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The anime adaptation of The Exiled Heavy Knight Knows How to Game the System is sharing even more details today — from cast and staff to a fresh new teaser trailer! Most importantly, the upcoming fantasy series announced its 2026 premiere. Check out the second teaser for the series, showcasing some of the action to come: Related: The Exiled Heavy Knight Knows How to Game the System Anime Adaptation Announced This second teaser also showcases the anime's three leads: Elymas Edvan voiced by Takeo Otsuka (Aqua Hoshino in Oshi no Ko ) Luce Rubis voiced by Shion Wakayama (Momo Ayase in Dan Da Dan ) Maris Edvan voiced by Natsuko Abe (Nya Nia in Tower of God ) Elymas Edvan / Takeo Otsuka Luce Rubis / Shion Wakayama Maris Edvan / Natsuko Abe The main staff for the project was also revealed: General Director: Shingo Suzuki Chief Director : Tetsukazu Yamagishi Director: Katsumasa Yokomine Character Design: Takayuki Uchida Chief Animation Director: Keiji Tani,...

Ahead of the Makeine: Too Many Losing Heroines! anime's "Tsuwabuki High School Literature Club Extracurricular Activities" fan event scheduled for April 6, 2025 at Akishima's Foster Hall, Kazuhiko, his gal pals and younger sister have ducked around the corner to visit the Mori Town mall in the below visual, since voice actors Shuichiro Umeda, Hikaru Toono, Shion Wakayama, Momoka Terasawa and Minami Tanaka will be attendance. Tickets for the event go on sale on March 20 at 10:00 Jst . Makeine: Too Many Losing Heroines! Event Visual Related: Makeine: Too Many Losing Heroines! Anime Characters Board Central Japan Railway Collab Based on the light novels by Takibi Amamori and Imigimuru, Shotaro Kitamura ( Kaguya-sama: Love is War episode director) directed Makeine: Too Many Losing Heroines! at studio A-1 Pictures, with series composition by Masahiro Yokotani, character designs by Tetsuya Kawakami and music by Kana Utatane ( Akebi's Sailor Uniform ). Crunchyroll streams the anime and describes...

The English translator for the hit Shonen Jump+ series Dandadan discussed the difficulty of adapting the series’ most obscure references and risqué subject matter for an American audience. The anime, which premiered on Oct. 4, 2024, will return for Season 2 in July 2025.

Gizmodo recently interviewed Kumar Sivasubramanian, the current English translator for the Dandadan manga, about the process of localizing the series for Viz Media. In the interview, Sivasubramanian revealed how he became involved with the series and if he knew it would blow up in popularity following the anime. However, perhaps the most fascinating part of the interview was Sivasubramanian’s discussion of how he and Viz Media handled the series’ most controversial aspects, such as its explicit juvenile humor and exploration of some dark themes.

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Demon Slayer's record-breaking box office performance is under attack by a new...

Featuring "Real" by miwa ( My Hero Academia Season 3 Ed) and friends beneath the cherry blossoms, a creditless version of Momentary Lily ' s ending song sequence is now available to watch below. Crunchyroll is simulcasting the original action anime. Momentary Lily Ending Video The Momentary Lily anime's main cast is as follows: Yuri Kawatsu voiced by Natsuko Abe Erika Kodaiji voiced by Tsugumi Sakuragi Hinageshi Usuzumi voiced by Shion Wakayama Renge Kasumi voiced by Manatsu Murakami Sazanka Yoshino voiced by Misaki Kuno Ayame Sakuya voiced by Miyuri Shimabukuro Related: Momentary Lily Anime Soars into Action in Creditless Opening Video With concept design by Takahiro Kishida, Shingo Suzuki ( Scar on the Praeter ) serves as chief director and character designer for the Momentary Lily anime at studio GoHands, while Susumu Kudo and Katsumasa Yokomine serve as directors. Tamazo Yanagi ( Hand Shakers ) provides the scripts and Ryosuke Kojima ( The Masterful Cat is Depressed Again Today ) provides the music.

2024 was another great year for anime. It was filled with original stories, great set pieces, and plenty of interesting characters. Some characters got the limelight they deserved, taking center stage during 2024. Other characters were incredible but didn't get the attention they deserved, doing very well within their respective series but being overshadowed by big shows. Some of the most popular characters were obviously going to be big from the beginning, like Goku's resurgence in Dragon Ball Daima.

Other characters took the world by storm out of nowhere, like one of the best elves in anime Frieren from the legendary Frieren: Beyond Journey's End. While some characters got the screen time they deserved, others sat back and became largely underrated, giving people who didn't initially watch their shows a great reason to tune back in and see some of the best from 2024.

Overlooked: Kazuhiko Nukumizu and Anna Yanami Makeine: Too Many Losing Heroines!

Ahead of the anime's fourteenth episode broadcast on January 14 , the official accounts for Tying the Knot with an Amagami Sister released a brand-new trailer that previews the incoming second cour and new opening song, "Pray Pray Pray" by the Amagami Sisters. Tying the Knot with an Amagami Sister Cour 2 Trailer Related: Tying the Knot with an Amagami Sister Anime Unveils Cour 2 Key Visual Based on the manga by Marcey Naito, Yujiro Abe ( Konosuba Season 3) directs Tying the Knot with an Amagami Sister at studio Drive, with series composition by Yasuko Aoki ( The Demon Prince of Momochi House ), character designs by Haruko Iizuka ( Horimiya ) and music by Ryo Kawasaki ( Black Butler: Public School Arc ) and Tomoyuki Kono. Crunchyroll is simulcasting the anime and describes the story: Uryu Kamihate is a high school student striving to enter Kyoto University’s medical school. After being raised at an orphanage, Uryu is taken in...

Dandadan manga editor Shihei Lin, also known for editing other major Shonen Jump franchises such as Spy x Family and Chainsaw Man, has revealed that Science Saru's anime series adaptation was even better than anticipated.

Shonen Jump+ editor Shihei Lin looked back on 2024 in a recent X (formerly Twitter) post. The year saw numerous anime developments concerning titles that he personally oversaw; Look Back premiered in theaters to rave reviews, Spy x Family announced a third season, Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc premieres in 2025 and notably, Dandadan Season 1 enjoyed massive success. On Dandadan, Lin said, "TV anime Dandadan, which began airing in October after careful and detailed discussions, has also achieved the number one spot on many streaming sites globally ✨. We are also grateful for the large number of reprints of the original comics. It has exceeded the production team's expectations, and we are very happy that people all over the world have enjoyed it.

The major success of Science Saru's Dandadan anime series has caused the original source material to soar to new readership heights; Shonen Jump's original and ongoing Dandadan has now doubled in manga circulation copies relative to its pre-anime total as it draws in numerous new franchise fans.

Via Mantan Web, it was revealed at Jump Festa 2025 that Yukinobu Tatsu's popular Dandadan manga series had surpassed eight million copies in circulation. The event, hosted on Dec. 21, came barely over a day after Season 1's finale. With Dandadan surpassing four million copies in circulation in October, it marks a doubling in sales since the anime's premiere.

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Original Dandadan Manga Series Surpasses 8 Million Copies in Circulation...

Anime transformations are a staple of the genre. They're one of the best ways of signaling that a character has undergone a physical, mental, or spiritual transformation, telling the audience that a whole new version of them is set to hit the scene. Some of the best transformations are power-ups, giving a character the strength they need to take down an otherwise unbeatable enemy. While there has been hundreds of anime transformations over the years, only some of them are good enough to change the entire industry.

Some series, like Dragon Ball Z, are known for their transformations. Dbz has dozens of different forms and power boosts, but that doesn't necessarily make them good enough to change the industry at large. Only a few transformations in anime are so powerful that they've changed the way people look at transformations as a whole.

Okarun as Turbo Granny Dandadan

Dandadan

Release Date...

Contains spoilers for all the anime on the list

Tears were shed, jaws were dropped, and minds were blown in 2024’s outstanding year of anime. Whether it was the returning anime giants or fantastical original stories, the anime community had their hands full this year. Several anime series that left an impression on the audience also offered them unforgettable moments laced with shocking revelations or much-awaited confrontations.

It’s safe to say that there came moments in 2024 in which fans were forced to hold on to their hearts or couldn’t stop replaying that mind-boggling moment over and over again. Whether it was Demon Slayer’s explosive finale or Dandadan’s chaotic entry onto the anime scene, 2024 has been a rollercoaster ride filled to the brim with edge-of-the-seat action-packed moments and some serious tearjerkers.

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From incantations to magical affinities,...

Magical girls protect the streets and devour sweets in Momentary Lily! The upcoming original anime series from GoHands just released a creditless version of its opening sequence, showing the cast in action. Check out the opening song video, set to "Tasty Survivor" by metalcore band Hanabie. Related: Momentary Lily Anime Reveals Premiere Date, Ending Song in New Trailer The Momentary Lily anime's main cast is as follows: Yuri Kawatsu voiced by Natsuko Abe Erika Kodaiji voiced by Tsugumi Sakuragi Hinageshi Usuzumi voiced by Shion Wakayama Renge Kasumi voiced by Manatsu Murakami Sazanka Yoshino voiced by Misaki Kuno Ayame Sakuya voiced by Miyuri Shimabukuro Shingo Suzuki ( Scar on the Praeter ) serves as chief director and character designer for the Momentary Lily anime at studio GoHands, while Susumu Kudo and Katsumasa Yokomine serve as directors and Takahiro Kishida provides concept designs. Tamazo Yanagi ( Hand Shakers ) provides the scripts and Ryosuke Kojima ( The...

The official website for the TV anime Tying the Knot with an Amagami Sister confirmed today that the anime's second cour, starting with episode 14, is set to premiere in Japan on January 14, 2025. Ahead of the broadcast of the first cour's episode 13 in Japan on December 24, the information was also released in the space streaming on the anime's official X (formerly Twitter) . During the stream, the series further announced that a special New Year's program featuring the voice actors who portray the three Amagami sisters — Sumire Uesaka (Yae), Kaede Hondo (Yuna), and Shion Wakayama (Asahi) — will broadcast a week earlier on January 7. The opening for the second cour, titled "Pray Pray Pray," will be sung by the three sisters, who sang the ending theme for the first cour. Related: Tying the Knot with an Amagami Sister English Dub Reveals Cast & Crew, Release Date The TV anime adaptation of Mercey Naito's Tying the Knot with an Amagami Sister...

Released over two years ago, the anime Lycoris Recoil was an original series that became a major multimedia hit. Now, a new version of the sake seen in the series is being sold, allowing all would-be spies to get their drink on.

Produced by Otokoyama, the Lycoris Recoil sake is a recreation of the "Hokkaido Deisui" sake seen in the anime itself. Sold with a newly-designed label featuring Mizuki Nakahara, the alcohol is proof of the brand's continued success. The ordering period doesn't last for much longer, however, so thirsty fans will want to reserve their drop of grog today.

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Lycoris Recoil Pours One Out in Time for the Holidays

The "Hokkaido Deisui" is the...

Science Saru's Dandadan has surprised fans with the debut trailer release for the anime's upcoming Season 2, revealing Jiji's stunning transformation ahead of its already highly anticipated premiere in July 2025.

Via X (formerly Twitter), Dandadan Season 2's first trailer was revealed at Jump Festa, immediately teasing the continuation from Season 1. The trailer features Dandadan's mysterious, ominous and regular comedic yet unsettling enemies. It ends with Jiji taking on a new form, now joining Momo, Okarun and Aira as supernatural power users. Abel Gongora, who was a key animator in Dandadan Season 1's iconic opening, as well as being in charge of its storyboard, direction, background art, assembly, editing and post-processing, was announced as the new co-director alongside Season 1's Fuga Yamashiro. Readers can check out the new trailer below.

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Crunchyroll reportedly pressed the brakes on promoting Science Saru's Dandadan, based on the Shonen Jump manga of the same name, which nonetheless went on to become one of the biggest anime series of 2024 for both fans and critics.

Cecilia D'Anastasio and Takashi Mochizuki's new report at Bloomberg gave major insight into the testimonies of 18 current and former Crunchyroll staff, revealing tensions between Crunchyroll and Funimation employees, disillusionment with management, layoff concerns, struggling ability to compete with other licensees, and tense relationships with licensors like Toei Animation, Shogakukan, Shueisha and Kodansha. Notably, for Dandadan fans, this tense relationship extends to one of Dandadan's licensors and production companies, Toho. Despite being one of the year's most anticipated titles, new testimony reveals that Crunchyroll's senior vice president, Markus Gerdemann, reportedly explicitly instructed staff to hold back on Dandadan's promotion.

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The genre-blending anime series “Dan Da Dan” will return for its second season on Crunchyroll in July 2025, following Thursday’s Season 1 finale.

Science Saru, the animation studio behind “Scott Pilgrim Takes Off,” unveiled a new key visual for the sophomore season that centers on the character Jiji under the watchful gaze of the mysterious Evil Eye. The artwork incorporates classical composer portraits and a kaiju, suggesting new supernatural elements for the upcoming storyline.

The series, based on Yukinobu Tatsu’s manga published in Shonen Jump Plus, blends supernatural action with romantic comedy elements. Fuga Yamashiro helms the project, with “Chainsaw Man” composer Kensuke Ushio providing the score. Tatsu previously worked as an assistant to Tatsuki Fujimoto on his global hit series “Chainsaw Man” and “Fire Punch,” and Yuji Kaku on “Hell’s Paradise: Jigokuraku.”

“Dan Da Dan” follows the story of a high school girl named Momo who is from a family of spirit mediums,...

Easily one of the year's most acclaimed anime series, Dandadan has given fans a treat hot on the heels of the conclusion of the first season. Season 2 of the Shonen Jump smash-hit adaptation has now been announced for 2025, alongside a stunning new visual.

Via a press release, Crunchyroll's popular Dandadan anime will return for a second season in July 2025. Season 2 will follow the first season's massive cliffhanger, sparking widespread fan reaction on social media. The upcoming battle between Momo, Okarun, Jiji and Turbo Granny versus Evil Eye was captured in a stunning new visual, featuring tension, unease, classical composers and even a small kaiju. Readers can check out the Dandadan Season 2 announcement visual below.

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Following today's airing of the Dan Da Dan Season 1 finale (and its shocking cliffhanger!), it has been officially announced that the show will return for a second season on Crunchyroll July 2025! We have a look at the full teaser artwork and description below:

"The newly unveiled Season 2 announcement visual captures a sense of tension and unease, while the ominous presence of Evil Eye, fixated on Jiji standing at the center, commands attention with its unsettling gaze. The deep purple hues that fill the background heighten the anticipation of the intense and merciless battles that await Momo, Okarun, Jiji, and Turbo Granny. Adding to the intrigue, the artwork features portraits of renowned classical composers and a small kaiju, hinting at the bizarre and unpredictable adventures still to come in Dan Da Dan."

About Dan Da Dan Season 1

Based on the popular manga by Yukinobu Tatsu, Dan Da Dan is an electrifying,...

Smash-hit series Dandadan is the latest anime franchise to partner with the globally popular clothing brand Uniqlo, which has revealed a brand-new collection of character-inspired t-shirts slated for release this coming February.

Uniqlo revealed its new collaboration with the ongoing Dandadan series for a new range of graphic T-shirts in Japan inspired by its characters. The Dandadan Ut collection features four T-shirts, sized from Xs to 4Xl, all costing 1,500 yen (around US$9). They're scheduled for release in late February; readers can check out the images, teaser trailers and more information below.

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Shonen Jump Hit Series Dandadan Beams Into Uniqlo This February

pic.twitter.com/YjOSairVWp— 「ダンダダンã€TVアニメå…...

Voice acting is a profession that often demands versatility, adaptability, and resilience. Particularly when it comes to Japanese anime, the voice actors have shown tremendous versatility in each role they play. Similarly, Shion Wakayama, the voice actress of Momo Ayase, has experienced an immense level of dynamism in her journey in Dandadan, however, it also required her to step out of her own comfort zone.

Momo Ayase from Dandadan | Credit: Science Saru

Shion Wakayama, previously known for her work in projects like Lycoris Recoil, Castlevania, and Her Blue Sky, has been assigned to a role in Dandadan that shares no similarity to her previous characters. Thus, in an interview, Wakayama reflected on her previous roles, the intense demands of voicing Momo, and the process of adapting to such a drastically different character providing fascinating insights into her growth as a voice actress.

The Challenges of Voicing Momo Ayase from Dandadan...

A brand-new main trailer released for Momentary Lily today revealed that the original anime will release on Japanese television and streaming services from January 2 at 23:30 Jst . A preview of the series' opening and ending songs, "Oishii Survivor" by Hanabie. and "Real" by miwa ( My Hero Academia Season 3 Ed), respectively, are also featured. Momentary Lily Main Trailer The Momentary Lily anime's main cast is as follows: Yuri Kawatsu voiced by Natsuko Abe Erika Kodaiji voiced by Tsugumi Sakuragi Hinageshi Usuzumi voiced by Shion Wakayama Renge Kasumi voiced by Manatsu Murakami Sazanka Yoshino voiced by Misaki Kuno Ayame Sakuya voiced by Miyuri Shimabukuro Related: Original Anime Momentary Lily Releases Character Promotional Video, Illustration With concept design by Takahiro Kishida, Shingo Suzuki ( Scar on the Praeter ) serves as chief director and character designer for the Momentary Lily anime at studio GoHands, while Susumu Kudo and Katsumasa Yokomine serve as directors. Tamazo Yanagi...

2024 has been a great year for anime, with some of the best adaptations in recent years captivating viewers worldwide. With a great diversity of series, there's plenty to catch up on for those who choose to look back at the year's standout animes. However, thanks to globalization and the improvement of streaming services, although there is greater access to all types of anime, this can also make it more difficult to know where to start.

Despite the oversaturation of new releases, most of the time only a few end up being memorable and worth recommending. This way, with Fall season close to ending, it's now possible to point a clear line to the finest adaptations of 2024 that every anime fan should watch.

While this year marked the long-awaited return of several fan-favorite anime franchises, this list doesn’t take sequels into consideration.

Makeine: Too Many Losing Heroines! Based on the...

In a world where high-octane action and relentless pacing dominate modern storytelling, especially in Hollywood, the concept of “space” in storylines often feels like a relic of the past. Japanese animation legend Hayao Miyazaki, renowned for his iconic works like My Neighbor Totoro and Spirited Away, famously criticized this aspect of Hollywood filmmaking. And now, following Miyazaki’s footsteps, Fuga Yamashiro has also incorporated this concept of space in Dandadan‘s anime adaptation.

Dandadan | Credit: Science Saru

While Dandadan is known for its fast-paced narrative and unconventional humor, Yamashiro emphasized the importance of crafting deliberate pauses to balance the frenetic energy. This approach not only honors Miyazaki’s motto but also demonstrates how integrating moments of emptiness can elevate even the most chaotic stories.

The Challenge of Pacing in Dandadan

Adapting Dandadan into an anime has no doubt presented unique challenges for the Science Saru team. The manga’s headlong...

The rise of Dandadan in the anime world is nothing short of phenomenal. Not only is the premise unique, but With a vibrant cast of characters who fight, love, and grow together, Dandadan has brought us a lot of surprises. With the funniest representations of the weirdest ghost grandmas, it has changed a lot.

Momo Ayase in Dandadan. [Credit: Science Saru]

The show has captured global attention, including shoutouts from celebrities like Megan The Stallion. At the heart of this is Shion Wakayama, the voice of Momo Ayase. Her experience voicing this energetic, fiery, and loud character posed challenges that tested her physical and mental limits, a testament to her dedication to the series.

Director Fuga Yamashiro faced the herculean task of adapting Dandadan, a blend of comedy, romance, action, and supernatural occult elements. A major part of the adaptation is giving ‘life’ to the characters or a voice.

Va Wakayama...

In their adventures, anime characters rely on many extraordinary abilities to come out on top during their trials and tribulations. Some hone their combat skills, others rely on supernatural abilities and divine powers, while the more cunning heroes use intelligence to outwit their opponents. However, there’s one factor that, if it is on the character’s side, can be mightier than any other ability or skill - luck.

Those favored by fortune can easily succeed against impossible odds, survive in the most dire life-or-death situations, and triumph when the whole world turns on them. In most cases, luck is an unquantifiable and fickle force one can’t reliably bargain on. Yet, some anime characters are blessed with such outstanding good fortune that it can almost be considered a superpower - and, sometimes, it actually is. The most advantageous characters in anime don’t have to fear anything as long...

A brand-new trailer and key visual released for the Ameku M.D. Doctor Detective anime today revealed that the medical mystery series will air on Japanese television from January 1, 2025 at 24:00 Jst (effectively January 2 at 0:00). Crunchyroll will simulcast the anime as it airs. The trailer also highlights the series' opening and ending songs, "Scope" by Aimer ( Spice and Wolf: Merchant Meets The Wise Wolf OP2) and "will be fine feat. Anly" by Gospellers, respectively. Ameku M.D.: Doctor Detective Trailer #2 Ameku M.D.: Doctor Detective Key Visual Related: Ameku M.D.: Doctor Detective TV Anime Streams on Crunchyroll in January 2025 Based on the novels by Mikito Chinen and Noizi Ito, Kazuya Iwata ( 7th Time Loop: The Villainess Enjoys a Carefree Life Married to Her Worst Enemy ) directs Ameku M.D.: Doctor Detective at studio project No.9, with series composition by Yuko Kakihara ( The Apothecary Diaries...

Science Saru's wholesome occult rom-com Dandadan continues to impress millions of global viewers. Netflix's latest TV rankings reveal an extremely consistent performance for the series compared to other Fall 2024 anime, including one of the biggest Shonen Jump IPs of all time.

Dandadan's impressive run continues on Netflix's Top 10, ranking fourth globally with 9.3 million hours viewed this week. When divided by its 2-hour and 53-minute runtime, this amounts to 3.2 million views. This marks Dandadan's sixth week in the rankings, and notably, it's the only anime series left standing after Dragon Ball Daima and Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba: Hashira Training Arc bowed out after placing 8th and 10th last week. Ranma 1/2 also spent three weeks in the top 10, last appearing in late October.

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The following contains slight spoilers for Dandadan Season 1, streaming on Crunchyroll

Science Saru's adaptation of Yukinobu Tatsu's Dandadan Episode 5, "Like, Where Are Your Balls?" displays how this latest shonen craze will break away from typical shonen storytelling and character writing. Taking place the day after protagonists Momo, a popular psychic girl, and Okarun, Ken Takakura, a boy with a profound belief in aliens, bested and exorcised Turbo Granny in Episode 4, Dandadan pivots from Shnen storytelling to instead focus on an episode more akin to a shojo.

This storytelling decision by author Yukinobu Tatsu makes Dandadan different from other shonen anime. Other anime quickly thrust the characters into a new plot, battle, or training arc. Still, Dandadan switches the formula up entirely and moves to remind audiences that this is a romance story between two characters disguised as an action shonen. Considering the research Yukinobu Tatsu had to do to make this story possible,...

Netflix's Dan Da Dan has become an instant hit within a handful of episodes and now the series also officially has the most streamed opening theme of the season, with the highest ranking on Oricon. Besides its wacky yet entertaining story and stunning visuals by Science Saru, Dan Da Dan's catchy opening theme, "Otonoke" by Creepy Nuts, has been making waves since its release and has now become the artist's second massive hit.

According to a post by Oricon, Dan Da Dan's opening theme, "Otonoke" was ranked #1 both in Oricon's Weekly Digital Single Ranking and Weekly Streaming Ranking with nine thousand weekly downloads and 9.6 million weekly streams. The song has become Creepy Nuts' second single to achieve a double digital crown this year since Mashle's "Bling-Bang-Bang-Born" back in February 2024.

Dan Da Dan's Opening Dominates Oricon's Weekly Charts Otonoke Becomes Creepy Nuts' Second Major Hit

Dan Da Dan's opening theme...

Dan Da Dan is a high-energy supernatural action romance anime adaptation of the eponymous Shonen Jump+ manga. It features two main lead characters: the nerdy Ken (aka Okarun due to his occult obsession) and Momo, a gyaru character who recently broke up with her deadbeat boyfriend. The two unlikely friends bond over their overlapping beliefs in aliens and ghosts, respectively, In the English dub of Dan Da Dan Okarun is voiced by A.J. Beckles while Momo is voiced by Abby Trot

The series brings the two together as a dejected yet headstrong Momo defends Okarun as he's being picked on by bullies, only for the two to wind up challenging each other's respective beliefs; Okarun's stalwart belief in aliens, and Momo's family connection to the occult. A.J. Beckles and Abby Trott discuss the influences and experiences of playing these characters and their previous roles influencing their performance as a...

Whether it’s aliens you’re seeking or ghosts this Halloween, Dandadan anime has become a one-stop destination for all things exciting and creepy. From great main characters to electrifying fights, there’s a lot that the anime offers. From the first episode itself, the anime created a strong impression on fans and satiated the expectations of the manga readers. Not just the fans, but the voice actor of Okarun, Hanae Natsuki, also had a great experience playing the character.

Hanae Natsuki plays Okarun | Credits: Studio Science Saru

Renowned for his famous roles such as Tanjiro and Ken Kaneki, Hanae Natsuki is now playing Okarun in Dandadan anime. Working closely with people who were dedicated to the manga altered the seiyu’s brain chemistry a little. He now seemingly believes in the supernatural, thanks to the adventures of Okarun and Momo.

Hanae Natsuki on His Experiences as Okarun A still...

Every anime fan should be aware of the adrenaline-inducing premier of Dandadan by this point, given its soaring popularity. Dandadan anime has become a highlight of this season as it brings the spooky and somewhat wholesome pages of YukinobuTatsu’s manga to life. Fans were already loving the anime and its faithfulness to the manga, but now a famous personality has also joined the tribe. Hideo Kojima recently made a post on X expressing his awe of Dandadan anime.

Momo and Okarun | Credits: Studio Science Saru

Kojima’s stamp of approval adds to the glory of the anime. It wasn’t just one or two things that appealed to Kojima, but a long list of reasons. If you’re someone who has been holding off on watching Dandadan or someone who is incessantly in love with the dynamic duo of Okarun and Momo, Kojima’s words definitely have something for you!

The cast of Tatsuki Fujimoto's Chainsaw Man anime adaptation will soon be available as adorable Funko Pop figures. The upcoming release with Funko will focus on the main cast of Chainsaw Man Part 1.

Funko announced its new Chainsaw Man-inspired Funko Pop figures lineup via an exclusive press release. These figures fall under the Pop! Animation banner and depict the main cast of Chainsaw Man Part 1. The characters included are Denji in his Chainsaw Man form, Himeno, Kishibe, Kobeni Higashiyama and Samurai Sword, who also goes by Katana Man. A BoxLunch-exclusive figure of Sleeping Pochita will also soon be made available. Various keychains of the additional Chainsaw Man characters have likewise now been revealed.

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Niconico, a prominent content distribution service in Japan owned by parent company Kadokawa, recently unveiled its top 10 most popular Fall 2024 anime series by viewership. According to these rankings, Dandadan, Blue Box and the latest season of Re:Zero: Starting Life in Another World are currently some of the highest-viewed works among Japanese fans.

Per PR Times, Niconico's rankings were determined based on uploaded episode view totals in addition to hits for live televised broadcasts. Dandadan -- Shonen Jump's latest rising star -- headed the list at #1, followed by Blue Box, Season 2 of The Idolmaster Shiny Colors and The Temptation of 2.5 Dimensions, respectively. Season 3 of Re:Zero is currently the fifth-most viewed series. The entire list, ranked from most to least popular, can be viewed below.

Related "I Get to Say Abusive Language": Star of Shonen Jump's New Hit Anime Series on Her 'Dream' Role

Voice actor Shion Wakayama explains how she...

Shochiku's official anime YouTube channel is now streaming a promotional video to introduce the six main characters of the upcoming original TV anime, Momentary Lily , from studio GoHands. This video is a compilation of the six short character videos previously released weekly on the anime's official X (formerly Twitter) . Additionally, the anime's official X also posted a newly-drawn special illustration featuring the main cast. Led by Sazanka Yoshino, everyone strikes a peace pose. Related: Original Anime Momentary Lily Reveals New Trailer, Visual and More Key Visual The original TV anime series Momentary Lily is scheduled to begin in January 2025 in Japan. Shingo Suzuki serves as chief director and character designer at animation studio GoHands . Susumu Kudo and Katsumasa Yokomine also provide direction for the series, Tamazo Yanagi provides the screenplay, Hiroshi Okubo provides the mechanical designs and Ryosuke Kojima provides the music. The main voice cast members include: Yuri Kawazu...

Shonen Jump's latest hit anime, Dandadan, features a "gruff" yet compassionate female lead named Momo Ayase. In a recent interview, Shion Wakayama, who voices Momo in the series, explained how she prepared for the ultimate "dream" role.

In Dandadan, high school classmates "Okarun" and Momo Ayase discover that their world is full of chaotic paranormal and supernatural entities. In spite of their contrasting personalities, the two team up to help one another survive. Per Mantan Web, Wakayama describes how Momo often uses "abusive language" while interacting with Okarun. "Before I participated in Dandadan, I had never raised my voice or shouted in an episode," she admitted. "...I think this is the first time we've heard such a gruff voice, and I also get to say some abusive language and catchphrases that I could only say in this work."

Related "Until Then, I Didn't Believe in the Occult": Dandadan...

All episodes of Makeine: Too Many Losing Heroines! season 1 are available to stream on Crunchyroll.

Makeine: Too Many Losing Heroines! is the anime based on Takibi Amamori's light novel series of the same name and the most highly praised rom-com show of anime's Summer 2024 lineup. The series is loved for its subversion of the harem anime genre and a character-centric storyline that focuses on the hardships of teenage romance and the value of genuine platonic friendships.

The cast of Makeine is what makes the anime thrive as one of the hit series of the summer. Main protagonist Nukumizu and the Losing Heroines are a truly loveable bunch, whose growth and development are well-supported by the lost romantic crushes and the dreaded (but equally likeable) love rivals of the show.

Kazuhiko Nukumizu is the Average High School Boy Meant to be in the Background of Every Anime Love Story

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Japanese video game designer Hideo Kojima took to his official X account on Oct 5, 2024, to share his thoughts on the currently airing Dandadan anime, praising its themes of the occult and UFOs while expressing enthusiasm for the production’s unique style.

In his post, Kojima mentioned that while he hasn’t read the original manga, Dandadan‘s themes of UFOs and the supernatural immediately struck a chord with him.

“I got a bit tired of reading so browsed my subscription. Saw the anime ‘Dandadan’ was up, so I decided to watch the first episode. I haven’t read the original manga, but being from the generation that loves the occult and UFOs, it really hit home...

Dandadan, written and illustrated by Yukinobu Tatsu, debuts the first episode of its animated adaptation by Science Saru today to the applause of fans everywhere. With quick action, comedic gags, and stellar characters, Dandadan gained a lot of positive fan reactions on Shueisha's Manga Plus and Viz Media's Shnen Jump website. The manga has over 3 million copies in circulation and over 3 million views on the Shnen Jump website. The movie Dandadan First Encounter, a theatrical compilation of the anime's first three episodes, also had a weekend box office of over 1 million.

This rise in popularity of the series is due to how it handles its chaotic and hilarious tone. There has been a recent trend in anime and manga, both in creation and fan engrossment, to have stories that cover a much darker tone. Favorites like Jujutsu Kaisen, Chainsaw Man, and Hell's Paradise were frequently known for their depressing deaths,...

With Dan Da Dan's anime here, the hype is building for one of the most unusual, exciting, and funny new Shonen Jump+ adaptations. The voiceover artists for the two protagonists, Natsuki Hanae and Shion Wakayama, are at the heart of the new anime, who portray Okarun and Momo, respectively. They recently appeared at Anime NYC's Dan Da Dan panel, where Hanae and Wakayama showcased their incredible talents and charisma to an adoring New York audience.

Following the panel, Hanae and producer Hiroyuki Aoi graciously joined Screen Rant for a brief interview to discuss Dan Da Dan's full release on Crunchyroll, Hulu, and Netflix. With Natsuki Hanae being associated with other recent and illustrious roles like Tanjiro Kamado from Demon Slayer and Ken Kaneki from Tokyo Ghoul, it's unsurprising that he turns in another unique performance as Okarun.

Related Dan Da Dan Anime Release Date Revealed Alongside Epic New Trailer

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Death Stranding's Hideo Kojima reveals plans to produce an anime as the acclaimed auteur intends further expansions into Hollywood through live-action and gaming collaborations via Kojima Productions.

Following Kojima's decision to sign with the talent agency WME, he spoke exclusively to Variety about his upcoming plans at indie company Kojima Productions. His company's Death Stranding game was released in 2021 with a sequel planned for 2025. Following this, "well continue to add more to various platforms," he says, "What comes next are different forms of media: movies, anime, TV dramas, etc. Basically, expanding the game IP to other media. Thats the second phase. Thats what were aiming for next. I created Kojima Productions under the scope of 'digital entertainment,' but I dont think it necessarily has to be a video game. We could create a new IP from a game, or an anime, or a film, or something totally different.

The official cast members of Science Saru's highly anticipated Dan Da Dan (also commonly spelled out as Dandadan) anime have hyped up the new Shonen Jump-based series, gathering together at its advance screening and dropping some referential lines in front of a lively audience.

Via Entax News, Dan Da Dan main cast members Natsuki Hanae (Okarun), Shion Wakayama (Momo), Kazuki Nakai (Serpo) and Mayumi Tanaka (Turbo Granny) appeared at an advance screening event in Osaka on Sept. 21, where nothing was off the table ahead of the anime's highly anticipated premiere. The Shonen Jump series is known for its juvenile humor, which Tanaka and Hanae particularly played into at the event. "I came to Osaka because I thought my penis might be in the venue," Hanae said, referencing the unfortunate events affecting his character in the series. Tanaka went even further by saying, "Let me suck your penis," recounting Turbo...

Five and three make eight, and together they look great! Tying the Knot with an Amagami Sister made its broadcast debut last night in Japan, so the girls of The Quintessential Quintuplets came along to appropriately support the shrine maiden rom-com anime in a brand-new collab visual. Tying the Knot with an Amagami Sister x The Quintessential Quintuplets collab visual A creditless version of Tying the Knot with an Amagami Sister 's ending sequence, featuring "Kimi ni Koi wo Musunde" by main cast members Sumire Uesaka, Kaede Hondo and Shion Wakayama, was also released. Related: Crunchyroll Fall 2024 Anime Season Lineup Announced! Based on the manga by Marcey Naito, Yujiro Abe ( Konosuba Season 3) directs Tying the Knot with an Amagami Sister at studio Drive, with series composition by Yasuko Aoki ( The Demon Prince of Momochi House ), character designs by Haruko Iizuka ( Horimiya ) and music by Ryo Kawasaki ( Black Butler: Public School Arc ) and Tomoyuki Kono.

Kojima and company made an appearance at Tokyo Game Show 2024, bringing new info and footage for Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, including a new Photo Shoot Event, character names and, by performing certain actions in the game, an in-game performance by Daichi Miura.

For starters, Kojima revealed some of the new characters for the sequel to the 2019 hit, with George Miller providing his likeness for Tarman (voiced by Mitsuru Miyamoto in Japanese), Dollman being portrayed by Fatih Akin (voiced by Tomokazu Sugita in Japanese), Elle Fanning‘s Tomorrow (voiced by Shion Wakayama in Japanese), and Rainy (portrayed and voiced by Shioli Kutsuna).

Not to be confused with a Photo Mode (which will be added to Death Stranding 2), the “Photo Shoot Event” allows the player to photograph the characters with an instant camera. Kojima suggested that while this may seem like a fun extra, it does have some influence on the story.

A brand-new actor and character for Hideo Kojima's Death Stranding 2: On The Beach has been announced at this year's Tokyo Game Show. As talented as this Japanese voice actor is, Kojima admitted he picked her because he loved her in an acclaimed anime action series.

A social media fan account of The Walking Dead's Norman Reedus -- who stars in the Death Stranding series as Sam Porter Bridges -- shared a clip of the PlayStation sequel's presentation at the Tokyo Game Show 2024 event in Japan. The brief clip on X (formerly Twitter) features Shion Wakayama, one of the newly announced actors for Death Stranding 2: On The Beach, talking to the audience. It also features Kojima admitting he hired Wakayama because he enjoyed her performance as Takina Inoue in Lycoris Recoil, the critically acclaimed "Girls with Guns" anime series from 2022.

Related Death Stranding Creator Hideo Kojima Discusses...

Over the last five years, Mappa's Jujutsu Kaisen and Ufotable's Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba franchises have become the dominant works of the modern shonen era. However, Mbs Programming Director Shinichi Tabuchi recently spotlighted an upcoming series that he believes will eventually become as popular, if not more so, than the two reigning champions.

On Sept. 25, an X (formerly Twitter), a user called shared details revealed during a recent Mbs TV press conference in Osaka, Japan. Tabuchi, who serves as Director of Mbs TV's General Programming Department, announced that Dandadan -- the anime adaptation of Tatsu Yukinobu's hit occult-comedy manga -- would soon begin broadcasting on Mbs TV. Additionally, he hyped up the work as one that would rapidly "spread" in notoriety like "Jujutsu Kaisen, Haikyu! and Demon Slayer. It's an anime that's interesting even for old guys like us; about facing unexpected events while accepting each other's diversity,...

Dan Da DANs premiere is on the horizon, and a brand-new trailer for its English dub has been released to hype it up even further. Dan Da Dan is an upcoming adaptation of the supernatural action manga of the same name, and between the mangas popularity and the all-star staff behind the anime, its become one of the most hotly-anticipated anime of fall 2024, if not 2024, as a whole.

Dan Da Dan is sure to be a big hit worldwide, and the English dub is bound to play a big part in that. A new trailer for Dan Da DANs English dub has finally been released, and just from that trailer, Dan Da DANs English dub is set to do a perfect job of capturing the manic energy of both the manga and the animes Japanese cast.

Fall 2024's Biggest New Anime Is Almost Here Anime Series By Science Saru; Based...

It's hard out here for a losing heroine, but the girls of Makeine are staying strong as they approach the series finale. The shy, book-loving Chika Komari is in the spotlight today, as she gets her own solo visual in the wake of episode 11. Check out the latest of the show's "losing heroines" visuals, featuring Komari in the foreground as the object of her affection and the object of his affection walk by in the background: Related: Makeine: Too Many Losing Heroines! English Dub Reveals Cast & Crew, Release Date Additionally, it's been revealed that the upcoming final episode of the series will feature an original story written for the anime! Based on the light novels by Takibi Amamori and Imigimuru, Makeine: Too Many Losing Heroines! is directed by Shotaro Kitamura ( Kaguya-sama: Love is War episode director) at studio A-1 Pictures, with series composition by Masahiro Yokotani, character designs by...

Mbs unveiled three teasers for the upcoming Dandadan anime on Sep 17, 2024. The teasers highlight three core themes of the show: battle, romance, and the occult.

The Battle teaser focuses on Okarun’s fight against the Flatwoods Monster, whereas the Love teaser previews the developing relationship between Momo and Okarun, set against the backdrop of the ending theme Taidada by Zutomayo.

And finally, the Occult teaser features bizarre supporting characters, including aliens and yokai.

Checkout the teasers below:

Battle teaser:

Love teaser:

Occult teaser:

The voice cast for the supernatural characters featured in the teasers have also been revealed:

Ryuzaburo Otomo as the Flatwoods Monster, a sumo-like alien Kikuko Inoue as Acrobatic Silky, a yokai with long silky hair who is interested in Aira Tomokazu Seki as the Dover Demon, a mantis-shrimp-like alien with a powerful punch Tomokazu Sugita as Taro, a living male anatomy model Fumi Hirano as Hana, a...

Quick Links Dandadan Has Some Of The Best Animation Of 2024 The Very Few Things About Dandadan: First Encounter That Might Turn Someone Off Dandadan: First Encounters Direction Perfectly Shows How Great Anime Can Be Dandadans Cast Sell The Story In Both Action & Comedy

This article contains a brief discussion of sexual assault.

Warning: Contains spoilers for Dandadan episodes #1-#3.While Science Sarus Dandadan wont premiere on Crunchyroll and Netflix until October 2024, Gkids is giving people an early look at the series with the theatrical release of Dandadan: First Encounter. First Encounter covers the first three episodes of the anime and also includes an interview with Momo and Okaruns voice actors, Shion Wakayama and Natsuki Hanae, director Fuga Yamashiro, series creator Yukinobu Tatsu, and Tatsus editor, Shihei Lin.

Its rare for an anime to get as much hype and attention as Dandadan, and based on Dandadan: First Encounter,...