get into the new year, let’s look back at your favorite anime opening themes from the past year. We had you vote every season over the course of the year and finally, one final time, as we pitted every top five against each other to see which openings would reign supreme as the best of the best. Will we see some surprise entries or will our previous winners continue to stay on top? Let’s dive into these results to find out! What 2024 Anime Openings Were in the Poll? Here's a quick rundown of all the anime openings that were in the running. These are the openings that were in the top five of our fan polls over the course of 2024. Top Winter Anime 2024 Openings Check out all Winter Anime 2024 OPs here! 5. "Ambivalent" by Uru ( The Apothecary Diaries...

The following contains spoilers for Sakamoto Days Season 1, Episode 2, "Vs. Son Hee and Bacho," now streaming on Netflix.

As Season 1 of Sakamoto Days proceeds, fans are witnessing one of the funniest, most intriguing anime properties Netflix has had in some time. The story deals with a retired hitman, Taro Sakamoto, as he tries to run his convenience store. Most of all, Taro wants to take care of his wife, Aoi, and daughter, Hana.

After Sakamoto Days' first episode, Taro converts a hitman, Shin Asakura, to his side, too. Taro makes it clear it's better to live a normal life. Not that Shin needed much convincing. Well, as the second episode hits, the duo add a new member to their pack: Lu Shaotang. And she promises to up the comedy, drama and action factor.

Related Sakamoto Days is the Perfect Mix of Shonen Anime Action & Slice of Life

One of the...

The legendary filmmaker and the co-founder of Studio Ghibli, Hayao Miyazaki has always been a revered name in the anime industry for his deep introspective storytelling. However, there was one movie that sparked immense skepticism even from someone like Miyazaki, and that movie is none other than The Wind Rises; which was released in 2013.

Hayao Miyazaki’s The Wind Rises was different from his most works | Credit: Studio Ghibli

This animated historical drama, which was later nominated for an Academy Award, almost didn’t make it to the big screen. The Wind Rises is perhaps one of Studio Ghibli’s most divisive works, dealing with themes of war, love, and ambition through the lens of historical figures; which was drastically different from Hayao Miyazaki’s earlier works like Spirited Away or My Neighbor Totoro.

Hayao Miyazaki’s initial vision for The Wind Rises

In an interview via Animation World Network...

It is not often that we come across a shonen manga that defies conventionality. Be it characterization or plotline, Yuto Suzuki’s series is a masterpiece in most aspects.

This extends to its refreshing and riveting storyline which is a spin on the hitman trope. But most of all, Suzuki did the unthinkable when it comes to overused tropes in the shonen genre.

Taro Sakamoto in a still from the anime | Credit: Tms Entertainment

His series Sakamoto Days is a breather with its portrayal of action, violence, and romance. The series deviates from the conventional portrayal of a strong protagonist in more ways than one.

Above all, the mangaka reinvents the shonen genre through his series. Like most new-age anime, it is set to redefine and reshape the course of storytelling and the genre for the better.

Yuto Suzuki on his unconventional protagonist

Yuto Suzuki’s series is one of...

Sakamoto Days is the gift that keeps on giving and its anime is not even out yet. If you did not realize, Yuto Suzuki's hit manga is set to get its very own anime in 2025, and all eyes are on the big series. As fans are already comparing the show to One-Punch Man, Sakamoto Days has the anime fandom wrapped around its finger, and we've just gotten a major update on the anime thanks to Jump Festa 2025.

After all, a brand-new trailer for Sakamoto Days has gone live just in time for the holidays. In the clip below, you can see characters like Taro Sakamoto getting down to business even though he has long left the hitman business. We also learned when exactly Sakamoto Days will go live; The anime will premiere on January 11, 2025, and the artist Conton Candy was asked to perform the show's ending theme "Normal".

As you can see,...

Fans of Weekly Shonen Jump’s hit manga series Sakamoto Days can start getting excited for January, when the ex-hitman’s story will be brought to life via a new anime show, delivering both adrenaline-pumping action and laugh-out-loud comedy.

Per Netflix, Sakamoto Days will be making its highly anticipated debut on the platform on Jan. 11, 2025, releasing Season 1, Part 1 for fans. Originally a manga created by Yuto Suzuki, Sakamoto Days follows the story of retired hitman Taro Sakamoto. Sakamoto led a dangerous life as an unrivaled assassin before falling in love and embarking on a new mission: parenthood. Now working as an overweight convenience store clerk, Sakamoto thought that he’d left his life of crime behind. However, his past has other ideas, as former colleagues and enemies continually drag him back into dangerous situations.

Related January 27 Will Be a Great Day for Fullmetal Alchemist Fans (But Not for the Reason You Think)

Next month,...

The official website for the Re:zero -Starting Life in Another World- anime franchise announced that the English lyric version of the theme songs for the ongoing TV anime third season are now available on digital platforms for streaming and download — the opening theme "Reweave" by Konomi Suzuki and the ending theme "Nox Lux" by Myth & Roid . New music videos for both songs are now also available on YouTube. The original version of "Reweave" released digitally on October 3. Suzuki previously sang the opening theme for each of the first and second seasons in 2016 and 2020, respectively — "Redo" for the first and "Realize" for the second. Konomi Suzuki " Reweave" (English Version) Music Video Konomi Suzuki artist photo Related: Konomi Suzuki Shares Re:zero -Starting Life in Another World- Season 3 Opening Song Music Video The original version of "Nox Lux" digitally released on October 10. Myth & Roid , music producer Tom-h@ck 's contemporary creative...

Fans of Studio Ghibli and its most famous co-founder and filmmaker, Hayao Miyazaki, have a new release to look forward to this December, as a two-hour film called Hayao Miyazaki and the Heron is coming soon to many countries via Netflix.

The new documentary film provides an intriguing behind-the-scenes look at one of Studio Ghibli's most recent movies, The Boy and the Heron, and its visionary creator. The documentary has already been released in the United States via Max but will soon also become available to streamers in the UK and elsewhere via Netflix on Dec. 6, 2024. First premiering at the Cannes Film Festival in France, Hayao Miyazaki and the Heron highlights the struggles that Miyazaki underwent during his latest Academy Award-winning film, capturing his thoughts and feelings about the movie. As he has aged, Miyazaki feels he has lost some parts of himself, as he eludes to in a recent trailer for the documentary,...

Anisong singer Konomi Suzuki released her new digital single song "Reweave" on October 3, posting the song's music video on her official YouTube channel . The dramatic rock tune is now featured as the opening theme for the latest third season of the TV anime Re:zero -Starting Life in Another World- . She sang the opening theme for each of the first and second seasons in 2016 and 2020, respectively — "Redo" for the first and "Realize" for the second. In the music video, Suzuki takes on the role of the protagonist who repeatedly dies but stands up to save a girl from a witch. Also, she is challenging herself in acting scenes that have not been seen in many of her previous videos, and her powerful and gorgeous singing performance in a bright red dress is impressive. Konomi Suzuki "Reweave" Music Video "Reweave" digital jacket Related: Re:zero -Starting Life in Another World- Season 3: Where to Watch,...

Welcome to this week’s review of Aew’s, Collision, which brings wrestling back to Saturday nights! We’ve got the commentary team of Tony Schiavone, Ian Riccaboni, and Matt Menard calling the action for this special Grand Slam episode of Collision, so let’s get into the review!

Match #1: Saraya’s Rules Match – Jamie Hayter def. Saraya The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:

Hayter stomped a mudhole into Saraya. Cameron held Hayter’s ankle and then Saraya smashed a VHS player across Hayter’s head. Saraya walloped Hayter with a computer keyboard. Outside the ring, Harley mounted Hayter and rammed her head into the floor. Harley whipped Hayter into the steel guardrail. Saraya whacked Hayter with repeated cookie sheet shots. Hayter grabbed Saraya and hurled Saraya with a German Suplex on the floor! Cameron jumped on Hayter’s back but Hayter escaped and bashed Harley into the guardrail.

The official website for the Under Ninja live-action film today announced two additional cast members — Shotaro Mamiya (Reinhard von Lohengramm in the Legend of the Galactic Heroes stage plays) as Kato and Mai Shiraishi (ex-Nogizaka46 member) as Suzuki. The site has also released a new trailer introducing the two. Under Ninja Live-Action Film Trailer Kato is an elite member of the ninja organization “Nin”, and he has a serious ninja mission for the protagonist, Kuro Kumogakure (played by Kento Yamazaki). "I was very happy because it had been 10 years since I had worked with Kento," said Mamiya. "I hope that I was able to create a sense of tension in Kato's quiet and unique way, and since the action scenes were filmed through trial and error with the staff, I think those are scenes worth seeing." Suzuki is also a skilled kunoichi (female ninja) who belongs to "Nin." She usually...

The recent announcement of Eiichiro Oda’s One Piece remake has taken the entire internet by storm. The One Piece will now be a new animated series in the works by Wit Studio. Naturally, the revelation created a huge buzz online, enthralling fans worldwide. The One Piece remake news has fans optimistic about seeing the renewal of their beloved animes that once left them disappointed.

The One Piece | Credit: Wit Studio

Many animes met an unfortunate end as the manga’s compelling narrative would over-hype the community but later fall short of expectations. Several Berserk fans are once again hopeful for their beloved series’ return after so many years; however, one anime that arguably deserves a remake even more is Seven Deadly Sins.

Amidst the One Piece Remake, Fans Hope for a Seven Deadly Sins Revival

Eiichiro Oda‘s One Piece is arguably the most popular anime franchise, captivating several fans worldwide.

An anime adaptation that many people have been waiting for will finally be coming out soon. However, not as soon as this year. It'll be released on Netflix at the top of 2025 in January. We're talking about the anime adaptation of the hit Japanese manga series Sakamoto Days.

Sakamoto Days is an upcoming Netflix anime based on Yuto Suzuki's manga of the same name. Tms Entertainment, the same animation company behind popular anime such as Dr. Stone and Baki, is signed on to produce and animate the adaptation. In addition, Masaki Watanabe, who is known for helming the anime series Kado: The Right Answer, will direct.

The anime will revolve around the legendary ex-hitman Taro Sakamoto, who finds his peaceful life as a family man disrupted when adversaries from his past come seeking revenge. In order to ensure his and his beloved family's safety, Sakamoto is forced to come...

No Longer Allowed in Another World , an upcoming TV anime based on the dark comedy isekai fantasy manga, has revealed a new trailer, a new collaboration visual with Bungo Stray Dogs (below), and several new cast members. The series will broadcast in Japan beginning on July 9, 2024, and it will also stream on Crunchyroll as part of the summer 2024 anime simulcast lineup . The new cast members include: Wolff voiced by Nobunaga Shimazaki (Hayato Suo in Wind Breaker ) Wolff character visual Suzuki voiced by Nobuhiko Okamoto (Marius in The Strongest Tank's Labyrinth Raids -A Tank with a Rare 9999 Resistance Skill Got Kicked from the Hero's Party- ) Suzuki character visual Kaibara voiced by Daisuke Ono (Sebastian Michaelis in Black Butler -Public School Arc- ) Kaibara character visual Yuriko voiced by Konomi Kohara (Mei in Hell's Paradise ) Yuriko key visual Sengoku voiced by Tomokazu Sugita (Takamichi Hotaka in Kaiju No. 8 ) Sengoku character visual The original...

‘Don't Call it a Mystery' took domestic cinemas by storm, amassing significant viewership and grossing over 30 million Usd since its premiere in fall of 2023. Following ten volumes of commercially successful manga by Yumi Tamura and a Fuji TV drama series in 2022, a live-action film was the cherry on top of the expanding franchise. Starring Masaki Suda as Totono Kuno (reprising the same role from the earlier TV series), and helmed by Hiroaki Matsuyama (who was involved in the TV series format as the director as well), the film is an accessible and layered detective story with various technical shortcomings. “Don't Call it a Mystery” can be mostly enjoyed by the fans of the franchise. As for the newcomers, they might initially have a hard time tuning into the plot. After embracing the chaos of the opening sequences even those who are new to the Totono Kuno universe may get swept...

While much of the Cannes Classics lineup this year look far back in cinema history, a new documentary in the lineup captures a behind-the-scenes look at a recent masterpiece. Hayao Miyazaki and the Heron is an expanded version of Kaku Arakawa’s documentary 2399 Days with Hayao Miyazaki & Studio Ghibli, which recently aired on Japanese television. Capturing the Studio Ghibli founder’s nearly seven-year journey in crafting his recent Oscar winner, the first trailer has now arrived following the film’s premiere, which coincides with the studio receiving an Honorary Palme d’Or.

Here’s the synopsis: “Hayao Miyazaki and the Heron is a two-hour documentary that chronicles the making of The Boy and the Heron, filmed with exclusive access to Studio Ghibli across an astonishing seven years. It is also a record of the collaboration between filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki and producer Toshio Suzuki as they perform an intricate dance of disappointment and friendship,...

More than just a director of animation, Hayao Miyazaki is one of the best filmmakers (of any kind) of all time. His films are beloved and studied. You might as well just hand him an Oscar when he makes a new one. So, it’s incredibly interesting to see what all goes into the making of one of his features.

Read More: ‘The Substance’ Review: Demi Moore & Margaret Qualley Switch In A Visionary Twist On ‘Death Becomes Her’ [Cannes]

As seen in the trailer for “Hayao Miyazaki and the Heron,” you get a behind-the-scenes look at the creation of the Oscar-winning feature, “The Boy and the Heron.” Over the course of the two-hour documentary, you see the relationship between the filmmaker and his producing partner Toshio Suzuki, as both people play off each other and Suzuki, in particular, pushes Miyazaki to go even further with his creativity.

Continue reading ‘Hayao Miyazaki...

Studio Ghibli Awarded Honorary Palme d’Or at Cannes Film Festival - Main Image

Studio Ghibli just made history recently as it was awarded the honorary Palme d’Or at the 77th Cannes Film Festival. This marks yet another major award for the studio, though it’s quite surprising given that Ghibli has not released any new films since The Boy and the Heron last year.

While the Palme d’Or is the most significant Cannes award, the honorary version can be seen as sort of a lifetime achievement award.

Still, it’s a big honor, especially as Ghibli being given the award is a first in Cannes history in one key way.

Why Studio Ghibli’s Honorary Palme d’Or Is a Big Deal

Studio Ghibli is perhaps one of the most celebrated animation studios in Japan, as its works such as Spirited Away and My Neighbor Totoro are beloved across the world.

Studio Ghibli co-founder and director of The Boy and the Heron Hayao Miyazaki has revealed his relief at finally finishing the film after seven long years of production.

The comment was made during a livestream panel of the 96th Academy Award nominees for Best Animated Film, later uploaded to YouTube. Miyazaki and Toshio Suzuki, Studio Ghibli’s president, were not present at the panel in person but sent a video message answering a few short interview questions about their nominated film, The Boy and the Heron. Suzuki asked Miyazaki what about the film he was happy with, to which Miyazaki thought for several moments before replying, "I’m glad that I made it all the way to the end. All that’s left now is my worn-out self."

Related Studio Ghibli Unveils Stunning Miniature Model Kit for Its Official Museum Studio Ghibli introduces a paper craft kit that allows fans...

Busan Names Asian Contents & Film Market Director

Busan’s Asian Contents and Film Market (Acfm) has named experienced programmer and indie arthouse producer Ellen Y.D. Kim has its new Director. She has been officially approved at the Busan International Film Festival (Biff)’s general assembly and will commence a four-year term this Friday (March 8). She was previously Program Director of the Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival. Kim is well known to Acfm, having played a key role in establishing the event in the 2006s, and co-produced arthouse films such as Cry Woman in 2002 and Sewing Sisters 18 years later. She also held several key roles at Acfm’s parent, the Biff, which has now passed this year’s business plan and budget at the general assembly, as it bids to return to normalcy after a string of resignations last year. Biff has also approved of 18 board members and an auditor,...

Salad Bowl of Eccentrics (known in Japan as Henjin no Salad Bowl ), an upcoming TV anime based on the light novel series, has revealed a wealth of new information, including a new trailer, new cast additions, and the opening and ending theme song performers. The series will broadcast in Japan beginning on April 4, 2024. The new cast members include: Ichio Kusanagi voiced by Yoji Ueda (Eisen in Frieren: Beyond Journey's End ) Takeo voiced by Shinnosuke Tachibana (Yukari in The Demon Prince of Momochi House ) Suzuki voiced by Kosuke Toriumi (Gyokko in Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba ) Wanuka performs the opening theme song for the series, which is entitled “Gifu ni Ted”. Meiyo Densetsu performed the ending theme for the series, which is entitled “Konban no Kenka” (“Tonight's Fight”). The original Salad Bowl of Eccentrics light novels by Yomi Hirasaka are published in Japan by Shogakukan under their Gagaga Bunko imprint. Masafumi Sato...

After what seems like an eternity of waiting, new information regarding the third season of the highly anticipated One Punch Man has been revealed.

In an announcement video that was released on Feb 29, 2024, it was revealed that One Punch Man Season 3 is being animated by Studio J.C. Staff. A new key visual featuring the protagonist Saitama was also revealed along with the announcement.

The staff working on One Punch Man Season 3 includes:

Series Composition: Tomohiro Suzuki Character Design: Chikashi Kubota, Shinjiro Kuroda, Ryosuke Shirakawa Music: Makoto Miyazaki

Makoto Furukawa and Hikaru Midorikawa will also be returning to voice Saitama and Garou respectively in the third season. Meanwhile, Daisuke Nakamura will voice the character of Dr. Genus in the upcoming season.

Suzuki is continuing in his role from the first and second seasons. Information regarding the release date, remaining staff and cast will be revealed in the future.

More new...

Heroic Complex blends magical girl and superhero genres seamlessly, offering a unique twist on traditional storytelling styles. Characters Aoi and Misuzu navigate complex interpersonal dynamics while fighting evil as Blue Wing and Burning X. Suzuki Daishi expertly incorporates superhero, magical girl, and rom-com elements, creating a captivating narrative for manga fans.

Although magical girls and superheroes are not often equated, they share a number of similarities, and for manga fans of both genres, there's no better title exploring the intersection of magic using female warrior fantasy and costumed crime fighter action than Heroic Complex. The story's interesting take on a classic trope makes the title a worthy read even for manga fans who might not be that into magical girls or superheroes.

Suzuki Daishi's Heroic Complex centers on high school students Aoi Ootori and Misuzu Haruno, who, unbeknownst to their family and friends, are heroes fighting against evil. Ootori, known as Blue Wing,...

After several years of working as an assistant director for Suzuki Seijun, Hasebe Yasuharu finally got the chance to direct his own film with 1966’s Black Tight Killers. While Suzuki’s irreverent whatsit Tokyo Drifter went on to international fame that same year, Hasebe’s debut lurked in relative obscurity outside of Japan. It’s an understandable fate since Suzuki’s relentless abstraction of both narrative and action accounts for much of what still makes it feel vital and fresh nearly six decades later, and Black Tight Killers sticks more tightly to the type of mukokuseki akushon (“borderless action”) film that Nikkatsu Studios had been churning out since the late ’50s.

Still, Black Tight Killers is an immensely stylish film in its own right. And it functions as a fascinating time capsule of a post-war Japan at a time when its youth culture was embracing the spirit of the Swinging ’60s.

The official YouTube channel for voice actor Aina Suzuki, best known as Mari Ohara in Love Live! Sunshine!! and Jashin-chan in Dropkick on My Devil! , started streaming a music video for her fifth CD single song, "Hate no Nai Tabi" ( An Endless Journey ). The pop tune is now featured as the opening theme for the winter 2024 TV anime The Weakest Tamer Began a Journey to Pick Up Trash , where she also plays the protagonist, Ivy. While performing as a member of the Love Live! Sunshine!! franchise's voice actor unit Aqours, Suzuki made her solo singer debut in January 2020, now celebrating her fourth anniversary since debuting. Following "Apocalypse Day" (the opening theme for Dropkick on My Devil!! Apocalypse Day ) in December, the CD single of "Hate no Nai Tabi" is set to release in Japan on January 31. Prior to the CD release, the song released digitally on January 13. Aina Suzuki "Hate...

The official website of AnimeJapan 2024 revealed the line-ups for its main stages, Red, Blue and Green, on Jan 19, 2024.

AnimeJapan 2024 will take place at Tokyo Big Sight on March 23-24, 2024.

An overview of the stages can be viewed below:

Red & Green Stage: Closed stage with assigned seating. Entry requires both an entrance ticket and a stage viewing ticket. Blue Stage: Open stage with assigned seating for seated viewing near the stage front. Entry requires both an entrance ticket and a stage viewing ticket. Limited free viewing at the rear due to space constraints.

Check out the complete timetable of AnimeJapan 2024 stages below:

Red Stage AnimeJapan 2024 Line-up: Date: March 23, 2024 Timings (Jst)Event NameMembers attending09:15 – 09:50Suicide Squad ISEKAIAnna Nagase, Yuuichirou Umehara, Reigo Yamaguchi, Jun Fukuyama and more10:25 – 11:00Mushoku Tensei: Jobless ReincarnationYumi Uchiyama, Tomokazu Sugita, Ai Kayano, Yuuki Takada, Yuiko Ohara11:35 – 12:10i☆Ris the Movie – Full Energy!

Hayao Miyazaki, renowned director from Japanese animation company Studio Ghibli, is back after previously announcing his retirement from filmmaking.

The famed animator and director, known for My Neighbor Totoro and various other iconic Japanese animated films, recently announced his retirement following the release of his "final" film, The Boy and the Heron. Now, according to Studio Ghibli president Toshio Suzuki, Miyazaki is not only back in action but also more dynamic than ever, stating that the director is reportedly "obsessed" with his next project. "He's thinking about this next project every day, and I can't stop him — in fact, I've given up," Suzuki said in an interview with Liberation. "I no longer try to dissuade him, even if he were to make a failed film. In life, it's only the work that delights him."

Related: Studio Ghibli Highlights Several Iconic Works With Gorgeous Watercolor Greeting Card Set

A founding member of Studio Ghibli,...

“After his mother is murdered, Jinsuke runs away with his mysterious neighbor, Suzuki, who has a dark secret. Suzuki seeks to find a quiet life, Jinsuke dreams only of revenge as he decides to take matters into his own hands…” (Coamix Inc)

Read this Title on Azuki

Taking on a familiar structure of a “lone wolf and cub” relationship, Hirohisa Sato's “Suzuki Just Wants a Quiet Life” offers an explosive murder mystery tied together by the bonds formed between the titular assassin Suzuki and a young orphaned boy Jinuske. It is one of those series that knows how to instantly capture the reader's attention with a sensational premise, appeal to the desire to protect innocence, and a rewarding battle of ‘good vs. evil.' Still, while the initial volume impresses, it raises questions about whether the series can follow through in subsequent volumes.

The inaugural volume balances various elements...

The new documentary Mr. Jimmy tells the story of a Japanese kimono salesman named Akio Sakurai, who worships Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page. For three decades, Sakurai has adopted the persona of “Mr. Jimmy,” playing guitar like Page and attempting note-for-note recreations of Led Zeppelin concerts in Tokyo clubs. After Page encouraged him, he moved to Los Angeles and joined a tribute act, Led Zepagain, to continue his idol worship. The picture, distributed worldwide by Abramorama, is in theaters now.

Filmmaker Peter Michael Dowd tells Rolling Stone he made the...

Studio Ghibli vice-president Junichi Nishioka claimed The Boy and the Heron's acclaimed director Hayao Miyazaki was already working on his next project.

Entertainment reporter Eli Glasner uploaded a post to X, formerly known as Twitter, wherein he reportedly discussed Miyazaki's plans for the foreseeable future with Nishioka during The Boy and the Heron's red carpet premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival 2023."Exciting news for fans of Hayao Miyazaki," the post reads. "Studio Ghibli VP Junichi Nishioka tells us The Boy and the Heron is not Miyazaki's final film and that he is already coming into the office with new ideas."

Related: The Boy and the Heron Drops First Official Look at Hayao Miyazaki's Final Film

Exiting news for fans of Hayao Miyazaki. Studio Ghibli VP Junichi Nishioka tells us The Boy and the Heron is not Miyazaki’s final film and that he is already coming into the office with new ideas.

The first official trailer has dropped for Studio Ghibli's latest feature film, The Boy and the Heron.

As detailed by The Hollywood Reporter, Gkids, which is distributing the film in North America, has followed up the release of its initial "pre-teaser" with a one-minute-long animated trailer. This video highlights Heron's main protagonist Mahito Maki as he ventures into a strange and mysterious world to restore his mother's life. Released as "How Do You Live?" in Japan, the film is written and directed by Ghibli's legendary co-founder Hayao Miyazaki, who emerged from retirement after 10 years to oversee the production. The Boy and the Heron will arrive in theaters in North America starting Dec. 8.

Related: Gkids Releases Very First Trailer for The Boy and the Heron

Unlike other Ghibli films, The Boy and the Heron did not have a traditional marketing campaign, with the studio instead opting only to release...