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When it comes to anime, the Winter Season is the perfect time to slow down a bit. If action-packed blockbusters and big-named adaptations dominated the Summer and Fall Seasons, mellow and easy-going anime shine during the Winter. Of course, the season has its fair share of energetic anime. But broadly speaking, anime released in Winter are meant to be enjoyed at a more relaxed pace. This, unfortunately, also means that some of Winter 2025's anime peaked too early and lost their viewers' interest. For one reason or another, these anime started strong but tapered off with each passing episode. None of this is to say that these anime are bad, or even mediocre.

Despite peaking too early, these series are still well-made and entertaining enough for the respective audiences. That being said, they still hit a metaphorical ceiling a lot earlier than expected. Because they found a formula that they're...

Dr. Stone Season 4 Part 1 was one of the most anticipated anime of the winter 2025 lineup, even though it was released with some heavy hitters like Solo Leveling and The Apothecary Diaries. The hype surrounding the last leg of this franchise was unreal, and now that it has ended, speculation about the next cour is also growing.

The season definitely had its pauses and segments that were lacking, but the ending made things better than ever before. Senku’s final move was unexpected but it again, solidified his position as the brain behind the Kingdom of Science.

Senku from Dr. Stone [Credits: Tms Entertainment]

What could have ended in an outright bloodbath between Senku and Dr. Xeno’s people got masterfully subverted. In its place, we see our hero going in a new direction that will open doors to the whereabouts of the Why-man.

Dr. Xeno’s motives became clearer in the...

The following contains spoilers for Dr. Stone Season 4, Episode 12, "Reunion," now streaming on Crunchyroll.

The episode leading up to Dr. Stone Season 4, Episode 12 ends on a thrilling cliffhanger as both sides of the scientist vs. scientist war reach the Stone Age equivalent of a classic chess checkmate. Dr. Xeno's crew captures the Perseus with Stanley Snider to oversee things, while Chrome's team breaks into Dr. Xeno's castle to capture the man himself. Now, Dr. Stone Season 4, Episode 12 makes good on that breathtaking cliffhanger by trading away most of the violence for smart negotiations.

It's a repetition of a strange trend for the Science Future story arc in Dr. Stone, with the anime's focus on educational entertainment and teamwork giving way to its action movie antics. The action includes an airplane dogfight and a clash of warriors aboard the Perseus, but it's a conflict not designed to last. As Dr. Stone Season 4, Episode 12 demonstrates,...

Senku and the Science Kingdom have made landfall in the Americas, and the action continues in the second part of  Dr. Stone   Science Future , which was announced to premiere in July 2025 tonight, shortly after the final episode of Cour 1. To commemorate the announcement, character designer Yuko Iwasa created an illustration of Senku and Xeno. Dr. Stone Science Future Cour 2 Announcement Visual Related: Dr. Stone Science Future Anime Casts Minami Hinata as Charlotte Based on the manga written by Riichiro Inagaki and illustrated by Boichi, Shuhei Matsushita directs  Dr. Stone Science Future  at studio Tms Entertainment, with Kurasumi Sunayama writing the series composition, Yuko Iwasa drawing the character designs and Tatsuya Kato, Hiroaki Tsutsumi and Yukihiro Kanesaka composing the music. All of the  Dr. Stone   TV anime seasons, as well as the  Ryusui  special episode, are available on Crunchyroll, which describes the series as such: Several thousand years after a mysterious...

The following contains spoilers for Dr. Stone Season 4, Episode 11, "Those Who Know the Rules; Those Who Make Them," now streaming on Crunchyroll.

The Science Future story arc of Dr. Stonehas been mixed to positive, bouncing back and forth between lengthy expositions and explosive action to serve as payoff. After a slow start, Dr. Stone Season 4 kicked things off with new weapons and higher stakes as Dr. Xeno's corn kingdom opened fire with machine guns, only for more sluggish to continue holding back the pacing. Fortunately, Dr. Stone Season 4, Episode 11 delivers much needed payoff, giving the impression that the next episode will do the same.

Dr. Stone Season 4, Episode 11 is everything the last few episodes' worth of setup promised to deliver, which makes "Those Who Know the Rules; Those Who Make Them" a highly satisfying and exciting watch. It helps that the episode includes some stellar production value and smart visual...

Today marked the premiere of Dr. Stone Science Future episode 11, and with it comes a new cast member. The latest to get in on the adaptation is Minami Hinata (Bojji in Ranking of Kings ), who voices Charlotte. Related: Dr. Stone Characters From Senku to Why-Man Based on the manga by Riichiro Inagaki and Boichi, Shuhei Matsushita directs  Dr. Stone Science Future  at studio Tms Entertainment, with Kurasumi Sunayama on series composition, Yuko Iwasa on character designs and Tatsuya Kato, Hiroaki Tsutsumi and Yukihiro Kanesaka on music. Crunchyroll  streams the full series  and describes the story: Facing a world of stone and the total collapse of civilization, Senku makes up his mind to use science to rebuild the world. Starting with his super strong childhood friend Taiju Oki, who awakened at the same time, they will begin to rebuild civilization from nothing... Depicting two million years of scientific history from the Stone Age to present day,...

Anticlimactic endings can happen to every genre in manga. While in an action manga, an anticlimactic ending can occur after a disappointing final battle, in a slice-of-life manga, the main character's lack of development can be very disappointing. Although the build-up to the ending is important, the payoff is even more so. A good manga ending is one that sticks to its themes and resolves the main narrative.

Examples that have a good ending are manga like Delicious in Dungeon, which keeps its core themes and values to the end. Another great example is A Silent Voice. Although it's open-ended, it fits the theme of hope in an unknown future. Landing an ending is one of the hardest parts of telling a narrative story, so more often than not, many manga struggle with wrapping it up in a satisfying way.

Tsunayoshi Remains Too Indecisive by the Time Katekyo Hitman Reborn!

Ahead of an April 6, 2025 broadcast debut and subsequent simulcast on Crunchyroll , a brand-new trailer released for Witch Watch today previews more of the upcoming magical comedy anime's spell-binding silliness and its ending song, "Mahou wa Spice" ("Magic is Spice") by four-piece rock band Aooo. Witch Watch Pre-Broadcast Trailer The Witch Watch anime's main cast includes: Nico Wakatsuki voiced by Rina Kawaguchi (Quan in Kizuna no Allele ) Morihito Otogi voiced by Ryota Suzuki (Ryusei in Dr. Stone ) Kanshi Kazamatsuri voiced by Kohei Amasaki (Will in Wistoria: Wand and Sword ) Keigo Magami voiced by Kaito Ishikawa (Naofumi in The Rising of the Shield Hero ) Nemu Miyao voiced by Tomori Kusunoki (Shizuka in Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead ) Yuri Makuwa voiced by Mikako Komatsu (Maki in Jujutsu Kaisen ) Kara Minami voiced by Rie Takahashi (Yuzuriha in Hell's Paradise ) Kukumi Ureshino voiced by Konomi Kohara (Chika in Kaguya-sama: Love is War ) Tenryu...

The following contains spoilers for Season 4, Episode 10 of Dr. Stone, "Dirty Roads," now streaming on Crunchyroll.

The fourth and final season of Dr. Stone takes place on a fresh continent where the cast clashes against emerging enemies with innovative new weapons, which requires a level of exposition that held back Episode 9 of Dr. Stone Science Future. The opening cour of Dr. Stone Science Future needs time to flesh out new villains like Dr. Xeno the NASA scientist and Stanley Snider the soldier, but even then, the story spends a little too much time on setup. The same is true in Episode 10, which lays more of the groundwork for the looming final battle in Stone Age California.

Granted, the final fight will only be exciting and worthwhile if the Dr. Stone anime puts enough pieces in place to raise the stakes higher than ever to keep loyal viewers invested. To that end,...

The official accounts for the upcoming My Hero Academia: Vigilantes anime released a new main trailer and key art today, alongside announcing Kocchi no Kento will perform the opening theme song “Kekka Orai.” Additionally, Crunchyroll is announcing today the anime will stream on the platform as it premieres in Japan during the spring 2025 season. My Hero Academia: Vigilantes Anime Main Trailer My Hero Academia: Vigilantes Release Date: April 7, 2025 Territories: North America, Central America, South America, Europe, Africa, Oceania, the Middle East and Cis Synopsis: Koichi Haimawari is a dull college student who aspires to be a hero but has given up on his dream. Although 80% of the world’s population has superhuman powers called Quirks, few are chosen to become heroes and protect people. Everything changes for Koichi when he and Pop☆Step are saved by the vigilante Knuckleduster and get recruited to become vigilantes themselves! Three new character visuals were also released,...

Yuto Tsukuda, the creator of Weekly Shonen Jump's hit culinary comedyFood Wars!: Shokugeki no Soma, recently promoted an up-and-coming fellow Shonen Jump IP. The manga in question is Shinobi Undercover, a zany action-comedy revolving around a ninja and a high school girl.

Tsukuda's new recommendation was shared by @WSJmanga, an unofficial Shonen Jump news hub on X (formerly Twitter). Shinobi Undercover, which was created by Ippon Takegushi (story) and Santa Mitarashi (art), revolves around a ninja named Todaka who lives and works in modern-day Japan. One day, he is ordered to protect a cheerful but klutzy high school student named Aoi. In order to be a proper guard, he masquerades as Aoi's fellow classmate. According to the X post, Tsukuda is particularly fond of the "moe" (cute and/or innocent) attributes of the lead character.

New Shonen Jump Series Gets High Praise From Food Wars!: Shokugeki no Soma's...

As usual, this winter season delivered some exciting anime series for fans of all genres. We leveled up with the highly anticipated return of Solo Leveling, fell in love with Honey Lemon Soda, and ventured back into the post-apocalyptic world of Dr. Stone. Now, as March brings the season to a close, some are already looking ahead to the exciting new stories Spring will offer. But before we move on, let’s take a look at the best of the best coming out this month on Netflix and Crunchyroll.

The following contains spoilers for Dr. Stone Season 4, Episode 9, "Light of Science," now streaming on Crunchyroll.

After Dr. Stone Season 4, Episode 8 kickstarted the all-out war between Dr. Xeno's corn-based kingdom and the Kingdom of Science, fans were hopeful the anime's sluggish plot would start moving in a big way. Season 4, Episode 9, "Light of Science," makes an appreciable effort to build on Stanley Snider's fateful shot, and it's going in the right direction. It's exciting to see the Kingdom of Science gearing up for a counterattack rather than hiding aboard the Perseus any longer.

Episode 9 continues to take too long with setup, but that's compensated for by some strong character moments and much-needed balance between science and military tactics. Hard science is no longer the sole narrative tool for Dr. Stone's heroes, which takes away some of the edutainment value -- but a new war calls for new tactics anyway. And...

Ahead of an April 6, 2025 broadcast debut and subsequent simulcast on Crunchyroll , the official anime website and accounts for Witch Watch today confirmed the casting of Nana Mizuki as Nico's mother, Ibuki Wakatsuki, and Katsuyuki Konishi as Morihito's father, Reiji Otogi. Ibuki Wakatsuki Reiji Otogi The Witch Watch anime's main cast includes: Nico Wakatsuki voiced by Rina Kawaguchi (Quan in Kizuna no Allele ) Morihito Otogi voiced by Ryota Suzuki (Ryusei in Dr. Stone ) Kanshi Kazamatsuri voiced by Kohei Amasaki (Will in Wistoria: Wand and Sword ) Keigo Magami voiced by Kaito Ishikawa (Naofumi in The Rising of the Shield Hero ) Nemu Miyao voiced by Tomori Kusunoki (Shizuka in Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead ) Yuri Makuwa voiced by Mikako Komatsu (Maki in Jujutsu Kaisen ) Kara Minami voiced by Rie Takahashi (Yuzuriha in Hell's Paradise ) Kukumi Ureshino voiced by Konomi Kohara (Chika in Kaguya-sama: Love is War ) Tenryu Kiyomiya voiced by...

The following contains spoilers for Dr. Stone Season 4, episode 8, "Lock On," now streaming on Crunchyroll.

The last episode of Dr. Stone's new season made the current war in North America wonderfully personal as Senku Ishigami began his war against his former mentor, the NASA-affiliated Dr. Xeno. The last few episodes also helped set up the explosive final battle between the two Stone Age kingdoms, creating a powder keg awaiting a spark. Episode 8 delivers that much-anticipated spark to end things on a strong note, but it takes time to get there.

While Episode 8 finally gets the plot moving in a big way, there is too much padding before then, including plenty of material Dr. Stone viewers could have intuited for themselves. There should be some calm before the storm, but not quite this much, so Episode 8 feels a tad weak as a result. At least the padding has some cool...

2025 got off to an excellent start with the return of shows like Solo Leveling and Dr. Stone, which, as always, have been phenomenal in their weekly schedule. However, the momentum did not continue until next month, as there were few other exciting premieres, and it seems like March will be similar, with only a handful of series coming out.

Certainly, the lineup includes an intriguing fantasy anime with a distinctive premise, and manga fans are eagerly waiting for its release. Additionally, next month, we will see the release of a few OVAs from prominent franchises like Kaiju No. 8 and Aldnoah Zero, so the overall conclusion should not be disappointing. So, without further ado, let's explore what anime has in store for fans in March 2025.

'Sword of the Demon Hunter' Streaming on Crunchyroll on March 31

Sword of the Demon Hunter, also known as Kijin Gentoushou, is an upcoming...

Get ready for the “nyandemic“: A new trailer has arrived for the animated post-apocalyptic comedy series Nyaight of the Living Cat from Executive Director Takashi Miike in celebration of Cat Day in Japan this past Caturday.

The anime series will begin streaming this July only on Crunchyroll worldwide excluding Asia. Sony Pictures Entertainment will be distributing in Asia and Japan. The exact debut date is Tba.

The official synopsis:

“Run! The adorable cats are here. In 20Xx, the world is dominated by cats. A virus which turns anyone who touches a cat into a cat has spread into a worldwide nyandemic. Cats rub against people, turning them into cats. Can humanity fight their urge to pet cats to survive in this cat-ridden world?”

The series is an adaptation of the manga written by Hawkman and illustrated by Mecha-Roots. Nyaight of the Living Cat is directed by Tomohiro Kamitani (Beyond the Sky...

If you still believe that the Sakamoto Days anime is receiving unnecessary flak, think again. Ever since its debut, the anime has been the center of one controversy after another. The biggest one surrounds its animation quality or lack thereof.

Sakamoto Days animation has been receiving criticism for poor animation quality | Credits: Tms Entertainment

However, plenty of fans still stick to the ideology that Sakamoto Days anime is not as bad as everyone is portraying it to be. Sorry to break the news, but the series isn’t even an apt competitor for anime that aired a decade ago.

Animation lessons from a decade-old under-rated series

The 2015 Gangsta anime is an adaptation of the manga by the same name. It focuses on Nic and Worick, two Handymen who take on shady jobs that no one else is willing to take on. But after they receive a new job request, they...

There are many anime characters who have been hailed as geniuses and prodigies, masters who have extremely high levels of intellect. Be it Shikamaru Nara from Naruto or Lelouch Lamperouge, they are often hailed as the smartest characters in anime and praised for their strategic genius.

Senku. Credits: Studio Tms Entertainment

While their tactical minds and capabilities are undeniable, neither of them can match the sheer intellectual brilliance and the repertoire of knowledge that is Senku Ishigami from Dr. Stone. It’s time for the fans to finally realize that Senku isn’t just the smartest character in Dr. Stone, he is the smartest in all of anime.

Senku’s intelligence is on another level

Shikamaru’s Iq of over 200 (according to Asuma Sarutobi) and Lelouch’s masterful planning that let him record a video anticipating all of the recipients’ responses are indeed formidable, even terrifying. But they are limited...

Winter 2025 has been a great season for anime lovers of all kinds, from Shonen Jump buffs to mystery fans and even hopeless romantics. Recently, a popular Japanese news site unveiled nationwide survey results showcasing which new and returning IPs are garnering the most love this season.

From Feb. 3 to Feb. 17, Animate Times asked its readers to choose the Winter 2025 series that they wanted "everyone to watch" until the end. The newly-released top 10 list includes a number of works that have gained notoriety and acclaim outside Japan, including Dr. Stone, Sakamoto Days and My Happy Marriage, to name a few. The site's #1 pick is The Apothecary Diaries, Season 2 of which debuted on Jan. 10. In second and third place are Medalist and From Bureaucrat to Villainess: Dad's Been Reincarnated!, respectively. The full top 10 list, listed from highest to lowest ranking, can be seen below.

RelatedDemon Slayer Anime Misses #1 Spot in New Official...

If there’s anything we’ve learned from Dr. Stone (besides science), it’s that its characters have certainly gone through A Lot. From experiencing what they thought was the end of everything via mysterious petrification, to returning many years later in a world that’s much different than they remember, Senku, Taiju and everyone else has had their fair share of triumphs and troubles. Let’s take a look at some of the key Dr. Stone characters as they continue their adventures. Dr. Stone Character Overview Senku Ishigami Taiju Oki Yuzuriha Ogawa Tsukasa Shishio Hyoga Homura Momiji Ukyo Saionji Gen Asagiri Chrome Kohaku Suika Ruri Byakuya Ishigami Ryusui Nanami Francois Soyuz Amaryllis Kirisame Matsukaze Moz Dr. Xeno Houston Wingfield Why-Man Senku Ishigami Related: How to Watch Dr. Stone in Order The man of science himself, Senku has done his best to try and bring technology and science back to...

The following contains spoilers for Dr. Stone Season 4, Episode 7, "The Two Scientists," now streaming on Crunchyroll.

Episode 6 of Dr. Stone's Science Future story arc built up the tension to its absolute peak as war looms between Senku Ishigami's and Dr. Xeno's feuding factions, only for Episode 7 to put the brakes on the story to dive into the distant past. The timing isn't too great, but the content absolutely is, so patient Dr. Stone fans can forgive this episode-long interruption to flesh out the complicated relationship between Senku and Dr. Xeno.

No matter the awkward timing, Episode 7 does a marvelous job at everything it sets out to do, from rounding out Dr. Xeno as a character to creating a genuine disaster movie vibe to bringing in cameos for lovable characters like Byakuya Ishigami. All of these elements are juggled and blended well to create an emotionally satisfying, tense, and science-heavy backstory...

Ahead of Dr. Stone Science Future 's seventh episode broadcast this Thursday, the sci-fi adventure anime's official website today announced that Hiroki Yasumoto (Elfman in Fairy Tail ) is joining the cast as Brody Dudley, a mechanic of the American Colony. Brody Related: Dr. Stone Science Future Anime Reveals New Cast for Episode 6 Based on the manga by Riichiro Inagaki and Boichi, Shuhei Matsushita directs Dr. Stone Science Future at studio Tms Entertainment, with series composition by Kurasumi Sunayama, character designs by Yuko Iwasa and music by Tatsuya Kato, hiroaki Tsutusmi and Yukihiro Kanesaka. Crunchyroll streams the full series and describes the story: Several thousand years after a mysterious phenomenon that turns all of humanity to stone, the extraordinarily intelligent, science-driven boy, Senku Ishigami, awakens. Facing a world of stone and the total collapse of civilization, Senku makes up his mind to use science to rebuild the world. Starting with his...

This winter 2025 season , the Dr. Stone anime returned for a fourth season with Dr. Stone Science Future . Senku Ishigami, a scientific genius, and his crew from the Kingdom of Science have set off to America in search of corn, a key to survival. Knowing Senku, though, this new journey will be full of not just adventure, but scientific advancement and discovery. Sure, many will tell you that a certain show “makes science fun,” but none embody this mantra quite like Dr. Stone . Imagine if Bill Nye was a spiky-haired anime protagonist and you’ve got this wonderful anime series. That said, you may be approaching this new season as a total newcomer, in which case, welcome! The journey that Senku has taken is full of twists and turns and this article will help you get up to speed with the proper Dr. Stone watch order. Dr. Stone Watch Order Dr. Stone...

Ahead of an April 6, 2025 broadcast debut and subsequent simulcast on Crunchyroll , a brand-new trailer released today for Witch Watch previews the anime's opening song, "Watch me!" by Yoasobi ( Oshi no Ko Op), and sets off an abundance of magical comedy hijinks. A new key visual was also unveiled. Witch Watch Trailer Witch Watch Key Visual The Witch Watch anime's confirmed cast list includes: Nico Wakatsuki voiced by Rina Kawaguchi (Quan in Kizuna no Allele ) Morihito Otogi voiced by Ryota Suzuki (Ryusei in Dr. Stone ) Kanshi Kazamatsuri voiced by Kohei Amasaki (Will in Wistoria: Wand and Sword ) Keigo Magami voiced by Kaito Ishikawa (Naofumi in The Rising of the Shield Hero ) Nemu Miyao voiced by Tomori Kusunoki (Shizuka in Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead ) Yuri Makuwa voiced by Mikako Komatsu (Maki in Jujutsu Kaisen ) Kara Minami voiced by Rie Takahashi (Yuzuriha in Hell's Paradise ) Kukumi Ureshino voiced by Konomi Kohara...

Dr. Stone has returned for another season of Stone Age science and fun in the Science Future story arc as the crew of the Perseus sail across the Pacific Ocean to reach California's shores. This is the fourth season of Dr. Stone, with all the major characters being smarter, savvier, and braver than ever as Senku gets to work building his Corn City colony, but powerful enemies loom on the horizon.

That leaves the topic of who the strongest Dr. Stone characters are as of Season 4, which also begs the question of what "strong" even means in an anime like this. When the action is based on hard science, inventions, the body's senses, and Stone Age tech, strength comes in a variety of forms, and some characters excel in one or more of those areas to be effective in battle. With all that in mind, Dr. Stone fans can determine who the strongest characters are,...

The following contains spoilers for Dr. Stone Season 4, Episode 6, "Science is Elegant," now streaming on Crunchyroll.

Season 4, Episode 6 of the new Dr. Stone anime season, builds on the tension and suspense of Episode 5 in fun, creative ways, all while leaving something on the table for Episode 7 and beyond. By now, the war with Dr. Xeno's North American colony is in full swing, and like the episode before, "Science is Elegant" does a fine job setting up the climax, though the setup shouldn't last too much longer, ideally.

Episode 6 is a direct continuation of what Episode 5 did as Senku Ishigami and Dr. Xeno move their pieces around the board before any blood can be drawn, and it does more right than wrong, though it's also not peak entertainment in the Dr. Stone anime. Episode 5 does a good enough job adding a few new pieces and ideas to the board to make it worthwhile,...

On February 12, the CD release day of their latest song, "Rolling Stone," the five-member Japanese mixture funk band Breimen also posted a one-take performance video of the song on their official YouTube channel . The rock tune is now featured as the ending theme for the Dr. Stone Science Future TV anime. "Rolling Stone," the band's first anime theme song work, is a new song written by the band's vocalist and bassist, Shota Takagi, who overlaps the main characters in the anime with Breimen. Breimen "Rolling Stone" Rolling SESSIOONe (Live Session Video) Breimen "Rolling Stone" Music Video Dr. Stone Science Future Creditless Ending Video Breimen has gained a devoted fan base with their solid performance skills and unconventional sound sense that defies genre. After releasing three albums from an indie label, they released their major debut album "Aveantin" from Sony Music Labels' Ariola Japan label in April 2024. Breimen artist photo Related: Ali Streams Dr.

Netflix unveiled a mid-season preview video for Sakamoto Days anime on Feb 12, 2025.

Sakamoto Days follows the story of Taro Sakamoto, a legendary hitman who retires to live a quiet life as a convenience store owner.

However, his past refuses to let him go, pulling him back into action-packed adventures filled with humor and intense battles.

The anime premiered on Netflix on Jan 11, 2025. It is scheduled to release in two parts on the platform, with the first part, consisting of 11 episodes. The second part will start airing in July 2025.

The anime has shattered records, becoming Netflix’s most-watched anime premiere since it began reporting weekly viewing numbers. More details about this can be read below:

Sakamoto Days Overtakes Baki & Dandadan To Become Netflix’s Biggest Anime Premiere Till Date

Tomokazu Sugita, who is known for portraying Gintoki Sakata, is voicing the titular character Taro Sakamoto.

Other cast members include:

Nobunaga Shimazaki...

The Crunchyroll Store is opening up one of its biggest sales of the year with select anime merch available for up to 70% off! Stay tuned from February 12 to March 4, as new items will be discounted each week. All items on sale can be found here at the Crunchyroll Store . Select merch on sale now includes: Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba - Kanao Tsuyuri Figure (Nichirin Sword Ver.) Add one of the masters of the Flower Breathing Style from the Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba series to your collections with this Kanao Tsuyuri figure! Dr. Stone Season 1 Vinyl Soundtrack Get ready to rock with the sounds of Hiroaki Tsutsumi, Tatsuya Kato and Yuki Kanesaka from the first Dr. Stone anime season on vinyl! The Art of Octopath Traveler: 2016-2020 Art Book (Hardcover) Delve into the intricate world of Octopath Traveler with this specialized art book featuring concepts by Square Enix...

Riichiro Inagaki’s Dr. Stone manga began its run in 2017 and has garnered massive popularity among fans. While magic, swords, and supernatural powers are some popular elements commonly seen in shonen anime, the story of Dr. Stone is rooted in science. The plot incorporates real scientific concepts in a brilliant way without making it seem boring.

A panel of Senku in Dr. Stone manga | Credits: Viz Media

The reason that makes this possible lies in the mangaka’s priorities, as he shared during an interview. Riichiro Inagaki and Boichi, the writer and illustrator of the manga, spoke at length about their respective experiences. Inagaki believed that his approach towards the manga would make his contemporaries angry. However, it’s probably the core aspect that makes the manga so enjoyable for fans.

Riichiro Inagaki shared his main priority with Dr. Stone

Science is an integral part of Dr. Stone and something indispensable for many fans.

In the modern Shonen scene, there are a ton of series that tend to follow a repetitive idea of featuring a main character who wants to become stronger and achieve their dreams. All the greats, like One Piece, Dragon Ball, Naruto, Bleach, and so many more, feature the typical Shonen trait in their own unique way.

Dr. Stone Season 4 poster. Credits: Studio Tms Entertainment

However, the major flaw following all these stories is how after one point of time the protagonist is overpowered, and fans know that they will eventually save the day. Dr. Stone’s creators, writer Riichiro Inagaki and artist Boichi, saw this rising trend and decided to come up with a fresh concept that would mark a change in the genre.

Dr. Stone’s creator explains why they wanted to change the modern Shonen scene

Believe it or not, the modern Shonen scene is plagued with the...

Ahead of Dr. Stone Science Future 's sixth episode broadcast this Thursday, the sci-fi adventure anime's official website today revealed the upcoming debuts of three new cast members, as follows: Luna Wright voiced by Akira Sekine (Elfaria in Wistoria: Wand and Sword ) Carlos Barrios voiced by Chiharu Sawashiro (Taiga in Tribe Nine ) Max Adams voiced by Taishi Murata (Tatsu in Sakamoto Days ) Luna Wright Carlos Barrios Max Adams Related: Dr. Stone Science Future Anime Shares Creditless Opening and Ending Based on the manga by Riichiro Inagaki and Boichi, Shuhei Matsushita directs Dr. Stone Science Future at studio Tms Entertainment, with series composition by Kurasumi Sunayama, character designs by Yuko Iwasa and music by Tatsuya Kato, hiroaki Tsutusmi and Yukihiro Kanesaka. Crunchyroll streams the full series and describes the story: Several thousand years after a mysterious phenomenon that turns all of humanity to stone, the extraordinarily intelligent, science-driven boy, Senku Ishigami,...

The following contains spoilers for Dr. Stone Season 4, Episode 5, "Doctor vs. Doctor," now streaming on Crunchyroll.

Dr. Stone Season 4 is now firing on all cylinders. Season 4, Episode 4, "Dr. X" delivered cool action, new possibilities for the hard sciences, and higher stakes as Senku Ishigami battles new villains. Episode 5, "Doctor vs. Doctor," continues that trend. Even if it is mostly talk and setup, the anime is going in promising directions based on what viewers learn.

Episode 5 is only slightly held back by the fact the main characters don't tinker with much science, nor is there any action to speak of. But even if the events that happen aren't classic moments for Dr. Stone, they still do their humble and important role of nudging the plot forward -- and laying the foundation for what may become the anime's best battle yet. There are not only new stakes and new characters involved, but...

As Senku and the Science Kingdom rediscover the new world, the Dr. Stone  anime's official website revealed today that Mariko Higashiuchi (Annabel in  Drug Store in Another World - The Slow Life of a Cheat Pharmacist ) will join the cast as Maya, a former US Army soldier skilled at martial arts and gun handling. Related: Dr. Stone Science Future English Dub Reveals Same-Day Release, Cast & Crew Following the first season in 2019, the second season in 2021 , and the third season in 2023, the TV anime's fourth season, titled  Dr. Stone Science Future , was officially announced in December 2023 . The series announced in August 2024 that Dr. Stone Science Future would be split into three cours. Shinya Iino directed the first two seasons of the TV anime series, with Shuhei Matsushita directing the third and currently airing the fourth season, all at Tms Entertainment.  All of the  Dr. Stone   TV anime seasons, including Science Future and the  Ryusui  special episode,...

Every year, the sheer number of anime shows released fluctuates, with some months seeing a large number and others seeing nearly none. Fortunately, we have weekly anime series to keep us entertained, and they do the job splendidly. For instance, anime shows released in December 2024 and January 2025 are still being discussed in numerous fan communities as they bring something new to the audience every episode. Some examples include Solo Leveling, Dr. Stone, and The Apothecary Diaries.

However, fans expect more new additions to the roster, and while February isn't the best month for anime releases, it is poised to draw viewers into the fantastical world of Chinese animation. It's a well-known fact that only a small percentage of the Otaku community actively consumes Chinese anime, but those who do are aware of the incredible quality and exquisite animation seen throughout the episodes. So, if you're looking for some amazing anime shows to watch in February,...

This February, love is in the air, but there are also magical portals, the epic conclusion of a sci-fi adventure, and a retired hitman trying to keep a low-key life. For those in the mood for chocolate exchanging and secret love letters, there's the continuation of My Happy Marriage Season 2 and Blue Box. But we also have new, highly anticipated episodes of Solo Leveling, Dr. Stone, and much more. Grab your badminton racket and get ready to fight some magic beasts. We're diving into the best anime series coming to streaming this month.

The following contains spoilers from Dr. Stone Season 4, Episode 4, "Dr. X," now streaming on Crunchyroll.

In its first three seasons, the Dr. Stone anime thrived on the contrast between the scientist hero Senku Ishigami and his opponents. Senku favored the hard sciences and clever thinking while his enemies relied on primitive brute strength. That long-running trend is over in Season 4, Episode 4, "Dr. X." This is the best episode so far in the Science Future arc, and one of the best episodes in Dr. Stone as a whole.

Episode 4's success is primarily character-driven. Most of the returning players have something to contribute, right before the plot takes a big step forward to give the Science Future arc its shape. It also marks the introduction of Dr. Xeno, Senku's true equal in the Stone Age. Dr. Xeno promises to be more dangerous than Senku's previous enemies, and far more resourceful and unpredictable,...

For the most part, the hit shonen anime Dr. Stone is all about the power of science thanks to its scientist hero Senku Ishigami, but there is more to the story than that. While Senku focuses on inventions and planning, he relies on capable warriors to keep him safe and make sure the Kingdom of Science can survive in a brutal and unforgiving Stone Age future.

On both sides of each conflict so far in Dr. Stone, there have been musclebound, weapon-toting warriors to fight over territory, resources, and even ideologies, some of whom have gone from Senku's worst enemies to his most valued allies. As of the start of Dr. Stone's fourth season, Science Future, ten warriors stand above the rest as the anime's strongest, and fortunately, nearly all of them are Senku's allies, wielding various weapons. Senku will need all of that firepower to survive this new battle...

The following contains spoilers for Dr. Stone Season 4, Episode 3, "Light Trap in the Darkness," now streaming on Crunchyroll.

The beginning of Dr. Stone's Science Future story arc were merely serviceable and felt like padding as the best returning characters sailed to the California coast aboard the Perseus. Mercifully, Season 4, Episode 3, "Light Trap in the Darkness," is the overdue payoff after two episodes of hijinks on the high seas. This is the episode that begins the actual story that viewers have come to see.

While Episode 3 still leaves a lot on the table, the mere fact that Senku Ishigami is directly battling a new foe is enough to make "Light Trap in the Darkness" an exciting ride for Dr. Stone fans. It does just enough to get them truly interested in thie plot and provides serious, tangible stakes to shake Senku out of his cozy complacency. Most importantly, it leaves plenty...

Crunchyroll is officially announcing today that the upcoming anime adaptation of Kenta Shinohara’s manga Witch Watch will stream on the platform when it premieres in April 2025! The anime series previously announced in December 2024 that it will run for two continuous cours. Witch Watch Release Date: April 2025 Territories: North America, Central America, South America, Europe, Africa, Oceania, the Middle East and Cis Synopsis: Morihito Otogi, a high school student who comes from a lineage of ogres, enjoys a peaceful, ordinary life until his childhood friend, Nico, moves in with him. Nico is a witch-in-training, and chooses Morihito to be her familiar. While Nico is thrilled to reunite with her old friend and crush, Morihito is tasked with the perilous duty to protect her from a foretold calamity. Between the unpredictable chaos caused by Nico’s magic, and the awkwardness of sharing a home, their lives become a whirlwind of supernatural hijinks and threats.

Anime fans can now access Dragon Ball Daima and Solo Leveling Season 2 via a new streaming destination. Crunchyroll has partnered with YouTube to bring a large selection of its hottest titles to users of YouTube's Premium TV and PrimeTime Channels in the U.S., France, the UK, Germany and Australia.

As detailed in a press release, Crunchyroll's official YouTube partnership will make over 40+ new anime titles available to fans for a subscription fee of US$7.99 per month. The service's Winter 2025 slate has opened with Daima and Solo Leveling in addition to One Piece, Dr. Stone, Shangri-La Frontier, The Apothecary Diaries and several other iconic hits. Crunchyroll is currently available through 45 of YouTube's PrimeTime channels, with additional anime content slated to premiere throughout 2025.

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Hulu removes its Dragon Ball Daima finale information from its February release list in the wake of a likely accidental leak.

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...

Ahead of an April 7, 2025 at 23:00 Jst debut on Japanese television, the official website and accounts for spin-off anime My Hero Academia: Vigilantes today unveiled a brand-new teaser trailer and visual, along with initial cast details and character visuals. Here's who's been unmasked in the trailer below: Koichi Haimawairi/The Crawler voiced by Shuichiro Umeda (Kazuhiko in Makeine: Too Many Losing Heroines! ) Kazuho Haneyama/Pop☆Step voiced by Ikumi Hasegawa (Ikuyo in Bocchi The Rock! ) Oguro Iwao / Knuckleduster voiced by Yasuhiro Mamiya (Magma in Dr. Stone ) My Hero Academia: Vigilantes Teaser Trailer My Hero Academia: Vigilantes Teaser Visual My Hero Academia: Vigilantes Character Visuals The Crawler Pop☆Step Knuckleduster Related: My Hero Academia: Vigilantes Anime Announced for April 2025 Release Written by Hideyuki Furuhashi and illustrated by Betten Court, the My Hero Academia: Vigilantes manga was first published in Jump Giga in August 2016 before transferring to online imprint Shonen Jump+ later that year.

Netflix’s anime adaptation Sakamoto Days has shattered records, becoming the platform’s most-watched anime premiere since it began reporting weekly viewing numbers.

The adaptation of the Yuto Suzuki’s action manga brought in 8.6 million views in its debut week, ranking as the #2 non-English TV show, just behind Squid Game Season 2, and #4 overall across all categories.

Image via Tudum

Sakamoto Days‘ premiere outperforms the previous record-holder, Baki Hanma Season 2, which peaked at 6.0 million views during its release.

The series also outperformed recent non-exclusive anime titles on Netflix, such as Dandadan (4.3M views) and Dragon Ball Daima (3.2M views). However, these titles gained the majority of their viewership on Crunchyroll, the preferred platform for anime streaming in most regions.

Here’s a list of the top anime premieres on Netflix:

Baki Hanma Season 2: 6.M views Dandadan: 4.3M views (non-exclusive) Record of Ragnarok Season 2: 3.M views Demon Slayer:...

One of the longest-running debates within the anime fan community asks a simple question: which anime is the most iconic? Which show is so well-known and beloved that it could be the mascot for the entire anime medium? While many contenders for the title have risen over the years, in the eyes of many anime fans, Dragon Ball is the most deserving of this title, as Goku and his adventures have delighted several generations of anime fans. And, while it may seem strange on the surface, nothing proves Dragon Ball's iconic status more than Goku's brief cameo in Dr. Stone.

Written by Riichiro Inagaki and illustrated by Boichi, Dr. Stone started life as a manga, making its debut in the pages of Weekly Shōnen Jump in March 2017. In 2019, a mysterious flash suddenly turns every human to stone. Without humanity around, the Earth is quickly reclaimed by nature. However, after 3,700 years,...

The hit shonen anime Dr. Stone is a memorable blend of genres and storytelling styles, including the spirit of adventure, meticulous science, wacky comedy, and hard-hitting action. As for this anime's overall genre, Dr. Stone is more edutainment than isekai, but that being said, Dr. Stone has more than a few isekai-style elements to it. Senku Ishigami didn't get killed by Truck-kun or teleported into a video game world, but he does have a few things in common with most isekai leads.

The basic premise of Dr. Stone has enough isekai vibes to appeal to isekai lovers and provide the same sense of escapism, while having enough differences to distance itself from the saturated isekai market. Above all, Dr. Stone is about the use of hard science for humanitarian needs, but it doesn't hurt to dabble in isekai's territory along the way to keep fans engaged.

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The official website of AnimeJapan 2025 revealed the line-ups for its main stages on Jan 17, 2025.

This year’s event will feature four main stages—Red, Green, Blue, and the newly introduced White stage, hosting a total of 52 programs over two days.

An overview of the stages can be viewed below:

Red Stage & Green Stage: These are closed stages with designated seating. Attendees will need both an admission ticket and a stage viewing ticket to watch programs on these stages. Blue Stage & White Stage: These are open stages. The front-row seats for viewing will be designated seating, requiring both an admission ticket and a stage viewing ticket. However, free viewing areas are available at the back, though space is limited.

It was also revealed that some stage programs will be streamed online. Further details about the streaming schedule and availability will be revealed in the coming weeks.

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Dr. Stone features a lovable cast of characters, and many of the best characters will be back for more action and adventures in Dr. Stone's fourth anime season. In Winter 2025, anime fans are now reuniting with plenty of familiar faces in Dr. Stone's story, and the heroes will need all these friends and more as they face their greatest challenges yet in North America.

After three seasons, the Dr. Stone anime built up a colorful team of heroes and antiheroes, ranging from skilled scientists and crafters to ship captains, spear-wielding warriors, and even experts in mind games. Ten of the very best Dr. Stone characters will help define the new Science Future story arc with their wits, their prowess in battle, or even just their charming personalities and great humor.

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The official YouTube channel for the five-member Japanese mixture funk band Breimen has started streaming a music video for their latest song, "Rolling Stone," which is now featured as the ending theme for the Dr. Stone Science Future TV anime. "Rolling Stone" was written by vocalist and bassist Shota Takagi, by overlapping the main characters of Dr.Stone with Breimen, and the music video, directed by Groupn (hamaiba), is linked to the world of the anime. Breimen "Rolling Stone" Music Video Dr. Stone Science Future Creditless Ending Video Breimen has gained a devoted fan base with their solid performance skills and unconventional sound sense that defies genre. After releasing three albums from an indie label, they released their major debut album "Aveantin" from Sony Music Labels' Ariola Japan label in April 2024. As their first anime theme song work, "Rolling Stone" released digitally on January 10, 2025. Breimen artist photo Related: Ali Streams...