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Shojo is one of anime’s oldest and most influential demographics and plays host to many iconic classics that have changed the medium as fans know it. The most popular shojo series have defined each generation and are beloved by anime fans of all kinds. Titles such as Ouran High School Host Club, Maid-sama!, and Sailor Moon have kept the shojo demographic alive even during its period of steady decline. But while there’s no denying that these shojo classics are some of the best out there and well worth the hype, they overshadow other old-school titles.

The ’90s and 2000s were a peak time for shojo anime, with many of the most iconic series coming from those eras. However, shojo is an expansive demographic that extends as far back as the ‘60s and ‘70s. With such a large catalog, it’s only natural that many great series have faded into obscurity.

Titan Books has delivered another book of recipes that is just right for those fans interested in cocktails, milkshakes, soups, and broths, and they're taken straight from years of pop culture with science fiction the first section of the book.

Before you get to the recipes, the book provides you with defined images of the equipment you'll need to be successful in the kitchen or at the bar. Also included are a collage of helpful accessories that will help you blend all of the recipes.

Presented with eye-catching images and graphics that are detailed for each, the recipes share every ingredient you'll need as well as the equipment that works best. In hardcover, The Book of Potions is for fans of science fiction like Star Trek and Back to the Future, fantasy like Hook and The Lord of the Rings , manga like Dragon Ball and Candy Candy, the fantastic like The Goonies and Highlander,...

The impact anime has had on media all around the world is unmistakable, especially when it comes to the stories diverse creators are putting out there. Such is the case for comic artist Opal Lines, a Dominican American illustrator who’s done the covers for Monster High and My Little Pony comic books. Currently, she’s working on her own original comic series called Heroes Circle , a superpowered narrative that she says fans of My Hero Academia would love. Related: How Roller Skating, Magical Girls and Sports Anime Inspired Wheels & Roses Creator Pearl Low But that’s not the only series she’s been inspired by. “Story wise, I deeply admire the story structure of romantic adventure and always go back to them for inspiration in titles like Noragami , Fruits Basket , and Inuyasha ,” she said during our interview. Much like my interview with Wheels & Roses creator Pearl Low, Opal Lines...

"One Piece" is not just one of the most popular manga ever, but a total phenomenon, and one of the best works of modern fiction. Eiichiro Oda crafted a story with great thematic depth, one that explores subjects of imperialism, oppression, racism, slavery, and that's just scratching the surface. It also expands its world to become one of the most fleshed-out fictional landscapes ever. Each island and each character exude a rich history and mythology, which make for a fleshed-out saga with extensive lore.

What keeps it such an entertaining and not at all convoluted story is the fact that Oda has never lost track of the sense of childlike wonder, of adventure, or the goofy tone from the early days of the manga. Even at its darkest moments, when someone died or when we experienced huge battles against governments, "One Piece" always has moments of absurd and ludicrous humor that make you smile.

For the last few months, trades, outlets, brands across the world have all wanted their slice of discourse in the marketing and publicity heaven that is Greta Gerwig's “Barbie” (2023). For a website dedicated to Asian cinema, it might be argued that this smidge of pie was not ours to claim. Yet as I sat through its credits, celebrating our collective womanhood, a film by Lee Sang-Woo came to mind. 11 years ago, in another “Barbie” (2012), then-child actress Kim Sae-Ron quipped, “A pretty and skinny person like (Barbie) doesn't exist. If she does, then she must be an alien.”

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Alien, meaning someone not of this planet, or perhaps, someone not of this country. Lee Sang-Woo's “Barbie” once illuminated an uncomfortable truth: the Eurocentrism of Barbie, and at larger value, the Eurocentrism of many American owned megacorporations that purport themselves to be global,...

The "mean girl" archetype is prominent throughout all media, including anime. In fact, anime is home to many iconic characters who fit this bill, from Fruits Basket's Motoko Minagawa to Sae Kashiwagi from Peach Girl. Mean girls add extra drama and excitement to their series, and despite their ill-tempered personalities, they're often fan favorites.

Anime mean girls come in all shapes and sizes. Each has their own unique reasons for their sassy attitude, be it love, jealousy, or personal gain. Sometimes these bullies turn a new leaf, but many never learn from their bad behavior. Either way, they're some of the most interesting characters around, and fans love their spunk.

Related: 10 Most Attractive Anime Heroines

Ume Kurumizawa (Kimi Ni Todoke)

Everyone loves protagonist Sawako Kuronuma from the hit series Kimi ni Todoke. However, she's not the only great female character in the series. Ume Kurumizawa — simply known by most...