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Actor and comedian Jim Carrey was almost the live-action version of the iconic anime hero Lupin the Third, according to a new post by Hellboy screenwriter Peter Briggs. Though the Lupin franchise has been helmed by visionaries like Hayao Miyazaki, a Western live-action adaptation could have launched Monkey Punch's Lupin the Third into the global spotlight.

In a post on Bluesky, Peter Briggs talked about writing a script for a live-action version of Lupin the Third that was set to star Jim Carrey, presumably as the titular lead. Unfortunately, the rights were lost before the movie could be made, depriving fans of a live-action adaptation that could have been something special.

I was doing a movie with Tsui Hark, back in 1997. A live action adaption of "Lupin III", that we would have done with Jim Carrey. Alex Ho ended up losing the rights, so it never happened. Craziest screenplay I ever wrote!

Jim Carrey almost starred in a live-action anime movie based on one of Hayao Miyazaki's most prolific films. The legendary comedic actor was initially cast as the live-action American version of Lupin III in a film written by the co-writer of Hellboy (2004).

Peter Briggs, an English screenwriter who worked with Guillermo del Toro on the live-action version of Hellboy, nearly brought another iconic character to life in the early aughts. In a social media post shared on Bluesky (@/thepeterbriggs.bsky.social), Briggs revealed he wrote a script for a live-action movie adaptation of Lupin III, which would have starred Carrey in the titular role. The scrapped film would have drawn inspiration from the most influential stories in Lupin III's history, such as The Castle of Cagliostro, which is not only considered one of the best animated Lupin III movies,but also one of Miyazaki's finest works.

Jim Carrey...

The latest movie in the Lupin the IIIrd theatrical series, Lupin the IIIrd the Movie: Fujimi no Ketsuzoku ( The Immortal Bloodline ), was screened during Japan Expo Paris in July. During the event, Crunchyroll News had the opportunity to meet with the director, Takeshi Koike, to talk about this new entry, his tenure as director of this franchise and the future of Lupin. Editor's note: The following interview contains some spoilers for Lupin the IIIrd the Movie: Fujimi no Ketsuzoku . How did you approach the creation of this film? Takeshi Koike : Before making this film, I made four different films, each focusing on one of Lupin the Third’s teammates. But, from the outset, I wanted all these films to be linked to the character of Mamo. The other main element of this film, specifically, is the choice of Lupin the 3rd as the real protagonist of the story. At...

The main joy of self-described “animated caper” The Bad Guys — the 2022 film based on the books of the same name — came in the way it blended Ocean’s Eleven-style heist action with Looney Tunes-style zany physics. As with its predecessor, this sequel builds a moral parable on top of all this, though this time around with a little less pandering to a young audience through childish jokes.

We find Wolf, Snake (Marc Maron), Tarantula (Awkwafina), Shark (Craig Robinson) and Piranha all struggling to become part of the normal world after doing time in prison. Eviction notices and late bills loom, while job offers seem like a pipe dream. The criminal lifestyle they left behind soon becomes more alluring, especially when the new antagonists pose them the question: why should they try to assimilate into a world that will never trust them?

For the most part the comedy is a lot sharper this time around.

Europe-based distributor Pom Anime has acquired rights to upcoming Japanese anime Lupin The IIIrd The Movie: The Immortal Bloodlineand classics Akira and Grave Of The Fireflies as it prepares to open Dan Da Dan: Evil Eye in several territories.

The highly-anticipated Lupin The Third: The Movie marks the first 2D feature in the acclaimed franchise for nearly 30 years. Pom Anime plans to release the film in Q4 2025 in territories including Benelux, Poland, Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia, Kosovo, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania.

It builds on Pom’s partnership with Japanese animation studio Tms Entertainment after releasing 1979 classic Lupin III: The Castle Of Cagliostro,...

Europe-based distributor Pom Anime has acquired rights to upcoming Japanese anime Lupin The Third: The Movie and classics Akira and Grave Of The Fireflies as it prepares to open Dan Da Dan: Evil Eye in several territories.

The highly-anticipated Lupin The Third: The Movie marks the first 2D feature in the acclaimed franchise for nearly 30 years. Pom Anime plans to release the film in Q4 2025 in territories including Benelux, Poland, Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia, Kosovo, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania.

It builds on Pom’s partnership with Japanese animation studio Tms Entertainment after releasing 1979 classic Lupin III: The Castle Of Cagliostro, directed by Hayao Miyazaki,...

It's easy for the world to know some anime titles like One Piece and Dragon Ball because the franchises keep running decades after they were first released. However, there are several other high-quality anime series that didn't extend past a few episodes, and they tend to be forgotten. This week, Crunchyroll added a forgotten gem to its catalog. D.N.Angel is a 2003 anime series that ran for only 26 episodes, but managed to leave its mark on everyone who watched it.

D.N.Angel's starting point is similar to several other anime series. Daisuke Niwa is a 14-year-old boy who is dealing with the typical problems of adolescence: fawning over his school crush and worrying about his grades. His life is turned upside-down when he inadvertently awakens an obscure phantom thief within himself – only to discover that Dark is an entity that has been present in the male members of his family for generations.

Another weekend is upon us. That means it's once again time for the Bam Smack Pow team to bring you a weekly round-up of all the most important anime news of the week that was. This week, we're focusing on some major releases for the summer and beyond. Our anime recommendation this week is also one of the most influential and important anime movies of all time.

2025 Anime Awards reveal additional guests, presenters and where to stream

With Crunchyroll's 2025 Anime Awards set for May 25, the popular anime streaming service has announced several additional details about the ceremony. Most importantly, the start time for the ceremony and where fans can watch the live stream: the pre-show for the 2025 Anime Awards begins at 5:00 pm Japanese Standard Time (4:00 am Eastern) and the ceremony itself starts at 6:00 Jst (5:00 am Eastern). Anime fans around the world can watch the ceremony...

Another week has come and gone. As always, the Bam Smack Pow team is here with the biggest anime news for our readers. All in all, this first week of May has been a pretty slow week for anime news. Still, there are a few noteworthy gems of anime news to share. The week's main theme is new reveals for the upcoming Summer 2025 anime season.

Keep reading for a look at what's in store for anime fans later in 2025.

My Dress-Up Darling season 2 debuts opening

Crunchyroll has shared the latest trailer for season 2 of cosplay romcom anime series My Dress-Up Darling, which is currently slated to debut in July as part of the Summer 2025 anime season. This trailer provides our first look at the season's opening theme, titled "Ao to Kirameki" by spira spica. Although Crunchyroll confirmed that they will be streaming the second season of My Dress-Up Darling, there...

Anime is more mainstream than ever these days, and nothing proves that quite like the selection of anime available on streaming services. In fact, other streaming services, such as Pluto TV, are upping their game when it comes to anime as well, and there's a lot of new content to cover.

Pluto TV is celebrating "Ani-May," dedicating the entire month of May to releasing new anime content. Up first was news that Toonami classic Inuyasha would be getting its own channel, but it turns out this was only the tip of the iceberg. Alongside the Inuyasha channel, Pluto TV will also be introducing "Anime x Hidive" and "Pluto TV Anime Comedy" channels, and two more anime-related channels, "Pluto TV Anime Movies" and "Kids Anime." These new channels are in addition to a slew of events for May, such as a Jojo's Bizarre Adventure marathon.

Pluto TV Adds Hundreds of...

Sailor Moon fans are having a great day, particularly those who especially love the '90s anime.

In honor of Pluto TV’s annual "Ani-May" celebration, a very special Sailor Moon movie marathon will be streaming on Pluto’s free Sailor Moon channel. The movie marathon will begin at 7:30 p.m. Est, starting withSailor Moon R: The Movie, and then screening Sailor Moon S: The Movie and Sailor Moon Super S: The Movie.

Sailor Moon's First 3 Anime Movies Get Free Streaming Night for Ani-May Image via Cbr

Pluto TV, known for its free services and wide variety of content, celebrates an annual Ani-May, which caters to its anime audience. Ani-May typically includes a number of new anime features and full anime channels. For Ani-May 2023, Pluto TV launched a 24/7 Sailor Moon channel, making it one of the only anime series to receive its own 24/7 channel, alongside Naruto, One Piece,...

Hayao Miyazaki’s filmography might be filled with global hits and Oscar wins, but one of his pre-Ghibli movies still stands as a masterpiece. It is the movie that shaped Miyazaki as a director and creator. The style and techniques he used in this particular production later became his signature elements.

The movie in question is Lupin III: Castle of Cagliostro, which was also the directorial debut of Miyazaki. Throughout the years, it has inspired maestros from all over the world. It is a film that brought the Ghibli co-founder to the spotlight and highlighted his talents.

Lupin III: Castle of Cagliostro‘s car scene is still legendary

Castle of Cagliostro is popular as a whole (despite its rocky start), but one particular scene in the anime film stole the hearts of every viewer. At the beginning of the movie, as Lupin and Jigen are trying to find the...

As anime fans, we’re all basking in Hayao Miyazaki’s glory and wonders. His works have shaped the Japanese industry as a whole. There aren’t many artists and visionaries whose films instill a sense of longing and awe the way his works do.

From Spirited Away to Princess Mononoke, Miyazaki has created timeless masterpieces that remain etched into fans’ memories. Some even went so far as to win accolades, including Oscars. Yet, there is a movie so remarkable that it remains shrouded as an underrated gem.

Interestingly, this movie was treated as contraband after its release outside Japan. This is a one-of-a-kind movie that isn’t produced by Studio Ghibli, which makes it even better. But what’s more, it’s one of the showpieces, often slept on, and here’s why.

The non-studio Ghibli movie that got the “contraband” treatment

At this point, Studio Ghibli isn’t...

Hayao Miyazaki undoubtedly has a whole roster of incredible movies to his name. But in the middle of plenty of blockbusters and two Oscar winners, one of his earliest and most inspiring works often gets forgotten. When you consider the rumor that even Steven Spielberg has been influenced by the movie, it becomes a must-watch.

Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro, the movie in question, was released in 1979, making it almost 46 years old this year. It was created years before Miyazaki co-founded Studio Ghibli. Despite how old it is, Castle of Cagliostro is still considered one of the best action-comedy anime movies.

Steven Spielberg considered Lupin III as “one of the greatest adventure movies of all time”

There is a long-standing rumor about Lupin III: Castle of Cagliostro. Apparently, Steven Spielberg watched the movie during its Cannes Film Festival screening and was awed by its car chase scene. He considered...

There are very few stories in the entertainment industry that have stretched out as long as Eiichiro Oda’s One Piece, which started way back in 1997. The series has been going on for almost 30 years with the anime starting in 1999. However, even after going on for so long, it looks like the story will be dragged for a few more years before it reaches the finish line.

While fans are happy to get a continuous dose of One Piece, dragging the series for almost 30 years might not have worked so well for the creators. In fact, there are a few of them who have sadly passed away before even finding out the conclusion of the series. Most of these are voice actors who have offered their voices for the characters from One Piece.

Eiichiro Oda’s One Piece | Credit: Toei Animation

There is an entire list of One Piece voice...

Before Hayao Miyazaki was a beloved film auteur responsible for classics like “Princess Mononoke” and new masterpieces like “The Boy and the Heron,” the Studio Ghibli co-founder was a veteran of the early Japanese TV anime industry, working as a storyboard and key animation artist for shows like “Lupin III.” And, while most call 1979’s Lupin film “The Castle of Cagliostro” Miyazaki’s directorial debut, the honor actually belongs to “Future Boy Conan,” a post-apocalyptic sci-fi series that ran for 26 episodes the year before. Now, that hidden gem of Miyazaki’s career will be available to stream in the United States for the first time ever.

IndieWire can exclusively reveal that “Future Boy Conan” will begin streaming this April on RetroCrush, a subscription service dedicated to classic anime. The first episode of the series will premiere on Friday, April 18, followed by weekly releases of the remaining 25 episodes. Additionally, episodes of...

Takashi Yamazaki, the director of Godzilla Minus One, is set to make his English-language debut with Grandgear. Sony Pictures has chosen him to lead the project, marking an exciting moment for Hollywood and international filmmaking.

Yamazaki gained worldwide recognition for Godzilla Minus One, which became one of the most successful Kaiju films ever. He not only directed the movie but also wrote the script and worked on the visual effects. His ability to mix thrilling action with deep storytelling made the film a huge hit.

After the success of Godzilla Minus One, fans hoped he would get a chance to direct a Hollywood movie. Their wish came true when Sony Pictures won a bidding war for Grandgear. The movie will be produced by J.J. Abrams’ Bad Robot and Glen Zipper, showing that Hollywood is eager to work with Yamazaki.

Details about the movie are still a secret, but based on Yamazaki’s past work,...

The film industry has spewed several ‘Kaiju’ films over the last few decades, but only a handful of them have achieved everlasting success. Takashi Yamazaki’s Godzilla Minus One is among the said few, which ended up being one of the most surprising Kaiju films of all time.

Following the success of the Oscar-winning film, fans were campaigning for the ‘one-man army’ behind the Japanese epic, Yamazaki, to be given his own English-language film to direct. Well, this came true last year when he was handed the film Grandgear at Sony Pictures, and we can’t thank Sony enough for this!

Takashi Yamazaki | Credit: Dick Thomas Johnson/Cca-2.0-sa/Wikimedia Commons Godzilla Minus One filmmaker Takashi Yamazaki to make his English-language debut Godzilla Minus One | Credit: Toho Co., Ltd.

Takashi Yamazaki wrote, directed, and did the visual effects of Godzilla Minus One. Blending themes of Kaiju epic with social commentary,...

Kaito Kid or Kaito Kuroba is a recurring character in the Detective Conan or Case Closed franchise. While he stars in the Magic Kaito anime, his role between the two series differs as they exist in different canons with different rules. The Detective Conan movies also take in a separate canon from the anime. The phantom thief acts as both a rival and ally to Conan Edogawa in both parts of the franchise. However, Kid has been confirmed to know much more about Conan in the movies, which gives the two leads a slightly different dynamic from their anime counterparts. Kid plays a large part in several movies, which gives him unique relationships with Ran Mori, Heiji Hattori and Makoto Kyogoku among others.

Kaito Kid is in ten of the Detective Conan movies, but he doesn't have an equal role in all of them. On top of that, both 3D Movie 1: Conan vs.

Vampire Hunter D is a 1985 anime film based on the novel series of the same name written by Hideyuki Kikuchi and illustrated by Yoshitaka Amano. The series' first film was also the first dark fantasy anime for an adult audience. Its anime sequel, Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust, is even more revered as a dark fantasy film.

Vampire Hunter D is a staple of anime, fantasy novels, and manga. As fans look forward to Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust's remastered theatrical release, they can spend their wait watching similar dark fantasy series and films. Vampire and grimdark series often follow, and sometimes subvert, the standards Vampire Hunter D helped popularize in anime.

The Case Study of Vanitas Gives Vampires the Steampunk Treatment Stream The Case Study of Vanitas on CrunchyrollImage via Studio Bones

The Case Study of Vanitas is a steampunk historical series about vampires. Similarly, Vampire Hunter D takes place...

The influence of Hayao Miyazaki is something that can’t be measured through words. His projects have helped the anime industry reach a level of success that competes with some of the greatest movies in Hollywood. In fact, even the biggest directors in Hollywood respect Miyazaki and are inspired by the work he has done in his anime movies.

The best example of this is the widely famous director, Steven Spielberg, who is known for his films like Schindler’s List, Jurassic Park, Saving Private Ryan, War of the Worlds, etc. The American filmmaker has been a big fan of Miyazaki and his films, and he never shied away from expressing how much he loved Miyazaki’s films.

In fact, according to him, the greatest car chase ever in history came from a Miyazaki film. The name of the movie was Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro, and it was Miyazaki’s feature directorial debut.

Netflix has shared an exciting new clip from Demon City (also known as Demon City Oni-Goroshi in Japanese), a live-action adaptation of Masamichi Kawabe’s popular revenge manga Oni-Goroshi. The footage, released on Saturday, features Shūhei Sakata, the film’s main character, taking down his enemies in a silent yet intense fight scene.

Fans won’t have to wait long to see the full film—Demon City is set to premiere worldwide on Netflix on February 27.

The story follows Shūhei Sakata, a man who was wrongly accused of murdering his wife and child. After a failed suicide attempt, in which he was shot in the head but survived, he is sent to a prison hospital, where he remains for 15 years—physically disabled and unable to seek justice. However, once he is finally released, a fateful encounter changes everything, giving him the chance to regain his physical strength and seek...

Studio Ghibli has delighted fans for generations, producing such iconic films such as Spirited Away, Howl’s Moving Castle and Kiki’s Delivery Service, yet many viewers only think of Hayao Miyazaki when they think of Studio Ghibli. However, the studio owes much of its depth, artistry and emotional resonances — and indeed, even the studio’s origins — to its co-founder, Isao Takahata.

Often overshadowed by his more commercially prolific and well-known counterpart, Takahata was a master storyteller and artistic visionary in his own right. His contributions to Studio Ghibli, his impact on the world of animation and his legacy continue to live on in an immeasurable manner. And while not often mentioned in the same breath as Studio Ghibli — like Hayao Miyazaki tends to be — Isao Takahata defined Studio Ghibli as we know it today just as much as Miyazaki did.

Takahata’s Path Merged with Hayao Miyazaki’s at Toei Animation...

"I'll catch Lupin III myself. Only I can fulfill this mission." Toho Next has revealed a first look teaser trailer for a brand new theatrical anime called Lupin the Third: The Movie. It's set for a release in 2025 on a roadshow tour in theaters in Japan, and hopefully in theaters in the US (but nothing announced yet). No plot details are known yet, but it's made by the director of Redline and the "World Record" segment of The Animatrix. A longer version of the trailer is being shown at 45th anniversary screenings of Lupin the 3rd: Castle of Cagliostro (1979) - the anime classic directed by Hayao Miyazaki as his very first feature film. This one also listed as Lupin the IIIrd: The Movie (with a final title still Tba) and stars the voices of Kanichi Kurita as Lupin III, Akio Otsuka as Daisuke Jigen, Daisuke Namikawa as Goemon Ishikawa, Miyuki Sawashiro as Fujiko Mine,...

Phantom thieves might be making a comeback in anime, if the recent announcement of Lupin the Third's first 2D movie in decades is any indication. For the uninitiated, Lupin the Third is a story about a master thief by the same name, grandson of fictional French gentleman thief Arsène Lupin. Lupin has a singular voice, bridging comedy and adventure with action, heart, and sex appeal. It's an essential formula in entertainment—because it works.

Debuting in 1967, the series would go on to become one of the most renowned and timeless anime franchises, with Lupin developing an iconic status in Japan and Italy and a devoted cult following elsewhere in the world. Lupin the Third has spawned countless movies, TV releases, and countless manga. Fans have even gotten in on the action, since Lupin's episodic format lends itself well to one-off stories that aren't "canon", per se. However, despite its prolific catalog of adventures,...

The official X account of Lupin anime announced on Nov 29, 2024, that the franchise is set to return to the big screen in 2025 with a brand-new theatrical release titled Lupin The Iiird The Movie (working title).

This marks the first 2D feature-length animated film in the series in nearly 30 years, following the release of Lupin the Third: Dead or Alive in 1996.

Lupin III: The First movie, which released in 2019, was a completely computer animated film produced by Tms Entertainment.

A teaser trailer was revealed to commemorate the announcement.

Takeshi Koike will return to direct the new film, with Yuya Takahashi in charge of the script. James Shimoji will compose the music, and Katsuhito Ishii will serve as the creative advisor. Koike had previously directed three movies from the franchise between 2014 and 2019.

Telecom Animation Film will handle the animation production.

Lupin the IIIrd is a Japanese media franchise created by Monkey Punch.

A Sherlock Holmes-inspired anime, directed in part by Hayao Miyazaki prior to the formation of Studio Ghibli, is heading to major streaming platform Hulu. The 40-year-old steampunk-esque series was initially released in 1984 and reimagines the main characters of classic Sherlock Holmes stories as anthropomorphic dogs.

Per Hulu, the iconic Sherlock Hound will be coming to the streaming platform in dubbed form on Dec. 1, 2024. The Italian-Japanese anime series was produced by Tokyo Movie Shinsha in conjunction with Radiotelevisione italiana, reimagining Arthur Conan Doyle's classic detective, Sherlock Holmes, and other characters as anthropomorphic animals, primarily dogs. Its main protagonist, Sherlock, works to solve various mysteries in Victorian-era London, with Watson, Professor Moriarty, Inspector Lestrade and other familiar characters also making familiar appearances.

Related "I Think My Brain Is Broken": Studio Ghibli's Hayao Miyazaki Reveals His Greatest Struggle in New Trailer

A new trailer for an as-yet little-known film reveals...

A popular polling site in Japan recently asked anime fans which swordsman character they believe to be the medium's 'coolest' warrior. Surprisingly, audiences overwhelmingly voted for one particular character over the likes of Demon Slayer's Tanjiro Kamado and One Piece's Roronoa Zoro.

Per PR Times, the aforementioned survey was conducted by Nexer Inc. and Eirakudo, a high-end Japanese sword company. Out of 500 total participants, 172 voted for Goemon, who serves as a faithful ally to Lupin The Third's titular protagonist. Notably, the second, third and fourth place winners each earned exactly 47 votes each, resulting in a three-way tie. The complete top 10 list can be seen below.

Related Demon Slayer's Newest Season Powers Up Netflix's Top 10 Ranking After U.S. Premiere

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba: Hashira Training Arcgets off to a strong start following its U.S. premiere, powering back onto Netflix's Top 10.

Japan Ranks...

Quick Links Why I Was Wrong to Brush Off Lupin III An Anime's Age Isn't An Indicator of Quality Anime's Style Has Evolved Greatly Over the Years What's Now Thought of as "Anime" Style Took a Long Time to Be Defined The Anime Classics of Yesteryear Deserve a Chance There's More to a Good Anime Than Animation Quality

While anime has only really been a force in the Western media market since the 90s, the history of anime actually goes way farther back than that. There's a lot of classic anime out there which predates the period of anime's appearance on international TVs, but much of it doesn't get the respect it deserves. I was once one of those people, too, but one series--Lupin III--helped me to realize the value that these classic anime still hold.

The amount of anime in existence exploded in the late 90s and early 2000s,...

The Shonen Jump brand, renowned for its action-packed source material for manga and anime's "big three" -- One Piece, Naruto and Bleach -- is about to venture into sweeter territory with its latest hit. Popular sports romance manga Blue Box is to debut as an anime on Netflix, with its first episode now less than a month away.

Recently announced for an Oct. 3 premiere and released in weekly format -- still somewhat unusual for televised anime that makes its way to Netflix -- Blue Box will adapt the Kouji Mora sports romance of the same name. Following star-crossed high school student-athletes and standouts in their separate endeavors, Blue Box blends sports drama with heart-tugging sweetness against its blended backdrop of badminton and basketball. With over 150 issues and counting waiting to be brought to the small screen, the new anime release should contain plenty of material for anime lovers to sink their teeth into.

Italian car manufacturer Fiat has announced a new collaboration with anime series Lupin the Third, which will include the release of three original short stories and three limited-edition Lupin III-themed Fiat 500 and 600 models for real-life drivers.

Announced on the Fiat Japan website, the upcoming collaboration will celebrate Fiats long-standing legacy as master thief Arsne Lupin IIIs go-to getaway vehicle while promoting the newest models of the Fiat 500, Fiat 500e and Fiat 600e. The collaboration will include the release of limited-edition Lupin III-themed Fiat models, as well as the debut of an original Lupin III short story with all-new illustrations. The Fiat x Lupin III collaboration will roll out in three "volumes" from September 2024-February 2025, with a limited-edition Fiat 500 model simultaneously released with a corresponding volume of the original Fiat x Lupin III short story.

Related One Piece's Zoro Misses #1 Spot for Anime & Manga's Strongest Swordsman in New...

Spy x Family Movie Code: White emphasizes family bonds amidst thrilling action and comedy sequences. Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro showcases impressive animation and thrilling heist adventures. Cowboy Bebop: The Movie features intense action similar to what Loid and Yor go through in Code: White to save Anya on a burning airship.

Spy x Family has been a smash hit since its premiere in 2022. Twilight, the greatest spy in Westalis, is tasked with forming a fake family to infiltrate the neighboring country, Ostania. Under his new identity as Loid Forger, he winds up recruiting assassin Yor as his wife and telepath Anya as his daughter, with all three of them hiding their true identities from their new family.

Spy x Family Code: White is the franchise's first movie, and it sees the Forger family taking a vacation to the wintry region of Frigis, only to get caught up in...

In the world of anime and manga, One Piece's Roronoa Zoro is widely considered to be one of the most adept swordsmen of all time. However, a recent Japanese survey indicates that audiences favor a swordmaster from a certain classic anime franchise over the famous Pirate Hunter.

Per PR Times, Digital Research group Nexer Co, Ltd. and Japan-based sword company Eirakudo conducted a poll asking 1,000 men and women who they deemed to be the "strongest swordsman character" from anime and manga. The overwhelming majority of participants, who were all under the age of 50, chose Goemon Ishikawa from Lupin III -- a popular comedic action franchise created by Monkey Punch. While Zoro landed the second-place spot, Goemon's win was certainly not by a small margin, as the latter swordsman received 177 votes while Zoro only received 72. The third place spot belonged to Himura Kenshin, the iconic red-headed ronin from Nobuhiro Watsuki's Rurouni Kenshin.

Anime voice actor Eiko Masuyama has passed away, as recently formally announced by her talent agency, Aoni Production. Matsuyama was best known for playing the role of the first Fujiko Mine in the Lupin III anime franchise, beginning with 1969s Lupin the Third: Pilot Film.

Aoni Production revealed that Matsuyama died on May 20, 2024, due to pneumonia. The company stated that the voice actor had been undergoing treatment for some time, and that at her familys request, her wake and funeral ceremony were attended only by close relatives.

Masuyama was born in Tokyo in 1936 and had been professionally involved in the anime industry since the 1960s, with her first roles as the characters Lucia and Kipiah in one of the earliest televised anime in history, Astro Boy (Mighty Atom). This was followed by some of the most well-known early titles in anime history, including the adaptation of Osamu Tezukas Kimba the White Lion,...

One Piece Voice Actor Hideyuki Umezu Dies at 68 - Main Image

In what is sad news for many anime fans, notable One Piece voice actor Hideyuki Umezu has died recently, as confirmed by voice actor agency 81 Produce.

Umezu’s death was announced by the agency yesterday, May 21, via an official update on its website. There, Umezu’s cause of death was confirmed.

As is the case with deaths in the anime and manga industry, Umezu’s passing was announced some days after it happened, with a funeral ceremony held only for close family and friends.

81 Produce Confirms Hideyuki Umezu Dies at Age 68

Hideyuki Umezu died at age 68, with his official cause of death being interstitial pneumonia. It’s not clear if Umezu’s illness was only recent, as the private lives of talents in Japan are often not disclosed.

Umezu began working as a voice actor in the 80s,...

Takashi Yamazaki, the Japanese filmmaker behind Oscar-winning smash hit “Godzilla Minus One,” has signed with CAA for representation.

“Godzilla Minus One,” on which Yamazaki served as writer, director and VFX supervisor, earned the first-ever nomination and win for a Japanese production in the VFX category at the Academy Awards earlier this month. The film beat strong contenders such as “The Creator,” “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3,” “Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One” and “Napoleon.” The Oscar win also marked the second time in 55 years that a director won the VFX award.

“Godzilla Minus One” also became the third-highest grossing foreign language feature in the U.S. box office history.

Budgeted at $15 million, the film follows former Kamikaze pilot Kōichi Shikishima (Kamiki Ryunosuke), who grapples with survivor’s guilt following World War II and the trauma of having been attacked by Godzilla. While he manages to build a life for his newfound family,...

Bethesda and MachineGames recently unveiled a long-awaited video game in the form of "Indiana Jones and the Great Circle." The legendary video game studio behind "Fallout" and "Skyrim" has been working on a game set within the action/adventure franchise for several years, with the game originally announced back in 2021. But now, we know much more including when the story takes place, what the player can expect, and, rather crucially, who is voicing Indiana Jones. It won't be Harrison Ford, but another icon has stepped up to fill those very big shoes.

Troy Baker will be the man tasked with bringing Indy to life in the much-anticipated game. Ford, for his part, left the role behind with his final turn as the character in last year's "Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny." Now, it falls to Baker, who will get to put his stamp on the hero during his classic era,...

Big-name anime and manga creators throughout Japan are adorning their social media pages with stunning celebratory illustrations to usher in the year 2024.

2023 has come and gone, marking the end of the year of the rabbit and the start of the year of the (wood) dragon. To welcome the new year, a plethora of renowned Japanese studios and artists have used their respective X (formerly Twitter) pages to spotlight special commemorative illustrations. The represented franchises are in the hundreds but include the likes of My Hero Academia, Demon Slayer, Frieren: Beyond Journey's End, Bleach, Sword Art Online, Oshi no Ko, Classroom of the Elite, Lupin III and Doraemon, to name only a few.

Related The Verdict Is in for the One Piece Anime's New Egghead Art Style The verdict is in regarding the latest One Piece anime preview trailer for Episode 1089, which reveals the revamped art style for the Egghead arc.

Adult Swim has unveiled a new clip from the upcoming series Rick and Morty: The Anime.

According to Anime News Network, Telecom Animation Film's upcoming adaptation of Justin Roiland's iconic franchise puts a new spin on memorable themes and events from the original animated series. Adult Swim recently released a short sneak peek on its official YouTube channel. In this clip, Rick suddenly finds himself surrounded by hundreds of different versions of himself while flying through space. Adult Swim has not yet revealed a precise release date, but the series is slated to debut sometime in 2024.

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This is the second time that Adult Swim has previewed official footage from Rick and Morty: The Anime.

Jojo's Bizarre Adventure and Studio Ghibli films have some of the most recognizable art styles in anime. Cyberpunk: Edgerunners makes use of Studio Trigger's brightly colored, intense visuals in its futuristic setting. Unlike other horror stories, Mononoke uses vivid imagery to unsettle its viewers.

An anime's art style is one of the first things to stand out to viewers. Unlike manga, which uses stationary, black-and-white artwork, anime has more freedom in how it uses its visuals to attract an audience. Some anime, like Devilman Crybaby, are appealing for their unique, but not necessarily attractive, art styles. This is different from many of the other series that use colorful visuals to attract attention.

It's important to draw a distinction between art style and animation. Art style refers to how the anime looks in still frames, and includes character and background designs, color palettes, and overall esthetics. Animation, on the other hand,...

While Legendary’s MonsterVerse continues to expand with a new episode of “Monarch: Legacy of Monsters,” the King of the Monsters also returns to the big screen this week!

Here’s all the new horror releasing November 28 – December 3, 2023.

For daily reminders about new horror releases, be sure to follow @HorrorCalendar.

As the yuletide hour nears, a small-town sheriff finds out that the ghosts of the past do not always stay silent in Night of the Missing, which is now streaming on Screambox.

From award-winning filmmaker Samuel Gonzalez Jr. (The Retaliators) and the producers of The Gallows, Night of the Missing is a four-part holiday anthology that could best be described as a twisted take on “A Christmas Carol.”

“On a stormy Christmas Eve, a secretive sheriff gets a visit from a mysterious woman who recounts a series of bizarre stories involving missing persons. As her stories begin to unfold, the...

Anime including Lupin III, Erased, Ghost in the Shell and Wotakoi are rallying to support the restaurant industry in a new otaku-friendly video ad.

Suntory, one of Japan's oldest alcoholic drink distributors, has brought several anime franchises together to respond to the coronavirus' harsh impacts on the Japanese restaurant industry feature in its "In life, there are restaurants. 'A place where there are people.'" advert, released on Nov. 1, 2023. Featured are clips of characters wining and dining from numerous anime, the full list of which includes Lupin III, Salary Man Kintaro, Fortune Favors Lady Nikuko, Bunny Drop, Shin Atashin'ichi, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex, Erased, Nasu: Andarushia no Natsu, Descending Stories, The Great Passage, Gate, Wotakoi: Love iI Hard for Otaku, Wave, Listen to Me!, Restaurant to Another World and Wakako-zake.

JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Collabs With Popular Fast Food Chain With 'JoJo Meals'

The uplifting background theme song...

Toho’s Godzilla Minus One is headed to theaters in the United States in just one more month, officially being unleashed on December 1. Watch the brand new trailer debut below!

Bloody Disgusting has also learned that there will be a Godzilla Minus One Early Access Fan Event in the States on November 29, giving you the chance to see it two days early.

This December, a new reign of terror begins…

The first Japanese-produced Godzilla film since Shin Godzilla in 2016, Godzilla Minus One will first bring the King of the Monsters back to theaters in Japan on November 3.

The film is rated PG-13 for “Creature violence and action.”

Here’s the official plot synopsis the film’s first trailer provided us with:

“In postwar Japan, a new terror rises; Godzilla. Will the devastated people be able to survive… let alone fight back?”

As we learned last year, Takashi Yamazaki (Lupin III...

With The Boy and the Heron gearing up to be one of Hayao Miyazaki's best movies ever, it makes sense to start looking back on his legendary career. Miyazaki's directorial debut was his first and only movie not to be produced by Studio Ghibli, the second feature film in the Lupin III franchise, The Castle of Cagliostro. The Castle of Cagliostro premiered in 1979. Ghibli was founded in 1985. The Castle of Cagliostro may not be a Ghibli movie, but it has many of the hallmarks of Miyazaki's style and although it was not initially popular, it has gone down as a masterpiece and helped to establish Miyazaki as an icon of anime.

Lupin III is one of the longest-running and most consistently popular anime and manga franchises in Japan. Originating in 1967 with the manga by artist Monkey Punch, the franchise has grown to include eight anime series, 11 theatrical films, a...

Arsene Lupin III’s closest friend is getting a movie of his own. Jigen Daisuke is the world’s most famous gunman, and his rapid fire in 0.3 seconds technique has laid waste to many an enemy. But where did he come from, and how did he come to be so talented in the deadly arts? Fans can learn the answers to those questions in the new Prime Video Original movie “Jigen Daisuke,” which heads to streaming on Friday, Oct. 13. You can watch with a 30-Day Free Trial of Amazon Prime Video.

How to Watch 'Jigen Daisuke' When: Friday, October 13, 2023 Where: Amazon Prime Video Stream: Watch with a 30-Day Free Trial of Amazon Prime Video. 30-Day Free Trial$8.99 / month amazon.com About 'Jigen Daisuke'

You’ve seen him in action before, but never like this! Jigen Daisuke is leaving the animated world for live action for the first time since...

Monkey Punch's Lupin III manga continues to expand its universe with a newly-announced kabuki stage play that will run at the Shinbashi Enbujo theater in Tokyo this December.

According to Anime News Network, the stage play's original story will depict Lupin and his cohorts in the Japanese Azuchi-Momoyama period (1568-1600), the same era of the original Goemon Ishikawa. While the Goemon most fans are familiar with is his 13th descendant, this play will be an opportunity for fans to see the main cast interact with the fabled original, who remains a mythological hero in Japan.

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The play will star Ainosuke Kataoka as Lupin III, Matsuya Onoe as Goemon Ishikawa, Saburō Ichikawa as Daisuke Jigen, Emiya Ichikawa as Fujiko Mine and Chūsha Ihchikawa as Inspector Zenigata. The franchise has had stage plays before, but not of the kabuki variety.

In...

Studio Ghibli will become a subsidiary of Nippon Television.

As detailed on Anime News Network, Nippon TV Representative Director Yoshikuni Sugiyama and Studio Ghibli President Toshio Suzuki announced the planned acquisition during a recent press conference. Nippon Television, which has served as a long-standing partner of the acclaimed studio, plans to purchase 42.3% of Ghibli's shares, turning the latter studio into a subsidiary of Nippon TV. According to President Suzuki, the goal of this partnership is to secure successors for Ghibli, as Suzuki and fellow co-founder Hayao Miyazaki are 75 and 82, respectively. Additionally, Miyazaki's son, Goro Miyazaki, has refused an offer to become the studio's future leader.

Related: Studio Ghibli: Ticket Info For Spirited Away 2024 Stage Run in London

Nippon TV has been affiliated with Ghibli and its co-founders for over three decades. In 1985, the network featured Miyazaki's Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind (1984) on its "Kinyo Roadshow" programming block. Nausicaa's...

A-1 Pictures' has dropped a new promo for its upcoming workplace comedy, My New Boss Is Goofy.

According to Anime News Network, the video premiered as part of Aniplex Online Fest 2023, a livestream event that highlights key developments for popular anime franchises. My New Boss Is Goofy's latest Pv announces the series' October 7 debut, in addition to new staff reveals. It also previews the show's two theme songs. The opening song, "Planetaria," will be performed by the group Fujifabric, which also performed themes for Boruto: Naruto Next Generations and Dr. Stone. The series' end theme, Hanataba, or "Bouquet," will be performed by lenny code fiction.

Related: 55 Best Comedy Anime To Watch Right Now

As stated in the aforementioned video, the new staff reveals include Ayako Kohno (Sword Art Online Movie-Progressive), who is working as Assistant Director alongside Director Noriyuki Abe. The series' Chief Animation Directors are Takahiro Yasuda (Wotakoi: Love Is Hard For Otaku...

There are thousands of anime available across the world right now but only a handful of them can be called "classics." These select series are the ones fans still enjoy years after their release and are strongly recommended to the next generation of anime fans. Franchises like Dragon Ball and series like Cowboy Bebop helped mold the industry and influenced the shows that followed, developing and defining the medium in the process

However, if anime is always improving, do older series and films hold up? As creators invent new storytelling techniques studios improve production quality, it can be difficult for older anime to feel cheap and weighed down by the tropes they invented. It takes more than a cool premise or flashy visuals to win over new audiences in this ever-growing environment. A classic doesn't just stand out, it's also likable and memorable.

Related: Could Vegeta Beat Frieza On Namek...

It's that time of year again: Hayao Miyazaki is directing yet another Studio Ghibli film, asserting that The Boy and the Heron will be his final film before his retirement. While we'd normally laugh off the sentiment, this time around, it feels pretty genuine. If this truly is Miyazaki's last outing as an animation director, what better time would there be to look back at where his career in anime films began?

And no, we're not talking about his time at Ghibli. Before their official debut with Castle in the Sky, before Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind led to the studio's formation, even before Studio Ghibli itself, Miyazaki would helm the second film in the beloved Lupin III franchise: The Castle of Cagliostro.

Even though it would be released in 1979, The Castle of Cagliostro represents a cultural touchstone both domestically and internationally, with the film itself even bearing...