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Ahead of a July 5 broadcast and subsequent simulcast on Crunchyroll , the upcoming With You and the Rain anime today revealed a new trailer and theme song details. Mamiko Suzuki performs "Ama to" for the opening song, which is previewed below, and Kei Sugawara performs "filled" for the slice-of-life series' ending song. With You and the Rain Trailer Related: With You and the Rain Anime Premieres on July 5 Tomohiro Tsukimisato directs With You and the Rain at studio Lesprit, with series composition by Toko Machida ( Life Lessons with Uramichi Oniisan ), character designs by Ayano Owada ( Bikkurimen ) and music by Rei Ishizuka ( A Couple of Cuckoos ). Crunchyroll describes the story: On a rainy day, Fuji meets a cute critter posing as a dog and offering an umbrella and a cue card that says, “Please take me home,” and she can’t resist. With this dog-poster’s quirky charm and mysterious ways, life...

Keeping with tradition, Nis America has a definitive version of the latest entry in the Disgaea series on the way. Disgaea 7 Complete is set to launch this fall, and will be exclusively available on Nintendo Switch 2. Disgaea 7 Complete includes all the previously-released Dlc, as well as some new features and content, including “uncapped stats and unprecedented challenges.” Disgaea 7 Complete Announcement Trailer Related: Disgaea 7 Promo Asks the Burning Question, "What is Disgaea?" There’s also a $99.99 “Ewwdo Edition” on the way physically , packing the game with an animated Lucky Slumber Cat figure and a Nethertime Support Force folding fan. It’s worth noting that the game is not included on the cart, which instead serves as a key card for a digital download. Here’s how Nis America describes it: Return to Hinomoto in style! Pirilika, a super-rich demon with a love for all things bushido, travels to the Hinomoto Netherworlds...

Hulk Hogan is hands down one of the greatest wrestlers to ever step into the ring. No doubt, he’s a legend and one of the most influential figures in wrestling history. But at the same time, he’s also one of the most disliked wrestlers out there, mostly because of his huge ego and the way he’s been known to manipulate matches to work in his favor. WrestleMania 9 was a prime example of that.

He basically twisted the outcome of the main event to suit himself and walked away with the championship, even though he didn’t have a scheduled match. That whole stunt turned the event into one of the most disappointing WrestleManias ever.

Hulk Hogan manipulated WrestleMania 9’s ending to his advantage and ruined the event Hulk Hogan in a WWE event | Credits- WWE

The main event of WrestleMania 9 was a total head-scratcher. Bret Hart lost the championship to Yokozuna,...

The official website and accounts for the With You and the Rain anime today revealed a July 5 at 25:30 Jst (effectively July 6 at 1:30) Japanese broadcast date, a new key visual and additional cast members, which are as follows: Hiura voiced by Shuhei Sakaguchi Hojo voiced by Mitsuho Kambe Arata voiced by Yume Miyamoto Crunchyroll will simulcast the slice-of-life series as it airs. With You and the Rain Key Visual Related: With You and the Rain Anime Reveals Teaser Trailer Tomohiro Tsukimisato directs With You and the Rain at studio Lesprit, with series composition by Toko Machida ( Life Lessons with Uramichi Oniisan ), character designs by Ayano Owada ( Bikkurimen ) and music by Rei Ishizuka ( A Couple of Cuckoos ). Crunchyroll describes the story: On a rainy day, Fuji meets a cute critter posing as a dog and offering an umbrella and a cue card that says, “Please take me home,” and she can’t resist.

Witch Watch might have stolen the attention of comedy lovers in the summer 2025 season, but another 2023 anime series was blatant with its usage of humor. The 100 Girlfriends Who Really, Really, Really, Really, Really Love You anime aired from 2023 to 2025, spanning 24 episodes and two seasons, and won over fans with its parody nature.

In fact, The 100 Girlfriends became so popular for poking fun at the harem genre with self-aware jokes and numerous comic cliches that fans even began comparing it to Ghost Stories. Ghost Stories is a 20-episode anime series from 1994 that became a huge hit amongst Western audiences for its peculiar English dub.

The 100 Girlfriends has cemented its place in the comedy genre

The 100 Girlfriends is the definition of ‘don’t judge a book by its cover,’ or in this anime’s case, by its name. Because the moment anyone hears its name, they are almost forced to assume...

Following the release of Crunchyroll’s schedule at Anime Expo 2025, you can look forward to the following series coming to Crunchyroll in the future, including Let's Play , With You and the Rain and more! Read on for all the anime you can look forward to coming to the platform soon: Let's Play Release Date: 2025 Territories: North America, Central America, South America, Europe, Africa, Oceania, the Middle East, Cis, India and Southeast Asia Synopsis: Samara “Sam” Young is a developer in Los Angeles who’s about to achieve her dreams with her first video game, Ruminate. That is, until a popular streamer gives the game a scathing review. Even worse, Sam finds out the troublesome critic is now her new neighbor! Get lost in a comedic, romantic, and all-too-real story about gaming, memes, and social anxiety. Come for the plot, stay for the doggo. Otherworldly Munchkin: Let's Speedrun the Dungeon with Only 1 Hp!

We have witnessed several giants inside the WWE throughout its history. From Andre the Giant to Big Show to Mark Henry, there have been many monstrous and heavy wrestlers.

Though these wrestlers weren’t agile inside the ring, they entertained the audience with the sheer power and brutality that was inflicted on their opponents. Even though Andre the Giant was one of the most notable names in the WWE, he wasn’t the heaviest.

Yokozuna, the Japanese sumo wrestler managed by Mr. Fuji, was the heaviest wrestler ever in the WWE. When he made his entrance in the ring, everyone looked at him in awe due to his gigantic size.

Yokozuna, the Samoan Pride Yokozuna | Credits: WWE

Yokozuna was one of the most successful wrestlers in the WWE. He was a two-time WWF champion and a two-time tag team champion. He even won a Royal Rumble. His appearances at WrestleMania...

Shogun star Hiroyuki Sanada said Season 2 is worth the wait, fans will be pleasantly surprised with what they've done with the series. It has exhausted the story of the James Clavell novel, so they're now adapting history… with creative liberties.

Shogun fans won't have to wait too long for Season 2, showrunner Justin Marks said they're fast-tracking production toward release. "We start shooting in January – which is not enough time to get what we need to get off the ground, so we're rushing it to screen," he told Radio Times. "It's a lot less time to make the show this time around than we had in the first season." That stokes hope that Season 2 drops in 2026, unlike previous projections of an early 2027 premiere.

Shogun was overwhelmingly received by fans and critics, especially those who read the James Clavell novel. Series co-creators Marks and Rachel Kondo have stated they adapted the story for a limited run,...

As soon as Roman Reigns, born Leati Joseph Anoa’i, steps into the squared circle wearing the ula fala, he carries the unmistakable aura of a champion, bringing with him the pride of one of professional wrestling’s most legendary dynasties – the Anoa’i family. They’ve been a major force in pro wrestling for decades, especially in WWE and the old Nwa days. No wrestling family does it like the Samoan.

Roman Reigns with the Ula Fala around his neck | Credits: WWE

Between the likes of Dwayne The Rock Johnson, Roman Reigns, The Usos, Rikishi, Yokozuna, and the Wild Samoans teaming up, running stables, or going solo, they’ve won countless titles and remain inseparable from the history of the sport.

The Wild Samoans were one of the most feared tag teams of their time. Yokozuna broke barriers as the first Samoan to ever become the WWF Champion. The Rock...

WrestleMania is not just the biggest event in the WWE for the year, it is one of the most popular pay-per-view event in combat sports altogether. Over the years, WrestleMania has given the WWE universe moments that fans have cherished for generations to come.

WrestleMania is not just about the highs of the WWE superstars but also the lows of the legends of the company, which left the fans astounded and sent shockwaves around the globe. In light of the upcoming annual mega event of the WWE, here are 5 shocking WrestleMania upsets that shattered fan expectations.

WrestleMania stands as one of the most successful event in combat sports (Image Credit: WWE) What to expect from WrestleMania 41?

WrestleMania 41, like its predecessors, should be one of the year’s most sought-after events, featuring exciting matches. The event is star-studded with epic clashes like the one between Randy Orton and Kevin Owens. Furthermore,...

With You and the Rain , an upcoming TV anime based on the comedy manga by Ko Nikaido, published a new teaser trailer highlighting the fateful first meeting of Fuji and her “dog," You. The series will broadcast in Japan as part of the TV Asahi network's NUMAnimation programming block beginning in July 2025. With You and the Rain Teaser Trailer NIkaido began serialization of With You in the Rain in Kodansha's Weekly Young Magazine in August 2020, with seven volumes released in Japan to date. Kodansha USA also publishes an English-language version of the series. Tomohiro Tsukimisato directs the TV anime at animation studio Lesprit. Toko Machida ( Life Lessons with Uramichi Oniisan ) provides the series composition and Ayano Owada ( Bikkurimen ) provides the character designs. With You and the Rain winter key art Related: With You and the Rain Anime Reveals 6 More Cast Members Kodansha USA decribes With You and the Rain :...

Ahead of a July 2025 release, the official anime website and accounts for With You and the Rain today revealed six more cast members. The slice-of-life series' confirmed cast list is now as follows: Fuji voiced by Saori Hayami (Yor in Spy X Family ) You voiced by Anna Mugiho (Alpaca in Love Live! School Idol Project ) Mimi voiced by Yuna Kamakura Ren voiced by Satomi Sato Kii voiced by Yuzu Yumoto Tatsuo voiced by Yoji Ueda Michiko voiced by Mie Sonozaki Teru voiced by Kikunosuke Toya Wako voiced by Yumiri Hanamori Veterinarian voiced by Chafurin Related: With You and the Rain Anime Reveals Cast and Staff, Release Date Based on the manga by Ko Nikaido, Tomohiro Tsukimisato directs With You and the Rain at studio Lesprit, with series composition by Toko Machida ( Life Lessons with Uramichi Oniisan ) and character designs by Ayano Owada ( Bikkurimen ). The With You and the Rain manga...

In just three short years, Nigerian street-pop savant Asake has become a giant in African music, meeting Wizkid, Davido, and Burna Boy in a place it took them three times that span to reach. What’s more, much of Asake’s mythmaking happened in just 2022, with the absolute pandemonium of his debut Mr. Money With The Vibe. With Asake’s ubiquity came reverence for a sixty year old genre attributed to the Yoruba ethnic group, fuji. Asake and his producer Magicsticks made their obsession with it clear through their crazed and complex beats,...

Netflix has revealed its 2025 slate of Japanese films and television series, with the streamer offering a rich mix of period series, action films and intriguing unscripted offerings.

The standout highlight from the lineup, and a potential breakout global hit, is the period series Last Samurai Standing. The series hails from filmmakers Michihito Fujii, Kento Yamaguchi and Toru Yamamoto and could appeal to fans of both FX’s Shogun and Netflix’s Squid Game with its survivalist premise and period setting. Junichi Okada leads the cast in this story that takes place at the tail end of the samurai era in Japan and is about 292 warriors who are invited to compete to the death for a cash prize. Last Samurai Standing is an adaptation of Shogo Imamura’s novel Ikusagami, which has already been adapted into a popular manga series.

‘Last Man Standing’

Hirokazu Koreeda’s Asura is among the streamer...

One of the most fascinating things about Pokémonis the size of its cast. Across its multitude of games, anime series, and manga volumes, the franchise has introduced over 1,100 different monsters and thousands of human characters. Most of these humans have been forgotten, often vanishing from the franchise the second their arc or episode ends. However, some have survived the test of time, becoming some of anime's most beloved and instantly recognizable characters. One such character is Giovanni, as even today, he remains one of the most well-known Pokémon characters. But who is he, and what role does he play in the series?

One of the most mysterious things about Giovanni is his past, as the main anime never delves into his backstory in detail. However, two Pokémon manga did include a (dubiously canon) backstory for the character. First was 1998's Pokémon Zensho, a manga that told an expanded version of...

When their aging father’s affair brings four sisters back together, it rocks the foundations of their family. Written and directed by Cannes winner and Oscar nominee Hirokazu Kore-eda (Shoplifters), the seven-episode domestic drama Asura stars Rie Miyazawa, Machiko Ono, Yu Aoi, and Suzu Hirose. It’s based on writer Kuniko Mukōda’s 1970s miniseries Like Asura.

Stream all episodes now.

Check it out at the top of this page.

One winter day in Tokyo, the four Takezawa sisters — ikebana teacher Tsunako (Miyazawa), homemaker Makiko (Ono), librarian Takiko (Aoi), and restaurant server Sakiko (Hirose) — get together for the first time in a long while to discuss the exploits of their father, Kotaro (Kunimura). Takiko tells her siblings that Kotaro has been having a lengthy affair and even had a child out of wedlock. While the women are hesitant to believe Takiko, they promise to hide the allegation from their mother,...

The official website and accounts for With You and the Rain today revealed the upcoming slice-of-life anime's main cast and production staff, along with a snowy key visual and a planned July 2025 broadcast debut. With You and the Rain Key Visual (Winter ver.) The With You and the Rain anime's confirmed cast is as follows: Fuji voiced by Saori Hayami (Yor in Spy X Family ) Mimi voiced by Yuna Kamakura Ren voiced by Satomi Sato (Wendy in Fairy Tail ) Krause Ella Kii voiced by Yuzu Yumoto Related: With You and the Rain Anime Announced for 2025 Based on the manga by Ko Nikaido, Tomohiro Tsukimisato directs With You and the Rain at studio Lesprit, with series composition by Toko Machida ( Life Lessons with Uramichi Oniisan ) and character designs by Ayano Owada ( Bikkurimen ). The With You and the Rain manga has been serialized in Weekly Young Magazine since August 2020 and currently spans seven collected volumes,...

Ash Ketchum, the star of the original Pokémon anime series, remains not just a beloved protagonist for the franchise, but one of the most renowned anime heroes today. However, he first needed to gain the trust of his partner Pokémon, a prickly Pikachu who has never bonded with a human. Though their initial relationship is rocky, Ash surprises Pikachu by shielding him from a horde of furious Spearow focused on attacking the pair. This action gives Pikachu a change of heart, and after this event, Pikachu and Ash are inseparable, traveling together even into new regions far from home.

Ash's final battle in the far-off region of Galar was indeed a wonderful climax for the original series, yet that is not the most high-stakes battle the Trainer from Pallet Town has participated in. That title alone belongs to a match Ash had much earlier in his journey, back when he...

Carlos M. Quintela‘s ‘The Wolves of the East‘ starts with a voiceover stating, “There were two species of wolves that inhabited the Japanese archipelago. But now they are extinct. Now, hunters take on the role of the wolves, in maintaining the ecosystem of this region.” The hunters kill deer to maintain the ecosystem. From the first minute, Quintela establishes the parallels between nature and humans. And for the next eighty minutes, he tries to explore the complex human condition through an examination of nature’s mysteries.

The Wolves of the East is screening at Black Movie

The story unfolds around an aged hunter, Akira Nimura, who is forced to step down from his presidential position in the local hunters’ association. Nimura believes that the wolves are not extinct. To search for them, he uses the association’s funds to buy cameras without getting any approval from the others. Nimura...

In 2002, the hype for Japanese horror films was declining rapidly, as the sequels to series like “Ring” or “The Grudge” were commercially and critically unsuccessful. Even though directors such as Hideo Nakata and Takashi Shimizu came to Hollywood to helm the remakes to their films or their sequels, Hollywood had already adapted J-horror tropes to its own productions. As Jerry White points out, one of the perhaps most disappointing entries in the J-horror remakes was Jim Sonzero’s version of Kiyoshi Kurosawa‘s “Pulse” (2001). Perhaps it was this particular experience which made Kurosawa change genres with his next project “Bright Future”.

Bright Future is screening at Black Movie

In general, Kurosawa is best known for his unique horror films such as “Pulse” or “Cure”, films which years after their release now unfold their true impact. At the same time, the director has also repeatedly explored the gap between youth and adults,...

Shangri-La Frontier made its anime debut in 2023 and has garnered massive popularity among fans. Whether it’s the characters, humor, action, or animation, the anime excels on all fronts. The anime is a faithful adaptation of the manga by Katarina, the author, and Ryosuke Fuji, the illustrator. However, the one aspect of the anime that is slightly different from the manga and arguably better as well is the fights.

The fights in the series are a mix of physical and strategic attacks. Unlike typical anime fights, the characters don’t get huge power-ups in the middle of a raging battle which gives them a more organic progression. The artist who worked on both the anime and the manga delved into his approach behind the fights during an interview, and it’s worth exploring.

A difference from the manga made Shangri-La Frontier anime better A still from Shangri-La Frontier anime | Credits:...

There are times I wonder about the reasons some filmmakers are considered to be auteurs. The primary one has to be the ability to present any story in a distinctive manner and establish a certain style that is easily recognizable as the work of a specific individual. Hirokazu Kore-eda, for example, is known for taking relatable stories about people and telling those in a minimalist, reflective manner that often becomes an introspection for the viewers. We are, of course, talking about Netflix’s Japanese miniseries Asura here. The very popular novel — by author Kuniko Mukoda — has already been adapted twice, once as a TV series back in 1979 and the other time as a feature film in 2013. Yet, the latest adaptation has a lot of value attached to it, thanks to Kore-eda’s association with it. The Japanese filmmaker, of course, is regarded as one of the greatest in modern-day cinema,...

The Eightfold Fence is one of several intriguing concepts from medieval Japan introduced in the FX historical drama Shōgun, and while the show gives a brief explanation on the meaning, the significance of the idea is much deeper. Shōgun episode 4, which is titled “The Eightfold Fence”, and features the titular idea when Mariko (Anna Sawai) attempts to explain the behavior of Usami Fuji (Moeka Hoshi) to John Blackthorne (Cosmo Jarvis). Mariko reveals to Blackthorne that understanding The Eightfold Fence will be key to the foreigner’s time in Japan, as it’s a guiding philosophy not only for Fuji, but the rest of the populace too.

Mariko’s explanation of The Eightfold Fence in Shōgun is relatively brief, but covers the concept well in broad strokes. It allows Blackthorne to understand just how different the worldview of the people of Japan is to the philosophies that guide the populace of his native Europe.

Japanese auteur Hirokazu Kore-eda’s latest Netflix series, Asura, has been received very well – thanks to the brilliant storytelling, masterful direction, and fantastic acting performances by the cast. In this article, we’re going to look into who is playing what in the show and talk about the character for a bit.

Jun Kunimura as Kotaro

Veteran actor Jun Kunimura — whose most famous work is playing the Japanese priest in Korean director Na Hong-Jin’s The Wailing (2016), which I considered to be the greatest horror movie of this generation — plays Kotaro in Asura. The show begins with Takako discovering her seventy-something father – Kotaro – being unfaithful to her mother for a long time and even having a child. Kunimura is quite fantastic in the role, where most of the acting is done by expression and not words.

Keiko Matsuzaka as Fuji

Keiko Matsuzaka, who has a sprawling career and was also...

Asura is a poignant examination of familial ties torn apart by the sneaky threads of infidelity set in the heart of Tokyo in 1979, where the echoes of tradition clash with the whispers of modernity. The central figure in this narrative is Kotaro, a father whose secret life shatters the thin veneer of his daughters’ existence while revealing the deep cracks in trust and identity that lie beneath.

Hirokazu Kore-eda, a master of telling compassionate stories, directs this adaptation of Mukoda Kuniko’s book with a delicate hand, creating a tapestry that invites us to ponder the complexities of interpersonal relationships. His film lens records what happens and the emotional landscapes that each character travels through, letting us see into their inner turmoils.

The series resonates with the weight of societal expectations because it is set against the backdrop of a society full of patriarchal norms. The year 1979 serves as a crucible,...

Asura (2025) is a compelling family drama that centers on two old parents, Fuji and Kotaro, and their four daughters: Tsunako, Makiko, Takiko, and Sakiko. The series begins with Takiko uncovering Kotaro’s affair with a younger woman, setting off a chain of revelations and conflicts within the family. As the sisters grapple with how to address their father’s infidelity, deeper layers of their lives come to light.

Makiko, shaken by Kotaro’s betrayal, begins to question the fidelity of her own husband, Takao. Tsunako, secretly entangled with a married man, struggles with her inability to let him go. Takiko, plagued by insecurities about her appearance, gradually learns to embrace herself and finds love along the way. Meanwhile, the youngest, Sakiko, full of life and optimism, marries a boxer who eventually earns the title of Champion. The series weaves together themes of family, love, betrayal, self-discovery, and morality, creating a...

The new Japanese family drama series streaming on Netflix, Asura provides an insightful glance into the complexities of sisterhood as well as womanhood. Set in 1979, the plot here follows the four sisters of the Takezawa family, who are shocked to learn that their father is still involved in an extramarital affair, even at the old age of 70. Over seven episodes, each an hour long, we follow the consequences of this discovery before gradually getting to know each of the four sisters in great detail as well. Overall, Asura is an entertaining and intriguing series to watch, especially for fans of family dramas.

Spoiler Alert

What is the J-drama series about?

Asura begins on one cold January morning in 1979, with a young woman urgently using a payphone to call up her elder sister after being evidently disturbed about something. The woman, Takiko, calls up each of her three sisters and asks...

Japanese dramas, when done right, can often bring out the complexities of familial relationships and certain aspects very integral to society in the island country. Thus, it is no wonder that one of the Master of Modern Japanese cinema, Hirokazu Kore-eda, whose very specialization is creating highly moving family dramas, would be able to bring the same effect to his Netflix series as well. 2025’s Asura, currently streaming on Netflix, is a beautiful watch, both visually and thematically, driven by strong acting performances and brilliant visual storytelling. Having a runtime of 7 hours, over 7 hour-long episodes, Asura is a highly recommended watch for those looking for good dramas this new year.

Set in 1979, Asura begins with an unusual premise, when a woman named Takiko calls up each of her three sisters with a highly concerning and scandalous piece of news buzzing in her mind. When the sisters meet that evening, Takiko...

Asura, the 2024 Japanese drama series on Netflix, has all the stylistic touches of a Kore-eda family drama, quite naturally so, as the famed auteur has adapted the show from an original Japanese drama series. While the new seven-part series originally begins with the shocking discovery of an elderly man’s extramarital affair, the show’s focus shifts entirely to the lives of his four daughters by its end. Asura’s finale resolves a few of the issues earlier raised while also maintaining elusiveness regarding a few of them, and this article briefly discusses all these matters.

Spoiler Alert

Does Kotaro continue to keep in touch with Shoji?

At the beginning of Asura, the extramarital affair of the elderly Kotaro Takezawa is at the center of all discussion, as his four daughters are shocked to find out about the matter. There are multiple levels to this shock, beginning with the fact...

“Doesn’t everyone have something they’re not proud of?” This question, asked by the eldest sister Tsunako in the new trailer for Asura, sets the tone for a series that dives into family secrets and personal struggles. The Japanese drama remake, directed by Hirokazu Kore-eda, will premiere on January 9 and promises to engage audiences with its powerful story and talented cast.

The main cast includes Jun Kunimura as the sisters’ father Kotaro, Keiko Matsuzaka as their mother Fuji, and Masahiro Motoki as Makiko’s (Machiko Ono) husband Takao. Ryuhei Matsuda plays Katsumata, a private investigator who has feelings for Takiko (Yu Aoi).

Kisetsu Fujiwara appears as Sakiko’s (Suzu Hirose) boxer boyfriend Hide, while Seiyo Uchino portrays Sadaharu, a restaurant owner secretly involved with Tsunako (Rie Miyazawa). These supporting characters shine alongside the four sisters, building excitement for their on-screen dynamics.

Other notable roles include Yui Natsukawa as the wife of Tsunako’s lover,...

The vast world of anime has a vast, eternally-growing roster of films for any fan to choose from, no matter what genre they may prefer. For fans of action and dark fantasy, Studio Ghibli's Princess Mononoke is sure to be a favorite thanks to its poignant narrative and unforgettable characters. Meanwhile, an audience looking for a film that is not action-packed but still has a unique fantasy twist might enjoy Mamoru Hosada's Wolf Children, a charming and emotional journey following a young woman and her two children, who have inherited their late father's werewolf genes.

In the anime industry, the Pokémon franchise is one of the most famous examples, with the original series being a beloved classic even today. Ash Ketchum and his best friend, the mascot Pokémon Pikachu, aim to be the very best at battles, taking them to new places and meeting a plethora of new people and Pokémon.

The Pokémon universe is vast and vibrant. There are numerous games, merchandise, and anime for fans to enjoy the world in different formats. However, when it comes to revising the lore and checking the facts, there’s nothing better than the Pokédex. While the anime or games don’t hide it or anything, the Pokédex reveals the darkness beyond the interesting Pokémon and their powers.

Mewtwo in the remake of Pokémon: Mewtwo Strikes Back-Evolution | Credits: Toho

Speaking of darkness, Mewtwo, one of the strongest Pokémon, is the culmination of many dark aspects of the poké-verse. His origin story clearly draws out his descent into the darkness in the first movie Mewtwo Strikes Back. However, fans have come up with interesting theories that put the questionable aspects of the movie at the forefront.

Mewtwo’s Origin And The Fan Theories

Mewtwo is a psychic-type legendary Pokémon who is considered one of the strongest.

Pokemon: The First Movie was first released in Japanese theaters on July 18, 1998, and the English dub is celebrating its 25th anniversary. A longer version of this anime film was released on July 8, 1999. This movie served as the series' first theatrical feature and the first in a long line of Pokemon movies. Over twenty years later, this movie still stands strong as the best in the franchise.

Years later, this movie received a remake due to its fame and influence. Many Pokemon movies have followed the first in the series, showcasing Ash's journeys meeting legendary and mythical pokemon. However, no movie is quite as timeless or enjoyable as Mewtwo Strikes Back, when Ash and his friends face off against the legendary pokemon Mewtwo who was created by Dr. Fuji and his fellow scientists.

It Didn't Need a Remake The Remake Was an Unnecessary Flop

In 2019, Pokemon: Mewtwo Strikes Back - Evolution...

Premiering on January 9, Asura brings a fresh take on the classic Japanese family drama Like Asura, with top Japanese actors like Rie Miyazawa, Machiko Ono, Yu Aoi, and Suzu Hirose.

Directed and written by Hirokazu Kore-eda (known for Shoplifters and Our Little Sister) and produced by Yasuo Yagi, the show offers a relatable look at family life and universal relationships. A newly released opening video shows the story’s 1970s setting, keeping the drama’s original feel.

The original Like Asura, written by the late screenwriter Kuniko Mukoda, set the stage for Japanese family dramas. Set in 1979, it follows four sisters — Tsunako, Makiko, Takiko, and Sakiko — as they deal with the shock of their elderly father’s affair.

Like the “asura,” or fierce demigods from Buddhist stories, the sisters experience a storm of emotions, sometimes clashing but also finding deep connections. As they each navigate their own views on love and life,...

Ace Japanese film director Kore-eda Hirokazu is in advanced post-production on “Asura,” a family drama series that marks his second show for global streaming giant Netflix.

“Asura,” which will premiere on Jan. 9, 2025, is a modern take on “Like Asura” a 1979 family drama series that was originally based on a Mukoda Kuniko novel of the same title. Airing on public broadcaster Nhk, it became a template for Japanese family drama series for many years and sparked a feature film adaptation in 2003.

Set in 1979, the story follows four sisters — Tsunako, Makiko, Takiko, and Sakiko — whose lives are shaken by the discovery of their aging father’s affair. Like the “asura,” demigods in Buddhist cosmology, these women embody a whirlwind of emotions, clashing fiercely yet sharing moments of profound connection. As they navigate their differing views on love and life, their journey is marked by both conflict and growth.

“With great respect for...

Moeka Hoshi has a bright future ahead after breaking out into the Hollywood mainstream with her role in the acclaimed series, Shgun. Born on August 23, 1995, in Chiba, Japan, Hoshi had a passion for performing arts at an early age, studying classical ballet and aspiring to become an actress (via Oricon News). That dream came true in 2017, when Hoshi made her acting debut in the Tokyo TV series Million Yen Women. She has since starred in several Japanese movies and shows, including On the Street and The 12 Day Tale of the Monster That Died in 8.

A successful actress in Japan, Hoshi was virtually unknown to Western audiences, but that all changed with her role in the Emmy-winning drama, Shgun, which premiered on FX in 2023. In the series, which takes place in 1600 feudal Japan, Hoshi plays Usami Fuji, a widow who watched her husband and son killed before her very eyes. With little time to grieve,...

One Piece has always been renowned for its complex world-building, layered characters, and story arcs that blur the lines between good and evil. But Eiichiro Oda has recently revealed a piece of unexpected information about a particular character who is assumed to be in the spotlight in the upcoming arcs of the series, and that character is Admiral Fujitora Aka, Issho.

Admiral Fujitora in One Piece | Credit: Toei Animation

Since his introduction in One Piece, Fujitora’s character has often hinted at a growing divide between his values and the World Government’s brutal grip on power. Now, new revelations suggest that Fujitora may be forced to confront his dark past as a former defense chief involved in controversial military actions, particularly concerning the now-destroyed Aoi Kingdom.

New Revelations About Fujitora’s Origins and His Complex Morality in One Piece

Eiichiro Oda has recently revealed some additional pieces of information...

Power-scaling has existed in anime since the birth of the medium. It's natural to want to pit characters from the same series against each other to see who emerges at the top, and these comparisons often extend beyond one story and eclipse genres. To discern which characters are the strongest can be a bit tricky, as strength comes in many forms: While some interpret it as pure physical prowess, others take magic abilities — both innate and learned — into consideration to rework the definition of "powerful." /Film's anime experts have banded together to create the ultimate ranking of the 25 strongest anime characters, keeping a wide range of factors in mind, including non-traditional interpretations of strength that go beyond combat-focused skills or the good old perks that come with immortality or omnipotence.

Due to the sheer volume of characters who embody strength in one form or another, some names have inevitably not made the list,...

Takashi, an actor based in Tokyo, receives troubling news about his father Yohji while preparing for a new role. Yohji, whom Takashi has been estranged from for years, lives alone in southern Japan. However, when the police respond to a call at Yohji’s home, they find the elderly man confused and his longtime partner Naomi missing.

Reluctantly, Takashi and his wife Yuki, who supports his career, travel to see Yohji. They discover he has dementia and must now live in a care facility. But questions remain around Naomi’s disappearance. As Takashi searches for clues with Yuki’s help, he also reflects on the broken bond with his father.

The mystery is just one thread in director Kei Chikaura’s tapestry. His nonlinear narrative unfolds the family’s history through flashes of memory. This structure mirrors the disorienting reality of dementia. Acclaimed actors like Mirai Moriyama as Takashi and...

Shogun, which was meant to be a standalone miniseries, is coming back for a second season with actor, Hiroyuki Sanada, set to return as Lord Toranaga. The second season is poised to navigate uncharted territory, no longer relying on the novel written by author James Clavell, and Sanada couldn't be more excited about the possibilities.

As a guest on Variety's Awards Circuit Podcast, Sanada addressed the Shogun's astounding number of Emmy nominations, as well as providing hints as to what is coming for the show's triumphant return. The Emmy-nominated actor confirmed that the writers were back working on the second season, but hasn't received a script yet. However, the star shared his enthusiasm for the original ideas that will come his way, now that the show no longer can rely on the novel. "We dont have the novel," Sanada said. "Freedom is there I hope our writers will enjoy...

It’s busy and Twister-y at the box office this weekend, but a few indies are hoping to catch a breeze with very well-reviewed Oddity looking to expand the market for high-end horror and Widow Clicquot to attract fans of good period films and bubbly.

Oddity from IFC Films, is a supernatural home-invasion horror from writer-director Damian McCarthy (Caveat). It opens on 790 screens, the widest new indie release this week. Carolyn Bracken stars as Dani, who is restoring an old castle in rural Cork County, Ireland, with her husband Ted (Gwilym Lee), a doctor at a facility for the criminally insane. When Dani is brutally murdered, her blind occultist twin sister Darcy (also Bracken) goes after those responsible using inherited haunted items as her tools of revenge. Premiered in SXSW’s Midnighter section, taking the Audience Award. At 98% with critics on Rotten Tomatoes.

Vertical’s Indie drama Widow Cliquot is...

It could be argued that the closest relative to films about dementia is the murder mystery. There are certainly many common features: a victim and an enigmatic killer; false memories and red herrings; clues from which an identity must be pieced together; and a (usually jubilant) resolution in which said identity is revealed, if only briefly. In this sense, Kei Chika-ura’s latest feature, Great Absence, is not natural and convincing in spite of its thrilling (if not always successful) blend of Florian Zeller’s The Father and Bong Joon-ho’s Memories of Murder, but because of it.

After a workshop of Ionescu’s Exit the King, Takashi (Mirai Moriyama), an actor of moderate fame, receives a call from the police. His father Yohji (Tatsuya Fuji), whom he hasn’t seen for some twenty years, has just been detained by local authorities after placing a phony distress call that resulted...

Rick and Morty: The Anime Unveils August Release Date and Dual Dub Voice Actors - Main Image

More than two years after its initial reveal, the Rick and Morty anime has officially announced its August release date and other exciting details.

Additionally, the anime will feature both English and Japanese dubs, each with its own set of voice actors.

Rick and Morty: The Anime Release Date and Time Confirmed

The Rick and Morty anime was first announced in May 2022, and now, over two years later, it has been revealed that the show will debut on August 15, 2024.

This news is sure to excite fans of the popular American animated series as well as anime fans, as the show promises to blend the original series’ comedy and sci-fi elements with a unique Japanese anime twist.

The announcement was accompanied by an official trailer featuring new footage from the upcoming show.

Lost actor Maggie Grace recently reflected on her role, revealing her exit from the iconic show is "still the worst heartbreak" of her career and that she was "devastated" after her character died in the sixth episode of Season 2. Grace played Shannon Rutherford on the hit ABC drama series.

In an interview with The Independent, Grace admitted she thought her character's arc on Lost still had some way to go, "I thought they were gonna take her a little further," she said. In response to whether she was ready to exit the series, Grace stated, "No! It's still the worst heartbreak of my career. I was devastated." The actor ultimately understood the decision to end Shannon's run, "Well, I mean, I do [Shannon] was sort of a caricature of white privilege before that was a phrase, you know? And maybe I was just too good at my assigned job of being incredibly annoying.

Shogun has been confirmed for two more seasons, but some of its fan-favorite characters will not return. Actor Moeka Hoshi said she's confident the showrunners would craft a continuing story despite Season 1's "definitive" finale.

Shogun fans were torn at the news the show has been renewed for two more seasons. Many are eager to see Toranaga and Blackthorne's war strategy play out after Season 1's tease and climactic finale. However, this also meant that the story would move forward without Mariko, one of the show's fan-favorite protagonists. In an interview with The Direct, actor Moeki Hoshi appeased apprehensions by hinting the show would explore more of the period's continuing history. She also offered potential turns her character Fuji could take for Seasons 2 and 3.

Related 'Superb': George R.R. Martin Gives High Praise to FX's Shogun

George R.R. Martin recently shared his thoughts on FX's Shogun.

"All I can say is just,...

Moeka Hoshi, who plays Fuji in Shogun, revealed her personal connection to the character she played in the critically acclaimed series and her hopes for Season 2.

The critically acclaimed FX series takes place in 1600s Feudal Japan and follows Hiroyuki Sanada’s Yoshii Tornaga, a warlord and busho fighting to keep power in a turbulent political environment—only made worse by the arrival of a foreign stranger, Cosmo Jarvis’ John Blackthorn.

Fuji is a close friend and political ally to Toranaga, who starts the show off after going through a tragedy, only to be assigned as a consort to Anjin, aka Blackthorn.

Read full article on The Direct.

Adapting a 1,200-page historical novel into a ten-episode limited series is a gamble under any circumstances.

Toss in the fact that most of the dialogue would be in subtitled Japanese, and it sounds like the sort of proposal that might send many American TV execs scrambling for the warm familiarity of a police procedural.

But when FX and Hulu decided to harken back to the prestige literary limited series of yesteryear, they didn't cut any corners or hedge their bets.

Rather, they went all-in with a massive budget and showed absolute trust in a creative team led by the husband-and-wife partnership of Justin Marks and Rachel Kondo.

The process yielded numerous surprises.

For starters, Shogun quickly established itself as one of the most acclaimed series of the year.

Related: Shogun Series Premiere Review: A Violent Clash of Cultures In Feudal Japan

Better yet (from FX and Hulu's perspective), the show...

Moeka Hoshi trusts creators Justin Marks and Rachel Kondo for an exciting season 2 and 3 of Shgun. She is excited as a fellow fan to see what is in store for the future of the show. Her return as Usami Fuji is uncertain, but she is focused on her overall enjoyment of the series.

Shgun actor Moeka Hoshi comments on whether she will return as Fuji in season 2 and 3 of the acclaimed FX show. After a successful run on FX earlier in 2024, Shgun has officially been renewed by the network for two more seasons. The challenge ahead for co-creators Justin Marks and Rachel Kondo is to craft stories that expand beyond the scope of James Clavells original novel, which was fully covered by season 1. Its yet to be seen how Shgun season 2 will build upon Clavells story, and how many surviving characters will return.

One character not yet confirmed for season 2 is fan-favorite Usami Fuji,...

Actor Moeka Hoshi believes Fuji would have shot Omi in episode 4 of Shgun when he demanded John Blackthorne's guns. The actor explains how feudal Japan's environment justifies the shooting, indicating why she could have easily done it. The moment helps establish Fuji's loyalty and willingness to do anything for the system in place, something that could be further explored in Shgun season 2.

Shgun star Moeka Hoshi has opened up about whether Fuji really would have shot Omi after aiming a gun at him during the series. In episode 4, Omi arrives to demand John Blackthorne's guns, something he's unwilling to give up to any characters in Shgun save for Fuji, who he asks to keep them safe. When Omi demands the guns from her, she aims them at him, honoring her duty of protecting John and his guns by also threatening to shoot the young swordsman.

Speaking with Screen Rant, Hoshi...

Warning: Spoilers for Shgun season 1.

Screen Rant interviews Shgun star Moeka Hoshi, who plays Fuji. Shgun TV show brought 1600 Japan to life with stunning detail & strong performances by a cast which includes Hiroyuki Sanada and Cosmo Jarvis. Hoshi reflects on portraying Fuji and her experience working with Jarvis, highlighting unique communication on set.

Shgun was one of the biggest hit shows of 2024, bringing James Clavells 1975 novel to life in a way never before seen. Brought to television by showrunners Justin Marks and Rachel Kondo, Shgun realized 1600 Japan in stunning detail with the help of star and producer Hiroyuki Sanada, who plays Lord Yoshii Toranaga in the series. The show also centered on John Blackthorne, an English sailor marooned in Japan, played by Cosmo Jarvis. Like many other characters in the series, Blackthornes journey often sees the character tossed around by plots and machinations he can only begin to understand.

Few...