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The influence of anime, especially in the last few years, has reached a point where it has become a part of the mainstream media. In fact, many popular celebrities and famous individuals have openly accepted their love for the Japanese art form, and among them, the one name that does not shock people is Elon Musk.

Billionaire Businessman, Meme Architect, and the former Senior Advisor to the President of the United States, Musk, has confessed to his love for anime multiple times. However, it has now reached a point where he has introduced a new feature for his AI chatbot Grok called AI companions, and the first character released as part of this feature is a goth anime girl named Ani.

What’s interesting about this new AI chatbot, goth anime girl, is that it looks quite similar to Mina Amane, one of the main characters from Death Note. The...

Yearning for some classic films on the big screen? Here’s a list of all the re-releases heading into UK cinemas in the near future.

Multiplexes are full of the latest superhero romps, Academy Award nominated dramas and action spectacles, which can get a bit tiring. Thankfully, there are distributors like Park Circus, putting out some welcome blasts from the past – and we’ve just gone and made a list of them. It’s your opportunity to catch films you may have never seen on the big screen or that you simply would like to see in a cinema setting again.

Below you can find all the films heading back into UK cinemas in 2025. This list will be regularly updated, so check back to keep up to date. Note that these are all releases playing around the country, so any individual screenings organised by independent cinemas, like the Prince Charles Cinema or BFI,...

In 1997, Studio Ghibli dazzled Japanese audiences with Princess Mononoke -- a film that advocates for nature with a heartfelt, action-packed storyline. Next year, Viz Media will be honoring the work with a brand-new physical release for its popular comic adaptation.

Viz's official X (formerly Twitter) account recently unveiled an upcoming, all-in-one edition of Princess Mononoke: The Film Comic. Originally released in 2005 as a five-volume series, this 856-page graphic novel retells Princess Mononoke's epic narrative using full-color animation stills from the hit film. According to Viz Media's X page, the comic is scheduled to hit bookstores in "Spring 2026." However, as of writing, Amazon's official listing states that the work will be released on Jan. 27, 2026. Viz Media has made Princess Mononoke: The Film Comic available to pre-order for $35.

Studio Ghibli's Princess Mononoke Fans Have a New International Release Coming in January Announcement: Ashitaka, Lady Eboshi, and forest protector San rise to...

Spirited Away is an unabashed coming-of-age story of Chihiro. This ten-year-old protagonist moves away from her old house, her old school, friends, and everything she has always been familiar with. The frustration of the pre-teen is understandable and expected. One can only empathize with the helplessness she feels when her parents suddenly transform into pigs.

Without her parents, Chihiro curls in on herself out of fear. She does not have her parents to guide her next move and is suddenly feeling the weight of saving them at such a young age. As the movie progresses, Chihiro’s character also evolves. She is led to a busy bathhouse where most of the story takes place. It is also the place that symbolizes her growth into adolescence.

Spirited Away’s Bathhouse: The Perfect Stage for a Coming-Of-Age Movie

Pre-teen and teenage years are probably one of the most important phases in anyone’s life.

Oscar-winning director Hayao Miyazaki’s epic fantasy masterpiece will be shown in a brand new 4K restoration across the biggest cinemas screens. The special programming will be another way for audiences to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Studio Ghibli.

The hand-drawn, animated feature is an original story written and directed by Studio Ghibli co-founder Hayao Miyazaki, produced by co-founder Toshio Suzuki, and features a musical score from Miyazaki’s long-time collaborator, the renowned composer Joe Hisaishi. The IMAX version of the film was created from a new 4K restoration directly overseen by Studio Ghibli’s own Atsushi Okui, who has been involved in nearly every major Studio Ghibli project since he first started at the studio in 1993.

From the legendary Studio Ghibli, creators of Spirited Away, and Academy Award®-winning director Hayao Miyazaki, comes an epic masterpiece that has dazzled audiences worldwide with its breathtaking imagination, exhilarating battles, and deep humanity.

When we compiled our list of the 25 best anime movies ever made last year, no fewer than five Studio Ghibli films made the cut. And of those five, one managed to see off the likes of Akira and Ghibli's own Spirited Away to come out on top: Hayao Miyazaki's 1997 fantasy epic Princess Mononoke. Now, following the successful theatrical re-releases of My Neighbour Totoro and Spirited Away in 2024, Elysian Film Group are preparing to bring a brand new 4K restoration of Miyazaki's masterpiece to over 50 IMAX cinemas across the UK and Ireland this summer. And you can check out the sumptuous 4K trailer for the re-release below;

Did someone just open a window because there's a serious case of chills coming on over here. But seriously, as if you needed any reminding, how staggeringly beautiful — and, of course, epic — does this new restoration look? Even on a laptop screen the...

Summer is here, and that means 2025 is at its halfway point. The year has already seen some big anime news, and the Bam Smack Pow team is here to recap the key stories that you may have missed.

To help simplify things, we've broken it down into sections dealing with some of the major anime trends of the year so far, including the major announcements of what's in store for the rest of 2025 and beyond.

Debuts & returns (and where to watch them)

We've wrapped up the year's Winter and Spring anime seasons, which means some of the year's anime series have wrapped up their run. On the other hand, other series are continuing, returning, or have been confirmed to return in the back half of the year.

Here's a quick summary of some of the can't anime series of 2025 to either catch up on or look forward to.

• Ameku M.

Hayao Miyazaki Nearly Made an R-Rated Horror Film That Could’ve Redefined Studio Ghibli (Photo Credit – Netflix)

Studio Ghibli has built its reputation on thoughtful narratives involving wonder, nature, and quiet reflection. Films including Spirited Away, Totoro, and Princess Mononoke beautifully combine fantasy aspects with real emotion to capture the curiosity of audiences from children to adults. Yet at one point, the studio almost took a far more darker approach.

Apparently hidden behind Ghibli’s gentle image was a surprising idea and that was an adaptation of Parasyte, the horror manga by Hitoshi Iwaaki. Although it sounds far removed from Ghibli’s world, the project was seriously discussed and Hayao Miyazaki himself was interested. However, the idea faded before it began, not because it didn’t fit, but because someone else already owned the rights.

Parasyte (2014) pic.twitter.com/xRWhqTynMS

— Anime Vibes (@finalformlab) May 16, 2025

Hayao Miyazaki and Toshio Suzuki Considered...

Some cliche somewhere said that ‘a picture is worth a thousand words.’ This has proven to be the case for me and especially when it comes to fan art. I have always sought out great fan art and have wanted to share it with as many people as possible. “Awesome Art” is the outlet for that passion. In this column, I will showcase the kick-ass artwork of some great artists, with the hopes that these artists get the attention they deserve. That’s the aim. If you have any questions or comments, or even suggestions of art or other great artists, feel free to contact me at any time at theodorebond@joblo.com.

The Boy and the Heron by Conor Fenner-Torra

Castle in the Sky by John Dunn

Howl’s Moving Castle by Raf Banzuela

Kiki’s Delivery Service by Conor Smyth

My Neighbour Totoro by George Townley

Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind...

Last week, the box office numbers indicated that DanDaDan was close to a threshold. Now, with the compilation movie DanDaDan: Evil Eye debuting in more countries, the franchise has broken new records and continues to make history in domestic earnings. The new movie wrapped up the weekend with $5.5 million earned in the U.S., making it officially five times more profitable than the franchise's previous movie, DanDaDan: First Encounter.

With the new number, DanDaDan: Evil Eye also managed to fly past one of the highest-ratedMy Hero Academia movies. Last year, My Hero Academia: You're Next was able to make $5 million domestically, and now that DanDaDan: Evil Eye surpassed it, the franchise already ranks among the 25 highest-earning Japanese anime movies ever in the U.S. If it manages to bring in more than 6.8 million, DanDaDan will eliminate legendary titles like Studio Ghibli's Princess Mononoke from the list.

The number is...

While most people dipped their toes into Studio Ghibli through Totoro or Kiki, I got body-slammed straight into Princess Mononoke. Curses. Gods. Decapitations. Wolves with mommy-complex. It was too much. But the one person who actually reached my heart, in a good way, was Lady Eboshi.

She wasn’t the soft-spoken, magical Ghibli girl I was expecting. No, she was tough, calculating, and armed. She fought gods, burned down forests, and also saved lepers, rescued women from sexual slavery, and built a community from the ground up. Who is this woman? Short answer: the most complicated, morally grey, oddly lovable leader Ghibli has ever created.

In Princess Mononoke, Lady Eboshi isn’t a villain; she’s just trying to save her people (aggressively)

In Princess Mononoke, Lady Eboshi rules Iron Town like a true queen. She doesn’t rule with fear; she empowers people. Sex workers become blacksmiths. Lepers are turned into engineers.

Animated movies are steadily rising in popularity, but Studio Ghibli movies were always the standard, even in recent years. We’re always excited for a new Hayao Miyazaki project, and there’s not a single movie of his that we dislike.

Miyazaki’s movies are often a criticism of the world we live in, how human beings are treating the Earth, and how we can be better. It’s a debate about which project of his does it the best. While Spirited Away is arguably his most famous movie, Princess Mononoke is the one that drives his point home.

Princess Mononoke might be the most intense one Miyazaki has ever made, especially with the complex characters and nuanced storyline. However, it’s also the most mature and thought-provoking movie.

Hayao Miyazaki makes us realize life is tough, but worth fighting for

Studio Ghibli movies are deceivingly vibrant and comforting. The...

Solo Leveling Dethrones One Piece & Demon Slayer (Photo Credit – Instagram)

Crunchyroll has a new king at the top. Only a few months after Season 2 wrapped up, Solo Leveling has now become the most-watched anime TV series on the platform as of March 2025.

Sony shared this milestone in its Business Segment Presentation & Fireside Chat 2025 report, which covers its Japanese music division. The update, published on June 13, confirmed that Solo Leveling climbed to the number one spot in Crunchyroll’s viewership history by the end of March. The second season finale had aired on March 30.

Solo Leveling Is Most-Rated Title on Crunchyroll with Record Fan Scores

This latest achievement follows earlier announcements about Solo Leveling’s growing popularity. In late March, the series became Crunchyroll’s most-rated title, pulling an average 4.9-star score from more than 610,000 fans. Considering that it goes up against long-running titles like Demon Slayer and One Piece, which...

So, when Hayao Miyazaki walked on stage at the Toronto International Film Festival to introduce the English dub of Princess Mononoke, he completely bypassed the typical nice guy Oscar speech. Instead, he was all like, “Hey, I threw out all the rules of entertainment movie-making for this one. It’s also super long. Good luck.”

And that wasn’t just some humble-brag. He meant it. He took the classic movie-making rulebook, y’know, the one with tidy three-act structures, happy endings, and comic relief, and set it on fire. Princess Mononoke is 2 hours and 13 minutes of gorgeous chaos, and every second of it is Miyazaki flipping the bird at anyone who ever said animated films need to ‘follow a formula.’ Honestly? I’ve never loved him more for it.

Princess Mononoke: Not your typical Studio Ghibli comfort watch

Let’s be real: What comes to mind when you hear Studio Ghibli?...

Princess Mononoke is considered to be a landmark film in Hayao Miyazaki’s filmography. It was the most expensive animated film at the time, using CGI and other digital techniques alongside hand-drawn animation. It also had one of the biggest marketing campaigns in Japan at the time. At the box office, the film broke several records to become the highest-grossing Japanese film.

Miyazaki’s themes explored in the film were also revolutionary, as it presented a feminist portrayal of characters. American studios were impressed with the performance of this Studio Ghibli film, and Disney secured the rights to distribute it.

Disney’s Miramax label was tasked with dubbing it into English and releasing it. Harvey Weinstein initially approached Quentin Tarantino to write the English screenplay, but he turned down the offer.

Quentin Tarantino turned down writing Miramax’s version of Princess Mononoke Prince Ashitaka in a still from Princess Mononoke...

I grew up with Disney. You probably did too. And if you did, then you’re familiar with the drill: be cute, sing about your dreams, suffer a bit, then Bam, true love’s kiss and happily ever after. I mean, Ariel basically sacrificed her voice for a guy she saw once. Just once! Cinderella? She got a makeover, danced for three hours, and now she’s a queen. Belle fell in love with a furry guy with anger issues.

Look, I’m not saying Disney didn’t give us bangers (I still cry at Reflection), but let’s get real, those fairy tales pretty much taught us that life begins when some guy says, “Hey, you’re really special.” Then I stumbled into the world of Studio Ghibli. And guess what? It was like someone turned the lights on in my brain.

In Studio Ghibli films, romance exists, but it’s never the focus,...

Let’s get one thing straight: if you’re looking for a clear-cut battle between good and evil in a Hayao Miyazaki film, you’re going to be disappointed. No chosen ones. No ultimate bad guy. No grand ‘final boss’ battle. What you get instead is something far more profound, and honestly, way more real.

Hayao Miyazaki’s films don’t hand you morality on a plate. They’re actually making you connect with the story. Everyone’s got a reason for what they do, even the ones causing destruction. Like, A forest god might lash out, not because it’s evil, but because it’s in pain. A witch might be grumpy or selfish, but also kind in her own way. Everything’s all layered, human, and kinda beautiful.

Studio Ghibli’s gray area is the whole point

In Hayao Miyazaki’s movies like Princess Mononoke and Spirited Away,...

Studio Ghibli, the beloved anime studio behind My Neighbor Totoro (1988) and Kiki's Delivery Service (1989), is helping fans gear up for the rainy season in style. Official Ghibli storefront Donguri Sora recently re-released a popular umbrella collection highlighting some of Ghibli's most iconic characters.

For summer 2025, Donguri Sora's "Rain Goods" catalog now features folding umbrellas with unique designs inspired by Howl's Moving Castle (2004), My Neighbor Totoro (1988) and Kiki's Delivery Service (1989) -- three iconic films directed by world-renowned Ghibli co-founder Hayao MIyazaki. Each umbrella is relatively large, with sizes ranging between 47-50 cm. Additionally, each one features a Uv protection rate of 99%, making them handy accessories for especially hot days as well. Official images can be viewed below.

Studio Ghibli Re-Releases 'Rain or Shine' Umbrellas for Howl, Totoro & Kiki Anime Fans

As with many Ghibli products, Donguri Sora's Totoro, Kiki and Howl-themed umbrellas feature many clever nods to their respective films. My...

Studio Ghibli’s prestigious reputation consists of truths and exaggerations. The company has spent 40 years as a world leader in quality animation while independently funding projects based on prior successes — until their sale to Nippon TV in 2023.

Behind every great library of art is a machine that needs to sell it, and Ghibli, which turns 40 this June, is no different. As much as we laud the altruistic, ethical enterprise established by Toshio Suzuki, Isao Takahata, and Hayao Miyazaki, Ghibli can be just as cynical as its Western counterparts.

Ghibli’s branding as an ethical animation studio isn’t unfounded. Rayna Denison, author of “Studio Ghibli: An Industrial History,” has admired the thoughtful way Suzuki, Takahata, and Miyazaki constructed the studio.

“They put deep thought into what they wanted to do with their studio before they founded it,” Denison told IndieWire. “You get early interviews with Miyazaki saying things like, ‘If...

Nearly forty years after the Nintendo game The Legend of Zelda first made its way out into the world, a live-action film adaptation is now in the works, with Maze Runner and Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes director Wes Ball at the helm. A couple of months ago, it was announced that The Legend of Zelda would be reaching theatres on March 26, 2027… but now, plans have changed. Shigeru Miyamoto, producer and game director at Nintendo (and co-creator of The Legend of Zelda) has taken to social media to announce that the film’s release has moved back to May 7, 2027.

That date had previously been reserved for Avengers: Secret Wars, but the Marvel project recently moved to December 17, 2027.

This is Miyamoto. For production reasons, we are changing the release date of the live-action film of The Legend of Zelda to May 7, 2027. It will be some weeks later than the release timing we originally announced,...

Another weekend is upon us, which means it's time once again to bring you all the most important anime news of the past week. With the Summer 2025 anime season rapidly approaching, there's more news coming about what to expect during the summer months in terms of anime, including a look at what's in store for July's 2025 iteration of Anime Expo.

In the aftermath of last weekend's Anime Awards, the Bam Smack Pow team has been taking a look at look at the night's big winners. So be sure to check out our articles taking a look at Solo Leveling, Dan Da Dan, Frieren and Attack on Titan.

Crunchyroll announces Anime Expo 2025 schedule In this photo illustration a Crunchyroll logo seen displayed... | Sopa Images/GettyImages

Crunchyroll has announced its slate of panels, premieres and other announcements for Anime Expo 2025, set to take place July 3-6 at the Los Angeles Convention Center.

Uniqlo is rapidly becoming the go-to apparel brand for anime lovers internationally in 2025. This summer, the company is teaming up with Studio Ghibli for a fresh new set of fits based on beloved icons from the latter's animation library.

Uniqlo's official U.S. site has revealed 20 stunning new additions to its popular "Ut Graphic" brand, both for adults as well as kids in the 4-13-year age range. As shown below, the collection includes T-shirts and sweatshirts featuring designs inspired by several Ghibli classics, including Princess Mononoke (1997), Kiki's Delivery Service (1989), My Neighbor Totoro (1988), Howl's Moving Castle (2004), Pom Poko (1994) and Spirited Away (2001), among others. The lineup features a variety of different styles, from colorful and cutesy to simplistically chic. Retail prices range from $14.90-$29.90 for kids' sizes and $24.90-$39.90 for adults. Official images can be viewed below.

Studio Ghibli's Spirited Away, My Neighbor Totoro & More Get International Uniqlo Release

Studio Ghibli...

Alright, let’s be clear about one thing: yes, Hayao Miyazaki’s art style is instantly recognizable. From those lovely skies to the warm food close-ups and fantastical creatures, Ghibli movies look stunning. But what really makes them stand out? It’s not just how they look. It’s the way they move. The beauty of Ghibli exists in its animation, not the static images, but the motion between them.

That’s what makes it timeless, while other movies age like a banana on a hot sidewalk. Pop in Kiki’s Delivery Service or Princess Mononoke, and they still hold up decades later. Meanwhile, early CGI? Yeah, Toy Story was groundbreaking, but today it kinda looks like a PlayStation 1 cutscene. Studio Ghibli films don’t just age well, they become absolutely timeless.

Exaggeration + detail = Hayao Miyazaki’s secret formula

2D animation has this strange power to remain contemporary, and Hayao...

Studio Ghibli fans are often spoiled for choice when it comes to merchandise, with the anime studio's official online store, Donguri Sora, routinely stocking up on everything from plushies to high-end jewelry. However, one of the other most popular forms of merchandise among fans is stationery, with the store now re-releasing a popular series of notebooks inspired by six different Ghibli films.

First seen on Donguri Sora in 2023, the graphic notebook collection is inspired by some of Studio Ghibli's best-known anime movies, both old and more modern. Laputa: Castle in the Sky (1986), My Neighbor Totoro (1988), Kiki's Delivery Service (1989), Princess Mononoke (1997), Spirited Away (2001) and Howl's Moving Castle (2004) are all represented in the line-up, with the notebook series starring their respective films' most famous 'mascot' characters, including the likes of Totoro, Jiji, No-Face and Calcifer. Official images can be seen below.

Studio Ghibli Appeals to Stationery Lovers With Merchandise Release for Totoro,...

Michael B. Jordan totally nailed it in blockbusters like Creed and Black Panther. Well, besides punching people on-screen, he’s a diehard anime fan and talks about his love for anime as much as he can.

In fact, he was pretty bummed after missing the limited IMAX screening of Hayao Miyazaki’s animated classic, Princess Mononoke. As his schedule was tight, Jordan just could not find time for this incredible anime moment that sent fans like us into orbit. But now guess what?

A super rare ‘Princess Mononoke‘ event was recently organised for the Hollywood star, who was previously gutted to miss it. And it’s all because of his anime obsession, which has now finally paid off in the coolest way.

Michael B. Jordan’s anime dream comes true

What was this event that Jordan missed? It was the first-ever IMAX re-release of Hayao Miyazaki’s Princess Mononoke, a classic Studio Ghibli film.

Cmc Pictures’ crowd-pleasing biopic “The Dumpling Queen” maintained its strong grip on the top spot at the China box office for the third consecutive weekend.

The film earned RMB32.1 million ($4.5 million) over the May 16–18 frame, pushing its cumulative gross to $46.9 million, according to Artisan Gateway. Starring Ma Li and directed by Andrew Lau, the film tells the real-life story of Zang Jianhe from Qingdao who builds a dumpling empire in Hong Kong after being stranded there in the late 1970s.

Financial drama “A Gilded Game” from Universe Entertainment held second place with $3.7 million, lifting its total to $32.6 million. Directed by Herman Yau, the Hong Kong-produced drama stars Andy Lau, Ni Ni, and Jasper Liu, and follows a principled finance intern in a global investment bank.

In third, Wanda Pictures’ comedy “The Open Door” added $1.7 million for a running total of $15.7 million.

Box office titan “Ne Zha 2” continued its marathon run,...

You can't talk about Studio Ghibli modern classics without mentioning Grave of the Fireflies. The 1988 anime movie might not be as popular as other titles like Spirited Away and Princess Mononoke, but it certainly ranks among the saddest and most brutal entries that the Japanese animation studio produced. Due to its importance, you'd think that Grave of the Fireflies would be available to stream everywhere — which makes it a surprise that the movie will arrive on Netflix for Japanese audiences for the first time ever on July 15.

In the rest of the world, Ghibli feature films are already taken for granted because you can pretty much press play on almost all of them. However, this was not the case in Japan. And there are still a lot more developments to come, since Grave of the Fireflies is so far the only Studio Ghibli movie that will become available to stream on Netflix.

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

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

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

Legendary Studio’s Saddest Tale Now Streaming (Photo Credit – Netflix)

Studio Ghibli’s Grave of the Fireflies has long carried a weight unlike anything else in the studio’s catalogue. The anime masterpiece, released in 1988 under the direction of Isao Takahata, offered a sobering lens on World War II through the quiet suffering of two siblings, drifting through a world shattered by conflict.

This film, which is far removed from the fantastical creatures or enchanted forests Ghibli is known for, built its legacy on raw, human truth and, for decades, remained the only major Ghibli work that couldn’t be streamed in its home country.

Grave of the Fireflies Finally Coming Home to Streaming

Grave of the Fireflies’ long absence ends on July 15, when Netflix Japan finally adds the movie to its library. This marks a significant first as no full-length Studio Ghibli film has ever been available for streaming in Japan before.

For decades, Grave of the Fireflies has stood as one of Studio Ghibli’s most haunting and revered works. Directed by the late Isao Takahata, the 1988 film is a poignant portrayal of wartime survival and the human cost of conflict, based on Akiyuki Nosaka’s semi-autobiographical novel. Despite its critical acclaim and influence, it has long remained the only Ghibli feature not available to stream in Japan, until now.

On July 15, Grave of the Fireflies will finally join Netflix Japan’s lineup, marking a significant moment in the film’s history, according to Anime News Network. This release makes it the first full-length Studio Ghibli feature to stream domestically in Japan, a surprising first considering the studio’s immense cultural footprint. While short projects and documentaries have streamed in Japan before, such as Zen – Grogu and Dust Bunnies on Disney+ and the Ghibli Park documentary on Amazon Prime Video, this...

For decades, Grave of the Fireflies has stood as one of Studio Ghibli’s most haunting and revered works. Directed by the late Isao Takahata, the 1988 film is a poignant portrayal of wartime survival and the human cost of conflict, based on Akiyuki Nosaka’s semi-autobiographical novel. Despite its critical acclaim and influence, it has long remained the only Ghibli feature not available to stream in Japan, until now.

On July 15, Grave of the Fireflies will finally join Netflix Japan’s lineup, marking a significant moment in the film’s history, according to Anime News Network. This release makes it the first full-length Studio Ghibli feature to stream domestically in Japan, a surprising first considering the studio’s immense cultural footprint. While short projects and documentaries have streamed in Japan before, such as Zen – Grogu and Dust Bunnies on Disney+ and the Ghibli Park documentary on Amazon Prime Video, this...

Demon Slayer Infinity Castle Coming To Crunchyroll (Photo Credit – YouTube)

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba is charging ahead with its next cinematic chapter, Infinity Castle, and its path is now crystal clear. The highly anticipated film is slated to hit theaters in Japan on July 18, 2025, followed by international releases beginning in August. Fans in the US and Canada can mark their calendars for a September 12 premiere.

And now, according to Comic Book Resources, Crunchyroll will take over as the film’s digital home once the big-screen run wraps.

Sony Tightens Its Hold on Anime Distribution

Sony, firmly gripping the anime wheel through its subsidiaries Aniplex and Crunchyroll, is steering the Infinity Castle release both in Japan and overseas. Their collaboration with Toho Animation underscores just how tightly they’re holding the reins on high-profile anime projects. The theatrical rollout is only part of a broader strategy, with Sony pushing...

Hayao Miyazaki. The man. The myth. The animation legend. If you’re even slightly into anime, chances are you’ve heard his name whispered like some ancient spell. The guy basically is Studio Ghibli, the visionary mind behind classics like My Neighbor Totoro, Kiki’s Delivery Service, Princess Mononoke, and most recently, The Boy and the Heron. He’s the one who made half of us believe that a talking cat bus is totally normal.

But here’s a little secret you may not know: before being the godfather of Ghibli, Miyazaki originally started life on this tough little TV series that he thinks is one of the best things he ever produced. Yeah, we’re talking about Future Boy Conan, that awesome post-apocalyptic masterpiece of 1978, which was Miyazaki’s debut as a solo director. Forget whatever’s trending right now, this show might just be the greatest anime you’ve never heard of.

Lu Shaotang Drops Into Chinatown Scene(Photo Credit –YouTube)

The countdown is almost done. Sakamoto Days is gearing up for a return, and it’s sooner than expected. According to Comic Book Resources, a fresh wave of episodes is hitting Netflix on July 14, 2025, as revealed through a new behind-the-scenes look shared across their socials.

Sakamoto Days...

Thunderbolts* China Box Office: 2nd Weekend Update ( Photo Credit – Instagram )

The New Avengers is struggling to impress the Chinese audience, as it grossed a lousy number on its second weekend. Thunderbolts* is maintaining a similar run as most of the MCU movies in the recent past. They have been failing to earn good money at the Chinese box office. The movie surpassed two of the biggest MCU bombs in its second weekend, which is good for the film. It is approaching its next big milestone at the worldwide box office. Keep scrolling for more.

The MCU movie has been performing moderately well at the box office, but its second weekend in the US has seen a modest decline. Since its release, the film has held its #1 spot in the domestic charts. However, it is getting pretty good competition from the original horror movie by Ryan Coogler, Sinners. This MCU movie...

Makoto Shinkai’s most notable movies are probably Your Name, Weathering With You, and Suzume. You might notice that all of them have a similar theme of romantic separation, longing, a disastrous event, and the power of love. As a long-time fan of Shinkai, I have loved his tried and tested formula.

These films have taken me through a rollercoaster ride of emotions, and with an ending that sparked hope in me for a better tomorrow. And who doesn’t love that? In this world full of terrible mishaps and daily injustices, Shinkai’s movies deliver a dose of resilience of humankind with a sprinkling of stunning visuals. But it’s high time that the director breaks out of his repetitive tropes.

Makoto Shinkai has a hard lesson to learn from Hayao Miyazaki

Hayao Miyazaki has experimented with a variety of genres. While movies like Spirited Away, Kiki’s Delivery Service...

Cmc Pictures’ biographical drama “The Dumpling Queen” maintained its lead at the China box office for a second consecutive weekend, earning RMB46.9 million ($6.5 million) from May 9–11.

The film has now grossed $39.7 million since its release on April 30, according to Artisan Gateway. The film, which stars Ma Li and is directed by Andrew Lau, tells the real-life story of Zang Jianhe from Qingdao who builds a dumpling empire in Hong Kong after being stranded there in the late 1970s. It resonated with audiences during the extended May Day holiday period.

In second place, Universe Entertainment’s financial thriller “A Gilded Game” collected $4.8 million. Directed by Herman Yau, the Hong Kong-produced drama stars Andy Lau, Ni Ni, and Jasper Liu, and follows a principled finance intern in a global investment bank, has reached a cumulative total of $26.4 million.

“The Open Door,” a comedy distributed by Wanda Pictures, held third position with $2.1 million.

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

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

My Dress-Up Darling season 2 debuts opening

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

Let’s be real, Studio Ghibli is basically a legend factory. They’ve produced some of the most iconic animated movies of all time, from Totoro to Spirited Away. But when their latest movie, The Boy and the Heron, dropped in 2023, it wasn’t just the movie getting attention. Fans were excited because the one and only, the retired legend Hayao Miyazaki, was back behind the wheel. Again.

But guess who wasn’t super thrilled about that? Hayao Miyazaki himself. In fact, the guy called his own comeback ‘pathetic.’ No kidding. He actually wrote it down in a memo. Let’s dive into this bizarre, heartfelt, and ultimately inspiring journey of a guy who just can’t stop making movies, even when he says he’s done for good.

“It’s pathetic, but I kinda want to make another movie”: Hayao Miyazaki on his comeback

Miyazaki has been at...

Sinners Worldwide Box Office: Earns 163% More Than The Production Budget(Photo Credit – Instagram)

Ryan Coogler directed Sinners had to give up its #1 position in the domestic box office chart due to Thunderbolts*, which was released this weekend. But otherwise, the horror movie’s dominating presence is felt by the other releases quite significantly, including the PG game adaptation, A Minecraft Movie. Michael B Jordan’s film has crossed its breakeven point worldwide and is raking in solid profits. Keep scrolling for the deets.

The movie’s 98% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes has left everyone stunned by its original horror concept. The critics’ consensus stated that it is a thrilling blend of stunning visual storytelling and infectious music. Writer-director Ryan Coogler’s debut original blockbuster showcases the full range of his unique creative vision. The audience is also in awe of the movie, as they gave it 97% on the aggregate site.

A Minecraft Movie Worldwide Box Office: Jason Momoa’s Film Is Trailing Behind The Super Mario Bros Movie( Photo Credit – YouTube )

A Minecraft Movie starring Jason Momoa and Jack Black is starting to feel the impact of other releases and has slowed down a bit. It failed to cross the $400 million milestone at the domestic box office this weekend, which eventually delayed its reach to another huge milestone worldwide. However, it is still trailing behind The Super Mario Bros Movie’s $1 billion+ global haul. Keep scrolling for the deets.

The videogame adaptation has been one of the most anticipated movies of this year. People were excited about it since it was announced owing to the popularity of the videogame on which it is based upon. The cast made the movie more entertaining, especially Jack Black and Jason Momoa’s unhinged chemistry. Black is a pro at this genre, but Momoa,...

Let’s get real for a moment: most animated movies love a good villain. You know the kind: evil laugh, over-the-top costume, no redeeming qualities whatsoever. They want power, revenge, or just to watch the world burn. And the hero? Always pure-hearted and brave, just waiting to save the day. Very straightforward. But Studio Ghibli, led by the legendary Hayao Miyazaki, said, “Nah, we’re not doing that.”

Instead of resorting to that old good vs. evil formula, Ghibli films give us something way more interesting: they’re imperfect, nuanced, and relatable. From Princess Mononoke to Spirited Away to Howl’s Moving Castle, the ‘bad guys’ aren’t really just bad guys? They totally have depth. And in the end? You will even find yourself liking them!

What if ‘bad guys’ aren’t bad? Hayao Miyazaki flipping the script with perspective

Let’s take a quick look at how most villains work in classic anime stories.

The King Of Kings Worldwide Box Office: Enters 2025’s Top 15 Highest-Grossers List(Photo Credit – Instagram)

Angel Studios’ The King of Kings enters the top 15 highest-grossers list worldwide this year. It is behind The Accountant 2 on the list and has raked in an impressive percentage of revenue against its modest budget of less than $25 million. The biblical animation experienced a significant boost during the Easter weekend and has slowed down in front of the big-budget multi-starrer releases. Keep scrolling for more.

It has beaten Den of Thieves: Panterra and Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith 20th Anniversary re-release to achieve this notable at this year’s highest-grosser list. Compared to its budget, the film is a huge commercial success, and it even broke the opening weekend record set by the faith-based movie The Prince of Egypt after over two and a half decades.

According to Box Office Mojo, The King of Kings...

The Accountant 2 Worldwide Box Office: Recovers Almost 83% Of Its Less Than $100M Production Cost(Photo Credit – Instagram)

Ben Affleck’s movie The Accountant 2 feels competition at the cinemas in its second weekend only with Sinners’ dominating presence and the arrival of Thunderbolts*. A Minecraft Movie has also picked up pace and entered the top 3 of the domestic box office chart. However, the movie will hit the Amazon Prime Video platform soon and will recover the budget soon. Keep scrolling for more.

The movie is the sequel to The Accountant, which was a critical and commercial success. This sequel has earned a better rating than the Og film from the critics. It opened in the theatres last weekend but has dipped a lot in its second weekend only, and it is not at fault. The others have received better reception, and the target audience for those films are larger,...

Best Geogre Clooney movies to watch (Photo Credit – Prime Video)

George Clooney’s career is a masterclass in picking the right projects. He doesn’t just go for the blockbuster or the easy paycheck, rather he opts for characters with depth, often in films with something to say.

As he celebrates his birthday on May 6, it’s the perfect time to look back at some of the movies that really show us what makes him such a standout in Hollywood.

So, here are the best five George Clooney films that are definitely worth revisiting:

1. Out of Sight (1998)

This is the one that flipped the switch for Clooney’s film career. He plays Jack Foley, a bank robber who’s all charm and confidence. When he crosses paths with a no-nonsense federal marshal (played by Jennifer Lopez), things get complicated, in the best possible way.

Trending Princess Mononoke Re-Release China Box...

Marvel’s Thunderbolts* Enters Letterboxd Top 50 Movies List (Photo Credit – Instagram)

You might already know about the popular entertainment website called Letterboxd, an Auckland-based film-focused social platform for diehard movie buffs. The international platform is renowned for its movie-centric global lists, such as ‘Top 50 Movies’ lists and the One Million & Two Million watched lists, amongst others. A few days back, Michael B. Jordan and Ryan Coogler’s Sinners found a place on the Letterboxd top 50 movies list (from 2025). And now, Marvel’s latest superhero movie, Thunderbolts*, has entered the coveted international list. But has it outranked Sinners?

Thunderbolts* & Sinners Letterboxd Ranks

The widely admired Marvel superhero movie is currently ranked 31st with a 3.8 user rating on the Letterboxd top 50 movies list. And in doing that, it has outranked Alex Garland’s highly rated war film Warfare, which was released on 11th April 2025. On the other hand, the critically acclaimed and...

Ne Zha 2 China Box Office: 14th Weekend (Photo Credit – Instagram)

The Chinese animated feature Ne Zha 2 is still ruling at the box office in China. It is still grossing significant numbers for a film released in January, around five months back. The Ne Zha sequel proves that the home people can be the biggest cheerleaders and help a movie earn significant numbers. It is unhinged and refuses to budge from the top 5 chart. It might have lost the #1 spot, which it regained last weekend, but it is a winner—Scroll below for the deets.

The MCU movie Thunderbolts* was released this week, but it failed to impress the audience in China. However, it still managed to round up the top five with its $5.7 million opening. It included $2.9 million on IMAX, taking the total weekend box office collection to $65.6 million. The Chinese box office experienced a 31.6% hike over the same...

Thunderbolts* North America Box Office: Beats Captain America: The First Avenger, The Marvels & More With Its Opening Weekend Collection (Photo Credit – Instagram)

Marvel Studios’ latest film, Thunderbolts* might have registered a lower opening weekend than Captain America: Brave New World and Black Widow, but it still prevented itself from registering one of the lowest openings for MCU movies. Florence Pugh and Sebastian Stan’s film has surpassed The Marvels, Captain America: The First Avenger, and Thor’s more depressing debut, and therefore, it is not a part of MCU’s 5 lowest opening weekends list. Keep scrolling for the deets.

Unlike some of the movies in this list, the film has opened with positive reactions. The Marvels is the biggest box office failure among the MCU flicks, ending its theatrical run with slightly more than $200 million. It was released in 2023, and The First Avenger was the MCU debut of Stan, where...

Princess Mononoke Re-Release China Box Office: Beats Thunderbolts* (Photo Credit –YouTube)

Studio Ghibli’s Princess Mononoke is still iconic, and this has been proven as it beats Thunderbolts* in China. The film was re-released in the mainland and outgrossed the three-day opening weekend collection of the MCU movie despite being an old movie. Hayao Miyazaki’s movies always have a special place in people’s hearts owing to their emotional depths and striking visuals. Scroll below for more.

The Japanese anime movie was released in 1997 and was directed by Hayao Miyazaki. The voice cast comprised of Yōji Matsuda, Yuriko Ishida, Yūko Tanaka, Kaoru Kobayashi, Masahiko Nishimura, Tsunehiko Kamijō, Akihiro Miwa, Mitsuko Mori, and Hisaya Morishige. The English voice cast featured Claire Danes, Billy Bob Thornton, Gillian Anderson, and Billy Crudup. It has outstanding ratings on Rotten Tomatoes – the critics gave it 93% while the audience gave it 94%.

The critics’ consensus on the aggregate site stated,...

Chinese audiences turned out in decent numbers over the May Day holiday weekend, propelling Cmc Pictures’ “The Dumpling Queen” to the top of the box office.

The biographical drama debuted with a RMB123.3 million ($17.1 million) from April 30 to May 4, according to figures from Artisan Gateway. The film, which stars Ma Li and is directed by Andrew Lau, tells the real-life story of Zang Jianhe from Qingdao who builds a dumpling empire in Hong Kong after being stranded there in the late 1970s.

In second place was Universe Entertainment’s financial thriller “A Gilded Game,” which earned $11.5 million over the weekend. Directed by Herman Yau, the Hong Kong-produced drama stars Andy Lau, Ni Ni, and Jasper Liu, and follows a principled finance intern in a global investment bank.

Box office mainstay “Ne Zha 2” continued its historic run, collecting $6.5 million in its 14th weekend. The animated fantasy has now grossed $2.13 billion,...