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While they wait for news of Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3, fans will have something to look forward to this summer. The previously announced compilation movieJujutsu Kaisen: Hidden Inventory / Premature Death is coming to theaters, and Gkids decided to tease it by unveiling the English dub trailer of the upcoming movie. The premiere has an event-like schedule, with a release slated for July 16 and 17 only. So, if you want to see Yuji Itadori (voiced by Jun'ya Enoki in the original Japanese and by Adam McArthur in the English dub) and Satoru Gojo (Yūichi Nakamura/Kaiji Tang) on the big screen, this will be your only chance.

As you probably know, a compilation film is the kind of feature that selects some highlights from a season of a particular anime series and explores its theatrical potential. In this case, we will see arcs that include the story of fan-favorite characters Satoru Gojo and...

Japan is no stranger to queer representation. The various types of Bl, Gl, and Yaoi anime are proof of that. Now that Pride Month is here, it’s time to celebrate decades of LGBTQ+ culture and history while watching some chosen yaoi anime.

Firstly, a warning, yaoi is different from Bl (Boys’ Love). While some people use the terms interchangeably, Bl is a broader genre under which yaoi is a category. Yaoi explores se*ual connection between characters. And now, without further ado, let’s go through some must-watch yaoi anime.

5. Daikaichi Dakaichi shows a refreshing enemies-to-lovers romance | Credits: CloverWorks

Dakaichi: I’m Being Harassed By the Sexiest Man of the Year is a Yaoi manga and anime series. Its anime adaptation came out in 2018, with a sequel film in 2021. Funnily enough, the title speaks for itself.

The story begins with Takato Saijo, who has been an actor since childhood,...

Netflix is cordially inviting you to the royal anime event of the year. Today, the streamer decided to announce the release date of The Rose of Versailles with the two main characters front and center. The story centers around Oscar François de Jarjayes (voiced by Miyuki Sawashiro) and Archduchess Marie Antoinette (Aya Hirano) as they go about their royal commitments in the 18th century. While the Archduchess is falling in love with the French scenery and culture, she also starts to have contact with lower-ranking individuals who have their own struggles and battles to deal with. The anime movie is set to premiere next week, on April 30.

The Rose of Versailles is a bit of a different take on the anime genre. The setting strays away from the Japanese landscape, which translates to a different look for the production, and there is also an uncommon theme that will be addressed:...

Lazarus has been making waves recently for its interesting sci-fi concept and fast-paced action sequences. Its protagonist, Axel, is also quickly becoming one of the most lovable characters with a charming personality and some exceptional athletic capabilities.

However, it is not unnatural for someone to draw comparisons between him and some very beloved characters from another action-heavy anime called Banana Fish. There is a clear similarity in appearance between the characters of these shows, and it has both a good and a melancholic effect on fans.

They love the fact that in Axel, they can find a glimpse of Eiji and Ash. But they are also concerned whether Axel will have a similar kind of fate, and we will again be left devastated towards the end.

Banana Fish destroyed us with its unforgivable ending

The way Banana Fish concluded not only shattered the lives of its characters but also made...

Mappa, the anime studio behind Jujutsu Kaisen, Chainsaw Man, and Attack on Titan: The Final Season, announced on April 1, 2025, that it has launched its own music label, mappa records.

With this new initiative, Mappa aims to enhance the musical experience of its anime by collaborating with composers and artists to craft soundtracks that more deeply connect with its storytelling.

The label will not only produce music for Mappa’s works but also expand into global music distribution, CD and vinyl releases, and live event management.

Mappa stated it will continue striving to create lasting anime experiences.

Founded in 2011 by Masao Maruyama, one of the co-founders of Madhouse, Mappa Co., Ltd. is a Tokyo-based animation studio known for producing some of the most popular and visually striking anime in recent years.

Originally headquartered in Suginami, the studio later moved to Nakano, Tokyo.

Mappa built its reputation with works such as Yuri!!! on Ice,...

Shojo anime often struggles to achieve satisfying conclusions. As a genre less popular than shonen anime or isekai anime, shojo anime adaptations sometimes face rushed endings or incomplete storylines, leaving fans with unresolved plot points. While these series might not always get the full treatment they deserve, the conclusions they offer can still resonate, providing closure even when they don't fully match the source material.

When shojo anime does manage to land satisfying endings, the payoff is all the sweeter. For fans who’ve longed for a complete narrative, these final episodes are a gratifying release, delivering emotional closure and tying up long-running story arcs. Whether an adaptation diverges from the manga or offers its own interpretation, a solid ending can make all the difference.

Yona of the Dawn's Promising, Open-Ended Finale Ensures Yona’s Journey Feels Both Complete & Full of Potential Stream Yona of the Dawn on CrunchyrollImage via...

From Chainsaw Man to Jujutsu Kaisen, Mappa has produced top-notch anime in the Shonen genre. It is one of the finest animation studios in the Japanese industry, hailed for finesse and craftsmanship. But there is an anime that remains a victim of the middle child treatment.

A still from Zenshu’s trailer | Credit: Mappa

To be specific, Zenshu has the cold shoulder when it comes to Winter anime. The series has good animation, plotline, and story, and yet failed to gain popularity. But that doesn’t define it as a failure in any case, especially when it comes to its unique tropes of storytelling.

Mappa’s anime gets the cold shoulder treatment

When we hear the word Mappa the first thing that comes to our mind is excellent animation. There are only a handful of animation studios that live up to the standards and it is one of them. Through Jujutsu Kaisen,...

Only a few years ago, the association of Studio Mappa with any anime was a matter of great joy for fans. Every fandom desperately wished that their favorite manga gets adapted by Mappa. This confidence was a result of the stunning animation quality in the anime series produced by the studio. Moreover, the animation production of many popular and mainstream titles was taken over by Mappa.

Sukuna in a still from Jujutsu Kaisen anime | Credits: Studio Mappa

All was going great, the studio was taking and delivering projects at a great momentum. However, their reputation took a hit with Jujutsu Kaisen Season 2. On the other side of the exciting and spectacular fights, a crack started to appear in Mappa’s shiny armor.

The overworked employees shared their experiences, and the animation quality of Jujutsu Kaisen also took a hit. Even now, Mappa has many great projects under its belt, but...

Maybe you should now stop comparing Lazarus with Cowboy Bebop? It’s been a while since there’s this constant back-and-forth debate going on in some communities, where some saying Lazarus is just a cheap knockoff or Cowboy Bebop 2! Some are even dissing the animation for no reason.

A still from Lazarus trailer | Credits: Studio Mappa Studio

The two shows certainly do share some similarities, but that can be seen anywhere, and it doesn’t mean Lazarus is just a copycat. So what exactly makes Lazarus such a unique show, from the bits and pieces we have gotten to know so far? Here’s a little trivia on the things that are making Lazarus one of a kind and obviously not anything like Cowboy Bebop, at least!

Lazarus is Not a Cowboy Bebop rip-off!

It’s shamefully disrespectful to call Lazarus‘ art style a cheap knockoff of Cowboy Bebop, and...

Spring may be the season for romance, but starting the year off with a new romance anime means we don’t have to wait for love to bloom. Honey Lemon Soda has my affection this time around, if only because it has everything that 15-year-old me loved to watch in shojo anime: a moody but cool blond boy and a shy, unpopular girl as the main leads. I thought I’d grown too old for high school romances, but Honey Lemon Soda manages to reel me in with just a couple of episodes. So, here are my reasons for why you should also start watching this gem of a show! Shojo in Full Swing I’m on the frontlines when it comes to shojo anime, always battling for its recognition in the community while also praying for more anime adaptations. Seeing Honey Lemon Soda claim a spot this season makes me excited because,...

The yaoi genre, also known as Boys' Love (Bl), has taken off in popularity over the past few years. It's had a cult following since it was first established in the 1960s, but now it's far more out in the open than it's ever been. Popular anime streaming services all have at least some Bl anime, and manga can be found in any bookstore shelved beside shōnen and shojo series. With this amount of attention, however, comes a clearer view of the genre's biggest problems.

A lot of Bl can be uncomfortable to consume because the relationships too often fetishize predatory, non-consensual, harassing, and even abusive interactions. Popular Bl like Dakaichi and The Night Beyond the Tricornered Window suffer from this, as well as classics like Junjou Romantica. As a result, many are seeking Bl that don't strongly adhere to the common, and often toxic, tropes that dominate the genre.

One of the most notable anime adaptations of 2024, Dandadan is an explosive, genre-bending shonen adventure that will, without a doubt, go down in history as a modern classic. Produced by studio Science Saru and based on the original manga by Yukinobu Tatsu, Dandadan tells a riveting story that blends science fiction with the occult, romance with high-octane action, and comedy with poignant character drama. Adapting such a kinetic narrative to screen is no easy task. Yet, the Science Saru team did wonders in capturing the unorthodox appeal of Dandadan in their adaptation, elevating the chaotic tale of Momo and Okarun’s adventures to a new level. The individual creators that make up Dandadan’s production team are to credit for the anime’s astounding quality - one of them being renowned anime screenwriter Hiroshi Seko.

Even in anime based on an existing manga, which already functions as a script of sorts,...

Yuri!!! on Ice has been the gateway to the Boys Love genre for many budding fujoshi. It was Mappa’s stepping stone to fame. Mappa might be currently dominating with huge titles like Jujutsu Kaisen, Attack on Titan, and Chainsaw Man, but it was Yuri!!! on Ice that brought the studio to its current spotlight.

In an industry where queerbaiting is rampant, Yuri!!! on Ice is a refreshing series that did not leave fans hanging. It delivered exactly what it had promised and more. In the end, Mappa’s gamble paid off ten times over.

Yuri!!! on Ice was Mappa’s Biggest Gamble, and Fans Received it With Open Arms Yuri!!! on Ice | Credits: Mappa

Yuri!!! on Ice debuted in 2016, just a couple of years after Mappa was formed. Very soon it became Mappa’s claim to fame and boosted to studio’s popularity to the sky. The anime dominated...

Even the most casual anime and manga fans are likely familiar with the terms "shonen" and "shojo." Shonen and shojo series represent the medium's most popular properties, from One Piece and Naruto to Sailor Moon and Fruits Basket. Shojo and shonen series are often unavoidable since they dominate the market, but it's easy for audiences to consume this content without truly understanding what these contrasting types of stories mean or represent. The two terms in question loosely translate to "young girl" in the case of shojo and "young boy" for shonen. However, these broad demographics continue to evolve after more than a century of storytelling and experimentation.

Admittedly, shonen and shojo series can sometimes be neatly divided by gender, but it's not as simple of a delineation. Many different unique elements give both shojo and shonen series their distinct flavors. To better appreciate what both of these types of stories have to offer,...

The Banana Fish anime may be done, but it lives on in the hearts of fans. And, fortunately for those fans, it also lives on as new goods through Noitamina Apparel! The fashion brand is a spinoff of Fuji TV's late-night Noitamina anime spot, and will feature goods inspired by the series aired in that time. In this drop, fans can pick up clothes seen in Banana Fish : chiefly, Eiji's stadium jacket. The jacket features patches and embroidery and comes with a card showing Eiji wearing it in the series itself. Two shirts inspired by outfits worn by Ash and Eiji will also be available, once again paired with art cards: Related: Independent x Banana Fish Release Jade-Studded Ash Lynx Watch Other goods will also be up for grabs, including art canvases, towels, totes and cushion covers: Related: The Boys of Banana Fish Are Now Cuddly Plushies Who...

Despite being one of animes most popular demographics, shojo, or anime targeting young female audiences, has an unfortunate history of being dismissed and excluded from mainstream discourse. In the current action-saturated anime landscape, the genre has been experiencing a steady decline, its more introspective and slow-paced narratives outdistanced by shonen and seinen heavy hitters. However, shojo anime has by no means vanished completely, and the genres current period of stagnation gives fans a perfect opportunity to rediscover some of its hidden gems from the past.

Shojos rich history spotlights no shortage of iconic series, from romance classics like Lovely Complex to unconventional hits like Banana Fish. Yet shojo, more than any other demographic, suffers from countless exceptional series flying under the radar. For every shojo cult classic that has remained relevant through the decades, there is another equally stellar show that most fans have completely forgotten. These shojo anime dont deserve to be forgotten,...

Despite featuring one of the best, most multifaceted lineups of stories in the medium, shojo - or manga targeting a young female audience - remains a criminally underappreciated demographic. From heartfelt romance to immersive magical girl spectacles to action-filled historical epics, shojo triumphs in creating engrossing stories of diverse genres. However, apart from some well-established smash hits, shojo always had much less prominence in the mainstream anime and manga spheres than its male-oriented counterpart, shonen.

While manga like Sailor Moon, Orange, and Banana Fish succeeded in gaining widespread popularity, the shojo genre overflows with underrated series most fans have never heard about. The majority of these hidden gems dont even have anime adaptations to boost their popularity and potentially help more people discover their merits. While not well-known in the mainstream manga sphere, these shojo manga titles shouldnt be overlooked by seasoned shojo fans and those just discovering this wonderfully many-sided genre alike.

SK8 the Infinity is the first original series by director Hiroko Utsumi. While she's been working as an animator since the mid-2000s on shows like Full Metal Panic! The Second Raid and The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, Utsumi gained a reputation over the last decade for directing Free! and Banana Fish. Over the course of its runtime, Free! exhibited plenty of homoeroticism but no canonical romance between its athletic leads, whereas Banana Fish featured multiple canon queer characters.

Even after the full release of its first season, whether SK8 the Infinity will fall into Free!'s queerbaiting patterns or Banana Fish's canon queerness remains uncertain. As of right now, it's more aligned with Free! in terms of heavily teasing multiple romantic pairings and failing to follow through on any of them. However, the blatant subtext and themes in SK8 the Infinity, along with the confirmed Season 2 and Ova on the horizon,...

Warning: Sensitive topics are discussed below.

Anime like Death Parade, Bocchi the Rock, & A Silent Voice explore mental health themes with depth and sensitivity. Fruits Basket, Neon Genesis Evangelion, & Banana Fish delve into complex issues like trauma, depression, & Ptsd effectively. Series like March Comes in Like a Lion, Perfect Blue, & Welcome to the N.H.K. provide realistic portrayals of loneliness, madness & social anxiety.

Mental health issues are a nuanced subject that can be hard to address and portray accurately, especially in anime. Previously stigmatized, particular matters may have been glossed over in mainstream media. With changing times and increased acceptance and conversation surrounding mental health, anime has also become an art form that includes meaningful dialogue around mind-wellness or specifically highlights characters with lived experiences.

Whether it is to raise awareness or to speak to viewers who can relate, these series explore the depth, struggle, sensitivities, and sentiments around depression,...

Twilight Out of Focus is one of the newest romance anime released this season. This Bl love story is a romantic tale of teenagers at an all-boys school finding love. There are a few couples featured in Twilight Out Of Focus, but Mao Tsuchiya and Hisashi Otomo have had the most romantic scenes so far.

Because Hisashi and Maos relationship has progressed the most, they are responsible for much of the seasons most romantic moments so far. Though they begin as just roommates, their relationship blooms as they become better acquainted. Hisashi and Mao have big hearts with a lot of love to give. Their passion for each other immerses audiences in their love story and creates many incredibly romantic moments.

Name

Age

Birthday

Japanese Va

English Va

Mao Tsuchiya

16

February 25

Yoshitsugu Matsuoka

Eduardo Vildasol

Hisashi Otomo

16

November 8

Yuuma Uchida

Joshua Waters

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The Rose of Versailles is returning with a movie in 2025, celebrating its 50th anniversary. Produced by Mappa, the series has returned a new promotional video, key visual, and release date. Directed by Ai Yoshimura with music by Hiroyuki Sawano, the movie promises a visual treat for fans.

One of the most iconic shoujo manga series of all time, The Rose of Versailles, is finally returning with a movie in celebration of the franchise's 50th anniversary, produced by none other than Mappa. Two years after announcing the movie, The Rose of Versailles has finally returned with a brand new promotional video, a new key visual, information on the production staff and cast, and a release date to look forward to.

Based on the manga by Riyoko Ikeda, The Rose of Versailles recently announced that a movie adaptation produced by Mappa is set to release in Spring 2025. The announcement was made via...

Quick Links Fifteen Years Before The Plot: Where The Action Ramps Up Twelve Years Before The Plot: The Factions Start Factioning Seven Years Ago: Enter Dazai Six Years Ago: Setting The Stage Four Years Ago: The Cracks Form Present Day: The Plot!

Time flows like a river. While it flows, it can also branch out and change course. In the world of anime, there are a lot of different ways that the tides can turn when it comes to the flow of time. Anime loves to mess with the way it presents information and how it flows chronologically. With that in mind, Bungo Stray Dogs has a unique relationship with the concept of time and how it conveys information to the audience.

While the story is mostly linear, the anime jumps around in time quite a bit, and it can make it a little difficult to see what the overall...

Spoilers For Banana Fish Ahead Along With Mentions Of Sexual Assault And Abuse

Anime, for the most part, is a pretty escapist medium. So many series are about new and exciting worlds, strange powers, over-to-top guns and fights, vehicles that defy physics and so much more. It is for this reason that the series that drench themselves in reality can feel a lot more intense. Anime that doesn't make overtures toward anything fantastical or sci-fi can become almost crushingly real in many ways, as they often veer into storylines that, while exaggerated, are still things that can have real life parallels. This is something that can make certain series a little harder to watch than others.

Banana Fish was first published in May 1985 and received an anime adaptation in 2018. This series made no overtures towards softening the image of New York in the 1980s, drenching itself in the brutality of...

As a medium, anime notoriously offers plenty of uplifting, inspirational tales that celebrate the reaps of hard work, persistence, and self-improvement. And while such optimistic stories have intrinsic value, not all fans are seeking hopeful fantasies when they turn to anime. Just as esteemed are the mediums most devastating tragedies, which offer cathartic emotional release through sadness instead of merriment. In fact, many fans find happy endings too cheesy and unrealistic to properly enjoy, preferring a story with a gloomier tone that doesnt pull its punches when it comes to tragic themes and topics.

A devastating ending can feel much more profound than a generic happily-ever-after, and fans who recognize the power of a tragic conclusion, even in an otherwise cheery or encouraging series, gravitate towards sorrowful anime to experience these intense, moving emotions. Be it a cataclysmic tragedy or a series with a plot-twist downer ending, these anime that...

Blue Lock Season 2 Cast: All Confirmed New and Returning Characters - Main Image

Time-out’s over as the cast of Blue Lock season 2 has been revealed ahead of the anime's October release.

The ball’s about to roll again as old and new characters clash in a heated training session in the confines of the Blue Lock program.

From Yoichi Isagi and Nagi Seishiro to the new characters such as Julian Loki and Nijiro Nanase, meet the cast of Blue Lock season 2 that will keep your blood pumping and take your breath away with their unconventional soccer prowess!

All Confirmed Cast and Characters Appearing in Blue Lock Season 2

Moving forward to the next stage of the Blue Lock training program that Jinpachi Ego organized, our main protagonist, Yoichi Isagi, will face new challenges that will force his potential and test his limits to become the best striker in the world.

Studio Mappa, which has brought us such hits as Terror in Resonance, Yuri!!! on Ice, In This Corner of the World, Kakegurui, Banana Fish, Zombie Land Saga, Dorohedoro, The God of High School, Jujutsu Kaisen, Attack on Titan: The Final Season, Vinland Saga Season 2, Chainsaw Man, and Hell’s Paradise: Jigokuraku, has announced a completely new, original anime series titled Zenshu, which is going to be released at an undisclosed date in the future.

Mappa has decided to tackle the rom-com genre but from a meta-perspective: namely, the main character, Natsuko Hirose, is a genius anime creator, but she now has to tackle a project that will prove to be a challenge for her. Namely, she has to create a rom-com anime herself, but the problem is that she herself has never been in love before, which makes her job all the more difficult. The first poster for the film was also released,...

A modern cult classic of the action-thriller genre, Banana Fish is an anime that left a lasting impression on multiple anime communities thanks to its broad reach, multifaceted themes and bending of genre conventions. Following Ash Lynx, a New York gangster, and his unexpected ally, a Japanese assistant photographer Eiji Okumura, as they uncover the enigma behind the titular mysterious drug, the series is both a tense, stylish organized crime drama and a tender, tragic story of love and connection.

An unorthodoxly unique anime, Banana Fish is unlike anything else the medium has to offer, and stories that replicate its distinctive emotional impact have not been told since the manga was first released in 1985. Yet, a few shows successfully capture certain elements that made Banana Fish special, and fans of the series might find their new favorite among these unique yet similar anime.

Banana Fish TV-MAAction

The story captures the...

Anime is more popular than ever, but it's not a phenomenon that's exclusive to Japan. Chinese anime, as the name suggests, refers to animations that have been created in China or are Chinese adaptations of Manhua (Chinese manga), and are often called Donghua. With multiple manhuas making strides, both domestically and internationally, Chinese anime is also witnessing a massive spike in viewership as well as a drastic increase in the quality of animation.

Donghuas have managed to integrate several elements from Japanese anime, but have also created a unique identity for themselves by adding rich cultural folklores and meanings, creating something exceptional. With intricate artwork, exhilarating fight scenes, and well-woven storylines, Donghuas are no longer just a niche and are slowly making their way into mainstream media.

Updated by Timothy Blake Donohoo on March 5, 2024: Donghuas are increasingly popular, with their international success matching that of their Japanese counterparts. These...

Josei anime targets adult women with mature themes, exploring life's complexities and relationships realistically. The best josei animes explore romance, friendship, and life purpose, resonating with viewers on relatable issues. Shows like Princess Jellyfish, Banana Fish, and Chihayafuru capture deep, emotional narratives on love and self-discovery.

Compared to other anime genres, such as shojo, which targets girls and young adult women as its primary target audience, josei stories are marketed to adult women. Josei explores more mature themes and topics, often taking a ‘realist’ standpoint within female-oriented social, relationship, and developmental subjects.

This classification has become a genre that appeals to its viewers who may be experiencing similar circumstances to the narrative’s characters, or simply those who wish to enjoy a story with more heavy content. The best josei anime exemplify its purpose: exploring the various shades of romance, friendship, family, and heartache, as well as the overarching question of life’s direction.

Your Lie in April and Clannad After Story are often included on lists as some of the saddest anime ever made. Banana Fish and Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, the protagonists experience a series of hardships while working towards their goal, only to lose in the end. Grave of the Fireflies is based on a short story about the author's experiences during World War II and is a devastating film about two siblings trying to survive the last few months of the war.

This article contains mentions of sensitive topics, including death, mental health, and war.

Anime is no stranger to tragic stories, having released some stories whose endings are so depressing that viewers have a hard time moving on from them. With its growing popularity, anime has continued to demonstrate its unique ability to move people. The medium evokes emotion using intense visuals and storytelling methods that could never work in live action.

Boys' Love, or Shōnen Ai, is a genre of manga that has traditionally existed in a bubble all to itself. For a long time, most fans of the genre kept their interest confined to their carefully curated internet spaces and reading groups. By now, Boys' Love has become more mainstream, as seen with series like Hyperventilation, to the point of being referenced in other genres. Many boys' love stories are even overtaking more traditional straight love stories in terms of popularity. The genre's history, however, extends much further back into the history of manga than most casual readers would think.

Boys' Love first came into prominence in the 1970s and went by several different names over the years. Terms like Yaoi, Shōnen Ai, and June covered this subsection of the shojo genre. Most of these stories were written by women, for women, and are not reflective of the experiences of homosexual men.

Fans now have a release date for the upcoming anime-original series from well-known studio Mappa.

Bucchigiri?! is the latest anime by the prominent studio, and it has no previous manga or light novel source material. As seen in the trailer, the premise involves protagonist Arajin Tomoshibi as he transfers to Ichizu High School. Unfortunately for him, this is an infamous school for delinquents -- a fact that becomes readily apparent as the other characters are introduced. Nevertheless, he meets a seeming old friend named Matakara Asamine and decides that now might be his time to shine in his new academic environment.

Jujutsu Kaisen Season 2 Director Leaves Cryptic Message After Mappa Production Meltdown

However, the trailer's latter half shows that Bucchigiri?! likely won't be the typical "yanki" comedy anime. Action and even supernatural elements are also possibly at play, namely through the presence of an apparent genie named Majin Senya, speaking...

Deep anime rivalries that make both characters more interesting are everywhere. They aren't limited by type of show -- slice-of-life, action, horror, and cyberpunk are just a few of the genres in which the best anime feuds happen. In many instances, these rivals are exact opposites in appearance, mannerisms, and morality. In others, rivals have subtle differences that show how the protagonist, too, could end up just like their enemy if they aren't careful. Anime fans with a literary mindset will recognize these as narrative foils, and they make for some of the juiciest storytelling within the medium.

Anime lends itself well to contrasting characters. In worlds where overblown physical reactions and a wide range of appearances such as hair colors are the norm, animators can quickly convey to audiences the opposite nature of two characters. Many of the most iconic anime rivalries involve a gruff, dark-haired protagonist who is pitted against an ethereal,...

Boys Love anime, often simply referred to as Bl, is a unique romance genre that focuses solely on relationships between male characters. The genre is niche, catering to a very specific audience in most cases. But while Bl isn’t appreciated by everyone, the genre features some pretty great romance stories and many amazing couples.

Bl anime are often notorious for their poor depictions of LGBTQ+ relationships, but despite this bad reputation, many Bl couples are actually very well-written and lovable. Featuring nuanced characters and unique relationship dynamics, Bl romances have come a long way over the years and many couples have become iconic within the genre.

Related: 20 Best Bl Anime For New Fans

Shuichi Shindo & Eiri Yuki (Gravitation)

Gravitation is one of the old-school pioneers of the Bl genre. Likewise, the relationship between protagonist Shuichi Shindo and Eiri Yuki is one of the first major Bl romances and helped popularize future titles.

One of the best parts about anime is the music that accompanies it, with some of the best anime music artists being truly incredible. There's just something about the strongest anime opening themes that gets fans hyped for the episode they're about to watch. From original soundtracks to opening songs, anime is filled with many types of music, and as such, there are many artists who’ve found fame through the medium.

Making an anime requires expertise from many walks of life. Although the animation team is responsible for bringing the characters to life, the music artists take it to another level and imbue scenes with an emotional energy that's difficult to match. Opening and ending songs enhance the watching experience if it’s well received but certainly won’t make an anime less good if the song is considered bad. The best anime music artists can make an already great scene truly groundbreaking.

Japanese anime studios are like the caffeine of the entertainment world, churning out original series and mega hits faster than a caffeine addict downing espressos. While anime like Attack on Titan have become pop culture VIPs, films such as Spirited Away have taken a seat at the fancy “greatest cinematic work” table. And guess what? Some anime big shots even teamed up with Hollywood bigwigs like Universal Pictures to conquer the world. It’s like they’ve got their anime wands set for “world domination.”

From choosing some of the best mangas for animation to creating their own original works, here are some of the best anime studios.

Studio Ghibli

Ever asked a random person about anime studios? Bet, they’ll blurt out “Studio Ghibli!”. Led by Hayao Miyazaki, the Dumbledore of film directors, Studio Ghibli is the force behind some of Japan’s top anime money spinners. Oscars? Yep,...

One of anime and manga genre that was once incredibly popular is gangster stories. Typically referred to as "yanki" fiction (due to a slang term describing gangster youth in Japan), these types of anime have dwindled over the years, especially as anime has attained more international popularity. Thankfully, an upcoming anime adaptation of a manga may change that fate, all while riding the wave of another series.

The Fable was a crime manga that ran from 2014 to 2015, though it's only now receiving an anime adaptation. Combining a crime thriller with a human sense of heart and character, the series' popularity has finally led to more takes on the story outside the source material. Not only is it in the same vein as classic yanki manga, but it also somewhat recalls the popular gangster series Tokyo Revengers. The Fable can succeed with audiences everywhere by providing a more grounded version of a similar story.

Shojo anime continues to be a popular subgenre explicitly aimed at adolescent females and young adult women. While some of the all-time best shojo anime series like Nana, Banana Fish, and Your Lie In April have only one season for fans to indulge in, there's no shortage of acclaimed anime series that last longer than one season and improve over time.

Indeed, for many anime series, it takes a while to find their footing, establish the characters, and develop deeply compelling narrative arcs that keep viewers invested as the series progresses. As such, it's time to highlight examples of the best shojo anime series that clearly improve following the first season.

Related: 10 Best Romantic Horror Anime

Sailor Moon (1992-1997)

The holy grail of shojo anime, Sailor Moon ran for five seasons and 200 episodes. While Sailor Moon's first season drew fans in and established the cute magical girl's mythical backstory,...

2023 is only halfway over, but it’s already working out to be anime’s best year for LGBTQ+ representation. While anime still struggles with LGBTQ+ representation, both depicting it positively and depicting it at all, recent years have seen a notable uptick in representation. LGBTQ+ anime like Bloom Into You, Yuri on Ice, Banana Fish, and Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid are all relatively recent hits that managed to gain mainstream appeal. Gundam even made a same-sex couple the main couple for The Witch from Mercury, and that likely played a big part in The Witch from Mercury’s sales being the highest in the history of the franchise.

LGBTQ+ has steadily been made a larger part of anime, and 2023 is shaping up to be the best year for it yet. Far more yuri and yuri-esque anime are either airing in 2023 or being announced in 2023 for later releases than is usually the case,...

Despite having a large fanbase, there are precious few widely-known Shojo franchises to praise. This is certainly a result of greater popularity and success found within the Shonen demographic, which may be due to the greater variety that those manga and anime have to offer. Both women and men alike enjoy reading or watching Shonen series, which boosts sales and appeal. What fans may be unaware of is the existence of a series that avoids all the Shojo tropes that typically divide audiences.

While the Shojo demographic has more to do with marketing series toward young girls, it carries the prevalence of repeated genres and tropes -- mostly high school romances and magical girl fantasy epics. Though there are some noteworthy series that pick up atypical genres, none stray further from Shojo expectations than Banana Fish. This action/adventure drama is centered around the conflicts of organized crime, and the...

Banana Fish, a classic manga from the 1980s and 1990s, provided a look at the life of American street gangs during those eras. Although it debuted at a time when it wouldn't have been able to become mainstream in the West, it's widely regarded as one of the best crime manga in Japan. This reputation has been revitalized in recent years, following the 2018 Mappa anime adaptation.

One of the most notable elements of Banana Fish is its homoerotic nature. Despite not being an official Boys Love series, Banana Fish has several cross-genre elements that were influenced by Bl. Here's how, despite not being classified as Bl, the series still ranks as one of the most prototypical and mainstream examples of it.

Related: Boys' Love vs. Shonen-Ai vs. Yaoi: What's Actually the Difference?

The Plot of Banana Fish

Before becoming an anime, the series began as a manga from Akimi Yoshida...

Written and illustrated by Tatsuki Fujimoto, the Chainsaw Man manga series is getting an anime adaptation from Mappa, and it’s coming to Crunchyroll on October 11, 2022

Crunchyroll is revving up the excitement for the October 11 launch of Chainsaw Man on its streaming service by unveiling the English dub cast for the highly anticipated anime series.

Crunchyroll will simulcast the series from Japan, subtitled and dubbed, in more than 200 countries and territories around the world.

With Adr direction by Mike McFarland (Attack on Titan; Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood), the “Chainsaw Man” English dub cast includes:

Ryan Colt Levy (My Hero Academia: World Heroes’ Mission; Moriarty the Patriot) – English voice of Denji

Suzie Yeung (Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba; Wonder Egg Priority) – English voice of Makima

Reagan Murdock – English voice of Aki

Sarah Wiedenheft (Black Clover; Dr. Stone; Dragon Ball Super) – English voice of Power

The English dub of “Chainsaw Man...

Chainsaw Man Is Coming to Crunchyroll: "Crunchyroll has announced that a new series has made the cut and will be included in one of its upcoming seasons as it has acquired the streaming rights to the highly anticipated anime adaptation of Chainsaw Man. Crunchyroll will simulcast the series from Japan later this year, subtitled and dubbed, in more than 200 countries and territories around the world. Dubs will include English, Latin American Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese, French, and German.

Based on the widely popular and award-winning manga of the same name written and illustrated by Tatsuki Fujimoto and serialized in Shueisha’s Weekly Shōnen Jump, Chainsaw Man is directed by Ryū Nakayama (Fate/Grand Order Absolute Demonic Front: Babylonia; The Rising of the Shield Hero).

“With dark humor, dynamic characters and a sharp story, Chainsaw Man is one of the most anticipated new series this year, and we are wickedly excited to...

Masao Maruyama has been a legendary figure in modern anime due to his association with Madhouse as a founder and producer. However, in 2011, Maruyama went on to found another animation studio known as Mappa. With Manabu Otsuka serving as its current CEO, Mappa has had a decade filled with iconic originals such as Banana Fish, Yuri!!! On Ice, and Kakegurui.

Related: 10 Best Studio Madhouse Anime (Ranked According to IMDb)

At the same time, the studio has received enough attention to even produce seasons of acclaimed animes from other studios, such as Hajime no Ippo and Attack on Titan.

Banana Fish Season 2 may be greatly desired by anime fans wanting to see more of Eiji and other characters, but that possibility really depends on the ending of Episode 24. So far, a second season seems very unlikely but there are manga spin-off stories that could serve as Ova episodes. Will anime studio Mappa stick to the original plot or will they create a new ending that leaves an opening for a sequel? This article provides everything that is known about Banana Fish Season 2 and all related news. As such, this article will be updated over time with news, […]

The post Banana Fish Season 2 release date: Will Banana Fish manga Another Story continue the anime’s story? appeared first on Monsters and Critics.

In my last column, I offered up my two-pronged solution to the frequent complaint about Netflix that their flood of new series all have too many episodes that are all too long, suggesting that viewers either try another streaming service or watch shorter shows with fewer episodes. Having written that, I decided to follow my own advice and watched Godzilla: City on the Edge of Battle, released in Japanese theaters on May 18, 2018, and then on Netflix globally on July 18, followed by Blame!, a very likable series that was actually released globally by Netflix last year. And I've just started watching Banana Fish, an anime series that is now airing on Fuji TV's Noitamina programming block in Japan on a normal broadcast schedule...

[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...