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Anime has become such a global phenomenon and an artistic style of its own that its influence — both in visuals and writing — can be felt in major Hollywood films. What's more, some of the most popular and respected filmmakers and actors in the industry produced these films. From sly nods to massive tributes, these Hollywood films made sure that audiences around the world knew how much they owed to anime's creative spirit.

It should be noted that these films wore their anime influences proudly on their sleeves, unlike the oft-cited Black Swan and Inception. In the latter's case, directors Darren Aronofsky and Christopher Nolan denied any overt or subtle similarities between their films to certain anime. Respectively, the late great Satoshi Kon's Perfect Blue and Paprika.

Creed III's Fights Were Inspired More by Anime Than Real Boxing Streaming on Prime VideoImage via Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures

When Michael B. Jordan...

Many subgenres of anime are defined by specific entries, and that's definitely the case with cyberpunk anime. Ghost in the Shell is the premiere cyberpunk anime franchise, having inspired countless other anime and even several Hollywood movies. While it might be the first name in the subgenre, it's far from the only one worth watching.

Many cyberpunk anime showcase the genre even better than Ghost in the Shell, particularly when it comes to exploring the societal impact of the genre's tropes. Some of these anime have the same basic concepts as Ghost in the Shell, while others go in wildly different directions.

Ergo Proxy Is Very Similar to Ghost in the Shell Stream Ergo Proxy on CrunchyrollImage via Manglobe

Ergo Proxy bears a lot of resemblance to Ghost in the Shell, namely due to the presence of humanoid cyborgs and androids. The story involves Re-l Mayer, who inspects the sudden self-actualization of the android populace.

There was a time when Sakamoto Days was the most highly anticipated Winter 2025 anime. Unfortunately, just a few episodes in, and the excitement has already drained and the reason is simple: an extremely mediocre animation.

Of course, it’s not the worst anime, and Sakamoto Days cannot be considered to have a disastrous level of animation. But it can’t be clubbed in with some of the most recognized series like Bleach: Tybw, Dandadan, or Jujutsu Kaisen. But is it wrong to expect a good animation quality from a fan-favorite series?

Sakamoto Days was failed by its animation Sakamoto Days could have benefitted from better animation quality | Credits: Tms Entertainment

Ever since its debut, the Sakamoto Days manga by Yuto Suzuki has garnered a lot of attention. It quickly became a highly recommended series, and its art and fight choreographies became its biggest strength. Not to mention, the intriguing plot...

The 2025 anime roster just got a whole lot better with the announcement of the Gachiakuta anime. Kei Urano’s manga debuted in 2022 and is already grabbing eyeballs all over the world. The upcoming anime adaptation is bound to bring even more attention to the beloved series.

But nothing goes without a hitch in the anime/manga world. This time, it came in the form of a simplistic art style. While simple art is preferred in some anime, Gachiakuta is not the most suitable for it.

Gachiakuta might be falling for the Sakamoto Days trap The action scenes in Sakamoto Days were underwhelming | Credit: Tms Entertainment

Sakamoto Days was one of the most anticipated Winter 2025 anime. Fans had been looking forward to seeing their favorite rotund assassin come to life. However, a huge ball was dropped on their head when the anime actually aired.

Fans were quick to notice that the...

If you happened to catch Misery Signals on their farewell tour, first of all I am extremely jealous. Not just because you got to see one of the most influential metalcore bands of all time, but you also got to see one of the best up and coming metalcore bands around, Trench. Trench brings the heavy and dark, and it may not be a surprise to learn how much of that is influenced, whether directly or indirectly, by the anime they watched growing up and still watch to this day. I chatted with vocalist Jay Breen about anime and how they were able to bring their influences to life in the video for “Divided Between New Skin.” Can you tell me a little about your anime journey? How it started and where you are now? Are there genres you gravitate toward? What is your favorite anime series or movie of all time?...

An anime classic for the ages is coming to Crunchyroll today as Tomorrow’s Joe , known as Ashita no Joe in Japan, starts streaming on the platform later today! Tomorrow’s Joe Season 1 will be available on Crunchyroll on November 14 at 4:00 p.m. Pt, with Season 2 available on December 3 at 4:00 p.m. Pt. Read on for everything you need to know about the release! Tomorrow's Joe Seasons 1 and 2 Release Date: Season 1: November 14 at 4:00 p.m. Pt Season 2: December 3 at 4:00 p.m. Pt Territories : North America, Central America, South America Sub languages : English, Spanish, Portuguese Synopsis: Rebellious Joe Yabuki wanders the downtown slums. After a street fight with the yakuza to save a girl, his skills catch the eye of former boxing coach Danpei Tange, who offers to train him. Joe rejects, until he ends up in juvenile detention and suffers his first defeat by the hands of Toru Rikiishi.

This week on The Anime Effect: To celebrate 10 years of The Book of Life , filmmaker Jorge R. Gutierrez joins the show to talk about his love for anime, including how Spirited Away inspired his celebrated film and the surprising place he first watched Akira . Plus, the latest news on One Piece , SK8 the Infinity and much, much more, including recommendations from our resident anime experts! Episode 36 of The Anime Effect is now available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and anywhere else you listen to your podcasts! If you're waiting to watch the video episode, it'll be live on Crunchyroll and YouTube at 7 p.m. Et. Listen or Watch on: Episode 36 Summary In this week's episode, LeAlec, Nick, and returning guest host Josellie Rios chat about their Fall 2024 anime watchlist so far, a new Goku balloon gets ready to debut in New York City, and we chat about My Hero Academia announcing its final season.

Sakamoto Days anime confirmed for January 2025 release, exciting addition to winter lineup. Animated by Tms Entertainment, led by experienced team ensuring promising adaptation. Fans of action-packed manga eagerly anticipate faithful anime version.

Sakamoto Days' highly anticipated anime has finally been officially confirmed, and it is coming out very soon. As one of Shonen Jump's best and most exciting current series, it was only a matter of time until it received an anime adaptation.

Following the reveal of the volume 17 cover, the official account of the series teased an important announcement that fans don't want to miss. This confirmation comes after the unofficial reveal of the Sakamoto Days anime a few days prior.

First poster for Sakamoto Days Anime Its Official pic.twitter.com/gZjjV5aEKq Sakamoto days (@Sakamotodays_) May 27, 2024

Written and illustrated by Yuto Suzuki, the Sakamoto Days anime has been confirmed to be released in January 2025, an incredible addition...

Knockout Hits: The Best Boxing Anime of All Time, from Megalobox to Hajime no Ippo - Main Image

Boxing anime delivers hard-hitting entertainment, combining the grit and determination of the sport. From a broken fighter clawing his way back to the top to a main character finding his purpose in the ring, here are the best boxing anime of all time.

What is your favorite boxing anime? Let us know your picks in the comments section below.

I Parry Everything Anime Confirms Hidive Release Date - All You Need to Know - Main Image

Hidive is already gearing up for the summer 2024 season, as the streaming platform just announced the release date of the I Parry Everything anime along with plans for its North American premiere.

This upcoming anime is an adventure fantasy series based on a popular light novel series. Given this, the show’s voice cast features a lot of notable names.

Meet the Cast of I Parry Everything, the Upcoming Adventure Fantasy Anime

The anime was announced back in November 2023. Soon, the show’s main voice cast members were revealed, many of whom should be familiar to most anime fans.

Here is the complete list of confirmed I Parry Everything cast members:

Daiki Hamano (Katana Man in Chainsaw Man) as NoorRyoko Maekawa (Hanabi Natsubayashi in Bottom-Tier Character Tomozaki) as Lynneburg ClaysNanako Mori (Yukiko Shirato...

Pluto TV, Paramount’s free streaming service, has revealed its May highlights. The Pluto TV May 2024 schedule includes Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month programming, more anime content, new channels, and new film additions.

Pluto TV is the leading free streaming television service, delivering hundreds of live linear channels and thousands of titles on-demand to a global audience.

The Emmy Award-winning service curates a diverse lineup of channels in partnership with hundreds of international media companies. It offers a wide array of genres, languages, and categories featuring movies, television series, sports, news, lifestyle, kids, and much more.

Pluto TV can be easily accessed and streamed across mobile, web, and connected TV devices. Headquartered in Los Angeles, Pluto TV’s growing international footprint extends across three continents and over 35 markets.

Pluto TV May 2024 Programming

Asian American, Native Hawaiian, And Pacific Islander Heritage Month

To pay tribute, Pluto TV...

Episode 3 of Crunchyroll Presents: The Anime Effect is now available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and anywhere else you listen to your podcasts! If you're waiting to watch the video episode, it'll be live on Crunchyroll and YouTube at 7 p.m. Et. Listen or Watch on: Episode 3 Summary Nick, LeAlec, and Leah welcome Polygon’s Eic and co-host of The Besties podcast Chris Plante to dissect findings from “The Anime Opportunity." First, they discuss the new Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth game , Pokémon Day reveals and which side of Missouri is the “right” side? All that and more, only on The Anime Effect . Topics Discussed in Episode 2 Final Fantasy VII Rebirth Final Fantasy VII Advent Children Complete Tower of God Season 2 One Piece English Dub Solo Leveling documentary True Beauty Viral Hit The End of Evangelion Pokémon Legends Z-a Pokémon Tcg Pocket Polygon's "The Anime Opportunity" Study Pocket Card Jockey: Ride On!

Anime & hip-hop share history in themes of adversity, the quest for greatness, and oppressed people speaking their truth. Music, especially hip-hop, enhances anime's storytelling & emotional impact. Anime blends with hip-hop elements in soundtracks, showcasing unique creative connections.

Despite their apparent differences, anime and hip-hop share a long and intimate history. Both are rich in themes of overcoming adversity, tales of ordinary people achieving greatness, and instances of the oppressed speaking truth to power. There is a good reason artists like Megan Thee Stallion are big anime fans. While the connection between the two is most obvious in anime themed around hip-hop, it's also observable in the large and growing population of anime shows incorporating hip-hop elements in their musical soundtracks.

While anime is first and foremost a visual storytelling medium, music - mainly in the form of anime soundtracks - has become a vital element in creating mood, influencing emotion,...

Manga publisher Kodansha has revealed plans to publish the iconic boxing manga Ashita no Joe in English for the very first time. The manga, penned by Asao Takamori and illustrated by Tetsuya Chiba, will be released under the title “Ashita no Joe: Fighting for Tomorrow“.

The English translation will be released physically in eight oversized hardcover volumes and digitally, and is scheduled to be published starting December 2024, with an Msrp of $59.95.

Toshihiro Tsuchiya, Publisher at Kodansha, emphasized the timeliness and importance of bringing Ashita no Joe to English-speaking audiences, stating, “Kodansha believes that the manga market is maturing, as well as looking for past manga classics that have never been translated into English. This work is a true masterpiece that Japan is proud of. This year marks the 50th anniversary since its completion in 1973. Because of this, we think that now is the best time to bring Ashita no Joe:...

Kodansha has announced via publishing industry newswire ICV2 that for the first time in the English language, it will publish the legendary Ashita no Joe boxing manga—written by Asao Takamori and illustrated by Tetsuya Chiba—under the title Ashita no Joe: Fighting for Tomorrow . The release will consist of eight individual hardcover omnibus volumes that will be released starting in December of this year, as well as a companion digital release. The manga celebrates its 50th anniversary this year in Japan, which marked a cultural and popular shift in the way Japanese society viewed the sport of boxing and manga itself, especially between the working class, college students and even political groups. Pricing for each individual volume is set at $59.99 each, and further details, such as bonus content and cover design, will be released in the future. Crunchyroll currently streams Ashita no Joe tribute series Megalobox and Megalobox 2 , describing...

Thanks in part to Netflix, it's safe to say anime is bigger than ever. With shows like Attack on Titan and One-Punch Man making their way into the American mainstream, the streaming service is chock-full of anime series old and new, including a few highly successful originals.

With several streaming options to choose from, it’s nice for anime fans to have a go-to platform they can rely on. While streaming services like Crunchyroll can overwhelm viewers with their anime roster, audiences can confidently tune into Netflix for a filtered selection that houses many hits. Netflix offers a wide variety of anime for audiences to choose from. Some are even the best shows the medium has to offer, and the best Netflix anime series have remarkably broad appeal, too, to win over new anime fans.

Update on January 8th, 2024 by Louis Kemner: Netflix's anime lineup is stronger than ever in February,...

Hulu has an excellent catalog of anime shows and movies, including exclusive programs and specific dubs. It's a great place to go for watching anime. Popular shonen anime that have had a massive impact on the Western anime community, like Fate/Zero, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, and Attack on Titan are available to watch on Hulu – and are perfect for new fans. Other notable shonen anime available on the service, like Megalobox, Kill la Kill, and Cowboy Bebop created waves for the impact that they've made on the modern anime industry when they were originally airing, and remain classics even now.

While its library isn't as extensive as other websites, Hulu is still a great site for streaming anime, including shonen. Hulu has an excellent catalog of anime shows and movies both old and new, and as streaming has become a bigger market, they've even managed to secure the exclusive rights to...

Sports anime have become popular across the world in recent years. The infectious enthusiasm of sports anime has captured so many fans. Usually, sports anime center around sports like baseball or soccer. The intensity is there, but some fans crave a bit of violence in their programming.

Combat sports tend to fill that gap. From martial arts to boxing to wrestling, these sports have participants coming to blows. Some of these shows involve self-fulfillment, while others deal with settling old scores in the ring. Combat sports anime have been present throughout anime history, but aren't always the highlight of the season.

Best Martial Arts Anime of All Time, Ranked

Kenichi the Mightiest Disciple

Kenichi the Mightiest Disciple stars a boy named Kenichi who is cowardly and weak. One day, a girl named Miu decides to introduce him to the dojo where she lives. From there, Kenichi trains in multiple martial...

As one of the most thrilling sports out there, boxing anime makes for some of the best action in the genre. After American sailors introduced boxing to Japan in the nineteenth century, the sport quickly took off. Now, it remains a popular combat sport in Japan, alongside wrestling and other martial arts.

Boxing anime combines the inspirational tone of most sports media with the exciting combat scenes of an action anime. Underdog heroes come rocketing up from nowhere to challenge the champions and make a name for themselves. It’s a dangerous sport that they give their lives to, but their time in the ring is all worth it.

Megalobox

The 2018 successor (if not quite remake) of the 1980 classic Ashita no Joe has proven just as entertaining as its predecessor. The future of boxing is Gear, mechanisms worn by boxers to increase their power. Tired of throwing fights for money,...

Fighting is an important part of anime history, with the best martial arts anime being all-time classics that have defined multiple generations. More than just fighting, martial arts is a contest of wits and wills as the various combatants test their might against one another. This leads to thrilling character moments as audiences watch their favorites test their ideals against one another.

More so than just generic action anime, there's something special about martial arts anime in particular. Training plays a huge role in this as audiences watch the lead heroes of anime grow stronger and stronger with each passing episode, all culminating in one epic test against another. The best martial arts anime make fighting look beautiful with fluid animation and compelling character moments.

Kinnikuman

Wrestling is actually incredibly popular in Japan, which is why it's no surprise that one of Shonen Jump's original big hits was about wrestling.

When it comes to raw power, martial arts anime are especially loved by fans thanks to their ability to put you on the edge of your seat. Their balance between the action of regular shonen and the realism of sports anime attracts many audiences. Thanks to their general focus on the protagonists' growth, many series have people hooked from the beginning.

Some stories take a more realistic approach, focusing on the protagonist's struggles and with a solid portrayal of real-life martial arts. Others just use them as a starting point and decide to expand on them, creating fights and characters beyond our imagination. Whatever the case, these animes are sure to raise viewers' heartbeats with each encounter.

Megalobox

Set in a dystopic future in the late 21st century, Megalobox tells the story of Joe, better known as Junk Dog, as he makes a name for himself in the fighting scene.

Fans will be pleasantly surprised to find a special addition at the end of Creed III when the film opens in Japan.

As per Anime News Network, Creed III, called Creed Kako no Gyakushū (Creed: Revenge from the Past) in Japan, will release a special anime at the end of the film. Michael B. Jordan, who stars and directs the film, revealed this announcement through his Instagram account. Yo Moriyama will direct the anime, with Katushiko Manabe and Kensaku Kojima writing the script. All three previously worked on the 2018 boxing anime series Megalobox.

Related: Michael B. Jordan's Directing Style Is Great News for Live-Action Anime Adaptations

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Michael B. Jordan (@michaelbjordan) Michael B. Jordan's Love of Anime

Jordan has been vocal about his love for anime, saying he watches anime every day. During the promotion for Creed III, the actor gave recommendations...

In the western world, gambling themes have appeared in many movies and tv series, from Vegas Vacation to Let it Ride, The Cooler and Ocean’s Eleven. These themes usually appear in drama or comedy genres and have proven to be very popular.

However, in other cultures where gambling is more of a taboo topic, the idea of gambling appearing in a tv series or movie is rare. That is until the recent Japanese manga series, Kakegurui appeared on Netflix. With gambling themes being particularly rare for this genre, the series has sparked a lot of interest in Japanese anime, while driving an interest in poker.

Anime and Japanese Manga are themes used in the gambling industry, with various slot games being based upon the anime genre. JackpotCity online casino offers a wide range of themed slot games for players to choose from, all which are easily accessible on mobile devices.

(Welcome to Ani-time Ani-where, a regular column dedicated to helping the uninitiated understand and appreciate the world of anime.) Imagine, if you will, a world where the sport of having two people punch each other really hard with their fists wasn’t dangerous enough. Imagine that someone decides that what the sport of boxing really needs is […]

The post ‘Megalo Box’ Will Inspire and Thrill You With Its Sci-Fi Spin on a Classic Boxing Anime appeared first on /Film.

Anime, or Japanese animation, has been popular in the western world for quite some time. In recent years, however, its appeal has become a lot more mainstream. Thanks in part to the success of films like Parasite, American audiences are becoming more accepting of and interested in content produced on the other side of the globe.

And, of course, wherever there’s a cultural shift, there’s a streamer to profit off of it. To be fair, Netflix has been interested in content from that side of the world for much longer than the Academy Awards have. In the past, they acquired hit shows like Seven Deadly Sins, and even allowed Will Smith’s son to create one of his own.

Now, as the appetite of its subscribers grows, the streamer is busy acquiring more and more Japanese content. Recently, for instance, it added the first hundred episodes or so...

The first of the month is always a big day for streaming services, as that’s when the bulk of their new content for that month tends to hit, with the rest being dished out in small batches over the following weeks. That’s especially true for Netflix, who kicked off June with a massive helping of fresh movies and TV shows on the 1st, and followed it up with a handful of new releases in the days after.

In fact, there were a whopping total of 64 new films and 18 new TV series that arrived on the streaming site this week, and the full list can be found down below:

64 New Movies Added This Week

122 (2019)

2 Alone in Paris (Seuls Two) (2008)

365 Days (2020)

Act of Valour (2012)

Air Force One (1997)

All Dogs Go to Heaven (1989)

Bad News Bears (2005)

Before the Summer Crowds (2015)

Big Stone Gap (2014)

Can’t Complain (2007)

Cape Fear (1991)

Casper (1995)

Chippa (2019)

Choked: Paisa Bolta Hai...

In the near future, the chasm between the poor and the rich has widened even further which has increased the demand for ways to keep society’s disenfranchised at bay. Megalo Boxing is one of those sports that has managed to entertain a majority of the population with many highly lucrative tournaments founded by companies such as the wealthy Shirato Coporation. However, since the boxers need to have technologically advanced gear to participate the poor have very little chance of taking part in these fights.

Nevertheless, in the ghettos outside the big city, Joe, nicknamed Jnk.Dog in the ring, has made a living fighting in rigged fights using rusty, old gear. Yearning for a chance to prove himself with the best of the discipline, he finally seizes the opportunity to participate in the biggest tournament celebrating the opening of a new arena built by the Shirato Coporation.