News

It’s been a long time since Keisuke Itagaki’s Baki the Grappler had any kind of official English release, and now a new one is on the horizon through Kodama Tales. The Kyodo Printing Co., Ltd. subsidiary announced plans to release an English edition of Baki the Grappler Complete Edition , which collects the series in 24 volumes. David Evelyn translates and Rafael Zaiats letters the new editions. Both digital and print versions are planned, with a global launch set for this October. Pre-order dates will be announced later. The original release of Itagaki’s Baki the Grappler ran for 42 volumes from 1991 to 1999. While this will mark the first time for the complete series to be collected in English, the first 46 chapters were published in Gutsoon! Entertainment’s Raijin Comics manga magazine from 2002-2004. A number of sequels have followed since, and Netflix currently streams the most recent anime adaptations, including...

Exclusive: Xolo Maridueña (Blue Beetle) and Leah Lewis (Matlock) have wrapped production on Dog Years, an indie romance marking the feature debut of writer-director Mary Bronaugh.

Shot just outside Chicago, the film follows two former best friends who unexpectedly meet up in their hometown seven years after admitting they were in love. Reunited for one exhilarating night, they break into their old high school and question whether they would upend their lives to be together now.

“Dog Years is a very personal story about how the people we love shape us, even if they can’t stay in our lives,” Bronaugh said. “Working with Leah and Xolo has been a total joy. Every day, I was humbled by their passion and dedication to the story and team. I’m so excited for people to see the depth, brilliance, and humor they brought to these characters.”

Last year, the Dog Years...

Studio Ghibli continues its long streak of releasing adorable collectibles based on a wide variety of its anime works. A new addition features Princess Mononoke and some of the anime movie's smallest spirit creatures, the Kodama.

Studio Ghibli's official online store, Donguri Sora, recently unveiled one of its latest pieces of merchandise -- a Princess Mononoke-themed vase designed to hold a single flower. The design stars two little Kodama, or tree spirits, playing around a hollow tree trunk, with moss, roots and general greenery all around. The center of the tree holds the small flute glass designed to hold a single flower upright, while the two Kodama look up, seemingly enamored by the plant. In addition, both Kodama are phosphorescent, and will faintly glow in the dark if given enough sunlight over the course of the day. While the vase is designed to hold a single or very small assortment of flowers,...

With 18 Pokémon types, many creatures share dual attributes, but none embody nature quite like Grass-types. Known for their lush, plant-inspired designs, they range from the eerie Phantump to the towering Torterra, showcasing a wide variety of influences.

While many of these Pokémon draw inspiration from trees, flowers, and even food, their roots extend far beyond simple plant life. Myths play a significant role in their creation, adding unexpected depth to a classification often seen as straightforward. Fans may be surprised to discover just how many legendary tales and folklore traditions shape these ordinary Pokémon.

Phantump Have Connections to Kodama & Dryads Phantump, The Stump Pokémon; Pokédex #0708; Ghost, Grass

Phantump is a small but spooky Pokémon introduced in the Kalos region. These Pokémon are said to be the spirits of children who became lost and died in the woods. However, their origins spread farther than just creepy Pokédex entries would entail. These...

Prime Video Japan has a new Country Manager in the shape of Keisuke Oishi.

Effective today, the former Sony Corp exec will take on the post after rising through the ranks over ten years at Amazon. Oishi will report to Gaurav Gandhi, Vice President of Prime Video for Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa.

He replaces Takashi Kodama, who left Prime Video late last year to lead Amutus Corporation, the parent of Japanese digital manga publisher Mecha Comic, according to Kodama’s LinkedIn posts. We’ve reached out to Amazon for clarity.

Media Partners Asia last year pegged Prime Video as Japan’s biggest streamer by subscribers, making Oishi’s new role a vital one for the Amazon business. He will oversee a business spanning SVOD, add-on subscriptions, Tvod and live sports. Amazon said he would “lead efforts to solidify its position as the first-choice entertainment destination for customers in Japan.

The most iconic aspect of any great shonen anime is its protagonist. Main characters can make or break an anime - particularly in the shonen genre. Therefore, when the main character is written to be irritating, it can grate on fans’ nerves. Whenever a new shonen anime drops, it’s a toss-up about whether the protagonist will be insufferable. Yet, when they are annoying, they can go straight from perplexing to awful.

The worst, most annoying shonen anime main characters can be constantly whiny. They cry at the drop of a hat or explain their problems so much that audiences wish they would talk about something else. Maybe the characters have saccharine personalities or are so overpowered that there are no stakes in their shows. Whatever the case may be, these are some of the most annoying anime protagonists to grace audiences' screens in recent memory.

Related 10 Most Immature Shonen Anime Main Characters,...

Toilet-Bound Hanako-kun is still an extremely popular anime and manga series that fans refuse to flush. Now, the steaming hot second season of the anime is on the way, and subscribers to one streaming service won't have to wait much longer.

Toilet-Bound Hanako-kun Season 2 is coming in the middle of January 2025, and the show's subbed version will be available to watch on Hulu the day afterward. This gives fans time to catch up and watch the first season for the first time or all over again. This comes long after said first season and two "seasons" of a comical spinoff show, giving viewers a lot of content to "wipe" away before Season 2 drops.

Related January 7 Will Be a Sad Day for Bakugan Fans

In 2023, Netflix premiered a Bakugan reboot to appeal to both newcomers and fans of the classic action-fantasy franchise. Now, its days are numbered.

Hulu & Crunchyroll Both Stream...

Calcifer is an iconic Studio Ghibli character loved for his sassy personality and unique design. Calcifer adds comedic relief to Howl's Moving Castle, balancing out more serious themes like war and greed. Calcifer's relationship with Howl and Sophie serves as a central connecting point, symbolizing love and vulnerability.

Studio Ghibli is famous for producing amazing films with memorable and lovable characters. One of the most popular titles is Howl's Moving Castle, which is about a vain wizard named Howl Pendragon and a cursed haberdasher named Sophie Hatter. They're assisted by a sassy-mouthed fire demon named Calcifer. The character was created by author Diana Wynne Jones for her novel of the same name, which serves as source material for the movie, but Hayao Miyazaki brings the character to vibrant life.

Calcifer is one of Studio Ghibli's most recognizable characters. He is a little flame with wide, expressive eyes, and he...

Avatar's story and characters were heavily influenced by Princess Mononoke, showcasing parallels in narrative and themes. Both movies portrayed complex relationships between nature and humanity, highlighting the impact of industrialism on the environment. James Cameron's love for anime, including Miyazaki's works, was reciprocated in the anime industry, with influences seen in Avatar's themes and characters.

Countless jokes and memes have been made about how James Cameron's Avatar is basically a sci-fi remake of Kevin Costner's sweeping Western epic Dances with Wolves and Mike Gabriel and Eric Goldberg's animated period musical Pocahontas. Some chalked the movies' overlap to the unavoidable reality of pop culture osmosis, while others went as far as baselessly accusing Cameron of ripping off the aforementioned movies. Though the narrative similarities and thematic parallels are undeniable, these reductive jokes unfairly reduced Avatar to a punchline. In fact, the jokes were so overplayed that they're...

I’m not going into whether someone like Nelma Kodama deserves to be the focal point of a Netflix documentary or not! Crime on the screen is something that always sells, and the more glamorous it is, the more people you have in the audience. So, it’s only natural for Netflix to churn out documentaries like Nelma Kodama: The Queen of Dirty Money. Just a while ago, the streaming giant had huge success with How to Rob a Bank, and the Nelma Kodama documentary appears to be cut from the same cloth.

Who is Nelma Kodama?

If you Google the name Nelma Kodama, you will find out that the lady is a trafficker. Of course, a routine criminal wouldn’t make it onto Netflix, so it’s quite obvious that Kodama is a big fish in the world of crime. What has she done? There are all kinds of unlawful things related to money,...

Kiki's Delivery Service and My Neighbor Totoro are two of Studio Ghibli's most iconic cinematic properties to date. As summer approaches, the critically acclaimed animation company has unveiled a special treat for the franchises' fans: a brand-new tableware collection that allows users to kick back on a hot summer day with a refreshing drink.

Studio Ghibli's online storefront, Donguri Sora, recently added a new Totoro-themed tea pot to its expansive digital catalog. The adorable pot, which also comes with a handy tea strainer, is decked out with cute decals of small, medium and large-sized Totoro. It is also moderately compact, allowing it to be easily stored inside a refrigerator for later use. After brewing their favorite variety of tea, fans can then take it on the go using Ghibli's new Totoro and Kiki-themed bottles. While there are a myriad of similar items on Donguri Sora, these particular bottles are also heat-resistant,...

Welcome to this review of Tna Wrestling’s Under Seige pay-per-view/Ple, right here on Nerdly. I’m editor Phil and we have plenty of big matches to get to, so let’s see if this show continues the tradition of great Tna PPVs!

Countdown To Under Siege Match #1: Rhino def. Vsk The following is courtesy of tnawrestling.com:

The fight spills to the outside as Rhino delivers a back suplex on the apron. Vsk sends Rhino crashing into the steel ring post. Back in the ring, Vsk crashes and burns from the top rope. Rhino hits the Gore to score the victory.

My Score: 0 out of 5 Match #2: The F.B.I. (Zack Clayton & Ray Jaz) def. The Batiri (Kodama and Obariyon) The following is courtesy of tnawrestling.com:

Clayton drops his opponent with a pop-up neckbreaker. Jaz soars with a top rope elbow drop to score the pinfall, awarding the victory to The F.

Upgrade your Scrappy Survivors Precon deck from Magic: The Gathering's Universes Beyond sets with more reliable strategies. This deck features Dogmeat, Ever Loyal, who is from the nuclear wasteland of the Fallout franchise. The commander's color identity is Naya, which is Green, White, and Red, giving you plenty of cards to swap out from.

This "ever-loyal" canine card enters the command zone as a Legendary Character with Dog as its type. Its main archetype plays around Auras, Equipments, and Magic: The Gathering's new Junk Tokens. These Junk Tokens are created by attacking with an enchanted or equipped creature. This then allows you to exile the top card from your library which you may play that turn.

Related Magic: The Gathering 10 Cards That Got Banned The Fastest From Tibalt's Trickery and Memory Jar to Lutri, The Spellchaser, and more, discover the fastest-banned Magic: The Gathering cards in game history.