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Manga artist Rei Hiroe, the creator of the original Black Lagoon manga series, recently got candid about his 15-year battle with depression. Hiroe revealed how mental illness has impacted his work since 2010, even halting production on the seinen series despite its place as one of manga's most influential action titles.

In a recent interview with Comic Natalie, Black Lagoon author and illustrator Rei Hiroe opened up about his struggles with his mental health, going into considerable depth regarding how depression has impacted his work and how he strives to continue despite the hardships that come along with it. Hiroe revealed that depression struck during work on the "Roberta Revenge" arc -- the longest-running storyline in Black Lagoon's history. Despite tireless effort and a soft spot for the material -- Hiroe considered this storyline some of his finest work -- the arc earned mixed reactions from readers. When Hiroe's father passed away after repeated hospitalizations,...

The Universal Monsters have seen a resurgence of sorts on the big screen in the last half decade, with remakes like The Invisible Man and Wolf Man terrifying audiences alongside reimaginings like Renfield and Abigail. With that have come new collectibles from the likes of Funko and Neca. This has all helped introduce a new generation of fans to these classic horror villains. However, while popular characters like Dracula and Frankenstein's Monster have gotten most of the spotlight, one of the more underrated gems from that gothic era was the Creature From the Black Lagoon. Now, after 70 years, the 1954 creature feature is getting some scaly love from Mondo with a new haunting figure.

The opening date for Universal Orlando’s Epic Universe is May 22, 2025, a brand new multi-world experience that will feature five themed lands including the Universal Monsters-inspired “Dark Universe.” The “Dark Universe” inside Epic Universe is said to be an “ominous and chilling experience,” one that will “reimagine” Universal’s most legendary monsters.

With more than 50 experiences that range from groundbreaking attractions to breathtaking entertainment to incredibly themed dining and shopping and so much more, Epic Universe will present a level of theme park immersion and innovation that is unmatched across five themed worlds: Celestial Park, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic, Super Nintendo World, How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk and Dark Universe.

To whet your appetite even further, Universal Orlando is previewing their exclusive Epic Universe merch this morning, which will be available at 20-plus immersive retail locations throughout the theme park when it opens this May.

From riveting detective series to stirring crime dramas to thrilling plots about unruly outlaws, the theme of crime in anime comes in many different forms and configurations. Nonetheless, it’s impossible to deny that, whether one wants to see lawbreakers wreak havoc or get punished for their wrongdoings, crime anime has a tantalizing appeal.

The crime anime subgenre is hardly homogenous — commonly, it goes hand-in-hand with mystery and suspense, yet just as frequently combines with other classic anime themes, like science fiction, fantasy, and action-adventure. What brings these multifaceted series together is the exhilaration of their enigmas and unpredictable plots that tackle the darkest, most conniving deeds unraveling on the wrong side of the law. These anime series approach the crime theme in a divergent plentitude of ways — yet all of them do so faultlessly.

Great Pretender Follows the Exploits of Affable Con Men Stream Great Pretender on Netflix

Operating...

At the 2025 Academy Awards, Demi Moore was nominated for the Best Actress award for her work in Coralie Fargeat's feminist body horror masterpiece The Substance. Although Moore didn't win, she is still a sentimental favorite as a veteran performer with a storied career. She made a big splash after years of smaller roles and personal projects. Her brilliant performance carries more than a little autobiography to it by playing an aging celebrity who turns to a terrifying method of rejuvenation to prolong her career.

Horror movies are rarely Oscar darlings, often viewed as too base and puerile for the Academy elites. Still, every now and again, a particularly strong performance in a particularly good horror movie will win them over. While Moore not winning the Academy Award for Best Actress is one of Hollywood's biggest missed opportunities to recognize the horror genre as something more than silly, it's still...

The anime world is no stranger to maid characters, who in many cases serve as cute and supportive allies to the series' main protagonist. Recently, Japan conducted a nationwide survey to determine which maid reigns as the most beloved among anime fans.

Digital marketing research group Nexer Inc. sent out an online questionnaire on Feb. 14 asking anime viewers to name their "favorite" maid character. According to PR Times, the participants included both men and women, with the total sample pool consisting of 500 individuals. On Feb. 25, the winners were unveiled in a top 10 list. In the #1 spot is Re:Zero's Rem, who earned 86 votes. The second-place winner with 74 votes was Tama from the iconic shonen classic Gintama. The remaining picks hail from many franchises with significant global fan bases; the full top 10 list can be seen below, ordered from most to least popular.

RelatedJapan Ranks the Top 10 Anime of Winter 2025 to Watch...

In 2025, the Halloweenies are celebrating the storied legacy of the Universal Monsters. Dracula, Wolf Man, Frankenstein, his Bride, the Creature from the Black Lagoon, the Invisible Man… all will be covered. In fact, each monster is getting their own month, giving the Halloweenies plenty of time to dig deep into their respective origins and chart their influence over the past century and some change.

Last month, the gang sank their fangs into Tod Browning‘s 1931 Dracula. Today, however, they’re leaping a decade forward to howl through George Waggner’s 1941 werewolf classic The Wolf Man starring Lon Chaney Jr.

Topics include: the etymology of the werewolf, a discussion of the first official Universal werewolf movie Werewolf of London, the tragic history of Lon Chaney, Jr. bringing his own pain and life experience to the role, Universal Pictures and the U.S. in the early 40’s, religious subtext, the rise of...

The pirate theme has always been a beloved staple of adventure narratives. Grand tales of sailing the unpredictable, danger-filled seas in search of challenges or treasure rouse the audience's yearning for thrill and excitement, and no anime series captures the appeal of a pirate voyage better than One Piece.

The Straw Hats Pirates' journey through the Grand Line stands proudly as one of anime's most acclaimed and dearly beloved odysseys, the magnificence of its narrative matched by the adventure's scope and scale. However, as impressive as One Piece's breadth is, the series' length is also what makes so many hesitant about picking it up. Thankfully, Monkey D. Luffy's ambitious voyage is not the only outstanding pirate-themed anime series out there — and many of them don't require years of commitment from the viewers.

RelatedTop 10 Anime Series More Interesting Than One Piece

Though One Piece is a beloved anime, these series could be even better overall.

Even if the anime is bigger and better than ever, not everyone is interested in watching those shows, and some anime may feel downright repulsive to some pop culture fans. It's true some anime are palatable for anime skeptics, such as those with a historical angle or influenced by Western comic books, but other anime series will simply never win over the haters.

That means any anime fan who wants to get their friends into anime ought to be choosy about what they expose potential new viewers to. While Black Lagoon may appeal to Tarantino fans and Vinland Saga may suit fans of historical dramas, other anime series lean too heavily into anime motifs to draw in new fans. This is because of the "you know it when you see it" factor of how flamboyantly an anime series embraces the industry's vibes, from goofy dialogue to chibi-based comedy or other tropes.

Sakamoto Days, Netflix’s biggest anime release of this year, has left fans thrilled and bewildered. At the heart of the discussion is none other than Taro Sakamoto, the legendary hitman turned convenience store owner, whose shocking appearance has sparked some confusion among anime fans.

Taro Sakamoto’s dramatic transformation from elite assassin to a peaceful family man | Credit: Tms Entertainment

Fans often wonder how can the greatest assassin of all time, a man who was feared across the underworld, look more like Coach Anzai from Slam Dunk than the sleek and deadly killer he once was. Let’s break down the shocking truth behind Sakamoto’s age and how fatherhood (and obviously food) changed him forever.

The dad bod transformation: How old is Taro Sakamoto?

For those unfamiliar with Sakamoto Days, the plot follows Taro Sakamoto, a former top-tier assassin who abandoned his hazardous past to begin a calm life with his family.

In 2025, the Halloweenies are celebrating the storied legacy of the Universal Monsters. Dracula, Wolf Man, Frankenstein, his Bride, the Creature from the Black Lagoon, the Invisible Man… all will be covered. In fact, each monster is getting their own month, giving the Halloweenies plenty of time to dig deep into their respective origins and chart their influence over the past century and some change.

This month sees the gang in Transylvania, where they’ve already shared their favorite vampire films, reviewed Robert Eggers‘ reimagining of Nosferatu, and talked all over Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino‘s From Dusk til Dawn. Today is the main event, though, as the Halloweenies offer their signature historical analysis to Tod Browning‘s 1931 Dracula.

Topics include: Browning’s strange and wonderful career, the U.S. in early 30’s (spoiler: not great!), vampire history and lore, early days of Universal and talkies, the 21-year-old nepo baby founder of the Universal Monsters,...

The role of a villain or an antagonist holds special significance within the anime industry. These villains add drama and thrill to the series by challenging the main characters and using the most unusual methods to bring them down. And although they stand for the wrong thing, they still manage to create a fan following that loves and appreciates them no matter what.

Sosuke Aizen | Credit: Studio Pierrot

In the last few years, the anime world has seen a major rise in the popularity of villains, and while most of them are male characters like Sosuke Aizen and Madara Uchiha, there are some female contenders as well who have managed to make a name for themselves. These female villains are at the next level in terms of wreaking havoc and making their presence felt.

1. Makima – Chainsaw Man

The Chief Cabinet Secretary’s Personal Devil Hunter, Makima is one of the...

Guillermo del Toro took the monster horror genre to a whole new level with 2017’s The Shape of Water. This Oscar-winning film tackled more than just an unlikely romance between a mute woman and an aquatic creature — it explored fantasy and science fiction while addressing relevant social issues.

Sally Hawkins and Doug Jones in The Shape of Water / Credits: Fox Searchlight Pictures

The director was inspired by a classic horror movie he loved as a child but left him devastated because of its conclusion. He made sure the end of his film saw a happy ending where the creature carries the lifeless body of the woman under the water and revives her using his own healing abilities.

Guillermo del Toro thought the ending of Creature from the Black Lagoon was disappointing

Perhaps the most iconic part of The Shape of Water was the appearance of Doug Jones’ Amphibian Man. The...

Image Comics ruled the year of 2024 with a plethora of mini-series to prepare comic book fans for the next wave of the Energon Universe; teams have been built, unlikely alliances have been made, and there’s still more to come. Meanwhile, Marvel and DC Comics came through with great titles of their own that had readers as excited about both as ever.

But which of the countless comic book mini-series was the best of 2024? Keep reading as we dive into the top 10 of them, and rank them as we go.

Coming soon https://t.co/58S8cgZcF1

— Benjamin Percy (@Benjamin_Percy) November 29, 2024Honorable mention: HellverineWriter: Benjamin PercyArtist: Julius Ohta

I couldn’t go without putting Hellverine on the list. Benjamin Percy created a mini-series of nightmares. Plus, Julius Ohta’s horror art fits this title perfectly.

If you like horror, Wolverine, and Ghost Rider, this is the comic book for you.

Dale Wilson, who was a renowned Canadian voice actor best known for his role as the voice of Cell in the Ocean dub of Dragon Ball Z, has sadly passed away at the age of 74. The tragic announcement had come through a heartfelt social media post on Facebook by his wife, Gail Wilson.

Cell in Dragon Ball Z | Credits: Toei Animation

Wilson’s career spanned many decades, during which he succeeded in leaving an indelible mark on both the anime world and the realm of Western animation (the cartoons). The Ocean dub of the series introduced countless fans of the Dragon Ball franchise to his voice, giving Cell an unforgettable gravitas.

In addition to Cell which Wilson is renowned for, he voiced other pivotal characters in the Dragon Ball series’ English dub, characters which include Kami, King Yemma, Goz, and Android 8.

Dale Wilson’s enduring legacy in anime and cartoons...

Canadian voice actor Dale Wilson, well-known for his various roles in Dragon Ball Z and numerous other anime dubs, has died at age 74.

The news was announced by Wilson's wife, Gail Wilson, in a recent social media post, which reads, "It is with an aching heart that I must tell you. Last evening Dale moved on from this Earthly existence. Having lived with metastasized prostate cancer and Parkinson's disease for many years, he was ready. He was my heart, my soul, my North Star. In the words of Bonnie Raitt, 'He taught me how to live….how to be myself……and how to give.' I know he has for many of you as well. And I know he treasured each one of you; his relatives, friends and fans."

Hi Everyone. This is Gail, Dale’s wife. It is with an aching heart that I must tell you. Last evening Dale moved on.

Back in June, it was announced that Evil Dead Rise director Lee Cronin had signed on to write and direct a new genre project for Atomic Monster, Blumhouse Productions, and New Line Cinema… and now we know what that mysterious project is. The Hollywood Reporter has broken the news that Cronin has come up with a new take on the concept of The Mummy! Cronin confirmed, “This will be unlike any Mummy movie you ever laid eyeballs on before. I’m digging deep into the earth to raise something very ancient and very frightening.” The film is set to reach theatres on April 17, 2026.

It should be noted that, since the project is set up at New Line Cinema, this “new take on the horror trope revolving around the ancient mummified undead” has nothing to do with the classic Universal horror property. We heard back in May that there are three...

The Universal Monsters are back in comics in full force, thanks to Skybound Entertainment, and the publisher’s next entry takes readers back to ancient Egypt with The Mummy. The latest in a line that has included new Dracula, The Creature from the Black Lagoon and Frankenstein miniseries, Skybound’s latest monster title focuses on Prince Imhotep, taking a look at the famous story from an entirely new perspective.

First shared by Skybound on Instagram, the preview for The Mummy #1 – written and illustrated by Faith Erin Hicks – makes it clear that the story takes place concurrently with the original 1932 film, this time told from the perspective of Helen Grosvenor.

View this post on InstagramA post shared by Skybound Entertainment (@skyboundent)

Played by Zita Johann in The Mummy, Grosvenor was a British/Egyptian woman who found herself embroiled in a centuries-old love story, as the revived Prince Imhotep became convinced she...

Despite starring the incredible and timeless Sean Connery in the film, the original Highlander was a terrible attempt at establishing a high-concept project in the mid-80s. Even for a fantasy epic, the film was decidedly too far-fetched, not to mention problematic and culturally inappropriate in hindsight.

Highlander [Credit: Warner Bros., 20th Century Studios, Columbia Pictures]

As the industry now calls for a timely reboot helmed by none other than Henry Cavill, the misjudged, misrepresented, and ill-treated hero of modern Hollywood, it is only fitting that the film is done right the second time around. Highlander has the potential to be great, even a modern-day classic perhaps, but only if it learns from the errors of its past and lays down a path paved with proper representation in the future.

Highlander should learn from the errors of its past Sean Connery in Highlander [Credit: Warner Bros., 20th Century Studios, Columbia Pictures]

Not every high-fantasy adventure epic needs to be...

Before he became the head of DC Studios, James Gunn made low-budget horror comedies for Troma Entertainment, the company behind disreputable splatterfests like "The Toxic Avenger" and "Class of Nuke 'Em High." After that, he directed "Slither," a gross-out treat about alien slugs invading a small town and turning the residents into monsters. These days, Gunn is mostly known for superhero flicks, but his horror credentials are undeniable. Unfortunately, he never got the chance to put his own stamp on two bona fide genre classics, leaving us to wonder what could have been.

There are several unrealized Gunn projects out there, but his planned remakes of "Creature from the Black Lagoon" and "It's Alive" would have allowed him to lean into the macabre sensibilities that brought him to the dance in the first place. The former is a good, old-fashioned monster movie that paints humans as the real villains. "It's Alive,...

Japanese anime is known for its gorgeous visuals and lush color palettes, which can make for some truly attractive protagonists and supporting characters. Of course, style is no substitute for actual substance. A well-written anime heroine can quickly become an unforgettable part of the cast, allowing anime fans the opportunity to enjoy their feminine charm, as well as their visual beauty.

Anime girls are immensely popular as waifus, female warriors, and sometimes the most beautiful fictional ladies fans have ever seen. The most attractive anime heroines tend to be popular if they can back it up with a stellar personality and sharp dialogue, making them the beloved queens of any fandom. Such characters are excellent examples of a bishojo, or a beautiful girl.

Updated on December 4, 2024 by Robbie Robinson: Every anime watcher has their favorite anime girl. While that can lead to many debates, there are some characters that are undeniably attractive.

A Sherlock Holmes-inspired anime, directed in part by Hayao Miyazaki prior to the formation of Studio Ghibli, is heading to major streaming platform Hulu. The 40-year-old steampunk-esque series was initially released in 1984 and reimagines the main characters of classic Sherlock Holmes stories as anthropomorphic dogs.

Per Hulu, the iconic Sherlock Hound will be coming to the streaming platform in dubbed form on Dec. 1, 2024. The Italian-Japanese anime series was produced by Tokyo Movie Shinsha in conjunction with Radiotelevisione italiana, reimagining Arthur Conan Doyle's classic detective, Sherlock Holmes, and other characters as anthropomorphic animals, primarily dogs. Its main protagonist, Sherlock, works to solve various mysteries in Victorian-era London, with Watson, Professor Moriarty, Inspector Lestrade and other familiar characters also making familiar appearances.

Related "I Think My Brain Is Broken": Studio Ghibli's Hayao Miyazaki Reveals His Greatest Struggle in New Trailer

A new trailer for an as-yet little-known film reveals...

After giving manga fans an enduring fan-favorite in Fullmetal Alchemist, along with the hit series Silver Spoon, creator Hiromu Arakawa may have just clued fans into the medium's latest sensation: Mononoke on Parade by Yuu Kokonoka.

Via Comic Natalie, hot off the presses after its Volume 1 publication on Nov. 12, Mononoke on Parade follows the supernatural, hijinks-filled life of Ginji, a young man who, haunted by yokai spirits since childhood, leaves his small town behind for the bright city lights of Tokyo -- only to find that the spooky creatures have made the move, too.

Related Reincarnated as a Slime Dominates Official Top 10 Chart in 2024 But Not Overseas

Isekai series That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime thrives in Japan but has failed to connect as well internationally according to new sales data.

Fullmetal Alchemist's Hiromu Arakawa Gives Seal of Approval to New Series Mononoke on Parade https://t.

For a few decades now, there has been some overlap between Japanese and Western pop culture, with more and more Western movies and shows drawing inspiration from Japanese anime and vice versa. Plenty of directors and actors have expressed their love of anime, and that includes distinctive directors like Quentin Tarantino, too. Tarantino is already a known anime fan, so the next step would be for him to direct a feature-length anime movie of his own.

A few of Tarantino's movies already have some anime and martial arts flair, such as Kill Bill, so it's easy to imagine an R-rated action anime movie directed by Tarantino to push the boundaries even more. To kick off such a project, Quentin Tarantino could draw inspiration from a handful of existing anime characters who already feel like Tarantino material. They tend to be gritty, tough action stars who chew the scenery wherever they go.

2024 saw the limited theatrical re-release of Ninja Scroll, a 1990s anime film gem. Now, fans who didn't get to watch it on the big screen can enjoy it on a major streaming service.

Hidive is about to become the streaming home of the action-packed classic Ninja Scroll, with the legendary movie joining the service this month. There, it will be part of a lineup that includes several major hits, new and old. With the year marking something of a belated anniversary for the film, fans of violent yet beautiful old-school anime will be able to enjoy the movie with the click of a button.

Related Solo Leveling Anime Movie Gets Exciting Update

The upcoming North American theatrical release of Solo Leveling -ReAwakening- receives an exciting update for anime fans eagerly awaiting Season 2.

One of the Most Iconic Anime Movies of the '90s Is Coming to Hidive

Recently, the "Anime...

With many of the most beloved anime films of the 1980s and 1990s being scattered, difficult to track down, or even outright unavailable, the latest news about Ninja Scroll coming to Hidive is a welcome development. According to a recent Hidive press release from November 6, 2024, Ninja Scroll will be available to watch on-demand via the streaming service on Tuesday, November 12, 2024, at noon Edt. For fans of boundary-pushing anime from a different era, Ninja Scroll is commonly considered among the best films of the 1990s and a must-watch for fans of the classics.

Ninja Scroll follows rogue ninja Kibagami Jubei as he fights to stop the Devils of Kimon from overthrowing the Japanese government of the Edo period. Jubei is aided by Tokugawa Shogunate spy Dakuan and Kga kunoichi Kagero. The film is animated by Madhouse and received a follow-up anime, Ninja Scroll: The Series, in 2003 for one season, yet it...

The Saw franchise is one of those that’s become a big part of pop culture, especially since it came out in the 2000s. It really made its mark in the horror world, shaping a generation of fans who still love it today. No wonder the eleventh movie is set to hit theaters next year.

Still from Saw (Credits: Lionsgate)

But with so many films, it can be hard for the same person to keep directing for so long. James Wan, one of the creators of the franchise, decided to step away from the project shortly after the first movie. However, in a recent interview, he shared that he would have taken a different approach if he had stayed. He also seized the chance to reveal whether he might return to the franchise someday, which would definitely be surreal.

James Wan Says He Would Return To The Saw Franchise Under...

With over a billion dollars in box office receipts, the Saw franchise is undoubtedly one of the most successful horror sagas in history. 2024 marks the 20th anniversary of the groundbreaking original that was directed by James Wan, and while hes yet to helm another entry in the series since, hes remained involved behind the scenes as en executive producer. However, that isnt to say he would never come back to oversee another movie, but fans who are holding their breath waiting for his triumphant return had better suck in some more air, because it doesnt look like itll be happening anytime soon.

Speaking with People, Wan was straight-up asked if hed ever return to the franchise to direct another Saw film. He gave the standard answer of "never say never," of course, but also revealed what it would take to get him back in the directors chair.

"It would have...

Back in 2017, Universal Pictures announced a new franchise known as Dark Universe, which was going to serve as a relaunch of the studio's classic monster movies as part of a shared cinematic universe akin to the MCU.

New projects based on the likes of The Bride of Frankenstein, The Invisible Man, The Creature from The Black Lagoon, and The Wolfman were planned, but everything came to a screeching halt when the first movie - Tom Cruise's critically-panned The Mummy reboot - bombed at the box office, essentially putting a stake through the entire franchise's heart before it ever had a chance to get going.

Earlier this year, Universal announced that it would be resurrecting the Dark Universe brand as part of the new Epic Universe attraction, which will be one of five new lands slated to open in its Orlando-based theme park in 2025.

Now, we have a first look...

As if monster survival movies weren't cool enough, director Mike Wiluan is throwing enemy WWII soldiers into the mix for his new horror movie Orang Ikan, which recently unveiled its first trailer. Written and directed by Wiluan, the film takes influences from Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954), Predator, and even the Oscar-winning Godzilla Minus One. Orang Ikan is set to make its world premiere this week at the Tokyo International Film Festival.

Starring Dean Fujioka (Fullmetal Alchemist) and Callum Woodhouse (All Creatures Great and Small), Orang Ikan follows two shipwrecked soldiers during WWII who find themselves on a mysterious jungle island. With one a Japanese soldier and the other a British prisoner-of-war, the pair are immediately at each other's throats once they gain consciousness. But when they discover a killer creature prowling the island, they must temporarily set aside their own conflict and work together to survive. The official synopsis reads:

"Set in the Pacific,...

Inspired by horror classic Creature from the Black Lagoon, the upcoming international creature feature Orang Ikan is set to premiere at the Tokyo International Film Festival, and Deadline has shared the official trailer this week. Preview the gill-man horror movie below.

Dean Fujioka (“Fullmetal Alchemist”) and Callum Woodhouse (“All Creatures Great and Small”) lead the cast of Orang Ikan, set during World War II and centered on a fish monster.

Here’s the full official synopsis…

May, 1942. WWII rages across a world divided.

A Japanese Hell Ship transports prisoners of war to occupied territories for slave labor. Onboard the ship is Saito, a traitor to the Japanese who is being sent back to the motherland to be sentenced to death.

As further punishment, Saito is shackled to another Pow, a British soldier named Bronson who holds nothing but hatred for Saito because of his Japanese nationality.

When the Hell Ship is torpedoed by Allied submarines,...

With new versions of Lilo and Stitch and Snow White set to premiere in 2025, it looks like Disney doesn't plan on stopping their infamous trend of live-action remakes any time soon. In the current age of Disney remaking their classic animated films, a very large majority of them haven't been nearly as well-received by critics or the audience. Even though they continue to gross record-breaking amounts of money, most fans have found them to be inferior to their original predecessors. There has been one exception to be found in Pete's Dragon, a certain remake that was much more well-received on a critical and financial level than the original. Sadly, it's also the one that many people have since overlooked in the ever-expanding pantheon of these remakes.

When Pete's Dragon first premiered in 2016, it had several advantages that helped its production and overall final quality, ones that most other live-action remakes just haven't had.

Happy Halloween from The B-Side! Here we talk about movie directors! Not the movies that made them famous or kept them famous, but the ones that they made in between.

Today we talk about Tim Burton! The man! The brand! The artist! The director! The lothario (complimentary)! The B-Sides today include Mars Attacks!, Sleepy Hollow, Planet of the Apes, and Frankenweenie. Our esteemed guest is Maria Lewis, “best-selling author, screenwriter, film curator, and pop culture etymologist currently based in Australia.”

As Beetlejuice Beetlejuice still rakes in money in theaters, we discuss Burton’s influence, whether or not he’s actually a good director (something Burton himself has questioned in the past), his best films and his worst films, his inspirations, and the love-and-hate relationship with Disney from the very beginning of his career. There is also the observation that most of Tim Burton’s films are some version of Alice in Wonderland.

Universal has already announced that guests will be able to have meet and greets with Universal Monsters at the upcoming Dark Universe section of Epic Universe, opening on May 22, 2025. But now they have extended the lineup!

We already knew that some monsters would be available for photos, including Frankenstein’s Monster, The Bride of Frankenstein, Dracula, The Wolf Man and The Invisible Man.

During a panel at the New York Comic Con, it was announced that the Phantom of the Opera and the Creature from the Black Lagoon would also be part of the lineup.

The Dark Universe area of the park is the park we are incredibly excited about.

From the spectacular entryway to the coasters, burning windmill, and sinister theming, this section of Epic Universe seems spectacular and unique.

Image: Universal

Now it’s going to get even better!

Tickets for Epic Universe go on sale on October...

A little over a decade ago, horror fans were introduced to James Wans The Conjuring, and it would be the start of an epic journey into the supernatural that has seen eight films in total thus far, with three of those focusing on ghost hunters Ed and Lorraine Warren, who are expertly portrayed by Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga. Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end, and in 2025 The Conjuring: Last Rites will be the finale of the main franchise, and Wan recently took to social media to mark what he calls the "end of an era."

Posting on his Instagram account, Wan shared a behind-the-scenes photo which simply shows two directors chairs with the names Ed Warren and Lorraine Warren on each. The famed demonologist and clairvoyant may have been the subject of much controversy over the years, with many calling into question the validity of their methods,...

Some of the best movies to watch during the Halloween season (and some of the coolest movies in the horror genre) are the classic Universal Monsters movies. Those awesome black and white movies that were built around characters like Frankenstein’s Monster, Dracula, The Mummy, the Wolf Man, and the Creature from the Black Lagoon, among others. So now that Halloween weekend is upon us, we here at Arrow in the Head have put together a list: Universal Monsters Franchises Ranked! Below you’ll find our rankings of the classic franchises, from least to favorite. Check it out, and let us know how you would rank these franchises by leaving a comment!

Honorable Mention: Abbott And Costello

The comedy duo of Bud Abbott and Lou Costello certainly weren’t Universal monsters (or any other kind of monsters), but they earn an honorable mention on this list because they played an...

The first behind-the-scenes photos from the set of The Conjuring: Last Rites have surfaced online, featuring the first look at the main casts return. The upcoming movie serves as the final installment in James Wans blockbuster horror franchise.

Shared on Instagram, the set photos show franchise vets Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga as they reprise paranormal experts Ed and Lorraine Warren for the last time. This comes after over a decade since Wilson and Farmiga portrayed the famous couple in the first installment, which centered around haunting experiences of the Perron family. In addition to leading the main franchise, Wilson and Farmiga have also made brief appearances in other Conjuring spinoffs, including Annabelle Comes Home and The Nun II. At the moment, Wan or New Line Cinema has yet to reveal if there would be plans for Wilson and Farmiga to continue making cameos in future The Conjuring Universe projects.

Reebok and Universal Products & Experiences have teamed up to revive Reebok’s “Boktober” celebration, unleashing a line of Universal Monsters sneakers just in time for Halloween!

The classic horror collaboration features five iconic Reebok footwear silhouettes reimagined to pay homage to the legendary horror icons, featuring Dracula, Frankenstein, the Bride of Frankenstein, the Creature From the Black Lagoon, and the Wolfman.

Reebok’s ‘Boktober’ capsule brings a modern, elevated take on each Monster’s unique identity, characteristics, and iconic stories, blending grunge aesthetics with a creepy edge designed to appeal to every horror film enthusiast.

The Universal Monsters x Reebok collection presents five (5) unique footwear styles inspired by the most recognizable horror icons, each presented in a custom tombstone packaging.

The collection includes…

Instapump Fury 94 Mid + Creature from the Black Lagoon ($220 Msrp): Two legends, one shoe. Inspired by deep-sea creatures, this design marks the 70th anniversary of Creature From...

Quick Links The Creature From The Black Lagoon Remake Latest News The Creature From The Black Lagoon Remake Is Confirmed Creature From The Black Lagoon's Remake History The Creature From The Black Lagoon Remake Story Details Creature from the Black Lagoon Remake: Further News & Info

A remake of Universal's Classic Monster movie Creature from the Black Lagoon is currently being floated, and there are exciting updates about the Gill-man's return. Originally released in 1954 in stunning 3D, Creature from the Black Lagoon follows a group of scientists who travel to the darkest reaches of the Amazon and encounter a prehistoric monster that lives beneath the murky waters. Ostensibly the end of Universal's Classic Monsters cycle, the Creature (commonly known as Gill-man) swam his way into popular culture and is one of the most recognizable movie monsters of all time.

Like most of the Universal Classic Monster movies, Creature from the Black Lagoon...

Dracula, Frankenstein’s Monster, the Mummy, the Wolf Man, the Invisible Man – Universal has brought them all back to the screen in the decades since their glory days in the 1930s and ’40s. But one classic Universal monster who hasn’t had a new movie since the 1950s is the Creature from the Black Lagoon, a.k.a. the Gill Man. The closest we’ve gotten is the unofficial version of the creature that was seen in the 1987 classic The Monster Squad… but last month, it was reported that genre regular James Wan and his production company Atomic Monster are developing “a grounded modernized retelling” of Creature from the Black Lagoon that will lean into “visceral horror while paying respect to the original classic.” Now, Deadline has learned that this Creature from the Black Lagoon reboot will be written by Sean Tretta.

Wan is expected to direct the film and will be producing,...

Anticipation for the Fall 2024 anime season is heating up, with fans excited to see the release of numerous high-profile series like Dragon Ball Daima and Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War. However, according to a survey from the large Japanese review service Filmarks (the Japanese equivalent of IMDb), one particular anime, soon landing on Netflix in the U.S., is leading the pack.

Due to debut on Netflix on Oct. 5, 2024, Chi. - About the Earth's Movement (called Orb: On the Movements of the Earth for its U.S. release) may have slipped past most Western fans' notice so far. Nonetheless, it's easy to see why the entry is a notable one among the rest of the upcoming season. Behind Orb is a powerhouse creative team worthy of great expectations. Kenichi Shimizu (Parasyte: The Maxim) is attached as director, with character designs coming from Shino Masanori and animation production handled by Madhouse, the...

Quentin Tarantino has been an influential figure not only within the Hollywood industry but also outside of it. Many have taken note of how unique his methods of storytelling are and try their level best to adapt those. Even in the world of anime, he has been a figure many could look up to. Hokazono Takeru, the author of Kagurabachi, admitted that Tarantino had a big influence on his manga as well.

Uma Thurman in Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill: Volume 1 | Credit: Miramax

Putting inspiration to the side, one can also find similarities between some works that would remind fans of Tarantino’s unique filmography in an instant. Whether it is about the classic revenge tale, gore, or even spectacular action sequences, one anime in particular is perfect for any fan of the director.

Quentin Tarantino-esque Black Lagoon

Black Lagoon comes in the line of classic yet underappreciated anime. There...

Gary Larson's The Far Side loves the animal kingdom, and apparently that appreciation extends to frogs and toads. Across The Far Side's more than 4000 comics, Larson depicts elephants, lions and giant squid in various comical situations, and yet he also finds the time to give humble amphibians their own great moments.

Here are the 13 funniest Far Side comics starring frogs, including two of Larson's best wordless gags of all time. Be sure to vote in our end-of-article poll and help crown Larson's funniest frog comic.

Your browser does not support the video tag. "Ahhhh... Life!" From a Bug's Perspective, Even Frogs Can Be Deadly

Larson originally wanted to call his comic Nature's Way, and that's exactly what's on show here, as from the perspective of an insect, even a frog can be a deadly predator. The strip relies on grim irony, as while the insect enjoys life and hangs out on a leaf,...

Ridley Scott recently recalled mistakenly believing that the Alien franchise died after Alien: Resurrection. While speaking with Total Film, Scott who worked as executive producer on the recently released Alien: Romulus reflected on how there was a time after the release of the 1997 sequel when he didnt think there were any legs left in the sci-fi horror saga.

Alien R HorrorAction Sci-FiThriller Release Date May 25, 1979Director Ridley ScottCast Tom Skerritt, Sigourney Weaver, Veronica Cartwright, Harry Dean Stanton, John Hurt, Ian HolmRuntime 117Main Genre HorrorWriters Dan O'Bannon, Ronald ShusettTagline In space...no one can hear you scream.Website http://www.alien-movies.com/Franchise Alien Expand

Alien: Romulus has proven that even now, over 25 years after the release of Alien: Resurrection, there is still plenty for the Alien movies to give with the right combination of story and purpose as well as a great creature, obviously. For Scott, that creature was always...

The popularity of The CW's Supernatural has resulted in several attempts at a spinoff series. Since its 2005 release, Supernatural ran for a total of 15 seasons, covering the exploits of the Winchester brothers as they traveled across America, hunting monsters on the trail of their estranged father. While the main series centered on Sam and Dean and later, the show's resident fallen angel, Castiel the wider world of Supernatural offers rich material to expand on. Other fantasy series, such as The Originals and Chris Carter's Millennium, have proved that spinoffs can be as successful as their flagship shows.

Unfortunately, in Supernatural's case, many of its attempted spinoffs were ill-fated. The absence of the series' beloved main duo was felt in shows like The Winchesters, which focused on Sam and Dean's parents. Earlier spinoffs which were introduced through backdoor pilots were never picked up by the network. Following Supernatural's...

Universal has teamed up with Loungefly to create a new line of pieces featuring their Universal Monsters! These pieces are fun, classic, and retro. Various monsters are featured, including Frankenstein, the Bride of Frankenstein, Dracula, The Wolfman, The Mummy, and more. I just love these pieces!

Let’s take a look!

Universal Monsters Loungefly Exclusive Book Collection Crossbody Bag – $120

I love everything about this piece.

The bag itself features five “books,” including, The Mummy, The Wolfman, Dracula, Frankenstein, and Creature from the Black Lagoon.

Lettering on the books does glow in the dark.

The top of the bag features a zipper opening.

There is a snap flap on the side that opens a book and shows a signed library card. I just adore this feature so much!

Library shelves are featured on the lining.

This piece measures 9.5”W x 7.3”H x 4.25”D.

Loungefly Exclusive Universal Monsters Book Flap Wallet- $50

There...

Quick Links What Was The Watchers' Big Twist? What Was The Hallow About? What Was The Hallow's Big Twist? Could The Hallow Get a Sequel?

2024 has been a big year for horror movies. Fans have soaked in the likes of The First Omen, Abigail, Night Swim and A Quiet Place: Day One, among the many. It's also been a banner year for M. Night Shyamalan's family. The director did the psychological-thriller Trap, which starred his daughter, Saleka, and Josh Hartnett.

Interestingly, M. Night Shyamalan also co-produced The Watchers, a horror that his other daughter, Ishana, wrote and directed. This film was very intriguing given its premise. However, there was a 2015 movie -- The Hallow -- that had many similarities, not to mention, it pulled off The Watchers' twist a lot better.

What Was The Watchers' Big Twist? The Watchers' Madeline Was a Shapeshifter Your browser does not support the video tag.

The Invisible Man director Leigh Whannell is back with another reboot of a classic Universal Monsters character. The first trailer, poster, and synopsis for Blumhouse's Wolf Man has been released.

The 70-second teaser doesn't reveal too much about the upcoming horror movie, although it does look like Christopher Abbott's Blake, who the official synopsis describes as "a San Francisco husband and father, who inherits his remote childhood home in rural Oregon after his own father vanishes and is presumed dead," will be scratched by a werewolf, leading him to turn into the titular Wolf Man. While a good look at the Wolf Man can't be seen in the trailer, the final design for the monster has been revealed at Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios and can be viewed on X. Check out the teaser trailer, as well as the first poster, for Wolf Man below.

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When it comes to anime, there is almost always plenty of variety. These shows range from modern to classic, serious to light-hearted, realistic to absurd and, perhaps most importantly, from short to long. For every monolithic series with hundreds of episodes, countless others tell succinct stories that any interested fan can watch in a single sitting.

While most streaming services offer plenty of anime options, Hulu does a particularly good job of stocking its library with quick-hitting anime titles that have a low number of episodes. Binge-watching can be a lot of fun with a short and sweet anime series, and the next time viewers are in search of a low-investment option, these anime are definitely worth checking out.

Updated on August 28, 2024, by Robbie Robinson: There may be anime on nearly every streaming platform, but it can be hard to decide which ones are worth diving into. Many anime...

Quick Links James Wan Is the Best Choice for Remaking Creature from the Black Lagoon The Creature from the Black Lagoon Has Almost No Remakes Other Classic Horror Icons Have Been Overused A Modernized Black Lagoon Could Be Enhanced By Strong Themes

The Universal Monsters franchise is one of the most iconic horror movie brands of all time, with the films and their title characters being well-known for decades. Many of these movies had literary origins, with Dracula, Frankenstein and The Invisible Man all based on books. Some members of the group were made for the big screen, and perhaps the most underrated one is now being remade in the same capacity.

Creature from the Black Lagoon is a beautiful and breathtaking movie that's sadly never really gotten its due among its literature-based brethren. It's also lacked in remakes, making the titular "Gill-man" iconic, but not quite as recognizable as other monsters.